may alwaies make pretious account of the least measure which it shall please thee in mercie to vouchsafe vnto me referre it wholly to thy honour and glory And sith whatsoeuer I am I am in thee whatsoeuer grace I haue I haue it from the whose gift onely it is let me be content with that portion which thou in thy wisdome and goodnesse allottest vnto me and knowing that for the present it is sufficient for me neither enuie those that haue receiued more lest I repine against thee nor despise those that haue lesse lest it displease thee and cause thee in iustice to withdraw that grace from me which in mercie thou hadst freelie giuen vnto me and to bestow it vpon those who would make better vse of it Death alwaies to be desired of the godlie IF anie shall take away from me my torne and ragged-worne coate and in stead thereof put vpon me a new and a better shall I thinke that I haue anie iniury done vnto me haue I anie cause to complaine as if I were wronged If the Lord vncloath me by depriuing me of this temporall this sinfull and corruptible life and in stead of it cloath me with that which is eternall incorruptible and most glorious doth he hurt me doth he any wrong or iniurie vnto me shall I complaine yea rather Lord let me desire alwaies to remoue out of this bodie and to dwell with thee for euer Let me desire earnestlie to put off this corruption to be dissolued to be with Christ my Sauiour in the heauens for this is that onelie happinesse and felicitie which I expect and hope for Lord euen when it pleaseth thee let me see thy saluation which thou hast promised The imprisonment of the godlie in this life THe godlie whiles they remaine in this world liue as it were in perpetuall imprisonment They are laden with manie chaines and fetters which lie heauie vpon them and cause them to sigh in themselues and to long earnestly for the time of their deliuerance freedom O blessed Lord thou knowest what a burden vnto my soule this corruptible and sinnefull bodie of mine is which I carry coÌ„tinually about with me and how this earthlie mansion keepeth downe and oppresseth my minde and maketh me heauie and vntoward for the performance of that good which thou commandest and wherein my heart desireth to approue it selfe vnto thee I am so fast in prison so much encumbred with manifold annoiances which are as it were so manie heauie irons pressing downe my minde and hindring me from walking before thee with that freedome of spirit and that cheerefulnes and alacrity wherein thou delightest that my soule mourneth secretlie within me and longeth to be freed from this miserie and bondage wherein I am now detained O Lord when wilt thou set me at libertie Continually doe I expect and waite for the redemption of this earthlie and sinfull bodie The vanitie of all earthlie things OH the vanitie of the things of this world riches pleasures honour whatsoeuer else to him that hath a carnall and fleshly eye may seeme most pretious and glorious how fruitles how fading and transitorie are they was there euer anie that found any true peace any sound ioy or contentment in anie or in all of them What a vaine thing then is it for any one to be carried with such an vnsatiable desire after them yea to place if not his onely yet his chiefe happines and felicitie in them as many doe O Lord draw my heart daily more and more from the things of this world whereunto the most are so fast glewed weane my soule both from the loue and desire of them and let my delight be in thee let me reioyce in thee continuallie yea let my soule alwaies long after thee and in comparison of thee esteeme of all these earthly things but as drosse meere vanitie A true discerning of the worlds vanitie maketh men willing to leaue it and desirous of a better estate out of it MAnie there be that complaine of the vanitie and deceitfulnesse of this world and yet are loth to leaue it to depart out of it Such either had neuer a true sight of the vanitie of all things here below and of the wretchednesse and miserie whereunto men euen the best are subiect in this life or else they neuer indeed fullie tasted of the blessednesse and felicitie of the life to come euen those endlesse ioyes and vnspeakable glorie which are prepared and reserued for the Saints in the kingdome of God or if they haue in some sort tasted of this heauenly gift yet without any certaintie or assurance that it belonged vnto them and that their right and portion should be in it and therefore could not be so soundly affected with it as thereby to be brought into a true dislike and contempt of this present euill world which notwithstanding at least they wouâ—d seeme to be out of loue with The man that seeth indeed how vaine how deceitfull and how miserable this world is and hath withall receiued the first fruits of the spirit of God and tasted of the sweetnes blessednes of the world to come and also knoweth that the assurance of the promise thereof is made and sealed vnto him and that by the truth it selfe euen by him whose word shall stand when heauen and earth shall passe away that man as he shall finde cause enough to complaine of this euill world wherein he liueth so it cannot be but that he should desire vnfainedly to be gone out of it to make change for a better euen that which his soule longeth after and in the hope and expectation whereof he resteth continually sighing in himselfe and waiting earnestly for the fruition and full possession thereof when as being vnclothed of the burden of this flesh loosed out of the prison of this earth he shal be clothed with glorie and immortality and liue for euer in that celestiall mansion not made with hands but eternall in the heauens O Lord when shall I be fullie deliuered from the bondage of corruption vnto which I am now daily subject when shall I lay downe this bodie of sinne and death which I now carrie continually about with me when shall I remoue out of this earthlie tabernacle when shall I leaue the wildernesse of this wearisome world and departing from hence be translated into that glorious kingdome of thine which thou hast promised vnto me My soule longeth to dwell in thy courts to see thy saluation to enioy thy blessed presence and to liue and rest with thee continuallie For here alas I find no resting place yea I see vanitie wretchednesse and miserie on euerie side in euerie place One sorrow succeedeth another The snares of many afflictions and temptations haue taken holde of me many deepe waters haue passed ouer me and euen almost ouerwhelmed me I am assailed continually with many and those verie dangerous and perillous enemies who fight against my
most glorious and renowned Prince that euer was in regard of his outward glory wherewith he was inuested and arraied yet he was not like the lilie of the field or the withering and fading grasse whereas all things that are most flourishing on earth no not those celestiall creatures the starres of heauen nor the Sunne and Moone themselues those excellent and glorious lights are comparable to one soule it being of a farre more diuine and excellent nature then they are Good Lord giue me to discerne of things aright let me alwaies esteeme more of those that are inwardly beautified with those vertues graces of the mind wherewith thou hast enriched them and which are the things that are most precious in thy sight and which thou dost much set by then of such as wāting these do most flourish in the world and are most eminent for their externall dignities and excellencies Gods speciall prouidence ouer his children HE that takes care for the watring of his garden the growing of his hearbes and plants and the feeding of his cattle will he not much more be carefull for the feeding and preseruing of his own children whom he loueth and regardeth farre more then all those Seeing therefore God our heauenly father watreth this great garden of the world causeth trees hearbes and plants of all kinds to grow and flourish therein cloaths the fields with so glorious array that great Princes with their shining traine are not like vnto them and seedeth and preserueth continually by his speciall prouidence the beasts of the earth the fowles of the aire and the fishes of the sea will he not doe much more for his owne children who depend vpon him and whom he loueth so deerely and most tenderly regardeth farre aboue all these earthly things Can it be that he should not feed them preserue them and prouide all things for thē which may be for their good estate in this world O the faithlesnesse and infidelitie of man who will not rest on Gods prouidence nor credit and beleeue those promises which he hath made vnto them if they be his O Lord God most gratious and heauenly father grant that whiles I behold the birds of the aire the flowres of the field and all things which thou hast created I may not onely see and acknowledge thy power that made them but also thy prouidence in preseruing feeding and apparelling them and that I may vse them as so many seales to confirme me in the truth of thy gratious promises and in the certaintie of that speciall prouidence of thine ouer me continually euen that thou wilt preserue me cloath me feed me and helpe me in all my necessities supplying all those things vnto me which thou in thy wisdome knowest to be most expedient and requisite for me Herein I rest this is that onely which can make me in all things truly contented and in nothing too carefull and without this my life would be irkesom and burdensome vnto me through that carking care and those manifold distractions which I see in others euen in those that are vnfaithfull O Lord and distrust thy prouidence Contentednes in all estates LOrd I know not what is good for me or which I should desire rather prosperity or aduersity health or sicknes plentie or penurie Thou onely seest thou onely knowest what is euery way best for me Deale therefore gratiously with me do vnto me that which is good in thine eyes and which thou who iudgest and discernest of all things aright seest to be best for me And grant that I may rest contentedly and thankefully in those things which thou according to thy good pleasure shalt bring to passe howsoeuer thou disposest of me Coueteousnes a dangerous disease THe couetous man is like vnto those that haue the dropsie for they that are falne into that disease do desire to drinke continually and yet the more they drinke the more drie the more thirsty they are So it is with the couetous who through the distemper of their minds haue drawne that spirituall dropsie vpon them which is so much worse then the other as the soule is better then the bodie They haue a perpetuall and inordinate lust after riches and the profits and commodities of this world and yet the more they haue them the more they feele and complaine of the want of them the more they increase the faster they come in the more doth their desire of thē increase the greater is their lust and longing after them They are vnsatiable and like the two daughters of the horsleach neuer thinke they haue enough This is an euill sickenesse and yet common and ordinarie amongst men yea many are so farre gone in it that except they seeke to preuent the danger of it in time it will proue incurable and so in the ende become mortall deadly vnto them O Lord giue me grace to couet after the better things euen those which are spirituall heauenly let me neuer be carried away with an immoderate and inordinate desire of these things here below which are earthlie and transitorie but let me alwaies be content with that portion which thou shalt giue vnto me If it be much let me blesse thee for it and be ready to distribute according to the necessities of others If it be little let me blesse and praise thee also knowing that it is sufficient and withall that thou hast prouided better things for me euen that rich inheritance and that induring substance in the heauens of which after this life thou wilt giue me hauing already made me a grant thereof the full fruition and possession for euer And in the meane while howsoeuer my estate is or shall be hereafter in this world giue me a quiet and contented mind which may alwaies rest in thee wholly depend vpon thee who hast promised that thou will not faile nor forsake me nor denie any thing vnto me which thou who knowest what is best for euery one seest to be good for me All must suffer afflictions in this life HE deceiueth himselfe that looketh for a continuall calme whiles he liueth in this world There was neuer man that attained vnto this neuer shall in this life Let him thinke that it is well with him that is not alwaies in a storme that hath not alwaies rough and heard weather whereby that weake and small barke of his is much tossed and troubled but some times though seldome finds the benefit of a pleasant calme whereby he may be refreshed and the better inabled with strength and patience both to expect and to vndergoe the future imminēt troubles which shall betide him O Lord I looke not for my rest whiles I saile in this troublesome sea for thou hast said it and I beleeue it and all thy Saints and seruants haue seene the truth of it in their own experience euen that thorough manie troubles by many afflictions we must haue passage and entrance into thy kingdome when it pleaseth thee O
bin so greatly vexed and so much endangered O Lord thou art the God of my strength I flie vnto thee alone for succour and for aide in these great extremities euen in these grieuous temptations assaults wherby Satan my maine aduersarie doth seeke daily to oppresse my soule Doe thou arme and so strengthen mee with thy grace that through the power of thy might I may preuaile against him and put him to the greatest foile when hee intendeth the greatest mischiefe and thinketh to haue the strongest hand ouer me the most aduantage against me so shall I sing praises vnto thy name both now and euer and teach others to resort vnto thee in their greatest dangers and hardest conflicts euen then when the powers of hell shall set themselues most against them Sathan more dangerous in lesser temptatious sometimes then in greater MAny are free from the danger of greater tentations who are often ouercome of lesser to the ende that they might be truely humbled and haue no confidence in themselues or their owne strength seeing of themselues as they finde by experieÌ„ce they are so weake that the least tentation is too strong for them and therefore could not possibly but fainte presently vnder the greatest and yeeld without any resistance if they were not sustained and supported by the speciall assistance of that powerfull God against whom no emnitie is able to resist yea to whom the very gates of hell are subiect and able to doe nothing without his permission and sufferance who is absolute Lord of all things O Lord thou hast manifested thy power vnto me in deliuering me from the danger of the most grieuous assaults wherewith Sathan hath sought my ouerthrowe and wherby I feared that he would haue soonest preuailed against me thou hast giuen me sufficient proofe of mine own weaknes in suffering me to be foyled where there seemed to be least feare of any such danger O let me alwaies acknowledge mine owne weaknes and impotencie and extoll thy grace and power that so I may not repose any trust or confidence in my selfe or in mine owne streÌ„gth for the resisting of the least emnitie the least assault that at any time is made against me but may wholly at all times rest and depend vpon thee who alone art able to doe all things Whom Sathan tempteth most SAthan is alwaies most busie where he hath least to doe His assaults are strongest where he is most encountred where he hath all things in possession he is quiet Lord I am not ignorant of his continuall enterprises his great forces his dangerous stratagems his mischieuous counsell and diuellish will To whom shall I flie but to thee for helpe for succour and for aide Of my selfe I am weake feeble fainthearted neuer able to meete much lesse to withstand and vanquish so strong an enemie so great an aduersarie I make thee O Lord my onely refuge thou art my strength through the helpe of thy Christ who hath triumphed gloriously ouer Sathan and al spirituall enmities I am able to do all things Strengthen me O my God with thy might through that glorious power of thine wherunto hell it selfe is subiect strengthen me in the houre of tentation Couer my head in the day of battell put thy spirit into my heart and that two-edged sword of thine into my hands and aboue all things giue mee the shield of faith and the helmet of saluation yea put vpon me that whole compleaâ—e armour of thine that I may be able to resist in the euill day when the rage and furie of the enemie shall be greatest and to ouercome yea euen to tread down Satan vnder my feete and so in the end hauing finished all things and kept the faith through hope and patience at length receiue that crowne of righteousnesse which thou hast promised and which as I expect so I know thou the righteous God wilt giue vnto me at that glorious appearance of my blessed Sauiour whose comming as I dailie looke for so I desire thee to hasten Come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen The wonderfull workes of God in heauen and earth STand and consider lift vp thine eyes to heauen and after that cast them downe to the earth and behold the workes of God shalt thou not haue cause to admire at the wisedome thou shalt finde in them and to giue glorie to the Lord the Creator preseruer of them Looke vp and consider the light of the Sun euen that noble and swift giant which is appointed of the Lord to runne his race euerie day and to be his messenger to shew forth to the world the glorie of his Maker Consider the Moone the number and order of the Starres that faire and excellent curtaine which the Lord hath drawne ouer vs. Consider also the power and changes of the wind the store-house and treasuries of the raine haile snow lightning thunder the multitude and huge heaps of the waters in that vast depth that great Leuiathan which taketh his pastime therein with innumerable creatures else which liue and moue there Consider likewise the earth thou treadest vpon the natures and kindes of beasts the fruites of the trees the varietie of flowers the properties of stones the vertue of herbes of plants and roots In brief the whole earth the sea the heaueÌ„s with all their rich and glorious furniture Haue they not written and engrauen vpon them in great and text letters Praise and glorie to the Lord Yea do but looke vpon thy selfe and into thy selfe and shalt thou not find in thee a little world of strange admirable works of God Yea O Lord al things are full of thy wisedome and of the glorie of thy mightie power O let me delight in the consideration of them let my minde bee raised vp by them to the meditation of the excellencie and great renowne of thee the Creator and maker of them yea let my heart be drawne thereby to a holie and reuerent feare of thy glorious Maiestie and to an earnest desire and entire affectioÌ„ to sing praises continually vnto thee A shame it is for me to bee dumbe or silent since all thy creatures are so loude neuer ceasing to speake of thy praise and to shew foorth thy glorie in that excellent workmanship which thine owne hand hath framed in the heauens the earth the seas and all places A caueat for rash censurers of the weaknesses and infirmities of others IT is a thing incident to the nature of men to bee very curious in prying into the faults of others very carelesse in searching into their owne waies or taking a view of those sins and corruptions which lie lurking in their owne bosomes Experience euery where giueth too cleere euidence of this It is a vice which euery one that hath any care or conscience to order his life according to the prescript and determinate rule of Gods word must labour diligently to reforme himselfe of And sure it were wisdome for men rather to bee curious
eye of his soule that vnspeakable glorie and those endlesse riches and treasures of euerlasting felicitie and blessednes which to the eye of the bodie are inuisible and cannot be seene of any but of those onely which are spirituall O blessed Lord what is there on this earth wherein my soule can finde any pleasure or vnto which I should giue the affections of my heart On euery side I see nothing but miserie and vanitie continuall occasion of griefe and mourning My treasure my ioy and happinesse is in heauē euen in the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where thou hast prepared such things for me as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or comprehend O therefore let mine eye neuer be fixed vpon any earthly obiect but let me alwaies be looking vp vnto thee and to that heauenly mansion where such glorious things are reserued for me Especiall fauours of God towards vs often and more especially to bee remembred of vs. IT is a good thing to be often meditating vpon the goodnesse and louing kindnesse of the Lord towards vs in those speciall fauours and blessings whereby hee hath chiefly and most euidently manifested his loue vnto vs and his fatherly care ouer vs yea the least of his mercies ought daily to be remembred of vs that so in all things wee might stirre vp our selues vnto true thankfulnes which is a thing wherewith he is greatly delighted and for which hee extendeth his louing fauour in a more plentifull encrease of his blessings and benefits O mercifull Lord how great is thy goodnesse towards me how exceeding gratious hast thou been alwaies vnto me The mercies which thou hast freely vouchsafed vnto mee are infinite and innumerable I am not able to recount thē O let me euer be thinking of them and lifting vp my heart continuallie with vnfained praise and thankes vnto thy Maiestie for them that so it may please thee to cause the light of thy grace and fauour to shine still vpon me euen vnto the end of my daies How the conscience is disquieted and wounded HE is a happie man that doth alwaies carefullie auoide euery thing whatsoeuer it be that may be either a staine or a burthen vnto his conscience he shall surely enioy the benefit of a quiet and of a peaceable minde with much freedome and libertie of spirit whereas on the other side he that hath little or no care of this dutie that regardeth not how hee defileth his conscience or what loade hee laieth vpon it by doing those things which are either altogether vnlawfull in themselues or else vnlawfull vnto him because either hee hath no warrant for the doing of them or else faileth in the maner of the doing of them hee thereby brings a greater miserie vpon himselfe then for the present hee can thinke of and for which hereafter hee shall meete with much vntimely griefe and sorrow and taste of much bitternes in his soule and spirit O Lord let me bee carefull alwaies to vse all meanes whereby I may keepe a cleere and a pure cōscience doing that good with all diligence which thou hast commanded and abstaining with all my strength from that euil which thou hast forbidden and from whatsoeuer I cannot haue resolution out of thy word for the lawfulnes of it that so I may haue comfort both in life and in death The dulnes and sottishnes of worldlings O The dulnes of the hearts of men who minde only those things which are present neuer regarding those which are to come How sottish is the nature of man that delighteth only to lie groueling on this earth and to satisfie his carnall his sensuall appetite in the enioying of these things which are but vaine and corruptible yea that neglecteth euen heauen and happinesse it selfe so that hee may haue his fill of them O Lord let me alwaies be far otherwise affected then the men of this world are who sauour onely of those things which are carnall and earthly vaine hope of a long life vpon earth as many doe When it is morning let me think that I shall not liue vnto the euening and when the euening is come let me not promise vnto my selfe assurance of life vntill the next morning sith there is no power thereof in my hands But let me liue so continually as if death were to seize vpon me presently yea let me so liue alwaies as if I were to die the same instant euen whē death might seeme to bee furthest off from mee that thus hauing death alwaies present before mine eyes I may learne daily to die vnto the world esteeming the things thereof as nothing though neuer so highly prized of the men of this world and to aspire daily more and more vnto that spirituall and heauenly life in thy Christ that so when bodilie death shall close vp these eyes of mine I may not rest in darknesse and be as those that are cut off from their hope and lost their comfort but depart in peace into that light of glorie where I shal enioy thy blessed presence and behold thee face to face for euermore to my vnspeakable happinesse and felicitie As is the life of a man so is his death and finall estate AS is the life of man so is his death and as it is with him in death so shall it bee in the last and dreadfull iudgement Hee that hath a care to liue well it cannot be but that he should die well and he that dies well shall assuredly finde the iudgement day to bee a maruellous refreshing vnto him On the other side he that liues ill how can he haue any hope that he shall die well and if hee be miserable in his death how much more in the day of iudgement Oh what a terror shal that day be vnto him who is able to conceiue what a sea of miserie and horrour shall then suddenlie ouerwhelme him in most fearfull manner O my God thou who art my strength my hope and my saluation giue mee both an earnest desire and a carefull endeuour to direct all my waies and to order the whole course of my life according vnto the rule prescript of thy holy word let it bee my care to haue a good conscience in all things and to liue so that my life being approoued of thee my death may bee blessed and my appearance before thee in the day of thy comming with ioy and comfort when as the wicked shall not bee able to stand in thy presence but call to the mountaines and to the rocks to fall vpon them and to hide them from the fiercenes of thy wrath which shall be as a consuming fire to deuoure all the vngodly of the earth Iudgement day how terrible it will be to the wicked THe angrie countenance of a seuere Iudge how dreadfull is it vnto the malefactor that stands endited at the barre before him what a terror doth it strike into him how doth it astonish and amaze him
stand together the one of theÌ„ doth exclude the other the more the one of theÌ„ doth increase the more the other must needs decrease and bee diminished Is there any therefore that with a greedie and ambitious minde doth hunt after the praise of men and the glorie of this world sure it cannot be but that he should exceed in charitie who shall thinke him to bee truly religious or well affected towards God or vnfainedly desirous of his glorie O Lord let not my heart bee set vpon the glorie which is froÌ„ earth and from men but vpon that which is from heauen euen that which commeth from thee alone Let the glorie of this world though neuer so glittering in the eyes of men seeme vnto me as indeed it is in it selfe but vaine vanitie yea more vaine then vanitie it selfe but let the glorie of thy name bee deare and pretious vnto me aboue al those things which are most desired of theÌ„ that know thee not yea O Lord let it please thee to inflame this chill and this cold heart of mine with a greater loue and zeale thereof dailie more and more and to increase in me an earnest desire and endeuour to seeke and to set it foorth to the vttermost of my power and by al means and vpon all occasions which thou shalt offer vnto me In this onely let me alwaies be very ambitious A singular priuiledge belonging vnto all the children of God THe Lord doth cause all things to work together for the best vnto his children It is good for euery one of the godly to labor to see and to finde this by experience in himselfe and in his owne estate The diligent obseruation hereof cannot but make him both patient cheerefull and vnfainedly thankfull in all miseries and afflictions either outward or inward whether it be sicknesse of bodie or distresse of minde or whatsoeuer else may befall him throughout the whole course of his life euen to his last houre O gracious father whose exceeding loue and vnspeakable goodnes all thy children doe daily tast of in so great and abundant measure giue me I humbly pray thee not onely to see and acknowledge the same with al thankfulnes but also to haue a liuely sense and feeling thereof at all times in all things Let me assuredly perswade my selfe that thou doest loue me and hast loued me eternally in thy sonne and in thy loue towards me doest and wilt cause euery thing which betideth me in this world to tend vnto my greatâ—st good and let the assuraÌ„ce together with the continuall experieÌ„ce hereof cause me to rest quietly contentedly and thankfully in all estates howsoeuer it shall please thee to deale with me Iustification by faith onely IS it not strange that any should be so blind so extreamly deluded with a vaine and fond conceite of their owne goodnes and inherent holines as to thinke or once to imagine that they may stand iust before God thorough their owne righteousnes that they should perswade themselues that by the merit and worthinesse of their owne workes they haue right and interest vnto life and saluation yea that they should challenge and make claime thereunto as vnto that which is due vnto them as a iust recompence and reward which they haue well deserued and which God himselfe cannot without iniustice detaine and withhold from them nay that they should goe so farre as to affirme boldly that they may doe workes of supererogation more then God hath commanded or could require at their hands such as wherby they may merit great things not onely for themselues but for others also Had they euer the spirit of Christ or did they euer receiue the annointing of that holy one who teach maintaine or beleeue this doctrine so directly crosse and contrarie vnto the Scriptures so exceeding derogatorie from the free grace and mercie of God and from the merit of the death and passion of Christ Iesus our onely sauiour and redeemer by and for whose satisfaction obedience and righteousnesse alone we receiue the promise of the Gospell through faith without any deserts of our owne Alas what is man or what are the workes of the best men that they should present them vnto God and plead with him for the obtaining of so great a reward for the righteousnes and worthinesse of their owne deedes Nay certaine it is that if God should make inquiry into the best actions of the most holy and sanctified men that liue vpon the earth or that euer were most pure most perfect and most spotlesse and blamelesse in this world as great is the commendation wherewith God hath honoured many of his Saints if he should marke and obserue them and enter into iudgement with them for the same there is none no not one of them as the best and holiest of them haue freelie acknowledged that should bee iustified yea that should not be condemned and perish euerlastingly being neuer able to endure his presence so pure and so holy is his Maiestie so iust and so righteous are his iudgements that no flesh can abide the triall thereof O Lord most glorious and most righteous God when I looke vp vnto the throne of thy iustice and set my self before thy tribunall and iudgement seate I feare tremble am ready to flie froÌ„ thy presence as not able to stand before thee nor to answere for one of a thousand of those things whereby I haue most grieuously offended thy most glorious Maiesty and for which thou mightest iustly condemne mee for euer if thou shouldest once call me vnto a straite account of the same yea euen of the least of them and deale with me therein not according to thy great mercie but according vnto mine owne deseruings When I looke back vnto my life past take a view of the whole course therof how sinfull how vnfruitfull vnprofitable it hath been I am confounded in my selfe and dare not lift vp mine eyes to heauen for the multitude of my offences and transgressions whereby I haue continually displeased prouoked thee When I consider my present estate how many weaknesses and infirmities I am subiect vnto how sinne cleaueth fast vnto me and inuironeth and compasseth me round about on euery side yea how defectiue my best endeuours how corrupt and sinfull my best actions and seruices are and haue been yea how much my whole life hath swarued from that perfect and exact rule of iustice which thy law requireth I am astonied and strickeÌ„ with a great feare knowing that the time will shortlie come when I must appeare before the tribunall of thy iustice to answere for all my actions euen for all those things which I haue done in the flesh the workes of my hands the words of my mouth and the most secret thoughts and imaginations of my hart and to receiue accordingly What therefore is my hope vnto whom shall I flie wherein is my trust Surely my hope my trust and my confidence is not in any merits
the whole world but they would presently cut off all delaies which in good things are alwaies exceeding dangerous and seeke diligently by all meanes to leade their liues in that manner and so to secure their estate that in death they might haue assurance that they should not die but liue hauing their soules translated and carried though not by firie chariots as Elias was yet by the hands of those heauenlie Angels which continually waite and attend vpon them from earth to heauen from this vale of miserie to that place of endlesse glorie and happinesse O Lord keepe me from that extreame follie and simplicitie of the wicked whom Satan hath so deceiued and deluded that they should be carelesse of that which most neerly concernes them euen their future and eternall estate after this life which depends vpon the course of their life lead in this world which is short and momentarie Let it bee my care and endeuour euery day to seeke by a holy conuersation to be assured of the certaintie of my election and of my blessed and happie estate after this life euen my future glorification in thy kingdom that so I may be alwaies prepared and rest continually in a ioyfull hope and expectation of the accomplishment and fulfilling of thy gratious promise Freewill IT is a vaine thing to thinke that a man hath freewill vnto that which is good As well maist thou perswade me that a stone can moue it selfe or that a dead bodie can raise it selfe out of the graue Except the Lord put to his hand wee can neuer moue our selues no not to one good motion one good thought or desire much lesse giue our selues to the constant practise of that which is good Except the Lord put new life into vs except he quicken vs with his spirit we are al but dead men and shall lie in our graues vntill we be awaked vnto iudgement O Lord the fountaine of grace and life doe thou quicken me so shall I liue do thou lift me vp so shall I rise out of the graue of sinne and death Doe thou draw me so shall I come vnto thee yea so shall I euen runne with libertie in all the waies of thy commandements Heare me O Lord and help me for in thee doe I trust in whom onely I liue moue and haue my being and without whom all my life is but death Without thee I can doe nothing In thee and by thee all things What worship God especially requireth MAny performe outward worship and seruice vnto God few that which is inâ—ard Both are required but the latter is chiefly necessarie without which the former though commanded is neither pleasing nor acceptable yea vile and abominable vnto him that hath alwaies loathed such dead carcases such liuelesse sacrifices Lord giue me grace alwaies to offer vnto thee a whole burnt offering to serue thee as in bodie which thou hast made for that end so especially in spirit and in truth so shall I not bee reproued yea then thou wilt accept both of me and of all my sacrifices and be exceeding gracious and mercifull vnto me aboue that I can expect or desire Christians are willingly to resigne themselues and all that they enioy to Gods will ALL those things which wee enioy in this world are not our owne but Gods he gaue them to vs to vse and at his pleasure he may call for them and cause vs to restore them to him againe since he alone hath absolute right and interest in them Whiles wee haue them wee are to haue a care to vse them well and not to neglect them or to bee regardlesse of them We ought to vse them and yet not so to vse them as if they were our own but lent vnto vs by another of whom we haue receiued them When hee taketh them from vs we are willingly to restore them and readily without any murmuring or repining to part with them sith they were but lent vnto vs for a time for our conuenient or necessarie vse and are now called for againe by the right owner of them so that to bee vnwilling to returne them at his commaund is not neither ought to bee otherwise esteemed of vs then as the vsurping or violent detaining of another mans goods against his will and pleasure euen theft and robberie against the highest What meaneth it theÌ„ that many are so loth to restore the things which God hath giuen them the vse of for a while and now requireth of them againe What meanes it that many are so grieued to part with those things which the Lord hath lent them vntil such time as he should call for them Yea why is it that many complaine so grieuously as if they were greatly iniured or had very hard measure offered vnto them when the Lord taketh from them their wiues their children their friends their goods their lands liuings or their life it selfe Are they their owne and not Gods Why then should they sinne against him by repining that they cannot keepe them against his will Hath he giuen vnto them the vse of them thus long doth he now call for them and require them againe of them Why then should they not with al willingnes and thankfulnes restore them acknowledging themselues much indebted vnto him for the fruition of them and the benefit they haue receiued by them hitherto O Lord thou hast freely and most graciouslie vouchsafed many blessings and benefits vnto me euen in the things of this world the least whereof I am altogether vnworthie of thou hast giuen me life health friends and a competencie of these earthly things which in wisedome thou sawest to bee conuenient for me thou art the author and giuer of them as of all other things which are good Whiles it pleaseth thee to continue them vnto me for my vse giue me grace to vse them soberly in a sanctified manner so as may be most for thy glorie and my comfort both here and hereafter wheÌ„ it shall please thee to take theÌ„ away from me and to depriue me either of any or of all of them grant that I may with a willing minde and with a thankfull heart returne them againe vnto thee saying with that faithfull and constant seruant of thine whom thou hast made a paterne and president vnto me Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither euen into the bellie of the earth which is the mother of vs all the Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken it blessed be the name of the Lord. Forgiuing of others how necessary for all men HE can neuer truely and freely forgiue those that offend and iniurie him that hath not first tasted of the infinite loue and fauour of God in Christ towards him in the forgiuenes of those manifold sinnes and innumerable and most grieuous offeÌ„ces whereby he hath displeased and prouoked him But he that hath a true apprehension and a liuely sense and feeling hereof in his owne soule
especially in the last houre when all worldly comforts shall flie from vs and vtterly forsake vs As Rahabs threed was better vnto her then all her goods and substance wheÌ„ the sword came so wil this be better vnto vs theÌ„ all the world when death comes assailes vs which we know not when or how soone it will O mercifull God I beseech thee make me wise to consider of these things that so I may finde comfort both now and hereafter when I shall most want it most desire it and when as without it I cannot but bee exceeding wretched and miserable Grant me thy grace to serue thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all my daies yea to walk before thee in truth and sinceritie with a perfect heart and to doe alwaies that which is good in thy sight and pleasing vnto thy Maiestie that so hauing my coÌ„uersation in this world in simplicitie and godly purenes I may haue the testimonie of my conscience to be my reioycing and as it were a continuall feast vnto me al my life long in all troubles miseries and afflictions whatsoeuer yea and that when this short and transitorie life shall draw to an end and al worldly comforts become vaine and no waies auaileable vnto me I may haue the sweete comfort and solace hereof following and accompanying me vnto death and resting and remaining with me in death that so when at length I shall send foorth my last breath calling to minde and recounting my sinceritie in thy seruice and resting vpoÌ„ thy gracious promise for the couering of my manifold defects and infirmities with thy sonnes righteousnes I may then euen lift vp my head with confidence and boldnes and taking my farewell of this wearisome world depart hence with ioy and reioycing knowing assuredly that I shal not die but liue being clothed with glorie and immortalitie for euermore This is my life my hope They â—hat liue not thus they die whiles they liue and wheÌ„ they once die they die for euer Oh therefore that all would so liue that thus they might haue peace and comfort whiles they liue and in the end die the death of the righteous and be made partakers of their glorie which many wish for few seeke after but fewest of all attaine vnto Sinne exceeding dangerous though pleasant for a time SInne is sweet and pleasant for the present at least it seemeth so to the wicked who neuer tasted of any sweeter delicates But certaine howsoeuer they relish it for the present yet doubtlesse they shall finde to their griefe and sorrow that in the end it will bee as bitter as gall or wormewood yea as death it selfe O Lord let me neuer delight in those deceiuable pleasures of sinne which last but for a season the end whereof is bitternes and destructioÌ„ let mee neuer willingly take down no nor so much as once taste of those poysoned morsels which the wicked vngodly swallow with so much greedinesse as though they could neuer bee satisfied or glutted with them but let me bee alwaies carefull to auoide all sinne as I would doe the rankest poyson which being though neuer so little but once tasted of present death must needes followe except there be a speciall recouerie by that sole and soueraigne medicine of Christs righteousnes which is neither giuen nor can be applied to any of those who wilfully and desperatly drinke downe any of that deadly poyson though they be oft forewarned of the danger of it The vsuall euent of Satans practises against the Church of God IT hath alwaies been and it is diligeÌ„tly to be obserued that by what plots and practises soeuer Satan hath attempted the vndermining of the Church of God and the finall subuersion and ouerthrow of the same they haue turned in the end if not to the ruine yet to the weakning of his owne kingdom so that he receiued the greatest foile where hee thought he should haue most preuailed Especially wee of this nation haue seene this more apparaÌ„tly in later yeers and as it was the Lords doing and wonderfull in our eyes so ought wee neuer to forget it but to bee alwaies mindfull of it yea to make report of it vnto those that are a farre off and to rehearse it hereafter to those that are yet vnborne that so the goodnes of the Lord the care which he hath ouer his Church may bee knowne and acknowledged and due thankes praise and glorie be returned vnto him by many for the same in all ensuing ages O Lord remember thy wonted mercies and continue still good and gracious vnto thy Church chosen O be thou fauourable vnto thy Sion and build vp the walles of Ierusalem make vp the breaches and repaire the ruines and the desolate and decaied places thereof disappoint Satan in al his mischieuous counsell and diuellish policies deuices wherby he seeketh the ouerthrow of it Cast out all the cursed Iebusites which disturbe the peace and are enemies vnto the prosperitie of it keepe it as thy little flock which hath alwaies been tender and deare vnto thee loue it and delight in it as in thine owne spouse which thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe out of all the nations of the earth blesse and sanctifie it with thy grace defend it alwaies with thy mightie power Compasse it with a wall of fire round about and fight thou from heaueÌ„ against theÌ„ that fight against it Thus O Lord bee thou gracious to thine owne inheritance thy chosen Sion Let peace bee within the walles and plenteousnesse within the palaces thereof that so thy Gospell may florish thy name be glorified thy seruants comforted thy Saints repaired the number of thy children on earth accomplished these sinfull daies finished and finally the glorious kingdom of thy Son fully established for euer in the heauens Amen Christians ought to keepe continuall watch in regard of Satans assaults SEest thou not how carefull those that are besieged assaulted of their enemies are to haue their Centinels and to make their defence sure and to fortifie those places especially where the enemie giueth the fiercest onset or where there is more danger that a breach should be made for his entrance Behold thou art coÌ„tinually enuironed with many spirituall enemies the powers of darknesse which haue beset thee round about on euery side They haue laid a strong siege against thee and assault thee euery houre euery moment seeking by all meanes to make a breach into thy soule and to bring both thy soule and bodie to perpetuall ruine and desolation and wilt thou then be secure wilt thou bee carelesse nay wilt thou foolishly set open the gates consenting vnto sin in the temptations thereof that so Satan may enter in and make a spoile of thee O Lord though many bee so foolish and vnwise yet suffer not me to bee like vnto them but since so many and so dangerous enemies those spirituall wickednesses doe bend their forces and intrench themselues about me continually grant
and raigning with thee and with all that heauenly and victorious host of thine in glorious and triumphant manner for euermore Amen The difficultie of conquering a mans selfe and his owne affections A Man must striue along while and that with great earnestnes and continuall exercise and endeauour before he can ouercome himselfe and hauing mastered his owne will and waiward affections giue vp himselfe wholly vnto the obedience of God in all things with humble submission both of body and soule So great resistance and opposition shal he finde within himselfe by reason of his corrupt nature euen that treacherous enemie which lieth lurking continually in his owne bosome haling and drawing him from that which is good and hindring him in euery godly purpose and in euery holy action and religious enterprise in such sorte that except he euen offer violence as it were vnto himselfe and to his sinfull nature and labor with a strong hand to subdue corruption within him he cannot preuaile O Lord my strength without thee I can doe nothing vnto thee therefore do I stretch forth my hands Thou knowest how weake and how fraile I am how vnable of my selfe to resist that secret enemie which continually opposeth himselfe against me in euery thing which is good thou seest how hard a matter it is for me to bring euery thought of my heart euery motion desire and inclination of my will and euery action of my life vnto that subiection and obedience which thou requirest how difficult to frame my selfe wholly vnto thy will and to submit my selfe vnto thee in all things according vnto that rule and commandement which thou hast giuen vnto me O therfore let it please thee to strengthen me with thy grace which alone is sufficient for me let it please thee to helpe me in all my weaknesses and to giue vnto me a greater measure of Christian fortitude and of spirituall courage and resolution withall to giue good successe vnto all my actions enterprises and endeauours in the way of godlines and saluation yea O Lord let it please thee to leade me forth in the constant and continuall practise and exercise of pietie and true religion and in the resistance of all enmitie whatsoeuer that so when the time of this spirituall warfare is ended I may receiue that incorruptible crowne of life and glorie which thou hast promised vnto them that ouercome The worlds esteeme of Gods children IF one comes into the presence of a kings sonne or some great or noble personage hee no sooner seeth him but he is moued with reuerence and sheweth that according to the worthines of his person he doth regard and honour him But as for the sonnes of God who haue God to their father Christ their elder brother all the Saints and Angels their companions and fellow-bretheren and the kingdome of heauen it selfe their inheritance for euer where they are to liue and raigne as kings in that glory which is vnspeakeable how little are they regarded in the world how meanly accounted of What small honour is shewed vnto them whom the king of heauen doth and will honour so greatly Nay are they not of all men the most base and contemptible in the eyes of men The nearer they are vnto God the more they are loued and honoured of him are they not the more hated despised of the world Euen holy Dauid a man after Gods owne heart is but a worme and not a man in the account of men Iehoshua and his followers monstrous persons Paul and the rest of the Apostles as the filth and of scouring of all things men vnworthie to liue vpon the earth In briefe all the saints who are deare and precious in the eyes of God euen made signes and wonders amongst men Cease to wonder at this It is no newe no strange thing The world knoweth and hath alwaies knowen his owne and maketh much of them but those that are Gods it neither knowes nor regardeth And no marueile since it knoweth not God himselfe but hateth and despiseth him euen whiles in a false and counterfaite maner it professeth loue vnto him Behold we euen all the faithfull are now the sonnes of God such loue such honor hath our heauenly Father vouchsafed vnto vs but yet our glory and dignity doth not appeare but when Christ our hope our life and glorie shal be reuealed and made manifest then shall we be changed into the glory of his image we shal be like vnto him and then shall the blinde and contemptuous world both see and know him and vs to their owne shame and confusion Lord let me neuer regard the railings of the wicked Shemeis of this world nor the mockes and scoffes of those prophane Ishmaelites who could neuer abide thy chosen people the sonnes of the promise for whom thou hast prouided the inheritāce yea let me passe very little to be iudged of mans iudgement euen of those who are carried whither their owne blinde and corrupt reason or fancie leadeth them But let me alwaies know and consider that thou seest not as man seest that thy thoughts are not as their thoughts but that I am deare and precious in thy sight and shal be glorious hereafter for euer euen with the same glorie wherewith thy Christ my sauiour is glorious Let mine eyes alwaies be fixed vpon that blessed estate wherein I shall continue for euer in the heauens and let the hope thereof cause me to purge my selfe that I may be pure euen as he is pure vnto whom then I shall bee made conformable in righteousnesse glorie and happines Another THe sonne and heire of a Noble man or some great personage whiles he liueth obscurely in a strange and farre country beeing not knowne is not regarded but lieth open to the contempt and abuse of the meanest and vilest persons who if they knew his estate would more highly esteeme of him Lord let me not care how vile or base soeuer I seeme whiles I liue heere in a strange place vnknowen vnregarded since thou hast assured me that I shal be so glorious at my returne into mine owne countrey the habitation of thy saints that heauenly paradise that celestiall Ierusalem the citie of thee the euerliuing God the glory whereof is vnspeakeable God and the world of a different iudgement GOd seeth not as man seeth They are many times of great esteeme amongst men who are vile in Gods sight such as he hath reiected And on the other side they are highly in Gods fauour oftentimes who are very meanly esteemed of among men yea despised and accounted as the refuse of men and the ofscouring of the world Those which seeme the least and most contemptible in the eye of men are oft the greatest and most honourable in the sight of God and those which seeme the very abiects of men such as in whom nothing is to be desired appeare as glorious before him O Lord seeing thou dost iudge so differently from that which the world
any thing not fearing the feare of those that bee thine enemies and hate thee Feare of God speaking in his word MEn we see oft times are stricken and amazed at the sudden noise of a great thunder-clap they tremble and quake yea this causeth many with the Heathenish Emperour to seeke for couert and to hide and shroud themselues for feare And yet behold such is the corruption of mans nature such is their stupiditie that although they heare daily a greater more dreadfull noise euen the mightie and terrible voice of God which soundeth in his word and whereby he threatneth them in most fearefull manner not only with temporall iudgement but also with eternall perdition and destruction yet they are scarce once moued they feare not they doe not quake and tremble but sooth vp themselues in the wickednesse of their hearts and blesse themselues in their sinfull and vngodlie waies thinking that al is well and dreaming of nothing but of peace and safetie when thir confusion is neerest and sudden destruction and desolation ready presently to seize vpon them O let it be otherwise with me with all them that feare thy name O Lord let me be touched rightly affected with the consideration of thy great and glorious maiestie when I behold thy wondrous and maruellous workes how thou casts forth thy lightnings vnto the ends of the world and thundrest from heauen with a mightie voice at the noise whereof euen the bruit beasts and dumbe creatures doe quake and tremble for feare Let these things cause me to acknowledge the greatnes of thy power to stand in a holie and awfull reuerence of thy presence and to giue glorie vnto thy name who art the mightie and glorious God of heauen and earth but let me be much more moued and inwardly affected when I heare the voice of that mightie and powerfull Word of thine which goeth out of thy mouth and which thou causest to sound in mine eares by the ministerie of men whom thou hast ordained and in and by whom thou speakest both to the eares and to the hearts of men O let this word of thine which in it selfe is mightie in operation and whereby through the working of thy spirit thou doest maruellous things let it strike and break in sunder this hard and stonie heart of mine let â—r cause me to tremble at the hearing of it yea euen to fall downe before thee and to adore thy maiestie to be afraid of thy displeasure and to serue thee with an humble and with a contrite heart all my daies Then according vnto thy promise thou wilt looke mercifully vpon me thou wilt deale exceedingly graciously with me yea though heauen be thy throne and the earth thy footstoole yet thou wilt vouchsafe to dwell with me by the comfortable presence of thy grace and blessed spirit for euermore Knowledge and conscience must goe togther MAny labour for knowledge few for conscieÌ„ce to practise those things which they know Such knowledge is vaine and bringeth no profit to him that hath it â—â—e what if thou couldest repeate all the most pithie sentences of the wisest and grauest Philosophers and the greatest Sages that euer were it were nothing Yea what if thou couldest say ouer the whole Bible without book and with the superstitious Iew tell exactly how oft euery letter were found in the same and withall wert able to expound the hardest and most difficult places therein that could be put vnto thee so that al that heard of thee did admire thee as one very rare and eminent in thy kinde All this were nothing it were in vaine and no waies auaileable vnto thee if thou wert not as carefull to haue thy heart touched thy minde sanctified and thy life reformed as thy head stuffed and filled with varietie and abundance of knowledge learning if thou didst not labour as much if not more for the practise of those things which thou knowest then for the bare and naked speculation it selfe without fruther profit Giue me grace O Lord as to vse all good meanes to attaine vnto all kinde of learning which is necessarie and profitable for me especially the knowledge of thy word and those secret and hidden mysteries which thou hast therein reuealed so much more with all diligence carefully and conscionably to practise those things which I haue learned ioyning to my knowledge vertue faith temperance patience godlinesse and vnfained loue and charitie vnto all men euen mine enemies and those that are most bitter towards me yea most wickedly and malitiously set against me that thus the knowledge which by thy blessing I shall attaine vnto may not bee idle or vnprofitable but I may abound and encrease in the fruits thereof to the praise of thy name the benefit of others among whoÌ„ I shall liue mine owne comfort in this life and the furtherance of my saluation in thy kingdome after this life for euer Another IT is not without cause that the Scriptures make the heart the seate of truth sinceritie and vprightnes and not the head seeing the heart is the seate and subiect of the affectioÌ„s the braine of knowledge vnderstanding iudgment A man may know and vnderstand much and yet be very ill affected he may be of a large capacitie and of a very deepe apprehension euen of the greatest mysteries of Christian religion and yet be of an exceeding corrupt minde and of a most vnsound life Knowledge is good and to be desired and sought for and that with diligence but yet good affection must be ioyned with it and increased by it or else it will not bee profitable but hurtfull and dangerous making the owner of it rather worse then better It is a good thing to know much but it is better and more acceptable to God to affect the good things wee know that wee might practise them and to dislike the euill we know that wee might shunne and auoid them God euer loued and delighted more in the truth and sinceritie of the heart then in the bare speculation and fruitlesse apprehensions of the minde and vnderstanding part Let it be my desire O Lord my care and my earnest endeuour rather to liue well then to know much let me labour for both since both are necessarie yet alwaies preferre this before the other seeing that without this is least profitable and more dangerous not of it selfe but through the fault of him that vseth it amisse making the life more corrupt and bringing with it the greater condemnation in the end The worldly mans Idoll THat which euerie one most setteth his heart vpon that doth hee make his God yea rather his Idol Thus the God of the couetous is riches euen that cursed Mammon The God of the voluptuous pleasure of the ambitious honour O then how many vile and wicked Idolaters bee there in the world Surely as many as doe giue themselues ouer to couetousnesse ambition and voluptuousnes euen the excessiue and inordinate desire of the vaine and
from the Eagle to the flie from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall from the starres of heauen to the dust of the earth and from the Angels of God to the wormes that creepe vpon the ground Who is there that considereth of them aright or is so affected with them as he ought Lord let me alwaies delight to be searching into them and in them as in a glasse see cleerely thy wisdome and mightie power and learne to know thee the Creator of all things both in heauen and in earth and in all places and knowing thee to worship and serue thee in spirit and truth lest I be like vnto the heathen who when by the frame and workmanship of the world and the creatures therein wherein thy maruellous wisdom is ingrauen they knew thee to be God and yet glorified thee not as God became vile and abominable and altogether inxecusable forsaking thee their Creator who art blessed for euer Amen Worke of Redemption OF al the workes of God that of the Redemption of man-kind is most wonderfull and glorious whether we consider the person of the Redeemer the persons redeemed or the meanes and manner in and by which it was effected and brought to passe It passeth all knowledge all vnderstanding The Angels â—et 1.12 those heauenly creatures doe admire at it and desire continually to haue a more cleare and perfect insight into it as being so great and vnsearchable a mysterie that no creature is able fully to comprehend the breadth the length and depth and height of it Oh the maruellous blindnes of men for whom it was wrought that they can see and discerne so little of it their great forgetfulnes that they so seldome remember it their extreame sottishnes that they scarce euer admire it in that holy maner that they ought yea rather little regard it and esteeme very lightlie of it O merciful God farre be it from me to sinne so great a sinne against thy maiestie by prising so inestimable a benefit so much vnder the worth and value of it and by being so meanely affected with it as the most are yea let me and al thy redeemed ones alwaies cleerely behold and faithfully remember this great and gratious worke of thine towards vs let vs highly esteeme of it reioyce continually and glorie in it and vncessantlie praise and magnifie thee for it for euer What can be rendred vnto thee O Lord for so great loue for those exceeding riches of thy grace towards vs in Christ Iesus what can be rendred vnto thee worthie of that infinit goodnesse of thine sufficient for so vnspeakable mercie and bounty All that we can returne vnto thee for it is honour glorie and thanksgiuing O let vs neuer be found wanting in this seeing we owe vnto thee much more although there is nothing that thou more desirest of vs and yet euen this is thy gift also yea thy especiall grace O doe thou make me truly and vnfainedly thankefull Mercies of God WE can neuer be sufficiently thankfull vnto the Lord for the least of those blessings which he daily and most freely vouchsafeth vnto vs health peace libertie maintenance and continuall protection preseruation c. and yet who is there almost that is heartily and vnfainedly thankefull for those great and wonderfull mercies of his which coÌ„cerne our eternall happinesse saluation in the heauens euen that glorious estate which of his free grace and bountie he hath promised vnto vs and will in due time giue vs full possession of for euer O the exceeding dulnesse of the hearts of men that are no more mooued with the consideration of these things yea that esteeme more of those ordinary kindnesses which are shewed vnto them by men then of all those infinit and vnspeakable blessings and benefites which are vouchsafed vnto them by so gratious a God so kinde and louing a Father O Lord let me neuer be vnmindfull of the least of thy mercies and fauours which thou hast shewed vnto me from the beginning of my life vnto this present giue me a thankful heart for them especially lift vp my heart and soule vnto a due and serious meditation of those great and inestimable mercies of thine wherein thou hast in a speciall maner shewed thy selfe so exceeding good and gratious vnto me in electing me vnto life and saluation in freeing and deliuering me from that wretched estate and that wofull miserie whereinto I was so deeply plunged by the sin of my first parents in redeeming me therefrom by so deare a price euen the death of thine own Sonne my blessed Sauiour in adopting me into the number of thy children by faith in him and in prouiding that glorious mansion for me in the heauens there to liue and raigne with thee for euer O giue me a liuely sense and feeling of thy goodnesse thy loue and vnspeakable mercies so gratiously vouchsafed vnto me so vile and vnworthie a creature Inflame my heart with an vnfained and most entire loue of thy maiestie and let my mouth alwaies praise thee yea let me in heart in soule and with all the powers of the same praise thee continually and yeeld that glorie which is due vnto thee both now and euermore Amen The folly of the wicked to be wondered at I Maruell much when I reade how the Israelits being in the way to Canaan a type of heauen for the goodnesse and pleasantnesse of it desired so oft and so earnestly to returne againe into Egypt a figure of hell it selfe where they had been so hardly intreated yea so cruelly and vnmercifully handled But much more do I maruell can neuer sufficientlie wonder at those who when the Lord offers to bring them out of the house of that spirituall bondage and not onely to free them from the power of darknesse and the tyrannie of sinne and Sathan but also by the light of his word spirit to leade and conduct them safely into that heauenly Canaan which floweth with the milk honie of his rich and plentifull graces euen the inheritance of his chosen the place where his honour dwelleth desire rather notwithstanding still to be vnder the hands of their cruel taske-masters in the kilnes among the bricks and in the yron fornace and to indure the most seruile and the most wofull and wretched thraldome and slauery that euer was or can be possibly that so they may fill themselues with the Onions and Garlike of Egypt Lord let the couÌ„sell of the wicked be farre from me suffer not thy seruant to delight in the waies of such a foolish generatioÌ„ who know not thee nor regard that which should be their happines But let me euer praise thee with ioyfulnesse that thou hast deliuered my soule out of the hands of my cruell and deadly enemies and brought me from the house of bondage the kingdome of darknesse and death it selfe into the wayes which leade vnto thy heauenly and glorious kingdome And although I
heart how much more the earnest supplications of the assemblies of the Saints and seruants of God euen his faithfull and beloued ones no doubt they pierce the cloudes open heauen-gates and enter into the presence of God himselfe and so preuaile with him that they cause him as to keepe backe his iudgements where they are feared so to powre down his blessings in abundance where they are desired O Lord grant that I may be frequent and earnest in praier both publique and priuate for my selfe and for others euen for thy Saints especially thy afflicted and distressed ones either in bodie or in mind and let it please thee as to make me carefull daily to pray and powre out my suits and supplications vnto thee for others so also in goodnesse to vouchsafe this grace and fauour vnto me that I may enioy the fruite and benefite of the prayers of thy seruants wheresoeuer or whensoeuer they shall be assembled in thy name crauing for thy blessing vpon thy Church and chosen children Heare O Lord from heauen and be mercifull vnto all and euerie one of thine that cals vpon thee in truth and faithfulnes let them taste of the sweetnesse of thy mercies yea let their emptie soules be satisfied and filled with thy grace and goodnesse that so they may praise thee with ioyfulnesse and both with heart and mouth sing vnto thy glory all their daies Blessings of God are not the lesse to be regarded because they are common EVen that glorious creature the Sunne because it riseth euerie day vpon vs is little thought of or regarded of the most The wondrous and admirable works of God because they are ordinarie and daily set before our eyes how meanely are they accounted of the greatest mercies and blessings of God because we heare of them and enioy them continually how slightly are they passed ouer by many of how few so highly prized and esteemed as they ought to be Lord let not thy workes thy mercies and fauours wherein thou hast shewed thy selfe so exceeding gratious vnto me aboue all deserts of mine let not them seeme the lesse in my eyes because it pleaseth thee in great kindnesse to make them ordinary vsuall vnto me let me not be the lesse mindfull of them the lesse thankfull vnto thee for them because in the riches of thy loue thou vouchsafest to make them cōmon by the continuall supplie and increase of them yea rather let me as it is meete I should be moued and drawne to be so much the more frequent in the daily and conscionable performance of those ordinarie duties and seruices which thou requirest of me and as thou enlargest thy hand in the continuance and increase of thy mercies towards me so inlarge my heart I humblie beseech thee that I may daily more and more increase in true thankefulnesse vnto thee vnto whom I owe my selfe and all things that I haue for in thee I haue all things without thee I can neither enioy nor hope for any thing which is good or to be desired The Angels watch ouer the godlie O How strongly are Gods children continually garded Lo what multitudes of those heauenly souldiours doe attend vpon them daily hourely euerie moment watch ouer them yea compasse them round about on euerie side so that they can haue no hurt but liue and end their daies in peace safety and happinesse O how blinde are the eyes of men that they doe not see and behold them yea rather how weake is their faith that will not beleeue this because they cannot see them with the eyes of their bodies Foolish and faithlesse people who will be perswaed of no more then they can see with the eye of flesh and haue an external view of by their outward sense why doe they not as fondly doubt whether they haue soules within them since they are spirits also which they neuer saw neither can see Lord open mine eyes that I may see that heauenly guard of thine wherewith it hath pleased thee to compasse me euen those celestiall Angels and ministring spirits which are set continually to attend vpon me that so I may be comforted in my greatest feares and encouraged with vndanted resolution to goe forward with constancie in thy wayes notwithstanding the opposition of the enemies of thy grace and truth knowing assuredly that they that are with me are more mightier then they that are against me The danger of security WIll that man be secure and carelesse of himselfe that knoweth certainly that his enemie lieth continuallie in waite for him seeking his vtter ruine euen the spoiling of his estate and the spilling of his blood yea will he not if there be any wisdome or prudence in him be verie watchfull verie circumspect and exceeding carefull to foresee and preuent all his dangerous attempts enterprises whereby he might haue the least aduantage at any time against him Few there are but are wise inough thus to procure the safetie and securitie of their bodily life and outward estate in this world and to safe-gard it that no enemie or aduersarie may impaire or hurt the same at any time And shall any then be so foolish so vnwise as not carefully by al meanes to prouide for the life and welfare of his soule yea to procure the safety both of soule and body and not onely his present but also his future estate in the heauens and yet loe such is the follie of the most yea euen of many of those who otherwise are wise and prudent men men of iudgement and vnderstanding Sathan that subtile that wilie and most malicious enemie lieth continually in waite for vs he omits no opportunity no occasion whereby he may get any aduantage against vs he neuer leaues tempting assaulting and assailing of vs but seekes continually by all meanes possible to vndermine our estate to worke our ruine and vtter ouerthrow both of our soules and bodies for euer yet most men how carelesse how secure are they as though they had no heart no vnderstanding yea do they not euen wilfully and willingly giue themselues to sleepe in greatest securitie when they are in greatest and most apparent and eminent danger euen then when the enemie is ready to make a spoile of them and eternall destruction and confusion to seize vpon them without all recouerie or hope of redemption O mercifull Lord thou seest how busie Sathan is in tempting me how many and how forcible meanes he vseth to preuaile against me O let me not be so carelesse and secure as others are but doe thou of thy especiall grace giue me wisdom from aboue to fore-see the dangers which may befall me carefulnesse and diligence with watchfulnesse and aduisednesse to preuent them and finallie grace and strenghth not onelie to encounter and resist but also to vanquish and ouercome that cruell and malicious enemie and aduersarie and in the end gloriouslie to triumph ouer him by the power and might of thy Christ in whom and through
soule and seeke by all meanes the vtter ruine and subuersion thereof yea there is scarce one day but that I passe thorow many deaths so many are the grieuances whereunto thy children are continually subiect whiles they haue their abode in this place of vanitie of death and miserie How therefore should not that day be pleasant and not bitter vnto me how should I not haue a feruent desire to be dissolued so to remoue from earth to heauen since that as long as I liue here in this world I cannot be freed from all miseries nor attaine vnto full and perfect blessednesse which is onelie to be expected in the world to come where I know that I shall enioy it and haue the fruition of it for euer in thy kingdom All the daies of my appointed time will I waite vntill my changing shall come euen the time of refreshing which I desire and hope for and which thou O Lord when it pleaseth thee wilt vouchsafe in mercie and goodnesse to grant vnto me Lord I haue longed for thy saluation Of whom death is most feared HE that alwaies feares death excessiuely neuer made conscience to liue well He that is carefull to liue well will neuer be ouermuch afraid to die though death in it selfe be of all things the most fearefull and terrible or if he doe feare it when it first looks vpon him with a gastly countenance yet when the vizard which it hath put vpon it be plucked away with the due and serious meditation of it the feare and dread of it will vanish away presently Lord let it be my care and earnest endeuour so to liue and to passe the time of my dwelling here euen these short and euill daies which thou hast measured out vnto me that the remembrance of ensuing and approching death may neuer be bitter or grieuous but ioyfull and pleasant vnto me Sathans craft and guilefulnesse in deceiuing men THe Diuell goes alwaies masked vp and downe in the world in a disguised manner and neuer or seldome sheweth himselfe in his owne likenesse because then he knowes well enough euery one not without cause would be afraid of him flie from him and haue nothing to doe with him for who would not shunne his deadly aduersarie whom he saw nothing but plotting his owne destruction and ouerthrow but vsually he comes like a false friend with the pretence of a seeming good he appeares and offers himselfe vnto men in the shape of pleasure profit honour euen those things which are pleasing vnto their nature and whereby they may most easily be enticed and drawne away after him How many thousands hath he by these slights and policies of his deluded and deceiued how doth he hereby preuaile against men till he secretly work their irrecouerable ruin and that many times before they be aware of any such matter but feede securely greedily vpon those things which he profereth vnto them not seeing the snare which is laid for them O Lord let me alwaies suspect and feare the deceitfulnesse of Sathan in the things which are most pleasing vnto me which with the shew of pleasure profit worldly cōmodities and aduantage do most allure me and draw my heart after them or cause me to set my affections inordinatly vpō them that so in what counterfait forme soeuer that deceiuer shall seek cunningly to insinuate himselfe into me I may discerne his craft take heed by all meanes that I be not at any time beguiled and deluded by him Sathans seuerall baites for sundrie persons THe Diuell hath a baite for euery age for euery place and person and according to the occasions and opportunities he fitteth them all to their seuerall natures dispositions and inclinations For the couetous he hath a siluer hooke and a golden baite the riches and commodities of this deceitfull world for the voluptuous sinfull pleasures and sensuall delights for the ambitious honour and bewitching preferments to such as are cholericke he ministers those things that may kindle their wrath and inflame their furie for the melancholick he laies the baite either of vnprofitable solitarines or of pining enuy And thus by one meanes or other he seekes continually to entice them to swallow his baite which he so guilefully profereth vnto them that being once taken with it they can hardly escape the danger which he laboureth to bring them vnto except the Lord be the more mercifull to pull the hooke out of their nostrils and to set them at libertie againe Blessed Lord giue me to see vnto what sins I am either by nature or otherwise most addicted and whereby Sathan seeketh chiefly to insnare me and to draw me vnto perdition and hauing grace to see them let me also haue wisdome and strength to shunne and auoide them that so I may not be deceiued by Sathan nor perish with the multitude whom he hath taken in his snares with those baites which he hath laid for them The occasions of sinne carefully to be auoided HE that saith that he is loth to offend God through the commission of any sinne and doth not carefully auoide the occasions whereby he may fall into the same is like to him that telleth vs that he is loth to be burnt and yet dreads not the fire when he is neare vnto burning yea rather will needs runne into the flame wihch is readie to scorch him or that he is loth to be drowned and yet goes so neere the pits brinke that it is almost impossible for him not to fall into it and to perish in it O Lord let me not be so vnwise as to deceiue my selfe as many doe by taking too much libertie vnto my selfe in those things which though lawfull in themselues yet may be a meanes through the corruption of my nature the temptation of Sathan to draw me to sin against thee But giue me wisdome in all things to foresee and preuent the danger that may come vpon me for want of due prouidence and watchfulnesse and make me euer as carefull to auoide the occasions of sin as sinne and death it selfe So shall it neuer haue power or dominion ouer me whereas otherwise it cannot be but that I should fall oft and dangerously Respect of persons IT is a great fault and yet ordinarie to respect men more for the outward trappings of the bodie then for the inward graces and vertues of the mind If one be of a goodly personage or richly apparelled and attired he shall be regarded and much set by although his mind be neuer so deformed destitute of all grace and goodnesse euen those inward endowments which are the greatest excellencies If another be more base or meane in these outward respects howsoeuer he be inwardlie decked and adorned yet there is no reckoning or very small account made of him What is this but to preferre the body before the soule that which is terrene earthly and coruptible before that which is spirituall heauenly and immortall Salomon the
our best friends and louingst companions who expect looke continuallie for our comming into that heauenly citie that celestiall mansion the place where they we are to rest remain with our Sauiour in the presence of that glorious God for euer to be partakers of that felicity blessednes which is vnspeakable and glorious Why then doe we not weane our selues from the world why do we settle our selues here where our rest is not yea why are we so loth to leaue this drie and barren wildernesse where we liue among strangers that know vs not yea amongst many wild and sauage creatures who seeke to do vs all the mischiefe they can O Lord raise vp my thoughts and the affections of my heart vnto those things which are aboue vnto those things which concerne my future estate in thy kingdom let it be continually the earnest desire of my heart to be with thee my God in the heauens there to behold thy face in glory for euer and to haue the full fruition of that sweet and comfortable fellowship and communion of my Sauiour and of all the Saints Angels wherein consists true happinesse and blessednesse Death alwaies to be remembred MAny liue as if they shold neuer die they remember not the euill daies that shall come vpon them and the yeares which shall approch wherein they shall say We haue no pleasure in them They consider not how their eyes shall waxe dimme their eares deafe their tongues speechles yea how their spirits all their senses shall faile them and all those worldlie helpes wherein now they rest and comfort themselues vtterly forsake them O Lord teach thou me to number my daies that I may applie my heart vnto wisdome Let me alwaies be mindfull of my end consider seriously of my frailetie mortalitie that so when death cōmeth which continually waiteth vpon me it may not find me vnprepared but that in the last houre the verie remembrance whereof is bitter vnto many I may find sound comfort and be translated out of this vale of teares this place of mourning where I am compassed about with sinne and miserie into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne and my blessed Sauiour and so be made partaker of that glorious and immortall inheritance which thou reseruest for vs euen for all thy Saints in the highest heauens the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where we shall liue and raigne with thee eternallie What maner of life it becommeth Christians to leade THe heathen could say that if men as it is meet they should would haue this alwaies in their minds that they were made of God himselfe in regard of the better part which is the soule and spirit that God was their father he doubted not but they would leade a life beseeming their estate and condition that they would do nothing whereby they might shew themselues to be base degenerate such as in whom there were no resemblance of that diuine and heauenly nature Me thinks many that are Christians at least in name and profession should blush when they reade when they heare this They call God father and thinke themselues much wronged if any should tell them that they were not his children and that not onelie by creation as the heathen are but also in a more speciall maner by grace and adoption through Christ and yet behold many of them are not ashamed of that vilenesse and basenesse in their behauiour their actions liues and practises which the pagans and heathen themselues were ashamed of and haue condemned as by their liues so also by their writings thereby setting a brand of iust reproch and eternall infamie vpon the foreheads of such fained counterfet Christians who are the staine of true religion and christianity such as though they think that of right they may claime this title to themselues to be the chosen people of God those to whom he hath giuen the name priuiledge of his owne sonnes yet in verie deed are the children of the diuell seuen-fold more then the heathen themselues who knew not God in Christ O mercifull Lord grāt I humblie beseech thee that as I call thee father and beleeue and acknowledge my selfe to be thine owne adopted sonne through thy Christ in whom thou hast freely loued and elected me from eternitie so also I may haue grace from thee for thy gift onelie it is not to fashion my selfe like vnto the wicked and vngodly the men of this world that I may not be like vnto them in those vaine courses wherein they walke and delight themselues but that I may alwaies do those things which are beseeming my calling and profession as acknowledging thee to be my father and glorying in this that I am thy sonne so liuing and ordering my selfe as it becommeth thy sonne euen shining forth in all holinesse of life and godly conuersation to the glory of thy name the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience and to the good example of others whom thou hast aduanced vnto the same profession which is so glorious Gods patience in bearing with sinners IT is a wonder that the Sunne which is a witnesse of so many and so enormous sinnes and wickednesses as are committed vpon the earth standeth so long in the heauens and giueth light vnto the world that the heauens are not dissolued and that the elements melt not that the waters ouerflow not and ouerwhelme vs yea that Christ that iust and righteous Iudge of the whole world commeth not in flaming fire to burne vp this earth with all the workes therein which are polluted defiled with our sins It is thy mercie O Lord that we are not consumed O be thou patient towards vs who cease not to prouoke thee daily Let thy good spirit still striue with vs yea draw vs vnto thee with the consideration of thy lenitie and the riches of thy bountifulnesse that so thy long sufferance may be vnto vs saluation euen an effectuall meanes to winne vs vnto the loue and obedience of thy maiestie and so in the end to bring vs to eternall life and happinesse in the heauens The soule how it is to be fitted and prepared for the entertainment of so glorious a guest as the holy Ghost is IF thou wert to entertaine some honourable personage how carefull wouldst thou be to make such preparation and prouision for him that he might be receiued in that maner that were fit for his place and estate how much more carefull sollicitous then oughtest thou to be to prepare the secret lodgings of thy heart and soule to see that nothing be out of order in thy whole man that no vncleannesse nor any thing which is any way polluted remaine within thee who art to receiue and to entertaine so honourable a guest euen the holy spirit of the most high God and to become a temple for so great and so glorious a presence to dwell in for euer O heauenly Father purifie my
that I may bee wise to preuent the mischiefe which they intend to bring vpō me make mee alwaies watchfull and carefull to stand for my defence and safetie against them especially let me seeke and endeuour by all meanes to fortifie my soule against those sinnes whereby Satan doth most assaile me and to get strength against those weaknesses whereby hee may soonest haue aduantage of me and bring me into danger yea O Lord doe thou watch ouer mee doe thou strengthen me Heale all my infirmities repaire the ruines of my soule make vp the manifold breaches therof Compasse me about with thy grace and fauour that so none of those spirituall enemies may euer haue power ouer me but that I may be defended from them in the time of this my warfare heere on earth and hereafter triumph gloriously ouer them in the heauens for euermore Greater care is to be had of things to come then of things present O How carefull are most for their bodies how carelesse for their soules For the things of this world what paines what labour doe they willingly vndergo for those of the world to come how remisse how exceeding negligent are they Lord grant that I may be alwaies most carefull of that which is most necessarie that I may preferre heauen before earth those things which are spirituall before those that are corporal things which are permanent and euerlasting before the lying and deceitfull vanities of this world endlesse and vnspeakable glorie and happines before vaine and supposed felicitie Gods all-seeing presence THe eyes of the Lord are open vpon all the waies of men hee seeth and obserueth them euen those things which they doe in greatest secrecy are most cleere and manifest vnto him they are naked discouered in his sight and he taketh notice of all of them O therefore how great is the boldnes and audaciousnes of such as dare presume willinglie and wittinglie to commit so grieuous and so odious sinnes whiles they are in so glorious a presence who is so prophane and so gracelesse that should not be ashamed of this yea that should not bee euen astonished in himselfe to consider that all his sinnes whereof some one of them if it should bee made knowne vnto the world would make him blush and hang downe his head for shame lie open and vncouered before the face of almightie God euen the cleere eyes of that infinite and glorious Maiesty who is so pure that he cannot abide any vncleannes yea that hee cannot once endure the sight of any thing which is spotted and stained with the filth of sin O Lord let me alwaies see thee present with me viewing marking and obseruing the whole course and carriage of my life not only how I compose my selfe outwardly before men but how euen the thoughts of my heart are framed within me that thus I may not onely bee restrained frō the commission of outward actuall wickednesses which euen the shame of the world causeth many that are altogether voide and destitute of thy sanctifying grace to refraine themselues from but also may feare to giue entertainmēt to any motion vnto the least sinne and striue after holinesse and puritie that so I may bee approued of thee and finde grace and fauour in thy sight A motiue to patience vnder the crosse ALthough it be grieuous vnto vs yet it is good for vs to bee vnder the crosse It is no small benefit which we receiue by afflictions if we looke vnto the end and issue of them for thereby wee are humbled more then we were made more earnest and feruent in prayer readier to seek vnto the Lord to cleaue faster vnto him and to depend solely and wholly vpon him making him our hope our stay and onely refuge yea thereby our faith hope patience and all other graces of Gods spirit are exercised and increased and that inward man of ours daily more and more renued whiles wee are outwardly oppressed and afflicted In briefe thereby we are weaned from the world and the vaine and transitorie things thereof and made not onely mindfull but also desirous of the day of death and of the time of our dissolution whenas being freed from all those miseries wherewith we are and shall be compassed on euery side as long as wee liue in this wretched world and carrie this bodie of sin about with vs wee shall enter into that resting place where wee shal want nothing which may make for our blessednesse and felicitie Let nothing then be distastful vnto me which thou seest to bee good for me O Lord but let me euer be content if it so pleaseth thee to drinke downe willingly the bitterest cup of the most grieuous affliction which thou shalt offer vnto me seeing that in the end thereof I shall find much sweetnes None euer free from the temptations of Satan THere is none that is not often assailed by the tēpter euen the most holie and righteous men that liue vpon the earth when one temptation is resisted and passed ouer they are to expect another and to prepare themselues for it vnlooked for blowes are most dangerous O Lord I see how busie that enemie of mine is how many waies he laboureth to vndermine me and that especially when I am least aware of him O let me be alwaies readie to meete him in the gate before hee enter too farre vpon me let me not be secure and carelesse but very watchfull and vigilant euer prepared to encounter with him and to resist him especially in the beginning of his assaults wherein if I withstand him with faith courage and resolution I doubt not but with thy grace I shall in the end easilie get the victorie of him and see him flie before me Satans temptations sometimes more grieuous and dangerous then at other times SOme haue more grieuous temptations presently after their first calling and conuersion vnto God some long after some throughout their whole life haue that euill one vncessantly casting many fiery darts at them thereby if it were possible to wound them euen vnto death almost euery moment or at least to make their liues wearisome irkesome vnto them These are not to faint or to despaire whiles they are thus tempted but to be the more carefull to bee alwaies well appointed and readie furnished with the whole compleate armour of God whereby they may bee able to defend themselues frō the rage and malice of that furious enemie and deadly aduersarie of theirs who thirsteth after the blood of their soules and desireth nothing more then their vtter ruine and confusion Since hee is so fierce and eager vpon them they are to bee thus armed continually and withall to pray vnto the Lord and that oft and more earnestlie that he would shield and safegard them and giue vnto thē a ioyfull issue out of all their temptations and then no doubt at length they shall see the saluation of the Lord in the ouerthrow of that malitious enemie by whom heretofore they haue
especially if he bee not only guiltie of the fact to himselfe but perceiues that the Iudge hath certain knowledge and cleere euidence of the same and of all the particular circumstances thereof Oh thē what a horrible feare shall possesse the hearts and minds of all sinful and vngodly wretches when they shall stand before that iust Iudge when they shall bee brought vnto their answere for al their vnrighteous wicked deeds which they haue committed in the whole course of their liues when that glorious God that seuere and mightie Iudge the Iudge of the whole world hauing a perfect register of all their actions words and workes yea of the secretest thoughts and imaginations of their hearts and hauing all things which euer they haue done as cleere as the Sunne or as crystall before him shall looke vpon thē with a fierie eye and with a frowning and irefull countenance and shew such signes of his wrathfull indignation against them as that the heauen shall shake and the earth tremble yea both heauen and earth flie away from his face and moue out of their places for the greatnes of his wrath which shall be more dreadful then the heart of man is now able to conceiue O then what an astonishment shall come vpon them how shall shame and confusion couer their faces how shall feare griefe and anguish euen rend their hearts and soules Neuer was Belshazzar so perplexed so amazed and astonished at the sudden appearing of the hand writing ouer the wall the forerunner of his speedie destruction as they shall then bee The chaunging of his countenance the troublesome thoughts of his minde the loosing of his ioynts and the smiting of his knees one against the other was but a shadow of that vnspeakeable dread horror and fearefull amazement wherewith all vngodly persons shall be then stricken and vtterly confounded in themselues Seeing O Lord that appearāce of thine in that day wherein thou hast appointed to iudge the world shall be so terrible vnto all the wicked that would not obey thee nor hearken vnto thy voice to walke in the waies of thy commandements O let the remembrance thereof make me alwaies carefull to refraine my foote from their paths and to endeuour my selfe vnto righteousnesse that so when their feare commeth I may haue cause to reioyce and be glad in thee yea euen to looke vp vnto thee with ioyfulnes and to glorie in thy saluation who then wilt shew thy selfe to be maruellous and exceeding glorious in all thy Saints euen al those that haue beleeued in thy name and waited for that blessed comming of thine which as thou hast promised so let it bee thy pleasure to hasten The excellencie of a true Christian O How great is the excellencie of euery true christian euen of euery one that is such a one not onely in name in title or outward profession but in deede and in trueth Surely his honour is great his estate is glorious yea the grace and dignity which he hath receiued is such as that the spirit of a mā is not able fully to discerne or to comprehend the same Although by nature he was the childe of wrath subiect vnto wretchednes and all miseries as well as others yet by grace he is become the sonne of God euen of the most high God and so partaker of endlesse blisse and happinesse He is borne againe by the spirit of God through the incorruptible and immortall seed of the word and so made a newe creature in Christ more excellent and glorious then those celestiall creatures the sunne the moone and all the starres of heauen Beeing thus inwardly renued in his whole nature which before was so much corrupted and decayed he is in a mysticall wonderfull maner ioyned and vnited vnto Christ and made a member of his bodie Beeing so ingrafted into him he receiueth spirituall life grace and strength from him vntill he come vnto a ripe and perfect age euen vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ his heade He is made partaker of the diuine nature then which there can be no greater excellencie sith therby he becommeth like vnto God and hath the liuely printe of his image stamped in his soule euen in those graces of renued knowledge wisedome righteousnes and true holines which shine therin Beeing created in this maner of God in Christ and framed vnto the similitude likenes of his owne image he is beloued of God as his chiefest treasure and chosen substance on earth more deare vnto him and more pretious in his sight then all these visible creatures his hearts delight is set vpon him He blesseth him daily with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things He hath giuen him right and interest vnto all things whether it be the world or life or death whether things present or things to come euen al things whatsoeuer There is not any thing but God causeth it to work for the best vnto him and turneth it vnto his profite and greatest good yea such is his wisedome and goodnes that by a speciall dispensation of his diuine prouidence he causeth poison to become wholesome vnto him making the very sinnes which man committeth to turne rather to his good then to his hurt in that by them beeing humbled in himselfe he bringeth him to renounce himselfe and to cleaue faster and nearer vnto him depending wholly and onely vpon him for the supply of all spirituall graces and strength and to be more carefull and watchfull ouer all his wayes and more circumspect and heedefull in auoiding all sinne and the occasions therof He hath those glorious creatures the Angels of God as ministring spirits continually seruing him as it were and attending vpon him yea garding him and compassing him round on euery side though to the eye of flesh they are inuisible and so not onely keeping and preseruing him from all dangers which might befall him but also beeing meanes from God to conuey much good vnto him as the experience of many faithfull seruants of God giueth cleare and euident proofe These euen these celestiall creatures are not onely his familiars and companions continually accompanying him but also his attēdants sent forth of God to watch ouer him and to waite daily vpon him He hath furthermore acquainted him with his will and reuealed his secret counsell vnto him as farre as is meete and conuenient for him euen that secret purpose of his which he had decreed in himselfe before all worlds he hath made manifest vnto him and giuen him a cleare sight of those hidden mysteries wherin is blessednes and true happinesse he hath made knowen vnto him the secrets of the kingdome of heauen He hath giuen him also his spirit that blessed spirit of grace and comfort to refresh and to cheere him vp in al his griefes and sorrowes and to leade him forth into greene and pleasant pastures so that he is fulfilled with that spirituall delight and heauenly ioy and solace which is vnspeakable and
glorious He hath set vp the scepter of his kingdome in his heart so that all his enemies shall fall downe before him euen Sathan the chiefest of his aduersaries who fighteth continually against him and seeketh by all meanes to bring him into bondage and thraldome vnder him What should I say more Beeing vnited vnto Christ his redeemer and made bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh he is also ioyned and nearly allied vnto God the Father and so being ioynt-heire with the Sonne hath that crowne of immortal glory belonging vnto him and shal at length euen when this short life is ended liue and raigne in that celestiall kingdome with God himselfe and with all his holy Saints and elect Angels for euermore And in the meane-while euen whiles he liueth here crawling as it were vpon the earth hauing the place of his abode heere below where he is as one of no reputation in the world which knoweth him not he hath his life his conuersation and his chief abode in heauen being alwaies looking vp vnto that place of his glory which is aboue where Christ Iesus his sauiour sitteth at the right hand of his father his eyes are euer lifted vp vnto heaueÌ„ and set vpon those things which are within the vaile where his hope yea his heart is so that euen whiles he liueth with his bodie on earth in minde and in soule he is transported in a maner into heauen it selfe and seeth those things in spirit which are vnutterable and which flesh and bloud or the senses of a natural man can neuer reach vnto neuer be able in any sorte to comprehend O Lord who can expresse the honor which thou hast giuen vnto thy Saints who is able to declare the speciall grace which thou in thy infinite goodnes and mercie hast vouchsafed to euery one whom it hath pleased thee to giue vnto thy Christ and in him to elect and chose vnto life and saluation according to the good pleasure of thy will before the world was Oh with what glorie and honour hast thou crowned them how highlie hast thou aduanced them being moued thereunto by nothing that was in them but only of thy free loue and mercie that therby thou mightest cause thy infinite grace and glorie to shine forth vnto the world to the praise of thy name throughout all generations O blessed God whose mercy and kindnes vnto mankind is so infinit and incoÌ„preheÌ„sible seeing it hath pleased thee in the exceeding greatnes of thy loue and riches of thy grace towards mee in Christ to chuse mee vnto life and glorie and to make mee euen me so vnworthie a creature one of that small number whom thou hast so highly honored in this world and wilt for euer glorifie euen with that exceeding measure of glorie in the world to come O let my heart and my mouth neuer cease praising and magnifying thy great and glorious name and howsoeuer I may seeme vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world which doth neither know thee nor thine but hath alwaies hardly intreated those whom thou hast chiefly honored esteeming them as the scumme and ofscouring of the earth the very abiects of men yea men vnworthie to liue in the world yet let me neuer passe any thing at all how the blinde world doth iudge or esteeme of me or how it is affected towards me but let me alwaies reioyce in thee and glorie in thy saluation and rest continually in a comfortable hope and ioyfull expectation of all that goodnes of thine which thou hast treasured vp in store for mee in thy kingdome and whereof thou hast giuen mee the first fruits already as a pledge and assurance of that which I shal haue the full fruition of hereafter for euer An humble heart most pleasant vnto God a proud most vile and abominable AN humble and a lowlie hart is a mansion wherein the Lord delighteth to dwell he filleth and replenisheth it with the riches of the graces of his spirit but as for the proud and high minded they are an abomination vnto him His soule doth loath them and his spirit will neuer rest nor remaine with them they are no fit mansion for him yea they are meete only to be an habitation for Satan that euill and vncleane spirit who being the father of the children of pride can take no pleasure where hee findeth true humilitie but seeketh for lodging in those especially who are of a proud and hautie spirit These are his darlings in these is his chief delight in them he hath a roome alwaies ready trimmed prepared for him euen in the closets of their hearts where he dwelleth and raigneth continually from whence he will neuer depart as long as hee findeth so fit a mansion for him The onely way to cast him out of the heart and soule of man is to emptie it altogether of pride and to haue it garnished with that excellent grace of humilitie and lowlinesse O Lord who art the fountaine of all grace giue vnto me I earnestly desire thee a contrite spirit a meeke and an humble heart Banish all pride and vanitie of minde far from me and make me lowly yea base and vile in mine owne eyes that so that wicked spirit being vtterly dispossessed and finding no abiding place within mee I may bee fit to entertaine that good spirit of thine thou maist delight to dwell and remaine with me and to fill my emptie soule with those pretious riches and treasures of thy heauenly graces which are the things which my heart desireth and longeth after Oh doe thou heare me and satisfie me as my trust is in thee who I know assuredly wilt neuer faile me nor withhold thy goodnesse from me whiles I seeke vnto thee with a heart vnfained Confidence in any creature a most vaine thing WHat a vaine thing is it to put any trust or confidence in man or in any creature what is this but to rest vpon a broken reed How greatly do such deceiue themselues how oft doe they faile in their desires and misse that which they hoped for O Lord God who art glorious and wonderfull in power and strength nothing is or can be hard vnto thee thou only art my hope all my trust confidence is in thee Whom haue I in heauen or in earth but thee vpon thee thee only I rest and depend continually O doe thou neuer forsake me Suspition THE best man is alwaies leâ—st suspitious But hee that is giuen euer to mistrust and to suspect the worst of others as it may be iustly feared that hee hath a very corrupt and vnsound heart himselfe so it may bee vndoubtedly affirmed that he is very offensiue and displeasing vnto God very vnquiet in himselfe and most vncharitable towards his neighbour whom notwithstanding he hurteth not so much thereby as himselfe O Lord increase the grace of true charitie daily more and more in me Let me alwaies be looking into mine owne hart considering the
transitorie things of this world O Lord God thou only art my God whom haue I in heauen but thee or what is there that I should desire on earth in comparison of thee O let my hart be alwaies fixed vpon thee let my soule loue thee delight in thee seeke and long after thee aboue all things which is that inward and spiritual worship and seruice which thou requirest of all those vpon whō thy name is called of all those that acknowledge thee the Lord to be their God The miserable estate of a worldling HE that doth once imbrace this world can hardly be loosed from it and brought to follow Christ and to cleaue vnto true religiō in the trueth and sinceritie of the profession thereof yea such is the bewitching nature of it that it will daily more and more fasten vpon him and claspe round about him so that he shall haue no power to free himselfe againe except an extraordinarie grace be ministred vnto him of God Of all men of whom there may be any hope a couetous worldling is in this regard most miserable and his estate most dangerous since that it is harder for him to be reclaimed then for any other for of all sinnes out of which there may be any recouery that sinne of auarice and couetousnes is most irrecouerable O blessed Lord let not my heart be glewed at any time vnto the things of this world Let not the immoderate care and desire thereof take hold of me let it not be rooted in me but let me alwaies enioy such freedome by thy grace that I may willingly readily and cheerefully performe those duties which thou requirest of me yea that I may cleaue fast vnto thee and runne with libertie the waies of thy commandements The vnpleasant and distracted life of a carnall and wicked man WHat pleasure is there in the life of a carnall and wicked man who is carried away with the vaine and inordinate desires of his owne heart Before he hath obtained that which he lusts after he is restles and vnquiet All that he had before doth him no good because hee wants that when he enioyes it he is grieued displeased yea vexed because it doth not satiffie him nor yeeld him that contentment which he looked for in it Afterwards he is perplexed and troubled in minde by reason of the guilt which he hath brought vpon his conscience through his sinne the sweetest fruite whereof in the ende is nothing but shame and sorrow yea much bitternes Thus he is continually disquieted discontented and distracted whiles he followeth his vnlawfull desires and yeeldeth to his disordered and distempred affections he hath no peace no ease no rest Witnes the proud person the couetous the voluptuous the ambitious the enuious and malitious and whosoeuer else he be that letteth loose the raines to any vnbridled passion any inordinate affection It is a meere slauery to be a seruant vnto any such lusts the onely meanes to obtaine true libertie hearts ease peace and sound contentement to resist them and to get the mastrie ouer them and to be no wayes bound to them O mercifull Lord let me not be addicted to these things which are base earthly and sensuall let me neuer willingly yield vnto any sinfull desire of my corrupt nature but giue me grace alwaies to bridle yea to subdue and to mortifie those wicked affections which otherwise would preuaile against me that so beeing ouermastered and euen brought into subiectiō vnder me through the working of thy gracious spirit in me I may passe the whole time of my life hereafter in rest quietnes and true peace and contentednes and serue thee with perfect libertie and freedome all my daies The life of the righteous as well to be sought after as their death wished I Marueile not that all men euen the most wicked and prophane of the world do with cursed Balaam desire and wish for the death of the righteous seeing the end of it is true and perfect blessednes and the want of it extreame woe and miserie But this seemes very strange vnto me that they should not as well desire the life of the righteous not onely because this is the meanes to come vnto the other that necessarily depending hereupon but also since herein is true happines to be found and that which is to be desired of all men and without which man cannot but be miserable and euen a burthen vnto himselfe For the righteous the sincere and vpright in life and conuersation they onely leade a peaceable a comfortable and a ioyfull life They reioyce not so much in the face as in heart not so much to the teeth outwardly as in soule and spirit inwardly whereas the hypocrite the false hearted and all that loue vnrighteousnes neuer haue any true mirth any sound ioy but only a false counterfeit image thereof which when it is at the best is but hollow rotten and vnsound yea whē they sport themselues in their carnall and worldly delights most immoderatly and break foorth into excessiue laughter yet then their ioy is but the fit as it were of a frantick or mad man they know not what they doe and at length their sorrowfull dumpes their troubled thoughts and distracting cares returne againe vnto them vnsent for they break off their laughter with a sigh and end their mirth with heauinesse anguish and great perplexednes yea the Lord filleth their soules with much bitternes so that many times to bee eased of it they could willingly be rid of their liues in which they finde so small comfort Lord let me be as carefull to leade a good life as to make a godly end let me hate all vnrighteousnesse and forsake all the waies of the vngodly and let me seek by all meanes to attaine vnto true holinesse and striue after sinceritie and vprightnes that so the spirit of ioy and gladnesse may rest continually vpon me and cause me alwaies to reioyce vnfainedly in thee with that inward spiritual ioy and comfort the sweetnes whereof none knoweth but thine only euen those whom thou hast giuen to taste of it and which being once giuen of thee from whom alone it proceedeth none is able to take it away againe The follie and danger of deferring Repentance IT is exceeding follie in men to liue carelesly and securely all their life long and to put off all vnto their dying houre vainly supposing that it will be enough for them then to commend themselues vnto God and to desire him to take them to his mercie Alas such know not what they doe they know not the price of their soules for surely if they did they would neuer put them in aduenture to the last houre They consider not the danger of losing them for euer for then certainely they would quickly be of an other mind they would look about them they would not set all vpon such a ticklish point nor put themselues vnto that hazard no not for the gaine of