hast no other reward or punishment then what I see and feel O let my Eyes look to the end of all Heaven or Hell and let me envie no ill mans happinesse who shall end in Hell Nor bewaile any good mans wretchednesse who shall have Heaven for his end And let me understand that Prosperity of Psal 92. 7. Sinners is a heavy Plague because their Prov. 1. 32 spur to Hell the greatest punishment and Adversity of Saints a happy Mercy Psal 94. 12 because thy Rod to beat them into Heaven the Best Reward Meane while let me not give a Breast Psal 4. 8. full of thy Peace for an Armefull of that wealth which breeds nests of Vipers and Adders in their Hearts and continuall Job 20. 14. 16. stings in their Bosomes let me prefer the sufferings of Innocence before the Spoiles and Triumphs of Violence O God since a guilty Conscience is the greatest punishment on Earth because next to Hell And Accusing and Condemning thy Providence and forsaking Mal. 2. 17. 3. 13 14 15. my Innocence the greatest Guilt To that Extremity let no Temptation ever lead me Jesus Keep me from it by thy Grace and Mercy Amen Evening Prayers 1. Collect for Grace THou that hast promised Thy Holy Spirit to those that ask Luk. 11. 13. it give me Thy Grace O God with courage and constancy so to fight and subdue my flesh and ghostly enemy that I may passe my Pilgrimage in thy fear and at last receive my Triumphs in thy Glory Apoc. 3. 21 through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Collect for Peace O God of peace who art Incomprehensible give me thy peace Phil. 4. 7. which passeth all understanding Let me so live according to thy Rule that Gal. 6. 16. I may have peace with my Conscience Let me be so ruled by thy Will and Word that my Conscience may have peace with Thee Lord make an everlasting Jer. 6. 16. peace with me and let me never doe what will break that league with Thee Dear Jesus treat it for me in thy Bloud and maintaine it in me by thy Spirit Amen Amen 3. Collect for Health IT is the wonder of thy providence O Lord that a body subject to thousands of Frailties and casualties every day should enjoy health or life an hour yet through thy mercy I have both at this instant Lord continue to me what I have and let me so improve it to thy honour that thou maist continue it and for Christ his sake doe not for any wickednesse smite me with sicknesse Amen Amen 4. Collect for Safety FOrgive O Lord the forfeitures I Psal 19. 11. have made of thy protection by the wandrings of my life And though I have not beene as I should a dutiful Child yet be Thou O Lord as thou ever art a mercifull Isa 63. 16. Father Forget not thy fatherly goodnesse to me who pray thy pardon for offending Thee thy Grace to serve Thee and thy Providence to preserve me this night and evermore through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 5. Collect for Friends O Lord it is joyfull for Friends to Psal 3. 3. 1. Heb. 12. 22 23. love live together on earth but the joy of joyes all to live with thee in Heaven I beseech thee let this happinesse be the portion of all whom thou hast made more nearly and dearly mine Let us so live in thy service that we may die with thy Salvation Mean while what wants of earthly good to any give us what is amisse and offensive to thy Heavenly Majesty in any forgive us what is requisite to make us so to serve thee now as thou mayest save us then in thy bounty bestow upon us Truth and Grace aright to see and seek thy face in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 6. Collect for the Kingdome O Lord we lie all in broil and bloud Pity us Our distraction threaten desolation to us Preserve us Our sinnes cry loud for thy vengeance upon us Pardon us Thy mercies have been great to this Nation Lord remember them Thy deliverances of us have been many Lord renue them That iniquity be not our ruine let us repent ruine it The guilt bloud Ezek. 18. 13. upon us forgive our Breaches repaire The order which may bring peace establish The Government thou hast establish'd maintain what is just and right in thine eyes set up what thou seest evill cast down what makes the Nation miserable remove what may make it happy restore Lord for thy mercies sake say we have been miserable enough and make us more happy Let the light of thy countenance shine again upon us and grant us peace the Power and Authority which may procure it preserve and those to whom thou hast given that power blesse them to us and us in them and all in thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen 7. Collect for the Church Catholike BEhold O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ I a Christian and child of his true Catholike Church pray thy mercies on my Good and Great Mother and all my Brethren and her Children in thee and thy Son For Errours amongst them send them Truth For Schisme Unity For Superstition warrantable worship For Confusion Order For Profanenesse Piety For Variance Concord For War Peace that all may as one Body with one mind and heart and mouth and knee believe love confesse adore and so serve thee and him whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ the Great Lord and common Saviour of us all as thou mayest save us all in the world to come O thou Head of the Church fave thy Body By thy Bloud cleanse it By thy Spirit sanctifie it By thy Power preserve it and every Limb of it dear Jesus Amen 8. Collect for the Church O Christ Head of thy Body the Ephes 1. 22 Church Let not this poor Member of it amongst us perish What it is thou seest Lord with pity behold us What it was thou knowest O Lord in mercy restore us Thy Primitive Order in Christian Truth and Worship for the saving of Soules cast down set up The present Confusions Distractions Innovations Errours which are got up cast down Set up thy Glory O Lord amongst us and what is set apart to support it doe thou maintaine and continue to us and our Posterities after us for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Amen Concluding Prayer BEhold Lord I have prayed thy Grace and Peace with Health and Protection for my Friends the Kingdome and this and thy Church Grant good God all the requests I have prayed of thee or what more I should have prayed from thee or what any else have prayed with me In whose name I have presented with whose words I desire to perfume perfect my Prayers Beseeching thee that his Spirit may breathe in those words in which I know I pray both what and as I ought And therefore as devoutly confidently say Our Father
feast Fiends That makes thee dread the sight of Death as Hell and the thoughts of it as Devils because there are Devils and Hell which thou deniest but dost dread none hath more horrour for them then thou who saiest thou hast no such Faith See more Soliloquie p. So end the Seven Services for the first Week Seven Services for the 2d. Week Sunday-Service Against neglect of Gods Service Morning Prayer Psal 5. 27. 42. Lesson Gen. 28. or Jor. 7. to ver 17. Mat. 11. Evening Prayer Psal 95. 122. Lesson Eccles 5. 1 Cor. 11. or Heb. 6. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Neglect of Gods Service O Lord Thou hast devoted a Time and Place to thy worship and holinesse becometh thy house for ever Make me ever carefull to pay thee then and there the dues and duties of Religion which I owe thee Solemnly waiting on thy Majestie amongst thy Sâ—rvants in thy Court and Sanctuary Lâ—t me be diligent in thy service and râ—verend at it That as thy Saints and Angels in heaven incessantly serve thee I may with thy Saints on earth constantly worship thee till we all come together for ever to adore thee Even for his sake whose meat and drinke it was to serve thee Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Neglect of Gods Service 1. GOd wil find no time to save us if we find no day to serve him a Psal 2. 11 12. Act. 26. 20. 2. Have we six in a Week and shall not God have one day b Exod. 20. 9. 3. Publique worship is the Pillar of Religion and high service of Almighty God c Gen. 4. 26. 4. If every one take away his stone we shall pull down the Pillar to the ruine of Religion d Lam. 2. 5. In the Church we are before Gods face as well as Mans e Psal 95. 6. It is both a Scandall to man f 1 Cor. 11. 22. and Scorne to God g Eccles 5. 1 2. to be irreverent in the Church to dare and jeer God to his face 7. The truest Picture of the Saints with God in Heaven is a Congregation devout at Gods Worship on Earth h Apoc. 4. 10. 8. We cannot doe better then to goe to Heaven nor worse then to doe any thing ill or unseemly in it i Gen. 28. 17. 9. The Devils misbehaviour in Heaven cast him into Hell k Jud. v. 6. 10. He that laughs in the Church is tickled by the Devill * Risus in Ecclesia Diaboli opus est Monday-Service Against Procrastination Morning Prayer Psal 95. 7. Lesson Prov. 1. Mat. 25. to 14 or 24. to 36. or Act. 24 Evening Prayer Psal 4. 90. Lesson Eccles 8. Apoc. 21. ¶ Prayer against Procrastination LOrd keepe me from the delayes of holy and necessary duties Make me to consider how many art now perishing in Hell for neglecting the times of thy gracious visitations on earth That whilest the Spirit of grace and life blowes on me I may improve that breath to purchase my selfe an estate in the life of glory and immortalitie Even for his sake who lingred no time to shed his bloud to save me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! Remedies against Procrastination 1. IT is unworthy God He calls to day a Psal 95. 7. and you will come to morrow The Devill shall have the floure b Levit. 2. 1. of age and God the bran 2. It is unsafe for man The Adventure of an immortall soule upon two great uncertainties to come Having my breath c Prov. 25. 1. James 4. 13. and Gods Spirit d Joh. 3. 8. If either fail I am lost for ever And God knowes Innumerable soules are thus lost * Coesarius Inuumerabiles animoe siâ— periêre 3. It is unwise The house of my soule is set on fire e Isa 2. 18. with guilt to day and will quench it to morrow I fall into the puddle f 2 Pet. 2. 22. of sin this week and will rise the next 4. It is uncomfortable For the longer I keepe off from God 1. Gods acceptance is more doubtfull He is for first fruits g Levit. 2. 12. and firstlings 2. Mans performance is more difficult Because Satan hath the greater power over me h 2 Tim. 2. 26. and sinne in me i Prov. 5. 22. By the strength of Custome k Jer. 12. 23. which it is a miracle to conquer * S. Bern. 3. Repentance hath a greater taske more spots to wash l Isa 1. 16. knots to loose m 2 Pet. 2. 20. roots to digge n Jer. 4 5. foes to kill o 1 Pet. 2. 21. Sinne in time of a Child growes a Gyant for strength and Lust spawnes like a fiâ—h in number If it be now ten strong next yeare it will be an hundred and the next yeare a thousand c. 4. The best fruit of sinne is repentance p 2 Cor. 7. 8 9. the rest is shame q Rom. 6. 21 23. and death 5. It is unprofitable at best For the lesse seed the lesse harvest r 2 Cor. 9. 6. The lesse good â— the lesse glory s Rom. 2. 7. And the more Springs and opportunities I lose the more seed-times of good t Gal. 6. So I reap lesse comfort of what is past u Isa 38. 3. and reward to come x Luk. 19. 16. Tuesday-Service Against Presumption Morning Prayer Psal 7. 19. Lesson Deut. 29. or Levit. 26. Mat. 24. Evening Prayer Psalm 68. Lesson Eccles 8. 1 Thes 5. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Presumption KEepe me O Lord from carnall security If I fall into sin let me not lie in it out of a Presumption of thy mercy but do thou awake me to repentance and raise me in thy goodnesse And since repentance is not in my power make me fearfull to fall into sin in hopes of thy grace and mercy and more afraid to lie in it if I fall lest I sleep without feare till some Suddaine judgment awake me and present the horrour of eternall death before me From a lethargy in sin O thou Holy Physitian of soules preserve now and ever Deare Saviour I beseech thee Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Presumption 1. IT is the Devils lullabie to sleepe out the time of Salvation as did the five foolish Virgins a Matth. 27. 7. 2. It is the Devils high way to desperation b Prov. 1. 28. 3. None but a poysonous spirit will suck the strength of sin out of the flower of mercy c Eccles 8. 11. Isa 10. 2. 4. It is to make quarrels amongst Gods Attributes in the confidence of mercy to put contempt on justice d Rom. 2. 4 5. It is to leave the soul at last without all hope of succour and sanctuary because guilt dares not fly to offended justice e Gen 3. 10. Apoc. 6. 16. and hath no refuge else but abused mercy f Rom. 2. 4.
of all grace and comfort I beseech thee for his sake who came to save me my Hope my Joy my Jesus Amen A Meditation of the pleasures of Piety ASsemble your selves you Epicures Masters of delights and Professors of all the Arts of Pleasure take Counsels and make Musters of all your powers and wits with all your Students Agents in delectable things and devices One Saint and Servant of God is Commander and Possessour of more joyes than you all 1. Joyes of another Quality than yours faire and pure even the poorest extracted out of the grossest earthly goods as Elixars and Essences Defecate from your dregs of guilt and stings of Conscience A Tun-full of yours is not worth a Viall of theirs Psal 4. 6. Eccles 1 2. Prov. 14. 13 a whole Barrel of your Pitch below a Box of their Balsome 2. And contend you not in Quantitie with them their numbers exceed yours as much as their excellencies Their joyes are Two to one to yours Yours are Psal 4. 6. Jac. 1. 12. for good of this life their 's for ill as well as good And Three to one for goods Yours are for temporall spirituall you doe not tast eternall you cannot hope they have Temporall in hand Spirituall in heart Eternall in eye Nay Ten hundreds thousands to one Yours is from Finite good their 's from Infinite And which multiplies that to ten thousand times ten thousands of millions and more Yours is for time and theirs of that Eternall You are then out-vied every way Yours are the joyes of Servants of Mat. 25. 13 Slaves Theirs the Lords Yours are Heb. 11. 25. Drops theirs Oceans yours Moments Isa 12. 3 theirs Eternities Above them Psal 36. 9. is the spring of heavenly joyes within Isa 30. 10. 1 Pet. 4. 8. Joh. 15. 11. Deut. 12. 7. Jer. 11. 15. them seas of holy solaces about them rivers of Earthly pleasures below them the pudles of your carnall contentments They drinke water pure from the spring and rock and therefore loathe your chanel joyes and even for that drinke it in both more pure and more To all these Territories of joyes have the Saints good rights and it is Phil. 4. 4. Deut. 28. 47. Prov. 1◠10 Psal 17. 14 both their shame and sinne if they doe not take and keep possession Which you cannot judge who are strangers both to their joyes and hearts Nor match who are pent up to your single sole poore pension of worldly-pettie transitory pittances Prince of Epicures enter the lists now with a Prime Servant of Almighty God Summe up all thou canst possesse or imagine of joyes and give in thy totall one of his least figures is more the summe infinitely Have what Solomons braine and state can Eccles 1 2. command of delights adde what Cleopatra's wanton wits and friends can devise of daliances an Ephrem from his Cell a Catherine from her Oratorie shall beat all your great Minions and baffle all your multitudes of joies You have a sense-full of joyes they a soule-full When your eyes run over with laughter your heart is not full Prov. 14. 13. their hearts are so full that they run all over Their Raptures are more great than hearts can hold One prayes God to withdraw a while his heart is too Recede Domine parūper quia vasculū cordis mei ferre nequit little a vessell to containe Him the other cries out to Him the multitude of his joyes overwhelme her O Epicure be a Saint and thou shalt find what thou doest else in vaine seek Obruor multitudine gaudiorum tuorum Domine as thy chief good Joy above all thy joyes in qualitie quantitie height depth bredth length pure as christall great as God high as heaven deep as the heart broader than earth long as eternitie But O Saint be not thou an Epicure if delight draw thy heart thou losest so much in delectation as Religion and abatest thy Soule so much of solace as God of service Believe it if thou wouldst have joy in life and at death for the goods and ills of this life both body and soule-goods enough on earth and more in heaven the only way is to be as thou shouldst be and continue as thou art not an Epicure but a Saint Service against Malicee for Monday or other day Morning Prayer Psal 7. 10. Lesson Prov. 24. Mat. 5. v. 43. Evening-Prayer Psal 35. 62. Lesson Levit. 19. 1 Cor. 5. or Tit. 3. 1 Pet. 2. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Malice O Thou Divine Goodnesse keep me from Malice the very Soule of Satan and proper sinne of the Devill Thou O God art Love He then is Hatred and if malice be in me I shall be as he is one whom unlesse thou hatest thy selfe thou canst not love From such a detestable and damned disposition Lord deliver me Let not Satans brand be on my brest and his soule in my body lest being marked for him he seize me as his owne and take me and carry me from thee body and soule Lord stamp thy love on my heart that I may be sealed for thee and as thy owne claimed by thee And since this is the Cognisance of thine to love one another let me not weare his Badge in a visible malice to any that all may know that I am thine A Child of thy Family a Dove of thy Flock a Lamb of thy Fould without gaule or mind to doe mischief to any Delighting like thee to do good to all Even for his sake who did wish and doe evill to none Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against malice 1. IT is a Toad swelling with venome in the heart to God who is love a 1 Joh. 4. 8. 1 Joh. 1. 12. more odious because like the Devil most abominable The Devils heart in mans body 2. To cast keep out this venome of the Serpent 1. Consider 1. Men are mortall their enmities therefore should not be immortall b Eph. 4. 26. 2. Men are mutable Whom now I hate I may hereafter need as in Joseph c Gen. 42. 6. and Jeptha d Jud. 11. 7. 3. Men are amiable e Prov. 8. 31. all after Gods image and bought by Christs blood f Gen. 9. 6. 4. No man is the Christians enemy g Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 14. 15 as God he hates the sinne not the man h Mat. 5. 44. 5. If there be antipathie in nature it must be mastered by grace i Gal. 5. 24. which must doe miracles to nature 2. Beware 1. Of Anger That if it kindle it continue not to be wrath and so coole into malice k Ephes 4. 26. 2. Of men of Malice set upon mischiefe l Prov. 4. 15. 16. Service against Revenge for Thursday or other day Morning Prayer Psalm 94. Lessons Deut. 32. vers 35. or 1 Sam. 24. Luke 18. Evening Prayer Psal 18. v. 47. Lessons 1 Sam. 25.
to what they forbid for ill and to shun the contrary ill where they command good 3. And Mat. 5. 22 1 Thes 5. 22. to shun all kindes and causes and occasions of ill and to use all meanes and opportunities of good And 2. We may and must observe all this Eccl. 7. 29 Heb. 4. 15 Jam. 3. 2 1 John 3. 4 Ro. 6. 12 Heb. 13. 18 Act. 24. 16 Jer. 8. 6 Ro. 13. 8 Luke 1. 6. Heb. 12. 28 Not Exactly and Absolutely as Adam might and Christ did for we offend and sinne all and so break the Law but yet Vprightly and Evangelically that is We must keep our selves from greater sinnes and heartily endeavour and pray against all and grieve and repent when we doe any And thus by Gods grace we may doe and this for Christs merits God accepts and accounts for keeping of the Law without which we cannot do aright Qu. 3. What is it to Pray aright Mat. 6. 9 Ans According to the Patterne of Devotion summ'd up in the Lords Prayer the Rule of our Dâ—sires 1. For Gods glory before our good the Churches before my own and my soul before my body for matter and order And this in love and lowliness with faith and assurance for the manner 2. And that either to the Sense or according to the Words of the Patterne Qu. What assurances hath the true Christian that believing doing and praying aright in this world he shall be happy in another Ans Two great Assurances Gods Tit. 1. 2. Mar. 16. 16. Joh. 3. 15. Heb. 5. 9. Rom. 2. 7. Act. 2. 21. Heb. 6. 17. 18. Heb. 8. 6. Heb. 9. 15. Heb. 9. 18. 26. Heb. 10. 20. Word and Seal 1. Besides Gods Word his Bond which by his power he can and for his truth he will make good It is in a Covenant confirmed with Gods Oath which cannot change by Testament ratified in Christ bloud which must not alter And to this Covenant and Testament are put 2. Gods Broad Seales of mans Salvation the Two Sacraments of Christ Baptisme the Seal of my Birthright to Heaven and the Holy Eucharist the Seal of my Inheritance in it Qu. Are the Sacraments onely Signes and Seales Ans No. As they are Christs Assurances so they are his Conveyances Rom. 4. 11. Tit. 4. 5. Joh. 3. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 16. too and Meanes as well as Signes of grace Baptisme of my Spirituall Birth and life and the Holy Eucharist of my Growth and nourishment to that which is eternall Qu. What is to be gathered from all these Grounds Ans Two Good Resolves for two Important Inquiries 1. Who is the best Christian He that most carefully keeps his Rules and Seales 2. Which is the Best Church That which is made up of such Christians MAT. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there I am in the midst amongst them There then Devout Soul be thou One in Christs Name and rest confident to be saved since thy Saviour is with thee there Grounds of Protestant Religion How a devout Christian Soul in the midst of the manifold Distractions and Divisions about Religion and Pretensions and Claimes to the Church may upon These Grounds against all seruples rest satisfied and setled in minde and cheerfully goe on in Gods Service to Salvation 1. IF he that Believes Lives and Prayes according to Christs Rules be the True Christian and by all Gods Assurances shall be the Happy Man The next way to Heaven is not to look after Controversie but Conscience and to spend my Zeale and Time not in being Contentious but Religious Since wheresoever I live or am in the Christian World West or East in what Church or Country soever it is not my being a Good Scholler that must save me but a Good Christian Not a learned Disputant for Christ but a Devout Servant to him Nor being of such or such a Party or Side in the Church but a true Member of his Body And even upon These Grounds I may see and discerne enough about the present Controversies and Debates in and concerning the Church For 1. I would aske this Whether I being borne againe and made a Christian by true Baptisme 1. Believing the Scriptures shall be damn'd for not equally believing Traditions Whether believing the Apostels Creed I shall be damn'd for not believing as my Creed the Popes to be as infallible as the Apostles 2. Whether making conscience to serve and worship God I shall be damned for not worshiping Images 3. Whether praying to God as Christ taught Our Father I shall be damned for not Invocating Saints and Angels and saying Our Friend which art in Heaven 4. Whether Receiving the Holy Sacrament in both kindes confessedly according to Christs Institution I shall be damned because the Cup is taken away by a Councell And whether if the Bloud be said to be in the Body it be not so to the Priest too and so by that reason neither People nor Priest are to have the Cup These being Points of Chiefest Difference in Religion betwixt Protetants and Papists an ordinary and indifferent understanding may easily judge by the evidence of Those Christian Grounds whether the Protestant is a damnable Christian 2. Nay secondly I would aske further 1. Whether to give an equall faith to Tradition as Scripture to a Pope as Christ or an Apostle of Christ be not to incurre the great Curse for Additions Rev. 22. 18 2. Whether Worshiping of Crucifixes and Images be not Idolatry damn'd in Scripture against Gods Second Commandement Whether the doing it but Relatively save it according to the Distinction of the Schoole in the ignorant people Or learned either if the Israelites Exod. 32. 4 5 8. were Idolaters for worshiping God in and before the Golden Calfe which was but a Relative worship 3. Whether Praying to Saints confessed to be an Unstatutable worship be not a sinne of Superstition against God and praying to be heard and help't for their Merits sake a Great injury to Christ 4. Whether to give the Sacrament without the Cup be not as Pope Gelasius said A grand Sacriledge and so to take it to receive but halfe the Communion And whether the people may not justly doubt and feare they Receive None if but Halfe These being the Points and practises of the Romane Church the unprejudic'd may judge whether the Papists be not the more dangerous Religion 2. If it be said there is but One Ancient Visible Catholique Church of Christ out of which to depart by Schisme is to goe from Salvation And that is the now-Romane Church and this now doth the Reformed I satisfie my selfe on my former grounds thus 1. Out of the Catholique Church is Universaâ—ity no salvation because that 's the Congregation of Christian men all over the World and none can be saved but a Christian But Is the West all the World Are there not Christians in the East Or doe Papists take up
which art in Heaven c. The Blessing THe God of Mercy and Peace be with me Body and Soul and blesse me and all mine and those that need his Mercy this night and evermore Amen So ends the Evening Prayer Particular Prayers Prayer of a Husband for a Wife O Lord Thou hast made the 1 Pet. 3. 2. Wife the weaker Vessel yet a necessary one Man the nobler Gen. 2. 18. 1 Cor. 11. 3 9. Prov. 12. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 7. of the two yet the Woman next the Man He is her Head but she is his Crowne let me then tender her as weaker and honour her as a Vessell of worth So weak let me never be as to give her my Power nor so wicked as to make her the Mistris of my Conscience So tyrannous 1 Kings 21. 9. Col. 2. 19. Gen. 21. 12. let me never be as to make her my Slave nor so imperious as not to allow her of my Counsell Let me value her well but my self better and love her much but thee more If she Mat. 19. 21. play Eve let not me be Adam take the forbidden fruit from her hand lest I give her ruine for respect let me not make her my Foot nor let her be my Head Thine Authority in me let me maintaine with love and hers under me with zeale that the yoke 1 Cor. 6. 14. which lies on both may be carryed with more comfort drawn on with more bliss to me and her all that is ours As thou lovest thy Spouse Lord Ephes 29. 22. let me love mine And as thy Church doth love reverence and obey thee let her love honour and observe me in thee and for thee Deare Jesus Amen Prayer of a Wife for her Husband FOr him I pray to thee O God Gen. 2. 23 24. whom thou by thy providence and Ordinance hast made most mine of all mankind my Husband and Head That I may pay him the Duty which by thy command I owe him with such conscience as thou maist acquit me and he behold me not as his Crosse but his Crown That he may Ephes 5. 22 25. return me that love and respect which by thy Law is due from him to me that I may embrace him as my Refuge not my storme Lord let me study by all 1 Pet. 3. 1. love and lowlinesse to make him mine and let him seek in all wisdome and kindnesse to make me his And let both unite Prayers and endeavours to make our selves and all ours thine That being espoused to thee on Earth we may at last be Married with thee in Heaven and dwell together in those mansions of blisse where is neither sin nor sorrow nor care nor discontent nor any distresse but a dower of Immortality and Joy and Glory for Body and Soul with felicity to all eternity even for ever and ever So be it dear Jesus Amen Amen Prayer of a Parent for Children O Lord who by thy favour hast given me Issue and in thy name Gen. 27. 4. 29. 1. power to blesse my Children Set thy seal I beseech thee to my Blessing Blesse them with grace to be thy Children me with grace by good example and education to keep them thine Blesse them with health and long and good life if thy blessed will and me with providence and due care by all right wayes to advance their good let me not allow my Children to be thy rebels and abhorre to make them so Let me not so distract my soul with care for them or load my Conscience with guilt as to convey thy Curse on me and them Let my care be Fatherly for their Lives and Christian for their Soules Believing all Psal 127. care to be vaine without thy blessing and Carking the way unto thy curse All blessings of this world so far good as they serve and help on to a better and unreasonable coveting of them a barre to that blisse O Lord my Children are more thine than mine Thou art Father of their Spirits I Heb. 12. 9. but of their Flesh Let me therefore trust thee for them as their best Father and my self with them as thy good Child taking care to doe our duty to 1 Pet. 5. 7. thee and casting all farther care upon thee So be it dear Father for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Prayer of a Child for Parents O Lord who hast made my Parents as Gods in thy stead under thee the Makers and Preservers of my life let me look at thy power and goodnesse in them and as thee love serve and obey them that I may give die Ephes 6. 1. to their life and length to their dayes And Lord who hast given them power to convey blessing on me give me leave from thee the Father of all to pray blessing on them And to my power to be ever dutifull and helpfull to them That so I may be as the Child of their love so the Heir of their blessing the blessing thou hast promised to loving and obedient Children theirs and thine give it me good Lord for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Prayer for a Family THat I have a Family to governe it is thy mercy O God but rule it aright I shall not without thy grace That grace Lord give me Wisdome to know what I am to doe and ability to do according to my knowledge by my instruction to lead it in thy fear Gen. 19. Deut. 6. 4. by my example to draw it by my Admonition to drive it on By my Providence to doe it right by my Protection to keep it from wrong As carefull to give to all their dues as to receive their duty Let me remember Ephes 6. 7. 9. Job 31. 13. 14. Col. 4. 1. that as my selfe my Servants are thine fashioned by thy hands and bought alike by thy Bloud that I may not despise them lest I despise thee Let me consider that my Children as mine are thine made after thine Image and born againe of thy Spirit that I may not neglect them lest I neglect thee And let them remember and consider that I stand in thy stead that as thy self they may serve and obey me and thine Authority in me And let me and them both be mindfull that I am thy Deputy I that I must account for my Charge and they that they must come to a reckning for their carriage both to thee the Soveraigne Judge and Lord of all That so I may so rule and they obey as all may be done in thee and for thee and all may reign at last in thee through the merits of him of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named the great gracious Master of us all Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephes 3. 13 Amen A Prayer for Issue O Lord who hast ordained Mariage the meanes to propagate Mankind and mak'st it fruitfull to that purpose by thy providence at thy pleasure I beseech
didst both live and die in virtue of thy blood that sole and soveraigne antidote and sanctuary of bleeding Sinners thy deare and pretious blood let my soule live if my body die but if thy blessed will both live to praise thy goodnesse to both Lord cast my sins behind thy back and hold me in thy Armes Into thy Armes of mercy I cast my self Body Soul my onely hope and refuge and rock of my salvation is in thy blessed merits and blood deare Jesus take me and keep me in thy Armes now and ever and especially in my last hower and agonie have mercy on me I beseech thee Amen Amen Thanksgiving for one recovered of the Plague THou hast smitten and thou hast healed me O my God! the blow was grievous thy help is greater the blow was just thy help more gracious my sinnes deserved death thy mercy hath spared my life O Lord with an humble thankfull soule I doe acknowledge as ever so now especially from thy good hand my present life and health And now I humbly beseech thee that my heart may smite me that I have ever rebelled against so good a Majestie and thy grace keep me that I never more lift up my hand against so great a goodnesse O let not the pestilence goe from my body to my soule let not Satan and corruption poyson perswade my spirit to sit in the chaire or stay in the house of pestilence Let not others be infected with sinne by me nor me by them lest thou be more provoked and the plague gone returne in a greater judgment My God my help my health my hope my life and comfort be thy Name ever blessed that hast spared my soule and life O let it be no more dishonoured by me that keeping from the infection of an evill world I may live in the blisse of a better where is neither sinne nor sicknesse to infect soule or body but perfect health strength grace and glory in thee and with thee to all eternity O Jesus my onely refuge and the horne of my salvation So be it Amen Amen Prayer for one at the Hower of Death to be said by the Sick or some for him altering the Person 1. Prayer of one at the point of Death GOd the Father his mercies be about me God the Sonne his merits be upon me God the Holy Ghost his comforts be within me Holy Trinitie preserve strengthen and support me that my Death may be pretious in the sight of the Lord and my Soule live with thee to all eternity Amen Amen 2. Prayer for one at the point of Death FAther of mercies let thy love be to him Saviour of the world let thy merits be on him Comforter of departing Souls let thy peace be in him Father Sonne and Holy Spirit defend a Child of thy Family save a Lamb of thy Flock keep a member of thy Church O thou One and onely Lord God of Heaven command thy holy Angels to tender him and forbid evill ones to trouble him Deliver his soul discharge his sinne seale his pardon heavenly Father by thy Holy Spirit in the blood of Jesus Amen Amen 3. Prayer for one at the point of Death LOrd Jesus Succour this Dying Soule make passage for him by death to a better life purge his sins in thy Blood and prepare his Soule by thy Spirit and receive it to the glory of thy Father Jesus that didst so deerly purchase it make haste to receive it from the pangs of present and paines of everlasting death Good Lord deliver it deliver it for thy mercies sake Amen Amen Thanksgiving after Death for one Departed ¶ Say this Scripture Psal 116. 7 15. Returne unto thy rest ô my Soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the Death of the Saints Apoc. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours ¶ Then Pray thus THou that hast sent for this Soul out of the Prison of his Bodie to come to the Palace of thy Blisse receive our praises O Lord for his happy deliverance from pangs to joyes from Tryalls to Triumphs from Earth to Heaven O Lord we beseech thee admit our humble lauds to attend him into thy presence and with them let our prayers enter before thee that as he so we in thy good time may come and present our Halleluja's with our selves in thy sight And meane time lead a godly life to have a blessed death Lord let us not forsake thee now that thou mayest not leave us then in that last and great hower upon which followes an Eternitie of weale or woe Lord have mercy on us and doe not forsake us and therefore let us have the feare of it and thee now and ever before us that as we believed our Brother departed is we may be blessed in and by our death grant we may deare Iesus Amen Amen A generall Thanksgiving for Gods mercies O Thou high Majestie of Heaven how hast thou filled me with the favours of thy bounty how great hast thou been in thy goodnesse and mercy how gracious in thy providence to me thou hast poured the blessings of heaven and earth upon my head Thou hast loaden me with thy gifts bestowed upon me in Creating Redeeming and in Preserving me In my Creation thou gavest me thine Image and madest me more noble than all the Creatures of the earth In my Redemption thou gav'st me thy Sonne and madest me more glorious than the Angels of Heaven In my Baptisme and Regeneration thou gavest me thy Spirit and hast made me more happy than millions of men in the world Thou hast given thy self to me Lord what could'st thou doe more for me thrice blessed yea for ever be thy glorious Name for thine infinite grace mercy and goodnesse to me And in thy providence for this life how abundantly hast thou blessed me in health wealth body mind c. and many and many mercies vouchsafed me In my weaknesse thou hast strengthened me in my dangers thou hast delivered me in my distresses thou hast comforted me in my prayers thou hast heard me in thy judgments thou hast spared me to this day preserving my life and making it many waies joyfull to me And not for any good in me O Lord hast thou been thus gracious towards me My ills on earth hath been many my ingratitudes great against thee For them thou mightest for ever banish me from heaven and with my sinnes cast me into hell amongst those that offend thee for thy owne goodnesse and great Names sake hast thou been thus bountifull and mercifull to me O fill my heart with thy love that my mouth may poure ou◠praises to thee Ravish my soule with thy goodnesse that my heart may ever love thee Fill my life with thy feare that as my lips my thoughts deeds may ever honour thee let me not be so wretched as to forget thy
put it in thy senses Man of reason be not a beast for sense live and love above worldly vanitie looke and long after sure solid satisfying soule-felicity else saving thy selfe nothing is or can be so vaine Wednesday-Service Against the Villanies of the World Morning Prayer Psal 12. 14. 120. Lessons Gen. 6. or 19. Mat. 24. Evening Prayer Psal 18. 55. Lessons Jer. 5. or Isaiah 13. 2 Pet. 2. or 1 Joh. 5. Collect against the villanies of the World O Lord since the World is a Sodome 2 Pet. 2. 8. let me be a Lot vexed not delighted with her filthiness Since it is a Mesech let me be a David not taken but tired with her Psal 120. 4 wretchedness Lord why should that have my joyes where my Soule is never free from dangers nor thy glory from wounds where Blasphemie is as common as the ayre and Oppression as the earth where Iniquitie flowes like water and lust flames as fire why should I be in love with her that is in hate with thee where if I follow her course I go to the damnation of another world and if I crosse it meet with nothing but vexation all the way O Lord though I be in it let me not be of it if it be wicked let me be good yea the more wicked it is the better let me be that thou mayest Apoc. 3. 12 take a more mercifull notice of my goodnesse And because it is hard to breath the ayre of corruption and take 2 Cor. 6. 17 no taint into conversation let me be willing to get fairly from it and come to thee where is blisse pure without teare or taint Take me from the Devils of the world to thy Angels O God! meane time let me live a Saint even amongst Devils that I may at last be a Saint amongst Angels yea as one of thy Angels in that world where is no woe nor wickednesse Sinner nor Satan but thy blessed unitie with holy and happy society of glorified Men and Angels enjoying adoring lauding and serving thee for ever ever so be it for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Daily Prayers Meditation of the Villanies of the World MOther of all misdeeds and mischiefs when shall I be delivered from thee gaole of my Soule and wrack of my salvation a hill of poor Pismires tossing up and downe thou art at best a hell of debauch'd and damned Spirits at worst Source of sinne forge of hell and a field of all temptation If I love my God I must hate thee because an enemy to his honour if I love my self I must loath thee because an adversary to my salvation if I hate the Devill I must not love thee because thou art his Sword to destroy if I may not love the flesh I must not love thee because her staffe of support if I must not love vice I must abhorre thee because thou art the Mistresse of Vanitie if I must love grace I must detest thee because the Step-dame of Virtue Hagge of Satan Hate of Heaven Schole of Vice Seminary of Errour Mother of Sinne Step-dame of Saints Pest of the Spirit Nurse of the Flesh who by thy bad counsels and examples breedest the Brat of Sin in thy wicked womb and then sucklest and indearest it with thy profits and pleasures thy wretched dugs woe is me that I must stay in thee shame on me if I love thee thy best things are vanities of Earth thy worst villanies against Heaven what in thee can I love Though thou be a Whore I will not be a Villaine to my God so much a Villaine as to love such a Whore so Jac. 4. 4. 1 Joh. 2. 14 much a Villaine as by any lust of mine to make thee more Strumpet and by my additions of particular ills to encrease thy whoredomes I will have care what I can not to be Partaker of thy guilts but Ringleader I will never be to thy rebellions I would not come to thy end and therefore will avoid thy way God I thank thee for thy good Spirit which carries me against the streame of my corruption and tide of the World I cannot goe but in the strength of that Spirit against such a tide and streame God I pray thee let me continue my course that I fall not at last into thy Sea of Wrath and when the world of nature shall end be tormented with a world of sinners world without end for ever and ever Thursday-Service About Death Morning Prayer Psal 39. 49. Lesson Geu 3. or 5. Luk. 16. Evening Prayer Psal 90. 23. Lesson Eccles 12. Rom. 5. ¶ Thursday-Collect or Prayer about Death O Lord who hast appointed all to die make me ever mindfull of my dissolution that I may lesse love the vanities of this and more seek the felicities of a better life where death and distresses are not but we shall be as the Angels of God healthy and vigorous and happy for ever O let me every day so live that I may come to that life when I die And because the best-led life may have need of some time to prepare for death Of thy great mercy I beseech thee keep me from an unprepared heart and unexpected end Even for his sake who himselfe had the horrour of death Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers after it Meditation of Death DIe I must and after live in weal or woe for ever and no time after to recover the woe if I lose the weal As I tender then eternity let me look to my life Die I must and know not where House a Field Land or Water Bed or Board every where then let me look to it Die I must but know not how By a violent or naturall course casualty or infirmity lingringly or speedily every way then let me looke for it Die I must but know not when Day or night this or that day next or this This or that hour that or this minute this or that time Morn Noon Even ever then let me look after it And how look to it better then to finde out the murderer and doom him to death O Sin shalt thou lie in my bosome that hast laid all Mankind in a grave I will have thee to the crosse Rom. 5. 12 for that yea and for this too lest thou adde murder to murder and kill my Soul after my Body O what a sad hour of parting will that be if when Soul should leave the Body to death God shall leave the soul to be damn'd All full of horrour and utterly comfortlesse when it should be most the comforter of the Body But strength thou hast not to have death under foot without a Christ in Luke 2. 28 29. thy Armes Thou canst not welcome it without fear till thou embrace him in thy Faith To whom then should I look but to thee O Lord who art my Saviour And for what but thy mercy which is my Salvation And why but for my sinnes my onely destruction And how
6. Gods best Saints have been fearing men and shall sinners be presumers See it in Job g Job 9. 28. David h Psal 119 20. Paul i 1 Cor. 9. 27. and others 7. I presume of that which is not mine but Gods life k James 4. 14 15. and grace l 2 Tim. 2. 25. without either of which I am undone for ever m Eph. 2. 5 and yet I provoke God without whose mercy I can have neither n Rom. 2. 5 8. Who wil give his head a mortall wound o Isa 1. 6. in hope to finde a soveraign balme yet I give my soule certaine wounds in hope of uncertaine remedies p Jer. 51. 8 9. Wednesday-Service Against Desperation Morning Prayer Psal 103. 44. Lesson Jer. 3. or Mic. 27. Luke 7. Evening-Prayer Psalm 130. 147. Lesson 2 Chron. 33. 1 Tim. 1. 1. Prayer against Desperation LOrd keep me from despairing of thy mercy Let me not seek at once to destroy my soul and my Saviour by believing my sinnes to be so great as thy mercy cannot pardon or my conscience so foul as his Bloud will not purge Preserve me from all sins O Lord but from this above all I beseech thee for his sake who is the hope of Israell and of all that dwell in the ends of the earth Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Prayer against Desperation O Lord I have been a great offendour but let me not be a dâ—sperate sinner I have most wickedly provoked the eyes of thy glory but let me not more wickedly shed the bowels of thy mercy Thy Law hath been cast behind my back but O let not thy bloud be trampled under my foot Thou keepest the gate of mercy open let not me shut it upon me Thou hast not yet cast me in keep me from leaping into the pit of perdition Though guilts and staines have made me black as a fiend yet am I not in hell out of which there is no Redemption Dear Saviour with thee is mercy and plenty for the whole world of sinners much more for one though the greatest sinner of the world Revive that soule with thy grace which thou didst ransome with thy bloud Rescue that poore soul by thy mercy for which thou hast satisfied in thy justice Wash off my staines break off my bonds pull off the chaines of Satan deliver me from my sinnes That I may live an Example of thy mercy a Comfort to poor penitents a Joy to the Angels a Companion to the Saints and Servant to thy Majesty So be it dear Saviour Amen Amen Letany Daily Prayers Remedies against Desperation 1. THe sinne of Hell In the dead and damned not fit for them that live on earth a Eccles 9. 4. Psal 42. 11. Jer. 18. 12. who may be in a state damnable but not condemned without hope to be saved then the Judge would not let them live b Jud. 13. 23. 2. The sin against Heaven Not a treason against God but a murder of the Godhead In which Judas sinned more then in his Treason * Saint Hierome 3. The sinne on earth capable of a cure two wayes by Consideration and Caution 1. Consider 1. If I have a world of sin to damn me God hath a Sea of mercy to drown it c Mic. 7. 18. 2. No stains or guilts can make my Soul so much vile but Christs bloud is more precious d Ro. 5. 9. Heb. 9. 13 14 1 Pet. 1. 19. 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. 3. The Remedy of Repentance e Isai 1. 16. Acts. 2. 38. by the power of that mercy and vertue of that bloud hath cured most damned and desperate sinnes and sinners David's f Psal 51. Psal 32. 5. 2 Sam. 12. 13. Peters g Mat. 26. 75. Manasseh h 2 Chron. 33. 12. Magdalen i Luk. 8. 2. Luk. 7. 37. 47. Paul k 1 Tim. 1. 13. and others 2. Beware before of the sin of 1. Presumption From which precipice of false hope are the most fatall fearful falls into despair l Job 11. 10. 2. Under the temptation to despair take heed of concealing the conflict for wo to me if when I have my selfe and the Devill my foe I have no man of God to friend Violent ends and deaths had beene m Prov. 28. 13. Act. 16. 27 30. cured by such confessions Thursday-Service Against Swearing and Taking Gods Name in Vaine Morning Prayer Psal 15. 99. Lessons Zachary 5. or Mal. 3. Mat. 5. v. 33. Evening Prayer Psal 50. 111. Lessons Eccles 9. James 5. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Swearing and taking Gods Name in vaine O Lord Holy and Reverend is thy Name let me not dare to prophane it Angels therefore dread and adore thee and shall I despise thee Thou Lord wilt take an account of all idle words if then thy Titles be prostituted at my vaine pleasure and made to fill my idle discourses how shall I answer thee Keep my tongue from such customes O Lord and let Care watch my lips that I get not such a tongue And let thy Feare guard my heart that no such words move thence to my lips What is past pardon I beseech thee in thy mercy what is to come prevent in me by thy grace for Jesus his sake Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Swearing and taking Gods Name in vaine 1. THere is much ill in this sinne 1. Against the Creator GOD. It is 1. Petty Blasphemy at least The Jewes stopt their eares at it and dare Christians open their mouths for it a Act. 7. 55. 2. Petty Treason A lifting up the tongue against Divine Majestie and wounding it and bringing it to contempt b 2 Kings 19. 22. 3. Grand ingratitude to God For my tongue made for his glory c Psal 55. 8. to do him dishonor And the Names Members of Christ to be made instruments of sinne d 1 Cor. 6. 15. 2. Against the Creature 4. Grand rebellion Man the tongue of the Creatures to praise God makes then Mutes to his Glory e Psal 19. 1. and guilty of his despising and daring God and himself worse then them all 2. There is great danger in it The Law sayes it goes not guiltlesse f Exod. 20. 7. The Gospel sayes of Condemnation g Jam. 5. 12. 3. There is no profit credit or pleasure in it a meer-pure sin without motive to excuse it 4. Custome aggravates it That I dare get and keep an habit against Heaven 5. I may use meanes to lose as well as get this custome * Socrates by stones cured his ill speech 1. For Gods Names O Lord Jesus Christ use other words O strange O rare O me c. with as good sense and lesse sin 2. Punish thy slips Bite tongue Give an almes Say Lords Prayer Friday-Service Against Lying Morning Prayer Psalm 34. 52. 63. Lesson Prov. 6. or 12. Job 8. Verse 44. Evening Prayer Psalm 59. 101. Lesson
nor Cool'd to Earth and the Seas of mercy run as fresh and full as ever they did in Heaven Thence take I Hope But 8. I fear too I Dread Temptation Thy Crosse was made of Adams Gal. 3. 13. Tree I fear because he fel Lord Deliver me I Dread Desertion Solomons Wisdome and Davids Grace I want Yet had I both should fall if thou forsake me Lord on the Crosse thy Mat. 26. 56. Disciples left thee let me never If Temptation carry me away look after me doe not leave me I Dread Apostacy O keep me from that Sinne from which even thy Bloud thy Crosse cannot or will not save me How should it when I re-build thy Crosse Heb. 10. 26 27. and trample thy Bloud I fear my self for all this As my Sinnes nail'd Thee to thy Crosse Corruption 1 Pet. 2. 24. rivets me in my Sinnes The Devill never wants a Hammer whilst Rom. 7. 27 God hath a World nor hath a Naile to seek whilst Man hath a Heart O Lord I have one and a Forge of Jer. 17. 9. wicked devices and lusts in it full of all damned cheats and deceits From a Tempest then of Temptation From the Gulf of spirituall Desertion From the Precipice of finall Apostacy by the Vertue of thy Crosse Deliver me And from my self above all and my Heart above all in my self Deliver me Good Lord I fear Precipice Gulfe Tempest but the Forge above all Without whose work and wiles the Devill doth in vain Tempt God will not desert me nor shall I desert God And Corruption and the Flesh that is there I behold with most horrour as the Anvile in the Forge Upon which the Devill and it Hammer fashion and beat out all their Works What will keep me from the Vertue of thy Crosse and my Blisse Lord Jesus That hath and ever let it have my fear 9. And how doth my Bloud boile in my Veines to see thy Crosse robb'd of its Vertue O Christ My Spirit is at once in Ird dolore impleor pro Christo meo c. Naz. Griefe and Rage for thee Jesus I am full of Indignation for the Affronts and Injuries done unto thee To see thy Bloud spilt or scorn'd To see thy Passion forgot or abused Thy love without Memory or Value Thy Paines without Relief or Remorse Who can who should endure O Christ to see thy Crosse made the Devils Standard Without the Church a Stumbling-block and Rock of Offence 1 Cor. 1. 23 within an Idol and Tree of Superstition To see thy Wounds shelters for Sinners turn'd Cities of Refuge for Sinnes Thy Merits their Sanctuaries Thy Bloud their Life Thy Self their Patron Thy Passion the Nurse of Presumption Thy Mercy the Milk of all Abomination Thy good Theif made the greatest Robber of Mankind and thy Pitty Principall to the Robbery And in the strength of these Villainconfidences and Blasphemous Inferences from thy Crosse who can consider without anger what is done in thy Kingdome What Reeds are made thy Scepters What Chaires thy Thrones What Tricks thy Orders What Rudenesse thy Service What Miscreants thy Worshippers What Confusion thy Religion What Wild-fire thy Zeale What Shames thy Glory What Ends thy Services What Lunacies thy Revelations What Prodigies thy Dictates What Larguage thy Word What Prayers thy Breath What Devilishnesse thy Spirit What stirres thy Motions All Wickednesse done in thy Name to thy Glory by thy Warrant and most under the Seal of thy Crosse By those who wear thy Livery pretend to thy Service and professe for thy Honour seeme to desire to know nothing but thee and see themselves Crucified as meer mortified Men who seek nothing less then themselves yet tear at once thy Lawes and Limbs pull downe both thy Cross and House and lay together thy Worship Bloud in the Dust O Jesus that didst whip the Buyers and Sellers out of thy Temple Where is thy Zeal for thy Church for thy self for thy Fathers sake That canst see and yet suffer these injuries to thy Honour and Bloud When Indignation kindles in thy poor Servants Soul at so great Indignities how is it that Wrath flames not out in thine How is it Even so it is be-because thou art Jesus lovest to Save Joh. 12. 47. 2 Pet. 3. 9. loath to Destroy Waitest our Repentance wavest thy Vengeance 10. I am Ravish'd with that good Spirit of thine O Christ Thou hadst it on the Cross and keep'st it on the Throne where it appears it doth ravish Luk. 23. 34. Joh. 19. 28. me In thy lips Prayest thou their Pardons that are shedding thy Blood Thirstest thou their Salvation that are Butchering thy Body In thy Armes stretcht out to embrace all on Earth and therefore strike not though in all the power of Heaven In thy Eyes As thou wast with one of my Mothers Cant. 4. 9. I am ravished with one of thine Thy fury frights me O Lord Thy favour is that One. The eye with which thou didst look at the poor Thief and give him both thy Pardon and Paradise Luke 23. 43. Joh. 19. 26. The Eye by which thou didst look at thy Dear Mother and amidst all thy Wounds chuse her a Gardian and have her in thy cares The Eye by which thou didst look at the dear Disciple Joh. 19. 27. and adopt him of thy Servant thy Mothers Sonne The Eye by which thou didst look at poor Sinners to be saved a Church to be Bought Eph. 5. 25. Joh. 12. 42. and World to be Ransomed But in thy Heart O! what an Apparition see I there Through the Bloody door of thy wounded Breast a House full of nothing but Goodness Patience Pitty Mercy O what a Perspective is there by the way of the Spear to the Joh. 19. 24. 1 John 5. 6. 8. Prospect of a poor Sinners sole Delight a Heart full of all Grace and Favour in the Breast of a Jesus a Saviours Heart From that Heart with that Eye O Christ behold the Afflicted Mother thy Church and thy dear Disciple Her Child Breath comfort to Her for whom thou gavest Bloud And to Him who is the Son of Her Comfort Make peace betwixt Mother and Children where there should be Love Let them live by one Spirit that are bought with one Bloud And no longer be one anothers Cross but beare one anothers Burdens Dart Lord from that Blessed eye of Pitty these favours on the face of that Bleeding Body And with thy Armes nailed once to a Cross now extended on a Throne embrace Her and uphold her in life Advance her Throne for whom thou didst endure thy Psal 8. 3. John 1. 3. Crosse O thou who didst with thy fingers work Heaven and Earth and Heb. 1. 2. upholdest all things by the Word of thy Power whom the World treads under foot take thou into thy Armes In thy blessed Armes O thou Omnipotent and All-mercifull Maker and Saviour of the Word In thy blessed
of the Devill who because he once got Eternity for an Apple thinkes to Tempt away thy Salvation for nothing And therefore would have thee all for the Body that nothing may be done for the Salvation of the Soul Dear one thou wast not Ransom'd be not Ruin'd for nothing And now O my Soul Spirituall Immortall Intellectuall The lively Image The Dear Spouse of God Lord Paramount and Soveraigne Power in Man The Free and High-borne Child and Heire of Eternity Delight and Darling-Gemme of Heaven Most precious Purchase and Inheritance of the Sonne of God Doe not O doe not abuse and lose thy selfe in Bodily Sensualities and for Half a satisfaction scarce to the half of Man and but a Moment on Earth sell away Salvation in full of Soul and Body in Heaven for ever For What shall it profit a man to gaine the whole World and lose his owne Mat. 16. 27 Soul or What shall a man give in exchange for his Soul The Summe of this Soliloquie is The Soule is Spirit Sinne turnes it Flesh The Soule is Immortall Sin makes it Die The Soule is Noble Sinne makes it Base The Soule is Lord Sinne makes it Slave The Soule is Soveraigne Sin makes it Subject The Soule is God-like Sinne make it Beast The Soule is Gods Spouse Sin makes it Strumpet The Soule is Gods Jewell Sinne casts it in Fire The Soule is Free-borne Sinne keeps it in Prison The Soule is Gods Purchase Sinne mâ—kes it away Animadversion to the Devout Reader Touching the second and third Soliloquies IF some things in them seeme to be set more sutable for a Court then Cotage and possible in setled then troubled times as supposing a greatnesse which thou perhaps hast not and requiring a Church-Duty which thou canst not doe thou dost not guesse amisse at the Authors aime nor doth he thinke thee to move and make thy Scruple amisse For removall of which that no barre may be from him betwixt thee and thy Benefit receive this satisfaction for both 1. What is not proper may be profitable for thee and if not directly concerne thee by consequent If the Great be disputed out of all their Excuses and Customes which are pleaded and practised to the neglect or injury of Gods Private or Publique Service the mean are thereby concluded if so faulty to fail their Duty without all Apologie oâ— Plea 2. What is not possible doth not concern thee And what is unjustifiable should be impossible Such is sometimes the Publick Id possumus quod jure possunus use of Religion in the Church Take heed of the Principle as both false and perrilous that whatsoever is in the Church thou must be at it So in Aegypt thou mightest Worship a Crocodile and at Rome must goe to Masse If without Sinne then I cannot I must 1 Cor. 10. 20. 21. not goe So to Separate is not to be a Separatist nor can such absence be impious Provided that the Judgement of Sinne and the Service be right and hate 2 Cor. 6. 17. not love of Schisme make the Separation Thus caution'd thou maist read even those Soliloquies without Scruples and for the rest there is no cause of any as fit without Dispute for all Nor dost thou more in this then in Reading King Davids Psalmes or Saint Austins Soliloquies Psal 42. wherein all things are profitable though not pertinent to every one For one particular Soliloquie will no more fit every Soul then one Shoe any Foot So then where it fits thy Soul make it thy Soliloquie where it doth not thy History Monday-Soliloquie Domesticall-Devotion OR A Soliloquie Inviting and Enabling the Soule to a Privacy of Piety and Discharge of Daily Duty in Secret and Closet Prayers HEare O my Soule What is required to the Service of God For as thou dost know Joh. 13. 17 it in vaine if thou dost not doe it So thou canst not doe it aright Prov. 19. 2 if thou dost not know it Know then O my Soule As Thou art of thy selfe One and One of the World thou dost owe and must pay Almighty God the Maker of Thee and It a Private and a Publike Service In the Closet God must see it In the Church Man must behold it There Deare Child Speake freely for thy Selfe to God be thy owne Priest and Mouth in Secret and doubt not but thy Heavenly Father will grant and Seale thy Suits But Here let thy Mother * The Church Mal. 2. 7. Speake for thee and Her Priest Gods lips be thy Mouth unto Almighty God The Closet is thy Particular Church but the Church the Common Sanctuary For Gods Sake then be Reverend there but here both for Mans and Gods Neglect not Deare Soule neglect not thy Daily Sacrifice Morning and Evening offer up thy Service to Allmighty God Open the Day with this Holy Key that the blessing of the light may be upon thee shut up the Night with the same Key that the curse of Darknesse doe not seize thee Dare not to eat nor stir till thou hast Prayed thy Passe from Heaven lest Mischiefe meet thee before night and hale thee to thy Grave Doe not dare to rest or sleep till thou hast beg'd thy Pardon for the guilts of the day least Judgewent surprize thy Soule before the Luk. 12. 20 Morrow My Soul These are thy Visits and Entertainments of Almighty God and doe not O doe not to give Man his neglect Gods Visits He is the Greatest Person serve him therefore first Be not guilty of that rudenesse to thy Heavenly Father which thou abhorrest as uncivill to a Noble Person Let Him stay and waite for thee whilst thou entertainest thy selfe with some Sorry one Leave not a Prince to goe to a Peasant Thy Prayers and Addresses to Almighty God to Entertaine any earthly one whatsoever Alas my Soul In Comparison of the Mighty God the Greatest Man is not so much Isay 40. 17. Job 34. 19 Psal 91. 11. as a Peasant to the Mightyest Prince When thou art with God Angels are with thee O my Soul And doe not turne thy back on Angels to goe to Men though Saints and much lesse to such as appeare in sinfull shape like Devills And though thou be no Priest nor Professed Recluse bound by Canons to set Houres yet my Soul thou shalt do God and thy selfe but right to set keep some set times of Devotion Thou canst doe so much for thy Bodily Health thou shouldst for thy Soules Observing that Rule brings better health for a Time but keeping this Order makes healthy and happy for ever And if thou dost as thou maist observe thy Physitians Prescripts my Soul thou must not neglect Diviner Directions Their best end is that the Body may be more Serviceable to the Soul But the aime of those better that the Soul may be most Serviceable to Almighty God And if thou dost resolutely set and observe thy Howers who will disturb thee Even the most profane
quiet that thou dost serve God at home when others Worship him at Church That 's good in it time O my Soul when Sicknesse or Necessity confines thee to a House a Sacrifice acceptable to God but else an offering of an ill and offensive Savour to God and man like meat out of Season At other timies it looks like an Integrity and Holinesse but now like a Singularity and boldnesse Be not thou no not in thy Closet Gods little Chappell when others are at his Greater the Church Thou must not put him to a Private Audience when he hath appointed thee a Publick But for him to see thee in thy Bed when he looks for thee in his Court To Spie thee at thy Glasse when thou shouldst be looking in His Word To be found at thy Jam. 1. 23. Dresses when thou shouldst be at thy Prayers To be taking or giving Addresses to man when thou shouldst be making them to God O My Soule When thou wouldst have God to loath thee let such postures of Profanenesse appeare in thee My Soule My Soule Believest thou God hath his Day of Doome I know thou believest I charge thee then as thou wilt answer it at that Dreadfull day by no means unless the plea be just Heb. 10. 25 before God by no meanes for these or any such like ends be bestowed in thy Chamber when others are assembled at Church All excuses set aside which Conscience dare not avow at that great Audit behave thy selfe more like a Saint and Servant of God be found and seen where they are in the Sanctuarie Deare Soul If thou dost otherwaies where canst thou be better found Are there better Companions then Saints and Angels Is any Greater then God Any Nobler Employment then to wait on Divine Majesty Any happier place then Heaven Any weightier businesse then Happinesse Loe They and This are here Saints Ministring Psal 74. 7. House of Glory Isay 6. 8. Gen. 28. 17. Regia Dei ipsum coelii Chrys Ezek. 46. 10. 2 Chro. 23 13. 2 Chro. 6. 13. Angels Assisting God Residing Heaven Appearing Happinesse Working Heaven in figure is before thee the Gate by thee and where is happinesse but in Heaven What then Thinkest thou any too great to serve God I know thou art too good to thinke it too wise to believe it The Prince hath his Pillar in Gods Temple There Great Solomon Kneeles * Eccl. Hist Eus de V. C. l. 4 c. 33. Stans concionem audit alitâ—r renuit rogatus licet Constantine Stands before Him Wert thou Prince King Emperour never so great a Man Nay Cherubim Seraphim Throne never so great an Angell it would be thy Honour to be his Minister And dost thou a Man no Angel a Worm no Man dost thou distaine on Earth what they doe in Heaven Dost thou Dan. 7. 10. Apoc. 4. 10 Job 4. 18 19. Psal 2â— 6. despise what the greatest have done on Earth Or dost thou pretend affairs when Crowns are noe Excuses Nay therefore My Soule wait on God the rather that he without whose blessing all Designes are vaine may Psal 127. 1. Prov. 19. 21. Prov. 16. 3. speed thy Dispatches and Prosper thy Affaires But If thou hast either sense of thy Makers Honour or thy own Salvation If any love to God or man be in thee If any care of Piety or Prosperity If not given up to an utter neglect of thy owne and others wordly and heavenly welfare I charge thee O My Soule and recharge thee Take heed and tremble to keepe others from Church unnecessarily to wait upon thee at home when thou and they should be waiting on God in his Sanctuarie Art thou their God that to attend thy Will they must neglect His Worship Or art thou the Greater God that thou must be served before Him An Idoll thou maist be sure a God thou art not So Hic fur est lâ—â—ro qui furari voluit gloriam â—uam Deuâ— 14. 26. thou Robbest God of his Honour and drawest thine into the Robbery O my Soule Be not such a Theife to Heaven Doe but consider it and thou wilt condemne it and never more be Guilty of such high dishonesty Thou must have care that thou and thine Jos 24. 15 House serve the Lord not take course to keep thee and them from his Service The King after Gods owne Psal 42. 4. Heart Went with a multitude into the House of God held not many from it Was one of the Holy Round and Ring of Worshippers not sitting in a Chaire Psal 26. 6. when he should be standing before the Altar not with them about him that should be with him about God! Dear Soul Bring all to Heaven thou canst hinder none from it And though Atheisme sit in the doore of some Lips that dare say Religion is but Policy let it not lurk in any corner of thy Mal. 3. 14. Heart so much as to think Piety an Impertinency A Ceremony to be Exod. 5. 17 done when there is nothing else to doe No my Soul There is no other Rom 6. 22 way to Heaven and the Church is Isa 35. 8. Gods High way What is done and not in Religion or Order to it is Impertinent Eccles 5. 6 all And the Lord keep thee and thine from their Death and Misery whose 1 Cor. 10. 7 1 Pet. 1. 17. Conversation is a meer Pastime and their Life an Impertinency As therefore Philip had his Morning-Memento to tell him he was a Man to keep him from Pride have thou some Evening-Remembrancer to minde thee the Night before the next day is for God to prevent such Profanenesse That by disposing thy self to a Timely rest that Night thou maist have better time and Spirit to serve God on his day Look at late Companies then as Vipers and shake them off as such Wasts of time especially Holy work stings of Conscience It is thy Mothers Counsell The Churches use Saturday is half Holy-day that Sunday may be whole And sure the Devout Mother that would have God thought on that Afternoone would not have him forgot that After-night much lesse neglected on the After-day No my Soul If thou dost honour thy Lord and Saviour thou must not despise His Day The day of the Lord. Nay if thou hast any love to Religion thou canst not For what is that but the Service of the Lord and this but his Day Nay if thou hast any care of happinesse For what is this but thy Saviours Day and how that but because set apart to seek Salvation Thy L d Christ rose this day out of his Grave to save thee and wilt not thou rise out of thy Bed to serve Him Is that the way to uphold an House to pull down the Piller My Soul If Piety have no set day for her Pâ—actise Religion will soone fall to ruine Without that it will not be visible but vanish to nothing and thy Bliâ—se with it For surely
Modesty Tie thy Lips with humble silence shut thy Eares to all Earthly Audience Fix thy Feet to lowly quietnesse Cover thy Body all over with Religious Reverence Yes and shroud thy self under it too For God sees thee as well as Man sees it Here then thy thoughts must mind Heaven and thy Affections not move Earthward On these Wings must Devotion Mount thee to the things above Those below are the businesse of Worldlings not Ezek. 33. 31. 1 Tim. 5. 8. Eccl. 5 1. Saints Admitted into the House but banished the Church Look to thy foot When thou comest to the House of God Set it right towards Heaven yea and keep it so when thou art in the House let it not wander when it is well set What is thy Foot my Soul Sure thy self art one the Body * Gressum 1. mentis 2. Corporis Olymp. per Synecd partis is the other foot Thou must look to both Thoughts and Gestures Affections and Actions Dispositions and Demeanours both must be look'd to How dreadfull is this place If reverend Gen. 28. 17. dread to make it Ridiculous Dare not Laugh in Gods Face Doe not then in Gods Church Doe not 2 Chro. 7. 14. Psal 100. 1 2 Chro. 7. 16. Jer. 7. 10. Jam. 4. 8. Chat in his Presence Dare not then talk there Dare not Gaze before Gods Eye Let not thine rove in his House If vaine thoughts and foul lusts do come bid them be gone They are no Objects for Gods Eye Here thy Eares must be shut to all Words but Gods Thy Lips watcht from all speech but Prayers Thy Eyes open to no fights but Angels Thy Mind left to no motions but for Heaven God and that and they are there and thou must doe all reverence before the Majesty Levit. 19. 30. 1 Cor. 11. 10. of Heaven Reverence my Sanctuary Yes because thy self O God! And thy Angels are there with thy self O Lord Rudenesse is fitter for Ruffians then Angels no Demeanour for Saints A rude Presence is worse then a plaine Absence for that my Soul is a neglect of God this a Scorne upon Him That to Man seemes an Offence 1 Cor. 11. 17. 1 Cor. 14. 23. 25. 1 Cor. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 10. 32. this is a Visible Scandall Yea to a Multitude As many as be Congregated to serve God and see that Sauciness before Him Better then my Soul not attend God then Affront him and be out of Mans sight when he is before God then a Moat in his Eye and when he is on his way to Heaven to lay a stumbling block before him Plead not Custome in Excuse Saints Levit. 18. 30. 1 Cor. 10. 3â— Jud. ver 6. never had it and thou must not use the Haunts of Sinners Gods Dues must not be paid to the Devils Customes Not keeping Order in Heaven made Angels Devils Not keeping Decorum in the Church will not make Men Angels Before God they Adore and Tremble Where shall they be that are so Bold before him My Soul Isay 6. 2. Apoc. 4. 10. 5. 14. were it possible for thee to be a Saint an Angel and Rude thou shouldst either never come to or never keep in Heaven Break then the Bands of such Customes as the Chains of Death Go Prov. 5. 22 to Church as to Heaven and carry thy selfe there as thou wouldst keep in it Be Reverent as thou wiâ—t be blest No Recusant to it nor Miscreant in it If others be have no more Fellowship with them that have no more fear of God That when they Psal 5. 7. Ezek. 28. 16. go whither the Spirit of Profaneness leads them thou maist go to Heaven And when to appear at the Holy Eucharist O my Soul Array thy self 1 Cor. 10. 28 29. with all possible Reverence then Bodie and Heart let both Kneel not to Adora Communica Aug. 2 Sam. 9. 7 8. the Holy Elements but thy Maker For my Soul when thou a poor miserable wretched-sinfull Creature art admitted to Communion so near Communion with the Eternall God thy Almighty and All holy Creatour canst Psal 99. 5. thou be too Humble Did thy Face kisse the Earth when thy Knee doth touch it couldst thou go too low to a Majesty so High And yet in this Holy Mysterie as low in Condescending 1 King 7. 27. Goodnesse to thee as high above thee in infinite and incomprehensible Greatness My Soul they are mad who making themselves Coheires with Christ will therefore sit to keep Coequalls with Him At lowest he is thy Lord. Man thy Brother but God-man thy Maker and thy Father Every Communicant is thy Peer but he 1 Cor. 10. 17. Apoc. 15. 3 1 Cor. 10. 21. King of all And his Table not thy Fellowes but the Lords Worship not Fellowship is fit for Gods Board In his House thou art in his Presence but here before his Chair of Estate the Mercy-seat of Almighty Majesty Psa 132. 7 What a Man of Earth and bold so bold before the King of Heaven Even Celestial Spirits cast their Crowns Apoc. 4. 10 down before his Throne shall Dust and Ashes carâ—y up his Crest before Gen. 18. 27. Him my Soul Thou art better taught by an undoubted Divine God is greatly to be feared in the Psal 89. 8. Councel of his Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him O come let us worship and fall down Psal 95. 6. and kneel before the Lord our Maker The Summe of this Soliloquie is God our Common Maker must have a Publique Service in Common-Prayers and Worship Every Man must pay God this Homage and the Greater he is the greater his Obligation to it There must be a place set apart for that Service and the Church for it is a sacred place As for Holy Duty most fit so for Heavenly regards no place out of Heaven is so lovely and desirable as the Church There must be a time set for Holy Assemblies in it and by Ancient and Vversall use that with Christians is the Lords Day As Profanation so Superstition must be shun'd in the due Observation of that Holy time It 's ill to keep our selves from Church unnecessarily and worse to keep away others If rude and irreverent there as good keep away our selves At Communion-times above all we should be neither absent nor rude VVednesd-Soliloquie Perpetuall-Service OR A Soliloquie directing the Soul in those Duties which must never cease whilst we Live if we will be happy when we Die SEt Houres of Devotion do well O my Soule but that Service is not all To give God two a day and Spend Ten at thy pleasure The truth is Two are set apart to pray that we may Spend all in his Service Which if we doe not as well Endeavour as pray to do we do but Mat. 7. 7. Prov. 28. 9 mispend those two For my Soul Thy Prayers are but Mockeries of
lustfull eye or hand or foot of offense Rom. 8. 13 Mat. 5. 29. Heb. 11. 25 then or deniall of any Pleasure is it then Deare My Soule The Saints and Martyrs Pro hac emendâ Bartholomoeus propriaÌ„ pellem dedit Aug. Longo tempore tolerare Aug. Gal. 5. 24. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Heb. 12. 3. 2 Cor. 4. 17 1 Cor. 10. 13 Heb. 2. 18. 1 Pet. 4. 14. Heb. 1. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 10. thought themselves good Merchants that bought them at these rates Nay if thou shouldest daily Suffer torments on earth yea for a long time endure the torments of Hell the price would not be great for the purchase of Heaven My Soul he that said so to his was a Saint Be content then to Crosse a lust or Carry a Crosse for Heaven For this thy Christ endured his Great Crosse wilt not thou thy little one That hast his Shoulders to help thee to bear it too his Grace his Spirit his Angels for thy help My Soul let not the Difficulties conceived in a Course of Religion discourage thee from or in the way It is Mans Calumny and the Devils Policy To him that loves God as thou shouldst that hath his Grace as thou maist and his Favour as thou mightest all his Commands are easie and 1 Joh. 4. 3. Mat. 11. 29. 30. his Yoke but light For to him is given the staff of Peace a Psal 119 165. Phil. 4. 7. and stay of Hope b Ro 15. 13 and strength of Comfort c Heb. 6. 18. Heb. 3. 6. which besides the outward are great helps to the carrying of that Yoke And blind thoughts and affections set aside the Sinner toiles more then the Saint d Ec. 2. 23. Joh. 6. 27. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Apoc. 14. 13. Aeterua quies aeterno labore meritò paratur and drudges more for Hell then he workes for Heaven And did the Saint droile more Heaven makes all nothing For what are Moments of paine and labour to Eternity of Joy and Rest which were worth the while if attained with eternall work and labour It 's a Slander then cast on the wayes of God Yes my Soul and a Stratagem too A Flie from Belzebub * Deus muscae Prov. 26. 13. Rom. 12. 11 12. Heb. 6. 10. 11. Heb. 12. 3. buzzing this into thy Eares that he may keep Heaven better out of thy Eyes And hold thy foot when he hath thus slackt thy heart from going or from comming thither My Soul against all such fainting take Saint Pauls Cordiall Whilest we not at the things which are seen but not 2 Cor. 4. 16. 18. seen for the things which are seen are temporall but the things which are not seen are eternall And so there be Paines as well as Joyes Think of that O my Soul For to foresee is the way to avoid those paines and to Muse on it the means to escape 4. Hell Thou art not in love with Paine My Heb. 12. 11 Soule Who is All shun it Why not then that most which is greatest Why in Earth more then Hell Is Mat. 25. 30. Mat. 18. 34. Mar. 5. 43 44. Apoc. 6. 16 17. Apoc 14. 10. Mat. 16. 25 26. Mat. 25. 31. 41. Mat. 8. 12. Apoc. 14. 10 11. any Gaole like that Dungeon Any Keepers to Fiends Any Burning like that Fire Any Biting like that worme Any shame of face to the Confusion before men and Angels Can any losse on earth equall the losse of Heaven Or Exile from friends a Banishment from God and Angels To dwell in utter darknesse no light Amidst Infinite Tortures and no ease to all Eternity no end Tortures which make the Wheele a Sport the Furnace a Bower and the Rack a very Recreation My Soule Are these but Godly frauds to fright tender hearts from wickednesse If thou beest a Christian thou dost not believe so nay if 2 Pet. 3. 3. Plato Plut c. but a Heathen thou wilt not Endlesse and Extreme pains for evill deeds after this life even they beleive The very Devils doe though their torture Jam. 2. 19. Mat. 8. 29. Rom. 2. 15 16. to doe it Conscience which is in all men is an Apostle of this to all Nations The joyfull deaths of innocent men and Dreads of Guilty ones in death Preach it all the world over For what are these but summons to the great Barre where according to their works all shall râ—ceive the Sentence of Judgement O my Soule ponder this Is it grievous to endure extreme paine for an houre Is it nothing to suffer Extremity for ever So long as Omnipotency can preserve so much as Omniscience can devise what infinite Justice doth require Soul and body to suffer for ever and ever O My Soule Could thy Mind measure nay but sadly consider the length of Eternity How millions of Ages are not a Span to that time not all since the World an Inch of a Span And yet all the Tortures that Earth ever had or wits of men and Angels could imagine to have are but ease to those paines which are to endure to that Eternall length thou wouldest as soone burne as lust and take up a Serpent as Sin My Soule To save Ecclus. 21. 2. thy selfe be serious and consider it The greatest Temptation will not take if thou doe but remember it Thou wilt refuse the Apple for the worme in it The Sweets of Sin for the fire after it The hardest Duty will downe if thou thinke of it Thy Deare friend O my Soule That gave his blood to save thee from that death His Counsell is thus to avoid it If thine eye offend Mar. 9. 43. thee pluck it out c. It 's better for thee having one eye to goe to Heaven then having both to be cast into hell where the worme doth not die and the fire is not quenched Better a litle paine for a Time then all to Eternity My Soule These four are Cordiall 2. Division Isay 17. Verbum Incarnatum est verbum ad hominis naturam usque abbreviatum Bern. Phil. 3. 14. Considerations to carry thee to all Duety from all ill But the Royall one remains Thy Christ to be thy studie and thy Iesus to be thy Booke The Word Abbreviate Bible in Body Scripture in flesh Consider him and all good is done for he did it all ill is gone for he fled it All his Actions are thy lessons but my Soule His Birth Life and Death are the Chapters I would have thee Read For the whole World of wickednesse is conquer'd by those three Pride Avarice and Luxury 1 Joh. 2. 16 the three parts of that world 1. His Birth is the Death of pride Luk. 2. 7. His stable the Grave For if that was there why is this any where Or wherefore this For cloths His clouts Purpurae mea panni Salvaetoris Bern. are best purple For wealth It 's his straw For Retinue Beasts are his For
to be fed with Promises unto Presumption is not to Cherish thy self but thy Sicknesse 2 Cor. 7. 1 To Renounce evill and entertaine occasions is to send it away and call it again To Pray to God and yet provoke Isa 1. 12. 14. 1 Cor. 13. 3 him is to make a play of our Prayers To give Almes and do ill is to give Sin not a Divorce but a Licence To fast from meat and fall to Sin is to whet the knife not to kill it but feast Isa 58. 4. Luk. 18. 12 it To pray give fast and then take liberty to swear and Sin and Erre again is not to make Health but a Disease of the Exercise My Soule This is to take the Medicine by halfes and so thou shalt never Recover thy selfe whole And if thou Delay it that 's the way never to recover That takes strength from the Medicine and gives it to the Disease for so it grows Inveterate and the Cure more Difficult if not Desperate Mat. 13. 15 More hard to be A Sow is washed white not a Blackamore A young Profligate sooner then an old Obdurate Jer. 13. 23. Mat. 26. 73. Act. 8. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 4 Psal 7. 12. Jer. 4. 22. Sinner Simon Peter quickly Simon Magus never It 's more hard to doe Sin hath more efficacie the Devill more Interest God more Anger Nature is vanquisht Her Powers depraved Her faculties infirm'd decayed deprived of virtue for it It 's more hard to Suffer Sin is incorporate the Humours irradicate Habituate and Naturaliz'd As soone pluck up an old tree as Sin by the roots As easily teare out thy heart as thy lust and vomit bowels as customs Mat. 5. 29. and quit Limbs as such vices O My Soule If Delay of Physick hath killed thousands of Bodies it hath ten thousands of Spirits Defer not then thy help Delay not thy time And especially by the love thou hast to Heaven Deferre it not till Death For what Inducias usque ad mane apud Greg. if that be Suddaine and give thee no Time Or Distracted and take away Wit Or cursed and keep away Grace And if it allow thee Space and Sense and Succour where will be thy Comfort Backward Ther 's nothing to be seene but the sad Survey of a life full of Guilts and staines Forward There 's the Horrid Prospect of Hell and all Hideous Tortures of Damned Ghosts the due Deserts of those Guilts Thou hast no power to undoe ill no Time to doe better What then Wilt thou repent here and Amend in the World to come For halfe thy worke looke for all thy wages No Thou dost not halfe if no more repent Wilt thou then looke upward Will a Miserere mei Deus serve God or a Peccavi satisfie All the three volumes of thy Sins Thoughts Words and Deeds all the Scroles of thy Guilts be cancelled and blowne away with a breath of three Words or Syllables Will a Groane expiate a Lifefull of Quantam lacrymaruÌ„ vim expendemus ut cum Baptismi fonte exaequari possit Naz. guilt A Teare a Drop wash a Heart full of filthinesse The Irkings of a Moment undo the ills of all thy ages Cast thou expect this from Him that is Just when thy whole life hath been but an Abuse of his Grace and Mercy Canst thou promise it thy Selfe and looke Inward That this is the feare of God not Death not out of Selfe-love but Gods Not for hate of Paine but Sin Not by a Force on Conscience but Free And if not thy Selfe dost thou look Outward who shall assure thee Some Comforter may pronounce Mercy to thee as favourable Judgment hath been given of many that have lived ill and yet died penitently O my Soulâ— In this case it 's better to give then receive a favourable Judgement It 's my Charity not thy Felicity that it doth suppose thee happy whom it knowes not miserable 1 Cor. 13. 5 7. but if it do not find thee doth not leave thee happy What thou art the Judge of Hearts knowes what thou shouldst be the Judge of Charity hopes Because when he sees not evidence to the contrary he believes the best of thee with thy Great Judg. O my Soul then leave not all to the last hour when thou art Isa 38. 9. Psa 126. 5 Luk. 23. 43. Mat. 20. 9. Ezek. 18. 21 22. to reap be not to sow thy Comfort Hast thou President Parable Promise of Hope The Converted Thief The Eleaventh Hours Call * In Liturgiâ sic vertitur At what time soever O be not such a Spider'd Spirit to suck Poison out of sacred Flowers Let not Antidotes of mercy be made Cordials for Presumption If thou dost out of Gods Word draw ill Spirit thou robbest it of its Holy Sense and wilt finde no Promise of pardon Nor Hope in any Parable or President for such a Thief My Soul then Look at the Thief on the Crosse as a 2 Pet Child at the Font Baptized from Sin Confirmed by Christ so Dying and Saved What 's that to thee who as Copronymus Eccl. Hist in his Baptisme ever since thine hast done nothing but defile thy Font A Renegado in thy life to the 2 Pet. 2. 20 Heb. 6. 4. Profession of thy Baptisme Look at the Thief on the Crosse as a Martyr at the Stake A Believer a Saint a Confessour All on holy flame Luk. 23. 40 41 42. for Christ The New Disciple that hanged for Him when none of the Old stood to him Senslesse of paine to spend his Breath and serve him As ready to Die for him as with him and spend his Bloud as Breath to honour him Look at the Theif on the Crosse as a Jonah in the Sea A Miracle of Grace Jonah 2. 10. A Prodâ—gie of Providence Wilt thou therefore cast thy self into the Sea in hope to be saved Gods Mercy is an Ocean yet if thou so leap into it thou Mic. 7. 19. Eccl. 8. 11 12. Ro. 2. 4. 5 1 Tim. 1. 19 maist be drown'd Thou that hast left the ship of good life the ordinary way how canst thou look to be preserved by singular Priviledge A Monster of life to be saved in Death by a Miracle of mercy Look at the Thief on the Crosse as a Saint in Heaven Make him not encourage thee to rob God of his honor and thy self of thy happinesse lest thou make him to be a Thief in Paradise too Canonize not thy self Saint by his Example lest thou stigmatize him Sinner for the President and prove thy self a Reprobate by the Presumption Think not then when thou hast liv'd 2. Part. Mat. 20. 9. Ita patres aliqui Itâ— alii ill in the world and art Crucified to leave it by the staffe of a good hope to leap into Paradise though before an utter stranger to Christ with whom thou hast not the blisse to be Crucified There is no Parity of reason to
had so good shoulders so great a strength to Act. 13. 22 1 King 11 38. beare So little a load to carry yet was his too heavy for him And is thine so light to take others on Art thou confounded to consider the vast sum of thy Single Trespasses though but Dan. 9. 8. a Daniels debt and will not the Scores of other mens Sins bring on the overwhelming Confusion Art thou Principall to Innumerable ills and wilt thou Psal 40. 12. be Accessory to Millions My Soule We must bear one anothers burdens Gal. 6. 2. But their Miseries not their Sins By charity not Copartnership A fellowship and feeling doth well in woes but wofully Heb. 13. 3. Ephel 5. 7. 2 Cor. 6. 14 Act. 2. 40. in Sin Atlas was feigned to beare up Heaven but none Hell And couldest thou make shift for thy Selfe to be saved wouldst thou have others by thy Default to perish Have the Curses of Hell with the joyes of Heaven My Soule So many Rom. 14. 15 Ezek. 33. 6 as Sin by thee are damned for thee And can'st thou number how many Number then all that by thy Acts have beene made Sinners and by Gods Grace not made Penitents Thus when thou art dead thy Errors may live and thy guilts for many ages lie unburied like Cursed Parents propagating ill 2 King 13 2. Issues Successively to Souls throughout many Generations And though thy Naturall Sins die with thee the Adopted 2 King 17 22. 2 King 14 24. 1 Tim. 5. 22. may live for ever My Soul then doe what the Apostle saies Be not partaker of other mens Sins But more then he means He would have no hands laid on unworthy Persons doe thou keepe thine from unworthy actions By any Deed of thine to Bane anothers Soule is of all most Apoc. 18. 4 unworthy or by anothers to bane thine And there are many waies to do both Nine are numbred And very naught all When thou canst not to hinder it for so thou art Assistant to it and thy Hand doth it helpe When thou shouldest not to Reprove it for so thou art Advocate for it and thy Tongue gives it License To Counsell Sin for that 's to conceive it in another to give it womb and be its Mother To Command it for that 's to beget it to give it Seed and be as Naturall Father To Consent to it for that 's to owne and 2 Joh. 11. maintaine it and be Adopting Father to it if not Naturall To Commend it for that 's to give it dug and Suck and to be Nurse to it at least if not a Mother To Entertaine the Actor of it for that 's to give it shoulders and Support it or Refuge and to be Patron and Protectour and so Brother if not Parent to it To Keep Silence and be Mute at it for that 's to give it hand and heart and to be a friend if not a Brother to it To partake of it for that 's to give it arme and face and to be both Sworne Brother and friend and loving Benefactour of it In the Instance of one Sin see all this O My Soul Let Bloud be it and behold how another may shed it and thou be guilty of the Bloud Joab 2 Sam. 18. 9 2 Sam. 16. 21. kill'd Absalom but Ahitophel Murdered him Because his Counsell brought him to his death The Ammonite slew 2 Sam. 12. 9 Uriah but David killed him because he fell by his Command The Jews Act. 7. 59. Act. 22. 20 stoned Stephen Saul did not touch him yet had hand in his death because with his Consent Sons of Belial stoned Naboth 1 King 21 13. 19. yet Ahab slew him because as he gave Countenance to the doing it with his Seale so he had Complacence in the deed and so commended what was done All Benjamin did not ravish the Jud. 19. 22 20. 5. 13 14. Levites Concubin to death but gave shield and shelter to them that did and so the Bloudy Rape became theirs by Patronage The Jews in Christs time did not sâ—ay the Prophets which were kill'd many hundred yeares before yet by Participation with their Fathers Mat. 23. 31. Luc. 11. 48 49. Pro. 31. 9. became Heirs of their Murders And if King Solomon open not his mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed for destruction They may be the Children but he shall be the Father of it Scrangers cut of Jacob Esau Sate still and lookt but on and he destroyed because he did not save Though Ob. 1. 12. 1 Sam. 2. 22. 29. 33 34. Levit. 19. 17. Elies Sons fell by the Philistims His hand gave them the fatall blow because he did not sufficiently reprehend that which was their ruine their Sins O My Soule Be for the Communion of Saints not Sinners Nor in blood nor any guilt doe thou Communicate in anothers Sin Advise from it Forbid it Dissent Dispraise Disrespect Disclaime Proclaime against it Resist it Rebuke it Thou hast guilts enough of thy owne to multiply thou needest not adde any others to it My Soule then giving others Scandall and partaking others guilt are thy Enemies against which Conscience must be Charg'd to keep a strict watch And is thy great friend if it doe For surely not to hinder others from Heaven is to further thy Selfe not to be Laden with much guilt gives an easier Passage to heaven And to be free of such blocks and fetters makes the course of Piety more easie More easie though to craz'd and corrupted Nature hard and not to be compassed without our best thoughts and endeavours even all that Mind or Man can doe though eare and eye and heart and hand and mouth and Conscience improve all their arts and faculties to the full and with united forces set on the good and great Employment of Gods Service and our Godlinesse But so it wil be For my Soul wisdom assures thee Prov. 2. 1. 2 3 4 5. If thou wilt receive my Words and hide my Commandements within thee So that thou encline thine eare unto wisdome and apply thy heart to understanding If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding If thou seekest her as Silver and Searchest for her as for hid treasures Then shalt thou understand the Feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God The Summe of this Part is 1. Some Acts are great Assistances to Pious Life which by Gods blessing we may doe 2. Hearing Gods Word Reading Resolving Attempting Practice and Praying are those Acts. 3. Holy Cautions help much as well as Actions 4. It will advance much to Heaven to looke carefully to a Christian Credit and Innocence on earth 5. To have great Caution to avoyd just Scandall and keep cleare of other mens guilt is the way to maintaine that good Credit and Innocence Animadversions touching the Daily use of what is directed throughout the whole Manuall IF all set seem a great Dayes work of Devotion though two hours will make the longâ—st day it is put into thy power to lessen it Thâ— Authors Aim is to be a Spirituall Helper not a Taâ—k-master That Office he leaves to thee with Discretion and Conscience to executâ— And thou wilt discharge it better if when thy thoughts are set to contrive and lay out the Spirits work flesh and blood be not called in to the Câ—unsel As Bodies so Soules are not all of equall strength and speed and as Dayes differ in severall Climates yea in the same often vary their length so days of Devotion are not of a like length for all Spirits and Occasions Hezekiâ—h was not so long on his Knees as Solemon a 2 King 19. 5. 2 Chro. 6. 13. nor Ezra the Priest so long at his Prayers as the Levites b Ezra 9. 5 Neh. 9. 4. The Apostles did lengthen and shorten theirs c Act. 1. 24 4. 24. And our Lord kept not a punctuall measure for His d Mat. 26. 42. 44. John 17. A Man may pray much in little with the Publican e Luk. 18. 13. and little in much like a Pharisee f Mat. 23. 14. Mat. 6. 1 and much and not little as the Centurion g Act. 10. 2. 4. The heart is all in all If that goe along thou maist do well to travaile all the Book over if not better to cut off some Stages There are that measure Sermons by Glasses and Orisons by Beads but as the wise judge those by braines not lungs so the Devout weigh these by their thoughts not fingers Behold that pattern of all piety and perfection Luk. 6. 12. Christ himself He prayed whole nights to teach us we may pray long and well yet taught us Mat. 6. 9. a short form of Prayer to shew that generally it is not better for being long The life of Devotion lies in the Spirit not Breath and Prayers must be measured by the Heart not the Hour-glasse FINIS