standing vpon a pan of burning coales for the space of repeating the Lords prayer What shall it be thinke you to stand body and soule burning in the midst of those euerlasting hot raging fires in hell in comparison of which the fires of this world are but painted fires Is there any wit or iudgement in this world Haue men their right sences doe they vnderstand what these words import or are they peraduenture perswaded that these are onely the fables of Poets or doe they thinke that this appertaineth not to them or else that it was onely ment for others None of all this can they say for so much as our faith assureth vs most certainly herein And our Sauiour Christ himselfe who is euerlasting truth crieth out in his Gospell saying Heauen and earth shall faile bâ—t my word shall not faile Of this misery there followeth another as great as it which is that the paines are alwayes continuing in one like degree without any manner of intermission or decreasing All manner of things that are vnder the cope of heauen doe moue and turn round about with the same heauen and doe neuer stand still at one state or being but are continually either ascending or descending The sea and the riuers haue their ebbing and flowing the times the ages and the mutable fortune of men and of kingdomes are euermore in continuall motion There is no feauer so feruent that doth not decline neither griefe so sharp but that after it is much augmented it doth forthwith decrease To be sho't all the tribulations and miseries are by little and little worne away with time and as the common saying is Nothing is sooner dried vp than teares Onely that paine in hell is alwayes greene onely that feauer neuer decreaseth onely that extremity of hear knoweth not what is either euening or morning In the time of Noahs flood almighty God rained forty dayes and forty nights continually without ceasing vpon the earth and this sufficed to drowne the whole world But in that place of torment in hell there shall raine euerlasting vengeance and darts of furie vpon that cursed land without euer ceasing so much as one onely minute or moment Now what torment can be greater and more to be abhorred than continually to suffer after one like manner without any kinde of alteration or change Though a meat be neuer so delicate yet in case we feed continually thereupon it will in very short time be very loathsome vnto vs for no meat can be more precious and deli cate than that Manna was which almighty God sent down vnto the children of Israel in the Desart and yet because they did eat continually thereof it made them to loath it yea and prouoked them to vomit it vp againe The way that is all plaine they say weaâ—ieth more than any other because alwayes the variety yea euen in punishment is a kinde of comfort Tell me then if things that be pleasant and sauory when they be alwayes after one manner are an occasion of loathsomenesse and paine what kinde of loathsomenesse will that be which shall be caused by those most horrible paines and torments in hell which doe continue euerlastingly after one like sort What will the damned and cursed creatures think when they shall there see themselues so vtterly abhorred and forsaken of almighty God that he will not so much as with the remission of any one sinne mitigate somwhat their torments And so great shall the fury and rage be which they shall there conceiue against him that they shall neuer cease continually to curse and blaspheme his holy name Vnto all these paines there is also added the paine of that euerlasting consumer to wit the worme of conscience whereof the holy Scripture maketh so oftentimes mention saying Their worme shall neuer dye and their fire shall neuer be quenched This worme is a furious raging despight and bitter repentance without any fruit which the wicked shall alwayes haue in hell by calling to their remembrance the opportunity and time they had whiles they were in this world to escape those most grieuous and horrible torments and how they would not vse the benefit thereof And therefore when the miserable sinner seeth himselfe thus to be tormented and vexed on euery side and doth call to minde how many dayes and yeeres he hath spent idly in vanities pastimes and pleasures and how oftentimes he was aduertised of this perill and how little regard he tooke thereof What shall he thinke What anguish and sorrow shall there be in his heart Hast thou not read in the Gospell that there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth The famine of Aegypt endurd onely seuen yeares but that in hell shall endure euerlastingly In Aegypt they found a remedy though with great difficulty charge but for this there shall neuer a ny remedy be found Theirs was redeemed with money and cattell but this can neuer be redeemed with any manner of exchange This punishment cannot be pardoned this pâ—ine cannot be exchanged this sentence cannot be reuoked Oh if thou knewest and wouldest consider how euery one condemned to hell shall there remaine tormenting and renting himselfe weeping and wailing and saying O miserable and vnfortunate wretch that I am what times and opportunities haue I suffered to passe invaine A time there was when with one cup of cold water I might haue purchased to my selfe a crowne of glory and when also with such necessary workes of mercy in relieuing the poore I might haue gained life euerlasting Wherefore did I not looke before me How was I blinded with things present How did I let passe the fruitfull yeares of abundance and did not enrich my selfe If I had beene brought vp amongst Infidels and Pagans and had beleeued that there had beene nothing else but onely to be born and to dye then might I haue had some kinde of excuse and might haue said I knew not what was commanded or prohibited me but for so much as I haue liued amongst Christians and was my selfe one of them professed and held it for an article of my beleefe that the houre should come when I should giue vp an account after what order I had spent my life forsomuch also as it was daily cried out vnto me by the continuall preaching and teaching of Gods Embassadours whose aduertisements many following made preparation in time and laboured earnestly for the prouision of good workes forasmuch I say as I made light of all these examples and perswaded my selfe very fondly that heauen was prepared for me though I tooke no paines for it at all what deserue I that haue thus led my life O ye infernall furies come and rent me in peeces and deuoure these my bowels for so haue I iustly deserued I haue deserued eternall famishment seeing I would not prouide for my selfe while I had time I deserue not to reap because I haue not sowne I am worthy to be destitute because I haue not laid vp
that running headlong into so manifest a danger thou art not at all afraid Especially considering the sinfull state wherein thou liuest and the horrible paines and torments which doe attend for thee and the time which thou hast lost and the endlesse repentance which thou shalt haue therefore in the most horrible torments of hell Assuredly it goes beyond the compasse of all common sence conceit of humane reason to consider That there should be such negligent wilfull grosse carelesse blindnesse able to enter and take such deepe rooting in the soule of man The Conclusion of all the Premises IF now all this be so I beseech thee euen for the bitter passion of our sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ to remember thy selfe and consider that thou art a Christian and that thou beleeuest assuredly for a most vndoubted truth whatsoeuer the true faith instructeth thee This faith telleth thee that thou hast a iudge aboue that seeth all the steps and motions of thy life and that certainly there shall a day come when he will require an account of thee euen for euery idle word This faith teacheth thee That a man is not altogether at an end when he dieth but that after this temporall life there remaineth another euerlasting life and that the soules dye not with the bodies but that whiles the body remaineth in the graue vntill the generall day of iudgement the soule shall enter into another new country and into a new world where it shall haue such habitation and company as the faith and workes were which it had in this life This faith telleth thee also that both the reward of vertue and the punishment of vice is a thing so wonderfull that although the whole world were full of bookes and all creatures were writers yet should they all be wearied and the world come to an end before they should end their description and make a perfect declaration what is comprehended in each one of these points This faith informeth thee also that the debts and duties which we owe to almighty God are so great that albeit a man had so many liues as there be sands in the Sea yet would they not suffice if they were al employed in his seruice And this faith likewise telleth thee that vertue is such an excellent treasure that all the treasures of the world and all that mans heart can desire are in no sort comparable vnto it Wherefore if there be so many and so great respects that doe inuite vs vnto vertue how commeth it to passe that there be so few louers and followers of the same If men be moued with gaine commodity what greater coÌ„modity can there be than to attain life euerlasting If they be moued with feare of punishment what greater punishment can be found than the most horrible euerlasting dreadfull torments in the lake of fire and brimstone to continue euer world without end If that bonds of debts and benefits what debts are greater than these which we owe vnto almighty God as well for that he is which he is as also for that which we haue receiued of him If the feare of perils doe moue vs what greater perill can there be than death the houre thereof being so vncertaine and the account so strait If thou be moued with peace liberty quietnesse of minde and with a pleasant life which are things that all the world desires it is certaine that all these are found much better in the life that is gouerned by vertue and reason than in that life which is ruled by the affections and passions of the minde forsomuch as man is a reasonable creature and no beast Howbeit in case thou account all this as not sufficient to moue thee thereunto yet let it sussice thee to consider further that euen almighty God so abased himselfe for thy sake that he descended from heauen vnto the earth and became man and whereas hee created the whole world in sixe dayes he bestowed three and thirty yeares about thy redemption yea and was also contented for the same to loose his life Almighty God dyed that sinne should dye and yet for all this doe we endeauour that sinne might liue in our hearts notwithstanding that our Lord purposed to take away the life of sinne with his owne death If this matter were to be discussed with reason surely this already spoken might suffice to preuaile with any reasonable creature for not onely in beholding almighty God vpon the crosse but whethersoeuer we doe turne our eyes we shall finde that euery thing crieth out to vs and calleth vpon vs to receiue this so excellent a benefit for there is not a thing created in the world if wee duely consider it but doth inuite vs to the loue and seruice of our Sauiour Iesus Christ insomuch that looke how many creatures there be in the world so many preachers there are so many bookes so many voices and so many reasons which doe all call vs vnto almighty God And how is it possible then that so many callings as these are so many promises so many threatnings and so many prouocations should not suffice to bring vs vnto him What might almighty God haue done more than he hath done or promised more greater blessings than hee hath promised or threatned more grieuous and horrible torments than he hath threatned to draw vs vnto him and to plucke vs away from sinne And yet all this notwithstanding how commeth it to passe that there is so great I will not say arrogancy but bewitching of men that doe beleeue these things to be certainly true and yet be not afraid to continue all the dayes of their life in the committing of deadly sinnes yea to goe to bed in deadly sinne and to rise vp againe in deadly sinne and to embrue themselues in euery kinde of loathsome detestable and odious sin euen as though all their whole endeauours intended by the practise of sinne to resist all grace and fauour in the sight of God And this is done in such sort so without feare so without scruple of minde so without breaking of one hoâ—â—â—s sleepe and without the refraining of any one delicate morsell of meat for the same as if all that they beleeued were dreames and old wiues tales and as if all that the holy Euangelists haue written were meere fiction and fables But tell me thou that art such a desperate wilfull rebell against thy Creator and Redeemer which by thy detestable life and dissolute conuersation doest euidence thy selfe to be a firebrand prepared to burne in those euerlasting and reuenging horrible fires of hell What wouldest thou haue done more than thou hast done in case thou haddest beene perswaded that all were meere lyes which thou hast beleeued For although that for feare of incurring the danger of the princes lawes and the execution of their force vpon thee thou hast somewhat brideled thine appetites yet doth it not appeare that for any feare of Almighty God thou hast refrained thy
first we offer vnto thy diuine Maiestie the calues of our lips the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for thine infinite mercies which thou hast beene pleased to conferre vpon vs out of thy boundlesse and endlesse goodnesse What thou hast done for vs this day is beyond all that we are able to expresse or conceiue thou hast preserued vs from all perils and dangers so that none of those iudgements which our sinnes haue deserued haue bin inflicted vpon vs thou hast inlarged our time and opportunitie to repent thou hast prouided for our soules and bodies thou hast bin no way wanting vnto vs if we had hearts to acknowledge it Forgiue vs that wee cannot acknowledge thy goodnesse as we ought to doe and more and more quicken vs in this dutie that we may with heart and voyce acknowledge thee to be that Father of lights from whom we doe receiue euery good and perfect gift ascribing vnto thee the whole glory of all that we enioy both now and euermore And grant we pray thee that our thankfulnesse may not be onely verball but reall we labouring in deede and in truth to be dutifull vnto thee that hast bin so bountifull vnto vs Pardon vs for the sinnes of this day wherein we haue offended thee whether open or secret of ignorance or of knowledge of infirmity or presumption of omission or commission in thought word or deed The sinnes of this day are enough to plunge vs soule and body into the bottomelesse gulfe of perdition If thou shouldest straightly mark them what answer shall we be able to make thee how shall we dare to appeare in thy presence before whom all thy creatures feare and tremble But thy mercy is aboue all thy workes much more aboue all our works of sinne In the confidence of thy mercy we come vnto thee beseeching thee in thy sonne Christ to be reconciled with vs and to assure vs hereof by the certificate of thine owne blessed spirit Breake the strength of sinne that would subdue vs more and more and reare in vs cleane hearts and renew a right spirit within vs. Increase our faith in the sweet promises of the Gospell and our repentance from dead workes our hope of eternall life our feare of thy name our zeale for thy glory our hatred of sinne our loue of righteousnesse our contentment in all estates our patience in aduersitie our prudence in prosperity that so being furnished with the endowments of grace here we may be fitted for the enioyment of glory hereafter And because the night is now vpon vs and our bodies desirous of quiet rest wee pray thee to take vs into thy blessed tuition and to refresh our wearied bodies with comfortable sleepe Protect vs and all that doe belong vnto vs vnder the shadow of thy wings defend vs from all euill both oâ— sinne and punishment keepe vs from security and carelesnesse from dulnesse and drowsâ—nesse of spirit from fire and robbery from the malice of Satan and all his adherents from all perils into which for our sinnes we might iustly fall Let the sight of the bed minde vs of that last bed the graue wherein we are shortly to take vp our lodging we know not how soone None of vs here present can certainly tell whether these eyes of ours once closed vp shall euer any more open againe in this world therfore receiue vs good Lord receiue vs into the armes of thy mercy vnto thine almighty protection wee bequeath our selues soules and bodies and all that we haue vpon thy mercy alone we cast our selues both this present night and for euer more Be mercifull to thy whole Church continue the flourishing state of the Kingdomes wherin weliue Decrease in it the number of superstitious Papists and prophane Atheists and increase in it the number of such as vnfainedly feare thee Preserue from all dangers and conspiracies our religious King Charles our gracious Queene Mary the Prince Palatine of Rhene with that excellent Lady Elizabeth his wife and their children Giue them all such a measure of thy spirit and grace that they may seeke to aduance thy kingdome on earth and at last be aduanced to thine euerlasting Kingdome in heauen Endow the right Honorable of our Priuie Counsell with all such graces as may make them fit for so high a place Stirre vp Magistrates and men in authority to endeauour after the furthering of thine honour and the benefiting of thy people Make the Ministers able and willing to discharge the duties of their weighty calling with diligence and conscience water their indeauours with the dew of heauen that daily such as belong vnto life eternall may be added vnto the Church Comfort O comfort thine afflicted seruants wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled sweeten their afflictions and season their sorrowes with the comforts of thy spirit Giue them all needfull assistance and in thy owne time a ioyfull deliuerance And make vs ready for afflictions that they may not come vpon vs as a snare but that we may in good measure like wise Virgins be prepared for the comming of Christ Iesus the sweet Bridegroome of our soules Finally we pray thee beare with the weakenesse and coldnesse and imperfection of our prayers to grant our requests not for our merits but for thine owne mercies and for the sake of thy dearely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ who died to make satisfaction for vs liueth to make intercession for vs in whose words we shut vp our imperfect prayers saying as himselfe hath taught vs. Our Father c. O Lord blesse and saue vs make thy face to shine vpon vs thy word to instruct vs thy grace to direct vs thy Angels to protect vs thy spirit to comfort and support vs vnto the end and in the end Amen Amen A Prayer in time of Warre OH Lord God of hoasts in power inuincible in wisedome vnsearchable in mercy incomprehensible that giuest deliuerance in the time of trouble and assistance in the day of battell wee most humbly and heartily beseech thee to saue vs from all those extremities and in speciall from our enemies which our sinnes doe threaten to bring vpon vs. Hitherto thou hast pleased to make our Nation a spectacle of thy ineffâ—ble goodnesse but we deserue to be made a spectacle of thy vnsupportable wrath Our contempt of thy threatnings our abuse of thy mercies our neglect of thy iudgements with infinite other inormities doe menace the taking away of thy old mercies and the bringing in of some iudgement We haue iust cause to feare O Lord that our loud and crying sinnes doe call in our enemies vpon vs and arme them against vs yea that they are already prest and prepared to execute thy vengeance Then open our eyes we pray thee that we may see thy Ensigne set vp thy Banner displayed and the euidence of thy approaching sword open our eares that wee may heare thee blowing of thy trumpet and giuing the alarum to warre open our hearts that we may not be
deere Son that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections to bring them in obedience vnto thee that if it shold be thy pleasure either now or hereafter to take this Infant froÌ„ me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gane it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS THE Common Cals Cryes and Sounds of the Bell-man OR Diuers Verses to put vs in minde of our mortalitie Which may serue as warnings to be prepared at all times for the day of our death Printed at London for M. S. 1628. For Christmas day REmember all that on this morne Our blessed Sauior Christ was borne Who issued from a Virgin pure Our soules from Sathan to secure And patronise our feeble spirit That we through him may heauen inherit For Saint Stephens night THis blessed time beare in your minde How that blest Martyr Stephen dyed In whom was all that good confinde That might with flesh and bloud abide In doctrine and example he Taught what to doe and what to flee Full of the spirit he would preach Against opinions false and naught Confute them too and boldly teach What Christ himselfe to him had taught For which at last he lost his breath Ston'd by the stony hearts to death Let vs then learn by this blest Martyrs end To see our â—oliies and our liues amend For Saint Johns day THis man the word did boldly teach Saw Christ transformed and did preach The glory in that Mount he saw And by that glory stroue to draw The soule of man to sinne a thrall To heauen to which God send vs all For Innocents day THe swords of Herods seruants tooke Such sweet yong things as with a look Might make a heart of Marble melt But they nor grace nor pittie felt Some from the cradle some awake Some sweetly sleeping some they take Dandled vpon their mothers lap Some from their armes some from the pap For New-yeares day ALL you that doe the Bell-man heare The first day of this hopefull yeare I doe in loue admonish you To bid your old sins all adue And walke as Gods iust Law requires In holy deeds and good desires Which if to doe you le doe your best God will in Christ forgiue the rest For Saint Dauids day I Am no Welchman but yet to show The loue I to the Countrey owe I call this morning and be seeke Each man prepare him for his Leeke For as I heare some men say The first of March is Saint Dauids day That worthy Britaine valiant wise Withstood his Countries enemies And caused his Souldiers there to choose Leekes for to know them from his foes Wâ—o brauely fought and conquest won And so the custome first begun Then weare your Leeks and doe not shame To memorize your worthies name So noble Britaines all adew Loue still King Charles for he loues you For the 5. of Nouemb. Awake Britaines subiects with one accord Extoll and praise and magnifie the Lord Humble your hearts and with deuotion sing Praises of thanks to God for our most gracious King This was the night when in a dark some Cell Treason was found in earth it hatcht in hell And had it tooke effect what would auail'd our sorrow The traine being laid to haue blowne vs vp o th' morrow Yet God our guide reueal'd the damned plot And they themselues destroy'd and we were not Then let vs not forget him thankes to render That hath preseru'd and kept our saiths desender For Good Fryday ALL you that now in bed doe lye Know Iesus Christ this night did dye Our soules most sinfull for to saue That we eternall life might haue His whips his grones his crown of thornes Would make vs weepe lament and mourn For Sunday LEt labour passe let prayer be This day the chiefest worke for thee Thy selfe and seruants more and lesse This day must let all labour passe All hale to you that sleepe and rest Repent awake your sinnes detest Call to your minde the day of doome For then our Sauiour Christ will come Accompt to haue be hath decreed Of euery thought word worke and deede And as we haue our times here past So shall our Iudgements be at last AS darke some night vnto thy thoughts present What 't is to want the dayes bright Element So let thy soule descend through contemplation Where vtter darknesse keepes her habitation Where endlesse easelesse pines remedilesse Attend to torture sinnes curst wilfulnesse O then remember whilst thou yet hast time To call for mercy for each forepast crime And with good Dauid wash thy bed with teares That so repentance may subdue hels feares Then shall thy soule more purer then the Sunne Ioy as a Gyant her best race to runne And in vnspotted robes her selfe addresse To meet her Lord that Sonne of righteousnesse To whom with God the Father and the Spirit Be all due praise where all true ioyes inherit THe Belman like the wakefull morning Cocke Doth warne you to be vigilant and wise Looke to your fire your candle and your locke Preuent what may through negligence arise So may you sleepe with peace and wake with ioy And no mischances shall your state annoy YOur beds compare vnto the graue Then thinke what sepulcher you haue For though you lay you downe to sleepe The Belman wakes your peace to keepe And nightly walkes the round about To see if fire and light be out But when the morne dayes light appeares Be you as ready for your prayers So shall your labours thriue each day That you the Belman well may pay Like to the Seaman is our life Tost by the waues of sinfull strife Finding no ground whereon to stand Vncertaine death is still at hand If that our liues so vainlesse be Then all the world is vanitie THose that liue in wrath and ire And goe to rest in any sinne They are worse vnto their house the fire Or violent theeues that would breake in Then seeke to shun with all your might That Hidr as head that monstrous sin That God may blesse your goods abroad And eke also your selues within SLeepe on in peace yet waking be And dread his powerfull Maiestie Who can translate the irkesome night From darknesse to that glorious light Whose radient beames when once they rise With winged speed the darknesse flyes THou God that art our helpe at hand Preserue and keepe our King land Frem forraigne and domesticke foes Such as the word and truth depose And euer prosper those of pittie That loue the peace of this our Citie