true diuinitie consisteth in vse and practise Wee are vexed on euerie side with wicked and peruerse scorners and others which hate the word of God and the doctrine which we professe Comfort when the godly are not esteemed of the wicked The men of this world esteeme Gods Children as the off-scowrings of the earth So Paul a chosen vessell of God yet not esteemed of men Let this confirme the godly against the contempt of men onely the Lord hath in his owne hand the ballance of Iustice which weigheth men aright according as they are but these are very trifles if wee compare them with those vexations which Sathan sinne and our owne infirmitie raise vp in our cōsciences we must learne therefore thus to iudge of all things that they are the rod or scepter of the wicked and to set the Lord against them reuealing his will here in his word and pronouncing that he will not suffer the scepter of the wicked to rest vpon the godly Since then the same Prince promiseth thus much vnto vs which hath all things in his hand what can we require more for the will of God is certaine that though he suffer vs to be afflicted yet will he not see vs troden vnder foote or perish What the rod signifieth in the Scriptures it is well knowne children when they are young are corrected with a rod and when they waxe bigger with a wand or a cudgell and if they will not amend then followeth the iron rod hereof it commeth that the rod signifieth all power and rule which is for the amendment and corrction of such as doe offend so it is taken in the 110. Psalme The Lord shall send forth the rod of thy power out of Sion That is to say Thy kingdome for here he signifieth such a rod whereby kingdomes and people are gouerned On this wise the Holy Ghost permitteth heere to the Wicked dominion and tyrannie ouer the Godly which they are compelled to suffer this dominion or tyrannie the Holy Ghost called the rodde of the Wicked and comforteth vs. That as the Lord liueth their tyrannie shall fall and shall not rest vpon the lot of the Godly The lot of the Iust is as much to say as the Portion that is the Number or Congregation of the lust like as Christ calleth them the little Flocke and Paul the poore Saints Ouer these sayth hee although the tyrants doe rule yet shall not their power endure although the persecutors of the Church doe oppresse the Faithfull yet shall they not doe so alwayes neyther shall their counsels haue that successe which they desire for they thinke to roote out this Doctrine for euer but that shall they neuer be able to doe Therefore albeit ye suffer in the meane time sayth the Holy Ghost yet know ye that my will is That they which beleeue in me shall neuer perish but shall be preserued to life euerlasting Here then haue ye whereunto ye may trust in all your tentations But behold the reason which the Holy Ghost heere vseth to proue the Scepter of the Wicked shall not rest vpon the Iust God is moued sayth he to helpe and defend the Iust For else it might so come to passe that God should haue no Church at all and the Iust should put forth their hands to wickednesse So we finde in Ieremy that before the people were deliuered into the hands of the Babylonians they had a promise that after seuentie yeares they should returne againe to Ierusalem because they should not bee brought into doubt of Gods mercy and so vtterly dispaire and falling away from God should turne to foolishnesse that is to say should blaspheme and become impatient this is the cause why God ioyneth the promise of the word with the execution and performance of the deede for else the godly should be driuen to desparation We see how many are cast downe with aduersitie by the losse of goods wife children other things which are deere vnto them except therefore their minds were raised vp againe and comforted first with the word and promise and then with the performance and execution of the same many would say there were no God therfore God must needs shew himselfe to be a God not onely in a word but also in deed Dauid had great promises of God 2. Sam. 15.30 and yet by his owne sonne was driuen out of his kingdome and so persecuted that hee was compelled to flye away bare head and bare foote this was a sore tentation wherefore the great and ample promises made vnto him could neuer haue raised him vp and comforted him againe except God had indeede deliuered him out of this great miserie and affliction euen so if we had no more but the promises of God to support vs against the Papists and aduersaries of the word yea if God did not indeede fight for vs and defend vs against their tyranny God therfore worketh both waies hee raiseth vp with the word and promise and deliuereth out of troubles and afflictions by the execution of the deed that according to the saying of Saint Paul the tentation should not be aboue our strength but should haue an end and wee learne by our owne experience that the first Commaundement I am the Lord thy GOD is most certaine and infailable therefore when he saith Least the iust should turne away from God and fall to gentilitie for GOD hath a double care ouer the faithfull first that they bee not ouercome but may ouercome the tentation And this he doth by the word and promise the second is that the tentation bee not perpetuall euen so must we be vndoubtedly perswaded that besides the infailable promises which we haue of the good will of God towards vs and in the end of euerlasting life wee shall also be deliuered and our aduersaries destroyed albeit wee can see no manner of way or possible meanes how that it may bee done But heere wee must beware that wee doe not appoint the time of this deliuerance for before that come God will haue vs tried to the vttermost and brought to that extremitie that all our hope and trust shall bee vtterly spent and we at the point of desparation Now when wee are brought into this case that wee can see nothing but desparation then euen then God sendeth comfort in death he sheweth life and euen in damnation he bringeth saluation Briefely of nothing hee maketh all things and when all hope of remedie is past then beginneth he to worke and frameth all anew againe in most perfect wise Thus cannot the God of this world doe this is the singular worke of God therefore when thou thinkest thy selfe cleane cast away and vtterly forsaken euen then thou shouldest be most sure and safe and most gloriously shine as the Day-starre in the Firmament These things are easily taught but by experience we finde and feele how farre they passe all reason and power of man and how hardly we can beleeue that God maketh all
vp for the finishing and closing vp of the diuine seruice And indeede because they are briefe and set forth very notable doctrine Therefore they were most meete for the conclusion and closing vp of all If men would learne to pray vnto God and craue for any mercy and blessing at his hands loe here bee excellent platformes of true heartie and earnest prayers if men would giue thanks for blessings receiued or for Iudgement escaped or for deliuerance from wicked vngodly men here be most worthy examples and directions Againe if men would finde comfort in temptation troubles and affliction and learne with patience to beare them there is no part of the Bible more sweete and comfortable then this booke of the Psalmes therfore it should be our delight and study and we ought to spend the more time in reading and in meditating of so worthy a Booke according to that of our Sauiour Search the Scriptures because that wil bring a man to true happinesse in the end Psal 124. Verse 1. If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side c. The Argument of the Psalme THis Psalme is a thanks-giuing to God for his great mercy in preseruing his people placed as the Stories do shew in the midst of the Gentiles and heathen people and as a flocke of sheep in a wilde forrest or in respect of the multitude as a Citie compared to a mightie kingdome being compassed on euery side with the Kings of the Assyrians The people of Israel as a sheepe among many wolues the Egyptians the Ammonites the Ishmalites the Moabites who Sathan had stirred vp with deadly hatred to vexe and persecute them seeking by all meanes to roote out them from off the earth that thereby hee might vtterly deface and abolish the word and worship of the Lord. This danger Dauid saw and thanked God which had preserued his people from the rage of many Lyons and Dragons which notwithstanding that they neuer ceased to seeke their destruction yet all that they went about was in vaine And what a miracle was this that this people could so long continue notwithstanding the malice and rage of so many deuils Dauid therefore in this Psalme exhorteth his people to be thankfull to the Lord their God for so mightily preseruing defending and deliuering them from the violence of so many Nations and Kingdomes hating them and persecuting them on euery side If the Lord himselfe had not beene on our side now may Israel say If the Lord himself had not been on our side when men rose vp against vs c. Here the Prophet Dauid exhorteth the people to consider how mercifully God had deliuered thē from the hands of their enemies and how miraculously he had preserued that kingdome and also to praise God with him for the same which words are not to be restrained to Dauids time onely for the Heathen people had oftentimes before warred against them with such force and power as was like to the rage of most huge and terrible floods of water whereof hee speaketh here ready to ouerflow them therefore seeing he mentioneth heere no one kind of deliuerance it seemeth that he meaneth in these words of thanksgiuing to set forth whatsoeuer God had done for the succour and deliuerance of his people at any time before Wherein he sheweth as it were in a glasse the dangerous estate of the Church from the beginning that the faithful may learn to know that it hath not been preserued by the strength and pollicy of man but by the miraculous power hand of God and therefore in their troubles and afflictions should alwaies fly to God for help and succour Israel signifieth the people of God let vs acknowledge thē that there is no way for Gods people to escape the hands of their enemies but by the help power of God and that he will haue the praise and glory therof to be giuen to him alone This praise can none giue vnto God but the true Israel hauing experience both of their owne weaknesse the force and power of their enemies the dangers past and of the mercifull helpe and protection of the Lord. Hence wee learne that it is our dutie to binde our selues by solemne couenant promise to God Solemne vowes a christian dutie that so he deliuer vs from misery trouble affliction iudgments punishments and from vnreasonable men that then we will offer vnto him prayse and thankesgiuing call vpon him serue and worshippe him all our dayes Gen. 28.2.21 Iacob vowed that if the Lord would bee with him in his iourney to keepe him and defend him in it hee would then build an house to God and worship him there Iosias made a couenant vnto the Lord and all the people with him Psa 1.16.14 31. to serue the Lord who did deliuer him from the curse of the Law Dauid did often vse this to binde himselfe by couenant to serue the Lord hee payde his vowes hee made to God So Iephtah vowes vnto the Lord that that hee would offer sacrifice vnto the Lord who gaue him victorie Iudg. 11 30. And though the matter of his vow was vnlawfull yet his vow to honor God was the fruit of his faith Well then seeing it is not onely lawfull but our dueties euen to make solemne couenant vnto God that if he shall be fauourable vnto Sion and build vp the walls of Ierusalem that if he shall deliuer vs from any misery iudgment or affliction whatsoeuer that then wee will bee carefull to honour God and to bee thankfull to his Maiestie Let vs then make this couenant with the Lord our God let vs vow obedience and newnesse of life and let vs say with Dauid Psal 119.106 I haue sworne and haue stedfastly purposed to keepe thy righteous iudgement Let vs euen take a solemne vow of our owne soules that by the grace of God wee will haue more care to prayse him to honor him to serue him to call vpon him And so accordingly let vs be mindfull to performe the same for the Lord will require alll the vowes we make vnto him First this may stirre vs vp to consider what a solemne vow and promise wee haue made in Baptisme that is to forsake the diuell and all his works the vaine pompe and glory of the world that wee will forsake sinne and Sathan so as we will not bee led nor ruled by them yea that wee will manfully fight vnder the banner of Christ Iesus become his faithfull souldiers and seruants vnto our liues end Secondly sworne seruants Not onely are we bought to bee Christs seruants but also wee are sworne for Baptisme as on the part of God it is a seale of the couenant of grace to confirme that promise of remission of sinnes which God hath made to vs in the blood of Iesus Christ So on our parts it is a solemn resignation of of our selues and our seruice to the Lord wherin we giue vp our
and the Deuill and to the redemption purchased by the death and bloodshedding of Christ and published in the Gospell for this kind of speech which the Prophet vseth here is of greater importance then that it may be applied onely to these particular Captiuities For what great matter was it for these people of the Iewes being as it were a little handfull to be deliuered out of temporall Captiuitie in comparison of the exceeding incomparable deliuerance whereby mankind was set at libertie from the power of their enemies not Temporall but Eternall euen from Death Sathan and Hell it selfe wherefore we take this Psalme to be a Prophesie of the Redemption that should come by Iesus Christ and the publishing of the Gospell whereby the kingdome of Christ is aduanced Death and the Diuell with all the powers of darknesse are vanquished This Psalme being thus generally vnderstood may afterwards be applyed to euery particular deliuerance Verse 1. When the Lord brought againe the Captiuitie of Sion wee were like them that Dreame BY Syon is signified that people which had the promise of the comming of Christ For Redemption and Saluation was first promised to the people of Syon and to the children of Abraham after the flesh This people was in bondage vnder the Law and by the Law vnder the Captiuitie of Death and Sinne. Now if this people complaine of their Captiuitie and sigh for their deliuerance what shall we thinke of the Gentiles which liued in Idolatrie and in their owne lusts without any Law without God he could not therefore haue signified a more generall and more grieuous captiuitie then when he saith That his owne people of Sion did long for this deliuerance which in outward appearance was most holy and vnder Dauid and Saul did mightily flourish But behold how liuely he setteth forth that ioy which should follow this deliuerance we shal be saith he like them that dreame By this kind of speech he expresseth the greatnesse of their ioy meaning that this ioy and gladnesse should be so great that the heart of man should not be able to conceiue it as if hee should say when he shall heare of Yea when we shall indeed feele and inioy this deliuerance from sinne and death so farre passing all that we could hope or look for the ioy therof shall be so great that it shall seeme to vs but as a dreame For so wee see it come to passe also euen in particular deliuerances when God suddenly deliuereth his Seruants out of any great trouble or affliction Acts 12.7 So it happened to Peter when he was deliuered by the Angell out of prison Likewise when it was said to Iacob Ioseph thy Sonne liueth Gen. 45.19 and ruleth ouer all the land of Egypt He was as one raised out of a dreame and could not beleeue it vntill that it was shewed vnto him by certaine tokens to be true indeede Heere then is set foorth vnto vs the inestimable grace whereby we are redeemed through the blood of the Sonne of God who did not spare himselfe and his owne life that hee might set vs free from the power of the Deuill the wrath of GOD Death and eternall Damnation but mans heart is not able as is said to comprehend these things The more feeling and taste he hath thereof the greater alacritie and courage hath he to goe through all dangers the lesse feeling he hath the more he is shaken with terrours and at the length looking backe to Egypt with the Israelites seeking other helpes Our heart therefore must wholy rest in this Redemption and wee must labour to haue some part of this taste and feeling which the Prophet rightly compareth to a most ioyfull and pleasant Dreame We see heere the Iewes were so glad of their deliuerance out of the Babylonish Captiuity and their returne thence that they scarce could beleeue whether it was not a Dreame Our Captiuitie was farre greater being vnder the Curse of the Law sold vnder Sinne Bondslaues vnto Sathan and Sonnes of Wrath Which Bondage could wee rightly acknowledge our Deliuerance would be farre more gratefull then it is Our Deliuerer was not Moses nor Ioshua nor Zerubbabel but the Sonne of God of whom they were Types both in the first Induction of that People out of Egypt into that Land and in their second Reduction backe againe He by putting himselfe into the Prison of our Flesh and in that Flesh by suffering that execrable Death and all the Sorrowes of it freed vs from the guilt of Sinne appeased the wrath of God abolished eternall Death and destroyed the Deuils Kingdome Now the Sonne thus freeing vs wee are free indeed Oh the greatnesse of this deliuerance should astonish vs whereby we auoid those great and insuperable euils which otherwise had for euer oppressed vs. This serueth to comfort all Gods Saints and all the Elect who can find this that they are redeemed a comfort of all comforts for what can comfort the Heart of Man more then to thinke of that glorious Victorie in Christ Iesus that whereas before they were in the state of damnation now they are restored into the state of saluation whereas before the Deuill held them bound hand and foot in bondage and in slauish thraldome yet now the Snare is broken and they are deliuered What can be more comfortable and ioyfull to the poore Prisoners that haue lyen so long in the Dungeon haue beene arraigned at the Barre condemned as Guiltie and the Sentence of Death denounced then to heare the King for such a Friends sake hath granted their Pardon How much more ought all the faithfull members of Christ to reioyce when as they see that there was no way with them but Hell there to haue perished and to haue beene damned Soule and Body for euer yet that good God of Heauen and Earth He for Christ his sake hath granted this Pardon that being redeemed they may liue for euermore Reioyce therefore and be glad ye which once were desolate and in heauinesse lift vp your heads with ioy be glad and comfort your selues together for the Lord hath comforted you his people he hath redeemed you his chosen as Isaiah breaketh forth into ioy Isaiah 52.9 and reioyceth For he that made thee is thine Husband whose Name is the Lord of Hosts and the holy One of Israel that mighty God of the whole world he is the Redeemer and with euerlasting mercy haue I had compassion on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Thus the Lord comforteth his people himselfe saying Feare not Isaiah 54.1 5. be of good courage for I haue redeemed thee I haue called thee by thy name Isaiah 43.1 thou art mine Againe Reioyce ye Heauens for the Lord hath done it shout ye lower parts of the Earth burst forth into prayses ye Mountaines O Forrests and euery Tree therein I haue put away thy transgressions like a Cloud and thy sinnes as a Myst Isaiah 44.22 I haue redeemed thee
Persians thought it a peece of their silly glory not to grant accesse easily vnto their subiects yea not to those of most noble ranke therfore ye see how fearefull Hester the queene was to goe in vnto the king vnsent for but the Lord out God Ester 2.15 king of kings proclaimes vnto vs free accesse as oft as we are disposed to call vpon him reddy at all times to extend the scepter of his peace towards those who seek him in spirit and truth yea though with Dauid thou preuent the morning and rise at midnight to call vpon him thou shalt finde him euen then waiting vpon thee come whē thou wilt thou shalt finde him but canst not preuent him Let vs therefore vse our libertie well and see wee neglect not to begin in time our acquaintance with the Lord by frequent speaking vnto him if so be wee looke hereafter for euer to remaine with him Verse 6. They that sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Amongst other things which properly pertaine to the redeemed this also is one that they are subiect to many temptations according to the saying of Saint Peter By many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of heauen Therefore the profession of a Christian man is rightly called the profession of the crosse so it behooued Christ the head of his Church to suffer and the prophets through inspiration of the Holy Ghost did testifie before of his passion and of his glorification which should follow and how can it bee but that Christians must needs suffer behold now therefore the miserable image of a Christian which is redeemed notwithstanding hee is full of sinne full of discomfort full of death he is like vnto Lazarus lying before the rich mans gate he like to Iob oppressed with infinite miseries and calamities here then thou wilt say who would desire to be a Christian harken therefore what Peter saith Brethren 1. Pet. 4.12 thinke it not strange concerning the fiery tryall which is to try you as though some strange thing hapned vnto you but reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christ his suffrings that when his glory shall bee reuealed yee may bee glad also with exceeding ioy for this is the Image of Christ of his Church and of all the brethren that wee should suffer but looke not to the sufferings and tribulations onely but behold also the fruit that followeth name-by that they which sowe in teares shall reape in ioy Our nature obhorreth affliction It is not without cause that the Prophet takes so great paines to confirme vs against affliction because our nature abhorreth nothing more then it When Iesus went vp to the mount to preach all his Disciples went with him but when he went to mount Caluarie to suffer they all fled from him he hath many Disciples to follow him by profession but few to follow him by patient suffring It is Sathans voyce in Peter to our blessed Sauiour when he made mention of his suffrings Master pittie thy selfe And it is his dayly voyce in our corrupt nature so oft as wee are called to suffring O man pittie thy selfe but the answer giuen by the head were also good to be giuen by the members Goe behinde mee Sathan hee knoweth very well partly by the quickenesse of his naturall wit and partly by long experience being now very neere sixe thousand yeares olde that man now likes nothing worse then the Crosse Skinne for skinne and all that a man hath saith hee will he giue for his life etc. Iohn 1 4. Hee hath tolde vs himselfe wherein his strength lyeth to wit that by trouble hee preuayleth most to make man impatient and so driue him to blaspheme God and therefore most of all wee are to confirme our weakenesse against the crosse Here first we learn that sufferings must go before glory the husbandmen must labour before he receiue the fruits neither is he that striues for crowned except hee striue as he ought The Prince of saluation was consecrated by affliction it behooued him first to suffer and then to enter into his kingdome all that professe him are desirous with the sonnes of Zebedeus to sit some at his right hand and some at his left but are not so content to drinke of his cup and be baptized with his baptisme they would all enioy thee Barnard knowing that pleasures for euermore are at thy right hand but are not content to follow thee they all desire to reigne with thee but not so to suffer with thee but this is a prepostrous way it is to deuide those things which the Lord hath ioyned together except we first suffer with him we shal not hereafter reigne with him Secondly let vs marke here the different courses of the Christian and the Worldling the Christian by temporall trouble goes vnto eternall glory Different courses of the Christian worldling worth the noting c. the Worldling by temporall glory goes to eternall shame If you goe to the Schoole of Iesus the first A. B. C. of Religion taught you there will be this Matth. 10 38. If any man will be my Disciple let him deny himselfe take vp his Crosse and follow mee If you goe to the Schoole of Sathan the first A. B. C. of Atheisme taught there is this All the Kingdomes of the World will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship mee The Lord Iesus through light and momentarie Afflictions leads his Children to an infinite weight of glory but Sathan through the perishing pleasures of Sinne leads his miserable Captiues to euerlasting paine Therefore it is said by our Sauiour of the one Blessed are yee that mourne for yee shall bee comforted And of the other Woe bee to you that laugh now for yee shall wayle and weepe The end of a Christian better then his beginning As there is no comparison betweene these two so blessed shall wee be if wee make choyse of the best Moses esteemed the Rebuke of Christ greater Riches then the Treasures of Egypt because hee had respect to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 And shall not wee reioyce in our present Afflictions considering they are the way vnto our Glory If wee sowe in Teares wee shall reape in Ioy The end of the Godly is better then their beginning For the Light of the Righteous encreaseth more and more like the Sunne vnto the Noone-day They begin with Teares and they end with Ioy but the Light of the Wicked is like vnto the Light of a Candle it shineth for a while and incontinent endeth in stinking Smoake As Baltazars Banquet was concluded with a Cup of Wrath so all the pleasures of the Wicked ends in paine At that Banquet in Canaan Iohn 2. the Lord Iesus brought in the best Wine at the last But Sathan doth with his miserable Banquetters as the Gouernour of that Feast speakes hee presents his best first and after when they haue well drunke brings
readie to goe forward in our Pilgrimage let vs first of all take heede to the Heart for it is the Rudder of the whole Body let vs knit it vnto God by this three-fold Cord whereof I haue spoken so shall our wayes bee ordered aright and wee shall make an happie progresse euery day in that way which leades to eternall Life By Determination wee begin to keepe a good course by Supplication we continue in it by Consideration we see whether we be right or wrong If we be out of the way Consideration warnes vs to returne againe into it Happie is that man in whose life one of these three is alwayes an actor Consideration so necessary that without it no state of our life can be well ordered Therefore Consideration is so necessarie that without it no state of Life can rightly be ordered The Mariner considers his course by his Compasse if hee neglect it hee runneth into remedilesse Dangers The Merchant who aduiseth not his Affaires with his Accompt Booke becommeth quickly a Bankrupt The Pilgrim who hath proposed to himselfe an end of his Iourney considers euery houre whether or no he be in the right way that may bring him to his proposed End and if he see many wayes before him he stands and aduiseth with himselfe which of them hee should chuse neyther will hee goe forward till hee haue by inward consideration resolued what is best How much more should he whose course is to the Kingdome of Heauen consider his wayes and thinke with himselfe that euery way directs not a man to that Ierusalem which is in Heauen Therefore walke on in this way for it is not a way that can bring a man to any desired place but his walking in it And then a man walkes on in this way when first hee neyther goeth backe nor standeth still as vpon Iacobs Ladder the Angels were ascending or descending none stood still and the man being cured of the Palsie is bid Take vp his Bed and walke Hee that goeth not forward here is going backward remember Lots wife and forget not your owne soules So that a Christian man is stil mouing and proceeding in godlinesse forgetting that which is behinde and pressing hard to the marke that is before him And seeing Sathan is most fierce in our end to hinder vs of the Crowne therfore we should be more watchfull and diligent to goe through For if we can labour a while we shall be euer safe neuer feare him any more neuer lose that Crown which the righteous Iudge shall giue vnto vs who loue his appearing So that a godly life leads a man home to Heauen the great Citie of the great King the end of which is rest and glory for euermore Therefore let vs alway bee prepared for it as the good Israelites of God with our Loynes girded vp and our Staues in our hands readie to take our Iourney from Egypt to Canaan whensoeuer the Lord our God shall commaund vs. As Fowles desirous to flye stretch out their Wings so should Men desirous to be with the Lord stretch out their Affections towards the Heauens Abraham sat in the Doore of his Tabernacle Wee should not soiourn in the Body like Ionas in the Ships sides but like Abraham in the dore of the Tabernacle Exo. 12.11 Gen. 18.1 â— Kin. 19.9 when the Angell appeared vnto him Eliah came out to the mouth of the Caue when the Lord appeared vnto him And in like manner wee must all reioyce to come out of the Caue and Tabernacle of this wretched Body if wee would meete with the Lord yea euen while as wee dwell in the Body if in our affection wee come not out and stand as it were in the doore of our Tabernacle but like Ionas Ionas 1.5 sleeping in the sides of the Ship wee lye downe in the hollow of our heart sleeping in carelesse securitie it is not possible that the Lord can be familiar with vs. Happie were wee if such affection were in vs toward the Word of God as heere was in Dauid So should wee finde that manyfold comfort in it which hee found What comfort wee should find in it if our affection to arâ—s it were like Dauids to the reioycing of his heart If wee receiue it when wee heare it with a liuely Faith it shall be to vs what euer wee desire If wee be in Trouble it shall be to vs a word of Consolation If wee be in Ioy it shall augment our Ioy. Certainely if we knew it we would be more delighted with it it is the Seede of our New Birth it is the Foode that conserues an immortall Life in vs it is a preseruatiue against all Euill it is the Restoratiue of our Soules in all Diseases it is the Staffe of our Infirmities it is our Armour against our Enemies it is the Light of our Eyes euen that Day-starre that shineth in Darkenesse If wee walke in the Light thereof it shall leade vs to the bright-shining Sunne of Righteousnesse Christ Iesus The Conclusion LEt vs therefore suffer our selues to be guided by him who is infinitely wiser then we and loueth vs better then wee loue our selues and let vs receiue this fauour of God that so seruing his glory our glory may also be aduanced Let vs not be troubled nor shaken with feare when wee see the Persecutors come to the end of their Enterprises and the Children of God afflicted That is to them sayth Saint Paul a manifest token of Destruction Philip. 1.28 and to vs of Saluation Augustine There is no greater Curse sayth Saint Augustine then the prosperitie of the Wicked because it is a strong Wine to make them drunke in their Iniquities and to make a heape and treasure as it were of the Wrath of God vpon them It seemeth to vs that the World goeth to confusion and disorder when the Wicked triumph and the Children of God weepe but on the contrary that is to vs a manifest token of the iust Iudgement of God as S. Paul sayth 2. Thes 1.5 that we are also made worthie of the Kingdome of God for which also we suffer For it is a iust thing sayth he with God to render Afflictions to those that afflict vs. And to vs that are afflicted deliuerance then when the Lord Iesus shall shew himselfe from Heauen with the Angels of his Power and with a flame of Fire to doe vengeance vpon those that did not know God and obeyed not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ the which shall bee punished with an euerlasting Punishment from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his Power when hee shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be made wonderfull among all the Faithfull Wee are so impatient so hot or so foolish that wee consider nothing but the beginning of the Worke of our God but wee must ioyne them together and consider the accomplishment of them as Saint Iames teacheth vs. Yee
Bernard When we aske of God saith S. Bernard euen those things that concerne this present life our praiers are not so soone out of our mouth but they are written in his booke and we ought saith he to bee assured that he will either giue the thing it selfe which we haue asked or other things which hee knoweth to be more profitable for vs. To conclude Prayer is the most mightie and fruifull work of Charitie seeing by it we help our neighbours present and absent knowne and vnknowne great and little and that both with Spirituall and Corporall good things drawing by our Prayers the blessing of God vpon them Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus that great Shepheard of the Sheepe through the blood of the euerlasting couenant make you perfect in euery good worke to doe his Will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Iesus Christ To whom be glorie for euer and euer Amen FINIS A NECESSARY Prayer for the great deliuerie from the Gun-powder Treason O Blessed Lord and euerliuing God whose mercy is ouer all thy workes Wee thy poore vnworthy Creatures do heere powre forth our hearts vnto thee that we may neither vngratefully remember thy gratious benefits nor vngratiously forget thy seuere Iudgements who both in the one and the other hast beene beyond all measure so gratious vnto vs. We thanke thee O Lord for all the externall and internall graces bestowed vpon vs the Spirituall and Corporall the Ecclesiasticall and Terrestiall blessings which we haue receiued O Lord thou knowest that without thy helpe we cannot auoid our ruine We beseech thee O Lord let this thy mercy towards vs and our great deliuerance daily put vs in minde to be thankfull vnto thee O God we were without all meanes to foreknow such a miserie and without all Iudgement to vnderstand such a mysterie haddest not thou O Lord of thy great loue to true Religion and mercy to vs giuen meanes to discouer it O Lord if this had not beene we had beene blowne vp we had beene smothered we had beene dismembred we had beene persecuted we had been vndone Wherefore good Lord seeing thou didst bring vs to the graues mouth but hast not giuen vs ouer vnto death wee haue imprinted in our minds the horror of the danger and excited our soules to thankefulnesse for the rescue and therefore wee prayse thee wee blesse thee wee worship thee wee glorifie thee and wee render to thee all thanks Honor and power wee ascribe vnto thee for this thy gracious preseruation And wee beseech thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome To this end wee beseech thee to blesse our gracious King Iames our supreme Head next vnder thee O Lord make all thy good to goe before him day and night vphold his Crowne maintaine his State giue him continuall peace long life and much happinesse mercifully heare him in all his Petitions and effectually worke for him in all dangers Furthermore we beseech thee to blesse our Noble Prince Charles the Prince Elector Palatine the Lady Elizabeth his Wife and their hopefull Issue and the righteous Cause and when it shall make most for thy glory and their good giue them victorie O Lord ouer all their Enemies And we entreat thee O Lord still to lend thy helping hand to this Kingdome thy assistance to the Gospell and euer blesse the Persons and Consultations of that High Court with holinesse safety that we may inioy our Liues Liuings our Religion our King and that his Off-spring after him may sit vpon his Throne till the comming of Christ Iesus to our comfort thy glory to whom we offer our selues our soules and bodies to be at thy seruice for euer and euer Amen Amen ¶ A Morning Prayer for a Familie O God of glorie and Father of mercy eternall and incomprehensible Maiestie in whom we sinfull Creatures doe liue mooue and haue our being fauourably heare our vnperfect Prayers and mercifully grant our needful suites We sinfull creatures doe sue vnto thee for grace hoping in thy mercie towards vs which is ouer all Keepe vs we beseech thee this day as thou hast kept vs this night past Keepe vs in thy feare faith and loue O Lord turne thy face from our sinnes wherein we haue so delighted and blot out all our misdeeds alter our hearts and wash and cleanse vs from all staines and corruptions in the blood of thy Sonne forgiue vs all that is past euen all the euill that wee haue done or thought and graunt vs the assurance of that forgiuenesse sealed vp in our Consciences by thy holy Spirit Kindle thy loue so feruently in our hearts that wee may detest whatsoeuer is against thee and thy Word Forgiue vs our great contempt and intollerable barrennesse in good workes our soule vnthankfulnesse and the abuse of thy graces and strike our stony Hearts with the Rod of thy feare that wee may attayne vnto a due thankfulnesse for thy benefites and a most vnfayned and earnest repentance for all our sinnes O Lord wee pray thee send thy blessing vpon all our labours and giue vs a willing minde to helpe them that haue neede according to our abilitie and so prepare our hearts in all our businesses that wee may alwayes begin it in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing that whatsoeuer wee shall doe it may prosper Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Mediator and Redeemer in whose Name wee further pray vnto thee saying that forme of Prayer that hee hath taught vs. Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ An Euening Prayer for a Familie BLessing and glory and wisedome and thanksgiuing and power and might be vnto thee O Lord most high and immortall God for thy gracious goodnesse and mercie extended to vs this day past and alwayes notwithstanding all our Wickednesses which cry dayly against vs and our Enemies that would swallow vs vp Wee beseech thee O Lord be still our God and our Lord and continue thy gracious and mercifull fauour vnto vs forgiue vs all the euill that wee haue committed this day or any time heretofore teach vs to sorrow for our sinnes and separate them from vs that would separate vs from thee O Lord pardon and forgiue vs all our sinnes remoue from vs those things which our Consciences are afraid of assure vs of thy gracious Pardon and renew vs by thy holy Spirit that wee may vnfainedly hate and detest whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee and graunt good Father that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee in holynesse and newnesse of life Bee thou our shield and defence against the suggestions illusions and temptations of Sathan against all the allurements and baits of the flesh with all alterations prouocations changes and chances of the world sanctifie vs with thy grace that we may keepe our bodyes