a hard matter to bee passed away from those things which doe not so neerely touch man how bitter I pray you will the separation be of soule body two such kind louing familiars who haue alwaies liued sweetly together euen from the mothers wombe surely they cannot bee separated without great griefe If the Oxe doe commonly lowe and mourne when his yoke-fellow which was wont to draw with him is taken away how will euery one of vs mourn when the soule shall be separated from the body Then will they with teares repeate their sinnes againe and againe and cry out O death bitter death doest thou 〈◊〉 separate vs And when the cogitation of so sharpe a separation is deepely setled in our minds then griefe followeth grief and sorrow commeth vpon sorrow for then it commeth presently to mind what a miserable condition the body and soule shall be in after the separation When a man beginneth to recount with himselfe that his body after a few houres shall be buried in a graue or darke tombe hee cannot cease from wondering at so abiect and miserable a condition What the body that now liueth which seeth heareth speaketh shall â—it bee made after one houre in a moment blinde deafe dumbe without spirit without life It shall haue then in stead of a large Pallace a base Sepulcher in stead of a soft bed the hard ground for delights rottennesse for sweete smels stinkes and in stead of seruants and familiar friends wormes And thus this cogitation of the graue will very sore trouble and terrifie a man in these extremities yet notwithstanding euery man feareth much more when he beginneth to consider what condition remaineth for the soule When Man beholdeth that eternitie and that new Region vnknowne to al men liuing which he then alone naked is to enter and when he vnderstandeth that there is to bee found in the same both euerlasting glory and perpetuall paine and miserie and knoweth not of which he shall take his part it cannot bee told with how great feare with what carefulnesse and with what exceeding sorrow hee shall be tormented when he perceiueth plainely that after two houres hee shall be either in eternall ioyes or in euerlasting paines Is not this a crosse very heauy surpassing all other crosses this vncertainty of a blessed or cursed estate which after a small time the sinner expecteth the remembrance of his sins and feare of the iust iudgement of God without hope of remission or faith in Christ is a hell to the mind not to be expressed For by how much the Kingdome which he desireth is of largenesse and by how much the firy furnace which he feareth is terrible by so much the greater shall this perturbation be considering also that Angels shall come to carry the faithfull vp into Heauen and infernall spirits to carry the wicked and infidels into hell But there is yet a farre greater perturbation then this namely that he shall call to mind the accouÌ„t which he is to make to God of all his words deeds and thoughts for of it self 〈◊〉 is a horrible thing to thinke vpon the day of iudgement the which horror will wonderfully and extremely vexe disquiet the Diuels themselues for as so long as we liue they set forth vnto vs the mercy of God and doe also commend the same and doe striue all that they can to keepe vs from meditating of his iustice iudgements euen so now on the contrarie they extenuate and make his mercy insufficient and doe set before our eies the greatnesse and seuerity of the Lords iustice Then will the sinner beginne to tremble and fal into desperation and will beginne to reason thus with himselfe If God for the sinnes of others spared not his onely Sonne will he spare me which am guilty of so many sinnes If this be done in the green tree what shall befall that which is seare and drie If the Prophets if the Apostles if the Martyrs after they liued godly so many yeeres entred not into the Kingdome of Heauen without tribulations what other place can bee left for mee but that of hell fire which know no good that I haue done If the Scripture be true which saith He will render to euery man according to his workes what should I which haue done so many horrible and great wickednesses looke for but eternall torments If that of the Apostle bee true as in deed it is when he saith That which a man soweth that shall he reape what shall hee reape but eternall death which hath made so cursed a so wing Iâ— no polluted thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God how shal I which am altogether filthy and vncleane haue hope to make so happy and blessed an entrance Then all his sinnes which he committed with so greater desire and facility when hee liued shall violently inuade the sinfull man like an hoast of enemies then the feare of punishment will open the eyes which sleeping security in sinne before had shut then ambition pride thefts murthers adulteries fornications gluttonies drunkennesse lying periury idle words vncleane thoughts negligent slacknesse and all that naughty is will come to remembrance O how heauy and grieuous will they then seeme to be which now seem so light and are done with so much sweetnes and pleasure How greatly will they then torment the minde of the sinner Who is able to expresse that last agonie wherein the soule fighteth with sore and painefull sicknesse with the temptations of diuels with feare of the iudgement to come and all this at one instant Then commeth that last perturbation the failing of all the senses as the fore-runner of death approaching which vehemently terrifieth At what time the breast swelleth the speech groweth hoarse faint and hollow the eyes sinke the nose beginneth to be sharpe the countenance waxeth pale the feete die and the arteries send forth a cold sweate These things which do thus appeare outwardly are grieuous and full of horror but they are without all comparison more greeuous horrible which are felt inwardâ—â— for as Saint 〈◊〉 writeth of blessed 〈◊〉 saying Though hee had many yeeres serued God yet did hee feare at the time of his departure What shall they doe who many yeeres haue serued the Diuell and their execrable wickednesses and who haue prouoked God vnto wrath whither shall they goe whose helpe shall they craue what counsell shall they take If they look vpward they shall see the drawne sword of Gods Iustice if downeward they shall see a gulfe gaping and hell fire there if the time past they shall see all things vanished away like a shadow if the time to come they shall behold the eternitie of Worlds which shall last without end Who can bee able to resist and abide the assault of the diuels who will bee then busiest in their desire to bestirre them with all their might and maine What shall then sinfull men doe which are left in this estate Returne they cannot and
whereas thou owest vnto God al that thou art able to doe for euer GOD hath giuen vnto vs the life of his onely begotten Sonne the which is of greater price then the life of all men and by what right and prerogatiue darest thou denie vnto him the flower of thy youth and to spend the same in other things then in the seruice of God and to offer vnto him the dregs and rottennesse of old age Onely consider what the Prophet Malachie saith If hee Mal. 1. 8. offer the blind for sacrifice is it not euill If he offer the lame and sicke is it not euill Offer it now vnto thy Prince will he be content with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts But cursed be the deceiuer which hath in his flocke Vers 14. a Male and voweth and sacrificeth vnto the Lord a corrupt thing Our selues and all that whole we haue is not sufficient to serue the Lord. Let our youth be dedicated to his seruice as well as our age let vs serue him not onlie in sicknesse but also in health let vs turne vnto him not onely when we are in affliction and vnder the crosse but also in prosperity for forced holinesse is of no account Pharaos repentance Festus trembling and Iudas sorrow auailed them nothing Saint Augustine in his second Booke of true and false repentance which affliction wringeth from men saith Will you put the matter out of doubt Repent then whilest you are young and in health otherwise whether a man doe safely depart out of this life none are sure The â—ame Authour saith thus Wilt thou repent thee when thou canst â—inne no longer Thy sinnes then haue forsaken thee and not thou thy sinnes Sinne is common to all times and ages of mans life yea to fraile and vaine youth more then to olde age Which caused King Dauid to say Remember not O Lord the sinnes of my youth There is then at no time want of matter in vs for repentance and yea our sins are much more then our sacrifices Sinne is common to all but timely and speedy repentanc to few Let the exhortation of our Sauiour moue vs which he so oftentimeâ— repeateth Watch watch because ye know not the Mat. 24. day nor the houreâ— If it be demanded of you who assure your selues that after a few yeeres be past you will repent Christ made thee no promise I will not say of yeeres and moneths but of the morrow which is but one day Nay who can assure himselfe one houre What greater folly or rashnesse then can there be deuised then for a worme of the Earth to determine any thing certaine concerning the times and seasons which the Father hath set in his owne power Thou canst not be ignorant how many this vaine confidence hath deceiued euen to this day But man will say The Lord is full of compassion mercie Obiect he hath made large promises to those that trust in him he sent his Sonne into the World for vs and therefore hee will not suffer vs to perish O how wee deceiue Answ our selues Truth it is the promises of GOD are greater then fraile Man can or doth consider and his promises appertaine not to vs if we can make no better vse of them Let vs thinke vpon that Prouerbe of Salomon Hast thou found Hony eate not too much Hast thou the sweete and most comfortable promises of God in the Gospel let vs vse them to our comfort and presume not thereby to liue securely in sinne Iacob must change his garments Gen. 27. before he can obtaine a blessing and Hester must decke Hest 2. her selfe when shee commeth into the presence of the King that is to say We must put off the garment of sinne by speedy repentance and wee must bee cloathed with vertue and godlinesse otherwise our meditation and prayers returne emptie to our ouerthrow both of Bodie and Soule CHAP. V. Of the force the vse and necessitie of Prayer and the benefit which riseth therof O LORD the consideration hereof duely considered in the heart of a true Christian and touched with the least finger of thy Grace can and will heale all our infirmities if wee will but suddenly recount our mispent and leude liues and with-draw our selues into our retired closet or chamber where we may not onely vnburden our peruerse vile and festred conscience but find ease for our sickeweake soules by calling heartily to mind the sweete promises of our good God who neuer suffers the true beleeuing Petitioner to goe away vnrewarded his mercie is so great to them that faithfully serue him by keeping his Commandements And againe the largenesse of his great and vnspeakable loue the extension of his fauour the inheritance laide vp the Kingdome prepared a peace and rest euerlasting without distractioÌ„ tumult or vexation to annoy his chosen the eager pursuite of our vnbridled vain affectioÌ„s and self-loue to this world are to be meditated vpon by euery good Christian This World and self-loue to this World is but a Sea of vanities which will proue a bitter sea-flowing with all kind of miseries and if wee pull not downe the sailes of our lasciuious life we are in danger to lose the expected promises of our Sauiour Christ which hee hath promised to all his true beleeuing seruants Lord we beseech thee infuse into our hearts such abundance of thy grace that wee may be withdrawne from all vice that tendeth to the displeasure of thy omnipotent Maiestie and so being withdrawne in a most humble and prostrate humilitie wee may giue thee that true sacrifice which thou hast prescribed and commanded vs that the good thoughts of thy spirit may draw thy mercy so towards vs as that our petitions may ascend vp to the Throne of thy diuine Maiestie like the smoake of Incense into the aire Grant we lay as it were our mouthes to the eares of that Heauenly Wisedome that knoweth our wants better then wee can vnderstand them ourselues yea euen before wee can vtter them and that we goe to him that calles Come vnto mee all you that trauell and are heauy laden Mat. 11. and I will refresh you O comfortable saying to him then let vs goe nay flie that are wearied vnder the burthen of a diseased conscience for hee is that true refreshing 〈◊〉 which cureth the inwardsore of a distressed and 〈…〉 if wee doe faithfully aske it at his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sinceritie purenes of our hearts Why should we not then â—lie vnto this good Lord who is the Father of all mercy and God of all comfort Let vs runne to him that is so willing not onely to heare vs at our call but farre more willingly to receiue imbrace our godly petitions and desires He is that sweete comfortable 〈◊〉 and true 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 race by which all the benefits and gifts in that 〈◊〉 Treasurehouseâ— are continued and reserued for Christs chosen O let vs then vse Prayer
loue deuoiâ—â— of all â—ypocâ—isie from a purâ— heart to â—oue our Neighbourâ— This Honourable Lord iâ— true Religion whereunto â—â— GOD in great mercy hatâ— called you so gâ—â— cheerefullâ— forward Beware of thiâ— vaine World and of thaâ—â—â—ine trust that wiched mâ—â— are wâ—â—t to put in it leanâ—â—â—t vpon it but stoppe youâ— eares against the eâ—eâ—anting and fawning whisperingâ— of the hollowâ—esse thereof and the dissolute Professors for there can bee â—â— greater trespasse against the Lâ—â—â— theâ—to â—â—â—â— vpon Assyria to rest in the strength of Egypt to goe downe into Ethâ—opia Cursed is that Man that putteth his trust in Man and maketh flesh his â—â—â—e hee shall be like the Heath that groweth in the Wildernesse But con 〈◊〉 He that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall â—mbrace him on euerie side he shall neuer be confounded hee shall bee â—s Mount 〈◊〉 and shall neuer be remoâ—ed for the Lord is his secret place is with him therefore who can â—â— against him What is a â—â—ns â—owe what are his legges what is the swiftnesse of Horses 〈◊〉 the strength of an Hoaâ—â— or the fauour of all thâ— Princes of the World iâ— comparison of God iâ— whom is onely the assurance of that euerlastinâ— inheritance It is the Goâ— of Iacob that must be ouâ— defence our strong Tower and Rock the Chariâ— and Horsemen of Israeâ— the testimony of his prâ—sence and fauour thâ—â— onely can make vs glad Wherefore againe and â—gaine I most humbly beseech your Honour bewaâ—â— of vaine trust and consâ—denâ— in Men and in things thâ—â— are lesse worth then Mâ—â— â—nd as GOD hath in mercy â—estowed vpon your Honour â—reat wisedome so pray that â—ou may haue a discerning â—pirit that the deceiuable â—lory of this World make you â—ot forget your greatest duty â—hat so you may shine in his â—â—erlasting Kingdome True Religion Honouâ—able Lord is effected by â—at diuine and eternall wisâ—â—ome whereby the contemâ—atiue vertue of man is lifâ—d vp to the happy knowâ—â—dge of the Maiesty of God all other the greatest verâ—â—e and wherein resteth the â—â—iefest contentment in this 〈◊〉 For if there be a Pareâ—e in this life it is seated in one of these two either in Religious Meditations or iâ— holy studies and godly specâ—lation because whatsoeuâ—â— is not in one of these two 〈◊〉 full of griefe vexation biâ—ternesse fearefulnesse caâ—â— and sorrow But as Christiâ—â— moâ—esty Right Honourablâ—â— hath moued me to giue to eâ—â—rie thing his due in not ceâ—sing from setting forth aâ— thing in the praise of thâ— which of right deserueth 〈◊〉 be commended so Christiâ—â— Iustice and equity would 〈◊〉 suffer mee to let that paâ—â— without some commendaâ—â—on whereunto I am not abâ— sufficiently to giue any Bâ— considering that slightly commend a thing were the next way to dispraise it exâ—ept withall it were shrâ—wâ—ded under the Patronage of â—ome worthy Person and â—hinking it vnmeete to let â—hat go like an Orphan withâ—ut a father at home I haue â—resumed to commit it vnto our Honours protection not bare Lawrell which of it â—lfe for the greennesse when â—ther be withered may seem 〈◊〉 bee accepted but the same â—ecked and adorned with â—ost heauenly Meditations 〈◊〉 that as I thinke if your â—onour were presented with materiall Lawrell wherein â—esides naturall greennesse â—ere but this neceâ—â—â—ry vse that it could defend you iâ— your Garden from the heatâ— of the Sunne you would accept if not of the gift yet oâ— the good will of the giuer So relying my selfe still vppon your Honours wonteâ— accustomed fauour and clemency I doubt not but yoâ— will affoord mee a fauourable and friendly acceptatioâ— hereof For herein is not thâ—â— greennes which consisting 〈◊〉 naturall qualities must theâ— wither when all things haâ—â— their ending according tâ—â— their nature but the flourishing greene promises of thâ— coâ—enant of God which 〈◊〉 God himselfe last alwaieâ— immutable and vnchangeable Here are not the beautifull leaues of a materiall tree which delight onely the outward sight but a most familiar view and patterne of God himselfe in Christ euen to the delight of the soule and inward comfort of the spirit which take pleasure onely in Heauenly things To conclude here you are not shrowded from the heate of the Sunne but shall finde most coole shade from the parching heate of sinne from which as in duety I am bound I will pray that God in this life shield and defend you and in the life to come grant you euâ—rlasting rest Thus presuming on your Honors wonted fauours and curtesies shewed vnto mee and crauing pardon for this my bold enterprise I humbly take my leaue Your Honors to be commanded in all duty and seruice HENRY THOMPSON An Admonition to the zealous Reader concerning the most godly exercise of PRAYER MAny are the godly and zealous Treatises which are already extant tending to the encouragement of those that hunger and thirst for the true seruice of the liuing God yet gentle Reader I craue thy Christian patience friendly to accept this small trauell of mine and these my simple Admonitions For among all our godly and deuoute Meditations good Christian Reader there can bee none better more acceptable to GOD more commodious and necessary to Man or more fit for vs to the attaining of a good and happy life then at all times to occupic our selues in the continuall remembrance and meditation of the life and death of our Lord Iesus Christ the which thing is plainly shewed and declared not onely by the example and doctrine of diuers holy and learned Men but also by experience it selfe And if thou wouldest flie from sinne and shunne vice then consider with thy selfe what great things the onely Sonne of God both did and suffered to the end thou mightest deliuered from sinne If thou desire to beautifie thy soule with loue humilitie gentlenes patience obedience châ—rity and other vertues then cast thine eye on the perfect and liuely patterne of all vertue which is thy LORD CHRIST himselfe If thou bee desirous to contemne the world and all worldlie vanities and nothing to care for the same then weigh with thy selfe earnestly what kind of life CHRIST our Lord led when hee was liuing here How full of troubles how full of labour and sorrow and how bitter a death hee sustained for Mans saluation Finallâ— if thou wouldest stâ—re vp and inflamâ— thy mind with the loue of GOD and giue him thankes what can in such a case bee more effectuall then still to call vpon GOD and to remember Christ his life and pâ—ssion and how many â—nd great benefits we haue receiued thereby ' Wherâ—upon the Apostle saide for good cause Remember you him who suffered at the hands of sinners that Man should not quaile not bee dismaied in heart and Saint Peter saith That CHRIST suffered that Man should bee also comforted with the remembrance thereof But to the intent that thâ—â— â—ood Christian Reader maiest vse these Meditations to thy great profit thou must obserue this order that
miserable estate of the wounded man with thy pitâ—ifull eye camest vnto him madest cleane his wounds pouredst in wine and oileboundest them vp settest him vpon his beast and carâ—ied him into the Inne and neuer leftest him till hee was perfectly whole O most louing Sauiour vouchsaâ—e with thy merciful eye to looke vpon my wretched estate which without thy helpe must needs perish my wounds are deadly and not able to be healed of any â—ither in Heauen or in Earth but of thee alone whâ— art the true Phisician and heaâ—est those that are contrite in heart my whole head is sick and the â—eart is very hâ—aâ—ie from the sole of the foot vnto the crowne of the head there is no whole part in all our body but all are wouÌ„ds botches soares and stripes which can neuer bee healed bound vp mollified nor eased with any ointment except thou puttest to thy helping hand Let it therefore please thee of thy great goodnesse to cleanse my wounds to poure in the wine and oile of spirituall gladnesse to binde them vp and neuer to leaue mee till thou hast made me perfectly whole and brought me into thy Heauenly Kingdome Heale thou mee O Lord and I shall bee healed saue thou mee and I shall bee saued Thou art that most tender Father who receiuedst home again with imbracing armes that lost Sonne which had wasted all his goods with riotous liuing so soone as he returned vnto thee and did repent him of his disorder confessed his sinne and humbled himselfe in thy fight thou hadst compassion on him thou didst fall on his necke and kissed him thou didst command thy seruants to bring forth that best garment and put it on thy Son and to put a ring on his finger and shooes on his feete thou gauest commandement to fetch the fat Calfe to kill saying Let vs eate and be merry for this my Son was dead and is aliue againe hee was lost and now is found Shew this thy fauour O most gentle Father to mee thy Childe who haue vngodlily bestowed those good and gracious gifts which thou both louingly and liberallie gauest vnto me This my prodigall and licentious liuing sore grieueth me and I am heartilie sorrie that I haue so grieuously offended thy Fatherly goodnesse notwithstanding according to thy olde wonted goodnesse I most humbly beseech thee for thy name sake to haue mercy on me to forgiue me my sinnes and to receiue me againe into thy sauour take away froâ— me all my old beggarlie rags of sinne and put on me that new garment of innocencie that precious ring of faith wherewith I am maned vnto thee and those most godly shoes of that Euangelicall peace that I may walke from henceforth in the wayes of thy holy Commandements and doe that which is pleasant in thy sight Giue me grace vnfeinedlie to repent and to amend my life that the Angels in Heauen may reioice at my conuersion and so wash mee from my sinnes more and more that at the last I may be cleane and appeare beauâ—â—full in my Heauenly Fathers sight thorow thee my onely Sauiour who with the Father and the Holy Ghost â—iuest and raignest one true and euerlasting GOD world without end Amen A generall Prayer for all kind of sinnes AH Lord the most puissant GOD we in Baptisme giuing ouer our selueâ— vnto thee and vnto thy holy Religion protesting openlâ— in the face of thy holy Congregation to forsake Sathaâ— with all his pompes anâ— workes to renounce thâ— World and all the vainpleasures thereof to mortifie thâ— flesh and all the lusts of it and from henceforth to diâ— vnto sinne liue vnto righteousnesse and to leade â— new life Ah Lord this our couâ—nant and bargaine made vnto thee wee keepe not bâ—â— too much wretchedly we breake in transgressing thy holy Commandements In stead of performing our seruice due vnto thee we serue Sathan leauing the fulfilling of thy Commandements we obey our owne will The World and the flesh so rage and raigne in vs that we can â—carcely breathe forth any godlinesse By mouth wee professe thee but with our deeds we denie thee wee promise to worke in thy Vineyard but we loiter and worke not In name wee are Christiâ—ns but in deede wee are Saâ—hans bondmen the Worlds â—laues and most vile seruants â—nd drudges to the flesh Oh Lord too too wretâ—hed is our state and except â—hou shortly helpest we are like vtterly to perish the ragiâ—g slouds of all kinde of sinne haue so preuailed and almost ouerwhelmed vs. O most gentle Sauiour wee â—aue a will such as it is to doe good but wee find no power nor strength in our soules to â—eâ—forme it That good thing which wee would wee doe not but the euill doe wee which wee would not do For we know that in vs that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing And no maruell for wee are by nature the Children of wrath wee are begotten conceiued and borne in sin our senses wits and deuices are euill euen from our yong age vpward Our heart is vncleane wicked froward leude and vnsearchable wee are not able to think a good thought of our selues wee aâ—e vnprofitable seruants by oâ—rites fleshly and all that nought is yea wâ—e are the very bâ—nd-slaue of sin for euery one that committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne O most sweete Sauiour helpe vs for the glory of thy name Thou camest downe from the right hand of thy Father into this vale of misery to saue that which was lost saue me therefore good Lord which wander abroad like a sheepe destitute of a shepheard suffer not thy blessed body to bee broken and thy precious bloud to be shed for vs in vaine Thou by thy death valiantly conqueredst him that had power of death deliuer me therefore from his raging tyrannie and make mee thy faithfull and obedient seruant Suffer mee not to loue the World neither the things that are in the World seeing that all that is in the World as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and pride of life is not of thee O Father but of the World and the World vanisheth away and the lusts thereof but he that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for euer Suffer me not to be ouercome with the boyling concupiscence of the Flesh which euer lusteth against the Spirit and is not obedient to the Law of God â—eâ—ther can bee but giue thâ—â— grace to kill and crucifie the â—lesh with the appetites and â—usts thereof that I may liue â—nd walke in the spirit and beâ—ome a new Creature let not sinne raigne in my mortall bodie that I should thereunto oâ—ey in the lusts of it neither â—â—â—â—er thou mee to giue my â—embers as instruments of vnâ—ighteousnesse vnto sinne but â—o giue my members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto â—â—ee And as heretofore I gaue â—y selfe vnto vncleannesse and â—o iniquitie So let mee now â—â—om henceâ—orth giue my selfe â—â—to holinesse that â— may bee â—â—ctified Kill in