cares not the grown man forced with it but resists not and old age with it Crammocklike crooked but feeles it not Yet is nothing more in vse to be knowne more hindering mans good to be auoided more subtill to be looked vnto more inward to be felt more perilous to bee preuented more forcibly assaulting vs to be strongly of all resisted By it Satan gets of the heart possession by it is hindered the spirits illumination Our vnderstanding by sinne is darkned our thoughts from God estranged the heart in goodnesse is fainted the faculty of the will weakened and the quietnesse of conscience interrupted Faith fals to doubting hope le ts goe her hold and loue turnes her liking into loathing Yea if repentance vpon euery sin cut not the cord of vanitie and grace grow vp in the roome with sincerity this death in sinne will bring death for sinne which will turne saluation offered but carelesly reiected into confusion deserued but now not greatly feared Precepts LOue not Reader the works of darknesse lest thy eies cannot behold the light To saue thee from sinne learne the commandements know thy natural inclination and striue for amendment Heare how God threats and stand in awe obserue his iudgements to discerne of his wrath Other mens punishments for thy personall faults make thē admonishments that thou no more doe fall Oppose Gods precepts to temptations of pleasure the reward of that heauenly life to this temporvrie and earthly losse For sake not God for any worldly good Sinne not heere as a seruant to Satan neglect not true holinesse which is with God commendable and shall be recompenced with endlesse happines Remember thou must die and therefore liue to die Consider the day of account to make a good reckoning As thou art heere so looke to stand there if heere sinnefull there shamefull if heere regardlesse of the commandement there certainly expect seuere punishment from which the Lord deliuer thee Amen The Picture of Heauen HEauen is the hauen of rest desired of all hoped for of many but onely enioyed of the best It is the highest place the seat and throne of God the habitation of Angels the harbour for the iust It is the court of the great King the mighty Creator It is the Lords Tabernacle the faithfull mans receptacle the Region resplendent the comfortable continent the Citie of safetie security the sacred sanctuarie of peace prosperitie All in it are without misery neuer after subiect to calamitie It is a Paradise for pleasure a Citie for beauty and a Kingdome for state Heere is life temporall there life eternall here the beginnings of grace there the perfection of goodnesse There is God in his fulnesse of glory yet to none dreadfull there he raignes in iustice and yet with none wrathfull The company are all triumphant as heere they haue beene members Militant All is in tune concord neuer discord sweet melody neuer any bitter malady Such fulnesse there is of all things such loue mutually in all such respect from all to each others state and place as no excesse is seen nor any defect is felt who that haue least can desire no more and those that haue most discerne no want in other All is beautifulnesse there without blemish immeasurable beyond all motion excellent beyond all imagination The wals thereof are of stones most precious the streets paued with pure gold all the worke is framed curiously set out with all sorts of pearle very sumptuously and adorned with al skil mostgloriously It is decked with all delights replenished with all pleasure garnished with algraces beutified with the best companie flourishing with the flowre of all nations There is the roiall Priesthood the peculiar people the children of light the new creatures the elect by Gods preordination the separated Society by Gods effectuall vocation and the holy Saints by the spirits sanctification There are metioifully together the Head and his body Christ and his Church the Prince of peace with his Patriarks and Prophets Priests and Professors Apostles and Apostolicall men Saints true seruants to God Ministers of the Gospell and Martyrs for the truth They are all there noble none ignominious all Kings raigning all victoriously triumphing None contemptible all honourable All inuested in glory crowned in Maiestie cloathed in sincerity Their faces shine with comely beautie their hearts are filled with pietie their tongues extoll the Lord with spirituall alacritie and in their hands they hold Palms in token of victorie This heauenly happinesse cannot bee imagined the blessings are so many they cannot bee numbred so innumerable as they cannot be comprehended so incomparable as cannot be equaled of such value as cannot bee prized so great as not to bee measured and of such eternitie as they neuer can be ended They be ioifull in an euer-reioicing ioy they cry aloud Hosannah and sing cheerefully Halleluiah They stand before the face of God in inestimable fauour in the view of Angels with brightnesse ouershining the Sunne Mercy embraceth them without doubt of miserie in comfort without discontentment in peace endlesse in glory matchlesse There is mirth without sadnesse health without sicknesse sobernesse of countenance without sorrow tranquillity without vndermining trecherie liuelihood without labour goods and riches without greeuance in getting without care in keeping and a full felicity of all things without adding without diminishing Ther is flowrishing youth neuer decaying strength neuer abating comelie countenance neuer withering liuelinesse is without fading couragiousnesse of heart and spirit without danting There is euer loue without lothing or dislike victorie without feare of after vanquishment gladnesse without diminution of goodnesse Mortalitie hath put on immortalitie corruption glorification No sin is there to be seene the Law is fulfilled the curse is remoued death subdued the promises of the Gospell fully accomplished Faith hath her perfect work in charitie hope her desired happinesse loue a large scope in euerlasting vnitie There is no Foe to fight no Cousener to collogue no Parasite to dissemble no Superiour among them to command no Inferiour to yeeld obedience no maligning enuie no proud Soueraignetie All are now equall members no diuided orders no sorrainers but brethren no strangers but all of the houshold of faith Children of one holie Father coheirs with Christ their elder brother There are no teares the cause is taken away No torment Christ freed them by his punishment no dreade Christ set them at libertie from death no crying there is no paine no pangs or sorrowfull passion they possesse peace in Paradise No disease can infect the body it is not subiect to sicknesse it is freed from infirmities and cannot be distressed by calamities There is no sighing nor sobbing through sorrow of heart such accidents cannot happen no lamētable complaints for iniuries offred no wrongs can there be wrought No ill successe nor wofull wants no griefe of mind nor anguish of spirit no cruell oppression nor ominous action find there a subiect to harbour in neither
praiers to pierce the Heauens He sweat drops of bloud to purge and sweeten vs vnto our God hee cried with bitter torment vpon the crosse to saue his seruants from the dreadfull curse He did die as a malefactor to become to euery beleeuer a benesactour Euil did he none wee are the offenders Heauen is his desert Hell ours deserued wee haue merited damnatiō and he purchast for vs saluation Wee were bound to the Law we were vnder the curse in danger of death and subiect to wrath but hee hath sent vs his Gospel preched peace promised pardon and obtained grace If the law would condemne vs hee hath fulfilled it for vs his works preuent wrath his crosse the curse Conscience by the law would accuse the Gospell by grace will quiet it and acquite vs. If iustice demand her due his paines were our full paiment Hee is the waie for vs to walke in Hee is the trueth wee may beleeue him Hee is the life happy is he that liues in him By him and through him all our wants are suplied and all grace and goodnes obtained Are we in corruption His purity purgeth vs. Are we disobedient Hee was most obedient Are we subiect to wrath he couers vs. Wander we he recouers vs. Seeke we safety He affoords vs solace Want we a surety He is our pledge None in so great debt but he can discharge None so in disgrace but he can procute him peace He is ascended for life that wee might not descend to the place of death Wee need not feare the Law Sathan sinne hee hath gotten vs heauen life and saluation without daunger of Hell death or damnation Precepts HEre is peace O happy man by Christ procured Seek in him thy soules safety Behold heer ioy spiritual security Call boldly God father it pleaseth this Iesus to be thy brother Belieue in him constantlie rely on him Loue him and long for him say when Lord how long Lord come Lord Iesus come quickly In the meane space liue in loue worke righteousnesse seeke peace in holines keepe in the limits of sobriety continue in chastitie and bee neuer without charitie and expect assured felicity which the father of mercy euermore grant thee Amen The Picture of the Holy Ghost HE is the third person his property is proceeding from the Father and from the Son He works euer from both together with both Hee is Christs Vicegerent in his kingdome The Pope may bee packing as the diuels darling his onely Vicar General in his Church Hee raised vp the Prophets hee instructed the Apostles and now qualifieth all Christs true messengers The bad he maketh good in the good hee encreaseth grace He reforms our waies informes our iudgement and confirmes our faith Hee changeth discord into duties of loue and turneth all misdeeds into Almes deedes pratling into deuoute praier foolish prating into powerfull and perswasiue preaching the Preachers tong he makes the pen of a ready writer Euill lusts wher hee commeth hee killeth the dead works of darkenes he expelleth He is the spirit sanctifying the elect hee is not partiall but dealeth measurably to all without sinister respect He is to the Saints the blessed Comforter hee perswades them all to call God Father He works repentance and giueth therupō true peace of conscience Christs Church is his Temple and he the saueguard of his sheep He signifieth our innarrable sighs and maks vs expresse our desires in praier vnto God He helps vs to indite to frame our wils to make our meditations to moderate our affectiōs orderly to dispose al our actions Our eics by him do see into the Scriptures he is the true commentarie to vnderstand the word Hee learneth men to handle controuersies without contētion to make a separation but without Schisme By him crosses are not without comfort and the day of prosperitie not without meditation of a change He maketh euery thing to the godly profitable and the greatest afflictions neuer insupportable It is onely he that worketh in his faith by the word distastful wearisomnes of the world a hopefull perswasion of heauen without any dreadfull feare of hell Hee knits piety to right policy and seuereth true deuotion from foolish superstition Here in this life hee beginneth grace sets on to goodnesse perswads to holinesse vrgeth to charitablenesse presseth on to godlie practise settling the soule in religious purenesse and so leades it forward with a resolued constancie to endlesse happinesse and perfects all in the life to come Precepts OH vnstable man get the strength by this Spirit pray him earnestlie to settle thy soule in safetie Make him thy master his motions thy first mouer Aduise by his Counsell walke euer by his course Silence thy selfe when he giues sentence bee not secure if he doe censure Bestow thy selfe by his direction and willingly be led by his instruction If he premonish be forewarned if hee call backe run not on Stay Where hee bids thee shop and stand not when he moueth thee to set forward If thou hast him not intreat the Lord to send him If thou hast him carefully hold him If thou wouldest trie the true Spirit discerne his motions by the word his habitation in thee by sanctified worke The Scripture is his Scantling hee works not ordinarilie but as the word doth warrant and hee abids in none that are wicked and disobedient Bee no Schismaticke he will forsake thee be no Heretique be will not harbour with thee Displease not him despight him not by thy prophanenes If thou quench his grace thou loosest thine owne good Let him guide thee after the word and thou shalt bee euer well-pleasing to God accompanied of Angels approued of godlie men and be rewarded in heauen which benefit the blessed trinitie vouchsaf thee Reader Amen The Picture of the Diuell HEe is that damned Ghost the first siner the first Seducer One knowing much yet neuer obedient but by constraint Hee is but a Slaue as base as he is beggerly as malicious as cursedly mischieuous Blasphemously careles of God tyrannously cruell to men A continual Tempter Gods gaoler a dreadfull tormentor Euer is he out with God and a hater of the good What God commands hee condemnes hee will allow what God dislikes A bright Angell hee was in heauen but now the black Fiend in hell To no man a friēd to the Church a most malicious foe He is driuen out of the penitent he harbours in the disobedient The leaud are his lodging the prophane his habitation Hee is the vncleane spirit the place most full of abomination is his common harbour All his motions are to satisfie lust he would haue vs liue after our liking to worke wickednesse to rage in rebellion against God He knows himselfe to be damned all he cares for is to make other like himselfe This cursed spirit is that Lion roaring strong fearefull that old Serpent subtil guilfull that red Dragon bloodie terrible Hee raigneth where hee gets any rule and whom hee
insufferably painefull This stinking Sidde and dung-pit crawles full of the venemous generation bloodie Cainits with sorcerous Balaamites persecuting Saules with craftie Achitophels the Serpents seed the reprobated race and the accursed workers of iniquity There the rageous may rend and teare one an other and none part them the enuious gnash for anger and gnaw one an other to the bone and none regard them Hee that heere sinned for his pleasures will there sinne more because of his plagues Euery sinne shall there bee punished accordingly as they were here committed There is penurie for gluttonie extreame drinesse and thirsting for exessiue drinking burning for lecherous lusting outragious madnesse for blaspheming want for ill gotten wealth a fearefull agonie for bloody crueltie for oppression vtter desolation Then is seene with sorrow enough their time spent in vanitie their childhood in foolishinesse their youth in lustfulnesse their manhood in wickednesse and their old age in couetousnesse their first yeeres runne on in ignorance the middle age consumed in negligence and the terme of life ended without repentance They out of measure are vexed to consider what they were and might haue beene what they are and must be what they would be and cannot attaine to They thinke of time past but without thought of recouery they taste of the time present in vnspeakeable miserie and doe looke to the time to come without hope of deliuerie One curseth his birth and bewailes his ignorance an other curseth his education and parents negligence a third direfully bannes himselfe for his irrepentance Their owne senses doe enlarge much their sorrowes they behold Heauen and themselues in Hell the godly in gladnesse themselues in griefe Christs faithfull people in order and honour themselues in confusion and fearefull horrour the Saints of God in glorious prosperitie themselues in shamefull infamie and miserable aduersitie They heare in heauen blessing melodious singing in hell cursing and lamentable mourning before the eies are flashing flames and a thicke smoake ascending for the nose is prepared a noisome smell euerlastinglie stincking In steed of sweetnesse there is gallie bitternesse for delicate fare farnishment for libertie inthralement fire brands for beds for soft lodging pich and brimstone with iuniper coales burning in steed of musick and pleasant harmonie a hellish noise of discordancy They feele torments vnspeakable paines intollerable and the same alwaies durable By impatience their plagues are increased by their obstinacy continued and by Gods power and iustice maintained Thus are their hearts in continuall heauinesse their pale countenance in dolefull sadnesse To heauen they looke vp bewailing their mishap in hel they looke downe with shame of face If they would repent now they cannot if they could it is then to late they were retchlesse in the daies of amendment and their case is remedilesse in the time of punishment There is not any grant of the least comfort to the greatest torment nor to the extreemest pange any kind of easement They may crie and cry againe Lord Lord they may intreat for mercy but neuer be heard no grace no peace all paine all plagues none blessed euery one accursed Hee that is afflicted shall bee more tormented he that is condemned shall euer be damned Heauen haue they lost and not to bee purchased Hell haue they duelie deserued and the place must needes bee endured None among themselues can helpe one another and among the celestiall companie they shall not finde one comforter If children should call to parents they will not pity them they haue lost that naturall affection they can haue no such compassion Though parents should make petition pray their children they will not bee cared for Tho they cry and call saying ôh our bowels and our blood Oh once bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh speake for your poore tormented parents Is there no naturall loue now left What no compassion Shall wee perish can you see vs thus plagued and shew no pitie Haue mercy deare children on vs so in miserie sweet Babs once louing and beloued speak oh speake one word for vs are wee not plunged in vnspeakable paine looke vpon your now forlorne Father who once fedde you with food ah alas haue some remorse of your mournefull mother Oh for Gods sake seeke this time our good let some sparkles of your loue appeare Can you be in pleasure and suffer vs to lie in perpetuall paine Wee spared no labour for your education and can your eies behold vs languishing in this place of destruction If you did call wee came speedily to succour when we heard you cry wee were in care for you your miserie was to vs calamitie your aduersitie the abatement of our prosperitie and can you heare our pitious groning and see the Diuels grinning as dogs vpon vs your eares heare our bitter crying and they againe barbarously tormenting vs and be silent Oh woe is vnto vs fire consume vs vengeance doe you vtterlie make an end of vs. All this will not worke words are but spent in vaine natures force hath lost the effect there is no knowledge of kindred or kinsfolke the godly regard Gods glorie and therein onely reioice To conclude they now know and to late beleeue that the good doe dwell with God haue Christs company and Angels glorie but themselues to be hated of God neglected of the good to bee with black diuels damned with sauage furies accompanied with barking helhounds horribly affrighted and with barbarous tormentors cruelly handled so as they alwaies in this liuelesse liuing weepe mourne and lament for such hellish paines and in this deathlesse dying crie yelp howle yell for such euer during plagues from which O Lord deliuer thine and shew them mercie O God that they decay not in goodnes that so they neuer feele these punishments for their wickednesse Amen Precepts O Miserable Sinner now doe thou seriouslie consider heere in this life see to thy selfe Who would endure but awhile these paines for all worldly pleasure Who would goe to this dolefull place of Diuels for wicked gaine What is there in this pleasure heere profit and honour that for it thou shouldst aduenture infernall paines for euer Oh breake the caul of thine heart with sorrow rather then to fall into such plagues for delight in sinne Brust into teares to escape these torments Liue not securelie stoope hautie heart that thou maiest not for pride bee sent packing to this place of paines Grow leane cheekt thou Glutton and pale faced thou Drunkard ere thou beest euerlastinglie famished with penurie or be scorched in a burning flame and euer be kept drie and thirstie Thou mincing creature Peacock-like neglect thy pride i◠apparell that thou maiest betime in time auoid this perill Prophane Miscreant seeke an attonement labour for peace fall downe before the throne of grace Let O wicked liuer thy head be a fountaine of water and cause thy eies to trickle downe teares yea to runne as riuers for thy transgressions that thou maiest escape these hellish vexations Looke on the ground whereon thou goest and thinke vpon thy graue behold the heauens and consider whence is grace Awfullie regard the accusation of conscience and set euer thy selfe before Gods presence Read letters of discomfort sometime from the Law lest thou presume by promises of the Gospell Draw neere to God whilest he doth say Come stretching out his hands to embrace the penitent before he saie Goe sitting as Iudge to condemne the disobedient There is a time for thee before thou die to obtaine saluation but in time after death there is no redemption Therfore craue pardon of God earnestly associate thy self to the godlie speedilie Fall groueling vpon the ground and aske forgiuenesse grieue heartily speake passionately Smite thy breast strike on thy thigh shake thy head wring thy hands shead teares powre powre out thy soul vnto God and crie aloud aloud I saie cry oh spare spare me good Lord whom thou O God hast redeemed with Christs precious blood Oh forgiue me I confesse I haue offended thee let thy patience forbeare mee let thy great mercie acquite mee He that doth repent betime the Lord will heare him in time Gods gracious compassion is neuer without pitifull commiseration neither the prouoking of his iustice to wrath without dreadfull and certaine destruction Presume not yet despaire not liue to die yet die to liue thinke of heauen yet forget not that there is a hell be so comforted in thy iustification as thou euer get a certaintie of glorie by thy sanctification Liue in the fleshes mortification in hatred of the world in the spirits viuification vse the meanes of thy effectuall vocation claime nought of merit craue all of mercie liue in true humilitie and practise alway the works of charitie and thou shalt assuredly escape Hels