works only but even the inward thoughts intentions and desires of our hearts shall be expos'd to open view and censure the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness 1 Cor. 4.5 and will make manifest the counsels of all hearts The most seared Conscience of the wicked and the most subtle secret Conscience of the Hypocrite shall by the all-piercing light of the divine Majesty be displayed and appear as manifest and open as if all the counsels thereof had been written with a beam of the Sun Ps 90.8 For thou O Lord hast set our misdeeds before thee and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance O who is so holy who so pure and innocent as to stand with any confidence in that all-discerning light of the Sun of Righteousness Eccl. 23.19 Whose eyes are a thousand times brighter than the Sun beholding all the ways of men and considering their most secret parts I have been guilty most merciful Father I have been guilty of manifold miscarriages which I have now forgotten nor can I through the strictest examination of my self recal to my memory many of mine offences But although I cannot yet thou remembrest my steps Job 14.16 17. dost thou not watch over my sin my transgression is sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine iniquities So surely are all my transgressions kept in store against the day of my Tryal whilst I sensual and secure think all is well enough with me that my sins are forgotten Ps 19.12 O cleanse thou me from all my secret faults and as they are hid from my memory Ps 51.9 so hide thou thy face from them blot them out of thy Book of remembrance that they appear not to my confusion on that great and last day II. Sad and dismal is the sentence that upon this great day shall pass upon all such whose Faith hath not according to ability and opportunity been fruitful in the good works of Charity Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat Mat. 25.41 42. And if these shall be eternally damned who have not given of their own goods for the relief of others what shall become of the Oppressor the Extortioner the Cheater the Thief and of every one who either by force or fraud publickly or secretly hath either taken or detained what of right belongs unto others surely if the one shall go the other shall be driven hurried with a vengeance into everlasting fire Ver. ult Great unconceivably great shall be the perplexity and anguish of the impenitent sinner in this great day beholding as Anselm meditates on the one side his sins accusing him and on the other the strict and impartial justice of heaven ready to pass sentence upon him seeing below him the mouth of hell gaping to devour him and above him an angry Judge condemning him to that place of horror feeling within an accusing Conscience tormenting him and without the whole world in consuming flames And if the righteous shall scarcely be sav'd 1 Pet. 4.18 where shall the ungodly and sinner appear or where shall he hide himself that he may not appear For any wicked one to ly hidden on that day is impossible and to appear is dreadful and intolerable This is that dismal day foretold by our Lord himself wherein they shall say Blessed are the barren Luc. 23.29 and the womb that never bare and the paps which never gave suck Then shall they begin to say to the mountains fall on us and to the hills 30. cover us And hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne Rev. 6.16 and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand 17. Wo is me that I have sinned wo wo is me that I have offended this great and terrible Judge of all the world but as is his Majesty so is his mercy great and wonderful Have mercy upon me O God on that great day have mercy upon me and deliver me now in this world from the society from the temptations from the guilt of the wicked Let me not be occupied in any ungodly works with the men that work wickedness Ps 141.4 that I be not reckoned and ranked amongst them in the world to come III. The day of Judgment is not only of all daies the most dreadful but the most joyful also To the impenitent and wicked of the world 't is a day of the greatest terror but to the holy and humble of heart and life a day of jubilee and greatest joy How great then shall be the glory of the holy Christian and how great the shame of infidelity and Atheism how great the joy of the true Believer whose Faith has been fruitful in all good works and how great the sorrow of the Heretick Hypocrite the prophane and dissolute for then and not fully till then shall God render to every man according to his works Rom. 2.6 To them who by patient continuing in well doing 7 do seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life But to them who are contentious 8 and obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath Tribulation 9 and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile But glory honour and peace 10 to every man that worketh good For there is no respect of persons with God 11. What heart can worthily think of these things without trembling and great astonishment if not purified and sincerely devoted to the service of God Teach me O Lord thy way Ps 86.11 and I will walk in thy truth O knit my heart unto thee that I may fear thy name fear to offend thee the great and righteous Judge of the world in the least particular of thought or desire of word or of deed O Lord who never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love keep us we beseech thee under the protection of thy good providence and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen IV. When the Son of man cometh Luc. 18.8 shall he find faith upon the earth All we who are called Christians profess to believe both the certain coming of Christ to Judgment and the uncertainty of the time That we must all stand before his dreadful Tribunal and receive every man according to his works but this is generally a dead Faith it quickens not the affections it excites not to such holy conscientious actions as the firm and cordial Belief of all this does imply and command and so will prove as dangerous to the Souls of such Believers as if they had no faith at all Thou art summoned whosoever thouart that readest these Meditations thou art hereby summoned
and Reverence prostrate upon your knees offer unto God your Morning sacrifice 1. Of Thanksgiving for your preservation and refreshment the night past 2. Confessing with all godly sorrow your sins and failings even in the best of your performances and more particularly in what the night past you offended either by thought or desire word or deed in your dreams sleeping or waking and humbly beg pardon for the same 3. Imploring God's gracious assistance to direct you in all your intentions and undertakings to strengthen you against all Temptations to enable you to fulfil and put in execution all your good purposes and holy resolutions PSALMS for the MORNING or First Hour of Prayer with Notes for Illustration The CXIX Psalm The First Part. 1. BLessed are those that are undefiled in the way and walking in the way of the Lord. This present life is called the way because it is the thorough fare to Life eternal and to keep unspotted of this world is the way to be blessed in the world to come 2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and seek him with their whole heart That we may keep Gods Laws which is the way to blessedness we must with all fervor of Spirit implore the assistance of divine Grace 3. For they who do no wickedness walk in his ways To do wickedly is to walk every one in the ways of his own heart which are contrary to the ways of God 4. Thou hast charged that we shall diligently keep thy Commandments 'T is not enough to decline the ways of wickedness except we be also diligent in doing the good works God hath commanded 5. O that my ways were made so direct that I might keep thy statutes So directed by thee 6. So shall I not be confounded while I have respect unto all thy Commandments Disobedience to God's Commands is the high-way to confusion 7. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart when I shall have learned the judgments of thy righteousness Unfeigned thanks are to be given unto God as the chief author of all our knowledge and obedience 8. I will keep thy ceremonies O forsake me not utterly Or that I may keep thy Laws in every circumstance thereof O Lord forsake me not or if for a while thou leave me that I may be sensible of my frailties yet forsake me not utterly Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer WIth my whole heart do I seek and sue unto thee O Lord that thy Truth may so direct me and thy Grace support me in the way of thy Laws and in the works of thy Commandments that being holy and undefiled in the way of this Life I may be for ever blessed with thee in the Life to come through Jesus Christ The Second Part. Verses 1. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way even by ruling himself after thy Word The regenerate or new Man preserves himself clean and pure by squaring all his intentions and actions by that infallible Rule of Righteousness which God has prescribed 2. With my whole heart have I sought thee O let me not go wrong unto thy Commandments Either by misunderstanding thy word for want of divine Illumination or by disobeying the same for want of divine Grace 3. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I should not sin against thee c That we sin not is the great end why the Word of God is given us 4. Blessed art thou O Lord O teach me thy statutes To bless God for gifts already received is the readiest way more fully to understand his Will 5. With my lips have I been telling of all the judgments of thy mouth Divine knowledge must not be buried as the Talent in a Napkin but be outwardly exprest to the glory of God and edification of others 6. I have had as great delight in thy testimonies as in all manner of riches The highest delight of man is the pleasure of his highest Faculties the Understanding and the Will which consists in the knowledg of the truth and obedience thereunto 7. I will talk of thy Commandments and have respect to thy ways True Religion will manifest it self both in words and deeds 8. My delight shall be in thy Statutes and I will not forget thy word Whilest I delight to obey my God I cannot forget the Rule of that obedience which he requires The Prayer GRant me blessed Lord to delight in thee and in obedience to thy Laws more than in all earthly treasures devoting both my youth and ripe age hereunto That so keeping thy Commandments I may enter into life thorough Jesus Christ The Third Part. 1. O do well unto thy servant that I may live and keep thy word To do the good works God has commanded in his Word is to live the life of Grace which is the way to the life of Glory 2. Open thou mine eyes that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law Without the right understanding of the excellency of those duties God commands there can be no true Religion either in the heart or in the life 3. I am a stranger upon earth O hide not thou thy Commandments from me Not the earth but Heaven is our native home whereunto the knowledge of and obedience unto Gods Commandments doth entitle us through Christ 4. My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire it hath alway unto thy judgments The beginning of true Wisdom is the fervent desire thereof 5. Thou hast rebuked the proud and cursed are they that do err from thy Commandments Spiritual pride is hateful before God as being inconsistent with obedience to his Laws 6. O turn from me shame and rebuke for I have kept thy testimonies Or turn from me that shame and curse which thou hast threatned to the proud and disobedient 7. Princes also did sit and speak against me but thy servant is occupied in thy Statutes 8. For thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers Against all the powers of earth and hell God's Word is our counsel by its direction and our comfort in its practice The Prayer O Lord the giver of all good things vouchsafe unto thy servant fervently to desire rightly to understand and constantly to persevere in the practice of all thy Evangelical Precepts Let not any Powers upon earth nor all the Princes and Powers of hell withdraw my heart from thee or my actions from the Rule of Righteousness but let thy testimonies be ever both my Counsel and my Comfort in my pilgrimage upon earth that in the end I may safely arrive in my native Countrey of Heaven to ascribe for ever Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Fourth Part. 1. My soul cleaveth unto the dust O quicken me according to thy Word or My soul is too much set upon earthly things do thou quicken me with spiritual wisdom and heavenly affections according to thy promise in thy Word 2.
temptation he is defective in some exterior acts of obedience 6. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of thy righteous judgments Davine Praise is to be celebrated night and day and our failings of divine Worship in the day may be supplied in the night 7. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and keep thy Commandments The society of holy men is both a great comfort and a great furtherance in the way of godliness 8. The Earth O Lord is full of thy mercy O teach me thy Statutes Gods common blessings are extended unto all but his special favours are reserved for them that keep his Commandments Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer WHat ever my part or portion be upon earth be thou my portion O Lord and the lot of mine inheritance Preserve me in the Unity of the Holy Catholick Church and in the Communion of Saints to the hopes of eternal glory through Jesus Christ The Ninth Part. Verses 1. O Lord thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant according to thy Word Gods gracious promises do move him to be merciful in his dealings with us far beyond our merits 2. O learn me true understanding and knowledge for I have believed thy Commandments In the mysteries of godliness what we cannot believe by Understanding we must understand by Believing 3. Before I was troubled I went wrong but now have I kept thy Word The rod of affliction and good discipline keeps the Soul in humility and obedience 4. Thou art good and gracious O teach me thy Statutes Even in adversity God is no less gracious than in prosperity 5. The proud have imagined a lye against me but I will keep thy Commandments with my whole heart Though the Devil and his instruments invent and suggest lyes to subvert the truth yet by a sincere obedience they are discovered and rejected 6. Their heart is as fat as brawn but my delight hath been in thy Law Through pride and luxury the heart of the wicked is fatted with delight but humility and obedience is the joy of the righteous Soul 7. It is good for me that I have been in trouble that I may learn thy Statutes Temptations and troubles yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby 8. The Law of thy mouth is dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver Grace excells gold as much as heaven excells earth or the soul the body Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer THou art good and gracious O Lord even in the chastisements of thy servant Let both thy favours and thy frowns be sanctified unto me and all the temptations of my ghostly enemies make me cleave more stedfastly in my obedience to thy most holy Lawes esteeming thy Commandments far above all earthly treasures as being the way to those never-failing treasures of Celestial glory through Jesus Christ The Tenth Part. Verses 1. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me O give me Vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandments To know God and obey his Laws is the End of our Creation after the Image of God and the perfection of our Being is thereby attained 2. They that fear Thee will be glad when they see me because I have put my trust in thy Word Examples of piety rejoyce the hearts of them that truly fear God 3. I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled 'T is most righteous and just that they who fall from God by pride and disobedience be first humbled by afflictions before they be restored to his grace and favour 4. O let thy loving kindness be my comfort according to thy Word unto thy servant Let this be my comfort in all my troubles that they are sent according to thy Word in mercy to humble not in fury to consume and destroy me 5. O let thy loving mercies come unto me that I may live for thy Law is my delight Both the life of grace and glory are the issue of God's loving mercy and the soul is qualified for this mercy by love and delight in the Lawes of God 6. Let the proud be confounded for they go wickedly about to destroy me but I will be occupied in thy Commandments A constant regular obedience to God's Commandments confounds all the machinations of the devil and all his instruments 7. Let such as fear Thee and have known thy Testimonies be turned unto me Wherein the Prayers and example of the godly are both strength and consolation 8. O let my heart be sound in thy Statutes that I be not ashamed The sincerity of the heart in the performance of Religious duties will preserve us from that confusion which is the portion of Hypocrites The Prayer THat I may attain that perfection and felicity whereunto thou hast created me O Lord I humbly beg the spirit of wisdom and understanding both to know and in all things to obey thy most holy will In all my Humiliations for my sins and temptations of the devil let thy loving mercies support me the prayers and examples of thy Saints and Servants assist me O let my heart be sincere and sound in thy service that I may escape that everlasting confusion which is the portion of Hypocrites and my lot may be with thy faithful servants for ever to sing Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c Our Father which art c. CHAP. III. Of Meditations for the Sixth hour of Prayer or twelve a Clock AT Evening and Morning and at Noonday will I pray So resolved holy David Ps 55.18 Dan. 6.10 and so prayed holy Daniel and at this hour prayed S. Peter also a Act. 10.9 And shall not such eminent examples move thee also at this hour to converse with heaven especially remembring I The arrow that flyeth by day and the destruction that wasteth at the noon-day Ps 91.5 6. The Arrows of Temptation fly thick about us and the devil as a roaring Lyon continually goeth about seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 Fly then to the God of thy refuge upon the sacred wings of devout Prayers and holy Meditations Call to mind II. That 't was at this hour our first Parents for their Pride and disobedience were driven out of Paradise and let this consideration humble thy Soul at this Hour under the mighty hand of God that he may draw thee out of that mass of corruption wherein with the rest of mankind thou art originally involved and exalt thee to the hopes of admittance into the celestial Paradise which being lost by the disobedience of the First Adam was regained by the obedience of the Second Adam who III. As at this hour of the day was listed up on the Cross as was the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness Luk. 23.44
we may be armed against all temptations 8. I see that all things come to an end but thy Commandment is exceeding broad We see by dayly experience that all those worldly things and carnal delights whereby we are tempted to sin do quickly vanish but he that doth the Will of the Lord abideth for ever Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer I Am thine O Lord not only by Creation but also solemnly devoted by regeneration in Baptism and I am resolved to continue thine O save me from every transgression of any of thy most holy Laws which all creatures in their several kinds do obey Let not the secret underminings of the Devil or the open flattering felicities of the world cozer and ensnare me for these shall suddenly come to an end but obedience to thy Commandments is the way to life without end through Jesus Christ The Thirteenth Part. Verses 1. Lord what love have I unto thy Law All the day long is my study in it He that truly loves God loves also what he commands and frequently meditates thereupon 2. Thou through thy Commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me God's commandment extending to the love of our enemies exceeds the utmost wisdom of the heathen who have not the knowledge of his Laws 3. I have more understanding than my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my study But he that will be truly wise must not cursorily read the Letter but studiously consider and dive into the spirit and life of the Law 4. I am wiser than the aged because I keep thy Commandments Wisdom is increased and perfected by obedience to the dictates thereof 5. I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I may keep thy Word He that will do what God commands must refrain from all that he forbids First cease to do evil and then learn to do well 6. I have not shrunk from thy judgments for thou hearest me 'T is the secret teaching of God's Spirit in the heart that keeps the feet firm from backfliding 7. O how sweet are thy Words unto my throat yea sweeter than honey unto my mouth The fruits of a true Faith or sincere Obedience is more sweet to the soul than honey to the mouth 8. Through thy Commandments I get Vnderstanding therefore I hate all evil wayes The right Understanding of good and evil discovers both the beauty of obedience and the deformity of every sinful action The Prayer ALmighty God the fountain of all wisdom give me I humbly beseech thee a wise and understanding heart hating and refraining from every evil way loving Thee and thy Laws and mine enemies also in obedience thereunto Let me never shrink from thy judgments but stedfastly believe the Truth of thy revelations and regularly obey the same that I may reap the sweet fruits of holiness in eternal happiness through Jesus Christ The Fourteenth Part. Verses 1. Thy Word is a Lanthorn unto my feet and a light unto my paths Gods Word as a Lanthorn in the night directs us in our passage through the darkness of this life to the light of life eternal 2. I have sworn and am stedfastly purposed to keep thy righteous judgments Therefore every truly wise man resolves stedfastly to follow and obey the directions of this holy Word according to his Vow in Baptism 3. I am troubled above measure quicken me O Lord according to thy Word But the flesh lusting against the spirit disturbs such holy resolves and endeavours but by the grace of God the pious soul is quickned and the spirit fortified against all such encounters and this God hath promised in the same Word 4. Let the freewill-offerings of my mouth please thee O Lord and teach me thy judgments For the which grace 't is our duty to pray and that more willingly and chearfully and more frequently than at ordinary and accustomed times 5. My Soul is alway in my hand yet do I not forget thy Law The continual dangers of the souls safety should engage us often to meditate upon divine Truths 6. The ungodly have laid a snare for me but I swerved not from thy Commandments From the which all the temptations of wicked spirits should not make us to swerve 7. Thy Testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever for why they are the very joy of my heart 'T is obedience that entitles to the inheritance of Heaven which fills the hearts of the righteous with joy unspeakable and glorious 8. I have applied my heart to fulfil thy Statutes alway unto the end Therefore are the hearts of the godly inclined to persevere in their obedience unto the end of their lives Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer WHen I was first enrolled a member of thy Church O Lord I solemnly vowed and have often since renewed this Vow to keep thy holy Will and Commandments and to walk in the same all the dayes of my life but the lustings of the flesh against the spirit and the snares of Satan do daily trouble such my holy resolutions and promises Vouchsafe blessed Lord to quicken and fortifie my spirit against all the crafts and assaults of my ghostly adversaries that I may have power and strength to get the victory and to triumph over the Devil the World and the Flesh and to continue thy faithful Servant and Souldier unto my lifes end through Jesus Christ The Fifteenth Part. Verses 1. I hate them that imagine evil things but thy Law do I love He that truly loves God and his Truth will detest not the persons of any but the sinful imaginations of all men 2. Thou art my defence and my shield and my trust is in thy Word Whilst we sincerely trust in the Truth of God's promises in his Word we need not to doubt of his protection and defence 3. Away from me ye wicked I will keep the Commandments of my God The society of wicked men must be avoided by every one that rightly resolves to keep God's Commandments 4. O stablish me according to thy Word that I may live and let me not be disappointed of my hope 'T is by the divine assistance continually implor'd that we are so establish'd in the life of grace that we be not disappointed of our hopes of the life of glory 5. Hold thou me up and I shall be safe yea my delight shall be ever in thy Statutes Being supported by the divine Grace this hope stands firm and 't is strengthned by holy love and delight in the service of God 6. Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy Statutes for they imagine but deceit They are justly deprived of this blessed hope who transgress the lawes of God their own fond imaginations deceiving them 7. Thou puttest away all the ungodly like dross therefore I love thy Testimonies The judgments of God pursuing the wicked to their
feet All the apostate crew of evil angels with all their poysonous infusions thou shalt overcome and subdue so the Lord promises also Luk. 10.19 Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions And the reason is added in the name of the Lord saying verse 14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him All things work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 I will set him up above his enemies round about because he hath known my name his knowledge being enspirited with love and obedience verse 15 He shall call upon me to have a heart to pray rightly and reverently is a great blessing and I will hear him so as to grant the requests of such as call upon me faithfully yea I am with him in trouble and when his faith and patience humility and obedience is throughly tryed I will deliver him out of all his troubles and bring him to honour promote him in the land of the living for verse 16 With long life will I satisfie him a life replete with all fulness of satisfaction and shew him my Salvation or manifest my self unto him in whose presence is fulness of joy O remember me according to the favour thou bearest unto thy people and visit me with thy Salvation That I may see the felicity of thy chosen and rejoyce in the gladness of thy people and give thanks with thine inheritance who cease not day and night saying Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. THE SONG of SIMEON Which is said by the Church at this hour as wherein we commend our selves unto the Lord and desire we may both sleep and dye in Peace 1. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace (a) Peace in life and death sleeping and waking is the portion of the Lords servant alone for there is no peace saith the Lord to the wicked Isa 48. according to thy Word 'T was Gods promise he should not dye till he had seen the Messias in the flesh 2. For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation The Saviour of the world is seen as Man only with the eyes of Flesh but as both God and Man by the eye of Faith 3. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people God was made man that the eyes of all flesh might see in whom to believe and whom to follow as the light of the world 4. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles (e) Who sate in darkness and in the shadow of death and to be the glory of thy people Israel The greatest of all the wonderful mercies shewed by God to his old people the Israelites was that of them Christ was born and exhibited in the flesh Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer LIghten my darkness O Lord whose mysterious Incarnation and Nativity is the Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel and by thy great mercy defend me from all the perils and dangers of this night O blessed Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world grant me thy Peace even peace with God and peace with man peace of Conscience at home upon Earth and the peace of the long home of Heaven Such a peace the world cannot give 't is only attainable from thee and by thee and through thee the Prince of peace who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God c. IN the order of our Church Devotions after this Song of Simeon follows the Creed for since the end of our Faith is the Salvation of our Souls it is very fit then that we both begin and end the day in the Confession of the Faith And as the Church in publick so every devout Christian in private who resolves to dye in the true Faith will not go to sleep without it but will say before he go to bed not slightly and customarily but reverently and understandingly I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ c. All this I stedfastly believe into this Faith I was baptized and in this Faith 't is the hearty desire of my Soul and shall be my constant endeavour to continue unto my lifes end Grant me blessed Lord in the profession of this Faith to war a good warfare and to finish my course that after this mortal life is ended I may receive from the author 2 Tim. 4.7 8. and finisher of our Faith the crown of righteousness which is laid up I believe and hope for me as for all those that love his appearing After these or other Bed-time Meditations your usual Prayers Confessions and Thanksgivings relating to the day past Meditate As you Vndress your self This Body of mine I am now striping of its clothing is but the clothing of my Soul that 's the man in me my body is but the garment my soul doth wear And 't is not long ere I shall put off this body of flesh as I now do the garments which cover its nakedness And that I may do this in peace and to my future happiness my soul must be stript and put off concerning the former conversation the old man Eph. 4.21 22. which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts and put on that new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Put on the Lord Jesus Ro. 13.14 That 's thy clothing that 's thy ornament O my Soul to obey the doctrine and follow the example of the holy Jesus making no provision to fulfil the lusts of the flesh For Gal. 6.8 he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting When you lay aside your Garments Assist me blessed Lord wholly and altogether to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armor of Light that when my Body shall lye down in its bed of darkness my Soul may pass into the Regions of Light to live and reign with Thee for ever When you go into Bed I will lay me down in peace and take my rest for 't is Thou only that makest me dwell in safety Or II. In the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ who was Crucified on the Cross and laid in the Grave for me I lay me down to rest and to sleep He vouchsafe to bless me save and defend me sleeping and waking And may I evermore blessed Jesus rest in thy Peace live in thy Fear dye in thy Favour and be raised by thy power unto life everlasting Amen CHAP. VII Of Meditations and Psalms for the Night season I. 'T Was in the Night the Angel of the Lord destroyed all the first-born in the Land of Egypt Exod. 12.29 Wisd 18.14 15. 2 Kin. 19.35 And the host of Senacherib that besieged Hierusalem Now then arise from thy bed of sloth and
't is the extreamest of folly not so to consider the superexcellency of the divine wisdom in his works as to see and love him in them and for them 7. When the ungodly are green as the grass and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish then shall they be destroyed for ever but thou Lord art the most highest for evermore The wicked that do not this though they may flourish for a time yet their punishment proceeding from the decree of the most high God shall be everlasting 8. For lo thine enemies O Lord lo thine enemies shall perish and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed and unavoidable because all wicked persons are the enemies of God 9. But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an Vnicorn for I am anointed with fresh oyl But the strength and vigour of the righteous shall encrease through the Unction of the Holy One or the Graces of Gods Spirit 10. Mine eye also shall see his lust upon his enemies and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that rise up against me Whereby all the sinful lusts of the flesh are master'd and all the assaults of ghostly enemies are subdued 11. The righteous shall flourish like a Palm tree and shall spread abroad like a Cedar in Libanus Like a Palm the righteous man sinks not under the weight of afflictions or violence of temptations but grows the more in Grace thereby 12. Such as be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God Whilst they are and continue to be true members of Christs Church against which the gates of hell shall not prevail 13. They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age and shall be fat and well liking They shall increase in Grace as in years being fruitful in all good works acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ 14. That they may shew how true the Lord my strength is and that there is no unrighteousness in him And such happy people do truly praise the Lord both with their lips and in their lives as from whom all their strength in Grace and goodness is derived Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer I Know O Lord that 't is a thing both joyful and profitable and my bounden duty to give thee thanks both night and day in prosperity and adversity for the great mercy and truth of thy promises is manifested at all times and in all conditions Let me never forget to meditate in thy works and though I cannot fathom the depth of thy wisdom in them grant me the more to love and admire thy transcendent perfections appearing in all the operations of thy hands works of Wonder for and in the which I humbly beg I may continually praise thy Name not only in word but also in deed and in truth and that as the night of my life cometh on and I grow more full in dayes so I may be also more fruitful in all good works to the glory of thy Name through Jesus Christ PSALM CXXXIV To be used in the Night as wherein the people of God excite each other to the praise of God in their night Assemblies in his house Verses 1. BEhold now praise the Lord all ye servants of the Lord. Divine praise being the highest of Religious duties becomes the lips of such only as are devoted to the service of God 2. Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord b Who both night and day are intent upon this high and holy employment in the Courts of the house of our God But especially such as be ordained to the administration of Holy Offices in the House of God Mystically God hath 3 Courts through which we must enter into his House the Church and be entitled to his Praise 1 Faith which is the outer Court 2 Hope gives a nearer admission into his presence 3 Charity unites our hearts unto God and inflames them to his praise 3. Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary and praise the Lord. Not by our words only but by the works of our hands God must be glorified Mat. 5.16 And to do this worthily 4. The Lord that made heaven and earth give the blessing out of Sion Is a blessing that descends from above but is conveyed by the ministery of the Church Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O Lord who hast made Heaven and Earth for the service of man and man more immediately to serve Thee Give unto all thy servants Grace and to me also to lift up holy hands and pure hearts to praise thee night and day in the Courts of thy house and in all the works of our hands to glorifie thy Name And to this end let thy blessing through the ministery of thy Church descend upon us in this life that we may inherit the blessings of thy Church triumphant in heaven through Jesus Christ The CXXXIX Psalm PARAPHRASED Verse 1 O Lord the Righteous God who tryest the very hearts and reins Thou hast searched me out through all the windings and turnings of my deceitful heart and known me in all the most hidden and inmost of my thoughts and desires Thou knowest my down-sitting both withwhat company and when alone both with what intentions and what affections and my up-rising with what guilt or innocence I arise from every of my actions in all which thou understandest my thoughts long before even before they be conceived in my mind as knowing my inclinations to entertain such or such thoughts verse 2 Thou art about my path wherein I walk and about my bed wherein I rest and spiest out all my ways seeing both the equity and iniquity both of my affections and actions in all my ways both of rest and motion ease and labour verse 3 For lo there is not a word in my tongue but thou knowest it altogether both First It s original conception in my mind Secondly My intention in its utterance with my mouth Thirdly It s good or bad influence upon others O set a watch over my mouth and guard the door of my lips that I offend not in my tongue Thou hast fashioned me behind and before moulded me throughout into this goodly shape and proportion of parts whereof I consist and laid thine hand upon me supported me in this being thou hast given me verse 5 Such knowledge as appears both in my Creation and preservation is too wonderful and excellent for me I cannot attain unto it it excells the reach of my apprehension even to wonder and astonishment verse 6 Whither then shall I go from thy Spirit which filleth the world and containeth all things or whither shall I go from thy presence who art every where by thy Essence Power and Presence both within and without the world verse 7 If I climb up into heaven thou art there in highest Majesty and
the Life saith my blessed Redeemer The Way I must follow the Truth I must believe the Life I must hope for the Way which leadeth me the Truth which teacheth me and the Life whereunto he bringeth me the Way is undefiled the Truth is infallible and the Life without end Blessed are they that are undefiled in this Way and walk in this Truth that leads to life everlasting As you stand upon some high Place Thy mercy Ps 36.5 O Lord reacheth unto the heavens and thy faithfulness unto the clouds Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains 6 and thy judgments are like the great deep Thou 7 Lord shalt save both man and beast how excellent is thy mercy O God! and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy House 8. and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of the river For with thee is the Well of Life 9. and in thy Light shall we see Light even the light of joy unspeakable and glorious in the light of thy Countenance As you behold pleasant Grounds and variety of Objects O Lord Ps 104.24 how manifold are thy works in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches So is the great and wide Sea also 25. wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts These wait all upon thee 26. that thou mayst give them meat in due season When thou givest it them 27. they gather it and when thou openest there hand they are filled with good When thou hidest thy face they are troubled 28 when thou takest away their breath they dye and are turned again to their dust When thou lettest thy breath go forth 29 they shall be made and thou shalt renew the face of the earth The glorious Majesty of the Lord shall endure for ever 31 the Lord shall rejoyce in his works The earth shall tremble at the looks of Him 32 if he but touch the hills they shall smoke I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live 33 I will praise my God while I have my being And so shall my words please him 34 my joy shall be in the Lord. As for sinners they shall be consumed out of the earth 35. and the ungodly shall come to an end Praise thou the Lord O my Soul praise the Lord. Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. When you hear or see any thing extraordinary Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty Rev. 15.3 just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints Who will not fear thee O Lord 4. and glorifie thy Name For thou only art holy Blessed be the Lord God Ps 72.18 even the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things And blessed be the name of his Majesty for ever 19. And all the earth shall be filled with his Majesty Amen Amen When you hear the Clock or see the hour of the Day How fast doth hour after hour come on time hasting to be swallowed up of Eternity Man is like a thing of nought Ps 144.4 his time passeth away like a shadow Our days upon earth are as a shadow Ps 90.9 and we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told So teach me to number my days 12. that I may apply my self unto wisdom wisely providing for that long day wherein the Sun of Righteousness shall shine without setting When you go to Read or Study Study to shew thy self approved unto God 2 Tim. 2.15 a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the truth Open thou mine eyes Ps 119. O Lord that I may see the wondrous things of thy Law in the true sence and meaning of thy holy Spirit therein being not deceived by any false glosses and misinterpretations of men Grant blessed Lord that what I Read or Meditate may conduce to a more clear understanding of thy Will Jam. 1.25 and that I may confirm the same by the holiness of my Life being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of thy work Being wearied therewith Much study is a weariness to the flesh Eccl. 12.12 And of making Books there is no end Turn again unto thy rest Ps 116.17 O my Soul return to converse with thy God who is the center in whom alone the immortal Soul finds rest Hearken unto the sweet refreshing call of thy dear Lord and Saviour saying Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden Mat. 11.18 and I will refresh you Behold I come holy Jesus relying upon this and that other gracious saying S. Joh. 16.33 In me ye shall have peace but in the world ye have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world Lord let me never be weary in well-doing but when I may do better and prevent me in all my doings with thy most gracious favour and further me with thy continual help that in all my Prayers and Meditations studies and endeavours begun continued and ended in thee I may glorifie thy holy Name and finally obtain everlasting life through Jesus Christ When you go about any worldly Employment God shall bring every work into judgment Eccl. 12.14 with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing Ps 141.4 let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness neither let me be ensnared with their delights Deliver me 2 Tim. 4.18 O Lord from every evil work and stablish me in every good word and work Blessed Jesus let all my works be accepted through the merits of thy sacred and renowned actions and the imperfections thereof pardoned through Faith in thy blood Amen When you are sad or discontented When I am in heaviness I will think upon God Ps 77.3 when my heart is vexed I will complain even unto God will I make my moan Why art thou so full of heaviness Ps 42.6 O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me Put thy trust in God 7. for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his Countenance Put thy trust in God and be doing good Ps 37.3 whilst I do the thing that is good and abstain from evil I may reasonably hope upon my devout Prayers for the return of God's favour unto me and that the light of his Countenance shall dispel all my darksom imaginations all my gloomy fears and the perturbations of my Spirit Return return O Lord God of hosts and cause thy face to shine upon thy servant O shew the light of thy Countenance and I shall be whole When you sit idle Why stand you here all the day idle Mar. 20.6 the Devil who tempteth unto all other
Mercy and to obtain Grace in the time of need MEDITATIONS Upon Unity in the Publick Worship of God SUch as be truly members of Christs mystical body The holy Catholick Church do conceive that they ought to be unanimous in the service of God as the only way upon earth to partake of the benefits of the Communion of Saints That we should all joyn in Prayers unto God after one way and one manner is not only Commanded by our Lord Mat. 6.9 but also in the use of the same words Luk. 11.2 whereunto also we are admonished Rom. 15.6 that ye may with one mind and with one mouth glorifie God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 'T is observable by sad experience that variety of Prayers in Publick by Ministers of the same Church hath bred and so doth still foment variety in opinions and various opinions in Religion have bred such a contrariety of affections as hath dissolved all the bonds of Christian Charity Under the sad pressure of this Schism we have a long time groan'd and been brought even to the last gasp of exspiration nor can we hope to have the still bleeding wounds of our Divisions healed whatever other remedies may be prescribed till waving that fondness which most men have for private Prayers in a Publick Congregation we do all joyn with Reverence and Devotion in those Holy Prayers and divinely inspired Praises of God which are prescribed and have been practised in the Church of Christ in all the Ages thereof We cannot reasonably imagine that our various and multitudinous private Prayers in Publick do conduce to the more pleasing of God who requires no such service from us and cannot be pleased with such Prayers as are breaches of our solemn promises when ordained Ministers of the Church no alas such prayers are not to please God but to please men to tickle the itching Ears of men of corrupt minds and 't is the scratching of these Ears that hath brought such a scab upon the Church as hath fester'd and eaten into her bowels and endanger'd the very life and being thereof We all profess to worship one God in Trinity and this Trinity in Unity but this we do not nay this we cannot do without Unity and Unanimity and Uniformity in our divine Worship but this Unity is destroyed by dividing from that Sound and Orthodox Worship which the Church of Christ exhibits to her Lord whilst each man advances his own private conceptions in Prayer above if not in opposition to the publick commanded Forms God whose very Being is Unity is the Author and great lover of Unity especially in the Worship of his divine Majesty and the Devil is the author and great promoter of all Division 't is his very Being as he is a Devil for he became so by dividing from the Church of God viz. from the Church which is now Triumphant in Heaven and therefore his Instruments they are who either in Doctrine or Worship divide from the true Church of Christ here Militant upon Earth The CXXXIV Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 BEhold how good and joyful a thing it is both profitable and pleasant for brethren Sons of one God the Father and of one Church the Mother to dwell together in Vnity in the house of God to joyn as members of the same mystical body in the profession of the same Doctrine and Practice of the same Worship verse 2 'T is like the oyntment which being compos'd of many rich perfumes sent forth a most sweet odour fitly representing that sweetness of joy and complacerce which flows from the Union of many hearts and voices in the service of God Vpon the head which went down to the beard even Aarons beard Aaron was a type of Christ and the oyntment upon his head typified the spiritual Unction of Christ our head Psal 45.7 Heb. 1.9 which Unction of the Spirit from him descended upon his Disciples mystically signified by the High Priests beard and from thence went down to the skirts of his clothing even to all the other parts and members of his mystical body for of his fulness we have all received Grace for Grace Joh. 1.16 verse 3 As the dew of Hermon which fell on the hill of Sion as both these hills become fruitful by the dew of heaven descending on them so the sons of Sion or people of God become fruitful in the gifts and graces of Gods holy Spirit through their Unity and Unanimity in the devout service of God for whilst they glorifie God with one heart and with one mouth after one way and one manner they mightily prevail with the one only God to dwell amongst them according to his promise 2 Cor. 6.16 and so it follows verse 4 For there the Lord promised his blessing in all assemblies thus united in the service of his Majesty Mat. 18.19 20. which is undoubtedly the way to life for evermore which is the height and perfection of all the blessings of God in the Quire of Heaven to sing with concordant hearts and voices Glory to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer O God who art the author of Peace and lover of Concord who makest men to be of one mind in a house and art best pleased with the unanimous agreement of thy people in thy House of Prayer that it may please thee to rebuke that foul spirit of discord and division intermixt amongst us which dictates the building of Babel by the confusion of Languages in our addresses to the Throne of Grace And vouchsafe to send the Holy Ghost the Spirit of love and unity to unite our hearts and tongues in the publick Service of thy Sacred Majesty make us all as brethren to dwell together in Unity to joyn in our Prayers in one way and after one manner to glorifie thee with one heart and with one mouth that the celestial dew of thy blessing may descend upon us so plentifully to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit that we may reap in time of harvest life for evermore through Jesus Christ MEDITATIONS WITH PSALMS Illustrated or Paraphras'd Upon the Four last Things I. Death II. Judgment III. Hell IV. Heaven By the Author of the PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end Deut. 32.29 LONDON Printed for Richard Royston Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty 1675. OF The Four last Things in GENERAL THe clean Beast which was only commanded to be offered in Sacrifice unto God under the Law was such as chewed the Gud Lev. 11.3 and divided the Hoof mystically representing the qualifications of the clean and pure Christian who is himself that spiritual Sacrifice God requireth under the Gospel Ro. 12.1 1 Pet. 2.4 5. By chewing the Cud holy and divine Meditation is intimated by dividing the Hoof may be mystically meant the last end of man which is a dividing asunder the Soul from the Body by Death and
the change of a troublesome for a quiet life of a frail for a fixed and permanent being of an uncertain for a certain abode and of a temporary for life everlasting 'T is but the falling in pieces of an earthly Tabernacle and when it is dissolved 2 Cor. 5.1 thou hast a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The Prayer O Almighty God who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men grant unto thy people and to me with them to love the thing which thou commandest and desire that which thou dost promise that so among the sundry and manifold changes of the world our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found through Jesus Christ MEDITAT III. Of the frequent Remembrance of Death 1. CLimacus records a story of a Brother that had lived negligently for many years Clim scal grad 6. and was at last surprized with such a desperate disease that he continued for a long space of time deprived of his senses and supposed to be dead but recovering again he immediately secluded himself from all society and continued for twelve years together which was the remainder of his life lamenting the sins and negligences of his by-past life and seriously pondering the sad condition of all such persons as dye in their sins unrepented And when the time of his death indeed approached many of his fraternity flockt to him desiring to hear some more than ordinary instructions and directions from him for the good of their Souls but all that he would say unto them was this as the sum of Christian wisdom If you desire so to live that ye may dye happily then meditate continually upon death for 't is scarce possible for that man to sin who with due regard remembers Death the wages of sin This is also the advice of the wise Syracides Remember thy end Ecclus. 28.6 and let enmity cease Remember corruption and death and abide in the Commandments 1 Cor. 15.31 And 't was surely thus S. Paul dyed daily 2. To dye the death of the righteous is the desire even of the wicked but his last end shall be very unlike the others for he that will dye the death must live the life of the righteous The only way to dye well Numb 23.10 is to live well and he that will live well must live by dying principles saying with holy David Psal 119.109 My Soul is continually in my hand and for ought I know it may expire at my next breathing since many thousands in this very moment do breath their last And 't is only this moment I can call mine what is past cannot return to be again enjoyed and what 's to come is not in mine but in the Lord's hand Ps 31.17 Act. 17.28 My Time is in thy hand In him we live and move and have our Being Ask thy self then in every thing thou dost Would I now do this were I ready to dye 'T is the Wise mans advice Ecclus. 7. ult Whatsoever thou takest in hand Remember the end and thou shalt never do amiss From the forgetfulness of my end and of the uncertainty of my Life from every evil work and from a sudden and an unprovided death good Lord deliver me 3. The Lord clothed our First Parents with the skins of beasts to put them in mind of that mortality and corruption of the flesh they had contracted by their disobedience to his Commandments The which as we their sinful off-spring do dayly bear about us so ought we also to have the same in a continual remembrance for the keeping under the unruly lusts of the flesh that we pass not from a spiritual to death eternal And thus O that I may thus daily remember the imminent the unavoidable death of my corruptible body so as to keep my Soul unspotted of the world and alive from the death of sin continually mortifying all my evil and corrupt affections and daily proceeding in all vertue and godliness of living 4. With the holy Apostle of our Lord to dye daily is not only daily to remember death but also so to dye unto sin and live unto righteousness as thereby to live up to the hopes of eternal life and happiness slighting all the false and flattering felicities of this fawning world as being not only empty and unsatisfying but also mortal and dying A holy confidence to dye well De imit Christi lib. 1. ca. 23. and in hopes to enjoy eternal life after death is begotten in the heart saith the spiritual Akempis 1. By a perfect contempt of the world 2. By a through self-denyal 3. By a fervent desire and endeavour of proficiency in Grace 4. By the love of Discipline or strict corporal austerities 5. By the unwearied labour of true Repentance 6. By a willing and ready obedience to all Gods Commands 7. By suffering contentedly and joyfully all adversities for the love of Christ And thus prepare for thy Change to come looking not as becomes an Immortal Soul at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal The Prayer O God the Protector of all that trust in thee without whom nothing is strong nothing is holy Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy that thou being our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal Grant this O heavenly Father for thy Son Jesus Christ MEDITAT IV. Of the Horror of Death 1. SAint Augustine being with his Mother Monica invited to Rome by Pontianus the Prefect to view the stately Edifices and ancient Monuments of that eminent City amongst other rarities he saw the great Caesars Sepulchre and therein his Carcase of a livid ghastly colour his Face faln away to such a meagre leanness as scarce of skin and bone consisting his Lips being rotted his Teeth were seen black and corrupted his Nose so consumed that only the wide hollows of his nostrils appeared his Belly burst and swarming with Worms and Serpents his Eyes sunk into his head and in the two holes thereof two loathsome Toads were feeding Then turning towards his Mother he said What now dear Mother is become of the great Caesar whose Pomp Power and Policy whose Riches Honour and Dignity whose many Victories Conquests and Triumphs rendred him the most admired Heroe the world afforded Where now is all his glory where the conquering Armies he commanded The Nations Countries Cities he subdued The numerous train of Nobility Gentry Souldiery that attended him The vast Riches and boundless Authority he acquired Whereunto the pious Matron answered O my Son no sooner did his spirit fail and his breath expire but all his splendid enjoyments all his flattering worldly felicities forsook him his Riches his Friends his Attendants all his Conquests and Triumphs all the Honour
which through so many perils he acquired have all now left him alone in this ghastly silent Sepulchre accompanied only with Worms Stench and Corruption Such is the end of all flesh 'T is as true of the greatest Prince as of the meanest Peasant When a man is dead Ecclus. 10.11 he shall inherit creeping things beasts and worms All the difference in the grave betwixt the dust of the rich and of the poor of the honourable and the base is this that the dust of the rich through the luxury lasciviousness and intemperance of their life is more corrupt and loathsome after their death than is the dust of the poor whose food and nourishment was more course and sparing Why then my Immortal Soul art thou so fond of thy corruptible companion the Body Remember its beginning is uncleanness and its end rottenness 'T is thy servant for the present but if thou too much cocker and pamper it 't will rebel subdue and lead thee captive to a worse death than that whereunto its self is lyable even the death of the nether Hell Mar. 9.44 where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched 2. Death is the wages of Sin And I have sinned vile wretch that I am I have sinned and what shall I do or what shall I say unto thee O thou preserver of man Job 7.20 All that I can say is the same still I have sinned and as long as I have a day I will say it I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sins Mercy 21. good Lord mercy I humbly beg O why dost thou not pardon my transgression and take away mine iniquity Are not my dayes few Job 10.20 cease then and let me alone that I may bewail my sins and take comfort a little in the hopes of the pardon of them through Faith in the blood of my Redeemer before I go from whence I shall not return 21. to the land of darkness and the shadow of death 3. Job 18.14 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. Heb 2.14 I know that to flesh and blood death is of all terribles the most terrible but my blessed Redeemer by his bitter death hath pulled out the sting and quelled the terrors of death and hath also enchained him who hath the power of death the devil so that now when death approacheth through Faith and a good Conscience I shall have hope with all patience and contentment to drink off that Cup how bitter and painful soever saying with my blessed Lord and Master upon his approaching death Mat. 26.42 Father not my will but thine be done The Prayer ASsist me mercifully O Lord to subject my rebellious flesh to the guidance of the Spirit and my spirit to the laws of my Redeemer that when my body shall be the inheritance of worms and creeping things my Soul-may possess an inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet. 1.4 that fadeth not away reserved in the heavens through Jesus Christ MEDITAT V. Of the uncertainty of Death and preparation for it 1. AS there is nothing more certain than death Ps 89.47 for what man is there that liveth and shall not see death So there is nothing more uncertain than the Time Mat. 24.36 for of that day and hour knoweth no man the uncertainty of Death engageth every wise man to a certainty in his preparation and provision for it Remember that death will not be long in coming Ecclus. 14.12 and that the covenant of the grave is not shewed unto thee Do good unto thy friend before thou dye 13. put it not off to thy last Will and Testament but according to thy ability stretch out thy hand and give unto the poor That the poor when charitably relieved are our best friends and that thus we are to prepare for death is commanded by our Lord Luk. 16.9 Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness in the pious charitable distribution of your worldly goods Luk. 16.9 that when you fail your bodies corrupt and moulder into dust your Souls may be received into everlasting habitations 2. In this life our condition is changeable from better to worse and from worse to better but in death all hopes of bettering our condition are buried with the liveless corps 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the acceptable time now is the day of Salvation i. e. the day of this life wherein I am commanded to work out my Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 for the night of death cometh wherein no man can work Eccl. 9.10 There is either work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave where thou goest It follows therefore whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might be active be vigorous be zealous Col. 1.10 be fruitful in every good work 'T is the Soul that is laden with the fruits of well-doing 1 Pet. 4. ult Rev. 14.13 Luk. 16.9 which in deaths approach may chearfully commit her self unto the will of God as to a faithful Creator 'T is these good works that follow the Souls of the righteous to the Tribunal of Heaven to plead for their admission into celestial habitations And these are 1. Devout Prayers Mat. 6.1.5.16 which do indeed and more immediately commend our Souls unto God and render them amiable in his sight especially when accompanied 2. With Religious Fastings often Ro. 12.1 whereby we present our bodies also unto him and withal do 3. Heb. 13.15 16. By charitable Alms-deeds dispense our Goods to our wanting brethren for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased Lord I pray thee that thy Grace may alway prevent and follow me and make me continually to be given unto all good works which are the never failing fruits of a true Christian Faith and by these inseparably conjoyned to make my Calling and Election sure sealed in the blood of my dear Redeemer 3. There are three general messengers of Death 1. Chance 2. Sickness 3. Old age Chance renders the life of man doubtful and uncertain Sickness makes it grievous and troublesome Old age makes life tedious and death inevitable Some persons are stifled in their mothers womb and dye before they see the light of life some dye in their Infancy some in their youth some in their mans estate And some there be but these are of all others the fewest in number that dye in their old age and yet most of men do not only desire but fondly conceit they shall live to be old and yet never think themselves old enough to dye which makes so many millions of men dye unpreparedly and so pass from a Temporal to death Eternal For the prevention of so great and general a mischief and perdition of ungodly men the all-wise and good providence of Heaven hath ordained that in all ages estates and conditions of men this life shall take end that so none how young and lusty
dayes are but as a span short and uncertain I humbly beseech thee O Lord to wean my heart from the disquietude of worldly cares and that I may be fruitful in all the good works of obedience and charity to repair the breaches of thy blessed image which mine offences have made before my departure hence that so recovering the spiritual health and strength of my Soul I may dye in thy Grace and favour through Jesus Christ The XC Psalm Verses 1. LOrd thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another Holy men have in all ages of the world applied themselves unto the Lord for succor support and protection in all conditions 2. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever the earth and the world were made thou art God from everlasting and world without end Who being eternal is also immutable in his mercy goodness power and providence over all 3. Thou turnest man to destruction again thou sayst Come again ye children of men Dispensing both health and sickness prosperity and adversity life and death to the sons of men according to his all just all merciful all wise good pleasure 4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday seeing that is past as a watch in the night The longest course of mans life in respect of Gods eternal praevision is but as a day that is already past or as one of the night-watches which is both swift and short and also dark and gloomy through frequent cross and adverse occurrents 5. As soon as thou scatterest them they are even asleep and fade away suddenly as the grass As sleep is the image of death so the life of man is but the image or shadow of life for as a shadow it fleeth the pursuer and fadeth as the grass 6. In the morning it is green and groweth up in the evening it is cut down dried up and withered Which the same day beholds both growing and cut down flourishing and withered 7. For we consume away in thy displeasure and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation This frailty of humane life is the punishment of sin which incurs most justly God's indignation and wrath 8. Thou hast set our mis-deeds before thee and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun both seeing and recording the most secret of our sinful waies 9. For when thou art angry all our days are gone we bring our years to an end as it were a tale that is told 'T is through Gods just anger for our sins that our dayes are shortned and our years are spent in vanity and trouble 10. The dayes of our age are threescore years and ten and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow so soon passeth it away and we are gone The miseries of mans life are not so great through the shortness thereof as that his sorrows and troubles are increased with his daies 11. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath for even thereafter as a man feareth so is thy displeasure Gods displeasure for our sins is either more or less according as we do less or more stand in awe thereof 12. So teach us to number our daies that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom True wisdom is attained by the serious contemplation of the frailty of life and certainty of death 13. Turn thee again O Lord at the last and be gracious unto thy servants Intermixing with our meditations devout Prayers for the propitious grace and favour of God 14. O satisfie us with thy mercy and that soon so shall we rejoyce and be glad all the daies of our life Which alone can satisfie the desires of the immortal soul and throughly rejoyce the same 15. Comfort us again now after the time thou hast plagued us and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity We may reasonably alledge our sufferings though for our sins as motives to implore the consolations of Gods Spirit 16. Shew thy servants thy work and their children thy glory Gods proper work is mercy and 't is his glory to be gracious for the which the righteous do pray both for themselves and their children 17. And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us prosper thou the work of our hands upon us prosper thou our handy work God's glorious Majesty appears by the gracious influences of his holy Spirit whereby we work the works of God to his glory and our own eternal happiness Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. The Prayer ALmighty God the fountain of all Wisdom grant me so wisely to number and compare the short and sorrowful daies of this mortal life with that joyful and never ending day of a blessed eternity that despising the vanities of the one I may zealously aspire to the happiness of the other O satisfie the panting desires of my Soul with the sense of thy mercy in the pardon of my sins and let the glory of thy grace appear in prospering me to perform all those good works of Faith and Obedience which conduce to my eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ THE Second general Meditation Upon JUDGMENT And first the PARTICULAR JUDGMENT IT is appointed unto man once to dye and after that the Judgment Heb. 9.27 no sooner shall this house of flesh wherein the immortal Soul doth now inhabit be shattered in pieces by the hand of death but in the same moment the departing Soul shall be conveyed by the Angels of God before his Judgment-seat and this is call'd The particular Judgment that shall pass upon every person in particular immediately upon his death Eccl. 12.7 when the dust shall return to the earth as it was then shall the Spirit return unto God that gave it 14. To give an account of the works done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil That grand enemy of man Ille enim tunc saeviens capit quos nunc blandiens decipit Greg. the Devil awaits thy Souls departure hence to dog thee to the great Tribunal of Heaven In this life he fawns to seduce but in the other he will roar to devour as a Lyon over his prey to this end he will vehemently accuse thee aggravating all thy miscarriages through his suggestions committed and claiming thee as one of the subjects of his kingdom of darkness saying to the great Judg of all as several Fathers observe This person thou Judge of the world Euseb Emiss Hom. Aug. orat cont Judaeos Bag. though he be thine by Creation yet he is mine by Depravation He is thine by nature but mine by sin for he has obeyed my suggestions and disobeyed thy laws and therefore though he belong to thee by right yet he is faln to me by default he is thine in respect of his workmanship but mine by the rebellion of
particularly as by name to make thy appearance at this general Assizes to be held at the great and last day and there to give an account of every passage through thy whole life which shall be as strictly and throughly sifted and examined as if there were none but thy self to be tryed as if no cause but thine alone were to be heard Prepare then prepare thy self now now that thou hast time and leisure prepare thy self for that great day for upon thy Tryal then depends either thy everlasting well-being or miserable undoing for ever Now then cast up thy accounts carefully examine try 1 Cor. 11.31 Jam 4.8 9 10. Act. 10.4 Luc. 2.37 2 Cor. 11.27 Eccl. 7.17 and judge thy self confess thy manifold amisses Humble thy self greatly under the mighty hand of God Appease the wrath of the great Judge of the world by Prayers and Tears and all the sacred offices and acts of true Repentance by Alms and Offerings and Fastings often and in a word by all the kinds of those spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Stir up we beseech thee O Lord the wills of thy faithful people quicken our dead and cold Faith with the sacred fire of holy Charity the very bond of perfection and all vertue that we plenteously bringing forth the fruits of good works may of thee be plenteously rewarded at the last day through Jesus V. And there was a cry at midnight Mat. 25.6 Behold the bridegroom cometh Wo unto me then faith a devout Father if I be found sleeping in my bed at midnight Ambr. in Luc. when the great Judge of all the world shall appear it concerns me much rather to resolve with holy David At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Ps 119.62 because of thy righteous Judgments Happy are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find upon their watch Mar. 13.33 34. awaiting his coming with their loins girt their lusts restrained and their Lamps burning The light of the holy and true Faith flaming by divine Love and shining through all the actions of their Life that others seeing their good works may glorifie God the Father of Heaven Mat. 5.16 I will stand upon my watch to guard the innocency of my Soul I will watch and also pray Mat. 26.41 that I fall not in o the snare of the Devil when tempted by him and that day come upon me unawares There be two sorts of sins especially against which my blessed Redeemer hath commanded me to watch that the day of the Lord surprize me not First Surfeiting and drunkenness or the pleasures of the flesh Luc. 21.34 Secondly The cares of the world or Ambition and Covetousness against these grand enemies which continually war against my Soul it concerns me continually also to watch and pray Blessed Lord let not I humbly beseech thee any importunate cravings of this corruptible flesh seduce me nor the flattering false felicities of worldly wealth and dignity deceive me but grant that I being free from all pollutions both from the one and the other may await thy coming in all holy but humble confidence to be ranked not amongst the cursed goats on thy left hand but amongst thy blessed Sheep on the right hand and hear that joyful sentence saying Come ye blessed of my Father receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world Grant this O heavenly Father Our Father which art in c. The XXVI Psalm PARAPHRASED verse 1 BE thou my judge O Lord not to condemn me for my sins but to approve my services though imperfect and weak for I have walked innocently not according to the Innocency of thy Saints in Heaven but according to that of frail Man upon Earth Neither do I herein presume to justifie my self but my trust hath been also in the Lord 't is not my innocency but the Lord's mercy I rely upon and therefore shall I not fall in the day of Judgment verse 2 Examine me O Lord and prove me now is the time assisted by thy all piercing Spirit to examine my self in order to my grand examination that day Try out my reins and my heart as the silver is tryed when the dross is purged out and this even in the furnace of affliction if it so seemeth good unto thee that my reins and my heart may be cleansed from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit and yet even so I dare not undergo thy strict and severe examination of me but with reflexions upon thine immense goodness verse 3 For thy loving kindness is ever before mine eyes 'T is my constant meditation my hope and my refuge and I will walk in thy truth inwardly delighting and outwardly performing the commands thereof and that I may do this verse 4 I have not dwelt with vain persons made my abode with such as follow the pomps and vanities of this wicked world neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful I have not so delighted in the society as to be tainted by the evil examples of such as through their deceivable lusts keep not the Covenant they have made with their God nor is it enough to avoid the society but verse 5 I have hated the congregation of the wicked not their persons but their wickedness all their consultations to do evil and will not sit among the ungodly so as to continue and be delighted with the errors of their ways verse 6 I will wash my hands in innocency O Lord with the tears of true Repentance I will wash the sinful works of my hands and keep them clean and innocent for the future and so not in my sins unrepented will I go to thine Altar to offer up my Vows and Prayers also verse 7 That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving publickly declare the great Thanks and Praise which is due to thy divine Majesty and tell of all thy wondrous works joyning with the Ministers of thy Temple in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs wherein thy great works both of Mercy and Judgment are celebrated verse 8 To this end Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house the place where thou inhabitest more especially than any other houses and 't is my delight to come to this house because 't is the place where thine honour dwelleth where the honour of thy Name is continually celebrated for in his Temple doth every man speak of his Honour verse 9 And since 't is the joy of my heart to joyn with thy people in the praise of thy Name O shut not up my soul with the sinners though in this world I cannot altogether escape their temptation and trouble yet rank me not amongst them in the world to come nor my life with the blood thirsty let me not perish with the cruel uncharitable and covetous of the world verse 10 In whose hands is wickedness the works of whose hands are unjust and
concupiscence Thy carnal lusts and thy worldly lusts being now followed and fulfilled are the fuel that feeds that dismal fire of the infernal lake and the Worm also that never dieth is bred of the same corruption even in the dunghil lusts of the heart actuated by the hot suggestions of Sathan And as the fire of concupiscence doth now more or less rage in thy heart so as to follow the sway thereof so shall the fire of hell be more or less raging hereafter if these lusts do not dye within thee before the death of nature seize thee Take then the advice of the wise Syracides Eccl. 7.17 Humble thy self greatly for the vengeance of the wicked is fire and worms And of S. Paul Col. 3.5 Mortifie therefore your members that are upon earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence and covetousness which is Idolatry For which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience Blessed Jesus by the merits and mysteries of thy Circumcision I humbly beg the true Circumcision of the spirit and by the virtue of thy Crucifixion strengthen me to crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts lest any of those exorbitant fires being not opportunely quenched involve me in those flames of hell which are unquenchable MEDITAT IV. Of the extent of Hell pains WHen I consider righteous Job on the dunghil Greg mor. the holy Baptist hungring in the wilderness S. James beheaded S. Peter crucified the Torments and deaths of innumerable Martyrs the manifold afflictions of the holy and elect people of God I cannot but consider and know assuredly that very great and many shall be the torments of the wicked in the world to come since God suffereth those whom he dearly loves to be so much afflicted in this life The Pains of Hell in the extent of them do herein differ from all present bodily pains that these are partial only in some particular parts joynts and members of the body whilst other parts are free from pain But in Hell the whole man in all the senses internal and external in all the parts of his body and powers of his soul yea the most spiritual faculties shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone rage and despite grief and anguish misery and malediction The pains of Hell are a concourse of all kinds of pain and of all at the same time and of all of them for ever The Taste shall be punished with bitterness the Appetite with hunger and the Tongue with thirst the Sight with horror the Hearing with astonishment the Smell with stench the Heart with anguish the Imagination with fear the Reason with madness the Judgment with confusion and in the very Bowels fire unquenchable And this is most just that as the wicked have employed all the powers and parts both of Soul and Body as weapons of unrighteousness unto sin so should their punishment be in all their senses members faculties that as each hath transgrest by sinful pleasure and inordinate delight so each should have its peculiar afflicting torment 'T is undoubtedly true that all persons condemned to the flames of the nether hell are not equally tormented therein for though the fire of hell be one and the same yet it torments not all after the same manner nor in the same degree of torture but every man shall therein more or less feel the smart of its fury as by the nature quality and frequency of his sin he hath less or more deserved the same Gen. 18.25 for shall not the Judge of all the world do right The more high peremptory and presumptuous as also the less obstinate and impenitent sinner shall both suffer under the torment of the same fire but not in the same degree of pain and suffering But alas the lowest degree of suffering in that place of horror is punishment enough if seriously considered to affright the sinner from all the errors of his ways There be many who now think this or that to be severe commands Love your enemies Deny thy self Fast and Watch and Pray Take up thy Cross but surely 't will be much more hard and bitter to hear Tho. Ã Kemp. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire O let not then the severest commands of the Gospel nor the difficulties and labors of Repentance startle and affright thee let not the breach or neglect thereof seem a light and a small thing unto thee but Remember that to endure the pains of Hell but one hour is more exceeding painful and afflicting than a thousand years of the most strict and severe austerities in Fasting and Sackcloth and Ashes Here blessed Lord here in this life let me be punished for my sins but spare O spare me in the life to come and from those intolerable pains of the nether Hell good Lord deliver me through Jesus Christ MEDITAT V. Of the Bonds and Chains of Hell RIghteous art thou O Lord Ps 119.137 and upright are thy Judgments 'T is a justice becoming the just Judge of the world that the licentious and prophane who in this life would not be bound up nor restrained from following and fulfilling their exorbitant lusts but have walked in the counsel of the ungodly and stood in the way of sinners that they who bound up their hands from doing the works of Gods Commandments and bound up their feet from walking in the paths of his most holy Laws that they whose sins are bound upon their Souls and not loosed by true Repentance through Faith in the Blood of Christ 't is just I say that such should incur this sad and dismal sentence Mat. 22.13 Bind him hand and foot To be bound to one place though in silken Cords or chains of Gold though 't were on a bed of Roses or the sweetest perfumes to be so tyed as not to be able to stir hand or foot is a very great punishment to the free active and stirring soul of man How much more then a sorer punishment is it to be bound in fiery chains eating through the flesh into the very bowels nay through all the most hidden and deepest recesses of the Soul and be forced to lye down in a bed of Flames and therein not to be able to stir either hand or foot not to move or change from side to side for the least ease or mitigation of torment He must have a heart of stone or rather of flint the hardest of stones who in remembrance of his sins is not greatly terrified and humbled in the very thought and apprehension of these fiery tormenting chains of Hell Blessed Jesus whose innocent tender hands were rudely seiz'd and bound with cords of injustice and violence vouchsafe to loose all the bonds and chains of my sins wherewith both my hands and feet affections and actions are infettered and infested and grant that the wounds they have made in my soul being washed with my tears may be healed by the soveraign balsome