of thy maiestrates whom thou hast appointed as gods vnder thee to keepe thy garden clene from all noisome and stinking hearbs Clense them O Lord and plant a new spirite within them that aboue all things fauouring thy Gospel they may bend al their endeuours to the dâ—erishing of thy holy Church and maintenance of the truth without the which no maÌ„ shal liue and see thee Giue them grace to labour diligentlye in thy vineyard to mowe downe the haruest of sinne nei 〈…〉 er for feare or flatterie to starte backe from their dutie but without all discouragement to vse thy will as an axe to cutte downe the roote that withereth and beareth nothing but a perished stocke and barrayn branches that the ded boughs of iniquitie beeing broken off the branches of thy sonne Iesus may without let or hinderance spread foorth the sweete leaues of thy sauourie grace and beare in hart the frutes of thankesgiuing which is pleasant acceptable in thy sight Amen A generall confession of sinnes FAther ADAM O Lorde gaue the first onset none of vs his children haue broken the arraie The serpent counselled Eue gaue the apple to Adam so both sinned against thy diuine maiestie As for vs the naturall branches of this rotten stocke one of the same stampe shall speak We are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie so that wee be damned by merit before we be borne But yet ô Lorde wee conâ—eâ—â—e it to our comfort and thy glorie that thou hast concluded all vnder sinne that thou mightest haue mercie on all and al glorie be giuen to thee We confes our selues lost wee are lost grotes and lost sheepe but this is the sole ioy of our hearts that thy sonne came to seeke to saue that was loste So that though we be lost in our selues yet we are founde in thy sonne who came into this worlde to sâ—ue sinners This is thy vnde◠〈…〉 ued goodnes O Lord to loue thine enimies to saue vs that haue euen from the womb rebelled againste thy diuine Maiestie euen before we were borne to saue vs by the death of thine onelie begotten son and to prepare a ioyous kingdome for vs before the beginning of y e world Therefore O Lorde what shall we crie but shame shame vpon vs an axe to the roote and an axe to vs all the withered branches of rotten Adam by desert For glorie and power dominion and Maiestie saluation and mercie is onelie thine and of thee of the which mercie saue vs we beseeth thee Amen Another WE are all publicans O Lorde open the eares of thy fauour vnto our crie and haue mercie vppon vs haue mercie vppon vs. We sinne dailie but yet saue vs of thy pittie saue vs oh saue vs and shewe thy compassion vppon vs. Let vs not die a Iudas death let vs neuer tune the doleful song of Cain but ingraue in our hart a full liuely faith in thee that neuer doubting of thy bountious mercie wee may with a free conscience set Satan at defiance and all his hellyshe bande Pittifull Iesu heare this our crie and fense vs with thy grace against the gaping deuil who roreth of crueltie and lurketh in euerye Corner of malicious subtiltie to trap and to snare to take and to teare vs with the Clawes of his furie and mercilesse enuie Fence vs with faith againste him O Lord laie the plaister of comfort to our wounded consciences couer vs with the wings of thy fauour that we may liue and die in thee and so be blessed Amen A praier for humi 〈…〉 ie IT is thine owne Leslon O Sauiour Iesus Be humble and meek as I am it is thy worde also My sheep heare my voice But Lorde what shall I doo the fleshe is proude I dailie rebell against thy holie wil I enuie my superiours I loue not mine equals I despise mine inferiours This is the frute of the flesh O Lord Death death but thou art loue and life O louing Iesus And therefore I beseech thee of thy tender loue to pitie me to indue me with the spirit of humblenes that being poore in spirit I may with the little ones of thy kingdome be blessed liue for euer O Lorde for the auoidance of pride giue mee thy grace to consider that by it an Angell became a diuel and man was excommunicate from the paradise of pleasure Desire of souereigntie begate the diuell sinne death damnation so that out of it as a moste filthie puddle issued a whole sea of mischeefe and miserie Of this cup of pride father Adam dranke when by his disobedience hee loste thy fauour and by the taste of an apple thought to bee thy comate in knowing of good and euill Giue me thy grace not onlie to consider this but also fully to digest it that detesting it as a venemous viper I may in humblenes of hart serue thee holilie and soundelie without hypocrisie who art a patterne of lowlines and a mirrour of humilitie continuallie to bee looked vpon and trulie to be followed O life and louer of soules giue mee grace alwaies to heare hearing thy words to follow thee Amen Another for charitie O Infinite charitie thou sonne of God to whom the father hath surrendred all power in heauen and earth I haue offended thee most greeuously indaÌ„gered my selfe desperatlie For charitie O charity thou shalt iudge the world in equitie I haue not charity biding within me I loue for gaine I hate mine enimies I pray not for theÌ„ that cursse and speake euil of me I haue enough of thy benefites and yet haue I spared nothing for Lazarus and therein I haue sinned against thee ô eternall charitie incurred the perill of thy iust iudgmentes Is there no remedy O charity but must iudgment be giueÌ„ against me is al thy bloud spent are al thy teares drie hast thou none to wash mee Correct me not O charitie in thy iudgment or furie neither chastise me in thine anger but deale with me acor ding to thy wonted mercie In charity in thy loue vnmerited O blessed Charity haue mercy vpon me quit me from a repliyng conscience the court of the Deuil For else ô charity wil mine own life reclaime against me craue damnation for mine vncharitable conuersation Piteous God therefore I beseech thee for thy bloudie sweat in thy bottomles pittie drown my transgressions adopt me thy brother giue me thy holie spirits testimonie as a gage and earnest of mine adoption that being freed from sinne I may serue thee with a free conscience in hope and an vnwauering faith in thy mercies Amen A praier for the mortification of the flesh O Lorde the kingdome of the flesh is verie strong so strong that I am not able to withstand it For in me that is in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and so infectious is the palsie of the fraile flesh that vnlesse thou O Lord doe season it there is no waie but to incur
death for the losse of a shadow shal wee by sighs and sobs storme againste the Lord for the losse of a vapour nay shall we not rather be glad to forgo the shadowe and by death desire to be knit more fullye to our bodie Iesus whereof wee are members in faith and hope O ye of lyttle faith crie vnto the God of hea uen Lord increase our faith Be content to leaue this vaporous life and welcome death and cry in a ful beleefe Come Lord lesu come shorten these latter daies for thine elect sake and saue vs. Saue vs O Lord saue vs haue mercie vpon vs and helpe vs helpe Lord and by a blessed death cite vs to appeare before thee For one daie in thy court is better than a thousand elsewhere Amen Secondly consider that thy life is vncerteine For death is like a theefe that commeth at vncertaine houres he is like a thundercracke that soundeth on a sudden yea this life is so vncerteine that death may ask his due in the swathcloth and none be able to resist him He is alwaies a prince hee ruleth not only in the haruest but also in the spring time and summer Yoong menne and babes olde men and maydes greene and ripe al are one death excepteth no persons hee neuer regardeth our yeares but with his sharpe syth on a sudden he cutteth al downe So y â— our life is like a ruinous house alwaies readie to fal like a thin thred alwaies readie to rotte like a running cloud wherof we are vncerteine where and when it falleth This cloud sometimes melteth in the cradle somtims in the chaire Death is like the sunne whensoeuer it shineth it melteth our cloudie life bee the cloud thereof neuer so thin or thicke in yeres Our life nowe being as vncerteine as the weathercocke which turneth at euery blast or like the waue which mounteth at euery storme or lyke the reede which boweth at euery whisteling winde whye shoulde we loue it and not rather loath it in comparison of the euerduring life of the heauenlie citizens wherevnto by death we passe in mercie Oh that al Christians woulde ingraue in their harts the wauering dayes of this vncerteine life and consider and looke for in a ful faith the certaintie of that ioyfull life wherevnto death dooth bring vs For then woulde wee that sayle as pilgrimes on the waters of this world and are tossed dangerouslie by diuers pyrates the flesh sinne and the diuell desire with hartie praier craue of the Lorde that in the barke of a liuely faith by his mariner death he woulde carrie vs to the certeine and blessed life of his saints If we were thus godly wise to consider the vncerteintie of this momentanie life or so happie as to ponder the eternall felicitie of Ierusalem and restful Cannaan we would rather ioy and be merrie when sicknes and death shal visit vs than mourne and sorrowe for it For they are the Lords ambassadours which are sent to bring vs tidinges that dynner and supper is readye and the banket of glorie to bee minystred and that we must come without tarrieng to marrie him and to enioy him face to face euen as he is and 〈…〉 fore with willing mind tâ—â—aie our debted bodies to mother earth whereof wee borrowed them and to him our soules that hee may marrie them in the couenant of his Eternall mercies We are borne into this world naked our heritage is sin and myserie our life is labour and sorrowe we our selues are but tenaunts vnder mother earth concerning our bodies and vnder GOD concerning our soules which God our God of ioy and father of comforte by his owne sonne hath bought vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled for euer vnto the which by sicknes death as the messengers of his wil he calleth vs. Is all this so and shall wee feare death no for shame let vs bid adieu to this shorte and vncertaine lyfe and receyue death in ioy of spirite as an accomplishment of the obligation of his couenant wherewith he bound himselfe of his meere mercie beyond any merite of ours that wee shoulde neuer see death but haue euerlasting life Vnlesse therefore you will mourne against death bicause by it you passe from an vncerteine to a certeine life from these sorrowing and wauering daies to an euerlasting and incorruptible inheritance and so shew your selues rather willing to haue the fleshepots 〈◊〉 Aegypt for euer than to passe to heauen and to eate of comfortable manna not in the wildernes but in new Ierusalem see that ye feare not death but loue it and welcome it whensoeuer the Lorde will sende it vnto you Thirdlye consider thy life is miserable It is not only short but also miserable yea I may well tearme it a kingdome of miserie New borne babes do what they can to persuade vs of the truth of this matter For they beginne not this life with smiling countenance but with weeping eies By their crie what else dooth nature sing or signifie vnto vs but that thorough our sinnes our life is become a continual warfare and the world our enimie euen 〈◊〉 vale of miserie besette with thornes to pricke vs on euerie side Righteous Abell founde in his life time a thorn of his own blood to trouble molest him euen Caine his own brother to bache his blade in his bloud villanouslie to murther him Iohn Baptist the bright dayestar and forerunner of Christ the sunne of righteousnesse he found a thornie Herode to behead him and holie Stephan stonie Iewes to dispatche him Yea what is this life but a fardle of miserie wherein Christ our blessed sauior tasted of nothinge but of the sower grape of persecution For no sooner was this lambe of God come into the world but Herod by the decree of his hellishe conuocation was ready to deuo 〈…〉 him this was a miserie to mother Marie And maruelouslie doth it paint out the mysery of this life that the hony babe Iesus the very lambe of God and light of this world is so welcomen into the world which intended mischiefe And where hee by the prouidence of his heauenly father escaped the snare of the rauenous fowler yet for his sake doo the children and sucklings of Bethleem and the coastes thereof as many as were twoe yeeres old and vnder preache vnto vs the miserie of this our life The voice that was heard in Ramah moorning weping and great lamentation Rachell 〈…〉 eeping for hir children with out all comforte because they were not teacheth vs and crieth out vpon the miserable life of man If al careles Epicures would aske the iudgement of Father Iob in this case he would expounde the mysticall cries of tender sucklinges that man which is borne of a woman hath not onely a short time to liue but also a miserable life to lead that his life is a warfare continual labour and sorrow This iudgement of Iob without all doubte was rooted in him and his brother Ieremie And
thereof it came without question that they did cursse not onlie the daie of birth but also him that brought the message to their father that a child was borne They had fullie considered the degrees of their miserie Their birth place was but a foule and filthie dungeon they themselues were but a substance of bloud and instruments of their mothers their nourishment little better than venom their birth not without extreme pains of the deere mother and violent offense of their tender bodies They knewe throughlie that they were conceiued in filth and vncleannes born in sinne and care and nourished with paine and labour They dyd knowe themselues to haue bin like cralling wormes and that at their entrie into this worlde they were apparelled with bloud And therefore considering their miserable condition they curssed the daye of their wretched birth Yea this made father Ieremie to wishe that his mothers wombe hadde serued for his tumbe and father Esaie to bewaile his birth and to murmur againste the knees that helde him vppe and also the breasts that gaue him suck They had fully conceiued that man was made of the slime of the earth conceiued in sinne borne in paine and at the laste made a prey for wormes This miserie of mans life had they fullie digested and therefore wished to haue died before they were borne Come hither nowe beloued Christians wee are manie an ace short of Iob Ieremie or Esay in life and in iudgement One after a through sifting of this miserable life wished that his mothers wombe had been his tumbe another murmured at the paps that gaue him suck the third curssed the daie of his birth and not onelie that but him also that firste declared it Did they soe lyttle sette by this myserable life as to cursse it and so little loue the pappes that norished them as to murmur against them yea the verie knees that helde them vp and by reason of this wretched pilgrimage to be so wearie of this life as to wishe they had beene buried in their mothers wombe and shall wee feare death They wished they had neuer liued and shal we for feare of death wishe euer or a longe time to liue they curssed the daie of their birth whoe were holie men and shal we weepe for the daie of death the verie ende of their wishe did they murmur against the paps that gaue them sucke and shall not we welcome death when the Lord sendeth him naye they murmured euen againste the knees that did beare them vp and shal not we bee willing to surrender heade feete handes heart knees and al to mother earth and to salute death in ioy of spirit Fie for shame and out vpon vs if we doo not willinglie and merrilie wishe and crye Thy kingdome come ô father of heauen Come Lord Iesus come Let vs denie the olde man cherish our hope that wee haue in the full merites of Christ that when the Lorde shall call we may come vnto him without anye rebellion And as for death account of it but as a moste blessed ende or period of this wretched life an axe that cutteth off al miseries and therefore feare it not The thirde weapon Consider the commodities of death WE are tossed turmoyled vppon the seas of this world with manie a dangerous tempest euen till wee be we arie or at least should be with holie Paule of our short vncerteine miserable liues and then dooth the Lorde euen of mercie call vs to reste and ioy with his Saints in heauen 〈◊〉 that resting from our labours wee may continuallie pray se him with the band of his holie Angels By death he deliuereth vs from danger and therefore to arme vs against the feare therof it pleased the holie spirit to cal death a sleepe by the which being dispatched of all aduersities wee are brought to our graues therein to lie as it were in a soft featherbed and in a sweet sleep abiding the comming of Christ our lord whe◠hee shall knocke at the bedd◠and cal vs vppe to liue for eue◠with him and his holye Aungels Death therfore doth not swalow vp our bodies thogh for a time they must lie in the bellie of mother earth For death is a sleepe and is vnpossible as it is that a whole man being in a sound sleepe should not wake vp againe euen so vnpossible is it that a Chrystian shoulde continue in Death for euer And as for this sleepe it is but a shorte sleepe for the daye is at hand and the time of iudgmente draweth neere when dead bodies shall arise and the earth shal render them vp that be in her that meeting and appearing together with our beloued friends and set vpon the right hand of his blessing wee may as liuely members be fully knit in our body Christ Iesus So that death is but a sleepe and a shorte sleepe out of the which we and al our brethren sisters and friends that are departed in the Lorde shall rise more fresh than euer we were to leaue this fraile and earthie bodie and to haue it made like to the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ. And who now would feare death or who should grudge at the Lorde for castinge vs asleepe Death is a sleepe the earth is the Christian mannes featherbed where he must lie◠till the trumpet shall sound to awake him and call him vnto iudgement Who wil murmur againste this necessitie or rather againste this mercie for mercie it is that we die but for a time or rather sleepe for a time where of merit we shuld die for euer And therefore vnles by your gronings and sighings you wil exclaime against the mercy of the Lord by the which you are saued doo not feare Death or murmur against him but bles him with father Iob and thank him hartily that he hath granted thee thy daielye petition wherein thou praiest sayeng Our Father which art in heauen thy wil bee doone deliuer vs from euil For as for the first his will is doone whensoeuer any man dieth The verie farthing sparrowe can not fall without his prouidence the heares of our head can not perishe without his will much lesse dieth anie man without his will whoe far surpasseth all farthinge Sparrowes So that to wishe them aliue that are departed in peac it is to wishe that God his wil were not doone and what is that but to wishe that GOD were no God For if God bee God his wil is iust and muste needs be doone But as for many they will acknowledge that the will of God is doone againe that hi◠wil was iust in calling for their children whome hee had but lent them for a time and yet will carrie a biting sorrowe in their hearts and so wil they go neere to bringe death vppon themselues But to such mourning mothers I saye Why doo you mourne this life is a warfare death is asleepe Why do you mourne this life is short by condition and ful of myseries
not swallowed vp in griefe and sorrowe Lorde sweete Lord thou sendest thy seruants to cal me to the marriage thy fatlinges and oxen are killed and Dinner is readie Lorde giue mee grace to come vnto thee that beeing freed from sinne and eased of sorrow the fruit of sinne I may mary thee in the couenant of thy mercie and banquet with thee face to face at the table of ioye in thy heauenlie Ierusalem Lord louing Lorde and gratious God blesse the fruite of my wombe and take it into thy famylie For I beleeue Lorde that thou becamest of God the sonne of man to make it and all other whome thy father hath giuen thee the Children of God thy heauenlie Father According to my faith therefore O Lord be it vnto me Open the doore of thy mercie and lodge my child in the vertue of thy couenant that being my God and the God of my seede I maie glorifie thee both now and euer and offer vp the sacrifice of praise the fruites of a ioyfull spirit vnto thee Lord and Father of heauen it is thy wil that al men should be saued thy wil be doone and saue mee by thy mercie I beseech thee Amen A praier for the prisoner O Liuing GOD and louinge Father of Heauen I haue stood in the waie of sinners and wasted my days in iniquitie for the which I am iustlie tied in bands and shall suffer the shippewrack of this fraile and fading life O Lorde comfort me with thy holy spirit against the terror of death and so roote in mee the hope of saluation that I may looke in stedfast saith after the night of my passion to suppe and to be with thee in heauenly paradise Euill hath beene my life euen from the wombe haue I warred with euill nature against thee and to my power sought to destroy my selfe and to crucify my Iesus again most villanouslie But yet O. Lorde and father of mercie I beleeue verilie that al thy sonnes bloud is not dried vppe I am persua ded that there are some drops of grace reserued for all laden and labouring publicans and therefore comming vnto thee I crie and cal Lorde haue mercie vpon me a sinner Lorde O Iesu thou sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me Remember thy bloo die passion and with the testimonie of most thy holy spirite seale vp in my heart my saluation that I may die in thee and so liue with thee for euer Amē A praier to be said at the houre of death FAther of heauen into thy handes I doo commend my soule Lorde increase my faith strengthen my weaknes fortifie my soule with the Testimonie of thy fauour against the feare of death which is dreadfull vnto me O gratious God looke not vppon my merits for they are none nor vpon my life for it hath been very naught and abhominable but looke vpon Christ thy deer sonne and my louinge Iesus who beeing slaughtered vpon the altar of the Crosse crieth vnto thee for me and my brethren Father forgiue thē Thy sonne O Lorde died to deliuer vs was bound to lose vs out of hellish Aegypt that being freed by him wee might alwaies and solie serue him But mercie Lorde mercie is all my sute for I haue prophaned his pretious passion by my euill conuersation and done what laie in my power to crucifie him againe but notwithstanding Lord thou art alwaies mercifull and of great pittie and I beleeue verely that thy sonnes mercie is not abated who cried for the butchering Iewes Father forgiue them Louing God therefore burie mine iniquities and accept thy sonnes crie as a satisfaction for my sinne Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Amen A praier for the truth HEresie O Lorde is the spurre of dunghil cocks and hirelinges which faint and will not fight in thy quarrell against the wolfe for the sheepe of thy pasture Let not this spur blind the eies of christians let it not shut vppe the windowe of thy will Thy truth defende O Gratious God and with the whippe of thy iudgement scourge al penie gospellers and scowre thy fathers house which must be a house of praier that thy worde may be truly preached which is thy power vnto saluation Grant vnto vs the pure bread of life let it not bee sowred with the leuen of vnseasoned Rabbins least thy truth being eclipsed with euill doctrine be vtterly buried and so thy Lambes for hunger starued The babes of thy familie do hunger gape for meat they dailie crie vnto thee Father of heauen deliuer vs from euil Come Lorde Iesus come for thou art truth and the onely teacher of truth Roote vppe out of thy garden the weedes of heresie and hinder the blaste of slaundering Trumpetters whoe dooe nothing else but barke againste thy truth and bite the good names of others and al to the defacing of thy Gospel Amen A praier for the ploughman IT is thy iuste reward O GOD to man for his trecherie and disobedience against thy maiestie that he should get his liuing by the sweat of his browes I confesse therefore O thou iust God and louing father that I haue merited this bondage that thou maiest be iustified when thou art iudged Giue me thy grace O Lord that I may be diligent and faithful in my vocation to doo my dutie not so much for feare as for conscience Giue me thy grace that I may serue with a willing minde and a free conscience that beeing subiect to a Christian in body yet I may beare rule ouer sinn and Satan in a stedfast fayth and feare of thee Gard defend mee with thy grace and fense me with thy fauour Vphold my feet frō slipping staie mee that I fall not and if I fal raise me vp that I may not lie in the mire of desperation when sinne shall assault mee Plow my hart with the threats of thy pearsing lawe and harrowe it with a greeuous memorial of my omitied duetie but so O Lord that thou in the end doo so we in it the seede of thy Gospell the bread of immortalitie that I may liue in thee and by thee now and for euer Amen A praier for the blessing of his labour SVch was the fall of Adam O gratious God so great was his rebelliō against thy diuine maiestie that of desert thou maiest forsake him and staie the hand of thy boun teous liberalitie Notwithstanding Lorde because that thou hast commanded all men to aske and allured them to craue things necessarie by thy promise that hee that asketh shal haue therefore O Lorde in hope of thy wonted and offered mercie I come vnto thee in the names of Christ thy beloued sonne and my louinge husband desiring thee in the streames of thy bloodie teares to wash me from my sinnes to burie them in the bottome of the sea and to scatter them as chaffe before the winde that I being taken into thy fauour reconciled to thee in the blood of the immaculate lambe may looke in assurance for thy
fatherlie prouidence Blesse O Lord the curssed earth so fructifie the barren earth with the deawe of heauen that we may haue great cause to glorifie thy name and sufficient for nature againste extremitie to releeue vs with thy store in time of necessity Amen A praier for peace AP pease O gratious God the surging waues of this present euill worlde cut downe the angrie make-bates and graunt vnto vs the peace of thy spirit that liuing in one minde and bearing about vs one wil grounded vpon thy gratious pleasure wee maye bee gathered into one sheepefolde and liue in brotherlie loue and vnfained vnitie O louing maker and God of peace it is a pitious thing to see the malice of the world it is a myserie to behold how thy members disioint themselues in ceremonies and beggerlie elements it is a hell to consider how mightie Saule rageth against little Dauid to see the beastlie crueltie and tiger like tyrannie of the Pharaos of this world who not tendring their owne case not regarding the end of thy passion or full and sole redemption do racke and rent the babes of thy Church thy beloued wife Redresse all this gratious God eyther cut off our enimies or else conuert them that wee may together wage battell against the diuell our archaduersarie Season the harts of our brethren that wil for a trifling ceremonie renounce thy veritie and breake the bandes of Christian vnity Continue the weake nouices of thy schoole in the libertie of thy Gospel that all offense being taken away we may serue thee the God of peace euen charitie it selfe in Charitie Amen A praier in time of Warre O Lorde and onelye peacemaker linke vs in vnitie that are deuided ioyne vs in loue that haue sundered our selues and so transgressed thy holie will If our cause bee euill good Lord amend vs and reconcile vs with the peace of thy spirit if it be good defende vs O Lorde and turne vnto vs or else confound our enimies Gratious Iesus thou knotte of peace which hast ioyned God thy father and man not onelie in fauour as friendes but also coupled vs in one brotherhood with thee as his children we beseech thee to sow the seede of concord in vs that we maie liue in thee as fruitful branches now and for euer O Lord giue vs thy grace that wee purchase no enuie nor be the fathers of sedition of warr or any insurrection but imprinte in our hearts thus much that thou art loue who shalt come to iudge the quicke and the dead Charitie shall iudge the world and confound al bruers of tumults Ingraue this lesson O Lord in the tables of our harts and for giue vs al that is past guide vs in that which is to come that we fall not but stande fast in the way of thy will Amen A praier for the Captaine DEfend the righteous cause of thy seruant assist mee with strength against mine enimies with the wisedome of thy spirit against the policie of man that beeing wholie guided by thee I may fight manfullie in thy quarrel to the building of thy Church and vtter rebuke of her aduersaries Without thee ô fountaine of goodnesse and God of mine estate I can doo nothing Arme mee therefore with thy grace with the buckler of thy word that I may bee able not onely to war with but also to ouermatch Satan my deadlye foe and al his hellish band setting themselues against thee and thine annointed Enriche me with thy mercie that I may bee able to put vpon mee the white raiment offaith and being clothed with it may stande sure against the foming minysters of the diuel that no storm may ouerturne or dismay me O Lord kepe me from al wrest ling affections from inordinate motions defende mee O Lord. Let al discord be remooued whereby thy pellican children may be disseuered But nourishe O God of loue thy babes with the spirite of patience that I and they beeing of one minde may doo our endeuoures and bende our whole strength to the reedifieng of mother Sion which traueleth with sorrowes and sinketh in the mist of heresies vnles thou pul hir out by the hande of thy mercie which doo O gratious God I beseech thee Amen A praier for the souldiour THis worlde is nothing else but a sea of trouble heere the diuel stormeth there the worlde frowneth on euerie side the flesh assaulteth vs so that our life may well be tearmed a warrefare and our daies a treasure of dangers O Lorde with the anchor of thy mercie vphold vs that we sink not in the sea of this troublous time but guide vs with thy holie spirit that our liues may please thee and wee in our death praise thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Plant the tree of peace among vs lette it flourishe to the gladdening of our harts that al dissention cut off wee may be linked in one knot of Christian vnitie gathered into one sheepfold and guided by thee our onelie and one sheepheard Let nothing sunder the members of thy bodie but cherish and nourish them with a full persuasion of brotherhood in the vnitie of our Sauiour and thee our one and onlie father Amen A praier in time of dearth O Mightie God and maker of al things thou art iuste and in iustice hast thou scourged vs we confesse it O Lord. Our liues haue deserued thy whip the excessiue riot of sinne hath merited the famine and want of thy gratious benefites but not withstanding louing Lord burie our iniquities in the multitude of thy wonted goodnes and blesse vs with the store of thy mercie that as wee may nowe declare thy iustice reuealed agaynste sinne so likewise wee maye preach and blase abroad to the worlde the bottomlesse pit of thine infinit pittie O gratious Lord thou gauest thine onely sonne our Iesus to the death euen to the death of the crosse by his bitter passion to purchase our redemption As thou hast giuen him so good Lord giue vs all thy benefites with him that as thou hast by him redeemed vs so wee in him may bee sustained during this transitorie life with fulnesse of thy grace tyll the daie of his great visitation when meting him in the clouds we shall be set on his right hande to liue with him in sulnesse of ioye for euer Desend vs O Lord from extreme needines and correct vs not in thine anger but store vs with sufficient in thy mercie Foode and raiment good Lord wee aske no more Giue vs and grant vs this our petition and giue vs grace therwith to be content Amen A praier against the feare of death THy handes haue ramed me O lord And whereas to the ble 〈…〉 she of all his posteritie father Adam made himselfe thorough follie worse than nothing a curssed caitife euen thine vtter enimie it pleased thee of vnmerited goodnes to leaue the colledge of thy Saints the ninetie nine iust sheepe the bande of thy blessed angels to seeke the straieng sheepe the groate
that lost that royall stamp of a pure nature to the vtter disgracing of all his progenie Man this loste sheepe thou soughtest O Iesus thou foundest sweet Iesus by death thou foundest her by bleeding paines thou foundest her by nailed hands and bored feete thou foundest her by a sharpe thornie crowne which pear ced thy glorious head by sheding of thine owne bloud by drinking of veneger in thine extreme thirst by suffering the most violent death of y e crosse thou foundest her and so fo undest thy lost sheepe man loste man sinfull man the childe of wrath O Iesus O louing Iesus tender harted Samaritan that of a sicke hast salued of a sore sinner hast saued him of a wicked Creature washed him cleane in the streame of thine inestimable mercie O Iesu O gratious Iesu thou hast sought loste man and founde lost man by condemning sinne by breaking the bands of the diuel by conquering hell sinne death and diuel in the flesh Sith therefore thouhaste O louing Iesu pitiful Iesu of thy mercy shed thy bloud not onlie for my firste father Adam but also for mee euen for the whole worlde that as sinne ouerran al men to condemnation by one man so in thee al the nations of the worlde might bee blessed And sith thou hast not onelie made a ful purgation for my sinnes beeing the slaughtered Lambe that haste taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde but also soong a conquest ouer sinne which hath lost his sting death which was dead hel which had lost the victorie and the dragon which thou ouercammest in heauen by preaching libertie to Captiues and leading captiuitie captiue there is no cause whie I should faint and feare death Arme mee therfore O Lord with this faith that thou hast dashed Death in peeces with the rod of thy merits drowned the diuell in the riuers of thy pretious blood that no torment or biting paine of the fleshe sunder mee from thee most louing Iesu but imprint in my heart thy grace that in greatest anguishe I may be so farre from the feare of it as rather to crie with thy Sayntes Come Lord Iesu Come and desire to bee dissolued with Paule and to be with thee my louing husband than by anie panges of death to refuse thee O Lord doo thy good will Amen Another OVr Father which arte in heauen thou art life how shal I come vnto thee there is no waie O Lord but thy selfe no man commeth vnto thee but by thee There is no remedy but this vessel of earth must bee broken before I shall see thee face to face euen as thou art in fulnes of glorie Dust to duste ashes to ashes claie to claie earth muste returne to earth to pay this borrowed tabernacle to earth where of it came Grasse must wither the flower must fade the vapour vanish I must be dissolued before I shall be ioyned fullie to thee my head and onelie vine wherein I liue Thy purseuant sicknes must visit this body of sinne and death muste rowe me ouer the seas of this world vnto thee in the barke of faith by the anchor of thy couenāts made to the house of Dauid O Lord therefore giue me grace to welcome death by which I must passe to life that dieng in thee I may be blessed and liue in the storehouse of thy ioyes for euer Amen Another O Louing husbande mine onely Iesus sleepe not slumber not but awake my ioye awake my comfort and lose the bandes of my miserie Death death O Lord thou hast nailed to the tree by the pretious passion and drowned Satan the prince of darkenesse in the streamie floud of thy blessed bloud Sweet Iesus louing Lord and husband mine lock vp the faith of this thy merit in my heart and clip mee in the sweete armes of thy woonted comfort Kisse me kisse mee pitious Iesu pittie mee and be not angrie with mee Diuorce me not O mercifull Iesus but marrie me in mercie and call me in thy fauor to the mariage of grace that beeing thine by the testimonie of thy spirite I may singe with a brasen face sinne where is thy sting hel where is thy victorie Mercie O Lorde mercie loue louing God loue is thy nam 〈…〉 mercie is my sute O bottomlesse pitie thy loue I labor and crie for Lord Lord Iesus thou sonn of Dauid haue mercie vpon mee and spread foorth the banners of thy comfort that I may knowe that I am thine and knowing it may neuer distrust thine inestimable mercie Amen Another in forme of a confession IN thy name O Lord Amen I acknowledge to the publishing of God his glorie and the comfort of my soule that I am God his owne childe that he hath created me of nothing redeemed me being lost preserued me from the wombe till this time In him haue I onely trusted neuer shal be confounded Beloued friendes in the Lord for your comfort and mine owne duetie heare my confession which euery christian is boūd to make I acknowledge ther fore in the face of GOD Almightie before you all that whether I liue or die I am his He hath suffered death to saue mee from death he was crowned with thornes to crowne me with glorie he was bored and nailed to the tree to nayle and to crucifie the sinnes of the whole world He was content to be pearced and goared with a speare yea so pearsed that the blood gushed out and for nothing else but to washe me cleane from the sore of sin in the streames of his mercie For this with one consent lett vs crie Our soules doo magnifie the Lord and our spirits rcioise in God our Sauiour Sccondlie I confesse that though Christe in his pretious bloud hath clensed me from the filth of sinne that notwithstanding I doo nothing in this present life but heape sinne vppon sin and hourde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that this daie is worse alwaies than yesterdaie by increasing as daies so sins and therefore the indignation of God against mee But yet those of hel shal not be able to preuaile against me For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus my Sauiour Thirdlie I confes that as my life is sinful so it is shorte like a smoke like a shaddowe like a warrefare like a flower that fadeth grasse that withereth a word that soon passeth it is like a bubble in the water a weauers shuttle it is a span long and no moe Againe it is not onelie short but also miserable For it is an exile a vale of miserie it is a wildernesse it is stuffed with sorrowes a cage of enimies a sea of myseries a dungeon of gronings greeuous sobbings it is a storme a tempest that wonderfullie trobleth the people of our heauenlie father beleeue me it is no better than a womans trauell and that is extremelie miserable and therefore as not onelie short but also wretched I am willing to forsake it Yea death welcome death sicknes sicknes of
deere father the crie of his bloudie sweat his long fasting his great patience his bodie racked and crucified all crie vnto thee for mercie for mercie father O father fauour and pardon him This is the trumpetor of ioy this is he that bloweth the blast of comfort and soules solace heare him heare O Lord attend not my life mark not my steps for my life is vnsauorie and my steps are crooked let the crie of thy bleeding babe mooue thee to mercie and put thee in minde of thy couenant that in him all the nations of the world shuld be blessed Blesse me O Lord better me with the dew of thy blessings and let the drops of thy sonnes bloud by a liuelye faith distill into my heart and fructifie it with workes woorthy repentance I beseech thee Amen A praier for all times against the power of Satan THe Diuel O Lord like a roring Lion runneth aboute in euerie corner hee lurketh and euer he gapeth to deuoure the lambes of thy pasture He is an enimie not onelie readie to deuoure vs but also able to catch vs in the snare of iniquitie against thy diuine maiestie For dailie do we eat the sower grape of nature and sauor of vnseasoned rotten Adam in whose sinfull act we are wrapped by desert in condemnation and become bond slaues of Satan vnlesse thou O Lord do season our harts with the oile of thy grace and wash vs in the water of thy mercie that being clensed from sinne and made as white as snowe with the merits of thy sonne the diuel may lose his title and forget his obligation that hee had against vs wee be quitted from his tyrannie We beseech thee therfore ô gratious father of Heauen with thy power to bridle satan and in thy mercie to beare with vs with thy might to maister him and in thy grace to graffe vs in Iesus the liuelie vine of mercie that growing in him no storme may be able to tosse and ouerturne vs we besech thee Amen Another DAielie O Lorde doo wee passe the limittes of thy wil we sinne at the least seuen times a day and pledge mother Eue in the dregs of nature This is the frailetie of the fleshe and this is the weakenes of al Adams issue a miserable case ô Lord vnlesse in thy mercie thou wilt wrap vs couer the nakednes of nature with the white raiment of grace that we being thine maye neuer despaire for any brunt of storming Satan be it neuer so perillous LORDE saue vs in thy mercie saue vs haue pittie and compassion vpon vs and marke not our steps which are crooked but cast the eie of thy fauour vpon thy sonne Christ who was content to suffer the bleeding paines of the crosse to satisfie thy wrath to deliuer vs from the stinge of an hellie conscience We beseech thee therefore O louing Lord not to obserue our iniquities but to wash vs from the guiltines of sinne in the flood of thy mercies and so to saue vs that being dead in iniquitie and yet saued of thine infinite pittie we may giue all glory vnto thee and sing with our mother the Church that saluation only belongeth to thee Amen A praier for al afflicted Christians GReat are the troubles of the righteous O Lorde and many they be that arise against thee and thine an nointed like wolues to teare them and butchering Herods to behead and dispatch them Euen for thy sake O Lord are thy children brought to the slaughterhouse for the testimonie of thy truthe are they tied in bands and beaten with wandes daielie Vp Lord arise and strike thine enimies vppon the cheeke bone lifte vp thy rod of iron and dashe the vnsauourie and sower vessels of iniquitie in peeces with thy sanne scatter the chaffe and gather thou thy corne into the garner of ioy Let it bee beaten but let it not bee broozed with the thresholde of this tyrannous Wolfe that beeing freed from the chaffe of Nature and seuered from the cocle of euill and wicked liuers it may be found with the lost groat and laide vppe in thy treasure of eternal pleasure for euer Doo thy good wil O gratious God beat them beate them and buffet vs sharpelie O Lorde so thou saue vs of thy mercie and plucke vs out of Daunger by the hande of thy mightie power proppe vs with thy power that wee maye magnifie thee of thy mercy Amen Another THE mountains of this wicked worlde are manye and mightie O Lorde and little is the flocke of thy sheepe The mountaines are euen partched with furie against thy congregation to presse with the weight of their tyrannie the babes of thy familie Awake vp therefore O Lorde sleepe not slumber not but awake and defeate their ima gined mischiefe as thou hast promised that they that trust in thee shal be as mount Sion which cānot be remooued Suffer them to beat vs y ◠we might liue godlie in thee but so let them buffet vs that they neuer ouermaster vs that according to thy promise as mount Sion wee maie not be moued Giue vs grace to trust in thee whatsoeuer betide vs and neuer to start from thee whatsoeuer smart we suffer that continuing to the end wee may be blessed with thee for euer And for the mountains of this world either euen them with the vally and babes of thy familie or else pare and partch them with the beames of thy iudgement Thy wil bee don O Lord thy kingdome come and saue vs we beseech thee Amen A praier for the Queene O Louing God wee thanke thee for the great care which thouhast ouer thy Church She hath bene tossed with the waues of this worlde and the preaching of thy word did suffer shipwrack but now O Lord now of meere mercie thou hast repaired the broken hart of Ierusalem and gladdened our harts with the wine of comfort For thou haste appointed a mother ouer Sion to cherish and defend hir from al hir storming aduersaries so that by hir meanes we are freed from the slauerie of the Romish Pharao and salued from the sore of heresies wherewith thy deere espouse was most gree uouslie troubled O Lorde continue this weede-hooke in her hande that she may throughlie cleanse thy garden Let thy wil and gratious plesure be hir scepter and target against the frowning band of cloudie Saules Alwaies erect and pitch about her the tents of thy fauour that no euill betide hir or daunger annoy her Clippe her in thy sweete armes and kisse her in mercie be not thou angrie with hir but continue her a fauourable nursse to little Dauid that hee maye growe in all faith and holynesse vntill hee be a perfect manne in Christ Iesus Lorde saue her in thy mercie and deliuer her from al euil Amen A praier for all Magistrates CRooked is the way of al flesh O father of heauen and ouer plētious would the haruest of weedie nature be vnlesse it were lopped and minished by the weedhooke
the peril of a mortal plague I beseech thee therfore O father of heauen in the name of thy sonne Christe to deliuer mee of this terrible reward of sinne to qualifie with the salt of thy grace our vnsauourie fleshe and to sweeten our viperous and vile nature with the oile of thy spirit that fighting manfullie vnder our capteine Michaell against the Dragon wee may not onelie wage battell or subdue but also crucifie the old man hand foot head hart euen the whole kingdome of Satan the prince of vtter darkenes that the diuel being battered downe and the olde Adam driuen out of our hartes we may offer vppe our bodies as liuely sacrifices vnto thee without any sent of stinking nature For this O Lord is acceptable in thy sight that beeing transformed into thee in newnes of life wee may bee fit temples for thy holie spirit to dwel and abide in Mortifie therefore the flaming fleshe O Lorde and appease the waues of our wanton nature that we may be euen as thou willest holie as thou art holy Amen Another WHat shal I doo O gratious God for I am borne of flesh the very affection wherof is death Shal I die shal the frame of thy hands be destroied no Lorde For thy mercies sake remember thy promise Aske and haue I aske O Lord I aske mercy doo I aske I desire thee in the bow els of thy Son Christ to regenerate me a spiritual man that beeyng borne anewe not of flesh nor of bloud nor of the will of man but of thy spirite by the power of thy worde I may be consecrate a priest vnto thee O Lorde and louer of holines guide me in the waye of thy will that I wander not in vanitie which thou abhorrest and canst not abide Thou hatest sinn and all the workers of iniquitie and vnles wee repent as father Baptist saide we shal al for our sinnes suffer the rod of thy iustice Giue mee therefore the sword of thy spirite that I may cut off the eare of Malchus and then bee healed by the playster of Grace Apparel me with thy heauenlie truth and arme me with thy holie worde that in time of combate I may be able to cut off the desperate assaults of the sinfull flesh Amen O Lord Amen I saie vnto the wordes Aske and thou shalt haue In mercie performe thy promise O eternal veritie and giue me grace not to doubt thereof Amen A praier for the obteining of grace O LORD I am thy sheepe thy hands haue facioned me a lost sheepe I am that haue wandered past the pasture of thy will into the brode field of vanitie As thou hast framed mee therefore of thy goodnes so recall me from straieng by the voice of thy mercie Giue mee grace to heare thee hearing to come vnto thee comming to follow thee and following thee the waie to heauen and doore of glorie euer to beare about me the pearle of grace and neuer to decline from the rule of thy wil. Keepe me from the pit of sinne vnderprop me from falling into the ditche of iniquity by the hand of thy fauour and fense me with grace the buckler of thy mercie that I may defeate Satans wilinesse and repel the blowes of frowning sinne a cloudie conscience O Lord let grace through the pipe or chanell of thy mercie distil into the vessel of my barren hart that being moistened with the dewe of thy gratious blessinges and softened with the spirit of thy goodnes I may lodge thee the blessed Trinitie linked in an indissoluble knot of vnitie to the reparation of the image of grace recouerie of disgraced nature Amen Another IT is thy gratious wil O God of mercie that all men shuld be saued It is not thy wil ô pitious Iesu that any sheepe of thy pasture should bee deuouted or anie Creature perishe which thou of thy goodnes hast framed And therefore O louer of man and loue it selfe I a poore wretched sinner that haue a longe time pastured in the broade way of iniquity yet hearing thee continuallie and that of mercie calling Come vnto me doo come vnto thee for grace and mercie agaynst merited cōdemnation Grace Lord grace is almy sute For I am a plaine castawaie and by thousands more wretched than the crawling Worme of the earth vnlesse thou bedeck me with the garment of Grace and marrie me in thy mercies promised to the house of Dauid Lap me therefore O Father of Heauen in thy whyte rayment and apparel my nakednes with the wouen coate of thy grace that Satan finding no seame in my wedding garment may not be able in anie respect to rip vp my faults before thee at the daie of thy visitation This do O gratious Iesu clippe mee in thy sweete armes and bowe downe thy head to kisse mee in mercie and be not angrie for my sins but drowne them in thy pretious blood for thine owne sake I beseech thee Amen A praier for patience in affliction O Fountaine of comfort O streamie welspringe of vndeserued mercie beholde most gratious GOD and louing Father I beseech thee mee thy poore creature Behold Lorde I am a worme and no man the buls of Basan impale mee rounde about the diuell like an hungrie Lion ro reth and gapeth to dispatch mee and the flesh like a venemous viper seeketh to stinge me Good God behold behold mee and fortifie thy seruaunt thine owne handie worke against the stormie blasts of the enimie Patience patience O Lorde adorne me with patience and seale vp in my heart the remission of my sinnes by the testimonie of thy holie spirite that being holden vp by the anchor of a liuelie hope in thy sufficient merits I may be able to indure the ende of this my combat which vnder thy banners I presently do sustein Most mighty Mychael fence thy child against the traitorous rebels of this world which doo nothinge else but dismember the babes of thy familie pro phane thy pretious passion Be thou vpon my side that no enimie may preuaile againste me Lord in thee haue I trusted let me neuer be confounded I beseech thee for thine owne merits Amen Another THere is no victorie without fighting nor anye crowne without victorie giue mee therefore power O Lord that fighting valiantly I maie bee crowned gloriouslie in heauen with thee to liue for eeuer Minister strength vnto mee that I maye ouermayster mine enimies and giue mee the spirit of patience that continuing to the ende I may bee found and taken as a faithfull souldiour of thy sonne Iesus and so be blessed Let me not faint in feare but let mee fight in a liuely faith whych ouermatcheth the whole worlde Plant me a naturall branch by the power of thy worde in the vine Iesus and make me able to indure euerie cracke Let no canker of sinne eate me let no worme of a burnt conscience gnaw me let no blaste of the worlde ouerturne me but staie me vp with thy mightye hand and bee euer at
satisfaction for my sinnes drown them in the streame of thy mercie cast them behinde thee good Lord I beseech thee O sweete Iesus lodge me in thy pretious wounds and look vpon me with thy piteous eie least that bee destroied which thou of thy great goodnes hast made and Christ thy sonne of inestimable loue and infinite charitie hath redeemed thorough his bitter passion This is the totall summe of my sute vnto thee Lord mercie mercie ô father of mercie mercie is the thing that I begge haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me I beseech thee louing Lord haue pitie vpon me Bee thou my shepheard to defende mee my Castell of defense to saue me against the gaping diuel Thou hast store of mercie for them that aske it O Lorde therefore euen for the wounds of thy deere sonne haue mercie vpon me let not sinne sting me to death but lay to my sore soule the salue of thy mercie of thy mercie one drop of thy sonnes bloud a little dewe of thy blessing good Lorde I beseech thee Amen Another O Lorde my thoughtes my wordes mine actions haue taken weapons and waged battell againste mee and Satan that old rebellious traytour taketh part with them to ouerthrowe me thy poore and impotent souldiour He raiseth vp the snake of my conscience to sting me the poison of an euil life to infect mee with the desperat plague of Cains blasphemie and I am but fleshe vnable to withstande the furie of this dragon Oh what shall I doo I am a Sinner as Satan saieth and my conscience telleth mee and the rewarde is death as thy word dooth teach me What then shal I doo shal I die as Iudas O Lord is there no remedie surely my Lorde and my God I despaire in my selfe and confesse my selfe the child of wrath by naturs voice but yet O Lord it is thy voice it is the voice of grace that thy mercie is aboue al thy workes in token whereof thou camest into the world to saue sinners This is the piller that vpholdeth mee from falling this is the rod of iron that dasheth sa tan out of countenance and defeateth the argumentes of my sinnefull conscience Arme me with this buckler of faith in thy meritorious incarnation life and passion that I may not be giuen ouer as a prey to the dragon but crucifie the snakie persuasions of Satan and his companie Amen Another AVoid Satan thou shalte not tempt the Lords seruant thy works are destroied thy bandes are broken thou shalt not take or bind mee Auoid sinne for thou hast loste thy sting thou wast condemned in the fleshe nailed to the crosse and crucified with my Lord Christ vpon the tree Auoid death for thou art dead and hel for thou art swallowed vp in victorie Auoid thou dragon and all thine angelles for Michaell hath beaten thee and broken thy head he hath freed vs from sinne and ledde awaie captiuitye captiue euen hee Satan hath ouermastered thee that crieth out vnto me Feare not for I haue ouercome the world euen he that hath promised to bee with mee till the ende of my pilgrimage and crieth out that if hee bee with mee no man can bee agaynst me no not hell gates to preuaile against me Fight therefore Satanne as long as thou wilte thou shalt bee at length put to the foile for the mightie lion of the tribe of Iuda telleth mee that there is no condemnation to them that be in him that Iesus is the conquerour of the whole worlde and vanquisher of thee fight and rage thou neuer so much Ther fore auoide I saie awaie from me for in Christ haue I passed the sea of my sinnes thy cursed armie if thou folow to pursue mee thou shalt bee drowned in the red sea of Christes bloud to whome be all glorie Amen A praier for the auoidance of Gods wrath QTender harted Ioseph haue mercie vpon me Great is the floud of myne iniquities so great O God of mercie that vnles the banks of thy grace represse it it will ouerrunne and so drowne my see lie soule Drowne my sâ—â—s in the poole of thy mercie cast them into the sea of thy bottomles pity least the smoke of my wickednesse doo smother me and the rod of thy iudgement breake and brooze mee like a potters vessell For the bagge of mine iniquities is so stuffed and the stinge of my sinnes so poisonous and the sent of them so vnsauourye in thy nostrilles O Lorde that if thou wilt obserue it who may abide it the surest piller of thy Church woulde shake the fairest rose would wither the best lamb should abide the slaughter if the beames of thy mercie shoulde not partch and burne vp the ripe and plentious haruest of our iniquities O Lord therfore haue mercie vpon vs and beate vs not with the rod of thy furie but vnder prop the shippe of our weake faith with the anchor of thy mercy that beleeuing in thee we may not perishe but haue euerlasting life Thou hast apesed ô sweet Iesus the wrath of thy father againste sinne conceiued by thy meritorious passion that I might with the holie ones bee holie as thou art But I haue prophaned thy passion by my dailie faults such is the frailtie of the flesh for the which I iust ly may be refused But yet Iesus one drop of fauor bestowe vppon mee and crie For my bloudie passion father forgiue him I beseech thee Amen A praier for remission of Sinnes O Lord what do I dailie but wander in the field of vanitie what is my hart but a filthy prisoÌ„ of corrupt thoughts what is my mouth but a stinking chanell of vaine wordes what are my feete but chariots to bloudshed what are my hands but battellers with charitie what is my heade but a castell of wicked deuises and what is my life but a fardell of iniquitie I am nothing better than a deade tree the roote is perished the bough withered I am fruitles and good for nothinge but for the furie of the flame What then good Lorde shall it bee so I am no better than a deade tree but what shall I burne sweete Iesu O saue me for thy name sake and quicken me create a new hart within me ingraffe me in the true Oliue purge mee that I may bring foorth much fruite and for euer flourishe lyke a tree planted by the riuers side O powre the oile of grace into my defiled heart and season it with the salt of thy mercy least the sume of mine iniquities ascend vppe to thy nostrils and prouoke thy furie against me Powre downe some drops of thy pretious bloud from the clouds of thy mercy to quench out the angrie flame of sinne which I my selfe am not able to put out by the vertuous water of any merite Purge mee therefore with Isop O Lorde and then I shal bee cleane O lambe of God let me eate thy flesh and drink thy bloud that I may liue by thee and cloath me in
vpon the seas of this worlde to hynder and keepe backe the propagation of the Gospel kiling by sword boyling in fire and choking by the darnel of his cocle gospell the babes of thy familie So that now thy Church O Lorde is harrowed little is the flock of thy beloued Steeuen we haue a great derth of preaching Ieremies and a verie small number of crieng Esayes to conduct thy children the tender sucklinges of thy Gospel from danger to safetie out of the rough wildernes of this wicked world O looke vpon thy little flocke let the Foxe no more fleece them but sende shepheards to feed them with the pure milk and sound meat of thy Gospell Send vs no woolues to teare but sende vs doggs to defende the sheepe of thy Pasture against our woluish Pharao that continuallie gapeth to deuoure thy beeloued Israel O Lorde haue mercie vppon vs and let the riuers of thy worde haue free course in euerie chanel let no puddle of filthy doctrine or quagmire of damnable heresie trouble thy little flock sweet babes least they tasting thereof drink their owne destruction But sende downe thine Angels to cleanse the poole of thy word mingled with the water of heresie that wee liyng sicke at the gate of thy mercie maye descend into it and so be healed Grant this for thine infinit mercies sake and for the glory of thine eternall Godhead Amen A praier for the Schoolmayster WHere shall I begin O Lorde to rip the vnseamed coate of thy benefites O that I were al hart to conceiue or al toong to vtter them For where we had not onelie loste the inheritance of paradise but also the integritie of Nature through father Adams follie thou hast set down precepts and elected gouernours ouer youth that being ruled by tutours and liuing well by precepts the childrē of Adam might recouer the disgraced puritie of nature and at length of thy meere fauour be exalted not to an earthly paradise but to an heuenly inheritance to enter and inherit the palace of an heauenlie Ierusalem And whereas O welspring of all goodnes thou hast appointed me to view and ouersee the naturall man not only to train him vp in learning but also in liuing giue me thy grace that I may first of a wilde oliue become a braunch of Iesus that awaking my selfe with the winges of thy mercie I maye crowe the better to stumbling Peter not onely in deliuering precepts but also examples of godlie life and honest conuersation Giue me y e true knowledge of thy word that by it as by a lanterne I may guide my selfe and them the better from wandering in vanitie into the waie of sanctitie Giue me also grace to doo my dutie faithfullie and imprint in my heart the last daie when I shall render an account of my calling so that alwaies remembring it I may the better fulfil it O Lord shew thy mercie Amen Another O Lorde giue me grace to bee faithful in my vocation to bee diligent in my calling to traine vppe youth but before al things to serue thee Schoole me ô gratious God in the waie of thy wil and teache me the waie of thy commandementes that I may not only liue by thee but in thee for euer Plant me like a branch of grace in the gardeyn of thy gratious pleasure that I maye growe in thee and not in the broad way of iniquitie or wide fielde of vanitie Order thou my waies with the rule of thy wil and guide my steps by this lanterne of life that neither for feare or flatterie I swarue from the lessons of thy holie spirite but euer may walke with the warrant of a good conscience in thy lawe and testimonies For this O Lord shal redounde to the profite of thy Churche whereof by Baptisme I am a member as also to the bettering of youth which is better schooled by examples of a godlie life than by precepts of learning Therefore O Lord that thy Church may bee vnspotted and without wrinkle I beseech thee in thy sonnes name to haue mercie vpon me and al my brethren which liue in faith and feare of thee that our good liues maye glorifie thee our father in heauen and spur the babes of thy familye to the perfourmance of their vow by the power of thy spirit Amen Apraier for Schollers O God we are a cursed progenie by nature lapt in the bands of sinne and fettered in the chaine of death the due rewarde of sinne and iniquitie but of thy meere mercie thou hast drawne vs vnto thee out of the iawes of our spirituall Pharao by the death of Christ thine onelye sonne that mightie lion of the tribe of Iudah that being deliuered from the handes of our enimies wee might serue thee in him al the daies of this our life But because we cannot of our selues and by our selues aspire to the end of our redemtion we giue thee thankes O Lord that it hath pleased thee to helpe vs by this meanes to wit by placing vs vnder tutors Thou hast throughlie sifted our nature thou knowest that there is continuall battell betweene the wanton fleshe and the spirit of sanctification and therefore to represse olde Adam and to crucifie the kingdom of the wanton flesh thou hast put this yoke vppon vs to bee vnder tutors and gouernours to crop the crooked boughes off and to mowe downe the ripe haruest of wicked nature that they might by precepts of life with the assistance of thy spirite graffe vs in the true vine Iesus and also printe the stampe of Christian knoweledge in the tables of our harts that beeing no base metal but pure and fine siluer we might and yet of grace be weighed in the balance of thy mercie as currant coyne to be placed in the storehouse of thy ioy for euer To thee as onlie good be al glorie Amen The mothers praier for the good education of hir youth O Gratious God in knowledge that thou louest all thinges which thou hast made of thy goodnes and that thing cannot perish which is committed to thy charge Now I come vnto thee with my ten der children committing them into thine hands and desiring thee to couer them vnder the winges of thy prouident mercie Hew and square the rough table of their hearts of stonie make them fleshie that being softened by the dewe of thy blessinges they may beare the seale of adoption in thy sonne Christ. O Lord guide them in this darke vale of vanitie with the light of thy fauour that escaping the dungeon of sinne they may walke in newnes of life and lodge alwaies in thine holie will Imprint in theyr harts faith hope humility and charitie that following thee they may be humble meeke as thou art In due them with the spirite of feare that they may kisse thee in faith and liue lie obedience thou beeing neuer angrie with them but louing them as the mother dooth her tender sucklings Amen The Fathers praier O Father of all Fathers haue
mercie vpon me and giue me thy grace not onelie to be thankefull for this thy gratious gift but also dutifull to vse it after thy good will and pleasure It is thy wil O father of Heauen that chyldren shoulde come vnto thee yea that all men shoulde be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth Fil the cup of thy mercie O Lorde and let mee drinke of it and my children pledge me that we may together bee wrapped in the garment of Grace and at length be married vnto thee into the kingdome of glorie Take my tender babes O Lord into thy familie that as children of thy house together with me they may sit with father Abraham Isaac and Iacob at the table of ioy in ioy vnspeakeable and in pleasure inconceiueable Giue them the spirite of thy fauour that they may crie truelie vnto thee Abba Father assured in their consciences that they are thy children and coheires with our Sauiour Iesus of life eternall O father shew thy mercy for thy mercies sake Amen The Childs praier IAm borne a naturall child O father of Heauen weake in bodie blinde in soule in all parts maimed and as it were lapt in bands of myserie O Lord renew mee wholie make me a babe of thy familie that I may suck the paps of thy word which is of power to saue bodie and soule Lop the tree of nature O gratious God and restraine me within the banks of thy wil by the bri dle of thy spirite that I neuer passing the limites of thy good pleasure may of thy mercie be taken as worthy to sit with father Abraham in the restefull lande of Canaan Regenerate me O Lorde and make mee a new creature that hauing put off the olde manne I may bee transformed into thee the second Adam in newnes of life and be freed from albruntes of storming nature blowes of tyrannous Satan that I maie sleepe in the lap of thy Church in safetie for euer O sweet Iesu let no tempest of sinne or thunderboult of Satan or hys mynisters ouerturne mee thy poore Creature sayling vpon the foming seas beset and bea ten with the surges of this present worlde but gard me with thine hand and let thine holie Angels pitch their tents about me least the brickle barke of my bodie being broozed with the waues of wickednesse and the shippe of my soule shaken with the tempests of iniquitie I vtterlie come to naught and become a castaway In al dangers therefore giue me grace to crie vnto thee with a lowde voice Helpe mee thou that canst stil the roughnesse of the sea or else I perish Amen The Husbandmans praier IA pore husbandman O lord GOD doo come vnto thee for succour Iesus thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie vppon mee Thou art the true vine and GOD thy father the husbandman and a braunche ingraffed in thee by grace and nourished by the iuice of mercie O Lord when the pock of my corrupt nature breaketh out and the wild Oliue sheweth it selfe then of thy fauour lop and crop mee purge mee that I may budde in thee and beare fruite worthie repentance Giue me thy grace that I tie not my hart to this world nor locke my thoughts in the chaine of vanitie but free me from the slauerie of the diuell and vnlose the desperate knot of my sinneful conscience that sinne beeing disiointed by remission and my conscience vn linked from sinne I may serue thee in holines and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Aide mee O father of heauen when the branch of sinne will ouerwantonlie flourish old Adam passe the limits of thy holie will Doo this O father and onely good husbandman for thine owne sake Amen The Maydseruants praier AL estates O Lorde depend vpon thee Kinge and begger Magistrate Clergieman maister and scholler al come of thee And me thou hast made a poore handmaid which I do not only willinglie beare as knowing thou haste allotted mee this calling but also very many waies I haue to thank thee for it For thou hast not onely deliuered me from the slauish seruice of Satan but also dooest by this my yoke restraine the wanton reliques of stained nature preserued me from the pampering of the old man in pleasure and idlenesse Secondlie that I am not seruaunt to any Heathen Turke or Saracen but vnto a Christian in suche a place where thy Gospel is preached freely and fullie Thirdlie and speciallie because thou hast called me vnto such an estate of life as wherein I knowe I doo well please thee For who liueth after thy Gospell if not I whoe get my liuing with the sweate of my browes I doo not glory heere in vaine but to thee bee the glorie who hast turned the cursse into such a blessing O Lord giue me grace to consider this that I may bee more diligent in my calling more earnest in seruing thee than euer I haue beene heeretofore Forgiue me al that is past and guide me in thinges to come that I may neuer haulte in my vocation Giue mee a sounde and perfect faith in thy sonnes blood O father wherin he hath washed of his great mercie my poore soule that notwithstanding I serue a mortal man yet aboue him in all thinges I may serue thee to whome be all glorie both nowe and for euer Amen A praier for a woman with child IN the beginning of the world O father of heauen after thou hadst formed man of the slime of the earth and yet prince ouer all creatures it pleased thee of thy goodnes to create a woman of his side as well for his solace as for the continuance of his seede It was thy worde vnto them Increase and multiply This increase was easie but mother Eue hath made it hard by passing the bounds of thy wil to al her posteritie so that the woman conceiueth and bringeth foorth in great paine and dangerous trauel the fruit of her wombe in so greate paine O Lord in such extreme pangs that vnles thou quench the flame of her sorrowes with the water of comfort it is impossible for her to beare that into this vale of miserie which thou of thy goodnesse hast fra med she conceiued Wherfore thou GOD of woonders and Father almightie of Heauen as thou hast by the slaugh ter of thine only lambe taken awaie the sinnes of the whole worlde and condemned sinne in the fleshe so take awaie the pangs of childbirth the fruit of sinne from all womankind especially this woman that bearing ioy fullie that which shee hath conceiued fruitfullie and thou hast fashioned gratiously shee maye glorifie thee most carefully and praise thee most thankefully the onely staie of hir estate in al extremitie both now at this present and hereafter euerlastingly Amen A praier for a woman in trauell LOrde saue mee or else I perish Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Pitiful Iesu shew thy mercy vnto me and let the light of thy countenance shine vppon me that I be
all messengers welcome art thou Adue vile life farewell life sinneful life adue and welcome death the purseuant of my louing Sauiour for by thee my miserie shall end From war to peace from this stormie worlde into the calme countrie of heauen from gronings and sobbings from this vale of fighings to the pallace of ioy from earth to heauen from sinfull men wild beasts to beloued friendes by death I shall passe to life to haue the companie of holie Patriarkes and blessed Saints to haue the sight of the glorious Trinitie to haue and inherit such ioye as neither eie hath seene nor eare heard nor hart euer conceiued By death I shal haue libertie without imprisonment health without sicknesse ioye without sorrow plesure without paine in such securitie eternitie and perpetuitie as passeth all thoughtes The holie ones of GOD my father the blessed Aungels and Archangels they haue atteined it but neuer can they sufficientlie esteeme of it So that O death thou art welcome welcome sicknes for my Lord Iesus hath new sent thee to fetch me from this prison to his palace from a strange contrie to my home from this place of teares and mourning to the daie of marriage sweet Iesus to marry thee in thy mercies for euer Heare deerely beloued heare and reioyse with me Sicknes is com death is in comming as a purseuant from my louing Iesus to cite me to appeare before him that he may appoint me a man sion in his fathers house to sit with him at the table of ioy for euer O the great ioy and onlie ioy of a Christian Nowe I shall lie noe more in this prison nowe I shall haue Paules wish for I shall bee deliuered from this bodie of sinne now shal I depart in peace with Simeon to haue that peace that passeth all vnderstanding and surmounteth al thought Now now shall I see the amiable tabernacles of my Lorde nowe shall I enter the courtes of my God where one daye is better than a thousande else-where now shal I be a doorekeeper in the house of mine heauenlie father now shal I appeare before the presence of God now doth his kingdome come now Lord Iesus now thou cōmest to carrie my soule into ioy Into thy hands therefore I cōmit my spirite Beloued brethren this is my testamente which I leaue vnto you it offereth great ioye and no matter of Teares Shead therefore no teares for better is the daye of death than the daye of birth I entered my life with a crye it coste my mother payne and teares to beare mee but yet it cost my louing Iesus his bloud to saue mee you and all the world Enuy not therefore my luckines that now I shall passe from you out of this vale of teares vnto him who died that I with him mighte liue in ioye for euer If you will mourne mourne for your owne sinnes mourne for your selues that you shal not so soone sup with God my father as I shall doo mourne not for me for you shall shortly follow me and lose me but for a time when you shall see in heauen for euer For blessed are the dead that die in y e Lord whose name for euer bee glorified Amen A praier for the rich man THou art the Welspring of all good thinges O louinge Lorde thou art the riche store house and cheste of mercie for al naked Adamites O Loue inestimable Wee are born into this Vale of miserie not only wicked in soule but euen also naked in body a deserued entraunce for vs by father Adam through desire of souereigntie but an vndeserued thing it is O good GOD that notwithstanding our merited pouertie deserued nakednesse by rebellion against thy Maiestie thou shouldest thus cloath me with thy benefites with plentie against penurie with friendship against enimitie with health against sickenesse with store against needinesse This O Lord is an vnmerited benefite for the which after my bounden duty I giue thee harty thankes But what shall I say what sufficient thanks shall I render vnto thee for thou hast not onelye armed mee against pouertie 〈◊〉 but also chosen mee as a steward to vnlocke the chest of thy benefites to needye Lazarus that as thou hast loued mee so I should tender thee in him O Lord giue me thy grace that I may bee thy stewarde by clothing the naked by feeding the hungrie lodging the harbourles and defending the fatherles that I may bee able to render a faithfull accoumpt of my stewardshipp vnto thee i 〈…〉 the daie of reuelation Grau 〈…〉 this O Father for Christe his sake Amen Another O Father of Heauen and rich God of mercie Behold thy poore creature in sin riche in grace poore bestowe vppon mee some mite of thy mercie cloath mee with the merits of thy sonne Iesus and bathe my naked bodie in 〈◊〉 pretious bloud satisfie my hungrie soule with a crum of thy gratious blessings that being cloathed with the armour of his meritorious passion I neede not to feare the naked the desperate corruption or rather wages of nature Moisten my heart with the honyedew of thy great rich grace that as thou hast enriched me beyonde my desart beyng by sinne an enimie vnto thee so I maye continue riche in good workes to the profite of my neighbours to the comfort of mine owne soule and to the manifestation of thy glorious maiestie O Lorde thou art a zealous God Such a God as wishest my healthe and the safetie of thy Creatures haue therefore mercy vppon mee blesse me with faith towardes thee with loue towardes my neighbour and a godlie care towards my selfe that thou in thy selfe mayest be magnified my conscience reioise in the testimony of a good life whose reward in thy sonne Christe is life eternal Amen The Beggers praier O Mighty Lord and prouident GOD y e stewardes of thy plentious store-house are not moued to feede the hungrie to cloath the naked and lodge the poore Pylgrime at his piteous crie but notwithstanding all this their tyrannie Father forgiue them and pardon mee as I forgiue them that haue trespassed against me Rake the fire of charitie out of the dead ashes and quicken it O Lord that I may warme mee in thy familie in time of extremitie and they be ready in thy great audit to render a full account of theyr stewardshippe vnto thee But first of all doo I begge grace of thee that I may euer seek thy kingdome and so bee persuaded in hart by thy word that I shal want nothing but that all other things shal be added vnto me This doo I aske of thee O father of Heauen that euer criest Aske haue Giue mee faith to aske in certaintye that I may looke without doubt for this thy craued mercie ô Lord I beseech thee Amen Another LAue mercie vpon mee O Lorde and pardon myne offenses the rich men of this worlde will scarse looke vpon me or vouchsafe to relieue my necessitie with the crummes of
their ouer-streaming tables But yet O Lord I beseech thee forgiue them and denye mee not the crums of thy grace but looke vppon me with the pitious eie of thy louing countenance Assist mee so O Lorde with thy holy spirit that being alwaies content with my calling I may seeke to serue thee in holinesse and purenes of liuing without feare al the daies of my life Beate me with pouertie beate me O Lord strike wound doo thy good will ô louing God so thou saue mee of thy mercie wherin lieth al the ioy of my soule Giue mee thy grace neuer to misdoubte thy prouidence that neuer doubting of thy fatherly care I may with a gladsome heart endure the end of my warrefare Giue me a contented minde let thy wil be my wil and my will alwaies answerable to thy will that I neuer offende thee but doo my dutie in louing thee wishing well to all the world Amen The Widowes praier O LORD I thanke thee that thou hast scourged me with the death of myne husband He was bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh hee by the couenant of matrimonie was made one bodie with me thou gauest him vnto mee and thou haste taken him from mee blessed be thy name for euer The bandes of death haue sundered mee from him but I hope O Lorde by the power of thy holye spirite that nothing shall bee able to separate mee from thee myne onelye Iesus the onely ioye of my soule put the axe of thy mercie to the roote of wanton nature and cut it off that I doo not marrie the vanitie of this wicked worlde but put vpon mee the garment of innocencie and tie about my hart the iewel of faith that I may onelie marry thee in the couenant of thy heauenlie father louing Iesus and haue nothing to doo with the adulterer the Dyuell the father of deadly fornication This is the only bed of ioy wherein I will sleep O Lord the onlie arke of cōfort where in I wil saile till I shal see thee face to face To whome bee praise and honour both nowe and euer Amen The Tenants praier I Thanke thee O father of Heauen that thou haste made me after thin owne image Thou mightest haue made me a frog a worm a tree but thou hast not doone it O Lorde And what was in cause surelie not my merit for I was not before thou madest me it was thy mercye good Lorde the true mother of all mankind Thou hast not made me a king a ruler a lorde no Lorde but I thanke thee for it thou hast made me a tenant of men but yet in thee that euer I might acknowledge thee i◠them my cheefe Lorde in heauē Giue me grace O Lord to thankefull for this thy wil and dutifullie to walke in my voca tion and giue mee thy grace that as I am a tenant to man so I may alwaies bee a tenant to thee to doo thee seruice to paye thee yeerelie my hourely rent which is a thankfull hart for all thy benefites If man would haue mee to do wrong against right Lorde giue mee of thy grace to consider that better it is to be thy Tennant than mans If the diuel and the worlde entising mee to walke wantonly seeke my destruction giue mee grace O God to consider that al things are sub iect to thine vniuersall power and shal not they obeie how then can they or dare they assault me to hurt me fastening the anchor of my faith vpon so sure and firme a rocke if the fleshe make warre against the spirit to make me seruiceable to sinne minister strength vnto me O Lorde that being thy tenant and a child of thy familie I may winne the field and fighting valiauntlye may bee crowned eternallie with thy sonne Iesus my blessed Sauior Amen The fatherlesse childes praier O Lorde so narrowe is the mouthe of charitie so consumed is the firebrand of Christian loue that although the foxes haue their holes birds their neastes yet haue wee no place to reste our heads on As Pilgrimes wee wander from place to place and are driuen with the winds of pinching pouertie vpon the seas of this worlde to seeke reliefe but alas and woe to the world for it The rich man deuoureth all superfluitie or else hourdeth vppe to fill hys Garners niggardlie so that Lazarus may not onely walke amid the streetes naked but also lie begging at the gates full sore and yet go without the crums which fall from the Table to ease the tune of his necessitie O Lord therfore do I flie vnto thee haue thou mercie vpon me for it is onely thou which fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing I am better than a farthing sparrowe O Lorde thou knowest it and I acknowledge it to my comfort Feede my soule with the fleshe of thy sonne and set me drinke of his bloud that seeking firste thy kingdome I may in the end be crowned with glorie and sit at the table of ioy in heauen with thee O Lord grant this I beseech thee Amen A Sword against the feare of death Wherein is liuelie declared with what weapons a Christian souldiour should fight to hold and keepe his own made by the said E. H. The first weapon Consider thy selfe MAN dooth consist of twoe partes an earthly bodie and soule spiritual Thy bodie what is it It is a case of thy soule such a case as is a prison and therefore Dauyd desirous of life eternall and the sight of his master Christ cried out Oh howe long shall I lie in this prison Yea this case of the soule is such a cage of filth as a man of God hath said that no Bocardo noe dungeon no sinke no puddle no pitte is in any respect so euil a prison for this bodie as the body is of the soule For it is suche a case as stinketh in the sight of God a bodye of sinne is this cage of the soule and therefore cried Paule out oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodie of sinne Beholde deere Chrystians such an heauie burden was the bodie to the soule that Paule was willing to giue this world a farewel with father Simeon hee wished that hee might depart in peace Oh that we had this courage of Paule or were as godlie wise as Dauid to locke that vpp in the closet of our heartes which they had fullie digested For then wee shoulde haue a wished famine of mourning Christians on rather vnchristian Painims who dooe weepe and waile for the dissolution of this earthie and fraile tabernacle which Dauid longed for and Paule with father Simeon desired Dauid that father of the faith ful and mouth of the holie spirite he was a man after GOD his owne hart whom God had spiced with grace and made of his mercie a vessel of honor He was a piller of mother Sion he liued in the childhood of the Churche when the cloud of the lawe did yet ouershaddowe the
by death they are blessed and rest from their labors Why doo you mourne this life is a vapour by death for a vapour they possesse an heauenlie and euer during inheritance Why doo you mourne doo you not thinke that heauen is better than earth that the companie of angels archangels Patriarkes Prophete◠Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgines and the holy ones of God is better than the felowship of men and the company of beastes Doo you not beleeue that ioye is better than sorrowe that life eternal is better than this short vaine and vile life that it is better to see God face to face to follow the lambe Iesus in heauen in fulnesse of ioy to possesse him at his Heauenlie table to banket with father Abraham Isaac Iacob than to dwel with you all our fare in this worlde is dung in respect of the heauenlie meat which Christ dooth set before them that are passed by death to life and why then doo you mourne Mourne not for them for they are happie happie and thrise happy are they But as I say mourn for your selues that be not so luckie as they to bee taken from this vale of myserie to the storehouse of felicitie as they are For by deathe they are not dead but by death they are passed to life to suche a life as passeth all vnderstanding the ioyes wherof doe surmount the conceipt thoght not onely of man but also angels and Archangels But miserable are you which doo yet carrye about you this earthie Tabernacle yea euen in this one thing you are miserable vnlesse you repent that you mourne for the deathe of your friends or children For in that you denie the will of God to be iuste for that hee hath made man of earth earthy and mortal Mourne for this your vnbeleefe mourne for this your sin weepe for the sinnes of your youth for your secret sinnes and desire God to wipe and to wash your soule from all infection of sinne that being prepared by death to follow your friends and children you may with willing hearts in a liuelie faith giue a farewell vnto this worlde and be readie to marrie Christ Iesus in glorie to whome bee all glorie Amen A battel betweene the Diuel and the Conscience Wherein all true Christians are taught how to oppose and set them selues against the assaults of their Archaduersary Satan made in forme of a dialog by the sayde E. H. Satan THou arte a Sinner and therefore the child of wrath Conscience I am a sinner Satan I confes it that in mee that is in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing which may mooue my Lorde to take pitie vpon me but yet I denie thy consequent For though I bee a sinner yet shall not my sinnes preuaile against me For behold saith Iohn The lambe of God hath taken awaye the sinnes of the worlde hee hath condemned sinne in the flesh so that now there is no condēnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Satan I grant that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ but suche are in Christ which walke not after the flesh as thou dooest continuallie boording vp trespasse vpon trespasse against the daie of iudgement Conscience Thou liest Satan I walke not after the fleshe but with Paule I wil the thing that is good though I bee not able to perfourme it by reason of that combat which is between the flesh and the spirit Indeed at the least I sinne seuen times a daie but notwithstanding auoid Satan for Iohn telleth mee that if anie manne sinne wee haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christe the righteous and he is the propitiation for the sinnes of the world Sat. But how knowest thou that he wil be thine aduocate For hee is a righteous mediatour and therefore he will not deal for thee 〈◊〉 most miserable sinner Con. I knowe it Satan that hee wil be mine aduocate For so his holie worde preacheth vnto me which is the word of Christe the euerlasting truth which I by his grace wil neuer misdoubt And heerein thou shewest what thou hast beene euen from the beginning a lier For Iohn telleth mee that If anie man sinne yet there is an aduocate and a righteous aduocate euen Iesus Christe the righteous Sat. Yea but how darest thou looke vp to heauen and fly to this aduocate thou beeing a vile sinner and hee a righteous God Con. In a ful faith of his mercie Satan I dare goe to him For hee crieth to all laden and labouring Christians Come vnto me And why then shuld I feare to goe vnto him especiallie since he hath promised to refresh mee If I come vnto him Sat. Thou maiest goe vnto him but thou shalt find him a iudge For he wil neuer refresh thee with mercie but punish thee with deserued iudgement and reward thee according to thy deserts Con. Auoid Satan for thou liest I will go to him in assurance of his mercie for hee is truth and cannot faile in his promise Hee will indeede reward me according to my deserts but what deserts Christ his deserts are my deserts hee by his deathe deserued life for mee and al the world not for himselfe but for vs according to the saying of Peter He bare our sinnes in his bodie And therefore sith Christ by his ful obedience hath deserued lyfe my desert in him is life And therefore will I dare to go vnto my Lord and my God for I am sure of mercie Sat. I am the prince of darknesse and al sinners belong to my kingdome For the reward of sinne is death and therefore assure not thy selfe of mercye for that is in vaine Con. Auoid Satan For what though thou bee the prince of darkenesse yet doo I set thee at naught I am a sinner but what of that Satan my sinnes haue lost their stinge and so mayest thou gape for a prey and goe without a reward For in the bloud of Iesus Christ am I purged from my sinnes yea from all my sinnes the sinnes of my childhood my youth my olde age commytted in thought worde or deede whatsoeuer they haue bene are or shal be they are drowned in the bottom of the sea and so couered in mercie that the Lorde will neuer remember them Sat. Thou liest conscience For the Lord is iust and therefore hee will remember them that he may punish them Con. The Lord is righteous thou fowle diuel iust and true are all his waies but yet thou lyest in thy consequent for it standeth not with his iustice to remember our sinnes that hee may punish vs whose sins he hath punished in his sonne Christ. Christe Iesus by his death hath deliuered vs out of debt to the wrath of his heauenlie Father and purchased vs remission of sins And therefore I am sure that as God is iust so he will not remember my sinnes to punishe them in me againe sith his sonne hath paid his debt for mee For it is againste iustice that any debt should be twise
paid or twyse required Sat. Though Christ once died to saue thee from sinne yet haue I thine euill life to laie against thee for the which thou art and shalt be mine Con. Christ indeede died to saue me and by his own death hath he fully bought mee from the wrath of his Father And I confes Satan to my Lord that I haue not liued after his lawe but manie waies transgressed his holye will but what then thou foule spirit am I thine no Satan no. For the Lorde hath mercy in store for euery Publican when he craueth it be he neuer so ill a liuer He is at this point with vs Aske and haue I will therefore aske mercie of God who gaue his owne son by his bloudie Death to saue mee and I am sure that I shall haue my sute For he hath spoken it and can not lie Thou liest therefore for I am not thine But thou sayest that I am and shal be thine Auoyd Satan auoid like a coward For he that is with mee hath broozed thy head euen the mightie Lion of the tribe of Iudah that hath promised to be with his church euen til the end of the worlde he is with me and if he be with mee whoe can be against me doo not therefore crake of this Satan that I am an euill liuer and therefore thine Giue ouer thy combat for if thou doo not I will call vppon my Capteine Michael by the power of his Angelike bande to dashe thee out of countenance whoe did beate thee in Heauen and all thy hellish armie The cal of Conscience in conflict for succour against present danger THe diuel O Lorde like a rauenous lion dooth seeke to teare the lambe of thy Pasture and vnlesse thou helpest there is none other waie but to the slaughterhouse It hath beene a continuall practyse of his euen from the beginning to rob thy childreÌ„ of the riches of their redemption wrought accomplished by the bloud shed of thy beloued sonne He someth like a bore of the desert and seeketh by violence to breake into the vineyard of my soule which thy handes O thou heauenlie husbandman haue planted Vp therefore and arise O gratious god and good shepheard of my soule And as thou hast promised so be thou with mee in time of this my skirmishe that I may giue Satan the foile and sleepe fafelie vnder the wings of thy mercy with whom is store of mercie To thee be al glorie both now and euer Amen The dead mans Schoole Wherein Death teacheth all Estates and degrees from the Prince to the begger many notable lessons most necessarie to be learned made by the sayd E. H. APproche ye sonnes of Adam you that are as I was and shall bee as I am Drawe neere and learne those thinges diligentlie wherein I shal instruct you First I would haue you to learne this lesson that as sinne came in by Adam so by sinne death as a due reward followed And therefore when you looke vppon mee remember whence you are falne in adam from grace into sinne from sin into death and therevpon sorowe for your sinnes and prepare your selues to death For it is the waie of all flesh There is a time to bee borne in sinne and a time to die for the same al flesh is grasse yee muste all wither and fade with the flower This natural death which foloweth the combat of the Elementes and sinne shal creep vpon your mortallims for as the sunne hath an east to rise in so he hath a West to fal in euen â—o you shall all dance with me one day and this day is vncertaine noe man knoweth when it shall come For it shall come at vnawares vpon you and therefore doe good and eschew euil sin not least a woorse thing than this naturall death doe happen vnto you For if you doo still wallowe in sin answer me What if death suddenlye strike you with his dart as hee dooth manie men howe woulde you bee able to stand in y e iudgement of God Therefore leaue off in time and liue lyke Christyans that GOD yet at the least seeing your liues are so wicked may find a good will and purpose in you towardes a godlie conuersation Do we not stil hold the same pace like old carthorses but repent and amend for the kingdome of God is at hand Secondly when you see mee remember the spirituall death of Adam wherein you are all wrapped by nature borne in sin children of wrath Dead you are in Adam starke dead in your sinnes vntill the Lord do regenerate you anew with his holie spirit and water your barren nature with the drops of his grace And herein see that you doo acknowledge your weakenes or rather your miserie that by sinne you are dead euen without life by nature and without anye power to attayne vnto life as I am and shall be vntill the Lorde doo knocke at my bed and raise mee from death to life to liue with him for euer Auoyde sinne therefore as your deadlie enimie whiche would rob you of life and fetter you in bandes of eternall death and crie vnto the Lord for helpe For withoute him against this enimie you can do nothing Crie with the prophet Dauid Create O Lord a new heart and renewe a right spirite within vs that beeing quickened againe by the dew of his blessing and strengthened with the armour of grace you may be able to withstand the furie of Sathan and constantly to endure the battell of a raging conscience Thirdlie when you looke vpon mee remember whereof you are euen of earth no better than duste and ashes to the which I nowe returne And therefore to the loftie minded manne I say Dust and ashes why art thou proud for earth thou art to earth thou shalt and become a prey for knawing wormes Decke thy bodye neuer so gloriouslie tie Iewels aboute thy neck lade thy fingers with ringes sit at thine ouerrunning tables and make merrie despise al men yet I tell thee thou art dust as I am so shalte thou be Thy bodie shal stinke which nowe thou embaulmest thy lofty looke shal bee humbled the wormes shall feede vppon thee Looke vpon me thinke vpon thy selfe be not as thou art but thinke vpon mee and what thou shalt be and folow him that is able of dust to raise thee to life crieth vnto thee Be humble and meeke as I am If thou refuse this exhortation remember that pride shall haue a fall that earth is heauy by nature and falleth that he that exalteth himselfe shall be humbled and hee that humbleth himselfe shal be exalted Acknowledge therefore that earth is thy mother which is the basest of al other elements and folowe Christ thy maister and onlie guide to his father in ioy that out of earth hee may raise thee to heauen and after thy resurrection for thine earthie and stinking bodie giue thee a glorious and immortall bodie that thou mayest shine with him like a starre
in the kingdome of glory Fourthly let all couetous persons looke vpon mee and amend their euill liues For as I came naked into this world so did they and as I carrye nothinge with mee but my winding sheete euen so shall they Their riches the pelfe of this world shall they leaue behind them which they haue gathered in paine and hourded vp with greedie minds Oh you hungrie lions you are alwaies gaping for y e prey you are euer hungrie and neuer satisfied get you neuer so much by hooke or by crook by violent iniurie or biting vsurie But looke you vpon me For an eln of earth now shall serue mee and so must it serue you whom nothing may suffice in this world Sorrowe therefore and amende in time For you were not borne to gather worldelye substance but to serue poore Iesus who of God made himselfe poore to enrich you You were not borne to continue in this world No you haue no continuing citie heere but you must looke for another euen Heauen whence you are nowe exiled and therefore you must seeke the things that be aboue Your conuersation must be in Heauen You must not tie your harts to the earth and hourd vp the pelfe of this world lest the verie moths and rust of your tresure cry for a plague vpon and against you in the daie of vengeance For die you muste one day and be as I am and so rest in the bellye of mother earth vntil the day of accoūts when God shal rewarde euerie man according to his deserts Fifthlie let all enuious persons and euil willers beholde my hart let all bloodshedders looke vpon my feete all backbiters slanderers and curssers marke my toong all robbers and Vsurers view my handes all couetous persons note my winding sheete all selfelouers and proud men gaze vpon my face and hollowe eies let all men looke vpon me amende their liues for as I am euen so shall they be Sixtly let al Christians look vpon me courtiers and countrey men highe and lowe rich and poore yoong and old noble and vnnoble all let them looke vpon mee and remember their end Die they shal al this 〈…〉 l remember that they may neuer sinne Let all swearing belly gods al selfelouers men or women that monstrously disguise chast nature and paint their bodies which are stinking toombes of their seelie soules with intollerable vanities let al that care for beawties hewe looke vpon mee and iudge of theyr owne vanitie and condemne themselues least they be iudged of the Lord. For their broydered hayre their faced and defaced apparell theyr superfluous lasings their sumptuous Veluetes and silks their golden caules their wrought clothes their ringed fingers and their costlie fare in this worlde which Lazarus wanteth they are all vanitie neither shal they redeem them but to earth they shall and vanish with the vapour They shal al sleepe with me and they shall be one daye no better than I am worms meat stinking carcases duste and ashes they shall be whatsoeuer they doo appeare to the foolish world Kinges and princes magistrates and subiects schollers and maisters rich and poore al may looke vpon me For I am able to teache them a lesson which they forget dailie That earth they are and vnto earth they must with mee one daie and noe man knoweth howe soone Disdaine not to learne this at me for I teach you the truth which one day you your selues shal approue to be very true Seuenthly let all mourning mothers sorrowing friends lette them giue ouer weeping and vnchrystian wailinge For that cannot helpe them because it grudgeth and complai neth againste the will of God but rather let them bee merrie and reioise For behold this life is a warfare euen a continual warfare as Iob calleth it and death is a sleepe a sweete sleepe so that by it I rest from my labours I am deliuered from daunger to safetye from labour to ioye from trauel to rest from paine to pleasure and lie in the earth as it were in a bed till I must rise to iudgement This is the lucky estate of them that are dead in the lord And therfore did father Simeon desire to departe in peace and Paule counted hymselfe a wretch because hee was not deliuered from this bodye of sinne So that you haue no cause to mourne for your friends whoe by deathe are passed beyonde death euen to life to liue with GOD and to see him face to face euen as hee is But rather you haue cause to reioyse because by death they are taken into ioye to be where Christe Iesus is The dead man is but a sleepe hee is not dead but for a time and at length he shall awake euen by the sounde of a trumpet and crie of an Archangell to see his redeemer in heauen where he with thee and thou with him and the Heauenlye armie of Angels saints mailiue for euer Looke vpon me and remember this al you that mourne for the death of your friendes For blessed am I and thrise blessed This worlde is an exile Heauen my naturall countrey and so by death I am deliuered frō exile and heerein I am verie happie This present worlde is euill in heauen are ioyes that passe sense and conceit And so by death in the Lorde I am freed from euil and placed in ioye and heerin I am happie This world is no continuing citie but another that is heauen which when I liued in faith I looked for so that by death I am set in a permanent place and heerein am I happy This life is a pilgrimage hea uen my home and so by death of a pilgrim I am made a citizen and heerein I am happy To conclude by death from earth to heauen from men to Angels from warre to peace from paine to pleasure from griefe to euerlasting gladnes from vanitie miserie to perpetuall felicitie I haue passed in peace herin I am happie So that death is not to bee feared nor yet to bee lamented but rather welcome in ioye of spirit whensoeuer it commeth And for this are al Christians bound to render hartie thanks vnto the Lorde that hath turned the cursse into a blessinge and by his pretious death vpon the crosse made death no deth but an entrie to life a passage to ioy a deliuery from miserie For this blessing blessed be the name of the Lorde and let al people say Amen Imprint these few lessons in your memoryes and engraue them in the tables of your harts And thus farwel A Lodge for Lazarus Wherein the poore and friendlesse are exceedinglie comforted in spirit against all kinde of calamities incident to this temporall and miserable life made by the sayd E. H. THere are two sorts of pilgrimes in the worlde some are rich and some are pore Though the earth be the Lordes and the riches thereof his owne possessions though al men be his subiects haue deserued the like condition of life yet to blase his
was denied so that in this worlde you beare an image of Christ who came vnto his owne and yet was not receiued noe not knowne who had not his nest as the birdes of the aire haue nor his den to flie vnto as the foxes haue no not so much as a place to lay his hed on Hee sought once to harbour in Peters ship vpon a pillowe but marke how the waues the winds disquieted the shippe it frighteth Peter poore Iesus is pinched at and awakened so that hee could not haue a good nap to comfort his wearinesse in his harbouring place Was this the estate of the mayster then rest in peace and harbor in ioye For the scholler is not aboue his maister Naie dooth the tyrannie of Diues pinch him when it pincheth you dooth hee hunger when you hunger dooth hee thirst when you thirst is he na ked when you are naked is he sicke when you are sicke is he sore when you are sore is he harbourlesse when you bee lodgles what dooth he smart when you smart dooth he crie for almes when you craue is it he that made you he that saued you he that spent his life and shedde his owne pretious bloud to redeeme you from satan yet wil you complaine let it not be so but in patience leane vnto the louing Lorde and let him be a pallace of ioy to lodge and rest in There is a thirde lodge of comfort for al Lazars For the vncharitable dealing of Diues shal be his vtter ruine If Diues haue shut his eare against thy cry and denied to relieue thee in time of needie extreamity if he haue not opened his hart to pitie thee nor stretched out his arme to rayse thee when thou art faln into mysery hen woe woe a rod is at hande to beate him O foole this night the diuel shall fetche thy soule from thee Heere is a glorious lodge of comfort for al Lazers If Diues haue his barnes filled with corne his chests with treasure his table furnished with plenty of meat if he haue al things at will yet shall nothing redeeme him from miserie if he will not attend the piteous crie of Lazarus in tyme of extreame necessitie For hee that will not heare the poore when he dooth crie when hee crieth himselfe the Lorde will him denie Hath Diues now denied you almes then wil the Lorde denie him mercie wil the Lorde denie him mercie because he hath not pitied your myserie hath the Lorde such care ouer your estate that hee will reuenge it sharpely if you be not cherished and will you yet complaine Fie no for shame but let this be a lodge for you to rest in God is your gard howsoeuer it go with you you are his little ones his dearlinges and deerely beloued If Diues doo abuse you if he doo not cherish you beholde howe he loueth you for Diues for your sake shall suffer paines for euer You want foode on earth but he shall want the bread of life in hell You want drinke but he shal want euen a drop of water in hel to coole his flaming toong You wante in this world cloth to couer your nakednes but hee shall want the white raiment of innocencie and therefore wallowe in myserie for euer You wante lodging here but he shal want the lodge of ioyes else-where You cannot be his ghest but a worme for your sakes shall bee his ghest euerlastingly Hee had store of all thinges what wanted hee neyther siluer nor golde to haue enriched you nor meate to haue fedde you nor drinke to haue eased you he had cloth to haue couered you crums of his table that would haue releeued you he hadde lodges wherein hee might haue graunted you harbours But see the iudgementes of God for your sakes This Diues is not worth a drop of water in hel for al his pleasure he reapeth lasting paine for his melodious harmonie he heareth howling weeping and gnashing of teeth This is the wo that they shal swim in that with Diues neglect the crie of seely Lazarus But yet view a fourth lodge of comfort a princelie lodge you band of beggers approch and looke vp what was Lazarus clothed in sores did no man visit or comfort him had he no physitian either by word or by worke to cure him had he noe surgerie but onelye by dogs Nay what was he not only sore in bodie but pinched in stomach did he want food naye did he so hunger that he desired crummes of breade to please the crie of his greedye stomach and yet could he not get it What are any of you in the same case beholde a lodge of comfort looke vppe and there you shal see Abrahams bosom and Lazarus therein lodged See he that wallowed in sores might haue washed in tears such was his miserie to the eye of the world Beholde hee that was not worth a crum of breade in this worlde hee that had no lodge place to rest in nowe lodgeth in Abrahams bosome an harborough of rest What nowe you beggers you that wander from place to place and haue no resting place to staie in nay you that wander and for want of charitie doo alwaies hunger be patient blesse God in your aduersitie and reste in the lodge of Lazarus Diues was aboue Lazarus in this world Diues waded in plentie but Lazarus in pouertie Diues sate at his table Lazarus at the gates Diues healthie Lazarus sick Diues with a fulbellye but Lazarus lyued with an hungrie stomach and yet looke vp and now you shal see Diues below and Lazarus aboue him Diues in this world had rich men for his comates gentiles and potentates for his ghestes but now he kepeth companie with the diuell and his angels Lazarus in this worlde had no companie to comfort him nay he had none that alwaies tarried with him but sicknesse and pouertie they were from time to time his two ghests at Diues his gates the dogs too did visit and licke him But now behold Diues byteth the bread of misery in hel but Lazarus lodgeth in Abrahams bosom and now in heauen banketteth at the table of euerduring ioye with the patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyres and holie ones of God Oh! wil the impatient Lazarus saie this is a heauie case to be alwaies beaten with pinching pouertie alwaies to bite of sorrowe and neuer to liue at ease Surelie if this be thy case as thou monest yet I saie looke vp to the lodge of reste euen Abrahams bosom for though thou doo swim in seas of extremitie yet thou dooest banquet with Lazarus who euen in this worlde did suffer pinching extremitie and yet now he dooth rest in peace But thou art beaten thou saiest thou art buffeted so was Lazarus Oh! but thou art beaten sore so was he But yet thou singest on the same song thou art beaten Art thou beaten then lodge in comfort For better it is to be beaten with Lazarus than damned with Diues it
Sinne not obeie him and kisse the sonne least hee be angrie kisse him and obey him for if he be but a little angrie blest are all they that put their trust in him But to make this retraite to sounde more shrill in the eares of slumbring Adam looke vpon the damned spirit of Diues he burneth in hel but whye if not for sinne His toong flameth neyther can hee get a droppe of water to quench it and why but for sin The fire that hee burneth in is vnquenchable his dolefull musicke is gnashing of teethe howlinge weeping and great lamentation his case is curssed for euer and why but for sinne If Diues had knowne that the seruice of the Lorde hadde beene perfect libertie and that obedience to his commandements had beene the pathway to heauen or that his sinful life would haue wrought him such a web of wo or rewarded him with death for his wages in seruing Satan no doubte hee would haue followed as good counsell as hee wished by the dead to be reuealed to his brethren that is he woulde haue sought grace of the Lord that hee might haue obeied him in holines and so be saued But marke ô yee liuing and learne of the dead Diues was a sinner he serued sinne and the old serpent but his seruice wrought his wo euen a wo eternal Now what a tirannous maister is that that so rewardeth his seruant or what a miserable seruaunt is that which reapeth nothing by his seruice but wo But O thrise miserable are we if we will serue the same maister whose seruice in Diues wee see to bee a slauishe thraldome and our wages nothing else but biting myserie So that if the Lorde our Sauiour Iesus Christ by his louing cal be not able to recal vs from sinne yet let the bitter end of Diues and the flaminge torments of his soule damned for sinne bee a sufficient retrait vnto vs. Woe wo was due to him for sin and therfore sinne not This Diues was a rich man God had blessed him with his creatures and these arguments of his loue cryed vppon him Come home by repentance to holines in conuersation he notwithstanding neglected and stil continued a seruant of sinne for the which his seruice he doth now lament in hellish torments and so shall doo for euer Hee shall alwaies howle weep and waile in paine with out ease in sorrowe without comfort in griefe without reliefe and that for euer But O miserable Diues whie didst thou not repente and returne from sinne at the retrait of so manie and so great benefits of the Lord why didst thou not plaie the good steward of thy riches in bestowing something vpon needie Lazarus why wast thou more vngentle and vnnaturall than the verie dogges that licked his sores where was charitye surelye it was frozen it was dead noe better euidence than thyne owne confession which thou makest amidest thine endlesse torments crieng out and sayeng My life was sinful mine obedience was to Satan my paradise was the wicked worlde I neglected the retrait of so manie benefits from sin therefore I lie in paine and so shall doo til I haue paide the vtmost farthing and that is euer Come hither now ye liuing consider in time and bee wise Diues was a sinner and so are you Diues neglecting the retrait from sinne and puttinge off from daie to daie was at lengthe vpon a sudden thruste downe into hell and surely if you do not in time repent but followe his pathes then as his ende was tormentes so shall yours bee For God is no accepter of persons Therfore ô ye liuing consider be wise and if you haue begun the race of Diues repent returne awake least Satan take you napping and the Lord in his iust iudgement suffer him to take your soules frō you and so rob you of all ioye for euer If Diues had known the tyrannie of Satan or the wages of his seruice or the dangerous extremities of carnal securitie no doubt he would haue awaked from sinne and bin as wise before hand to haue prouided for himselfe as hee was to late for his brethren And shall wee knowing the danger of deferring to repent the vilanie of sinne not prouide before hand against such a dangerous tempest as Diues abode and walke wisely but incur the danger of extremitie by sleeping in carnal securitie and perilous seruice of sinne O ye sonnes of men be wise and repent returne from your wicked waies giue the old serpent the slip forsake your old maister sinne bid adieu to all iniquitie if you will not swim in the tormentorie seas of hell with Diues Besides this bitter retrayte from sin there bee other trumpeters of Gods iust iudgments whiche ought continuallie to mooue and effectuallie to persuade vs to forsake the seruice of sinne and Satan The whole world did serue Satan bicause it ouerflowed with sinne therfore beholde it ouerstreamed with water and al the worlde was drowned Here if it please al sinners to put on the spectacles of discretion they may see what it is to serue sinne and what to neglecte the Lordes retraite from iniquitie The whole worlde hauing forsaken the lord God wente a whooring after Satan and marryed it selfe to sinne renouncing innocency of life to folow vice but lo the ende when Satan by sinne had gotten suche a maysterie and by reason of iniquitie was becom a prince of this world beholde the end of all his practises the ruine and destruction of the world And surelie this was the iudgment of the Lorde to destroy them wholie that had neglected to hear his voice in the day of visitation this iudgement is bent against al those that cōtinue in sinne and will not repent Indeed the Lord hath made a couenant and therof he hath giuen vs a certaine sacrament and earnest penie that he for sinne will neuer drowne the world againe but yet the couenant may breed in vs no securitie but rather it is a retrait from sinne forsomuch as it is a couenant betweene the Lord and vs betweene whome no couenant can continue for euer vnlesse wee returne from sinne For although hee hath promised not to destroy the world againe for sinne and this promise shall be perfourmed not because we deserue it but because hee hath promised yet vnles we repent Omnes similiter peribimus We shall al likewise perish He wil drowne vs in wo for euer This flood of torments and hellish lake wherein the damned doo wallowe and wade in vnspeakable paine this floud doth passe the other and vnles we repent and by heartie repentance leape into Noahs arke and so into the bosome of mother Sion there is no saluation for vs. Let vs therefore repent and lament our sinnes and close our selues in the readie arke of Moses least being at the brink of death the waters of hell ouer swallow vs. But to come from the whole world to the part behold Sodom and Gomorrha the
twoe stewes of Sathan wherein hee dayly committed fornication with the sonnes of men Those two Sodom and Gomorrha were as wanton Damosels of this world giuen to all lewdnes and lust they 〈…〉 sed after sinne howsoeuer Satan piped They had renounced al godlie chastitie and to marrie the olde serpente they had broken their obedience vnto the lord But be hold those two wild cities were tamed destroyed yea burnt with fire and brimstone Now O ye children of men come and see the terrible sight of these two citties burning consuming with fire repente and lament your owne liues that you are not behinde Sodom and Gomor in wickednesse but like miserable wretches haue pledged them in the cuppe of spirituall fornication with sinne and Satan Let this fire and birmstone like terrible Trumpetters of Gods iust iudgementes sound so shrill in your eares as to awake you from sleeping anye longer in sinne least a worse thing than this doo happen vnto you yea whensoeuer you see water fire and brimstone thinke vppon the iudgementes of God against sin and sinne not Consider that Sodom and Gomor were destroied for sin and that God when it pleaseth him maye execute his iudgement vppon thee whosoeuer thou be vnlesse thou repent therefore returne from sin and sinne not Consider that where al creatures were made for mans vse yet y e Lord in his wrath against sinne doth vse them as swords of vengeance to cut him off And therefore if wee will not onelie haue the Lord but also his creatures to profite vs so that wee may vse them to the ende they were created then where not onlie the Lord him selfe but also all his creatures doo crie vpon vs Repent and sinne not it standeth vs vpon to amende our faultes to reforme our liues and to frame our selues to all good workes which God hath prepared for vs that we should walk therein But ô the lamentable case of Iesus Christ O the vnspeakable churlishnesse of man for if the churlishnesse of one wicked citie Ierusalem did wring teares out of the glorious eyes of our Sauior Iesus Christ and made him to sigh and sob because shee had dealt so vncurteouslie with him so preposterouslie with hir self as to stone his prophets to refuse his clocking and to serue satan and so to worke her owne destruction then what yeere what daie what houre naye what moment doo wee not all make our Sauior Iesus Christ beholding our iniquities to weepe and to sob sith that our sinnes almost do passe in number the sands of the sea and haires of our heads Yea O the churlishnes of man yet by sinne so to grieue our Sauiour Iesus Christ from the which to redeem vs it cost him bloudye teares euen the effusion of his moste pretious blood But is it not a miserable follie in man by such churlish dealing to offend our Lord Iesus Christe who shal come to iudge the quick and the dead Ye swearers ye cursers and railers ye vsurers theeues and murtherers yee epicures Papists and carnall Gospellers al ye sinners that lie in sinne that knowe sinne and yet forsake it not with what face will you present your selues before this heauenlie iudge out of whom you haue wroonge so manye sobs as you haue commytted sinnes in your life If you haue vsed him so vnthankfullie and wrought him such greefe how can you look but for griefe for your reward But O the mercie of the Lord that yet crieth Come vnto me al ye that labour and are heauie laden and I will refreshe you Behold notwithstanding your infinite offenses notwith standing your infinite sinnes yet if you will acknoweledge them and bee hartilie sorie for them that in coÌ„mitting them you haue greeued the spirit of Iesus Christ he is readie to receiue you yea and as one thirsting to receiue you into fauor again he calleth vnto you Come promising that notwithstanding you bee laden and clogged with sinne that yet he wil ease you if you will come vnto him This is a comfortable retrait grounded vpon the promise of Iesu Christ that if we wil come vnto him he will refresh vs. Now what is Iesus Christe and what are we wee are sinners and therefore our due is death but Iesus Christ is a sauiour yea saluation and life it selfe and therefore to goe to him and to leaue sinne is to passe from death to life from sorow of conscience to peace yea such a peace as passeth all 〈…〉 erstanding Yea Iesus Christ is truth and therefore if wee will sinne no more but in a contrite spirite repaire vnto him then will he receiue vs hee will refresh vs with the deintie comfort of his holie spirite and at length receiue vs into ioy therin to liue with him for euer Therefore if wee haue stopped our eares at so manie retraits sounded against sin yet let this one comfortable spech vttered by our Sauiour Christ serue in stead of manie Come but and if this retrait of Iesus Christ be not able to call thee effectualy to repentance then turn thine eies vnto his crosse and beholdinge the villanie of sinne thy maister and Satan the subtile serpent repent and amend Beholde the lambe of God he that came in the similitude of sinfull flesh to saue thee by his death Behold how the diuel hath handled him behold how his helhoundes haue intreated him and all for sâ—nne Behold his holy bodie racked behold his holie feet handes rent with nails his head crowned with thornes his pretious side launced with a speare Beholde his pretious bloud dropping yea outstreaming behold howe the onelie beloued sonne of God our louing and blessed Sauiour lo how tyrannouslie the ministers of Satan haue vsed him But why are his holie armes outstretched why dooth his holie head bow it selfe down why are his feete and hands so torne with nailes why dooth his pretious blood spinne out why is this holie lamb of God so piteouslie slaughtered vpon the tree Surely O man thou thy selfe haste ministred the cause and thy sinnes haue wrought this crueltie vppon this innocent Lambe Iesus Christe so that if thou either loue Iesus Christ whome thy sinnes haue torne so cruelly or tender thine own case for whom he died so mercifullie beyond thy merit sin no more but repent repent repent and defie the diuel and al his tyrannie Yea and sith his head his armes his hands his feete his side and pretious bloud doo so cleerelie shew the tyrannie of sinne detest abhor and auoid it And whereas his thornie crowne that tore his head and the nailes that rent his handes and feete and the speare that pearsed his glorious side doo all crie out vppon vs that wee haue so rente and torne by our sinnes Iesus Christ our blessed Sauiour let vs for shame bee ashamed of our villanie Let vs lament and repente our iniquities least that the ve rie thornie crowne of his head the verie nailes that fastened him to the tree and the speare that pearsed
appearance of the sunne in fulnes of comfort He desired to se the day but could not see it which is nowe paste wherin the sonne of God hath opened fully the storehouse of ioy and yet beeing wearie of the burthen of his bodie and willing to forsake it as a most stinking prison house without feare of death he crieth out Oh how long shall I lie in this prison Paule ioineth hands with father Dauid euen Paule that notable Organne of the holie Ghost who saide of himselfe It is not I that liue but Christ that liueth in mee Hee that in body saw the Lorde and knew that as a vapour his life should vanish so he in a small space should suppe with his mayster Christe in heauen after his ascension yet carriyng about himselfe this case of the soule accounteth himself wretched and therefore cryeth out Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of sin As if hee shoulde haue saide I knowe that the time will come when men will faint in faithe and broch infidelitie when this life shall bee more loued than wisely lothed this bodie more esteemed than godlinesse wil suffer I knowe foolish parentes will be so be witched with the immoderate loue of their children that they wil grudge at the will of God when he calleth them and sorrowe and sighe a long time after their departures which is both sinne and follie But I tell them that they ought to reioise bicause they are rested from theyr laboures bicause they are passed from Death to life because they are blessed For wretch O wretche that I am who shal deliuer mee out of this body of sinne The bodie which you haue lost is but a bodie of sinne it is but a prison of the soule as father Dauid speaketh it is but a burthen of the soule so that by Death they are deliuered from sinne to safetie from imprisonment to libertie from a yoke of myserie to endles felicitie and therefore oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of sinne Paule indeed knewe that this world was an exile and Heauen his contrey that he was a pilgrim this world but an Inne heauen his home nay at a sight of his owne Countrey when hee was rapt hee saw at his owne home whence by sin hee was banished in Adam such ioyes as eie neuer sawe nor eare heard nor heart euer conceiued These are the ioyes which shal endure for euer for number vnmeasurable for durance perpetual and without end or period And therefore let euerye Christian bee readie and willing in ioy of spirit to welcome death in token thereof learne to crie out with Paule Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodye of sinne Lette vs account our selues wretched as long as we carry this weede of earth aboute vs vntill our soules bee vncased and wee deliuered from this body of sinne But if examples will not bee of force to schoole vs yet let nature speake and preuaile The seconde causes whereof you are made are the foure elements which concur to the constitution of euerye mixt creature and being euer at combat doe also naturally worke the shipwracke of the same according to the common axiome rule of nature The causes of corruption are all one with the causes of gene ration and therefore vnlesse we wil denie nature and be vn thankful to God for our creation we may not in anye case feare death which is mothered vpon nature our common and generall mother But if neyther example nor Nature will or can preuaile yet let the authoritye of our Heauenlie Creatour and his wisedome compell vs to welcome death and to accept willinglye the condition of our bodies Our bodies and soules God created he made them by the power of his almightie hande and hath lente them vnto vs but for a time to vse til mother earth require the bodie and he our soules For as of earth wee came so into earth wee must returne againe therefore vnles we will be vnthankfull to nature and rebellious to God wee must bee willing to paie our debts vnto him least if we doo it not he cast vs into prison til we haue paid the vttermost farthing So much for thy bodie Now consider thy soule As thy bodie is a prison so is thy soule during this pilgrimage a prisoner as it is a body of sin so is thy soule lodged in a most stinking prison as it is of earth earthy so is thy soule an exile from heauen heauenlie ther fore to feare death it is to feare the deliuery of thy soule from prison which is meere follie it is to wish a stinking lodging and a filthie cage to dwell in and euer to carie it about thee which is a very harde and extreame misery it is to wish thy continuall banishmente from the ioyefull realme of heauen thy natural countrey which is extreame madnes So that vnles you wil be counted foolish wretched carelesse and mad who are willed to be as wise as serpents you muste in no case feare death which is the best ghest that euer came to the godlie For now there is not cōdemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus but blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. The second weapon Consider thy life IT is short vncerteine and miserable It is short for man that is borne of a woman hath but a shorte time to liue the daies of man are the dayes of an hyrelinge yea winde and nothing as father Iob telleth vs. A man in his time is but grasse and flourisheth as a flower of the field For as soone as the wind goeth ouer it it is gone and the place thereof knoweth it no more as the prophet Dauid teacheth There is a time to be borne and a time to die And man is like a thing of naught his daies passe away like a shaddowe It is the proclamation of the Lorde vttered by Esay that al flesh is grasse and al the glorie of man as the flower of grasse And it is tolde vs by Paule that heere we haue no continuing cyttie but wee seeke for one to come This is it which is shaddowed vnto vs in sundrie similitudes Saynt Iames sayeth Our life is euen a vapour that appeereth for a little time and then vanisheth away Our daies on the earth also are but as a shadowe there is none abiding They are like a bubble in the water like a weauers shuttle like a smoke they are like a thought soone conceiued and soone ended Dailie experience dooth teache vs thus muche For wee see that by some storme or other the greene apple falleth before the mellowed fruite the lambe is brought to the slaughterhouse as wel as the sheepe the chicken is killed for the broath as wel and sooner than the cock yoong men passe awaie as wel as old our daies are short our life is as the shadowe Now therefore reason with me Shal we feare