be conveyed as is Directed SHall there be nothing left me but a Grave Shall I at last no other Dwelling have Oh let not Flesh and Blood take note of this For if She do 't will poison all her Bliss Could She but meditate on such a thing She would have little cause to laugh or sing It is a Death to her to think of Death How she shall rot and loose her loved Breath Yet the great Jew that wisely could discrie What things were not and what were vanity What pleased the Soul and what the Flesh did pain Did never think the thought of this was vain Then let my Soul though Flesh and Blood repine Ponder on that shall make them both Divine But why O foolish Flesh shak'st thou at this Shrink'st thou from that which thy best Physick is Thou art Earth born from it thou didst descend And here grown Sick thou canst not easily mend Till t'ward thy Native Countrey thou repair And draw thy Meditations that cold Air. Change but this Air and think upon thy End Thy Sin will lessen and thy Soul will mend For as at Sea when Clouds put out the Stars When Winds from Heaven and Waves from Earth make Wars And mad brain'd Sailers all the Decks o're whelm The Pilate sadly sitting at the Helm Better directs the Ship where it should go Than all their wild Endeavours can even so When through the Worlds dark Storms we send One quiet Pilot sitting at the End One thought of Death our Course more right doth guide Than all the vain Works of our Life beside These thoughts will make those which our Souls blood quaff Like Horseleeches strow'd ore with Dust fall off If then to think of Death be so Oh why Should any think it is not good to die That of all things that Mortals fear and shun Doth hurt or grieve us least when it is done This it the Port this is Sins perfect Cure Till our Grave cover us we ne're are sure This only last remains thither let 's hast Since Flesh and Blood still longs to know what 's last It ever hath belong'd to Mortal Wights That several Heads take several Delights Some unto good and some to bad have will But leaving that which I delight in ill I joy in three which few can discommend And most desire next to a constant Friend And these are they that draw me most along A well writ Book a Picture and a Song But as for Wealth in which most take delight I get it not nor of it do I write But of those things endeavour brought me to I somewhat know and somewhat I can do And these I love and they do love to be With such as love and seek their company But will they stay with me Oh no alas They were belov'd long time before I was And when their Lovers died they 'd shroud and spread Nor will they go with me when I am dead Some Learned Friend perhaps may on my Herse Scatter some Lines and strew the Cloth with Verse Painting perchance may gild some Flag or Banner And stick it on my Coffin for mine Honour Musick may sing my Dirge and tell all Ears I lov'd that Art which now their Sences hears And when 't is done and I no more can have Nothing will tarry with me but the Grave And 't is most just for here I did receive them I found them when I came and here I leave them But will the things I want and others have Accompany their Owners to the Grave Will Beauty go and strength in Death appear Will Honour or proud Riches tarry there They all say nay for let grim Death draw near Beauty looks pale and Strength doth faint for fear Ther 's little Lust or Pride in naked Bones And Honour sits on Cushions not cold Stones Nay ask our Friends that when we are in Health Would die for love of us or for our Wealth Mark what they set their Hands to view it well Your Friend till Death but once being dead fare well Nought then will tarry but the Grave for note How of a man new dead men talk by Rote This was his Wife saith one this was his Land This was his Friend that was his Building and This was his Wealth that his chiefest Bliss And thus they talk a while of what was his But walk the Church-yard and thou shalt have Report till Dooms-day say this is his Grave If Kings and Queens then can no more procure Nought but my Grave will tarry with me sure Why therefore should I strive to get such Things Since what the World contains no Surety brings Like men that clasp at Spirits catch the Air So while we look after the things seem fair And gripe at all the World to serve our Lust It through our Fingers slips and leaves but dust Yet still the nearer Death we grow in Years This scraping Humour in us more appears And drowns not till we sink so must it be For dying men will grasp at all they see While they can see when Sence fails farewell all The World 's too heavy then they let it fall Though we are born clutch-fisted when we die We spread our Palms and let them slip by And then when nothing else will with us stay We must our selves remain with Earth and Clay Since all I want here God gives and I have What can I more expect now but my Grave Here must we be and where else shall we rest Is not a mans own House to sleep in best If this be all our House they are to blame That brag of the great Houses whence they came And evermore their Speech they interlace I and my Fathers House Alas Alas What is my Fathers House and what am I My Fathers House is Earth where I must lye And I a Worm no man that fit no room Till like a Worm I crawl into my Tomb This is my Dwelling this my truest home A House of Clay best fits a House of Lome Nay 't is my House for I perceive I have In all my Life ne're dwelt out of a Grave The Womb was first my Grave whence since I rose My Body Grave-like doth my Soul inclose Dying each Night lyes buryed in my Bed My Body like a Corps with Sheets o'respread O're which my spreading Teastures large extent Born up with Antiques makes my Monument And o're my head perchance such things may stand When I am quite run out in Dust and Sand My close low builded Chamber to my Eye Like to a Chappel shews wherein I lye While at my Window pritty Birds do ring My Knell and with their Notes my Obits sing Thus when the days vain toil my Soul hath wear'd I in my Body Bed and House lie buryed Then have I little cause to fear my Tomb When this wherein I live is my Grave become Nay we do not only our selves intomb But make for others Graves in our own Womb Creatures of Sea and Land we in them
and turn to dust then after Death there is no Repentance this is the Opportunity of Life the Day of Grace and Salvation which if neglected I can never have another it is therefore of everlasting Concernment to improve the present Opportunity because it is appointed for all Men and Women once to dye and then to Judgment and as Death leaves Judgment will find as the Tree falls so it lies there is neither Desire nor Invention in the Grave where I am going O Lord thou hast been very merciful to preserve me in the Calamities of Fire and hast wonderfully Protected and Provided for me ever since and thou hast been merciful to me indeed to preserve me against my own Will. I am a Living Monument of thy Mercies a Brand snatcht out of the Burning Flame thou hast given me my Life for a Prey and I have not lived to thy Praise but like a Vile Wretched Vuworthy and most Vngrateful Creature I have sinned against thee both in Thought Word and Deed. The Sins of my Thoughts have been more than I can think those of my Words more than I am able to express and the Sins of my Deeds have been innumerable my Life hath been an Act of open Rebellion against thee I am guilty of Sins by Omission Commission Ignorance and Wilful Disobedience Having left undone those Things which I ought to have done and committed those Things whith I ought not to have done I have sinned against Heaven Thee my Relations and against the Motions of thy Blessed Spirit having made a Shew of Godliness I have denyed the Power of it and have called upon the Name of Christ but have not departed from Iniquity I have given evil example unto others by living conâ—rary to what I have Professed and have quenched and grieved the Mations of thy Holy Spirit which should have sealed me up unto the day of Redemption I have Committed all Impieties with Greediness and have aggravated my Transgressions with hanious Circumstances for I have sinned not only against the Law but against the Gospel not only Ignorantly but Wilfully and very presumptiously against the Checks of my Conscience and the Light of Nature insomuch that my own Heart doth condemn me and thou art greater knowing all Things I have abused thy Mercies despised thy Judgments and turned thy very Graces into Wantonness insomuch that my Iniquities are gone over my Head and my Sins have covered me I have nothing to plead for my self but Guilty Guilty Guilty of the Breach of all thy most Holy and Righteous Laws I have forfited my Right to all that is Good have made my self liable to all Evils both Temporal Spiritual and Eternal it is even a Miracle of Mercy that I had not long ago been taken off in my Sin and for my Sins and have been made so Hellfull as I have been sinful and have had my Portion given me with Hyppocrites Vnbelievers and those that loveth and maketh a Lye in that Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone there to be tormented with Devils and Damned Spirits for evermore that instead of praying unto thee and calling on thy Nâ—â—e in Mercy I am not howling amongst the Damn'd in an irrecoverable State that thy Patience is not ended toward me and the Dâ—or of Grace shut everlastingly against me thou mightest justly long ago have said unto me I would have healed thee and thou wouldst not I would have Saved thy Soul but thou hast despised my Salvation I would have made thee happy and thou hast refused therefore thou that art filthy be filthy stâ—ll there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a fearful looking for of Judgment Fiery Indignation and the Fierce Anger of the Lord the Most Mighty God therefore go thou Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devils and their Angels It had been but just with thee O Lord thus to have dealt by me and thou mightest have Glorified thy Justice in my Just Condemnation and Eternal Damnation but there is Mercy with thee that thou mayst be feared and thy tender Mercies are over all thy Works and Mercy pleaseth thee it is because thy Compassions fail not that I am not consumed O what shall I say unto thee thou Preserver of Men Whether shall I go or to whom shall I fly 'T is thou alone that hast the words of eternal Life and there is nâ— Name under Heaven by whom I can be Saved but by the Name of Jesus Christ and 't is against thee O Father thee O Holy Jesus thee O Holy Blessed Spirit that I have sin'd against the Holy and Blessed Trinity in Vnity and Vnity in Trinity Jesus Christ was wounded for my Transgressions that by his Stripes I 〈◊〉 be healed and I have wounded him afresh by my Sins Tâ—e Chast sement of my Peace hath been upon his Shoulders and he that knew no Sin was made a Curse unto Sin for me that I might be made the Righteonsness of God in him He was pierced thorow with many Sorrows and his precious Side was pierced with a Sphear and his most precious Blood was spilt that my Soul might be Eternally Saved and I have pierced him again by my Sins Jesus was Crucified and dyed the bitter and Cursed Death of the Cross that I might be Blessed and Everlastingly Saved and I have Crucified the Lord of Life afresh have put him to open shame O help me to look upon him whom I have pierced and mourn over him that I may be in bitterness of Spirit and gâ—ieve because I cannot grieve enough for my Sins and because I have grieved the Motions of thy Holy Spirit Oh work in me a hatred of all sin which is the cause of all Evil and help me to avoid the very Appearance of it O Lord thou hast given some Encouragement for poor penitent Sinners to come unto thee and graciously invited them saying Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy Laden and I will give you Rest seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you call upon me in the Day of Trouble and I will hear thee and deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Oh Lord I come I seek I call I cry beseeching thee for Jesus Christ his sake to let me find rest unto my Soul Open unto me the Gates of Salvation and be ye opened ye Everlasting Gates that the King of Glory may come in and deliver me from the Intollerable Burthen of my Sins Help me to Glorifie thee here that I may be Glorified with thee to all Eternity Lord thou hast promised that Thou wilt not break the Bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax nor despise the day of small Things but hast mercifully stiled thy self to be a God hearing Prayers and none of the Sons of Jacob ever sought thy Face in vain And thou hast graciously declared thy self to be the Lord Merciful Gratious of Patience and great Goodness who pardoneth Iniquity Transgressions and
Prison Thoughts WRITTEN BY Thō Browning CITIYEN AND COOK OF LONDON Who hath been a PRISONER in Ludgate ever since the Twelveth day of August 1680. Dum Spiro Spero in Deum Adjutorem meum London Printed and are to be Sold by the Author in Ludgate who is still a Prisoner there Anno 1682. To the Worshipful Geo. Dashwood Esq Dame Margeret his Wife the Lady Elizabeth Hare their Daughter John Pery Esq Mrs. Katherine Browning my Wife where ever she is and to all that are related to their Families Grace and Peace NOtwithstanding my many great Troubles I have had some retired Thoughts in my Adolescens which are here brought to publick View and do desire you to Patronize the same If you and others shall find such benefit by reading them as I have done by writing the same my ends are answered Time was when I had no Thoughts of putting my self in Print but Necessitas non habet Legem These are my first Fruits as an Offering to the World which pray accept I do intend another suddenly which perhaps may be more acceptable and sell better than this My weak Endeavours shall not be any whit wanting therein Who am Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant in the Lord Thomas Browning Nosse Teipsum Vivat Rex Curret Lex Floret Grex. Finis Coronat Opus A Coppy of a Letter sent to my Wife My Admiration IN my Fifty Eighth Letter I sent you some Verses and this is my Fifty Ninth where you may find an Epistle which pray peruse It is in vain to expect any Approbation from you having never yet received one Line in Writing from your Hand And perceiving that you are resolved neither to see nor send to me I do think that this may be the last time that I may trouble you in Writing only remember that you have abused neglected slighted and robbed a most Indulgent and loving Husband for which I pray God to give you a hearty Repentance before it be too late and there be no meanes left to help your self as likewise all those who have unlawfully and very malitiously advised against me without any Cause And if you or they have any Pretences I do hereby dare either to make them known to me or the World assuring that mine shall shortly be made known in Print with as much Severity as Truth will bear who am still you Loving though most Abused Husband Thomas Browning Prison Thoughts c OH despised despised despised rejected rejected rejected and Destroyed by you my own Dear Wife whose Name is Katherine Browning I pitty I pitty I pitty and shall not cease Praying for you Day and Night that you may be converted when you hear of Brownings Death occasioned by your meanes you may shed a tear for him if there be any Grace in you none ought to despise their own Flesh Whom God hath Joyned together let none put ader And if you had not gone from me you might have been Mistriss of our Company they have chosen an old Master this year in my stead Take heed of these dreadful Sentences You that are filthy be filthy still There remains no more Sacrifice for Sin but a fearful looking for of Judgment Fiery Indignation and fierce Anger of the Lord with a Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for Divels and Damn'd Spirits From which Place Good Lord deliver us My Epistle begins Few and evil have been the days of my Pilgrimage I have had for Inheritance the Months of Vanity and painful Nights have been appointed unto me and do know that hereafter is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousiness and not for me only but for all them who love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Therefore all the days of my Life will I wait as a Hireling till my Change shall come For I desire to be Dissolved and to be with Christ and do long to remove out of the Body to dwell with the Lord For I do know that if this Earthly House of my Tabernacle were destroyed I have a Bulilding given of God that is a House not made with Hands but Eternal in the Heavens Therefore I sigh desiring to be cloathed with my House which is from Heaven and I do heartily look for and do hope that in noth ng I shall be ashamed but that with all confidence Christ shall be magnified in my Body whether it be by Life or Death for whither I live it is to the Lord or whether I die it is to the Lord therefore whether I live or die I am the Lords To Him therefore be Praise and Glory for evermore I have fought a good Fight I have kept the Faith and do know in whom I have Believed and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to his Charge Against that Day the Lord will quicken my mortal Body and make it like to his own Glorious Body Yea though after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet I shall see God in my Flesh whom I my self shall see and mine Eyes shall behold and none other for me though my Reins be consumed within me therefore I willingly lay down my Life and commit my Soul unto God as unto my faithful Creator How excellent is thy Mercy O God therefore do I trust under the Shadow of thy Wings O blessed is the man whom thou dost choose and causest to come unto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and shall be satisfied with the Pleasures of thine House even of thy Holy Temple thou shalt give him drink out of the Rivers of thy Pleasures for with thee is the Well of Life and in thy Light shall we see Light send me therefore thy Light and thy Truth and let thy good Spirit lead me unto the Land of Righteousness Carry me O Lord by thy Mercy and bring me in thy Strength to thy Holy Habitation Plant me in the Mountain of thine Inheritance even in the Place which thou hast prepared and the Sanctuary which thou hast Established that I may see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Let me behold thy Face in Righteousness and let me be satisfied with thine Image for in thy Presence is the Fulness of Joy and at thy right Hand are Pleasures for evermore Into thy Hands O Lord I commend my Spirit for thou hast Redeemed it O Lord God of Truth Lord Jesus receive my Spirit The end of the upright man is Peace As many as walk according to this Rule Peace shall be upon them and upon the Israel of God Now unto Him that is able to keep us that we fall not and to present us faultless before the Presence of his Glory with Joy to God only-wise be Glory Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever ever ever Amen Ludgate The 12th of April 1682. For my most Esteemed Mistriss Katherine Browning These This was sent to her Aunt Madam Margaret Dashwood by the hand of Mr. Joseph Steed her Nephew to
Sins for thy own Names-sake and thou desirest not the Death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his Wickedness and live and hast promised That at what time soever a sinner repenteth him of his sin from the bottom and ground of his Heart thou wilt put away his Wickedness out of thy sight and remember his Transgressions no more And it is a faithful Saying worthy of all Acceptation That Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners Of whom I am chief O Lord I Believe help my Unbelief help me to Believe Repent and Obey for Jesus sake have Mercy upon me and work in me a godly Sorrow for my sins which may cause a true Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of and for thy Names-sake pardon all my sins for thy Mercies-sake do away my Iniquities for thy Promise sake do not remember my Transgressions any more And for Jesus Christ his sake seal a free and a full Pardon of all my sins unto my Soul Say That thou art become my Salvation And let the blood of Jesus cleanse me from all sin Oh this is a great Request I beg who am unworthy of the least Mercy but I beg of thee for the sake of Jesus he is thy Beloved Son in whom thou art well pleased through whom thou canst not be offended he is my Saviour and died to save me according to the multitude of thy Compassions in the Lord Jesus deal with me in the pardoning of all my sins and let not sin nor Satan whom thou hatest destroy the Work of thy hands my Immortal Soul for whom Christ died furnish me with the Graces of thy Holy Spirit and give me Believing Grace and Mercy Repenting Grace and Mercy Pardoning Grace and Mercy Restraining Grace and Mercy Comforting Grace and Mercy Renewing Grace and Mercy with Confirming Grace and Mercy Oh renew me in the Spirit of my Mind help me to redeem time because I have mispent much pretious time already and because the days are evil make me consider the shortness and uncertainty of my time I have but a Moment to work for Eternity e're long Death will come and I shall be in a future state then time will be no more and many have been taken off in their sins and for their sins that are now in an Eternal state of Wo. O teach me in this my Day to know the things that belong to my peace before they are hid from mine Eyes my day is already far spent and my Night is at hand I do not know what a Day may bring forth let me not therefore any longer defer my Amendment of Life after so long a time as it is called to day help me to up and be doing and work while it is called to day before the Night comes when none works help me to work out my Salvation with Fear and Trembling and let me be very diligent to make my Calling and Election sure the one thing needful even the Salvation of my Immortal Soul which is of everlasting Concernment that whatever I miscarry in I may not be mistaken in the great business of my Eternal Happiness to that end I most humbly pray thee again for Jesus Christ's sake to free me from the Power of all sin especially those that my Nature is most prone to such as do beset and overtake me daily and be pleased to discover unto me the Deceitfulness of my own Heart which is very naughty and above all things deceitful and desperately wicked the Thoughts and Imaginations of my Heart have been evil and only evil continually O Lord create in me a Clean and New Heart renew a right Spirit within me sanctifie my Nature and help me to sanctifie thee the Lord of Hosts and make thee my Fear and Dread that thou may'st be unto me a Sanctuary O be pleased to convince me of thine Omnisciency and Omniprescency strike me with an Awe and Fear of thy Presence make me to consider that where-ever I am whatever I am about thou knowest it who art a God of purer Eyes than to behold Sin with the least Approbation and that I have always about me an Immortal Soul and that it is against thee that I have sinned who art a Sin-hating and a Sin-revenging God and that I must very shortly appear naked before thy dreadful Tribunal to render an Account for all things done in the Flesh and 〈◊〉 râ—ceive my Eternal Doom from the Righteous Judge of â—ll the World O â—eaâ—h me with the Robes of Christs Righteousness leâ— his Meritorious Death and Passion satisfie thy Justice for my Sins let the Blood of Jâ—â—us clâ—anse me from all sin and make me circumspect in time to come lâ—t me be Sober Watchful and Vigilant because my Aiversary the Devil goeth about as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour continually and my poor weak frâ—il Nature is ready to yield to every Temptation and Suggestion not able to think a good Thought O let thy Grace be sufficient for me let it shield me from all hurt cloath me with the Righteousness of my Jesus let me be girt with Truth and always shod with the Preparation of the Gospel but above all things give me the Shield of Faith the Breastplate of Righteousness a Helmit of Salvation with the Sword of the Spirit whereby I may be able to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil resisting the Fiery Darts of Satan fighting against Principalities Powers and Spiritual Wickedness in High-Places let not the Gates of Hell nor Powers of Darkness prevail against me but let the Grace of God which hath so plentifully appeared toward me teaching to deny all Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts defend me O let me be redeemed from a Vain Conversation help me to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance worthy an Amendment of Life and let thy Holy Spirit seal me up unto the Day of Redemption make me holy here that I may be happy hereafter Oh make me such a one as thou wouldst have me and inable me to evidence unto my self the Assurance of my Justification by the fruits of my Sanctification thou hast promised That what soever shall be asked in thy Sons Name according to thy Will shall be granted Now Lord I know that this is thy Will even my Sanctification for Jesus sake sanctifie me thorowout and write upon my Heart Holiness to the Lord make me walk according to the Pattern of my Jesus who was Humble Holy and Obedient to thy Will in all things even to the death of the Cross make me to consider that I was Redeemed and bought with a Price not of corruptible Things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ therefore let me live to the Praise of him that hath so dearly bought me with his most pretious Blood let me walk like one that is Redeemed and Translated from Death to Life as one whose Life is hid with God in Christ that when he
bury And at their Funerals are blith and merry Who groan to serve us thus and die unwilling How can we then live long who live by killing Methinks we should neither eat nor drink But strait to dig our Graves we should bethink For since by their dead Bodies we are fed I wonder all this while we are not dead It is an old said Law yet still in request When Belly is full then Bones would be at rest Well have we fed the Flesh and from Sins Cup Have drunk Iniquity like water up The Creatures we have eaten flead and shorn The Fruits from Earth to feed us we have torn Are we not satisfied Oh sure 't is best That after all we get our Bones to rest And no where can the Flesh true slumber have But in our truest home our homely Grave There we sleep sound there let the Tempests roar The Worlds proud Waves shall dash on us no more W 're all deluded vainly searching ways To make us happy by the length of days For cunningly to make's protract this breath The Gods conceal the happiness of Death We are at home and safe whatever comes Let them fight on we shall not hear their Drums Let those be doted on now love or hate It shall not grieve us though they prove ingrate Yea let them praise or rule we lie aloof Out of their reach our sleep is Cannon proof And we but sleep for as we close our eyes Each night we go to Bed in hopes to rise So do we die for when the Trump doth blow We shall as easily awake we know And as we after sleep our Bodies find More fresh in strength and chearfully inclin'd So after Death our Flesh here dead and dried Shall rise Immortal new and purified If this be true why make we no more hast 'T is time to sleep day fails Night draws on fast Let 's get us home for as the Evening Sun Looking us in the face when day is done Makes us cast longer Shadows so when Death Looks in our face through Age and claims our Breath We cast his shadow long off from our sight Yet may we know right well 't is almost night And when we see night come in frowning Skies What man will not go home if he be wise Here let him come this House is of such fashion The Tenant ne're shall pay for Reparation There shall the Due not wet him Cold not harm him There shall no Summer weather over warm him From thence he 'l find when thither he is gone A private Walk to Heaven for ' mself alone Why do we not then go Are Flesh and Blood The hinderers that clog us from our Good Oh! rie thy self at home and cast off those What wise man ever went to bed in 's Cloaths Shall we that know how after this Life ends An Everlasting one for us attends Grieve to lay down these rags for Earth to keep That we a while may take a nap of Sleep Then were we worse than children for but say That they to morrow shall have Holy-day They 'l streight to bed and put off all Apparel Then cease my Flesh with Heavens Decree to quarrel And with these words reduce thy Thoughts that come He that dies first shall only first go home But when thy Flesh hither to thee prepares Say as when thou goest to bed thy Prayers Since he most oft forgets himself in Death That thinks not of his God that gives him breath Invoke his Mercy e're thy rest thou take For as thou fall'st asleep so shalt thou wake This House of which before we have been telling Is but a sleeping Chamber not a Dwelling For when thou wak'st this House no more shall hold thee But that whereof the blessed Apostle told thee Saying If this our earthly House shall once decay We have a House not made by hands with Clay But in the Heavens Eternal blest is he Whom thou O Lord admittest there to be He 〈…〉 thy Courts shall dwell thy Temples store Shall in thy House fill him for evermore But stay my Soul thou canst not yet come thither Thy Wings are clog'd and thou more strength must gather Mean time till from the Earth thou get'st free scope Even in thy Grave thy Flesh shall rest in Hope Meditations on Sleep THe Night is come like to the Day Depart not thou great God away Let not my sins black as the Night Ecclipse the lustre of thy Light Keep still in my Horizon for to me The Sun makes not the Day but thee Thou whose Nature cannot sleep On my Temples Centinel keep Guard me against those watchful Foes Whose Eyes are open while mine close Let no Dreams my Head infest But such as Jacobs Temples blest Whil'st I do rest my Soul advance And make my rest an holy Trance That I may my rest being wrought Be wak't into some holy thought And with an active vigour run My Course as doth the nimble Sun Sleep is a Death Oh make me try By sleeping what it is to dye And as gently lay my head On my Grave as now my Bed How ere I rest great God let me Awake again at last with thee And thus assur'd behold I lye Securely whether to wake or dye These are my drowzy Days in vain I do now wake to sleep again Oh come that hour when I shall never Sleep no more but wake for ever Thus shall I take leave of the Sun Desiring sleep till th' Resurrection Against Drowziness Permit not sluggish sleep To close your waking Eye Till you with Judgment deep Your dayly Actions try He that his sins as Darlings keeps When he to quiet goes More desperate is than he that sleeps Among his mortal Foes At Night lye down prepar'd to have Thy sleep thy Death thy Bed thy Grave On Patience Patience is the Poor mans Walk Patience is the Dumb mans Talk Patience is the Lame mans Thighs Patience is the Blind mans Eyes Patience is the Poor mans ditty Patience is the Exil'd mans City Patience the sick mans Bed of Down Patience is the Wise man Crown Patience is the live mans Story Patience is the dead mans Glory When your Troubles do controul In Patience possess your Soul FFormerly when I have seriously thought and remembred my Vow in Baptism it hath made me couragious to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil which hath made me often take up Resolutions that I would scorn to be a Coward but as Fools make a mock at Sin so have I deceived my self by too eager pursuing Worldly Vanities thinking to have found undermoon Comforts till I found my self beset with Snares and that there were bitter things written against me which pierced me with sorrows and I was almost in despair had I not been sustained with these Comforts following which hath since much refreshed me and vanquished the Tempter so that now I do rejoyce in God my Saviour and the Lord hath thus spoken Oh my Beloved why fearest
Vertue in thy Blood That Life is in thy Death But â—â—â—ll I fear my Sins deserve that thou shouldst never apply thy Vertue nor thy Merits to me for alas I find that the Old man is lively and strong in me and that the motions of Sin have power in me to bring forth Fruits unto Death The Lord Be not I pray thee injurious to thy self in the work of my Grace in thee Complain not of thy Corruptions But that thou mayst give unto me my own praise Canst thou deny but thou hast felt my Power working in thy Soul Have I noâ— sprinkled thy Conscience many times with the purifying and pacifying Blood of Christ from which hath flowed to thee such a witnessing of good things such a sence of Mercies as for the time hath filled thy heart with Joys thy mouth with Songs of Praise Have I not stirred thee up sometimes with great fervency to call upon the Name of the Lord Have I not made thee to give Christs Name a publick Testimony with thine own disadvantage And how often hath thy heart been effectually moved at the hearing of my Word in such sort that it wrought in thee a holy Remorse and an inward Contrition for Sin which hath broken out into tears Have I not made thee to wrestle against thine inordinate Lusts Have I not given thee Strength many a time to stand against Satans Temptations Whereas if I had left thee to thy self how often hadst thou been made a Prey to thine Enemy Remembrest thou not that the Tempter hath often assaulted thee But I have withdrawn the occasion of Sin and when the occasion hath served did I not restrain and hold back the Tempter Yea when both the occasion and Tempter were present have I not filled thy heart with the Fear and Love of my Name and so kept thee from sinning against me And whereas many times of thy weakness thou hast offended Did not I with a melting heart and mourning eye raise thee again and renew my former familiarity with thee So that thou canst never say from the first hour that I begun to renew thee that I have suffered thee to lye in thy Sin as I have done others that are Sâ—rangers to my Grace and many notable Effects of my working in thee thou canst not deny Are not these the undoubted Tokens of my Grace in thee Will Nature do such things Mayst thou not feel by these that I have begun to apply to thee Christs Merits for the Remission of thy Sins and Christs Vertue for quickening thee to a new Life Therefore think of thy self as barely as thou wilt but let the Work of my Grace be esteemed by thee according to the excellency of it Be humble and cast down when thou lookest on thine own corruption I find no fault with thee but I rejoyce and am glad of the new Workmanship which I have begun in thee Indeed if there were nothing in thee but that which thou hast by nature thy state were very miserable but seeing thou findest a new Workmanship in thee be comforted Art thou in Darkness that there is no Light in thee Or doth Sin possess thee that besides it also there is not a Will in thee to do Good and a Love to Righteousness If thou saist that thou hast no Sin in thee thou art a Lyer And if thou saist thou hast no other thing in thee but Sin thou art also a Lyer And thinkest thou that seeing I have begun to translate thee into my Light and to make thee a new Creature thinkest thou that I will leave thee till I have done till I have done my Work in thee Therefore my Beloved give not such ear to Satan and thy own Corruptions as to take this Testimony against me or make thee think that my Pledges which I have given thee are not worthy of Credit that by them thou shouldst be assured of my Mercy The Soul I cannot deny O Lord but that many times I have felt the sweetness of thy heavenly Consolations which have greatly rejoyced my Soul But alas my grief is so much the more that by my own Defaults I should now be deprived of them for I have grieved thy Holy Spirit yea I have done what I could to quench him and therefore it is that the Comforter who was wont to refresh my Soul is away nor can I feel his Presence with me as before The Lord Because I am not changed therefore it is that ye O Sons of Jacob are not consumed many are the Changes indeed whereunto you are subject but I remain the same and there is no shadow of alteration with me Be not therefore afraid O my Beloved neither esteem thy self to be rejected of me albeit that sometimes I hide my face from thee All my ways are Mercy and Truth to mine It is for thee that sometimes I go from thee and it is for thee that again I do return unto thee for if I come it is for thy Consolation that continual heaviness should not oppress thee by thy manifold Temptations How often hast thou found this when thou wert sick of Love I have strengthened thee with Flagons of my own and comforted thee wiâ—â— my Apples my Fruit hath been sweet in thy mouth and I â—aâ— put my Left-hand under thy Head and with my Right-hand I have imbraced thee But least the greatness of my Consolations should exalt thee to disdain thy Brother and offend me by imputing that to thy own disposition which thou hast of my Dispensation I have again withdrawn these glorious feelings from thee give me the Praise that I know best what is expedient for thee Had my Servant St. Paul need to be humbled with the Buffets of Satan least he should be exalted above measure by the greatness of his Revelations And hast not thou need that by thy inward Exercises I should hold thee humble If my Comforts were always present with thee thou wouldst think thy Heaven thy permanent City were here on Earth and so cease to enquire for a better to come thou wouldst take the place of thy Banishment for thy Home and thy Earnest for thy Principal Sum which I have promised thee Consider this wisely with thy self and albeit I laugh not alike on thee at all times and fill thee not always with Joys yet I always love thee for whom I love it is to the end If I close the Door of my Chamber upon thee it is not to hold thee out but to leave thee to knock If I cover my self with my Veiles that thou canst not see a glance of my Countenance it is only to stir thee up to seek me and if sometimes I seem to go from thee it is to provoke thee to follow me that thou mayst make hast from Earth to Heaven where thou shalt injoy me without Intermission Was Joseph so wise as to conceal his tender Affections from his Brethren till he had brought them to an humble acknowledgment of their
true Repentance unto Salvation never to be repented of and for Jesus sake accept a Morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise which I do desire at this time in all sincerity to offer to thy Divine Majesty humbly begging the Assistance of thy Grace O Eternal Almighty and most Glorious Lord God in whom I Live Move and have my Being thou art the Mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth thou art the great Creator and Governour of all Things who didst make all Things by the Word of thy Power and dost uphold the same by thy Providence who art the Omnipotent God Dwelling in the highest Heavens and hast Eternity for thy Habitation in that Light which is inaccessable to whom no mortal Eye can approach Infinite in all thy Attributes before whose Glorious Presence the Angels Cherubims and Seraphims those spotless Creatures do cover their Faces the Elders do cast down their Crowns Worshipping thee continually thou art Glorious in Majesty Fearfull in Praises doing Wonders God over all Blessed for evermore from Everlasting to Everlasting Infinitely Happy in the Injoyment of thine own Perfections and needest not the Services of any of thy Creatures and hast an innumerable Company of Angels Arch-Angels Cherubims Seraphims with the Spirits of Just Men and Women made Perfect all the Heavenly and Coelestial Host continually Celebrating thy Praise crying Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty which Was which Is and which is to come O where shall I appear that am Vile Sinful Dust and Ashes For Jesus Sake have Mercy upon me I confess that I am very sinful by Nature and more vile by Practice who am of the Seed of Evil Doers and have been a Transgressor from the Womb that I was Conceived in Sin Brought forth in Iniquity and my Life hath been as a continued Act of Sinning against thee as if I had been born for no other Purpose but to dishonour displease and disobey the God that Made me and to destroy that Immortal Soul for whom Christ dyed and the Lord world Save thou hast been very Gracious and Merciful to me in my Creation and Preservation but above all in the Lord Jesus Christ the Fountain and Foundation of all my Mercies and through whom I have Hopes of Eternal Salvation It is a Faithful Saying and worthy all Acceptation That Jesus Christ came into the World to Save Sinners Of whom I am chief and I am never able sufficiently to Admire Adore and Magnifie thy great Name for thy Infinite Love in the Lord Jesus thy Mercy Goodness and Condescention hath appeared in this that thou who art the Mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth a God of all Power Omnipotency it self shouldest find out a way to reconcile those great Attributes of thy Mercy and Justice through the Blood of thy Onely Begotten Son that so poor lost and undone Mortals might be Eternally Saved and this thou hast declared unto me Jesus Christ Crucified and for me who am less than the least of thy Mercies and this thou hast made known by thy Holy Gospel O the Height Length Depth and Breadth of thy Love in Jesus Christ it is above my Apprehension and Comprehension it is past my finding out lâ—t it be Matter of Eternal Praise in the Heavens and through him thou hast been pleased to afford me the meanes of Grace and Salvation in very plentiful manner thy Sabboths thy Word and Ordinances thy Holy and Blessed Spirit to assist me the Checks of my own Conscience and the Light of Nature to instruct me I have had Line upon Line Precept upon Precept here a little and there a little often hearing a Voice within and behind me saying This is the Way walk in it Thou hast lengthened out my Days and afforded me a large time to Repent in exercising thy Patience and Long-suffering towards me I have had large Experience of thy Goodness to lead me to an Amendment of Life and though in all Times Ages and Places thou hast shewed thy self highly displeased with Sin and Sinners yet thou hast been pleased to spare me and I have aggravated my Sins with hainous Circumstances the Angels when they sinned were cast down and are reserved in Everlasting Chains of Darkness made Monuments of thy Justice Wrath and Fury and there was never any Meanes found out for their Recovery Jesus Christ took not upon him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham my first Parents were banished out of Paradice for their Transgressions and the Old World for their Sin were drownded Sodom and Gomorhea once famous Places for their Sins felt the Divine Vengeance by Fire from Heaven and were consumed with an utter Overthrow yet thou hast spared me the chief of Sinners O Lord grant that thy Severity towards others and thy Goodness towards me may lead me to an Amendment of Life or how shall I escape to neglect such great Salvation O Lord thou hast been very gracious unto me by keeping me Mercifully in my Infancy Child-hood Youth Riper Age Manhood and Age thou hast taken Care of me when I took none of my self I have been Fed Cloathed and Led along by thy good Hand of Providence thou hast given me a Healthy Body a Sound Mind and a Large Memory my Diseases have been Cured I have been Fed both with the Vpper and Nether Springs thou hast not only given me Things convenient for this Life hut likewise the Mercies of Grace and Salvation leading to a better Life even to Life Everlasting thou hast preserved me in Prison beyond my Desert contrary to my Expectation when the World frowned upon me and I was forsaken by my Relations then the Lord was a Sun to comfort and a Shield to defend me thou hast been my present Help in time of Trouble my exceeding great Reward my All in All my God Alsufficient thou hast compassed me about with thy Salvation Songs of Deliverance thy Special Favours yea thou hast prevented me with thy very Loving Kindness I have been both Loaded and Cloathed with thy Mercies as with a Garment and they are more in number the very kinds of them than I am able to reckon up O Lord thou hast not only given me a Being but a comfortable and well Being to make me the more fit to Serve thee thou hast kept me from many Deaths and Dangers in the time of War thou didst preserve me from the Peril of the Bloody Sword when I deserved as much as any to have been cut off the Land of the Living thou hast preserved me by Land and by Water and in Forreign Parts from many Evils that I have been subject to thou hast kept me in the Times of Centagion and Visitation from the Noysom and Devouring Pestilence and other Distempers many that lived with me are gone to the Grave before me and as they are dead I am dying not knowing what a Day may bring forth my Breath is in my Nostrils and goes out every Moment and whensoever it shall be stopt I must dye
who is my Life shall appear I may also appear with him in Glory O help me to walk as an Adopted Son of the mighty Majesty of Heaven and Earth the Holy God as an Adopted Brother to the Holy Jesus my Loving Saviour Mighty Redeemer and the Captain of my Salvation as one that is in fellowship with God the Holy Ghast the Blessed Spirit my Mighty Comforter dayly Sanctifier and â—reserver Oh help me to walk as one that is in Communion with and related unto the most Holy and Blessed Trinity Let me never turn to Folly more nor dare to sin any more nor dishonour my Heavenly Relations but help me to walk worthy of the Price of my High-Calling pressing hard to the Mark adorning my Profession walking in all Well-pleasing daily growing in Grace from strength to strength til I shall appear in Zion in perfect beauty in Glory make me to persevere be constant and faithful to the death that so I may receive a Crown of Life Righteousness and Glory that fadeth not away To that end purpose O God wean me from the World take off my Affections from all perishing Vanities make me Heavenly Minded whil'st I am about Earthly Business let my Conversation be above where the Lord Jesus sitteth at thy Right-hand making Intercession for me let me be in earnest for thy Honour and Glory and the Salvation of my Immortal Soul O let me be upon the Wing Heavenward and carry me on upon Divine Principles help me to strive to enter into the Streight Gate Narrow is the Way that leads to Life and few there be that find it Broad is the Way that leads to Destruction and many there be that go in thereat and if the Righteous â—hall scarce be Saved where shall the Sinners and Vngodly appear Come Holy Ghost Eternal God Proceeding from the Father and Son take Possession of my Soul throw down all the Strong-holds of Sin and Satan bring me over unto a Universal Obedience in all Things to thy Heavenly Will O that my Ways were directed to keep thy Commandments then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Holy and most Righteous Laws which are not grievous as Flesh and Blood the World and Devils would perswade me thy Ways are Peace thy Paths Pleasantness in thy Presence is Fulness of Joy and at thy Right-hand are Rivers of Pleasures for evermore then let it be the joy of my Heart and rejoycing of my Soul to do thy Will help me to hate the Garment that is spotted with the Flesh shed abroad a Divine Love into my Heart and lay a Holy Constraint upon me to please thee in all Things O make me consider what great Things the Lord hath done for me who was once a Child of Wrath a Firebrand of Hell Heir to Eternal Death and Damnation but now by the Grace of God in Jesus Christ am become an Heir to an Eternal and Glorious Kingdom O let me be led unto it which way my Heavenly Father pleaseth it being assured to me by the great Charter of Heavenprecious Promises sealed by the Blood of Jesus the New Name and the White Stone O make me to know what the Lord hath done for my Soul and Body my Soul is Redeemed from Hell and my Body from the Grave and both Body and Soul from Eternal Damnation and all by the Blood of my Jesus and my Vile Body shall be made a Glorious Body and my Mortality shall put on Immortality be swallowed up in Life and I shall be a Co-heir with my Blessed Jesus O what shall I render unto the Lord for all his Benefits help me to take the Cup of Salvation and praise the Name of the Lord let me speak to thy Praise and live to thy Praise let my Heart be inlarged to shew it forth in my Generation and let it be Matter of Eternal Praises in the Heavenly Quire when I shall there be joyned with Saints Angels Arch-Angels Cherubiens Seraphims the Spirits of Just Men and Women made perfect all the Heavenly and Celestial Host to sing Hallelujahs and a New Song unto thy Divine Majesty for thy Love in Jesus Christ and in the mean time be pleased to accept of a Morning Sacrifice which thy poor Creature doth desire to offer up in Praise at this time with all humble sincerity most earnestly begging the Assistance of thy Grace blessed be thy Name for keeping me all my Days for my Creation Preservation and above all for ever ever ever blessed be thy Name for the Lord Jesus Christ the Fountain of all my Mercies and through whom I have comfortable Hope and Assurance of Eternal Salvation O let Christ be formed more and more in me and blessed be thy Name for all Temporal Favours for keeping me the Night past for refreshing me with the Comforts of Rest and Sleep and hast kept me from all sad Accidents when thou mightest have made my Bed my Grave and my Sleep my Death but blessed be thy Name whose Compassions never fail thy poor Creature who hast raised me this Morning in good Condition of Health Strength Mind and Memory and being thus brought to the beginning of this day defend me O Lord in the same by thy Almighty Power grant that I may fall into no Sin nor run into any kind of Danger but that all my Doings may be ordered by thy Governance to do that which is righteous in thy Sight through Jesus Christ O Lord have mercy upon thy whole Church inlarge the Kingdom of Grace hasten the Kingdom of Glory send forth thy Word with thy Power thorow the whole World propagate the Gospel and hasten the Kingdom of Glory remember thy Antient People the Jews bring in the Fulness of the Gentiles give the Heathen for thy Sons Inheritance and the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Possession let all Kingdoms of the World become the Lord Christs and let every Scepter submit to his Royal Scepter that the Earth may be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea and be gâ—atiously pleased to bless this Sinful Nation of England pardon our Crying Sins heal our Breaches compose our Differences give us a true Repentance and Amendment of Life and be merciful unto us O Lord save the King pour down the choisest of thy Blessings upon his Head and Heart make his Life long his Reign prosperous keep him from the hands of his Enemies let his Life be prerious in thy Sight give him Wisdom and Courage from above make him as an Angel of God to go in and eut before the People over whom thou hast set him and when thou shalt put an end to his Mortal Life Crown him in thy Everlasting Kingdom in Glory Bless him in his Royal Relations our Gracious Queen Katherine James Duke of York and aâ—l â—he Royal Family endue them with thy holy Spirit inrich them with thy Heavenly 〈◊〉 prosper them with all Happiness and bring them to thy Everlasting Kingdom Bâ— pâ—easâ—â—â— to bless all our Privy-Councellors Rulers and Judges teach our Senators Wisdom and the true Fear of the Lord make them Zealous for thy Honour and Glory the Advancement of true Religion Piety and Vertue the Honour and Safety of the King and Kingdom Bless all the Magistrates of this Realm give them Grace to execute Justice and maintain Truth and be pleased to pour down a double Portion of thy Blessings upon the Ministers of thy Word and Sacraments the Clergy of this Land by what Names or Titles soever they are dignified or distinguished make them found in their Doctrine and Exemplar in their Lives let them shine like Stars in the Firmament and let their Light so shine besore Men that seeing their good Works others may glorifie thee the Heavenly Father and O Lord look down in much Mercy upon all Degrees of Men Women and Children of this Nation grant that we may all live in thy Faith and Fear in due Obedieuce and Loyalty to the King and his Laws and in Brotherly-Love and Affection to one another O Lord bless all my Relations especially my Wise and Child pardon their Sins and save their Souls make them near and dear unto thy self season their tender Years with thy Grace and Fear be their satiable good in every Condition and if it be thy blessed Will bring us together again that we may Serve thee better than sormerly we have done and if it shall seem good unto thee O Lord find out a way for my Deliverance out of Prison not mine but thy Will be done O God I have found that thy Service is perfect Freedom and thy Favour is better than Life help me to order my Conversation aright that I may see more of thy Salvation let my ways please thee that my Enemies may be at Peace with me however let all tend to the purging out of Sin making me more fit to enjoy Communion with thee here and eternally hereafter vouchsafe O Lord to keep me this day without Sin keep me in thy Fear diâ—ert me in thy Truth let thy Spirit lead me that I may not offend with my Tongue let me be silent rather than sin and never repine at thy Providence fit me for my future Being make me mindful of Death and let me always have the Assurance of thy Favour which is better than Life G God whose Nature and Property is ever to have Mercy and to forgive receive my humble Petitions and though I am tied and bound with the Chain of my Sin yet let the great pittifulness of thy Mercy loose me for the Honour of my Advocate and Mediator Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father thy Holy and Blessed Spirit be ascrided and given from the bottom of my Heart and from all Creatures all possible Honour Glory Power Praise Might Majesty Adoration Dominion and what-ever can be Imagined or expressed from this time forth and for evermore Amen Our Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven c. FINIS