prosperitie Teach mee good Father how to kéepe a diligent account of all the benefits and blessings I here receiue of thée and what vse I from time to time make of them knowing that there will come a day when I shall bee called to answere the same Grant therefore that I may so gourrne my selfe that I may bee able with boldnesse and truth to giue account of my time spent and my talents how I haue disposed them that I may bee found faithfull in my little and be made partaker of the greatnesse of thy Glorie in the Heauens Though I be a Stranger a Soiourner here in Earth yet grant Lord that I may haue my conuersation in Heauen Giue me Wisedome that I may finish this my Pilgrimage in thy fauour and for that I cannot so number my dayes that I can know how long I haue to liue let the residue of my life be a preparation to Death and the meditation of Death cause in mee continuall watchfulnesse for the comming of thy Sonne O God forsake mée not vnto the end so shall I neuer fall from or forsake thee Enable mee heere so to walke as becommeth thy sonne though in great weaknesse I haue finished my course to this day Grant Lord that I may bring forth better fruites from this day to the end of my dayes through thy Grace and in the end bée receiued to eternall Glorie through the merits of my alone Sauiour and Redéemer Jesus Christ to whom with thée O God the Father and the Holy Ghost be euermore ascribed all Power and Glorie Amen O Lord euermore increase my faith FINIS LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Richard Meighen and are to be sold at his Shops at Saint Clements Church ouer against Essex house and at Westminster Hall 1619. Death certaine the time vncertaine Luk. 16. 22. Future ioy and paine in the extreme degree Body and Soule louingly linâ—kt Heb. 9. 27. Iob. 11. Io. 1. 1. Matt. 9. 25. 1. King 17. 22. 2. Kin. 4. 35 Dying twice 2. King 13. 21. Not necessarie to know the houre of death Time of the last Iudgment vnknown Mar. 13. 32 A good life must precede a happie death Luk. 16. 22. 23. Difference betweene Gods children and worldlings Phil. 1. A Christian resolution Gal. 2. 20. Reue. 3. 1. 1. Tim. 〈◊〉 Iohn 14. 6. What it is to liue carnally Matt. 20. 9. God is bountifull without our merit 2. Cor. 5. 1 2 Luke 16. 23 Our merit Gods mercies 1. Tim. 2. 5. Reue. 3. 11. Col. 2. 15. Satans policies No neede to feare Satan Iob. 26. Matt. 12. 29 Iob. 7. 1. Rom. 8. 33. 34. 1. Iob. 2. 10. Iob. 10. 28. Rom. 8. 34. The Christians hum blenesse Psal. 145. 9 Gods mer cies greater then our sinnes The assurance of a good Christian. Iudg. 15. 14 Iob. 19. 27. There is a sowing time and reaping time of bodies Life but lent vs. Christs death a Christians life 2. Pet. 3. 8. The bodie findes no tedious tarrying in the graue The graue a bed of rest Reue. 14. 13 Death a sleepe Mar. 9. 44. Death in shew more fearefull then in deede Rom. 2. 5. A spiritual and carnal life here Gal. 5. 19 20 21. Gal. 5. 19 20. Fruits of the flesh Fruits of the Spirit Counterfeit imitation of good men Hypocrisy most to be condemned Rom. 7. 16. How Will is free and not free 1. Cor. 2. 10. Mat. 7. 7 8 Prayer Psal. 25. 1 2 86. 4. Iam. 1. 6 7. Psal. 89. 48 Luke 12. 39 Iam. 4. 13. 2. Cor. 5. 6. Col. 2. 10. Col. 2. 15. The benefit of Christs death The best men often stagger at the consideration of death Ioh. 18. 17. Mat. 26. 39 Ecclus. 41. 1 Body and soule shal be glorified Death will come not looked for Gen. 5. 25. verse 4. Gen. 9. 29. Decrease of mens ages Deut. 34. 7. Not to depend on long life Time past short in expectation long Sudden death in others a fearefull spectacle Feare Mat. 14. 26 1. Pet. 2. 17. 1. Ioh. 4. 18. Col. 3. 22. Psal. 33. 18 DiffereÌ„ce of feare The want of wisedome the want of feare Hos. 14. 9. Psal. 128. 1. God must blesse vs before we can feare him Rom. 7. 18. Phil. 2. 13. Feare the gift of God Psa. 111. 10 Psal. Iob 1. 1. Reu. 14. 13. Psal. Rom. 12. 9. 1. Thes. 3. 15 1. Pet. 5. 8. 1. 2. Rom. 14. 12. 3. Eccles. 12. 14. We must giue account after death The heart the fountaine of al euill Iere. 17. 9. Gen. 6. 5. Satan watchfull ouer our inclinations aswell as actions Satan in his temptations steales vpon vs. The watch of a Christian Phil. 4. 8. Satan encounters vs not alone Our corrupt inclinations aduantage to Satan Eph. 5. 11. Tit. 2. 12. Rom. 13. 12 Rom. 12. 9. Though wee bee tempted we shall not fall Matt. 14. Act. 7. 59. Act. 12. 2. Mar. 13. 33 Mat. 24. 42. The Parable of the Thiefe Luk. 12. 39. 2. Cor. 6. 6. 1. Pet. 3. 10 11. Ecclus. 4. 20 The generall Audit is at hand therefore to prepare our account Mat. 18. 24 2. Pet. 3. 10 Mal. 4. 1. Zeph. 1. 14. 15 16. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Christs second comming fearfull None shal be able to answere the seuere Iudge 1. Cor. 1. 7. Phil. 3. 2. Tim. 4. 8. Luk. 21. 36. Ps. 50. 3 10. Ver. 11. Psal. 42. 5. Psal. 37. 34. Patience Matt. 6. 25. 1. Pet. 5. 7. Psal. 55. 22. 2. Cor. 11. 28 Heb. 13. 7. Matt. 6. 33 Pro. 10. 28. 1. Pet. 3. 9. 1. Pet. 4. 14. Esa. 30. 18. Attendance How feare and desire stand together Example The most diligent may bee found vnprofitable Attention two-fold 1. 2. Attention to selfe imperfections The Husband mans atteÌ„dance and attention Watchfulnesse in patience merits nothing because it is all vnperfect Correction necessarie Counterfeit patience True patience The place of freedome is heauen Gods forbearance to punish Rom. 7. 21 22 23. Verse 19. The opinion of Merit and Workes of Supererogation blasphemie They that can merit need no Repentance Psal. 43. 3. Heb. 11. 6. Iam. 2. 20. Rom. 11. Rom. 8. 24. The Fathers before Christ saw Christ to come Mat. 3. 17. Mat. 17. 5. 2. â—et 1. 17. Heb 9. 24. Patience in the husbandman Gal. 6. 8. Men most miserable but for the hope of another life Iude 20. 21. Vaine and carnall obiections against Faith and Beliefe Ro. 10. 9 10 Ia. 2. 18 19. Iam. 2. 21. Gen. 22. Iam. 2. 23. Faith the gift of God yet ours by imputation Iam. 2. 20. Rom. 14. 23 Heb. 11. 6. Sacrifice of the Masse Act. 7. 49. Heb. 4. 14. 1. Tim. 2. 5. The true vse of the SacrameÌ„t of the Lords Supper Rom. 7. 18 19. and 2. 13. Eph. 2. 8 9. Gal. 5. 4. We cannot suppresse sin but by grace Iob. 1. 16. The benefit of death The glory to come farre exceedes mans vnderstanding Wordes cannot expresse the glorie to come If worldly things be glorious how
the Iewes on this day obserue a most straight fast and goe bare-footed and sitting on the ground reade twice ouer the Lamentations of Ieremie 19 g  20 A  21 b Calend. of Septemb. 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 c  23 d  24 e  25 f  26 g  27 A  28 b  29 c  30 d Day before the Calends of Sep. 31 e  The 2â— of this moneth is vsually called S. Bartholmewes day 9. September called of the Latins September hath 30. daies Graecians Maimacterion Hebrewes Elul which is their 6. moneth 1 f Calends  2 g Nones of Septemb. 4 3 The first of this Moneth Haggai the Prophet began to prophecie Hag. 1. 1. 3 A  4 b Day before the N. 5 c Nones of Septemb.  6 d   7 e  The sixt of this month Ezechiel saw another vision Ezec. 8. 1. 8 f Idus of Septemb. 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 g  10 A   11 b   12 c Day before the Id.  13 d Idus of Septemb. The 7. of this moneth our late most noble Queene Elizabeth vvas borne at Greenevvich Anno 1533. 14 e  15 f  16 g  17 A   18 b   19 c   20 d  The 8. of this Month Anno 73. Ierusalem vvas vtterly vvith fire and svvord destroied by Titus the Emperour Ioseph lib. 7. cap. â—6 21 e Calends of Octobeâ— 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 f  23 g  24 A  25 b   26 c   27 d   28 e  The 25 of this month Nehemiah finished the vvalles of Ierusalem Nehem 6. 15. 29 f  30 g Day before the Calends of October Festiual daies in this moneth be the 21. S. Matthew 29. S. Michael 10. Octob called of the Latins October hath 31. daies Graecians Pianepsion Hebrewes Thisrâ— and is then 7. moneth 1 A Calends The 1. of this moneth the Iews celebrated the feast of Trumpets Leuit. 23 24 the later Iewes cal this day the beginning of the new yere 2 b  3 c Nones of October 6 5 4 3 4 d  5 e  6 f Day before the N. Ierusalem after it had bin possessed of Christian Princes 88. veeres through mor tall dissension came into the hands of the Saracen Ann. 1â—87 7 g Nones of October 8 A  9 b  10 c Idus of October 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 d  12 e  The 3. of this month some hiâ—ke the Iewes fasted for the death of Gedaliah wherby occasioÌ„ was offered to bring them againe into the miserable seruitude of the Egyptians 2. King 25. 25. Ierem. 41. 1. 2. c. 13 f  14 g Day before the Id 15 A Idus of October 16 b  17 c  18 d  19 e  20 f  The 10. of this month the feast of reconciliation was kept Leuit. 23. 27. So did the yeere of Iubile euery fifty veere begin as on the same day Leuit. 25. 9. 21 g  22 A Calends of Nouember 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 23 b  24 c  25 d  26 e  The 15. of this moneth the Iewes obserued the feast of Tabernacles 7. daies together in memory of the Lords protecting them iâ— the desert Leuit. 23. 34. 27 f  28 g  29 A  30 b  31 c Day before the Calends of Nouemb. Festiuall daies in this moneth are 18. day S. Luke 28. Simon and Iude. 11 Nouember called of the Latins Nouember hath 30. daies Graecians Authesterion Hebrewes Marâ—esuam their 8. moneth 1 d Calends The third of this moneth Constantius the Emperour Sonne to Constantinus the great departed out of this world An. 364. Hist tripart in the end of the fift booke 2 e Nones of Nouemb. 4 3 3 f  4 g Day before the N. 5 A Nones of Nouem 6 b  7 c  The tenth of this moneth An. 1483. D. Martin Luther was borne in Islebia 8 d Idus of Nouemb 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 e  10 f  The 15. of this moneth was made a new holiday by Ieroboam without the commandement of God whereupon hee committed most â—icked Idolatry in Dan and Bethel but he remained not long vnpunished nor his people vnplagued for the same as may appeare 1. Kin. 12. verse 32. 33. 1. King 13 1. 2. c. 11 g  12 A Day before the Id. 13 b Idus of Nouemb 14 c  15 d  16 e  17 f  18 g  19 A  20 b  21 c Calends of Decemb. 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 d  Queene Elizabeth began happily to raign for the aduancement of the Gospel of our Sauiour Christ the 17. of this moneth 1558. 23 e  24 f  25 g  26 A  27 b  The 18 of this month Titus the Emperour most cruellie executed to death a great number of the Iewes Ioseph lib. 7. cap. 10. 28 c  29 d  30 e Day before the Calends of Decemb.    Festiuall daies in this moneth are the first day The feast of All Saints The 30. and last day Saint Andrew the Apostle 12. December called of the Latins December hath 31 daies Graecians Posâ—idon Hebrews Sisleu and is their 9. moneth 1 f Calend. The 15. of this moneth Antiochus placed an abominable Idoll vpon the altar of the Lord 1. Macc. 1. 57. 2 g Nones of December 4 3 3 A  4 b Day before the No. 5 c Nones of Decemb. The 20 of this month Esdras exhorted the Israelites to put away their strange wiues 1. Esd. 9. 5. 6. c. 6 d  7 e  8 f Idus of Decemb 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 g  The foundation of the second Temple was laid the 24. of this moneth Hagg. 2. vers 11. 19. 10 A  11 b  12 c Day before the Id. 13 d Idus of December The 25. of this month our Sauior Christ was borne of the Virgin the yere after the worlds creation 4018. On which day also Antiochus Epiphanes entred into Ierusalem with a mighty army â—â—poiled the same Ios. lib 21 c. 16. On this day he prophaned the altar of the Lord 1. Macc. 1. 62. which day also the Iewes kept holy because thereon the Temple was purged from idolatry 1. Mac. 4. 59. 14 e  15   16 g  17 A  18 b  19 c  20 d  21 e  22 f Calends of Ianuarie 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 23 g  24 A  25 b  26 c  27 d  28 e  The 28. of this month Herod caused the poore Innocents to be
may behold thy glorie and bee changed into the same Image by thy Spirit It is thou only that giuest wisedome and out of thy mouth proceeds knowledge and vnderstanding therefore Make me more and more to abound in knowledge and all iudgement that I may discerne betweene good and euill and bée kept pure with-out offence vntill the finall dissolution of this my mortall body filled with the fruits of Righteousnes which are by Jesus Christ vnto the praise and glorie of God Let mée not good Father be giuen ouer to the lust of my Aduersarie nor to mine owne corrupt hearts desire that iniquitie should haue dominion ouer mé◠but make mee perfect to euery good worke who workest in thy Children both the wil and the deede O Lord teach me to do thy will for thou art my God make my heart constant and euer kéep it vnblameable before thée in holinesse that I may serue thée in al holy duties with a good conscience and may walk before thée in truth and with a perfect heart doing that which is good in thy sight Let thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding preserue my heart mind in Iesus Christ euen to the end and in the end yea euen when the Messengers and pangs of death shal take hold on me euen then support me that Satan with his malicious suggestions and infernall temptations preuaile not against mée in laying before the eyes of my guiltie conscience the vglinesse of my sinnes past or by drawing my minde into any forbidden thought or desire Draw me out of the net that hee priuily layeth to catch my soule in breake it for mee for thou art my strength make haste to deliuer me and saue me for My soule is filled with euils and my life draweth neere vnto the graue And what man liueth and shall not see death Séeing then deare Father I am appointed to die and that death cānot bée comfortable vnto mée when it commeth vnlesse a godly life goe before prepare my hart O Lord prepare it to a holy conuersation and a ioyfull and gladsome resolution that I may lay down this mortall body of miue in the dust whence it was taken and made and to surrender my soule with all heauenly alacritie into thine hands that gauest it And when the snares of death the terrors of the graue take hold of mee then Lord let me find fauour with thée in Christ my Redéemer in whom I beséech thée to deliuer my soule Amen Lord euer increase and confirme my faith MEDITAT II. NOw then I hauing by the grace of God in some measure learned to liue and to know I shall dye what remayneth but that I looke for the day and attend the houre not knowing when it will come And therefore to bee alwayes ready hauing also through Christ receiued the spirit of boldnesse to remooue out of this bodie to bee with the Lord. This boldnesse I confesse I haue not of my selfe it is the gift of God who in the beginning made mee to his Image without spot but spotted before I was borne by him that was once without spot whose fault is now by imputation nay by action mine whereby I bringing sinne and corruption into the World with me haue deeply defiled my selfe by like actuall disobedience and therefore may iustly feare the face of that seuere and iust Iudge especially hauing so many and so strong Aduersaries Satan with his principalities and powers and spirituall wickednesse a million of sinnes and a guiltie conscience besides the horrours of Death and the Graue enough to cast my sinfull soule into vtter destruction were there not a power aboue his power and principalities to subdue his I thanke God in Christ I haue beene taught and I know that the seed of the woman hath subdued Satan led him all his powers principalities and spirituall wickednesse captiue triumphing ouer him and them vpon the Crosse making a shew of them openly And this I am not only taught to know but I beleeue the same stedfastly Lord strengthen my beliefe As for my siunes past I feare them not for Christ suffered for them once the iust for the vniust to bring me to God As touching death I knew that my Redeemer liueth and he hath taken away the sting therof and made a way for mee through the graue to come vnto glorie through the valley of death to passe vntill I come to the Lord my God in Sion I cannot yet but confesse that notwithstanding my boldnesse I feele many wauerings I am not at all times alike bold but often tremble at the consideration of death because I haue had no experience of the terrour thereof and therefore though the Spirit be willing my flesh is weake But I am so much the more strengthened by how much I doe consider that euen the dearest of Gods Children haue sometimes staggered at the consideration of death Saint Paul himselfe confesseth that he had fightings without and terrours within Peter for feare of death denyed his Master And our Sauiour Christ being lest vnto his manhood wished though contrarily resolued that the Cup of the Crosse might passe and that hee might not drinke of it Death comes with an vgly and fearefull countenance to all but especially to them that haue their consolation here Death nay the remembrance of death as the Wiseman affirmeth is better to him that hath the wealth the pleasures and happinesse of this life And vnlesse the Lord by his grace support and sustaine the best man he will feare and faint at the approching of death Therefore will I make my prayer vnto God in Christ to giue me strength and an holy resolution to imbrace death when it shall come A Prayer against the feare of death fit to be said at all times especially in sicknesse The Prayer O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ who hast formed mee of the dust of the Earth and by thy Spirit made me a liuing soule in a mortall bodie Giue mée grace continually to remember my mortality how I am borne to dye and that after death I shall come to Judgement yet hast thou hidden the time when the place where and the maner how I shall dye from mee all knowne to thée Teach mee therefore Gracious Father teach mée so to number my daies as to consider that the more they increase in number so much the neerer I draw to the time of my dissolution therefore giue mee wisedome and a heart whereby I may apply me thereunto that I may be at all times and in all places watchfull and readie to imbrace the comming of that which I cannot auoyde Let mée not rest secure in health nor be dismayde in sicknesse but let my heart bee euer set on the things that are where I desire and hope to come and not on the things which I sée and partake herein this life Teach mee thy wayes instruct me in thy Lawes giue me a repēting
feare him then that feare being blessed and sanctified â—restraynes mee from sinne to walke in the wayes of God therefore I feare and walke because I am blessed and not blessed because I either feare or walk in his wayes for God by his blessing which is his grace giues mee the will without which the deede cannot follow so both the will and the deede the desire and the worke in me are of God He that feareth the Lord will neither speake nor do euill because both speaking doing good comes from the feare of doing euill which holy feare being the gift of God hath great commendation in the Scripture It is the beginning of wisedome saith Salomon and wisedome the end of all heauenly perfection and tendeth not only to restraine from euill for feare of Gods Iudgements as it wrought in Dauid when he said My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy Iudgements But to retayne me in the loue and fauour of God Iob was reputed a iust and vpright man because he feared God and in fearing God he eschewed euill Satan himselfe confessed that God preserued Iob blessed all that he had for that he feared God The feare of God then is that true rule of wisedom which directeth vnto a godly life a godly life an infallible forerunner of a happie death and to die in the Lord is chiefest blessednesse the passage from a miserable mortall to a blessed immortall being This feare then being the first steppe to a godly preparation to liue well and to die blessed is that true most precious Iem and Iewell which I seeke and desire to obtayne at the hands of God whose gift it is And therefore according as Salomon hath defined this feare of the Lord I will indeuour to abandon euill and to abhorre sinne Dauid also teacheth and I will desire to practice the same feare in keeping my tongue from euil and my lips that they speake no guile I will seeke to eschew euill and to doe good to seeke peace and to follow it for Who hath euer continued in the feare of the Lord and hath beene forsaken of him in life or in death A Prayer for the feare of God and wherein I may so liue as I may not be afraid to die The Prayer O Lord my God who hast made mée and fashioned mee of the dust of the earth and hast breathed into me the breath of Life here to trauaile vpon the face of the earth during a time appointed by thy Prouidence which I shall not passe for thou hast set down the number of my dayes which how many they shall bée I am vtterly ignorant giue me therefore a holy â—eare that I may thinke euery day to bee the day appointed for my death that I may so much the more warily walk in the wayes of true wisedome in a holy and sincere conuersation before the sons of men and in the sanctification of the inner man lest I be found more formall before men then faithfull in thée I beséech thée hearken to the prayer of thy Seruant who desireth vnfaynedly so to feare thée as I may not feare or be afraid of death Giue me that holy feare of thy Name which thou hast commanded that I may not erre from thy wayes nor harden my heart from thy feare for I know that great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layd vp for them that feare thee Knit my heart therefore vnto thée that I may fear thy Name and may receiue grace to serue thée so that I may so please thée with reuerence and feare that I not only may not feare to die but desire it rather passing all the time of my dwelling here in continuall meditation of thy future life sanctifying thee the Lord God of Hosts who art euermore my feare for thou only art able to kill and to make aliue to cast downe and to raise vp therefore art thou only to be feared like vnto whom there is none among al the gods so glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises and doing wonders I thanke thée gracious Father in Jesus Christ that in and by him I haue receiued the Spirit of re conciliation adoption whereby I am enabled to crie Abba Father and am freed from the spirit of seruile feare from the feare of Satan by thy Spirit Though for a little while O Lord thou maist séeme to forsake me and leaue mee to the spirit of bondage yet with great compassion according to thy wonted mercies I finde thée euer readie to receiue mee againe For a moment thou hidest thy face from mee but with euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion vpon mee and after this my mortalitie receiue mee to eternitie who art my Lord my God my streÌ„gth and my Redéemer Lord increase my feare of thee my faith in thee and loue towards thee Amen MEDIT. IIII. Watchfulnesse THE second point of my preparation is to bee watchfull and that for three especiall causes The first for that I haue an Aduersarie who is maliciously watchfull therefore ought I to be religiously watchfull The second because death will steale suddenly vpon me as a Thiefe The third because of my generall account to which I know I shall be called as soone as my soule is gone from my bodie if then I bee not able to yeeld a â—ust reason how I haue spent the time of my life here I shall be cast into prison neuer to bee redeemed First then to apply my watchfulnes to the watchfulnesse of mine enemie it behoueth me euer to haue an eye vnto the thoughts motions and affections of my corrupt heart for from my heart proceed all the euils that by any part or member of my bodie are actually committed and all the thoughts of my heart are euill euermore yet thence is my tongue moued to speake how then can my words be holy proceeding from so polluted a fountayne I am often violently carried whither the thoughts of my heart doe moue me and am often incited to commit those things howsoeuer euill which my corrupt heart hath conceiued And mine enemie Sathan that thirsteth for my confusion takes aduantage by the inclination of my heart manifested by mine accustomed actions to frame his bayts according to my corrupt appetite coueting euer to draw actual euils out of the polluted puddle of sinne conceiued in my heart This do I find by the experience of his long practice and inferâ—all stratagems for vpon my committing of some sinne and hartily repenting the same with a resolution neuer to commit the like I haue as it were sensibly felt and plainly obserued how by little and little he hath endeuoured to lay snares to draw me to the same euil not as with a violent hand but as it were stealing vpon me like a flattering and deceitefull Theefe whose policies I haue no power to preuent but only by that promise which GOD made vnto
fit to stand alwayes vpon my Watch-towre in continuall Prayer that I bee not vnder the least power of any of mine enemies when my separation shall come I will indeuour to make vse of the Parable of Christ my Sauiour who by way of premonition saith Vnderstand this as being a matter of chiefe consequence for my safetie If the good man of the house which is the soule of euery man dwelling in the bodie knew at what houre the Thiefe namely Death would come hee would be readie to entertaine it And would not suffer his house his bodie to be digged thorow namely by violence to be surprized and to be desperatly spoyled of his goods his soule to be tormented perplexed by a guilty conscience and an vnrepentant heart for sinne committed against God but would bee still watching to preuent euery euill motion to sinne and wait for that Thiefe Death willingly to lay downe his bodie for a time in the graue and to yeeld vp his soule to God that gaue it in Christ who redeemed it As touching this watchfulnesse it is comprehended in a godly life and in a continuall serious obedience to God eschewing euill and doing good in seeking peace and following it This is true watchfulnesse and blessed is the man whom the Lord when hee commeth shall find thus waking For he that slumbreth in security carelesse of future dangers leding an vngodly life not remembring his end and what accoūt he is to make when Death comes vpon this man he shal be suddēly carryed to the place of ex treme and perpetuall torment neuer to bee relea sed I will therefore pray that I may retayne a continuall watchful heart and striue to liue soberly because I know not the time A Prayer that I may be alwayes readily prepared for Death The Prayer O Lord my God who hast created mee of nothing here to liue and breathe in the Earth for some few dayes few were the many thousand yéeres in comparison of thine Eternitie and yet the end of these my dayes altogether vnknowne vnto mee Therefore thou commandest me to watch and to awake to siue righteously and not to sinne and yet by nature I sléepe in carnall securitie Thou willest me not to sleepe as doe other but to watch and bee sober but alas I slumber in mine owne vanities the deceits of sinne True Wisedome willeth mée to watch because the time of my dissolution is at hand when I shall bee no more breathe no more but bee taken from all the pleasures and delights of this life Frame in me therefore I beséech thée good Father a watchfull heart Banish from me the darknesse of ignorance and all wicked affections by the knowledge of thy truth Giue mee grace to order my life according to that certaine and sure rule of all righteousnesse and sinceritie by the vertue of the Spirit of Iesus Christ. The darknesse of the night is past and I haue the light of thy Word giue me therefore the will and ablenesse to cast off the workes of darknesse and to put on the armour of light That I may henceforth walke honestly as in the day not in gluttonie and drunkennes nor in chambering and wantonnesse nor in strife and enuying but by putting on the Lord Iesus Christ and not to take thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof I am subiect O Lord to many temptations giue me therefore the Spirit of Wisedome and strength to resist and ouercome them And that I may kéep cōtinuall watch ouer all my thoughts words and wayes that I bée at no time idle in wel-doing that Death which standeth at my doore finde me not without the Lamp of Loue faith and Obedience burning in my heart Make mee holy and constant in all good and godly duties that with a pure and sanctified con science I may at all times and in all places serue thee walking before thee in truth and that with a perfit heart that I fall not into the power and lust of mine Aduersaries nor be ouer-swayed with the destres of my corrupt heart but bee found perfect to euery good worke for thou art my God Uigilant and watchful is Death still attending to seize vpon mée yet cannot before thine appointed time for my time is in thine hand Giue me therfore a watchful heart that I may liue to thée and die in thée that whensoeuer it shall come to passe that I must yéeld my body to the dust I may be sound waking my heart settled vpon Heauen and heauenly things So shall not this death be terrible but most acceptable vnto me being the way by which I shall enter into that holy place new and spirituall Ierusalem where the filthy garments of sinne shame and confusion shall bee taken from mee and the most glorious Robes of Righteousnesse in the merits of thy glorified Soune bée put vpon me neuer to war old which grant most louing father for his sake So be it O Lord increase my faith and giue mee euer a watchfull heart pure and holy MEDIT. VI. The third cause of watchfulnesse the vncertaine Comming of Christ to Iudgement THe third cause of watchfulnesse I find to be lest my finall iudgement come vpon me suddenly as by vnprouided Death and I be found not only idle in wel-doing but in doing that which is euill And if I should not though much vnlikely lay downe this mine earthly Tabernacle before that generall dissolution of all things being doubtlesse not farre off the sudden comming of that Day will not excuse me for as I shall bee then found I shall be iudged I shall receiue the sentence due vnto me either in mercie or seueritie at the instant of Christes appearing and yet shall not preuent them that haue slept euer since the death of innocent Abel So that whether I goe before or stay till hee come I shall finde no difference for in the graue there is no remembrance of good or euill no feare of future danger or hope of Happinesse to come and therefore the time of my bodies sleep in the Earth bee it long or short is not conceiued or felt Only my soule that shall goe before cannot but apprehend it selfe not fully perfect vntill that generall Day when my body shall bee raysed againe out of the dust and partake together with my soule the vnspeakeable glorie of Christ my Sauiour not that I haue deserued it but the prayse I yeeld vnto him that hath merited the same for mee euen by his death It much behoueth mee therefore to watch and to make mine account ready for I find that the generall Audit is at hand where I shall be strictly examined how I haue bestowed the talents which I haue receiued of my Lord. At which generall Audit all must appeare Emperours Kings Potentates Bishops yea from the greatest to the least all shall bee summoned with the fearfull sound of a terrible Trumpet sounding far lowder then the most
in sicknesse The Prayer O Lord my God I waite on thée My soule keepeth silence vnto thee for of thee commeth my saluation therefore do I submit my self vnto thy will giuing thée thankes for thy patience towards me in Jesus Christ nor thou hast shewed thy selfe towardes mee slowe to wrath and full of goodnesse and mercy Increase euer more and more thy graces towards mee that in this my Pilgrimage towardes my graue I may possesse my soule in patience waiting thy good time for my deliuerie for here where I now dwel I neither hear nor sée taste nor touch any truly comfortable thing only thy Word is my spirituall consolation and the hope of future glorie my ioy And were I not fed with the hope of a better life by death I were of all men most miserable for nature could not with patience beare the burden of this miserable life being so ful of all infirmities both of body and mind so fraught with sins of all sorts and accompanied with so many and sundry crosses and finally subiect to thy seuere Judgement But thy fauour and thy loue and thy patience towards me worheth in me patience knowing that the time is comming and at hand wherein I shal be fréed from this mortal and miserable to enioy a life immortall and glorious O confirme therefore increase the patience attendance and attention which thou hast begun in me that after I haue here done thy will I may receiue the promise wherein thou hast assured me that the patient abiding of the righteous shall be gladnesse Thou art a God of mercy and blessed are they that waite for thee Grant therefore Lord that I may be found blamelesse in the day of my distation and that I may here walke worthy of thee through Christ beeing strengthned with al might thrugh thy glorious power to all patience and long suffering with ioyfulnes Amen Lord increase my faith MEDIT. VIII Of Repentance and Merit NO man be he neuer so holy is free froÌ„ sinne and therefore neuer free from occâ—sions to mooue him to Repentance And I acknowledge that Repentance Patience Watchfulnesse Attendance and Attention are of no force vnlesse Faith be the ground of euery of them For it sufficeth mee not to bee sorrie for my sins as it séemeth Iudas and Kain were vn lesse by Faith I can feele assure my selfe that my sinnes are also pardoned as neither of them did for it is the free gift of God which God vouchsafed not to them Neither is it sufficient for mee to watch with Patience or to attend the bringing forth of outward oftentiue and vaine-glorious works but I must feele in my selfe the infallible tokens of mine effectuall calling and ingrafting into Christ through Faith before I can bring forth workes worthy amendment of life which is true Repentance Some tokens of mine effectuall calling I feâ—le in my selfe for I desire to do good yet euen then is euill present with me I delight in the Law of God as conceruing the inner man Namely as I am regenerate But I see another Law in my members rebelling against the Law of my minde and lending me captiue vnto the Law of sinne which is in my members So that I cannot doe the good I would doe but the euill which I would not do that I doe Should I then thinke that because I feele not the signes of my calling in perfection and because I am not free from all touch of infirmities and sinnes in thought word and deed that therefore I haue no Repentance God forbid for to perswade my selfe that I haue no sinne were to deifie my selfe and to make mee equall with Christ as doe those that are faithed from yet by their workes of Merit and of Supererogation presume to affirme that they can bring not only them-selues but others to saluation whose arrogate Merit stinkes before God making the death of Christ of none effect the highest Blasphemie that mortall man can spew out against the Trinitie for hereby is the most vnsearchable loue of God the Father in sending his Sonne made vain and fruitlesse the obedience of Christ to his Fathers will made needlesse and his death causlesse and the worke of the Holy Ghost who giueth Faith in the hearts of them that shall bee saued excluded and the corrupt heart of miserable man wherein by nature is nothing but sinne the dregges whereof will remaine euen in the regenerate man during this mortall life exalted aboue the merits of Christ. Which Blasphemy be farre from me Hee that can merit his owne Saluation needs no Repentance which I disclay me and cleaue only and alone to the merits of Christ my Sauiour in whom my Repentance imperfect is reputed true Repentance howsoeuer the â—ing of sinne remaines in me yet without mortall venome only to keepe me euer in minde of mine imperfections for when sinfull motions arise in mee I cannot but acknowledge in my selfe corruption which cannot but humble mee before God and occasion me to pray for the Spirit of Repentance and that God will deliuer mee from this bodie of sinne A Prayer for true Repentance and a reformed life The Prayer O Lord my God I come here into thy presence fearefull to looke vp to Heauen where thou sittest from whence thou beholdest all my wayes and obseruest all mine actions in earth cursed and euill and wherein I haue too too long wallowed my selfe and as it were bathed my selfe in the bloud of mine owne soule which I haue diuersly wounded through my sinnes seldome or neuer calling my selfe to an account what I haue done but resting secure haue followed vanitie vpon vanity heaping â—â—â—ne vpon sin as if there were neither pleasure nor profit but in a carnall course of life O touch my heart with a true sorrow for euery idle thought of my heart for euery vaine word of my mouth and for euery act that I haue commited against thy sacred Maiestie giue mee grace to call to minde my sinnes of all sorts of all seasons and of all places howsoeuer or wheresoeuer I haue done and committed them that they appearing vnto mee in their vgly likenesse I may truely lothe them hate and abhorre them and vnfainedly repent them while Ihane time and while thy Mercies may be found for in death there is no remeÌ„brance of thee and in the graue who shall prayse thee Returne O Lord deliuer my soule saue mee for thy mercies sake withdraw not thy tender mercie from mee O Lord let thy Merrie and thy Truth alwayes preserue me Open Lord my dimme eyes the â—ies of my heart that I may hence-forth sée and walke in thy wayes Soften and molliste my hard and stonie heart that with Peter I may go out of my sinnes and bitterly bewaile them Send thy light and thy truth let them lead mee let them bring me vnto thine holy Mountaine and to thy Tabernacles Giue me a truly repenting heart through a liuely Faith in the Merits
sense of future good or euill auoid it left death steale vpon you and finde you so doing depend on Gods prouision blessing of your owne lawfull and laudable industries He is your heauenly Father and knoweth whereof ye haue neede seeke him hee will be found he will supply all your occasions if yee bee faithfull though yee were neuer so poore DAVID depending on God found by experiēce that the righteous were neuer left destitute nor their faithfull children to begge Cast then your care vpon God for hee careth for you And let not the care of the things of this life preuent your carefull preparation to a better life which you cannot attayne vnto but by death and therefore indeuour so to liue as God may bee glorified in your death not giuing your members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne here but giue your selues vnto God as they that are aliue from the dead and giue your members as weapons of righteousnesse vnto GOD. Striue against your owne corruption and let not sinne raigne in your mortall bodies that yee should obey it in the lusts thereof for When lust hath conceiued it bringeth forth sinne and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death not the death of the body only which is but a dissolution of the soule from it for a season but the death both of soule and body which is eternall Walke therefore in the Spirit saith Saint Paul and yee shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Ye haue the light walke not in darknes for he that walketh in darknesse walkes hee knowes not whither while yee haue the light therefore walke in it So walke as your hearts may mooue from euill to good from sinne to sanctitie cease to do euil learne to doe good and practise it Learne of Dauid to run the way of the Lords Cōmandements Walke not in the counsell of the wicked stand not in the way of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scornefull but delight your selues in the Law of the Lord and thereupon meditate day and night so shall yee bee blessed in life and death Yet thinke not to bee free from troubles enemies and crosses how sincerely soeuer yee liue nay the more carefull yee shall be to lead a holy and a godly life so much the more will Satan seeke to peruert you bee not dismaid cease not to walke honestly as in the open light that men may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heauen PART II. Gods prouidence towards his IF pouertie want oppresse you Let your Petitions bee vnto God who as he giueth seede vnto the Sower so shall he administer vnto you meat drinke and all things necessarie Remember the rich mercies of God which he hath euer shewed to his faithfull distressed children He sent his Prophet Abacuck to Daniel when hee was not only a prisoner and out of the reach of all his friends to releeue him but had for his companions the fearfull deuouring Lyons whose mouthes that most mightie God who will bee yours closed vp they could not hurt his seruant God might haue sustayned him with-out foode as he did Moses and Eliah but to shewe his secret mercies by visible meanes Remember also the miserable estate of that poore distressed woman Hagar ' who was so farre from any hope of worldly helpe in the barren wildernesse hauing a most heauie heart for her poore infant that with the mother was like to perish for want of a cup of cold water despairing as it were in her selfe laid away the childe from her forsooke it as loth to see the sorrowfull spectacle of its death and looked vp vnto GOD that saw her whose mercy and compassion was such towards her as hee opened a Well of water opened her eyes to see it whereby shee refreshed her selfe and relieued her child shewing thereby how carefull the Lord is of the distressed estates euen of such as are out of the couenant of grace how much more of such as take hold of him by faith in Christ namely of them that truly feare him faithfully beleeue in him and vnfainedly serue him When Samson had wearied himselfe combating with the Philistims became so weake and faint as hee was readie to perish for want of water to refresh him did not the same God yea our God the God of the faithfull giue him drinke out of the drie iaw-bone of an Asse Could he bring water sufficient to quench his great thirst out of so small and so drie a vessell yes for as long as hee desired to drinke so long it yeelded water like as did the oyle which by the power of the same God Eliah infused into the emptie vessels of the widdow of Sarepthah it ranne so long as shee had vessells to contayne it When Christ turned water into wine it ceased not till all the vessells were filled vp to the brim So doth the same God euen to this day deale with his children whom he neuer ceaseth to fill and feede as long as they haue faith to receiue his blessings and necessitie to haue them Hee fed foure thousand with seuen loaues and a few fishes and fiue thousand with fiue loaues and two fishes besides women and children hee could with the same meanes haue fed a more infinite number his power is so absolute what hee will hee works and what hee commands is done The hard Rocke must yeeld Riuers of water shewing that he can mollifie the heart of the most cruell Tyrant and in stead of afflicting to comfort his children The deuouring Rauen when God will vse him contrary to his nature shall carry foode to his distressed Eliah so doth hee at this day doubtlesse worke the hearts of most obdurate men to doe good as it were contrary to their condition to them that feare him and faithfully call vpon him in their distresses The examples of Gods presence with his loue vnto his and his power and prouidence ouer his faithfull children are in the Scriptures numberlesse The like are of his iudgements towards the wicked not only particular enemies of his as was Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar Scnacherib Herod and others but against whole Kingdomes Cities Multitudes the Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah where are they Is not the Scepter departed from them for the wickednesse of the people that dwelt in them Sodom Gomorrah Zeboim Admah and Zegor where are they Came not fire brimstone from heauen vpon them How did the same God cōfound Ierusalem the slaughter-house as it were not only of his Prophets but of his owne innocent Sonne and doe wee not see daily GODS iust iudgements vpon diuers Countries People by fire inundations of water by pestilence warres and famine And is not the sudden hand of God vpon such as at this day blaspheme his Name Needes there examples of such as haue beene striken some
An eye to Heauen in Earth A Necessarie Watch for the time of Death consisting in Meditations and Prayers fit for that purpose WITH The Husbands Christian counsell to his Wife and Children left poore after his Death PSAL. 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and be satisfied with the pleasures of thine House euen of thine holy Temple PSAL. 116. 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Richard Meighen and are to be sold at his shops at Saint Clements Church ouer against Essex house and at Westminster Hall 1619. 1. Ianuarie called of the Latins Ianuarius â—ath 31. daies Graecians Gamelion Hebrewes Tebeth and is their 10. moneth 1 A Calends  2 b  The first day of this Moneth Christ was circumcised Luk. 1. 21. The tops of the mountaines appeared vnto Noah Gen 8. 5. The Israelites put away their wiues Ezra 10. 16. 3 c Nones of Ia. 4 3 4 d  5 e  6 f Day before the N. 7 g Nones of Ianuar. 8 A  9 b  The 5. of this moneth word was brought vnto Ezechiel the Prophet that the Citie Ierusalem was smitten Ezechiel 33. 21. 10 c Idus of Ianuarie 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 d  12 e  13 f  14 g Day before the Id. The sixth of this moneth Christ was worshipped of the wise men Mat. 2. 1. c. baptized Mat. 3. 15. turned water into wine Ioh. 〈◊〉 1. c. as testifieth Epiphanius 15 A Idus of Januarie 16 b  17 c  18 d  19 e  20 f  The 10. of this Month Nabuchadnezzar King of Babel moued therunto by the rebellion of Zedechiah besieged IerusaleÌ„ most fiercely as may appeare 2. Kings 25. c. Ier. 52. 4. Also Ezechiel was willed to vtter his parable Ezech. 2. c. 21 g  22 A Calends of Februarie 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 23 b  24 c  25 d  26 e  27 f  28 g  29 A  Paul called and conuerted the 25. of this moneth Acts. 9. 3. 30 b  31 c Day before the Calends of Feb. Festiual daies in this moneth be Circumcision the first day Epiphanie the sixth 2 Februarie called of the Latins Februarius hath 28 daies vnlesse it bee yere Bissextil and then 29. GraeciaÌ„s Elaphebâ—lioÌ„ Hebrews Shebat and is their 11. month 1 d Calends The first of this moneth Mose repeated the Law vnto the children of Israel Deut. 1. 3. 2 e Nones of Februar 4 3 3 f  4 g Day before the N. 5 A Nones of Februa The second of this month our Sauiour was presented to the Lord and Marie purified Luke 2. 22. 6 b  7 c  8 d Idus of Februar 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 e  The ninth of this month Noah 40. daies after he had seene the tops of the mountaines sent out of the Ark a Rauen afterward a Doue which returned Ge. 8. 6. c. 10 f  11 g  12 A Day before the Id. 13 b Idus of Februar 14 c  15 d  The 15 of this month the Iewes spend merily together for that the Spring of the yeare doth enter then as they thinke 16 c  17 f  18 g  19 A  20 〈◊〉  The 16. of this moneth Noah the second time sent out a Doue which returned with an Oliue branch in her bill Gen. 8. 10. 21 c Calends of March. 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 d  23 e  24 f  25 g  The 24. of this month Zechariah was commanded to prophecie Zechary 1. 7. Matthias was elected into the number of the Apostles Acts 1. 26. 26 A  27 b  28 c  29 d Day before the Calends of March.    Festiuall daies in this moneth be the 2. called the Purification of Saint Marie The 24. which is Saint Matthias day 3. March called of the Latins Martius hath 31. daies Graecians Mouuichyon Hebrewe Adar and is their 12. moneth 1 d Calends The Temple of Ierusalem was finished the 3. day of this month Esra 6. 15. In the 1. of Esdr. 7. 5. it is said to be the 23. of this moneth 2 e  3 f Nones of March 6 5 4 3 4 g  5 A  6 b Day before the N. The tenth of this month Christ was aduertised that Lazarus was sicke Ioh. 11. 3. 7 c Nones of March 8 d  9 e  A feast was celebrated among the Iewes for the ouerthrow of Nicanor the 13. of this moneth 2. Mac. 15 37 Also vpoÌ„ the same day al the Iews vnder Ashuerosh were commanded to bee put to death Esth. 3. 13. vpon the same day the Iewes had a priuiledge giuen them to slay all their enemies Est. 8. 12. This day also the Iewes solemnized for their ioifull deliuerance Est. 8. 17. 10 f Idus of March 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 g  12   13 b  14 c Day before the Id. 15 d Idus of March 16 e  17 f  18 g  19 A  20 b  21 c  22 d Calends of Aprill 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 23 e  The 14. day of this month was called of the Iews Mardocheus day 2. Macc. 15. 37. also Purim as may appeare Esth. 9. vers 21. 26. 24 f  25 g  26 A  27 b  28 c  The 15. also is another day of Purim Est. 9. 21. 29 d  30 e  The 16. of this Moneth Lazarus was raised from the dead Iohn 11. 43. 31 f Day before the Calends of April    This Moneth hath one festiual day called the Annunciation of Saint Marie celebrated the 25. of this moneth 4. April called of the Latins Aprilis hath 30 daies Grecians Thargelion Hebrewes Abib or Nisan and is their 1. moneth 1 g Calends The first of this Moneth Noah vncouered the Arke saw earth Ge. 8. 13. Moses reared the Tabernacle Exo. 40. 2. 17. the Temple began to be sanctified 2. Ch. 29. 17. 2 A Nones of April 4 3 3 b  4 c Day before the N. 5 d Nones of April 6 e  7 f  The 10. of this month the childreÌ„ of Israel passed thorow the riuer â—ordaÌ„ on dry foote Iosu. 4. 19. the Paschal Lamb was chosen Exo. 1 23. 8 g Idus of April 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 A  10 b  11 c  12 d Day before the Id. The â—3 of this moneth the edict of King Abashuerosh came out for the murthering of the Iewes Esth 3. 12. 13 c Idus of April 14 f  15 g  16 A  The 14 of this month the Passeouer was kept Exo. 12. 6. Leuit
23 5. Ios. 5. 10. 17 b  18 c  19 d The 15. of this moneth the Israelite departed out of Egypt Numb 33. 3. 20 e  21 f Calends of May. 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 g  The 16. of this moneth Hezekiah made an end of sanctifying and purging the Temple 2 Chron. 29. 17. 23 A  24 b  25 c  26 d  The 18. of this month the childieÌ„ of Israel walked on drie land through the midst of the red sea Exod. 14 19. 27 e  28 f  29 g  30 A Day before the Calends of May. The 24 Daniel saw his vision Dan. 10 4.    The 25. of this moneth the feast of S. Marke is obserued 5. May called of the Latins Maius hath 31. daies Graecians Scriâ—ophorion Hebrevves Liar vvhich is their 2. moneth 1 b Calends The first of this Moneth Moses vvas commanded to number the children of Israel Numb 1. 1. c. 2 c  3 d Nones of May. 6 5 4 3 4 e  5 f  The 5. of this Moneth Christ is thought to haue ascended vp into heauen Mar. 16. 9. Luk. 24. 51. Act. 19. They which could not keep the Passeouer at the day appointed by the Lord vvere willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this month Nu. 39. v. 10. 11. So did the Israelites at the commandement of King Hezekiah 2. Ch. 30. 15. 6 g Day before the N. 7 A Nones of May. 8 b  9 c  10 d Idus of May. 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 e  12 f  13 g  14 A Day before the Id 15 b Idus of May. 16 c  17 d  The 16. day Manua rained from heauen Exod. 16. 14 18 e  19 f  The 17. day Noah entred the Arke and the floud began Gen. 7. 11. 13. 20 g  21 A  22 b Calends of Iune 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 The 22. fire from Heauen consumed such as murmured against the Lord Nu. 11. 23 c  24 d  25 e  The 23. the Israelites with great ioy triumphingly entred into the Castle of Ierusalem 1. Mac. 13. 51. 26 f  27 g  28 A  29 b  Noah the 27. the wateâ— being dried vp came foorth of the Arke Gen. 8 14. c. 30 c  31 d Day before the Calends of Iune The first of this Moneth is vsually celebrated for the feast of Philip and Iacob 〈◊〉 Iune called of the Latins lunius hath 30. daies Graecians Ekatâ—mbâ—iâ—n Hebrewes Siuan which is their third moneth 1 e Calends The first comming of the childreÌ„ of Israel vnto mouÌ„t Sinai was the 1. of this moneth where they abode 11. moneths and 20. daies in which time all those things were done recorded in Exod. cap 19. 1. c. 2 f Nones of Iune 4 3 3 g  4 A Day before the N. 5 b Nones of Iune 6 c  7 d  8 e Idus of Iune 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 f  The sixth of this moneth Alexander that mighty Monarch of the world was borne of whom Dan. c. 11. 3. doth proÌ„phesie Also on this day that famous temple of Diana in Ephesus numbred among the 7. wonders of the world was set on fire by Herostratu The Iewes likewise kept their feast of Pentecost on this day 10 g  11 〈◊〉  12 b Day before the Id 13 c Idus of Iune 14 d  15 e  16 f  17 g  18 A  19 b  20 〈◊〉  21 d Calends of Iuly 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 22 e  The 23 of this month the first edict came out for the safetie of Gods people the Iewes against Haman and the rest of their enemies Esther 8 9. 23 f  24 g  25 A  26 b  27 c  28 d  The 29. of this month the Arke of Noah through the increase of waters was lifted vp from the earth Gen. 7. 12. 29 e  30 f Day before the Calends of Iuly       Festiuall daies in this moneth are the 24. which is the feast of S. Iâ—â— Baptist. 29. which is S. Peters 7. Iuly called of the Latins Iulius hath 31. daies Graecians Metageitmon Hebrewes Thamus being their 4. moneth 1 g Calends  2 A  The 5. of this moneth Ezechiel saw his visions Ezech. 1. 1. 3 b Nones of Iuly 6 5 4 3 4 c  5 d   6 e Day before the N. The 6. of this moneth the Capitol of Rome counted one of the 7. wonders of the world was burned and the mirror of Christian Princes King Edward the sixt died the sixt of this moneth Anno â—553 7 f Nones of Iuly 8 g  9 〈◊〉  10 b Idus of July 8 7 6 5 4 3 11 c  12 d  13 e  14 f Day before the Id.  15 g Idus of Iuly  16 A  The 9. of this moneth Ierusalem after it had a long while been besieged by Nebuchadnezzar was taken Ier. 39 2. 17 b  18 c  19 d  20 e  21 f   22 g   23 A Calends of August 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 The 〈◊〉 of this month Iulius Caesar the first Roman Emperor was borne Of him is this moneth called Iuly 24 b  25 c  26 d  27 e   28 f  The 18. of this month the Egyptians begin their yere Plin. lib. 8. cap. 47. 29 g  30 A  31 b Day before the Calends of August  The 25. of this moneth is the feast of S. Iames the Apostle and vpon this day K James was crowned King of England 1â—â—3 8. August called of the Latins Augustus hath 31. daies Graecians Boedromion Hebrewes Ab which is their 5. moneth 1 c Calends  2 d Nones of August 4 3 The first of this moneth Aaron 40. yeeres after the childreÌ„ of Israel were come out of Egypt died on mouÌ„t Hor Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra with his coÌ„pany came out of Babel vnto Ierusalem Ezra 7. 9. 3 e  4 f Day before the N. 5 g Nones of August 6 A  7 b  8 c Idus of August 8 7 6 5 4 3 9 d  10 e   11 f   12 g Day before the Id The 7. of this moneth Nebuchadnezzar burnt the house of the Lord and â—l Ierusalem 2. King 25. 8. 9. 13 A Idus of August 14 b  15 c  16 d   17 e   18 f  The 10. of this moneth some thinke Ierusalem to haue been burnt by the Babylonians Ierem. 52. 12. Iosephus lib. 5. cap. 26. said it was burned afterward by the Romans the same day Therefore doe
murthered thinking thereby to haue slaine Christ Mat. 2. 16. c. 29 f  30 g  31 A Day before the Calends of Ianuar.    Festiual daies in this moneth are the 21. Thomas Apost 25. The Natiuity of Christ. 26. S. Steuen 27. Iohn the Eâ—ang 2â— Innocents called commonly Childermas day ¶ A rule to know how many daies be contained in euery moneth in the yeere Thirtie daies hath Nouember April Iune and September The rest haue thirtie and one Except it be Februarie alone Which alwaies hath twenty eight meere VVhen it is no Bisextile or Leape yeere ¶ A note of the Moneths weekes daies and houres throughout the whole yeere The yeere containeth Moneths 12. Hours 69478 VVeeks 52. Daies 365. Day Naturall hath 24 houres Artificiall 12 ¶ Almanacke for ten yeeres The yere of our Lord. The prime Sundaies letter Leape yeere Ash wednesday the first day of Lent Easter day Whitsunday 1615 1 A  Feb 22. Apr 9. May 28. 1616 2 G F Feb. 14 Mar. 31 May 19. 1617 3 E  Mar. 7. Apr. 20. Iune 30 1618 4 D  Feb 18. Apr. 5. May 24. 1619 5 C  Feb. 10 Mar. 28. May 16. 1620 6 E A Mar. 1 Apr. 16. Iune 4. 1621 7 G  Feb. 14. Apr. 1. May 20. 1622 8 〈◊〉  Mar. 6 Apr. 21. Iune 9. 1623 9 〈◊〉  Feb. 16 Apr. 13. Iune 1. 1624 10 D C Feb. 11. Mar. 28. May 16. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR Henrie Hobart Knight and Baronet Lord chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas CHANCELOR to Prince CHARLES and to the rest of that honorable Societie of his Highnesse Commissioners of Reuenues Prosperitie in this life temporall and blessednesse in that which is Eternall IF it should be demaunded Right Honorable why I would aduenture to vndertake a matter of this subiect so farre in opinion differing from my ordinarie imployments It may please you to conceiue that it is not altogether contrarie to my publike profession as being a Christian though no professed Diuine and therefore may stand with my ordinarie worldly trauailes For I am not ignorant that euery man is bound to indeuour in his function of this present life to seeke the meanes to know and to attayne vnto the life to come And what I haue done in this I may truly say I haue done it only with earthly and corporall to entermixe and increase my spirituall consolation and comfort by these priuate though weake Meditations Not purposing to haue exposed them to the variable censures of exquisite wits whereunto I know they are now subiect But that some of impartiall iudgement as I hold them hauing an accidentall view of them thought it not vnfit weake as they are that they should be made publike for the mouing of others to a consideration of their fraile estates being all subiect to one and the same mortalitie as also in the course of their liues to the like censure of their doings and execution of their vocations in this present life which reasons I trust may excuse both mine vndertaking and the publishing of these my weake Meditations I may also be demanded how I could presume to make choice of your Honorable Patronages of a worke so weake and vnworthy It may please you also to conceiue that they more properly belong vnto your Honors as being my labours then to any other especially for that I am subiect in accompt vnto that Honorable Table of mine imployments principally vndertaken by your directions and commands And for that your imployments require not the totall allowance of time which to my little profit I find my selfe to haue I can no better expend the idle interims of the rest of my libertie my dutie and care to answere your expectations in my seruice duly respected and performed then to seeke mine owne satisfaction in that which immediately concerneth not your ordinarie imployments But my future accompt of another seruice enioyned me by another Master And although it be true that a man cannot serue two Masters God and Mammon he may yet serue GOD and Man But in seuerall respects God in Spirit and Truth And Man in Loue and faithfull execution of his vocation And hee that so serues the one as hee neglect not the other He is that faithfull seruant of that one that shall reward him here with an inuisible gratuitie peace of conscience and of that other who shal recompence him with a competent temporall salarie This is that golden meane which whoso keepes be he of highest or lowest function in the world wades safely betweene the two extremes for he that so serues Man as he neglects God Or so serues God as he is no way seruiceable to the Church or Common-weale serues rightly neither God nor Man For as GOD created Man for himselfe as touching his spirituall so hath hee enioyned labour for man as touching his corporall part And both these may bee performed and ought by euery man without exception according to his calling Nay one stands not with-out the other But the one is performed the better for the other for without seruing of God no blessing is obtayned with-out Gods blessing corporal labours neither prosper nor profit man and with-out an honest calling duly and truly executed God nor Man is rightly serued Therefore I though I come far short of perfection in either do endeuour with vnfayned desire so to walke and work as I may perform my dutie to both Humbly requiring your Honours to shewe the like mind towards mee as doth my heauenly Master namely to accept the Will for the Deede So shall I thinke my selfe happy in my reputed vnhappinesse and indeuour to bestowe the residue of mine vnpleasant pilgrimage as neere as I can to the discharge of my duties and seruices to GOD and Man Recommending your Honours to GOD my selfe to your seruice and this silly Pamphlet vnto though vnworthy of your pervsalls At my house at Hendon the 10. of Aprill 1619. Your Honors in all seruice readie to be commanded IO. NORDEN A most necessarie and patheticall MEDITATION CONFESSION of mans miserable estate by nature And of his restauration by the death of Christ with many necessarie Petitions concerning this life and a happie death fit for men of whatsoeuer estate or qualitie often to ruminate IDoe acknowledge confesse vnto thee most mercifull God and louing Father that I am in thy sight a most miserable and wretched sinner aswell by the originall corruption of my nature as by the continuall course of my sinfull life wherein I cannot but coÌ„fesse I daily transgresse and breake thy most holy Commandements The thoughts of my heart are onely euill euermore The words of my mouth are often prophane and all mine actions euill whereby I acknowledge my selfe to haue worthily deserued thy fierce and iust indignation and consequently mine owne fearefull condemnation And were it not that thou art a God most mercifull and truly gracious full of compassion forbearing long to punish
sinners I had perished through thy iust iudgement long agone euen in my youth for as soone as I was able to speake though vnderstanding little I indeuoured to excuse my childly errors with vntruths falshood lying growing to mans estate and to the abilitie to act greater sinnes I omitted no one forbidden vanitie offered to any of my sences but greedily imbraced it and as I increased in yeeres and in strength to sinne so did I increase in cōmitting wickednesse neither reuerencing thee nor seeking to know thee or to obey thee according to my dutie but rebelled against thee and thy Lawes as if thy threats against sinne and sinners had been only to terrifie and not to punish them And thy promises of spirituall comforts and future happines had been only to withdraw mee from my carnall delights wherein I reposed all my felicitie perswading my selfe there was no danger in sin nor reward for well-doing Thus foolish was I and ignorant by nature shewing that I had no originall goodnesse in mee but corrupt in my conception sinfull in my birth and wicked in my life and consequently the childe of wrath This masse of miserie befell me by the fall of the first man ADAM in whom I was first good and pure and righteous and holy like vnto thee O God of heauen And had not Adam defaced that Image of sanctitie in himselfe I should haue remained holy as thou art holy for euer But by his disobedience I lost in him all obedience towards thee and became a Rebell like vnto him euen in his loynes for in him I was conceiued in sinne and through the corruption of that my conception I only bring forth iniquitie Beeing thus miserably cast downe from glorie to shame from light to darknesse from sanctitie to sin from Heauen to Hell to whom shall I appeale for reliefe whose aide shall I craue for the obtayning of thy fauour loue againe for being depriued of thee I am dead being aliue if I die without thee I die eternally But Lord now I know thee and whom thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST and I know that in thy seuere iustice through him thou remembrest mercie and in thy fierce wrath thou shewest compassion which in nothing appeareth so much as in the performance of thy promise in sending thy Sonne the Seede of the Woman who according to thy Couenant hath conquered Satan and trodden downe the Serpent by whome our first Parents were inuenomed and stung vnto death and I in them But now in and by that sacred Seede Iesus Christ that poysonous sting is remoued and all beleeuers restored to life Therefore Lord Iesu thou Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon me take away my sins wash me and make mee cleane through thy bloud from all my filthinesse giue me a liuely faith to take hold of thy merits and to depend vpon thy promises of saluation And that I may apply thy salutarie death vnto my sicke and diseased soule wounded by the dart of sinne and guilt of disobedience set thy righteousnesse against my sins and thine obedience to my disobedience couer me with the Robe of thine owne Innocencie that the foulenesse of my deseruings may be hidden from mine highly-offended God who by promise will impute thy most absolute integritie to be mine as he imputed and laid all the sinnes of Adams posterity vpon thee as thine Lord now at the last lighten mine vnderstanding purifie my heart sanctifie my will order all mine affections and actions and rectifie so my conuersation as I may walke as thy truly adopted sonne in holinesse and true righteousnesse and be kept euer blamelesse vntill the glorious appearing of Christ my Sauiour in whose name I now come vnto thee most louing and mercifull Father beseeching thee for his sake that I feeling and confessing the hainousnesse of my sinnes past and groning vnder the burden of them may feele the release and ease of them in that I through thy holy Spirit am assured and stedfastly doe beleeue that CHRIST my most louing Redeemer hath borne the burden of them euen for me Grant deare Father that I being assured hereof in my conscience may be renewed in the inner man through thy grace that I may hate detest and abhor sinne and indeuour to liue according to thy will all the dayes of my life And for as much gracious Lord God as I must here continue during thine appointed time in this dangerous wildernesse of many vanities subiect to many troubles tryed with many temptations and compassed with many and infinite miseries and dangers hauing of my selfe no succour no defence no safetie but in thine alone fauour power and prouidence I humbly pray and beseech thee O mercifull Lord God to looke downe from heauen vpon me in mercy and louing kindnesse Shew mee thy wayes teach mee thy pathes leade mee euer in thy Truth and instruct me in the things that I ought to learne and learne mee how to practise to leade my life according vnto the same lest I follow vanities and delight in sinne lest I fall into troubles and there bee none to deliuer mee lest Sathan preuaile against me and I fall from thee and lest I fall into dangers and perish in my miseries Turne thy face towards me O Lord and cheere me with the brightnesse of thine amiable countenance for when thou turnest thy face from me I faint and when thou hidest thy countenance I fall fearefully As long as thou art with me I am safe when thou leauest mee then troubles afflict me enemies insult me and triumph ouer me I am then subiect to all miseries Satan with his temptations preuaileth my corrupt affections misleade me the world with vanities distract me and I am not able to looke vp my heart is cast downe my mind is estranged from all goodnesse and my will is carried into all forbidden things So that I am as a dead man or rather no man but the meere image of a man in whom dwelleth neither right reason nor humane vnderstāding a beast in thy sight Hide not therefore thy face from me O Lord nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure Thou hast been euer and in all things my succour leaue me not now O Lord nor forsake me O God of my saluation But continue thy loue and fauour towards mee that I may againe recouer my spirituall strength and be enabled to serue thee with a faithfull constant and obedient heart vnto the end In my necessitie furnish me O Lord with all competent meanes for the maintenāce of my present life and estate here in plen tie make me truly thankefull in want patient in sicknesse be thou my Physician and heale me and preuent Satan that he in the time of my finall visitation ouer charge me not laying before the eyes of my weake conscience my sins past but arme me with the assurance of thy mercies and with a liuely hope of future glorie with thee in the heauens
If enemies rise vp against me to take away my life my goods or good name preuc̄t them of their purposes and make their counsels and practices like Achitophels If I bee persecuted for the testimonie of thy Truth giue mee perfect knowledge cōstancie courage and boldnesse through a liuely faith to suffer what it shall please thee shall be laid vpon mee In captiuitie banishment and whatsoeuer other tryalls be thou euer neere vnto me and ease me relieue me and comfort me and neuer lay more vpon mee then I shal be able to beare and in my troubles neuer leaue me nor for sake me and let all things worke for my comfort in thee Blesse and prosper vnto me my vocation giue mee wisedome and strength to execute the same and that sincerely without corruption let thine holy Angels goe with me take charge of me and defend and prosper me in all my iourneys trauailes labours enterprises and endeuours And let my conuersation be such so vpright vnblameable that the wicked haue no iust cause to carpe at the course of my life So will I giue thāks vnto thee thy praise shall be in my mouth continually The godly shall see it and reioyce and I will publish thy goodnesse towards me before the sons of men and will tell how readie thou art to help them that call vpon thee as for mee I will confesse that before I sought thee thou offeredst thy selfe to be found of me when I prayed vnto thee thou heardest mee when I came vnto thee thou reiectedst me not but pardonedst my sinnes and deliueredst mee out of all my feare Glorie bee to thy Holy Name O gracious Lord God in Iesus Christ and thy Name bee euer glorified my heart in thee comforted my sinnes by thee couered my necessities by thee truly relieued a competent estate vnto mee by thee euer preserued my hope in thee euer confirmed and all mine vndeserued enemies conuerted or confounded Make me wise O Lord to vnderstand and consider my latter end let my whole life be a preparation to death and the meditation of death the rule of my life let mee studie to bring forth good fruits in mine age and let my latter dayes bee the dayes of my chiefe spirituall comfort and mine obedience vnto thee more at the last then at the first enable me so to walke in mine old age as I may increase from strength to strength that at the length I may appear with the rest of thy Saints in that Kingdom of glorie which thou hast prepared for all them that loue the appearing of thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ whose comming grant to be quickly to finish these dayes of sinne AMEN Lord euermore increase my faith and multiply thy blessings vpon mee vnto the end An eye to Heauen in Earth A necessarie Watch for the time of death MEDITATION I. A Meditation concerning Death IT is a thing not seldom cōming into my mind that I must die that I haue but a short time to liue and that the Time when the Place where and the Manner how I shall dye is vtterly vnknown vnto me And that I shall come vnto Iudgement for all that I haue done or shall doe in the flesh These things I know yet haue I not learned what it is to die To die all men know is the separation of the soule from the bodie but what the soule and the bodie feele at the instant of separation may be coniectured but neuer vttered or conceiued I see men of all ages die and that by sundrie kindes of death and no doubt there is great difference of paines to the bodie for euery death is not alike tolerable nor euery humane creature of like resolution and patience which may somthing extenuate or aggrauate the paine And no doubt there is likewise great difference of the ioy or griefe of soules departing for according to the life and death of the partie so is the soule in hope or horror at the instant of separation for the Angels of God or Satan doe attend the instant of time to receiue it and to transport it to it place of diuine appointment and therefore is it sensible of present succeeding ioy or paine but in what degree of either either hath neuer any dying by whatsoeuer death returned to declare it As touching the future ioy and paine the rich man and Lazarus doe in part shew both in the extreme degree and so vnspeakeable as they cānot be truly conceiued nor expressed And whether the soule be sensible of any earthly or materiall thing in it passage from the bodie to it place as some without warrant haue dreamed is needlesse to dispute yet thus farre I am bold to affirme That the spirituall apprehension of the place whither it passeth swalloweth vp all sense affection and desire of visible creatures I leaue therefore to inquire and search into that which is no further reueiled then I haue warrant to beleeue and doe only desire to be prepared and to be readie when the time of my separation shall come A conflict no doubt I shal feele in the approching of death betweene my bodie which is earthly and my soule which is spirituall howsoeuer notwithstanding they differ in cōdition yet they are louingly linckt together and therefore vndoubtedly vnwilling to be sundred How and whatsoeuer I feele it shall bee vnto mee as is death it selfe aduantage It cannot bee auoided but a diuorce must be as testifieth the holy Ghost It is appointed that all men shall die once There is the separation and that but once It is not with the Soule and the Bodie as it is betweene Man and Wife who may admit a diuorce and yet bee conioyned againe So cannot the soule once seuered from the bodie vnlesse by speciall miracle as was that that Christ wrought vpon dead Lazarus who though he had beene so long dead as he stunke in the graue yet Christ by vertue of his Word which was God raised him soule and bodie so that he may be said to die twice which was an extraordinarie miracle to shew the glorie of God as was also that of the Rulers daughter whom Christ made to liue being dead This was by the power of the great Prophet And both Eliah and Elisha did the same thing by the power of the same GOD. The first in giuing life to the dead sonne of the Widdow of Sarepthah the other to the sonne of the Shunamite Woman these may bee also said to die twice But hath any man learned by their relations what it is to die Or may a man by their examples presume that though hee die hee may yet reuiue againe as did the Souldier cast into Elishaes graue And so by often dying learne to die better No it is neither permitted nor necessarie to fore-know the moment of our naturall death for the houre wherin are many minutes and the minute wherin are many moments as touching naturall
heart a sanctified spirit that I may walke here before thée and here doe thy will as thy Saints and heauenly Companies doe thy will in Heauen that in this earthly Pilgrimage I may bee numbred among thy Saints Militant that I may not feare to bee translated from this place of banishment vnto that Inheritance purchased by Christ my Redéemer where I shall partake of his glory with thy Saints now Triumphant in that most glorious new Ierusalem While I liue here let thy Word bée deare vnto me let the Crosse of my Lord and Sauiour Christ be euer before the eyes of my mind euer assuring my selfe that his death is my life make mee therefore holy as he is holy And as hee layd downe his most sacred bodie in the Earth for a time and rose againe to glorie and as hee resigned his afflicted yet innocent Soule into thy hands euen for me to follow him so grant that whensoeuer or howsoeuer my soule shall leaue this mortall bodie it may follow my Loue Iesus to the place to which hee is gone before While I liue here leaue me not Father vnto my selfe for I am weake and mine enemies are strong but thou art Truth the strongest kéepe mée vnder thy feathers and bind mée vp in the bundle of thine Elect neuer to be deuided or set apart from them that shall bee saued make my life perfect to euery good worke and worke in mee that which is pleasant in thy sight through Jesus Christ Amen Lord increase and euer confirme my faith MEDIT. III. THough death now be the end of my fleshly part it is sufficient that I am assured of the continuing life of my soule after the temporall death of my body which yet shall not so perish but it shall haue a future being and bee re-vnited to my soule and so bee made one glorified body by the glory of Christ my Redeemer The present consideration of death can therefore but put mee in minde of and giue mee desire to bee dissolued to enioy a better life And thereby so much the more mooue me to frame my life in my health as if I were presently dying Death is certaine common to all the time vncertaine to all yet all liue not as if their death were neer or that they did think that death would come at all But let no man deceiue himselfe by his long life that death is farre off or that it hath forgotten him it will come as a Thiefe suddenly to some sooner to some later to all when they least suspect it In the first Age of the World men liued long many hundred yeeres Methusalah almost one thousand yeeres Adam Noah and many others to an extraordinarie age In their dayes it might haue beene conceiued by the number of their yeeres that they might haue liued many thousand yeeres But being all seene in their times and turnes to dye the opinion of a perpetuall life in earth was found erronious As the World grew in age so decreased the ages of men In Dauids time the age of man was seldome aboue threescore and ten if hee liued to fourescore it was reputed a great age rare yet nothing pleasant to the partie for weaknesse and infirmities of so many kinds commonly possesse the bodies and mindes of that age as these dayes are but a burden vnto them yeelding only sorrow heauinesse griefes and miseries And yet many of that decrepit age are loth to dye which may argue no godly preceding life Moses before Dauids time liued one hundred twenty yeeres and was then in that state of strength and agilitie of bodie and perfection of his sences as in his best age and strongest yeeres yet he dyed Mine own naturall father liued one hundred and three yeeres lusty and strong much admired for his agilitie euen to that age yet I doe not by these precedents collect any probabilitie or hope that I shall liue much more then halfe his yeeres though I presently feele no apparant tokens but desire of my dissolution And therefore I account my life but a meere watch for the time of death If I had seene the man that had liued many thousand yeeres and were yet in health and strength I should bee farre from flattering my selfe that I might liue the longer for his long life yet I see that one man couets to attaine vnto the yeeres of the most aged The man of sixtie or seuentie yeeres desires to liue to eightie he of eightie to one hundred yet doe we scarcely see one man of ten thousand to see one hundred nor one of one hundred seuentie yeeres nor one of fiftie fortie yeeres If I should liue one hundred yeeres when death comes it is but as if I were in my Cradle Twentie yeeres in expectation seemeth farre more then one hundred yeeres past I thinke it therefore wisedome not to allow vnto my selfe the assurance of many yeeres not of many dayes nay not of one houre for I see some suddenly stricken dead yea in a moment a fearefull spectacle yet little moouing some beholders But this vse Wisedome teacheth me to make of other mens lots namely to keepe continuall watch ouer my desires wordes and wayes that I may so liue as if I saw Death with his Dart at my brest Death then being certaine and his comming vncertayne by the rule of right reason I should bee alwayes readily prepared for Death imports feare and Feare presupposeth danger Danger requireth watchfulnesse Watchfulnesse patience Patience Faith and Hope As touching the first namely feare it is both filial and son-like and seruile or slauish which last I exempt as not the feare required of mee in this expectation and watchfulnes for death But the feare which becomes a most dutifull sonne to a most louing father is it wherewith I desire alwaies to be truly qualified hauing an eye euer vnto God as the eye of a Mayden to the hand of her Mistris fearing in loue not louing for feare When Baruch read the booke of the curses against Iudah and Israel vnto the people both the good and the bad feared Some fearing as children desiring to be reformed according to the Law of the Lord some as slaues feared the horror of punishment threatned without eyther the loue of God or their owne reformation This is not the feare that Salomon prescribes where he saies Feare ye the Lord all his Saints and depart from euil He that sayes he feareth God and walketh not in his wayes feareth not at all as he ought to feare and that for want of Wisedome for as wisedome is giuen to them that feare God so doth the feare of God shew it selfe by wisedome namely by gouerning his life according to the Word of God Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and walketh in his waies So that it is not in mee nor of my selfe to feare God I must be first blessed of God before I can truly
horrible thunder and all things shall bee suddenly surprized by the greatnesse of his Maiestie that shall appeare with flames of fire And many that shall liue to behold this fearefull Apparition as all men shall remayning aliue in that Day for none shall bee able to shut their eyes and the eyes of them that are now rotten in the graues shall be opened shall seeke to hide themselues from the face of that most terrible Iudge but in vaine The sight of the Iudge that can condemne but the bodie is fearfull to the offendor What then will the sight of this Iudge of Iudges bee vnto the wicked to sinfull and secure worldlings who comes not with a mortall Sherife accompayned with a Trayne of fantasticall Attendants but with millions of Angels at whose presence the Heauens shall shrinke away with a noyse the Elements shall melt with â—eate and the earth with the works thereof the great and glorious Buildings and the things therein shall bee burnt with vnquenchable Sulpher O who will not consider this who will not watch and be sober knowing that this great and terrible Day this Day of Wrath is comming and at hand a Day of Wrath to the wicked but to them that feare God in loue and liue in his feare a Day of ioy and gladnesse there fore shal they hold vp their heads for their redemption draweth neere Seeing then that all things that wee see and here enioy the Heauens aboue vs the Earth beneath vs the Seas and all things in them shall bee thus consumed and wee know not how soone nor when one particular iudgement namely the day of our death shall be What manner persons ought wee to bee appeare must euery man and answere answere alas what can we answere to him that comes not to iudge the bodie onely which yet is terrible but the soule and bodie not to a temporall punishment but to eternall torment The stoutest cannot but be stricken dumbe at the very sight of this great Iudge who will giue sentence according to that euery one hath done in the flesh good or euill O that I could therefore clense my heart from euill to good I cannot it is the worke of the Spirit of God in mee which hee worketh euen of his owne good pleasure freely therfore I pursuing this good begunne in mee daily going on from faith to faith from grace to grace I shall become fit through Gods acceptance in Iesus Christ to waite for the Day of death or the generall dissolution with gladnesse It is the rich grace of GOD bestowed on me whereby I haue my conuersation in Heauen from whence I looke for the comming of my Sauiour the Lord Iesus In whom and by whom there is laid vp for mee the Crowne of Righteousnesse and not for me only but for all them that loue and looke for his second appearing I will therefore watch and pray by the grace of GOD continually that I may bee counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to passe and that I may stand before the Sonne of man without feare A Prayer for continuall watchfulnesse that neither the generall nor the particular Day of Iudgement come vpon mee vnprouided The Prayer O Lord my God in Jesus Christ who art terrible and fearefull euen to them that séeke thée how much more fearfull wilt thou appeare when thou settest thy wrathfull countenance against the wicked such as now haue no feare of thy Name Giue me I pray thée a continual watchful heart euer to bée exercised in diuine and heauenly things and leaue mee nor vnto mine owne affections which are by nature full of corruption and sinne wherein if thou shouldest take mee suddenly I should be found a most vnprofitable seruant to bee bound hand and foot and east into vtter darknesse where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth O hide thy face from my sin and blot out all mine iniquities Create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free Spirit Why art thou cast down O my Soule and vnquiet within me waite on God he neuer faileth them that trust in him Waite thou on the Lord O my Soule keepe his way and he shall exalt thee that thou shalt inherit the Land euen the Land of Promise Spirituall Canaan new Ierusalem When the wicked shall perish thou shalt see it Such as are blessed of GOD shall inherit the Land And they that bee cursed of him shall be cut off Endue mee therefore good Father with thy grace that I may euer thinke of my end that I presume not vpon long life resting secure as if I had none account to make vnto thée of my time and talents heere receiued of thée and how they haue béene spent by me nor any holy duties required to bee performed in this my Pilgrimage and Banishment where I haue no continuing Citie but I séeke one to come Holy Father giue mée thy Spirit and Grace euer to bring forth heauenly fruits that whensoeuer wheresoeuer or howsoeuer I shall depart hence I may be yet found faithfull and of the number of them whom Christ when hee commeth may find waking in well-doing that the sentence Go ye cursed be not pronounced against me but bee of the societie of them that shall heare Come yee blessed Grant this for Jesus Christs sake in and by whom I haue the promise of eternall life to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee all power and praise ascribed for hee is worthie Lord increase my faith MEDIT. VII WAtchfulnesse then being a principall meane to preuent the sudden surprise that death might make vpon mee there followeth necessarily Patience an inseparable companion of Watchfulnesse which implies care attendance and attention The care here meant is not for any worldly thing for these I cast my care vpon God for he careth for me But such a care as Paul had of all the Churches 2. Cor. 11. 28. seeking the kingdome of God and the righteousnes thereof Matt. 6. 33. then will not God faile mee nor forsake me The care therfore that I couet to haue is how to preuent sinne and flye Securitie which are contrary to a godly care and consequently contrary to true watchfulnesse and therefore farre from true patience which worketh not vpon securitie and carnall peace but vpon wayting for the promise of Redemption This is the patience which the Children of God haue whose patient abiding shall be gladnesse I will not therefore render euill for euill nor rebuke for rebuke but contrariwise I will blesse knowing that I am thereunto called that I should be the heire of blessing 1. Pet. 3. 9. And if I be rayled on for the name of Christ shall I discouer my weakenesse through impatience no there is a blessing promised for the Spirit of glorie and of God resteth on
wants redeemeth your liues from the Graue and hath prouided for you a Crowne of Glorie And Wife although I your poore Husband shall leaue you a penurious and desolate Widdow hee will bee vnto you a prouiding Husband cleaue vnto him And though I shall leaue you poore fatherlesse children cast your care vpon him he will care for you hee will bee your Father and as a most louing and helping Father obey him as most dutifull and faithfull Children And when the time of my dissolution shall come which cannot be long I must obey and I am readie I shall goe a little before you and yee shall shortly follow if ye goe not before mee which is in God euen to the place of mine assured happines if with faith ye imbrace obey the wil of him that calleth you while ye yet liue as becommeth the Children of so Gracious a Father In the meane time the same God blesse you all with his true Feare continuall Peace and competent Plentie A briefe collection of Diuine comfort for mine owne and the incouragement of euery Christian to dye willingly FOr asmuch as death is the end of this life and this life duly considered an vnpleasant passage to a better and whether it shall bee long or short it behoueth vs to vndergoe with patience in hope whatsoeuer entertainment this World shall afford vs. Iob had as an inheritance the moneths of vanitie and painfull nights were appointed vnto him The dayes of Iacobs pilgrimage were few and euill yet some thinke their pleasantest dayes are here in the earth therefore desire no better not so with me knowing that after this life there is layd vp for me a crowne of righteousnes and not for me only but for all them that loue the appearing of the Lord Iesus There is little reason therefore that I or any other that haue tasted and do daily taste of the bitter cup of this liues vanities and miseries should desire longer to be pressed or oppressed there with but rather to comfort my selfe in a godly and patient expectation of the time when my dissolution may come desiring to bee dissolued and to be with Christ to whom no man commeth but he must remooue out of this house of clay and that cannot bee by any other meanes but by death that is by the destruction or change of this earthly Tabernacle either leauing it in the earth for a season or to be taken vp suddenly at Christs second comming but howsoeuer I know and am assured that both soule and bodie shall bee together and for euer be glorified in the end be clothed with a house not made with hands eternall in the heauens Who then can but sigh in desire to be an inhabitant in that house which is perpetuall and glorious I looke for it in hope confidently assuring my selfe that Christ shall bee then magnified in my bodie whether it bee by life or death for whether I liue I liue vnto him or whether I die I die vnto him whether therefore I liue or die I am the LORDS for I know that he whom I haue beleeued is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day wherein my mortall bodie shall bee quickned made like vnto his glorious bodie therefore will I willingly lay downe my life and commit my soule vnto God as vnto my most faithfull Creator A comfortable Meditation and Prayer to bee considered and said by euery Christian being neere the time of his dissolution NOw O Lord now draw néere vnto my soule and redéeme it for the time is at hand wherein I shall taste of the cup of death Now therefore is the acceptable time for thee to receiue my soule in the multitude of thy mercies which are wonderfull therefore doe I trust vnder the shaddow of thy wings my soule cleaueth vnto thée for thy right hand vpholdeth mée My soule thirsteth for thée my flesh longeth greatly after thée whose louing kindnesse is better to mee then life for from thée commeth my saluation Haue mercy vpon mée O God haue mercy vpon me for my soule trusteth in thée and vnder the shaddow of thy wings wil I trust till this my finall affliction be ouer-past My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared to come vnto thée make it constant in thée because I know that although this body for a time shall wither yet it shall be in the house of my God as a gréene Oliue trée euer to flourish and be blessed Thou Lord thou hast chosen me and hast caused me to come vnto thée my saluation is of thine owne frée mercy and of thy frée and Fatherly election I shall dwell in thy Courts for euer and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine house euen of thy Kingdome of glorie I shall drinke of the Riuers of thy pleasures for with thée is the Well of life and in thy Light I shall sée light Let thy good Spirit leade mee in the Land of Righteousnesse and bring me by thy strength to thy holy and heauenly habitation plant mee in the Mountayne of thine inheritance euen in the place which thou hast prepared and in thy sacred Sanctuarie which thou hast established that I may sée thy goodnesse in the Land of the liuing Let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse and let me be satisfied with the fulnesse of the glorie of thy Countenance for in thy face is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand are pleasures for euermore Into thy hands oh Lord I commend my spirit for thou hast redéemed me O Lord God of truth shew a token of thy goodnesse and fauour towards me that they which wish euill vnto my soule may sée it and be ashamed and they that loue thy Name obserue it and be confirmed in thée who hast euermore holpen me and comforted mée Increase my faith and prepare my soule to come vnto thee AMEN To thee O Lord God only wise and only mercifull be ascribed all praise thanks dominion and glorie for to thee it only belongeth Priuate Prayers for Morning and Euening A Morning Prayer for priuate Families ALmightie LORD GOD most mercifull and louing FATHER Maker and Preseruer of all thy creatures but especially the Sauiour and Sanctifier of all them that beléeue in thée by the merit and vertue of the bloud of Iesus Christ Receiue at the hands of vs thine vnworthy seruants in the Name of Iesus Christ this our morning sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing for all thy mercies from time to time bestowed vpon vs for electing vs of thine owne free fauour before the world was made for creating vs of nothing in humane and not in the shape of brute creatures for redéeming vs with the most precious death of thine owne Sonne when wee were captiues and slaues vnto Satan for calling vs by the preaching of thy blessed Word and frée Spirit when we were strangers vnto thee for iustifying vs by the
Resurrection of thy Sonne when wée were worthy to be condemned for sanctifying vs by the Holy Ghost being by nature vile for preseruing vs hitherto and that in safetie by thy prouidence and for thy fatherly prouiding for vs all things necessarie to this present morning and for that thine assured and most comfortable promise that thou wilt glorifie vs in the heauens with thée after this mortall and miserable life ended And wee praise thy great and gracious goodnesse for so mercifully preseruing vs this night past from all dangers and for that thou hast giuen vs comfortable rest and sléepe in the same whereby our weake bodies are refreshed and haue receiued the more strength and power to enter into this day and to vndertake the workes of our callings and because by reason of the corruption of our natures we are pressed downe with dulnesse and beclouded with ignorance so as wee cannot rightly vnderstand nor truely performe our duties either in thy seruice or our owne worldly functions without thy blessing we here vpon the knées of our hearts doe humbly and heartily pray thée for Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonnes sake to assist vs with thy Holy Spirit that these our praises and prayers may bee accepted of thée and that our ignorance may be banished by the light of thy holy Spirit that wee may plainely sée and perceiue our owne errors and wants the detestablenesse of our sinnes and through his bloud obtaine pardon of all our imperfections and defects with liuely and effectuall renewing of our obedience to thée in all our workes wordes and duties this day Remember not O Lord the sinnes we haue committed nor our neglect of the duties we haue omitted call not to minde the transgressions of our youth which we haue forgotten nor looke vpon the wickednesse of our riper yéeres which doe presse vs downe through the sense of thy seuere iudgements threatned against vs for them and let thy grace we humbly beséech thée from henceforth euer beeextended towards vs vouchsafe thy holy Spirit vnto vs euermore to direct vs that neither the weaknesse dulnesse and peruersnesse of our owne natures in doing that which is good nor the strength of our naturall inclinations to doe that which is euill be any hinderance to the worke of thy grace in vs. But so much the more good Father watch euer vs that neither Sinne nor Satan preuaile against vs that wee obtayning at thy hands this great mercy may the more fréely chéerfully prosperously passe this day and that our labours being taken in hand in thy feare may through thy blessing succéede to thine owne glorie our comfort and to the good of them whom they may concerne And forasmuch as the passing through this world is many wayes euery where dangerous and full of perils by reason not only of Satans malice but also by reason of the practices of our corporall enemies our owne infirmities crosses losses troubles and many miseries Assist vs gracious God and leuing Father that we may escape all these inconueniences and not to fall into any sinne or corporal danger this day but rest secure and safely protected vnder thy power and prouidence and carry our selues vpright in all our actions through Christ our Lord. Amen O Lord increase our faith A Prayer in the Euening for priuate Families O Gracious Lord God and most leuing Father in Jesus Christ wee thy most vnworthy seruants doe humbly intreate thée to accept from vs in his Name our vnfained thanks for the manifold pledges of thy loue towards vs. Thou hast made vs and not wee our selues and where thou mightest haue made vs beasts thou hast formed and shaped vs men and women and furnished vs with many spirituall blessings besides infinite corporall comforts which not onely this day now presently past but all the dayes of our liues doe witnesse for day vnto day vttereth thy goodnesse towards vs and night vnto night approueth thy prouidence ouer vs. The day is now past darknes is gone ouer our heads resembling rightly our ignorance for without the light and knowledge of thy sauing Truth we liue in darknesse in the strongest and most glorious light of the Sunne The eye of the body may bee light when the vnderstanding as touching heauenly things may be so dark as not able to apprehend our owne wants and imperfections Thus O Lord doe wee acknowledge our hearts to bee eclipsed with the dulnesse and blindnesse of our naturall reason and vnderstanding whereby we yet are able and doe onely séeke and search finde and follow the forbidden vanities of this wretched life tasting and vsing them with carnall pleasure and forbidden delight as the sins which wee haue committed this day and the good duties we haue omitted doe testifie against vs to our shame this euening and yet such is thy great goodnesse and mercy towards vs as thou this day in our ignorance hast instructed vs in our blindnesse hast guided vs in our necessities reléeued vs in our wearinesse refreshed vs now brought vs to the euening of this last day wherein wee haue liued and that in safetie so that wee cannot but acknowledge this day to haue béene a day added by thy blessing to thy former manifold fauours which we haue daily receiued at thy hands possible it is not for vs to number vp the benefits and blessings which thou hast bestowed vpon vs through all our life they are numberlesse yet wretches that wee are wee haue as it were striued to equalize nay rather to exceede thy blessing in the number of our transgressions Our naturall corruption the sinne of Adam cleaueth vnto vs his posteritie so fast as it hath filled vs euen from our conception with the séedes of all euill so that we brought that into the world with vs which without thy grace and frée pardon in Christ cannot but confound vs But thou hast giuen thy Sonne Jesus Christ a meanes of propitiation in whom thou reconcilest all that beléeue in him vnto thy selfe Therefore haue we boldnesse through him to intreat thée of pardon for all the sinnes we haue euery one of vs committed this day as our euill thoughts idle words and wicked actions whereby thou hast béene euen this day iustly prouoked against vs besides our former abusing of thy patience and despising of thy Word whereby thou threatnest to punish sinners and whereby thou hast promised to blesse and comfort them that serue thée in truth Thou mayst iustly condemne vs also for our vnthankefulnesse for thy mercies especially for our vnfaithfulnesse in not beléeuing thy promises But now Lord wee beséech thée that the old man our corruption by the new man thy Spirit sinne may bee abandoned and cast out that sinne no longer haue dominion ouer vs mortifie in vs the whole bodie of sinne and so clense vs that we carry not vnto our beds this night any dregs of the same but may bee fully washed through thy Sons bloud from euery spot stayne that
dumbe some blind some dead in an instant Doe not our owne eyes besides our owne yea moderne Histories witnes the same Terrible is the Lord in his wrath and who shall stand in his sight when he is angry He is terrible euen to the Kings of the earth Nay vnto such as seeme to be and are not truely religious as Ananias and Sapphira his wife who lying vnto the holy Ghost were striken suddenly dead It is a fearfull thing to fal into the hands of the liuing God especially when he is angrie We are all by nature the children of wrath dead in trespasses and sinnes So is al the world subiect to the iudgement of God being found guiltie in his sight If GOD therefore should marke what is done amisse who could abide it or expect worldly cōforts from him Therefore whether yee shall in this life receiue pouertie or riches sicknesse or crosses or whatsoeuer calamities and afflictions and in what measure soeuer perswade your selues that it is far short of what yee haue deserued therefore take his chastisemēts with patience and endeuour stedfastly alwayes to abound in the workes of the Lord assuring your selues your labour shall not bee in vaine for God wil be euer readie to work for you beyond that yee are able to aske or thinke PART III. Obiection against Gods miraculous working at this day SOme yet wil say that the time of Gods working miracles namely miraculously and beyond the apprehension of naturall vnderstanding is past and ended and there is now no experience of such supply by Gods prouidence as when God sent Eliah to the widdow of Sarepthah and foode by a Rauen extraordinarie meanes indeede which nowe are neither visibly nor actually done Beware of this rash censure it is the voice of meer Infidelitie for God is God yester-day namely of old and to day and for euer his loue is not diminished his power is not weakned his prouidence preuented nor his command and absolute authoritie ouer his creatures any way or by any meanes encountred or the execution of his will opposed but is euen the first and the last neuer altering nor changing but as hee had subiects of mercy and iudgement to worke vpon and meanes by which to worke so hath hee at this day and vntill the finall dissolution of all things he will still work by meanes without meanes against meanes His promises are Yea Amen not to our Fathers only but to vs and all posterities for euer those he performeth at this day yet not so visibly and apparantly as in the dayes of our Fathers of old We haue not a Moses I confesse to bring water out of the Rocke by striking with his rod nor an Aaron to turne a Rod into a Serpent and to deuoure the counterfeit Serpents of the Inchanters Wee haue no Eliah to pray for fire to consume Gods enemies nor an Elisha to diuide a Riuer with his cloke No Paul that with his word can dispossesse a spirit of diuination nor a Peter that with his word can make a cripple to goe sound Many miracles in former times done are recorded both in the old new Testament through the power of GOD by the hands of men which kind of working miracles are ceased but the power of God continueth the same for euer euer working wonderfull things with-out the cōpasse of humane apprehension and sets before our eyes daily examples of his extraordinarie working in mercy for the comfort of his children and as before is said in iustice and iudgement against the wicked according to the song of the blessed Virgin The Lord sheweth strength with his arme he scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts he putteth downe the mightie from their seate and exalteth the humble and meeke he filleth the hungrie with good things and sendeth the rich emptie away Is not this a strong confirmation of the faith of Gods children plunged in perils visited with afflictions and tossed to and fro in the troublesome and tempestuous Sea of this world in which are they not cōmanded to pray for their deliuerie And to whom pray they not vnto the same GOD as our forefathers did If GOD therefore were not now in his Mercie Loue Power and Prouidence as hee was then as able and willing to helpe wee were taught both to pray and to feare in vaine neither his Mercie nor Iustice could appeare as with our owne eyes wee haue seene the wicked to perish and the innocent deliuered euen by the hand of God himselfe that his Glorie and Power might by the iust punishment of the one and maruellous deliuerance of the other be seene and celebrated of all them that feare him The Holy Ghost doth euery where in the Scripture make vs see and perceiue the great and manifold benefits which come by aduersitie he declareth them to all but all haue not the true apprehension that it is sēt for their good And vnlesse ye be inlightened in the spirit of your mindes and the cloudes of your carnal cogitations be driuen away by the wind of diuine vnderstanding yee cannot but mistake the good pleasure loue and fauour of God that causeth all things to worke together for the best to them that loue him and grudge at your heauenly Fathers Discipline Ye are poore murmure not nor grudge at the prosperitie of others Learne of Dauid the contrarie who in his haste and vnaduisedly fretted to see the prosperitie of the wicked that alwayes prospered and increased in riches And thought indeed that God made no difference betweene the good and the bad the righteous and the wicked and therefore thought it a vaine thing to bee curious to liue well considering that notwithstanding his continuall seruing of God yet was he punished and chastened euery morning namely daily the wicked still secure and in no danger this strange course of Gods working hee as it were admired and began to consider if hee could finde out the cause but it was too deepe for his naturall wisedome but when hee entred into the Sanctuarie of God when he had consulted with the holy Spirit of God and had learned his Word then he vnderstood what the end of these flourishing men would be he considered that God had set them in slipperie places how hee east them into sudden desolation wherein they perished and were fearefully confounded Put therefore your trust in God he will guide you in all your occasions by his counsell and after your godly life ended hee will receiue you to Glorie Seeke therefore neither helpe nor comfort but of GOD alone for there is none in Heauen but hee and desire none in the Earth but him If ye fall into troubles beware as neere as ye may it bee not for euill doing for the Magistrate beares the Sword for sinners If ye bee troubled for well-doing yee need not feare yee haue