breed in vs humility and godlinesse as a happy preparation thereunto let vs resolue patiently and resolutely to vnder-goe that taske assigned by thee the dissolution of nature for the corruption of nature the sting is gone and wee neede not feare it beeing but that which all the seuerall ages and generations of the world that are past haue accomplished and in theâ—r times and seasons descended to corruption and others haue taken their places and all that are to come must drinke of the same portion Mathusalem though he liue 969 yeares yet must he not liue euer the portion neuer so long the person neuer so eminent his preseruation neuer so great to this at last hee must surely come and all mankinde besides although not all by one meanes yet all brings to one end though some by water some by fire some by famine some by pestilence some by the iawes of wilde beasts some by the hand of an enemy some in the bed others in the field Haman by the gallowes Iesabel by dogges Herod by wormes the Sonnes and daughters of Iob by the fall of an house the Mothers and Infants of Ierusalem by famine One cryeth my head my head as the Shunamites sonne another my bowels another my feet feet as Asa the Stone the Gout the Feuer and a thousand other punishments not yet equall to our sinnes thy iust Executioners of that sentence Thou shalt dye the death pronounced against our first Parents and in them to the whole race of mankinde Remember thy end saith the wise man thou shalt not do amisse Teach vs O Lord to remember it and make vse thereafter that will in time remember vs if we gorget it Though we escape the pit we shall be taken in the snare we shall fly from a Lyon and a beare shall meet with vs or leane our hand vpon a wall and a serpent shal bite vs we may be deliuered from six troubles and the seauenth shall dispatch vs for neyther councel nor art nor meanes can preserue vs euer for it is the will of God and the cannon of his own lippes against the which there is no euasion no conuenant to be made with death the graue let this meditation be vnto vs as the starre that lead the wisemen vnto Bethleem where Christ then lay in a maÌ„ger in aâ—inne that now sittes at the right haÌ„d of his father in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead that it may lead vs to the throne of his maiesty where now he raigneth in glory for euermore sweeten O Lord this remembrance of death and the graue vnto vs with this cogitation that it was thy bed that in our strength and youth our veynes full of bloud and our bones of marrow in our liuelihood and iollity we may thinke of our dissolution with a quiet mind and with S. Paul desire to be dissolued to be with Christ whose presence in such full and ample measure as we shall there inioy it far exceedeth all the pleasure and delight that this transitory world afford thee giue vs more wisedome O Lord then to esteeme the ruinous and rotten cottages and houses we liue in fortresses and castles of euerlasting refuge not built vpon rockes for continuance but vpon tottering heapes of sand ashes shaken about our eares with the windes and stormes of infinit casualties and afflictions gaping still for ruine and confusion teach vs to know that heare wee haue no abiding Citty but we look for one to come that we passe not our time in this vale of misery day night youth and age in pleasure and delight that so we make our end the remembrance thereof bitter vnto vs neyther let vs thinke that because we haue fatnesse in our bones and health in our ioynts that therefore we shall liue many yeares and se the succession of our sons and nephewes if we doe what will become of this if we flatter our selues soule take thy rest and vpon the suddaine are snacht to hell once more let vs speake like Abraham one thing and one thing more we will beg at thy handes that since thy decree is set downe and thy word is past the accomplishment whereof neuer fayles in the least title that all shall dye confermed by so many millions of creatures since the beginning of the world to this present which shall not cease to runne on whilst there are creatures breathing vpon the circle of the earth to the end of the world dessolution of all things since we must all wax ould as doth a garment and from one defect to another drawe thereunto since the sonne of God himselfe vpon the earth was not priuiledge that now in this time of preparation we make swéet and hony our passage by a due and godly preparation thereunto that when our friends and our children forsake vs with griefe and sorrow on both sides the Phisition giues vs ouer wisheth vs well but can doe vs no good that then when no comfort is left vnto vs besides we haue coÌ„fort in our souls through the forgiuenesse of our sins and though we haue a graue before our eyes greedy inexorable vnsatisfied opening her mouh to receiue vs and hauing receiued vs closing hereuerlasting iaiawes vpoÌ„ vs neuer to returne vs backe againe till the wormes and vermine of the earth haue deuoured vs we despaire not though the strongest man liuing a hart of marble iron shall find terror enough in the thought accoÌ„plishment of these things yea Aristippus feareth death as well as the common people but if the wrath of God which consumes like a riuer of brimstone for our former transgressions shal accompany them thrise wo vnto vs our dull and heauy cogitations will then exclude all thought of mercy and our soules shall sleepe in death clogged with a burthen of sinnes which were neuer repented of therefore O Lord teach vs true and timely repentance for our sins that the extremity which then outragiously wil assault vs may be lessened and the sting thereof pulled away before hand that now we may liue the life of the righteous that then we may die the death of the Godly that we now gird on our armour before the battayle begine that we now thinke of repentance and doe it before it be to late before this wellcome or vnwellcome guest as we our selues make him commeth which brings in his hand either tydings of great ioy or a message of euerlasting sorrow giuing w e all such grace vnto vs to possesse these transitory things that they possesse not vs that we may so vse this world as if we vsed it not to passe through this vale of misery our few and euill dayes with such regard to our life such loue to thy law such obedience to thy precepts that wee may inioy the first and avoyde the later which graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Sir Thomas Moore Fleres si scires vnum tua tempora mensem
to seuer the goates from the sheepe then to imbrace both Iew the gentle now to deuide betweene seruant and seruant at the same mil betweene man and wife in the same bed betweene Iacob and Esaw in the same womb to giue a blessing to the one and a curse vnto the other know therfore the danger of deferring thy repentance and eschew that common sinne least it one day fall thus heauy vpon thee 15 Often and euer thinke vpon the loue of Christ neuer enough to be thought vpon the gratious and admired worke of thy redemption by the bloud of that immaculate and vnspotted Lambe Christ Iesus at the very name whereof shall be bowed all the knees in heauen and in earth but at the thought thereof shall be rent all the hartes of both a mistery so great that the host of heauen admire and the Angels desire to prye into whom in thy poore measure imitate in admiration of his mercy and iustice how they meet imbrace and kisse each other and be thankefull to him that hath so gratiously dealt with thee and all mankind 16 Periculosum existimo quod bonorum virorum non comprobatur exemplo e contrario There was neuer that goodnesse or vertue in the world that might be imitated eyther with ease or difficulty by life or death in whose steps some haue not imitated to tread the end of whose dayes hath bene peace vpon earth and glory with the saints in heauen so on the other side there was neuer vice that set foot vpon earth from yâ— least sence that infects to that which waighes downe to the pit of hell that hath not had imitatours whose reward hath bene misery and contempt vpon earth and a continuance augmentation thereof in the lake of perdition in the world to come therefore let the reward of the on and the punishment of the other be euer set before thy eyes that thou maist follow the better and eschue the worse 17 Do not that iniure to any other that thou wouldest not another should doe vnto thee though thou canst oppresse not yâ— poore by thy might be not quarellsome a company keeper nor gamster nor surety but for a tried friend a good occasioÌ„ because for besides the iosse of time which these expend they draw oâ— oaths quarels surfets sicknes and for the most part end in bloud he the hath any of these cannot rightly intitle his owne goods to himselfe nor anything that he doth possest 18 Againe I say haunt not tauernes alehouses brothels but beware of the danger of the expence the bane both of body and soule and take heed yâ— thou take not delight in any vnlawful thing for there is no one vice that hauing wholly possest a man that is not accompanied with a whole traine of wickednesse at the heeles thereof able to eat vp and deuoure the very root and substance of goodnesse it selfe therâ—ore take heed that thou fal not into the snars therof 19 Keepe not company with any notorious or detected person by whom though not otherwayes thy reputation and credit may be called in question in the opinion of the world for by the company be it good or euill that thou kepest such shalt thou be censured to bée for similis similem querit and in what company soeuer thou come haue a care that the company may be rather bettered by thy presence then any way impeached therby kéepe a straight watch ouer the words thoughts deeds of thy heart restraining the liberty thereof where it would extend further then conuenient and honest 20 Bee fearefull to commit sinne especially any examplar sinne to shew the way as it were to others least they perish therein vnrepentant and it be one day layd to thy charge euery one shall haue enough to answer for himselfe woe to him that shall bee prest with the weight of his owne and others euery sin as a milstone to presse him downe to the pit of Hell Certaine sentences or Rules of good life and pertitinent to the Precepts going before Seruire Deo regnare est 1 THE seruice of God is perfect freedome 2 Where ignorance finds no mercy contempt shall sure find misery 3 There is no man borne without sinne happy is he that increaseth it least 4 Till death there is no man happy then happy is he that dies in the Lord. 5 Make vse of time for it passeth with a swift foot and that which followes most commonly is not so good as that which goes before 6 Hee that vngodlily dies rich shall haue many mourners to his graue but few comforters at his iudgement 7 Expect that loue from thy children that thou thy selfe hast tendered to thy parents 8 So dispose thy time as if thou shouldest liue long and yet as if thou shouldest dye suddainly 9 Doe well to thine enemies that they may become thy friends 10 It is the part of a wiseman to preueÌ„t iniuries ere they happen of a valiant maÌ„ to withstand them ere they come 11 Out of other mens faults iudge how odious thyne owne are 12 There is more trust in vertue then in oathes 13 Hee that wil speake what he would shall heare that he would not 14 Delight not to speake ill of the dead 15 Striue to be rich in that that when thy shippe shall perish suffers no shipwrack 16 Learne that being a child that will adorne thee being a man 17 The wast of time is a deare expence 18 It is better to fall amongst the Rauens of the ayre then the flatterers of the earth for the one strikes the dead but the other wounds the liuing 19 He liues in vaine that hath no care to liue well 20 Greatnesse is not the cause of goodnes but goodnes is the cause of greatnesse 21 So loue that thou maist hate so hate that thou maist loue 22 If by thy labour thou accoÌ„plish any thing that is good the labour passeth but the good remayneth to thy coÌ„fort if for thy pleasure thou shalt do any thing that is ill the pleasure passeth but the euill remayneth to thy sorrow 23 The goodman will not â—in for the loue hee beares to God and goodnesse it selfe But the euill man for feare of punishment 24 Be thou neuer so ould thou maist euery day learne therefore neuer be ashamed to learne that thou knowest not 25 Dispise not ould age but greiue to see it miserable 26 Sweare not often but performe what thou swearest beeing honest though to thy losse 27 T is tiranny to do what may be done and not regard what ought to be done 28 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body forbeare it being any way preiuditiall to thy soule 29 So loue thy best friend that thou be not thine owne worst enemy 30 Desire in any thing rather to be in substance without shew then in shew without substance 31 Forbeare to speake much for he that doeth shall not often speake well and it is better to be lame in
conscience shal not disquiet and the deuill driue thee to despaire in so that thou canst not truly repent and late repentance is seldome true repentance and besides it stands not with the Lords honour to be so often shaken off when he would lodge with vs and how many in these thoughtes haue perished suddainly preuented by death of their expectation preparation proposed if notwithstaÌ„ding all this that neither consideration nor perswasion can moue vs to be early wise for our owne good the good of our soules let vs know if we deferre our repentance to the last iudgement shall but iustly requite vs if eyther death do strangle vs before we speake or the wrath of God rebound vpon vs when we haue gone out and wept betterly wept our fill therfore I say againe preuent it lest thou be preuented by it and frustrated of they expectation cast from the fauour of God thou be condemned for euer to that lake that burnes with fire brimstone the terror and torture thereof as inexplicable as vnsufferable which cannot be indured and yet must be induâ—ed without ceasing or determinatioÌ„ By this we are now resolued we must die either in youth or in age at one seasoÌ„ or at another the cannoÌ„ decree so direct to all that no one shall euer find an euasion the sonne of God himselfe hauing taken our nature vpon him was not exempted but died was layed in the bowels of the earth to sweeten it to all mankind we know in regard of our time we haue but a short time to liue and that short not sweet but full of mysery we know that as we liue so we shal die according to that ancient true sentence Qualis vita finis ita vt cecideris itâ— eris and as we die so shall we rise to iudgement we know that our sins of Omission and Commission of desire consent our thoughtes and our deedes shall be brought vnto iudgement with vs we must render an account of our idle wordes if so no maruell that the scripture telleth vs when these all in vs and all in all of vs are let loose at liberty without any restaint or reckoning That many are called but few are chosen And wee know that wee haue broken all thy Commandements and the breach of the least is eternall damnation These things considered and daily and seriously layd to heart which concernes the well-fare of euery Christian what cause haue wee but to mourne and sorrow For what will it profite a man to winne all the world to enioy all the riches and pleasures thereof and to loose his owne Soule And if wee stand vpon pleasure what pleasure is like vnto this To lay vp Treasure in Heauen which the moath shall not corrupt nor theeues breake through and steale to walke in the paths of the Lord all the dayes of our life to liue in his feare that we may dye in his fauour that at the last day wee may stand with confidence vnshaken when the wicked shall tremble at his presence like Popler in the Forrest What are all the pleasures of this world but Vanity but vanity and vexation of the minde and there is no true content vnder the Sunne And in their passage which is very sudden they leaue a kinde of sting behinde them and there besides is more griefe in a little sorrow then content in a great deale of pleasure And this is the sowre reckoning that euer killes the sweete welcome of all earthly pleasure And therfore once againe if wee stand vpon pleasure what pleasure is like vnto this and the more pleasant because the more secure to thinke how sweete that breath that flowes from the lippes of our Sauiour shall bee vnto vs aboue Myrrh and Cassia Come you blessed I was hungry and you fed mee I was naked and you câ—oathed mee inherâ—te the Kingdome of my Father prepared for you from the beginning On the other side the thought of that heauy Sentence the thought imagination whereof like the vpper and the neather Mill-stone is able to câ—ush and grinde in peeces all the pleasures of the world and the sensuall appetites thereof and to throw them into the ayre like Chaffe against the winde that indanger or bring vs within the compasse thereof The tenor whereof shall be more grieuous against whom it is pronounced that day then all the pleasures of the world in the fullest sayle were euer contentiue Ite Maledicti Goe you cursed descend to the lake of perdition you that haue had your portion in this world Purple and fine Linnen and fared dilitiousoy euery day that haue neglected me in my members in charity and pitty and in deedes of mercy that beeing hungry gaue mee no foode and beeing naked gaue mee no rayment Will this bee the answere of Christ at that day to those that to him in his persecuted and afflicted members denyed their releefe when they therewith plainly euicted excuses shall craue mercy at his handes and shall not obtaine it Si in igne ardebit qui non dedit propria sua vbi ardebit qui surripiat aliena Si sterilitas in ignem mittitur rapacitas quid merebitur All the sonnes and daughters of men in the world from Adam the first man of the race to the last that shall stand vpon the earth shall to their ioy or griefe receiue one of these two sentences Then If Let vs all therfore labour to be partakers of the best of the blest and that wee may let vs serue him in loue For Seruire eo regnare est his seruice is perfect freedome Let vs obey him in feare for The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome Let vs be acquainted with him in this world that wee may not bee as strangers and aliants to him in the world to come Let vs heare him when hee speakes vnto vs and not with our eares stopped passe by him like the deafe Adder not regarding the Voyce of the Charmer charme hee neuer so wisely lest the Prophets and Preachers of the Word the Law and the Gospell our Parents and Tutors our owne Consciences consenting and witnessing thereunto send vs vnto the Iudgement seat of GOD with this Inscription written on our Fore-heads Noâ—â—erunt iâ—cantari they would not be charmed they would not bee acquainted Let vs not waste our time and weigh â—t not heape vp sinne and feare it not awake GODS wrath and sorrow not lye fettered in death and struggle not slippe into the Graue and see it not least wee perish and preuent it not And let vs not haue lesse regard of our time then wee haue of our treasure which we somtimes reckon by graine and weight that wee reserue with heede and care imploy with diligence and fore-cast and let that passe a thousand times more pretious without Arithmetike and Ballance thought or regard Let not the slashes of vaine-glory that flye through the world like lightening and the subtile plots and
sinne my reputation name to perish vpon earth as salt that hath lost his sauour my temporal estate to be ruind by casualties and losse For why should any thing prosper that I take in hand being thus ouergrowne in wickednesse and wherefore shouldst thou giue good successe to that which I attribute not vnto thee how euer it fall out buâ— to the worke of mine owne hands and the pollicy of my contriuing robbing thee of thy honour and due to whom it belongs O Lord as thy mercy hath thus long preserued me sound in all these so let it worke in me that at last I may â—ee my errour and amend it see my wound and labour to cure it my finnes and repent mee of them from the bottome of my heart that thou mayst forgiue me them Turne me O Lord and I shall be turned wash me cleane with water and I shall be cleansed renue me as the Eagle her dayes and I shall bee renued gather thy thosen Flocke from thâ— mountains and desarts wherein they stray to fulfill thy fold I shall be gathered sweep thy house and find thy greate and I shall be found be gratious vnto me heareafter as thou hast bene good vnto me heretofore let not my vnworthynesse weary out thy goodnesse but continue it vnto me to the end now O Lord I giue thee harty thankes and praise for that thou hast this day preserued mée from all harmes and perilles notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts so I beseech thee likewayes defend mee this night from all the dangers and assaults that may accompany this vncomfortable season and to this end I commend into thine hands my selfe my soule and body beseching thee my Lord and God not to suffer sathan nor any of his ministers to haue power to doe me any hurt or violence this night graunt good Lord that whether I sleep or wake liue or dye it may be vnto thee the saluation of my soule which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Thy grace o Lord Iesus Christ thy loue o heauenly father thy comfort and consolation o holy and blessed spirit be with me and dwell in mee both in hart and mind in soule and body this night and all the nights and dayes of my life Amen Another mornings Prayer Eyther priuate or publicke changing but the number MOst gratious God in the name of Christ Iesus our most mercifull Sauiour and redeemer we giue thee most humble and harty thankes for the quiet rest and repose this night thou hast bestowed vpon our weary and tyred bodies to the refreshing and norishing of the same and for thy gratious prouidence and vigilancy ouer vs all the dayes and nights past euer since we were borne and came into the world for our creation redemption for thy most sacred word a lanshorue to our feet and a light vnto our steppes for thy long and vnwearied patience so long expecting our repentance and turning vnto thee that day by day haue put thee off till we haue heaped vp many yeares of iniquity by greiuous sins in tedious times ouer and vpon our owne heads able and waightie enough to pull vs downe to the pit of perdition where long since we haue deserued to haue layne in endlesse wo and mysery but that thy mercy and louing kindnesse hath preuented vs o Lord giue vs grace to be mindfull of these mercies that our tongues may speake and harts may meditate theron in exultation and ioy and Lord giue vs grace to consider and make vse thereof that as the night is past wherein our spirit and vigor is renued which brought vs into sleepe the true image of death and layd vs in our beds the representation of our graues for vt somnus mortis sic lectus imago sepulcri and that the day hath taken vs vp againe to begin our toyle with his which suddainly finds a period and conclusion and sets it selfe againe in darkenesse which afterwards must giue place to the light and that these two consumers of the world the day and night which with there easy lenghts there spannes and fadomes since the commandement was first giuen let there be day and night haue brought age and maturity the sithes and sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruestes of flesh and layd the groth of nature in the dust teach vs o Lord with this remembrance to way the instability transmutation of time and nature the incertainty of all worldly things our vnwarranted liues that hange vpon a brittle third a dials point that with the sun in the morne with strength and splendor addresse our selues like giantes to runne our course when many times we are taken vp within few minuts after and caried into the bowels of the earth in the begining of our race becomming wormes and not men guestes for the solitary tabernacles of silence and forgetfulnesse and to frame our liues and actions thereafter that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to take vs out of this world of misery to bind vp our bones in peace and rest we may yeild vp our soules and bodiâ—s into thy hands with full confidence and assurance that our sins and offences are washt away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate lambe Christ Iesus and shall not condemne vs prosper vs o Lord in all our actions giue good successe to our true indeauors and graunt that this day and all the dayes of our life may be so spent by thy councell fauour and direction that we may so beare our selues through this dale of mysery that at the last we may raigne with thee in eternity and glory Amen An euening Prayer to the same MOst gratious God and mercifull father in Christ Iesus we doe heare how downe the knees of our soules and bodies in thy presence offering vp our prayer and prayse vnto thee with all possible thankes for all thy fauours towards vs namely for electing vs vnto eternall life for creating vs vnto thine owne image for redeeming vs by the bloud of thy sonne for sanctifying â—s by thy holy spirit for our health peace and liberty and all thy blessings that we reioyce in for the which we can giue no reasoÌ„ for but thy mercy and if thou shouldest withdraw them all backe againe we cannot accuse thee of iniustice not deseruing the least of them by reason of our sins which are so greuous and infinite that we cannot reckon them able to make a perpetual seperation betweene thee and vs but that thou art a mercifull patient long suffering God thou desirest not the confusion of sinners but that they should turne from there wickednesse liue and to that end thou hast forborne vs hetherto with a heauye and greeued aspect and hast not raigned downe thy punishments vpon vs therefore now o Lord giue vs a time of grace as thou hast giuen vs time of mercy that we may take a suruaye of our estate that perceiuing the danger we are in from the which none
and graines in confusion Let vs cast vp our dayes by Iacobs account valewâ— them not to be more not to better then he did his few and euill as he that truly considers it shall most rightly find it true for the first that they are few what age since there were creatures that liu'd and breathed died in it and howers yeares to wast and spend themselues to giue it a quantitie and quality thereof that might speake with more probabilitie and exemplarie experience hereof then ours when our yong men in our streetes in our houses oftentimes part with there health there life and all within an hower and others fall downe dead as they trauaile vpon the way and the latest yeares of our ould men accomplish not the child-hood of our fore-fathers with such daily other presidentes of death before our eyes both of vntimely youth and ould age that might moue vs to looke into our selues yet as if we tooke leases of our liues as wee do of our houses we incroach and build set vp pull downe alter repaire like earth-deluing-moles presse crush our owne bowelles and consciences to heaue vp little piles of rubbish and earth toyle our bodies and beat our braines to ioyne our possessions together dispeopling whole villages that we may be Lordes alone drawing the earth from the poore that they liue tread vpon by exactions plottes and tyrannies pulling the bread from out there handes and the food from out there mouthes calling our habitations after our owne names as if we should for euer liue or our posterities after vs succeed to the worldes end or world without end when he that sits in heauen laugheth them to scorne for he that thinkes to be rich or great without him in the prophanenes of his heart Esay 14. 15. let him know Gen. 11. 7. that the least breath of his mouth shall so batter his seat that the place thereof shall be no more found and scatter his riches as the dust before the wind or the chaffe that slies in the ayre and all there thoughtes inteÌ„tions more vaine theÌ„ vanity it selfe if we liued like Adam without any president of death before our eyes and the length of our dayes in some measure stretched out like to his it were some little securitie for presumption to build vpon but wee that haue sene our thousand three-thousand weekly such a dearth of health that the sicke haue bene more then the sound the dead more then the lyuing and death hath so layd about in our streetes and in our houses that grasse hath growne in the one and solitarinesse so taken vp the other that the sight of a man in either hath bene more pretious then the gold of Ophir sometimes come so neare vs that it hath puld away the wife from our owne bosome children from our owne loynes reueld in the darke of the night at the noone of the day disposest vs of neighbour and frend neare and distant far of spared none from the child supported by the hand for weakenesse to him that walkes with the staffe for age with such an innumerable and daily witnesse in which number our owne bowelles sometimes a part the sentence of God vpon all flesh as a forerunner and the accomplishmeÌ„t thereof with such a â—ercenesse succeeding all crying with a loud voyce and proclaming this proclamation of God Statutum est omnibus semelmori O but may the yong man or some not aged say although we must once die yet we may liue many yeares and therefore we wil take our pleasures whilst we may and when they haue forsaken vs when age shall ceaze vpon vs with her whitenesse die our lockes into another coullor then will we repent vs and thinke of our end O but who euer thou art that thinkes so deceiue not thy selfe with this vaine procrastinating folly but let Salomons experienced councell be the tutor to thy youth forget not to remembe his MemeÌ„to To remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill dayes approach and the times wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them and beeing a reasonable creature offer not God that indignity that hath made thee both body and soule giuen thee both health and strength thy beeing thy benefites all that thou hast as to offer him the huskes and refuse of Sathan What earthly maister that but for a few temporall benefits as in sustayning our yeares of infancye although all that he could for vs were but as a grauell stone in comparison to the whole sea shore of his goodnesse that would not expect in recompence hereof the abilitye of our best seruice to his imployment which if wee should neglect him in and forsake him vnacknowledged so long vntill our youth and strengthes were spent and old age were crept vpon vs and wee disabled to helpe our selues much lesse to stand him in stead or deserue his former kindnesse yet then with blushlesse faces should offer to put our selues vpon him for a second suppertance that with the acclamation and consent of the earthly maisters in the world would not only turne his face away but vtterly reiect foreuer cast vs off from his acknowledgement Is it then iust with vs and is it not much more iust with God We are all seruants to him in a thousand duties he fashioned vs in our mothers wombe carefully tooke vs out from thence euer since protected and preserued vs vpon the finger of whose prouidence we sticke as the sun in the firmament and shall wee from him that hath done so much for vs dedicate the ioy marrow of our bones to the enemie of our God our good the welfare of all mankind to him that compasseth the earth seeking whom he may deuour shal we I say in our ripest iudgement and abilitie of largest consideration make no vse hereof but run one with the spurre of the flesh and the pricke of the deuill all the sun-shine of our dayes in obliuion and forgetfulnesse of him we should euer remember If we doe the euening will bring heauinesse vnto vs which will not indure for a night and ioy approach in the morning but a night without end of sorrow and lamentation whom no day shall euer arise to cleare and he that hath lost Christ in a large youth and run from him many yeares must not thinke that few wil vntread that path againe and recouer him but rather that a yeare may so lose him that many shall not find him againe though with Ioseph and Mary he be sought in sorrowing Presume not vpon that text of mercy to much At what time soeuer a sinner although it be an Oracle of truth truth it selfe for if thou refuse the time of grace that is offered thou knowest not whether it wil be offered thee againe whether thou shalt euer after haue a time to repent thee of thy sins from the bottome of thy hâ—rt that thine owne
restraine vs from it if the sonnes of men shall take the deuill at his word as the Son of God did not and for the glory of the world which hee shall shew and cannot giue shall fall downe and worship him if hee shew honour preferment pleasure riches saying all these will I giue thee though the Minions and Louers of the world that seeke for their heauen vpon earth shall be ready to betray their soules as Iudas betrayed Christ with their hayle Maister shall bee ready to embrace him to serue him to serue themselues yet with the Sonne of God Math. 16. 20. after his fasting bee thou so strong in thy strength as hee was in his weaknesse to bid him depart and to say him nay For it is but a bitter recompence to buy the pleasures at so deere a rate as at the prise of thy soule in thy euerlasting confusion for a short and fading life and but the length of a spanne if thou thinke it more take the counters into thy hand and see what reckoning thou canst make of it what is past grieueth thee with the remembrance thereof because so much of thy time is spent what is present burtheneth thee with the waight therof because in sweate and sorrow study and trauel thou dost wast thy time what is to come troubleth thee with the vncertainety of it least the graue do swallow thee before thou see it yea make thy account as as thou oughtest and thou shalt finde it swifter then the Weauers shuttle Iob. 7. 6. and speedier then a post on the wings of the winde Iob. 9. 25. Then in consideration of this and whatsoeuer hath bene spoken to the vncloathing of our nakednes and humbling vs before God to the pulling off of our roabes of leuity and lightnesse and the preparing our bodies to the graue and our soules to this insuing exercise whether to the daunting of all flesh all must come and the houre may bee neere but it cannot bee farre off and howsoeuer wee forget it it will bee sure to remember vs and therefore let vs know that here as Pilgrimes and strangers wee wander hauing no abiding Citty but wee seeke for one to come but wee must not seek to find it here nor suffer the vaine applause of the world and the vainer conceit of our selues to make vs forget where we liue what we are of our selues being but as a tree turned vpwards hauing no sap from the earth but refreshed and moistened with the dew of heauen let vs so husband our iourney that wee misse not the Citty we seek for let vs so runne our race that we obtaine the victory and reward we runne for and therefore if thou expect in thy labour blessing in thy peace continuance in affliction comfort in thy death triumph in thy iudgement ioy respect in thy life sobriety in thy calling honesty in thy pleasures iudgement in thy sorrowes mercy in thy life religion For if God bee not with thee to direct thee that thou stray not to correct thee that thou presume not to sustaine thee that thou famish not to pardon thee that thou despaire not to support thee that thou stumble not to strengthen thee that thou fall not and to sanctifie thee that thou sinne not and to glorifie thee that thou perish not If the Lord throughout the whole course of thy life and in thy death bee not present and powerfull to thee thou faintest in the one and failest in the other and desperation inuironeth thee on euery side for where the Lord keepeth not watch or turneth away his face all the miseries in the world lay their siedge therefore to him let vs day and night send vp our supplications and prayers without ceasing like incense into the aire to continue what we haue and giue vs what wee want to support vs by his grace to direct vs by his Spirit and so lead vs through this exemplary world of sinne and wickednes with our eys so looking forward fixed on him that wee let not temptations in at their windowes so captiuating our desires vnto his will that with Lot wee may bee righteous in a Citty in a world of vncleanesse that so wee may saue our soules at the last though wee loose all the pleasures in the world besides the losse whereof would more reioyce Sathan then hee sorroweth for the damnation of his owne which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Of the Force the vse and necessity of Prayer SInce all the dayes and howers of the life of man the consumers of the world the measurers of time it selfe are the subiects succeeders of the Lords owne handes and by him only lent to thy vse be not thou then so vnnaturall against the Lord the owner thereof and against thine owne good as not sometimes to lend him some of his owne howers to his seruice for thine owne good Amongst the many perturbations and troubles of this life as sickenes imprisonment losse of frendes vexation of spirit wrought by the bretheren with vs of the same inheritance in the portion of the same infirmitie from the loynes of our first parent Adam The world in Rebellion offering diuers assaultes against the peace and tranquility of her children and nothing to be found vnder the sunne but Vanity and vexation of Spirit The vnrulye passions and affections of our owne nature and the head-strong lustes of the flesh and the concupiscence thereof euer at enmity with the spirit euer readye to intangle vs in the snares of sinne and death our pronenes vnto euill and our backwardnesse vnto good The Many that are called and the few that are chosen the certainty of our death the vncertainty of the time when or the manner how the fearfull account that must be rendered vnto thee at the day of thy appearing in Maiestie and power to iudge both the liuing and those that are departed the consideration whereof in the hart of a Christian toucht with the least finger of his grace that can heale all our infirmities will call him aside into his retired clofset or chamber where he may not only find ease for his body but ease also for his soule and spirit within him by calling to mind the promises of God the largenesse of his loue the extention of his fauour the inheritance layed vp the kingdome prepared from the beginning the peace and rest euerlasting which no distraction tumult nor vexation shall annoye which by the ouer-eager pursuit of our affections and loue to this world which is but a sea subiect to all passions and Mare amarum a bitter sea with all kind of myserie we may lose if we take not heed And being so with-drawne with most prostrat humylitie and obedience we may sacrifice the good thoughts of the spirit and send vp prayers like the smoke of incense into the ayre laying our mouthes to the eares of that wisedome that knoweth our wantes better then we vnderstand them our selues be we new so afflicted
before we vtter them going vnto him that calles come vnto me all you that trauell and are heauen loaden and I will refresh you To him therefore let vs goe to him let vs send vp these trusty embassadours our Prayers Prayer the sweet cesterne and conduite of grace by the which all the benefits and guiftes in that heauenly treasure-house are cōtinued reserued and renued vnto vs. Prayer the keye that opens where no man shuts and shuttes where no man can open that enters where no man hath passage and returnes where no man can hinder Prayer the life of the soule when being perplexed with such griefe of hart as neyther Wine nor strong drinke according to the aduise of Salomon can comfort her misery hauing no word to speake nor comfort to apply when it is day wishing for nightes approach and when it is night saying to her selfe when shall it be morning how euer the season no comfort succeeding neither by light nor darkenesse nor in any worldly felicitye wishing as often as shee openeth her lips and draweth in breath into her nostrils if God were as hasty to fulfill as she to desire O that thou wouldest hide me in the graue and keepe mee secret vntill thy wrath were past Iob. 14. yet then euen then she assumeth the winges of a doue the motion and agility of the spirit of God she flyeth by the strength of her Prayers into the bosome of Gods mercy and there like the arke vpon the mountaines of Armenia is at rest Therefore if any be afflicted let him pray let vs not presume in the height of our prosperity with Dauid to say as hee did I shall neuer be remoued thou Lord of thy goodnesse hast made my hill so strong least with him we suddainly shall see a change Thou diddest but hide thy face and I was sore troubled then cryed I vnto the Lord and prayed vnto my God saying what profit is there in my blood Psal 20. therefore let him that standes take good heed that he doe not fall let vs put our confidence in the Lord our God and pray vnto him and to none other neither let vs presume vpon our selues nor any earthly meanes beside for her was neuer contemplation exercise or any kinde study in the world so acceptable to the maiestie of God so gratious in his sight so linked and true a friend to him that makes vse of it as prayer is It waketh in the night season it restes not in the day it forsaketh vs not by land nor by sea in health nor in sicknesse in prosperity nor in aduersity in weale nor in woe liuing nor dying it is our last friend and most indissoluble companion Let vs therefore loue it and therefore let vs vse it There was neuer name in heauen or earth so worthy to bee called vpon so mighty for deliuerance so puissant for protection so gainfull for successe so compendious to abridge vnnecessary labours as the name of IEHOVAH our most mercifull Father and the image of his countenance Iesus Christ Therefore to the Lord there was neuer Sanctuary so free for Transgessors in the strongest priuiledge neuer such safety neuer holes in the rocke so open for the doues of the field the armes of any mother so open to her childe as the bowels of Gods compassion to all faithfull beleeuers Therefore to him and therefore faithfully and in that method fitnesse and propriety as Thomas hauing the obiect of his prayer before his eyes euen Christ Iesus my Lord and my God There was neuer creature liuing vnder the line of the Sun that saw not affliction in his dayes neuer was there any to whom affliction was not grieuous and irke-some yet neuer was there affliction so great but it hath beene vnder the correction of the Lord whose hand hath beene able to maister it Therefore to euery affliction as they come in seuerall kindes for our seuerall sins and transgressions so our prayers must bee seuerall and framed and fitted thereunto and powred forth both with wisedome and zeale that they come not harshly vndigested to those eares that can both sift and try the one and the other the delicasie and tendernesse whereof must bee wisely intreated and the fauour of his countenance carefully sought after the example of him that knew in his soule that a faint and dissembled prayer would returne empty into the bosome of him that sent it vp But a broken and contrite spirit the Lord would not despise neuer sent vp his petitions but with the deepest affection and zeale of his minde with the most sincere integrity and meditated zeale that might be for Euery night washt he his bed and watered his Couch with teares the bloud of the soule and the wine of Angels the pretious and significant pearles of contrition that preuaile without words and effect where words faile And therefore feruently after his example that thou mayst haue the force of two tongues in thy suit the better to speed And to auoyd the malediction which thou mayst else receiue in stead of a blessing for cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently And as we may learn precepts and draw many excellent examples from the lines of the heathē Philosophers writers so here to this wee may learne a zeale in our prayers euen of those wodden Priests K. 1. 18. of whom it is written that they called vpon the name of Baal frō morning to noone and when they had no answere they cryed aloud nay they cut themselues with kniues till the bloud flowed so they prayed not onely in teares but in bloud and shall not wee the children of the light bee as zealous in our generation And frō the agony zeale of the son of Righteousnesse that in the daies of his flesh offered vp prayers supplications with strong cryes teares to him that was able to helpe him learne to adresse our selues in our necessities of whom the Gospel further declares not only that he kneeled at the naming of whose name all knees haue bowed both in heauen earth and vnder the earth but that he fell vpon the ground the footstoole of his owne maiesty and lay vpon that face that neuer Angell beheld without reuerence and when he had prayed before hee prayed more earnestly as the Scriptures record hee once prayed and departed and a second time and yet a third time departed and departed euermore vsing the same petitions his prayer ascending by degrees like incense and perfume and not onely his lippes went but his agony and contention within was so great that an Angell was sent from heauen to comfort him and with the trouble of his soule sweat like droppes of bloud trickling downe to the ground Let vs not therefore offer vp this sacrifice but remēber this blessed example of this our blessed sauiour in our imitation that they may be blessed in their speed and we in their successe and not to vtter them remisse and carelesse as if our spirites
right hand is of more puissance then the whole arme either of flesh or any spirit besides yea then the whole loines whole substances whole bodies of Angels or of Men siluer gold silke purple all other creatures so it shall walke through life and death without controulement if it find Angels Principallities powers things present things to come or any other creature in the world stopping her passage and rebuking her forwardnesse shee shall cleare her way notwithstanding and clime into the presence of her God and in his eares deliuer her message Bee we in sickenesse to him the true Phâ—sition that knowes both the cause and the cure shee comes for health bee wee in imprisonment there shee sollicites a release from him the Lord of liberty bee we opprest with pouerty or want The earth is the Lords and all that dwell therein to him shee comes for the blessing of the Lord maketh rich are we afflicted aboue measure beyond the strength of man insomuch that we doubt whether we liue or no receiuing the sentence of death within our selues so as in our opinion we comprehend no deliuery no euasion but lie open to the direct accomplishment thereof yet in this exigent and extremity wee come to God in this meanes euen almost beyond hope without expectation and by his good pleasure we are deliuered therefore heerein let vs receiue comfort hee hath hee doth and will deliuer vs not onely from the death of our bodies when wormes and rottennesse haue made their long and last prey vpon them but from the death of our mindes too when the spirit is buried vnder sorrowes there is no creature found in heauen or earth to giue it comfort Therfore be our misery bee our affliction neuer so great and though in our weake immagination wee can imagine no deliuery no release when all earthly meanes and comforts forsake vs let vs not yet forsake this refuge let vs not despaire in his helpe no more then Ionas did who in the bottome of the sea within a prison within that bottome in such an affliction so great so strange as greater nor stranger could not bee nor to humane reason more without hope yet saith hee Ionas 2. 2. I cryed in mine affliction vnto the Lord and hee heard mee out of the belly of hell cryed I and thou heardest my voyce Therefore I say againe in aduersity let vs not despaire but pray with hope In aduersity be it neuer so great let vs pray with confidence In our prosperity let vs pray in our prosperity neuer so flourishing let vs pray let vs pray continually In our health and prosperity let vs pray to continue it in our sickenesse and aduersity let vs pray to release it And if we consider our estate rightly we shall perceiue many reasons that may moue vs to this exercise daily to seeke his fauour and louing countenance without whose protection and care ouer vs wee are ready to fall into a thousand dangers to perish continually let vs therefore in time and season with wordes sutable to our purpose and intention either thankes-giuings for benefites receiued or with petitions and intreaties for necessities implored in the time of sickenesse in the time of our health in the time of our aduersity in the time of our prosperity let vs come before him suting our wordes in the habite of our occasions with such fitnesse and decency that they sal not harshly and from the purpose in the eares of the Almighty And to that end good Reader I haue heere compiled and set downe many formes and moulds of prayer fitting for seuerall persons occasions and times after the example of our Sauiour Christ the true patterne of all wisedome and goodnesse who hath giuen vs the first and best forme thereof himselfe who hath both taught vs to pray and taught vs how to pray and that will both heare our prayers and grant our requests as farre as seemes expedient to his vnsearchable wisedome that knowes our wants before hee heares our coÌ„plaints our necessities better then we our selues for because Prayer is so excellent a thing so ready so swift so powerful so vnseperated from vs that it cleaues vnto vs when all other meanes forsak vs therfore that wee should the more earnestly imbrace it more zealously imply it more deerely esteeme it there is great reason that it finds vs ofteÌ„times out coÌ„fort in greatest extremities that wheÌ„ we find our selues in misety our waies hedged vp as with thornes that wee cannot stirre to deliuer our selues there hence when wee are ouerflowne with the deluge of sinne as with a floud and iudgements inuiron vs on euery side this is the Doue that brings vnto our soules the Oliue branch of comfort yet because for the most part we kill the life therein through the coldnesse of our deuotion and carelesnesse of our deliuery and vnfit preparation thereunto and finde not the sweetenesse and successe that else we might expect and obtaine at the hands of God thereby Therefore I haue here drawne them out to life shewed both the excellency thereof and preparation thereunto befitting that these formes hereafter following and all other whatsoeuer in this kind may be the more powerfull blessed and comfortable to all that shall vse them without the which it is impossible that they should please God or any good successe follow thereupon The Embassadour betweene Heauen and Earth A morning Prayer for the Sabaoth day MOST mercifull God and eternall father what may we render vnto thee for all thy louing kindnesse for the which blessings and thankes-giuings for euermore be heaped vpon thy holy name in whom the treasures of mercy and louing kindnesse dwell bodily who of thine owne good will and pleasure hast bene pleased to communicat vnto vs so many of thy fauours so many seuerall ways without any manner of desert of ours to the which may it please thee to ad stil to the number by taking away those iniquities of ours that take away thy fauours and blessings from vs or as a stranger that knoweth them not passe by our transgressions retaine not thine anger against vs foreuer though wâ— retaine our sins the cause of thine anger but returne to vs by grace who returne not to thee by repentance and haue compassion vpon vs who haue not compassion on ouer owne soules subdue our raigning and raging vnrighteousnesse and drowne our offences in the bottome of the sea which else will drowne vs in the bottome of destruction raise vp our soules from the dead sleepe of sinne as thou hast raised vp our bodies from this night of darkenesse protect vs from all dangers from the which no minute we are secured of our selues but in thee brought vs to the begining of this thy blessed sabaoth of rest which good father so sanctifie vnto vs through thy blessed spirit that thy name may be hallowed thy power admired thy mercy magnified and thy loue manifested to thy glory and our euerlasting
comfort fill thou our hartes with such a desire and longing after thee that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the flesh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long take hold on vs that see me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the stomacke that say peace peace and all is well when destruction and death is bayted ore with them but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exercise our selues both day and night our whoole felicity Let that treasure be our pleasure that is layd vp in heauen all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitternesse but in this there is neyther bitternesse nor end blesse good Lord the seed of thy word that shall this day be sowen in our harts and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the same that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the saluation of our soules in that great day of ioy and sorrow and for the better furtherance thereof good father inlarge and reforme our vnderstanding keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in such sort that no ill word be vttered by or through the same and so rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not our hands that they touch not our feet that they go not too our eyes that they see not our eares that they heare not our sences that they tast not our harts that they consent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good that thereby thy loue may be confirmed in vs and we in it that so we may walke cherfully in our vocations wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all such as perseuer in thy wayes without wearinesse to the end which graunt and whatsoeuer besides in thy wisedome thou knowest needfull and necessary for vs good father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we further intreat thy mercy and goodnesse towards vs in that forme of prayer which he himselfe hath both commanded and taught vs saying our father c. An euening Prayer for the Sabaoth day O eternall God and most mercifull father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light darkenesse day and night in whose handes is contained that ouerflow of goodnesse that filleth all the empty and indigent creatures in the world in the ayre in the earth in the sea and on the land who ordaynest times and seasons successions and discentes ould age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and a labour an increase and a decrease and a perpetuall motion and change ouer all the sublunary things in this world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many howers since broke out of darkenesse and cheard the world with her light and the sunne arose and came forth as a bridegrome out of his chamber and reioysing as a Gyant to runne his course and his beames are now steeped in night darkenes the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitory pleasures and delights which haue there increase there height and there suddaine decrease againe and there is no continuance or stability in any thing vnder the sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast apointed for rest which Lord so blesse vnto vs that as this day thou hast gratiously ministred strength vnto vs to walke in our vocations blesse our good indeauours studies and labours our hearing meditating on thy word to the comfort of our bodies and soules so we may be thankefull therefore hauing alwayes thy hand to sustayne vs to effect and finish those councels and labours which we vndertake for thy glory so good Lord blesse this night vnto vs that we may now receiue that comfort and strength which thou hast graunted to our weake nature by the which we are sustayned and daily renued and refreshed to our labours and further we beseeche thee as the night shadoweth darkeneth all things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake hide our sins from thy sight that they neuer stand vp to accuse vs vnto thee beeing buried in eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe this night so our minds by the hope of thy mercy may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer that so beeing wholy refreshed both in body and in mind we may arise with alacrity chearfulnesse vnto thy seruice this day insuing and all the dayes of our life after succeding that when death which is the end of all flesh shall remoue vs from thence into the graue of corruption where our bodies shall dissolue to the matter they are though now they seme not from the which it is as easy for thee to rayse them vp from the smallest graine of dessolution as from our naturall sléepe for I beleeue that the time shall come when all that are in the graue shal heare the voyce of the sonne of God when he shall speake vnto the earth giue and to the sea restore my sonnes and daughters and to all the creatures in the world keepe not backe mine inheritance and to the prisoners of hope lodging a while in the chambers of the ground stand forth and shew your selues and the earth shall disclose her bloud and shal no longer hide her slain and the sea shall find no rest till her drowned be brought forth nor any creature in the world be able to steale one bone that it hath receiued but all kinds of death shall be swallowed vp in generall victory and in his name that hath wonne the feild for vs we shall ioyfully sing thanks be to God that hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ whence our bodies being awaked to that euerlasting day of light which shall neuer be obscured with darkenesse more where we shall be made pertakers of that vnspeakable inheritance that thy saints and holy ones enioy which is honour glory and peace a garland of righteousnesse an incorruptible crowne fruite of the tree of life sight of the face of God following the lamb fellowship with Angels and Saints and the congregation of the first borne new names white garments pleasures at the right hand of God and fulnesse of ioy in his presence for euermore whither he bring vs that hath made vs that must raise vs from both these sleepes for the glory of his blessed name Amen A further Description of this heauenly Ierusalem and blessed happinesse therein taken out of the Man Cathol of W. C. IN Syon lodge me Lord for pitty Syon Dauids Kingly Citty Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keyes are Christs vndoubted word VVhose dwellers feare none but the Lord VVhose walles are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease
made vs when wee were not moulded vs from the dust of the earth an element so base and contemptible to so excellent a perfection to a creature so glorious and admirable as man is not onely the worke of thine owne hands but the Image of thine owne Person from the very iawes of Death and damnation deliuered vs if we wilfully runne not into it againe that in continuing thy blessings day by day vpon vs hast shewed thy selfe to bee our most gratious mercifull and louing Lord and hast hitherto preserued vs by thy powerfull prouidence that we haue drawne out yâ— thrid of our life vnto this time these are thy mercies our God and not our merits giuen vs freely without any desert of ours for the rayment of our backes for the foode of our bellies for the ayre that wee sucke in and breath out for the fashion of our bodyes for the motion of the members thereof for our capability reason the creation of all thy creatures in the world to the vse and subiection of man and so many thy benefites that whatsouer wee expresse the more wee remember yet for all these thou requirest nothing else of vs but that we know and acknowledge thée to be the Lord and giuer thereof what couldest thou require lesse of vs then to acknowledge thee to obey thee to feare thee loue thee and to keepe thy commandements and yâ—t doe wee scant thee of that moitye of thy due that easie taske but the sound of our lippes and yâ— consent of our hearts that so wee might become thy faithfull children and bee made true heires and partakers of thine euerlasting kingdome and reigne with thée for euer Guilty therefore O Lord in this grosse offence wee stand forth to accuse our selues of wonderfull folly and ingratitude hauing stroue as much as in vs lyeth to stoppe the streame of thy mercies that land-comfort to our soules in all our extremities yâ— they should not come néere vs we haue bene carelesse of thy word neither haue wee taken any delight to fulfill thy lawes and Commandements and therefore if thou hadst long agoe as a flower before a Sithe-man mowed vs downe as many more worthy of these blessings then we haue beene and brought vs to the Barre of thy Iudgement and from thence cast vs who are before thy face but as chaffe before the winde or as stubble before the fire into the laks of perdition who is he that could accuse thee of iniustice nay our owne consciences would acquit thee and condemne vs for seeing thou hast sought vs and wee would not bee found it is good reason we should cry vnto thee and finde no mercy But O Lord thy mercies are aboue our iniquities so thou hast spared vs many yeares and past ouer our manifold transgressions as one that were ignorant of them in silence and sorrow in witnesse wherof the heauens with their apparitions siâ—ke of disasters and euents haue bene portenders vnto vs that we might be forewarned the earth vpon her bases proppes and foundations so firmely layed hath of late bene shaken at the aspecte of thine anger and tottered to and fro like a drunken-man thy waters and the whole courses thereof that rowle with indignation vp and downe there channelles beeing tyed within boundes and limittes as the lions in there dens dash themselues with indignation against there dammes there shores stoppes to there fury fixed there by thy word Hetherto shalt thou passe and no further haue of late by thy sufferance borne downe there keepers many yeares and sweld higher then there brinkes and in there mercilesse furies prey'd vpon whole countries leauing nothing but desolation behind them and all for our sins and forwarnings besides thy threatning vs by drought famine and pestilence the fearfull denuntiation of thy word applied vnto our guilty consciences that so perceyuing thine anger we might feare and be saued euen so I Lord as thou hast bene gratious in forewarning vs by these so giue vs grace that we may be forewarned by them that in time we may repent and turne from our wicked wayes and no longer abuse thy patience but run vnto thee in repentance and humility that so we may be saued in the day of thy appearance which so worke in vs that ouercome at length with thy goodnesse patience we may no longer delaye to aske councell of thee and thy holy word what we ought to forbeare and what we ought to follow that we be not pufâ— vp with prosperity nor to much deiected in sickenesse and aduersity that we may despaire of our selues the helpe of our owne haÌ„des but may expect all things from thy goodnesse that we put not our confidence in transitory things but wholy relye vpon thee thy promises Blesse this famely O Lord and euery member thereof blesse also our parentes and frendes according to the flesh and nature and continue thy blessed word vnto vs and to our posterities after vs euen vnto the ends of the world for thy dearly beloued sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiours sake into whose handes and protection we commend our soules and our bodies this euening and the rest of our liues the were bought and redeemed with his most deare pretious bloud whose acceptance he graunt for his owne deare sake Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme ô Lord be stil our defence thy mercy and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towardes vs and this night and euermore vouchsafe to send vs thy euerlasting peace Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with vs all euermore Amen A prayer to God for the forgiuenes of sins MOst holy most iust most mercifull and omnipotent God thou alone doest punish and no man can releiue thou alone doest chastice and no man can controwle thou alone doest saue and no man can condemne thou bringest to the graue and bringest backe againe pardon I beseech thee my sins more in number then the drops in the sea then the starres in the firmament and purge my corruption beyond bound without measure looke not vpon my merits for they are none at all for the purity of mankind is defiled in sinne wherefore to mee O Lord to me thy poore seruant belongeth nothing but shame and confusion but to thee is mercy and iudgement and glory inherent destroy not I humbly intreat good father of mercy the creation and frame and composition of thine owne haÌ„ds deâ—ace not the image wherein thou thy selfe art so liuely portrayed but haste to comfort me make thy corrections my instructions that in patience awhile I may heare possesse my soule and
inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
and I shall not bee condemned deliuer mee from the pit of corruption that openeth her mouth shutteth vs therein and keepeth vs as part of her owne bowels For the graue will not acknowledge thee nor the dead confesse thee but the liuing shall extoll and magnifie thy name world without end But if to thy vncomprehended wisedome to ballance against which all the wisedome in the world is but folly it seeme better to thee that I dye then liue then deale with me according to thy good pleasure giue thine Angels charge ouer my soule that it may be receiued in peace which into thine hands I commend that gauest it me strengthen my faith in thee and in thy Law that I may willingly resigne that into thy hands that was due vnto thee the first day that I liued if it had pleased thee to call for it by a double right nay so many rights that might claime a thousand liues if I had them to lay downe for thee that hast layd downe thine owne Sons and done so many things for me and for my sake and for all mankinde and teach me O Lord to make such true vse of this my sicknesse that the former miseries of this wretched life ioined with my present griefe anguish make me weary of these times of sin and willing to resigne my soule into thy hands prepared by this vnwelcome yet wholsome summoner that will transport mee out of this vale of misery to that euerlasting kingdome which thou hast purchased for mee which grant I beseech thée for Christ Iesus sake my onely Sauiour and Redéemer Amen The commendation of the soule to bee said at a sicke mans death out of the Man of M. Crashaw I Here commend thee to Almighty God most deere brother and I commit thee to him whose creature thou art Goe forth therefore O Christian Soule get thee gone out of this filthy world goe forth in the name of the Almighty Father who created thee in the name of Iesus Christ who dyed for thee in the name of the Holy-ghost who hath beene powred out vpon thee and when thou happy soule art deliuered out of the prison of the body the glorious quier of heauenly Angels meete and the Company of all holy Saints entertaine thée the louing countenance and cheerefull face of Iesus Christ shine vpon thee a mercifull iudge be he vnto thee that thou maist haue sentence to sit for euermore amongst his Saints on his right hand thy dwelling be in peace and thy habitation in the heauenly Ierusalem for euermore farre bee it from thee euer to feele or know how horrible the darknesse how terrible the flames how intollerable the torments of hell are Sathan and all his hellish g 〈…〉 be confounded at thy presence and if he dare set vpon thee victory and triumph bee on thy side shame and trembling fall vpon him from the presence of Gods Angels and be hee banished into the blacke mists and confused Chaos of eternall darknesse But let the Lord arise and his enemies bee scattered and as the smoake vanisheth so let them flye away but let the iust bee exalted and reioyce in the presence of the Lord let the infernall legions not dare to touch thee nor all Sathans Hell-hounds presume to hinder thee and hee who disdained not to dye for thee bee hee thy Sauiour and deliuerer from all spirituall vexation Bee the gates of Paradice open vnto thee and thy Christ giue thee thy place and mansion in the same and hee that is the true Pastor and great Sheepheard of the sheepe acknowledge thée for one of his true sheep and receiue thee into his fold Iesus Christ absolue thee from all thy sinnes and place thee on his right hand among his elect that there thou mayst see thy Redeemer face to face and in the society of blessed soules maist enioy the comforts of heauenly contemplation and the blessed vision of God for euer and euer Amen W. C. Six signes according to S. Anselme vpon the which a man may â—est confident of his saluation 1 If he beleeue the articles of Chrian faith as many as are determined by the Church 2 If he reioyce to dye in the faith of Christ 3 If hee know that hee hath grieuously offended God 4 If he be hartely sorry for it 5 If he resolue to forsake his sinnes if God giue him life 6 If he hope and beleeue to come to eternall saluation not by his owne merits but by the merits of Iesus Christ. Then say to the sicke person If Sathan obiect any thing against thee oppose thou the merits of Christ betwixt thee and him And thus without all doubt he shall be saued Another Meditation against the feare of death for strength patience in that last houre Statutum est omnibus semel mori THe mettall and substance wherof we are made being but dust ashes slime corruption might alone without further motiue reason perswade vs that we are not euerlasting nor made for continuance what is man therefore O Lord that he should be proud or what are our bodies that we should so regard them the beauty delicasie whereof so much pampered and adorned so much accounted esteemed of so curiously carefully preserued kept must so suddenly discend to corruption amongst the wormes creepers of the earth and to rubble and ashes This mutation and dissolution of our bodies the separation and seuering of two antient Inne-mate-friends must needs as in the act so in the consideratioÌ„ therof strike a strange amazement in a weake and vnresolued Christian that truly vnderstands not what death is which is indeed to the godly and those that haue made a preparation thereunto the gate and passage to a better life the end of sorrow and a rest from labour yet O Lord consider the weakensse of our nature and helpe vs in that which euen thy blessed Saints Prophets and Apostles that knew thee in a measure aboue our knowledge that haue giuen rules and motiues and reasons against the â—eare thereof yet in the tryall and accomplishment thereof haue found the imbecility of flesh and nature repugnant against it and for the adding of a few lingring dayes of further cares and sorrowes some haue forsworne thee others haue wept vnto thee and all haue beene willing to stretch it out to the last minute and yet it is but a prolonging not a preseruing Ezechias may turne to the wall and weep and mourne like a Doue and pray for life yet at the last hee must render it vp O Lord giue vs therefore patience to part with it being no inheritance to vs but debt to thee beeing most certaine and assuredly perswaded that thou wilt one day restore it to his former nay fuller perfection lessen our loue toward the world and our selues and increase it towards thee and thy Kingdome Make this good Father the frequent thought and meditation of our hearts to thinke that wee must dye that it may
a thousand daggers at our hartes to launch and let forth that putrified corruption that returned such muddy chanâ—elles to thee the fountaine of liuing waters that but with so a high a price and deare expence could not be purified but now beeing thus purged and made cleane let vs be wary we pollute them not againe hauing receiued so pure a guest let vs not harbour with him the vncleane least to our euerlasting losse he take his flight and forsake vs when then our vncleane thoughts and cogitations which his presence expelled and kept a loofe of from vs retire themselues euery one accompanied with seauen worse then themselues and our end be worse then our beginning and so that become vnto vs the sauour of death vnto death which otherwayes had bene the sauour of life vnto life wherefore O Lord blesse vs at this time and this thy holy institution that by our vnworthinesse we turne not that to euill which was ordayned for our good make it O Lord the plaster to heale all our wounds the garment to couer our nakednes the spirituall and corporal bread to the stay of our bodies and soules let it be the cocke to remember our sins and the rocke to stay our soules vppon that we neuer fall from thée againe to that end so blesse vs most gratious God yâ— this thy sacrament now receyued may be to our euerlasting good and wellfare so conducting vs through this vale of misery with so godly a direction guide enuy contention and malice layed a side forgiuing the offences of our bretheren towards vs as we expect forgiuenesse at thy handes that so in a godly society in this world we may liue together in peace vntill we shall raigne with thee in glory which art the end of peace where we shall then behold thee with our bodily eyes as wee behold thee now with faith by the eye of the Spirit and see that body that was broken and bruised for our sinnes those hands that haue made vs and fed vs that head that was crowned now all glorified neuer to bee debaced more To which blessed vision fruition he bring vs that hath so ransomed vs for the glory of his sacred Name Amen A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father vsed by the reuerend and learned W. Musc and fit to bee vsed of all good Christians LET all true Christians say and acknowledge with one heart and mouth say also with them O my Soule say in this mortall body without this mortall body Glory Honour and Praise bee vnto thee most mercifull God throughout all ages and Generations of the world which hast not spared thine onely Sonne but offered him vp a bleeding Sacrifice for the sins of thy people giuen him to death euen to the death of the Crosse for most wretched mankind to that end that through him we might be saued and deliuered from distruction and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life graunt vnto vs by thy spirit that we may perfect and continue in this thy grace for euer and euer Amen Mart. Luthers Prayers COnferme in vs O God that which thou hast wrought and finish the worke thou hast begunne in vs to the glory of thy name and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy Visitation for thy mercies sake Amen Saint Aust O Deus omnium miserationum pater Abyssus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abyssum peccatorum meorum O Father of all goodnesse and mercy let the depth of thy mercy drye vp the depth of my sinnes A Prayer for a Woman with childe or in trauaile to bee said by those present with her O God most wise most iust the blessed Father of our blessed Lord and sauiour Christ Iesus creator preseruer and gouernor of all things next vnder thee vnder the subiection of man so largely intituled by thy loue extended by thy fauour created with so goodly and beautifull a perfection in the estate of Innocency that hee was the modell and figure liuely Image of thee the fountaine of all perfection and happinesse but through sinne is our image defaced our beauty and perfection darkened our whole disposition and purpose altered the earth made barren and cursed for our sake and we cursed in the curse by the sterility labour and manuring thereof that now denies the increase that before shee brought forth without the sweat and sorrow of the heart and browes of man And for yâ— woman a party in the sinne a party in the curse In paine and sorrow shalt thou bring forth And to the Serpent vpon thy belly shalt thou creepe and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life Yet to this woman O Lord as her present necessity requireth bee propitious neere vnto her let thy birth sweeten her sorrow that broke the head of the Serpent that was the cause of the breach of thy Commandement that hath sweetened the sorrowes of all mankinde Heare her O Lord and answere her fauourably and be not angry with thy seruant for presuming to cry vnto thee for the vncessant beating thine eares with her clamouâ—s for griefe compelleth her to speake and the misery shee indureth inforceth her to cry vnto thee haue mercy vpon her O fountaine of mercy and hearken to her agony that cryeth for thy helpe To her and all women with childe or in trauaile bee mercifull and giue them grace with patience to vndergoe and suffer the decree and pleasure of thy holy will let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy name suffer thy crosse contentedly which their owne originall sinne and wickednesse drew froÌ„ thy hands vnwillingly O Lord if her heauinesse induce for a night let her comfort come in yâ— morning for ioy that a child is borne into the world and to that end blessed God bee thou present and powerfull in the exigent and straite of her greatest extremity for as all thy works are wonderfull and past finding out as our soules know right well so are they not manifested in a shallow measure in the connexion creation and nourishment and preseruation of the infant in the wombe of the mother in the birth and bringing forth of their little limbes into the world all whole and perfect to the which if thy ayd and hand bee absent though all helpe beside in the world bee present they perish vndoubtedly both the one and the other Wherfore thou God of wonders and Father Almighty of heauen and earth as thou hast by the death of thine onely Sonne taken away the sinnes of the whole world and condemned sinne in the flesh so take away the anguish of Childe-birth brought forth by sin to all woman-kinde especially to this woman now in thy hands that shee may ioyfully bring forth that which by thy blessing shee hath happely conceiued that shee may bee to her Husbands and her owne comfort as the fruitfull viâ—e on the walles of his house and his children like the Oliue
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
finger of thy good spirit I am bold to speake beeing but dust ashes prostrated before the throne of thy maiesty hartely to beseech and humbly intreate thee that thou wilt not deale with mee according to my deserts for then O Lord where should I stand to plead my case fire and brimstone should bee my portion to drinke that haue drunke downe sinnne as Behemoth drinketh downe water but thou art gracious compassionate therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I seeke for refuge desiring thee to naile all my sinnes to thy crosse that through thy sufferings I may obtaine remission thereof I am a sinner yet redeemed by thy pretious bloud a sinner I am remember thou camest into the world to saue sinners wherof I am chiefe lost in a wildernesse of errours wandring from thy presence helpe me O Lord or else who can deliuer me saue mee O Lord or else I perish for there is no redemption no saluation without thee heare him O Lord that coÌ„demneth himselfe caleth vpon thee O Sauiour whom wilt thou saue if yâ— sinner shall descend to perdition that dispaireth of himselfe and trusteth in thee O blessed Sauiour and Redeemer of the world aswage my griefe heale my diseases thou hast called me when I like the deafe Adder would not heare thy voyce wilt thou then turne away thy face when my cryes come vnto thee wilt thou suffer that to bee lost which thou purchasest at so deere a prise No Lord for thy mercies sake for thine owne sake sweet Iesus Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it MErciful God and most louing father what may I render vnto thee for all thy benefits more in number then the moaths in the sunne or the sands by the sea-shore that hast made to be when I was not predestinated mee from yâ— beginning of the world to be in due time and season protected me in my mothers wombe carefully taken me out from thence euer since been my guardian to these years of my youth for all these thou requirest nought but thankfulnesse towards thee and remembrance of thee in my yonger yeares capacities and shall I neglect and deferre then to giue thee the gifts of thine owne giuing shall I giue the first of my life and best of mine yeares the strength and marrow of my dayes to the seruice of Sathan and think that thou wilt receiue me in my hoary age when sinne leaues me and I not it Good Lord wipe all such ingratitude out of my mind that I may with a present ioy felicity in thee imbrace thee in due time in some measure which hast done suffered so many things for my soule and body put farre from me O Lord the thoughts and imaginations of wicked men that vpon thy long suffering patience passe ouer their daies in mirth and iollity and thinke their latest yeares or last gaspes sufficient satisfaction for a lewd and long mis-spended life Thy father thy mother in the dayes of thy humanity loosing thee in the temple went but one dayes Iourney without thee but sought thee 3. dayes sorrowing before they found thee Hee yâ— hath lost thee many years must haue many yeares to finde thee againe and late and constrained repentance is seldome true repentance our time is not when wee our selues will but when God doth call heare wee must when he speaketh open we must when he knocketh else wee shall powre out our petitioÌ„s in vaine for when wee pray hee will not heare vs the first and best is his due more then we can giue or he expects and the last worst is not sufficient and hee iustly may and will reiect it Grant therefore mercifull Father that thy word may worke in vs so free and voluntary obedience to thy will that thou mayst accept it which in vs is willing subiection not by thy iudgements which is constrained obedience for feare of distruction which thou litle regardest O Lord take from me that common and dangerous sin of presumption presumption of thy mercies that thou desirest not the damnation of sinners that our yeares youth obseruation of diet curiosity of our health will carry vs to the lâ—st yeares of our expectation and when we draw neere to our end that then safely enough we may begin to thinke vpon thee all in due season And thus make presumption the rocke whereupon we shipwracke our soules and by the which many millions haue perished it drowned the old world it threw the rich glutton into hell Lord make my sence vnderstanding as a bulwark to beat back all the policies and assaults that Sathan can deuise to beat against with that engine that to day I may heare thy voice lest thou harden my heart And if I will deferre vpon hope and example make me that I rather feare the portion of the bad Thiefe then the successe of the good and let me not reâ—use thy grace in my health wheÌ„ thou offerest it lest when I shall craue it in my sicknesse thou refuse to giue it mee Touch mee O Lord with a consideration of the danger thereof that in time I may haue grace to call for thy grace to preuent it that I may now amend and not deferre till hereafter to the end to my death when there is no remedy but either I must to heauen or to hell to God or to the deuill and when that comfort is seldome found which presumptuously was imagined when the memory presentes fantasies and dreames the harte akes the handes tremblâ— the tongue faltereth the eyes wax dim checkes pale lips blacke feet weake and the whole body and soule possessed with anguish and griefe and terrour what repentance shall we then make when our sinnes are so great they ouer-presse vs our comfort so small that we haue noe feeling of it our time so short that we cannot thinke of them our friends weeping that they put vs out of them amasement distraction peeping wildly throughout all our sences miserable is that man in this case whose end and repentance comes so neare together-therefore Lord whatsoeuer at the time of my death I would wish to haue done grant that in this time of my health I may doe it and Lord make me vnderstaÌ„ding capable so wise in my generation so gratious in thy grace that foreknowing these things I may preuent them that with the wise virgines I may euer haue the oyle in my lampe that is bee in readinesse to goe with thee whensoeuer it please thee that now I heare thy voice when thou speakest vnto me be acquainted with thee that thou bee no stranger vnto me but a friend and a friend indeed as at all times so especially at this exigent last extremity which how long it may be I will not presume nor how short it may be dispaire but prepare my selfe against it my readinesse being my resolution that whensoeuer it
shall come it shall the lesse affright mee in that before I haue set my house in order and disposed my selfe thereto which preparation that I may make and successe that I may find graunt me Lord though so many neclect it for thy mercies sake AmeÌ„ A prayer and meditation for a strong faith and against that dangerous sinne of desperation THough our sinnes were as red as scarlet thy bloud O Lord will wash them as white as snow though in sin we haue bene borne and in iniquity our mothers haue conceyued vs yet will we trust in thy louing kindnesse all the dayes of our life if wee should trust in our owne merits desperatioÌ„ would inuiron vs on euery side yet Lord when we consider the multitude of our sinnes and that euery day of our life we adde to there number so that all the water in the Ocean-sea cannot rince vs from them for the least of which in thy iustice thou mâ—yst throw vs downe to the bottomlesse pit of hell our faith faultereth and we begin to dispayre but that we trust in the merits of his suffering who in the bundle of his afliction hath gert vp ours and will eyther nayle them to his crosse or cast them into the bottome of the sea and hang millstones about there neckes yâ— they shal neuer rise vp in iudgement to condemne vs yâ— else would neuer suffer vs to rise vp to be saued Lord giue vs grace to be wary to our steps vigilant to our pathes to haue an eye to our soules for Sathan compasseth the earth watcheth and roreth and walketh transformeth himselfe into all shapes that he may win vs in all sins into an Angell of light being but a fiend of darkenesse to sift and winnowe vs as wheat graine after graine that if it were possible he might surprise vs good God what need haue we of thy assistance and grace to beare vâ— out that haue such enemies without such enemies within the weakest whereof is stronger then we so that we need the prayers of our owne spirits and the spirit of God that groâ—eth with gronings not to be expressed and of the sonne of God himselfe who sitteth at his fathers right hand and maketh intercession for vs that our faith fayle not and that we fall not into desperation for alasse what ability haue we of our selues or what strength haue wee in our sinnâ—wes who are not as pillers of brasse or the deafe rockes of the sea against the which there waues dash themselues and they are not shaken being substances so firme vâ—alterable that cannot be remoued but dust and ashes crackt with euery flaw and blast of affliction and vnlesse thou support vs we are not able to stand and there is no safty but vnder the winges of thy mercy we haue sinned against heauen and against thee the father of our spirits the father of our flesh against him yâ— gaue vs his law and he that gaue our nature birth and being by our misdeedes and abominations both the tables haue we broken and done very wickedly in thy sight all the creatures in the world haue in there kind and degree bene more dutifull and seruiceable vnto thee then man so much beloued of thee made according to thine owne image indued with reason directed by thy law and thy preceptes auering thus offended men and bretheren what shall we doe all the creatures in heauen earth accusing and condemning vs the Lord himselfe complayning against vs I haue norished and brought forth children and they haue rebelled against mee what shall wee say that our sins are greater then can be forgiuen no let vs with Dauid though our faith haue almost failed and our feet slided with his yet let vs with him recouer out-selues againe by laying hold vpon thy promises support vs O Lord where thy Angels fell Caine Iudas Achitophell for they dispayred in thy mercies and there fall was iâ— recouerable euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell from whence there is no deliuery but we will trust in thy mercies and louing kindnes all the days we liue in and kisse the son least he be angry and o turne away the fauour light of his countenance from vs and least his wrath be kindled against vs his fierce and furious wrath which O Lord who is able to abide the extent and copiousnesse whereof is as his mercies are vnexplicable and therein sueth an abundance of misery with a traine and coniunction of all plagues and punishments out of the ready stâ—re-house of the restrayned inundations of his wrath that let at liberty range in an open feild and there is none to resist them we are all by nature the children of wrath borne to the inheritance thereof as to our fathers landes for nothing remayneth so hereditary to vs as sinne and confusion but yâ— the bloud of Christ hath purchased fauour for vs Lord giue vs grace to continue it in keeping a wary conscience to offend and walking carefully in thy feare but for such O Lord that are allready condemned that runne on in an endlesse labyrâ—nth of sinne the race to distruction without turning vnto thee drawing the vnhappy breath which if it had neuer ben breathed into there nostrills whereby they were made liuing creatures it had bene wel with them without repenting heaping vp anger against the day of wrath not caring to blunt the edge thereof there end is the end of the sentence and they are sure to perish not in the life of the body alone but in the life and eternity of there soules not for an age and a period of time but whilst God raigneth in heauen able to doe iustice to auoid which greuious plagues and punishments giue vs grace O Lord suddainly to turne vnto the whilst the time of grace remayneth least the graue open her mouth and shâ—t it againe vpon vs and close vs vp in our sinnes and deliuer vs guilty into the hands of perdition from the which wee shall neuer bee freed Let vs quench this wrath in time with the bloud of the Lambe staine from the beginning of the world and through the streame of his mercy and the riches of his merits seeke acceptance acquaintance and friendship with our God that wee perish not let vs not despaire in our sins nor presume on his merits too much but lay hold theron by faith so applying the benefite of thy passion and merites to our selues and our soules that wee may finde fauour and bee acceptable in thy sight Thy mercy O Lord is the crowne of all thy workes and my sinnes though they were more then I can commit are not more then thou canst forgiue the assurance of this promise and the probation of thy goodnes euermore shall be the rocke whereupon my faith shall anker I will sayle my brittle barke throughout this sea of vncertainty temptation and danger thou being the starre of my direction throughout yâ— waues and surges thereof that sometimes lift mee vp