redéemer and Iudge And thou O my soule as often as thou sinnest so often by faith and repentance be thou renewed Take hold by faith on Gods grace acknowledge the loue of Daily repentance Christ embrace the comfort of the holy spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance whereby it will come to passe that thou comming with confidence vnto the Throne of Gods grace shalt finde comfort against temptations in due season Through Iesus Christ c. Amen Prayers framed to the Argument of the fourth Member Proceede further to attaine Righteousnesse The fourth Member and Vertue O Almightie God and most mercifull Gods long suffering father I acknowledge thy infinite grace and mercie towardes me who hast bene hetherto so patient and long suffering towards me that thou hast not onely endured me hauing all my life long prouoked thée by my many and great sinnes but also hast now at the last preuented me by thy grace that I might come to the knowledge of my sinnes and turne from them and returne vnto thée by hartie repentance and deniall of vnrighteousnesse So that I séeme in some sort to haue procéeded in forsaking the loue of my selfe In moderating my carnall desires In mortifying the Affections of my mind In rooting out euill habites But because I must not stay here but from the deniall of vnrighteousnesse I Grace to proceede mâ—st procéede further to the attaining of righteousnesse which I cannot doe except thou O Lord doe giue grace and power therefore I come vnto thee O Lord beseeching thée to giue me grace both to attaine to vertues and to kéepe them being attained And because they be best both attained and kéept by frequent vse of godly prayer By an ardent loue of vertue and by continuall exercise Giue me grace O Lord neuer to faint Meanes in prayer with hartie affection to embrace vertue and not to hide my Talent but that occupying with the same I may make a good account to thée thereof And that I may grow from vertue to A purpose to perseuere vertue Grant that I may haue a firme will and purpose not onely to enter but also to perseuere in well doing that no storme of temptation may remoue mée that being in loue with vertues I may chéerefully doe the offices due to her yet not for any other respect than for thy glory Alwaies beholding our Maister Iesus Christ as the perfect patterne of life and death Amen We must begin at Iustice O Almightie and most mercifull father A prayer to attaine Iustice who art iust in all thy waies and holy in all thy workes I acknowledge that I am infinite waies bound vnto thée for thine vnspeakable benefits which I can no way recompence but by glorifying thée according to the rule of Iustice which thou hast prescribed to vs that as thou art iust so should we be iust also By giuing to euery one that which is due to them To thée that which is due to thée To men that which is due to men Giue me grace therefore O Lord to worship thee according to the prescript 1. Towards God rule of thy word that is to call vpon thy name with a true affection of heart and a liuely faith To submit my selfe obediently to thy Maiestie In a true feare of thy iudgements auoiding effences And in an earnest loue of thy promises embracing thy mercies To rest vpon thee by a firme hope and constant trust To testifie my thankfulnes by a chéerefull obedience of thy will Neuer to be ashamed of thy truth but to professe it constantly To endure the crosse with an inuincible courage Looking for that blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God euen thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O Almightie God and merciful father 2. Towards our selues thou hast allowed vs to loue our selues to haue a moderate care of our selues by maintaining those good things which thou eitheir in soule or body hast bestowed on vs. Giue me grace therefore to be chiefly 1. The soule careful for the good of my soule by repairing reforming both the superiour and inferiour faculties of my soule Grant me grace therefore O Lord to Superior faculties The mind Wisdome apply my mind to the knowledge of Diuine humane things which either may further me to the life celestiall or make me profitable to humane felicitie Which is wisedome Graunt me Prudence to choose that Prudence which is verily good and to refuse that which is verily euill to marke what is to be desired and what is to be shunned Graunt me discretion which is the coÌ„panion DescretioÌ„ of true Prudence that I may discerne truth from falsehood certainties from vncertainties that which is profitable from that which is vnprofitable that which is seasonable from that which is vnseasonable things honest from vnhonest things pleasant from vnpleapleasant and to conclude good from euill And among these what is moore or lesse good what is conuenient for time place and persons Giue me grace O Lord to remoue all The conscience impediments whereby my conscience may be wounded and grieued which are onely my sinnes which bring sorrow and inflict wounds Graunt that I may so restraine my conscience Knowledge of the law by the knowledge of thy law and awe of thy iudgements that I may not dare any thing contrary to thy will And if my conscience chaunce to be A remedie wounded that I may spéedily seeke my remedie which onely is the redemption by the bleed of Iesus Christ apprehended by a true and liuely faith whereby our consciences are secured before thee if therewithall we abstaine from our sins and serue thée with a pure minde Giue me grace O Lord to will nothing but that which is agréeable to thy will reuealed in thy word that cleauing onely thereunto I may both will and doe those things which are good and acceptable to thée which grace we obtaine by the assistance of thy holy spirit who worketh in all men the power both to will and to performe according to thy frée grace Through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen Giue me grace also O Lord to rule Inferiour faculties The Irascible part the inferiour faculties of my soule Anger and Lust And that I may moderate Anger graunt me fortitude whereby my soule may bée strengthned stirred vp and armed to endure labour and danger yea of death for Christs sake with a good courage that I may bee able to moderate and subdue my affections and not bee subdued of them That I may despise worldly honour and seeke the glory of God and eternall felicitie that I may patiently beare all troubles and aduersities and crosses which cannot with godlinesse and honestie be auoided Graunt mée constancie that I may perseuere in honest and godly purposes Constancie retaining one tenure of minde will that I be not puffed vp in prosperitie nor cast downe in
coÌ„mitted or at the least way declineth froÌ„ it and chooseth hereafter the good that is to be done or enclineth to it In the hart the change is thus wrought 3 In the hart The hart hateth and detesteth the euill hitherto done and loueth and pursueth the good hereafter to be done Cease therefore to doe euill and learne CoÌ„clusion Esai 1. psal 34. Rom. 13. or else study to do well or depart from euil and doe good Item Cast away the works of darknes and put on the armour of light Item Walke in the spirit and fulfill not the lusts of the flesh Item Put yee one the Lord Iesus Christ and make not prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And Christ himselfe saieth deny thy selfe and take vpp thy Crosse and follow me Beginne therefore being turned from euill and returned to good to bring forth Fruits of CoÌ„uersion fruites worthy of amendment of life and apply thy selfe to the study of holinesse or new obedience 1 Thou art bound as a creature to the Obligations between God us Creator I wish thee often to pay the debt of gratitude 2 Thou art bound as a seruaÌ„t to his lord If I be your Lord where is my feare 3 Thou art bound as a childe to his Father thou art a child by creation and regeneration reuerence therefore Almightye God as thy best Father 4 Thou art bound as a client to thy benefactor the benefits of God towards thée are exceeding great therefore exceeding great thankes are due to him What fruites Beginne therefore to shew thy good life and obedience to God in louing God and thy neighbour 1 The loue of God is conceaued in thée by the knowledge and consideration of The loue of God the fatherly affection of God towards thee It is brought forth by a confidence in Christ it groweth by the spirit of faith it is strengthned by the cogitation of the heape of Gods benefits both corporal and spirituall it appeareth in our obedience vnder the Crosse and holinesse of life 2 The loue of our neighbour is brought forth and maintained by the loue of God The loue of our neighbour 1 Iohn by the commandement of God by the bonde of nature and grace Hee that sayeth he loueth God and yet hateth his Brother is a lyar and the loue of God is not in him But beginne the holy study of eyther loue to testifie that thou art turned from The end of godlines sinne and returned to God that thou hast renounced Satan that thou hast submitted thy selfe to God that thou art a companion of the most chaste spirits in heauen That thou art a fellow of all that feare gods name on earth That thou art the Temple of the holy Ghost wherein whole burnt Offringes and incense is offred and the hornes of the Alter are decked with boughs flowers of obedience Beginne to day deferre not make no long Dangers of delay Vncerteinty of life delayes for feare of these dangers insuing 1 Meditate with thy selfe the vncertaintie of thy life Surely thou must watch and pray for thou knowst not either the day or hower wherein the Lord will come take heede thou be not ouertaken by gods iudgement at vnawares Heaping of sinne is tresuring of wrath Rom 2. 2 Know thou the by dangerous delay the tresure of many sins of gods wrath grieuous punishments is gathered together Thou by thy hardnes and hart that cannot repent doste treasure vp to thy selfe wrath against the daye of wrath and declaration of the iudgement of God The angels griefe Luke 15 3 Be thou affraid to offend the holy Angels who verily reioyce at the repentance of sinners eueÌ„ as doubtles they sorrow at their securitie in heaping sinne vpon sinne Induration by alienatioÌ„ from God 4 Call to mind the dangerous alienation from God which is procured by daily encrease of sin way moreouer with a secret â— serious coÌ„sideration in thy soule the induration that wil follow for the longer thou deferrest thy conuersion the harder it will be A young man walking after his owne way when he is olde will not depart Prouerb 22 from it Thou knowest thy saying Late repentance is seldome true Repentance 5 As much as in thée lieth take héed of an An euill Conscience euill conscience which custome and continuance in sinne doth breed and nourish There is no greefe bitterer then a gnawing Conscience 6 The longer thou stickest in thine old DepriuatioÌ„ of Grace sinne the longer thou art depriued of the sweet ioy of the holy ghost and spirituall consolations 7 Thou shalt encrease the ioy and Satans Ioye pleasure of Satan thy enemie by drawing after thee along corde of inueterate or old grâ—wen sinnes Thinke it a true saying Sinnes are the delights and dainties of the Diuell Examples Tragicall 8 Finally view the Tragicall endes of all such as haue euer drawne along the day of there Conuersion Call to remembrance the horrible destruction of the olde world the Sodomites Egiptians Iewes The Churches of the East and other that were impenitent Be not flack Syrach therfore turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day thy conuersion for sodenly shall his wrath come and in the time of vengeance he will Ierom. to Cilantius destroy thee Too long custome of sin makes the way of vertue rough and vnpleasant After any vice saith Bernard is confirmed Bernard by many yeares custome a particular and as it were a miraculous assistance of Gods grace as needfull for the ouercoÌ„ming and rooting out thereof A question to a secure sinner Both waies catching The same Bernard saith Thou that makest so vnequal a reckoning w e thy selfe perseuering in thy euil vngodly life tell me Doest thou belieue that the Lord thy God will pardon thy sinnes or doest thou not beleeue If thou beleeue that thou shalt finde no place for pardon what greater folly can there be then to sinne without hope of pardon But if thou thinke that hee is good gentle and mercifull who although he haue bin offended yet he is readie alwaies to pardon thy sinnes Tell me I pray thee what greater frowardnesse can there be then to take occasion to offend him the more whom there is cause thou shouldest loue the more And S. Augustine we must preuent Augustin the day which is wont to preuent vs. And the same He that is first forsaken of his sinnes before he himselfe doe forsake them is not freely condemned but as it were of necessitie late repentance deceiueth many And Ambros Not to sin is onely proper to God Ambrose but it is the part of a wise man to amend and correct his error and to repent him of his sinne And Cassiodorus A mischiefe the longer it continueth the more it encreaseth but a speedy correction of sinne is a curable good And Saint Augustin Though God haue promised pardoÌ„
the person that offendeth is more famous by so much is the blot that he is stained with by offending more shamefull 3. Thinke seriously that euery sinne bée it neuer so little is an impediment to him that goeth forward in the way of saluation especially if it bée nowe growne to an habite or custome whereto little sinnes doe make a way If it hinder being once or twice committed what will it doe thinke you when by daily custome it is confirmed for euery euill is easily suppressed in the first springing but not when it is waxen olde Wee must therefore withstand the beginnings For though such sinnes be thought to be as thornes To withstand beginnings A Similie which when they bee young pricke gently yet when they are growne more stubborne sticke faster and wound sorer so that though they kill not the inner man yet they pearce him through to the quicke and weaken him and make him to halt ilfauouredly in the way of life Let thy first care bee therefore to ouerthrowe small sinnes 2. Next let vs endeuour to shun plucke vp and cast away greater sinnes euen Greater sinnes to be auoided wicked affections which by custome are growne to an habite which are fourefold 1. Immoderate selfe-loue which is carnall must be cast off 2. Carnal appetites and concupiscences must be tamed Euilles fourefold 3. Vnbridled affections and perturbations must be refrained 4. Wicked habites must bee pulled vp by the rootes 1. Concerning self-selfe-loue The loue of our selues being carnall self-Selfe-loue aboue all to be mortified and immoderate must bee denied and mortified The height of the deniall of our selues is the mortification of the peruerse loue of our selues Which passing through all other vices doth giue as it were a spirit and life vnto them and therefore hath the preheminence aboue all other vices Bernard Whereupon Bernard There is a carnall loue whereby a Hom. 4. man loueth himselfe for himselfe aboue all things whiles yet he sauoureth nothing but himselfe And S. Augustine in Ezech. The peruerse loue of our selues depriueth the swelling spirit of the holy Lib. 11. De Gen. ad Lit. societie and wrappeth him in miserie now longing to be satisfied with iniquitie The contrary to it is Charitie which seeketh not her owne that is reioyceth not in her priuate excellencie and therfore worthily is not puffed vp And the same Two loues made two Cities Lib. 14 de Ciuit. to wit the loue of our selues the earthly Citie to the contempt of God The loue of God the heauenly Citie to the contempt of our selues The carnal loue therefore of our selues Why to be mortified is to be mortified because it doth not onely defile the action but also peruerteth it and bendeth it to thy selfe so that it causeth that although thou séeme to thy selfe to doe that thou doest for Gods cause yet indeede not respecting God but thy selfe thou séekest nothing in thy purpose but onely thy selfe Conuert therefore thy whole studie and care to an earnest deniall of thine owne carnall loue for no small heate How to mortifie it will serue to dry vp so great a fountaine of euils Oppose against the head of all wickednesse the mother of all vertues Charitie that thou who didst perish by louing thy self maist reuiue by denying thy selfe For man saith Augustine who perisheth by louing himselfe recouereth by denying himselfe The force of this abnegation or renouncing Fiue heades of our selues is by Saint Basill reduced to fiue heades First to renounce our riches possessions and all our worldly goods Secondly our parents kindred and worldly friendes Thirdly all our carnall and earthly affections Fourthly our owne honour and glory Fifthly euen the loue of our life and that for the loue of God and Iesus Christ This doe therefore Be thou vpright What is to be done He is vpright saith Gregory who is not cast downe in aduersitie who is not inclined to carnalitie who is wholely lifted vp to heauenly things who is wholy subiected to Gods will Direct all thy doings to God and by loue to enioy God who is alwaies present As much as thou maiest endeuour to be vnited and likened to God that thou séeke onely and affect his honour his will and his good liking both in prosperitie and aduersitie So shalt thou be happie 2. Concerning carnall lusts and appetities The inclinations to euill to wit carnal lusts and appetites must be tamed For we are by nature more prone to euill than to good The thoughts of mans hart are prone to euil frō his youth yea Generall inclinatiō to euill Gen. 6. 7. Rom. 7. al the cogitatiōs of his hart are inclined to euill at all times In our flesh dwelleth no good but sinne which maketh that we vnderstand not what wee doe and that we doe not the good that wee would but the euill that we hate For the law of our members in vs resisteth the lawe of our mind and captiueth vs to the lawe of sinne There are also certaine inclinations which followe the nature of particular Spciall inclinations persons and the constitution of certaine bodies And there are which by custome are engendred by some habite gotten O how vnhappie doth a man that is going forward feele himselfe by being hindred by these inclinations and lustes and howe great a labour is it to subdue them 1. But thou O man take a good courage and striue by Gods helpe to goe forward Meanes to tame them as thou hast begun in the way of godlinesse The continual exercise of godlinesse auaileth much in this case Concupiscence saith S. Augustine is daily diminished in those that profit and are continent That therefore thou maist restraine euil inclinations either common or proper exercise thy selfe in those vertues which are most contrary to them And to represse lust containe 2. With great vehemencie resist the inclinations of lust and the first motions Withstand beginnings Rom. 6. thereof striue repunge consent not goe not after thy lusts Let not sinne raigne in thy mortall body to obey the lustes thereof Let thy humble and feruent prayer to God breake the force thereof when it ariseth 3. When the motions of those appetites arise let not thy heart be moued but continue immoueable in thine aduised purpose to please God as if those perturbations were altogether without thee neither didst thou worke any thing in them but rather didst suffer According to Bernard Now peraduenture I doe not these things but suffer of them they are done in me but they are not done by me if I doe not consent I may call them mine not because I doe them but because I suffer them 4. Search diligently to what euil thou How to discerne inclinations art inclined that thou maiest méete with them and strangle them as enemies Marke the constitution of thy body whereof followeth the inclination Wilt thou knowe saith Fulgentius Fulgentius what thou louest marke what
God giuinge him such humilitie as is due to him Submit and subiect thy selfe reuerently to the Maiestie of God both in mind and body and confesse thy selfe vnworthy of his benefits Thou shalt be humbled to God ward if thou consider him to be thy Creator thou his creature Him to be immortall and thy selfe mortall Him to be the Lord and thou his seruant Him to be the best and thy selfe the worst Humble your selues saith S. Peter vnder the mightie 1. Pet. 5. hand of God and hee will exalt you in due season Say with Iacob the Patriarch Lord I am lesse or vnworthy of all the benefits and truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruants Gen. 32. This humilitie will bréede in thée an obedience towards God for it is not enough ObedieÌ„ce to knowe the will of God except thou doe obey him and endeuour to put in practise the commandements of God which thou hast learned He that doth the will of God endureth for euer And 1 Ioh. 2. if ye know these things saith our Sauiour happie are ye if ye doe them Not Ioh. 13. euerie one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome Mat. 7. of heauen but hee that doth the will of my father who is in heauen euen hee shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen Yéelde vnto God a due feare acknowledging Feare the mercy and Iustice of God Feare to offend God whom to offend is the chiefe euill Conceiue a terror of sinne and the punisher thereof and yet so feare God as that thou loue him as a child doth his father for we must both feare God as our Lord and loue him as our father The Lord hath a delight Psal 147. Psal 112. in them that feare him and yet put their trust in his mercie Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and hath great delight in his commandements Yet haue ye not receiued the spirit of Rom. 8. bondage to feare vz. such a feare as cannot stand with the loue of God 1 Ioh. 4. Render therefore to God the loue that Loue. is due vnto him that is In acknowledging the goodnesse and loue of God towards thy selfe loue thou God againe aboue all things Loue the Lord your Esay 28. God and serue him with all your hart and with all your minde He that loueth father or mother more than me saith Christ is not worthie of me 6. The loue of God is verie diligent in working This is the loue of God that ye keepe his commaundements 1. This loue doth vnite the louer and 1. Ioh. 5 The properties of the loue of God the thing loued so that we say with Dauid Like as the heart desireth the fountaines of water so longeth my soule after thee o my God It bringeth a mutual coniunction with it for God is loue and he that abideth in loue abideth 1. Ioh. 4. in God It so rauisheth a man with the loue of God that forgetting himselfe bee séeketh not his owne but the things that are Iesus Christs 2. This loue maketh vs coÌ„tinuallie to cast the eyes of our mind vpon God Man by loue setteth his affection vpon God because the minde thinketh on nothing else this loue is strong as death it ouercomes all things and is ouercome of nothing 3. It so féedeth the minde that it is neuer satisfied it neuer thinketh or séeketh anie thing but God and him the more it findeth the more it wisheth Viewe the creatures all are yours saith the Apostle viewe thy selfe thou art Christs viewe Christ hée is Gods So by loue thou ascendest to God Fixe thy hope vpon thy God as is meete calling to minde his loue and Hope truth in thinges past and expect with patience his presence and helpe for things to come Cast thy care vpon God and hope in Psal 37. him and hee will bring the matter to passe Item Tarrie the Lords leisure Psal 147 be of good courage expect the Lord and hee shall comfort your heart The Lord hath a pleasure in them that put their trust in his mercie Hope confoundeth not But hope Obiects of our hope thou from God such things as fall vnder a Christian hope to wit eternall happinesse all things that are necessarie and profitable to further vs in the attaining of that blessed felicitie hope for Gods Mercie with his effectual blessing in all things and that by thy Sauiour Christ Iesus Yea hope manie times contrary to hope and striue against the spirit of distrust and desperation And hope thou strongly constantly chéerefully Rest thy confidence vpon God as thou Confidence art bound Acknowledging the power and mercie of thy God and firmely repose thy selfe therein against whatsoeuer dangers happen Blessed is he saith Ieremie that trusteth in God and Ierem. 17 whose confidence is in the Lord. And the sonne of Syrach In all thy Syrach 33 actions put thy trust in God for so shalt thou also fulfill his commaundements 2. Bee thou also religious towardes God giuing him due worship In adoring AdoratioÌ„ or Inuocation of God him and calling vpon his name Call vpon him religiously acknowledging him to haue all power all knowledge and to bée present euery where But call thou vpon God with a present intention of minde with an Rules of Inuocation acknowledging of thine owne vnworthinesse with a true affection of heart with a desire of Gods blessinges submitting thy will to Gods will with hartie repentance with a consideration of Gods commandements with a meditation of the diuine promises with assured faith to be heard with confidence in Christ the Mediator These things being thus prepared intreate the mercie and fauour of God both to obtaine things necessarie for soule and body and to turne away all euill Now the best forme of prayer for euery Christian man is the Lordes praier taught by the sonne of God to his Disciples containing all things briefly which are to be praied for When néede requires giue God the A religious oath honor of a religious oath and call God himselfe to be a witnes of thy spéech as the onely searcher of the heart and if thou doe wittingly deceiue or lye â—et him reuenge the lye or deceit Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and shalt sweare by Deut. 6. his name Thou owest vnto thy God a reuerend Gratitude thankfulnes waie therefore Gods benefits with an admiration and ioy rehearse them commend them celebrate them extol them Acknowledge all good things as receiued from him onely both spirituall and corporall and therefore giue him only the glorie Say with the Psalmist I will praise the Lord at all times his Psal 34. praise shall alwaies bee in my mouth Offer vnto God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing and say Praise the Lord ô my Psal 103. soule and forget not all his benefits Be not thou either ashamed or wearie Exercise of the word
priuate Psal 1. or cloyed with the word of truth exercise thy selfe rather in the word of God by reading meditating talking and conferring with other Let thy delight bee in the law of the Lord meditate therein both day and night let the word of Colloss 2 Christ dwell in thee plentifully in all wisedome teaching and exhorting one another Apply thy reading 1. Tim. 4. Being asked a reason of thy faith at any conuenient time or otherwise being prouoked defend Gods truth out of the holy Scriptures and be not ashamed to confesse it Be readie saith Saint Peter 1. Pet. 3. alwaies to giue an answere to euery one that asketh a reason of the hope that is in you for euery one that confesseth me before men him will I saith Matt. 10. Christ confesse before my father who is in heauen Be not slacke to serue God in publique Exercise of religion publique exercises of Religion At appointed times but especially on the Saboath repaire to the Church where the Christian Congregation is assembled in vnitie of minde forsake not such méetings neither despise thou the communion of Saints but attend the word of God as it is méete vse the Sacraments and pray deuoutly with the Saints Let vs not Heb. 10. forsake the mutuall assemblies saith the Apostle as is the the manner of some Doe all to the glory of God Let all things be done to edifying 1. Cor. 10. 14. Ecclesiasticall rites Moreouer obserue the publique Ecclesiasticall rites attending on Religion that all things may be done decently and in order in conuenient time and place 3. Whatsoeuer crosse it pleaseth God Patience vnder the Crosse to lay vpon thée thou oughtest to beare it patiently for this is our dutie to God Carry therefore the crosse wherewith God doth try thée his child or chastice thée in this vale of teares carry it I say with patience stoutly and with an inuincible Rom. 12. Prou. 3. Heb. 12. mind Be patient in afflictions My sonne saith Saloman refuse not thou the chastening of the Lord neither grudge when thou art reproued of him For whom the Lord loueth he chasteneth c. God doth chastice thée lest thou shouldest Vses of the crosse thinke thy selfe without all fault Hée would haue thée more more to returne to him to cast off sinne and to imbrace vertue that the old man might be crucified and the newe-man reuiued Hée would haue thée to preuēt further lapses and not to rush into securitie He would also staie other from wickednes by punishing thée and that they might spedily returne to good Moreouer the seruant and disciple must be conformed to his Lord master Christ is our Lord and master with whom we must suffer if we will raigne with him God trieth thy faith thy hope thy obedience thy patience thy feruencie in praier He will haue his power and mercie to appeare in strengthning deliuering thée He would make thée wearie of this earthly life to be stirred vp with a desire of thy heauenly loue Therefore beare that is to be borne patience will haue the victorie Be constant in faith and yéeld to God the obedience of thy faith Persist in this Constancie religious worship of God by perseuering vnto the last breath of thy life in a liuely faith and loue of God neither doe thou suffer any thing either prosperous or aduerse to remoue thee from that heauenly truth or godlinesse which thou hast learned Be faithfull vnto death saith the Apoc. 2. Mat. 10. spirit and I will giue thee the Crowne of life for hee that perseuereth vnto the end shall be saued 2. Concerning mans due Iustice giueth to euery man his due man must giue first vnto himselfe that which is due to himselfe And next to his neighbour that which is due to his neighbour Giue to thy selfe that which is due to thy selfe Thou oughtest to loue thy selfe To thy selfe thou owest loue and not to hate thy selfe but this loue must be holy and moderate that knowing thy selfe by the helpe of Gods grace thou maiest frame thy selfe to an holines and righteousnes conformable to the Lawe of God Thou shalt loue thy Rom. 13. Eph. 5. neighbour as thy selfe And neuer yet did any man hate his owne flesh yea he nourisheth and cherisheth it euen as the Lord doth the congregation Auselme saith Iustice is a libertie of the minde giuing What iustice is to euery man his proper right to our Superiour reuerence to our Equal concord to our Inferiour discipline to God obedience to our selues holines to our enemie patience to the needie mercie And a man becomming iudge of himselfe must search himselfe without partialitie Enter therefore into thy selfe Dwell with thy selfe and seeke not thy selfe without thy selfe And as Plautus saith Euer perswade thy selfe it is best that thou thy selfe be best if thou cannot attaine to that yet at the last that thou maist bee next the best First therefore thou owest to thy selfe The knowledge of our selues 1. Cor. 11 and 13. the knowledge of thy selfe Surely it is a very hard matter to knowe our selues but heare thou the Apostle who saith Let euery man examine himselfe Item examine your selues whether ye be in the faith Heare other wise Christians as Ayapetus for one We must first learne this diuine precept that euery one knowe him selfe for hee that knoweth himselfe knoweth God He that knoweth God shall become like to God but he that shall become like to God must be worthy of God hee becomes worthy of God who cōmitteth Acceptable to God nothing vnworthy of him but thinketh on diuine things and speaketh what he thinketh and doth what he speaketh Chrysostome saith It is the part of a wise man first to knowe himselfe to viewe what hee himselfe is what is beneath him what is within him what is aboue him what is ouer against him what before him what behind him For this consideration hath a fourefold fruite Our own commoditie our neighbours charitie the worlds contempt and the loue of God And Bernard saith No man is saued without the knowledge of himselfe out of which riseth humilitie the mother of saluation and the feare of God which as it is the entrance to wisedome so is it the entrance to saluation Beeing knowne to thy selfe Care of our selues thou owest of good right to thy selfe a diligent care of thy selfe concerning integritie holinesse to the composing and decking of thy selfe Now thou shalt frame thy selfe to integritie and holinesse if thou studie to vse and order aright the things which God hath committed to thée Whether they be Inward or Outward First therefore when thou knowest Care of goods Of the minde thy selfe reforme all the inward goods of thy minde and body to a rightnes pleasing God Iustice therefore yéelding thy selfe thy right commandeth thée aboue all things to be carefull in enforming rightly and repairing the faculties of thy
the spirit doth dispose to great sinnes and hinder encrease of graces doth spoile vs of spirituall gifts and depriue vs of glory c. Graunt me grace O Lord to withstand the first motions of sinne and diligently to examine euery corner of my heart and by spéedy repentance and faith to purge euery sinne séeme it neuer so small that I may not onely cut off all occasions of sinne but also pul it vp by the root through Iesus Christ Notwithstanding O mercifull father forasmuch as through thy long suffering Care of grieuous sinnes thou dost not onely as it were winke at our lesser sinnes but art also wont through thy mercie to pardon our more grieuous sins so that though they be as purple or scarlet by repentance they become as woole or snowe Graunt me grace so to profit in the way of godlinesse that I may daily more and more deny my selfe By mortifying the loue of my selfe By taming the appetites of the flesh By refraining the affections of the minde or will But especially in rooting out all wicked habites Both in the Superiour and Inferior faculties of our soule Mortifie O Lord in my vnderstanding Wicked habites in the vnderstanding Curiositie Rashnes the vice of curiositie whereby I am too curious to search those things which excéede my capacitie or which appertaine nothing vnto me The vice of rashnesse whereby I presume to iudge of other mens liues and manners besides the rule of charitie either by vncertaine and doubtfull coniectures or else by enuious or malicious rumors The vice of pertinacie whereby I doe stand so stifly in my Pertinacy presumed opinion that I will admit no mans counsel or perswasion aboue mine owne Frée my vnderstanding O Lord from Cogitations all ydle worldly vncleane and curious cogitations in stead whereof giue me grace that necessarie spirituall holy and profitable cogitations may occupie my minde That I may contemplate heauenly things laying a foundation for the time to come that I may obtaine eternall life Mortifie O Lord in my will whatsoeuer The will is repugnant to thy wil that I may neither wil nor desire any thing but that which is agréeable to thy will reuealed in thy word and is acceptable to thée And because in the inferiour faculties Wicked habites in the appetites of our soules in our appetites and senses many wicked habites doe preuaile which without a mightie force of the spirit cannot be subdued As Gluttony and Drunkennesse Luxurie Auarice Enuie Anger Pride Slothfulnesse in godly exercises Cowardlinesse or Pusilanimitie in temptations Grant me O Lord by thy grace to ouercome all these euills whereunto either al or to some one more than the rest either by nature I am enclined or by custome subdued that being deliuered out of the snares of sinne and Sathan I may serue thée in such righteousnesse and holinesse as is acceptable with thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Prayers against each particular euill habite as euery man shall thinke most befitting his owne estate O Almightie God and most mercifull 1. Against Gluttonie or drunkennesse pray thus father I confesse and acknowledge that thou hast forewarned vs to take héed of surfeting and drunkennesse and hast threatned by thy holy word to exclude Gluttons and Drunckards out of the kingdome of heauen Giue me grace to auoide this sinne by a moderate abstinence by flying ydlenesse by Restraints of gluttonie a meditation of heauenly things by a practise of Christian vertues by an imitation of Christ in hungring thirsting and praying Graunt me grace that in eating and drinking I be not carried too farre beyond the boundes of naturall necessitie And that I may come to take my foode as to take a medicine that I may represse in féeding a new appetite stirred by varietie of dishes that I may receiue my corporal foode with praier and thanksgiâ—ing and with a desire of spirituall foode that being refreshed with bodily foode I may returne more chéerefully to the offices of my calling through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most merciful father forasmuch as the vice of luxurie or Against Luxury pray thus Riotousnesse is neuer alone but is carrier as it were in a Coach on foure wheels vz. Pampering of the belly and lusts of the flesh Nicenesse in apparell and lastnesse of sleepe And is drawne as it were with two horses equally matched vz. Prosperitie of life and aboundance of wealth whereon also doe sit as it were two driuers Slothfull dulnesse and Enuious securitie Giue me grace O Lord to profit day by day in the mortifying of this vice or rather vices By humble prayer crauing continencie of thée By withdrawing from the fire of lust the fewell of wine and delicates By a watchfull eare expelling out of my heart all euill cogitations forthwith as they rise And by kéeping my senses least death enter by them as by the windowes Graunt that by thy grace I may warily auoide whatsoeuer is beautifull to the eye whatsoeuer is swéete to the tast whatsoeuer is pleasant to the eare whatsoeuer delighteth the smell whatsoeuer is soft in touching That at length by thy grace I may so profit in mortifying Luxurie the though I féele the prick of the flesh yet I may suppresse it without sinne and may perceiue lust to be so abated in me that though it cannot wholly bée taken away yet it may bée subdued Through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull â— Against couetousnesse pray thus father forasmuch as thou hast forewarned thy children to beware of couetousnesse which is an vnsatiable desire to possesse more and more and is accompanied with many mischiefes Giue me grace to expell and expulse this vice by a godly contentment depending alwaies vpon thy prouidence and promise and setting before our eyes the example of our Sauiour Christ who when he was Lord of all became poore for vs Grant me therefore in whatsoeuer estate I am therewith to be content either in plentie or want in fulnesse or penurie Remembring that riches cannot helpe in the day of temptatioÌ„ nor giue tranquilitie or rest to the soule but rather doe wrap their possessors in many snares Grant me therefore to cast all my care vpon thee c. Through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull 4. Against Wrath pray thus father forasmuch as thou hast forbidden vs to be angry rashly and doest make it as murther to be in danger of iudgemeÌ„t I beséech thée by thy grace to frée me from this sinne which extinguisheth the light of reason disguiseth the countenance and changeth a man into a Monster Grant me by thy grace to ouercome this sauage beast by remouing the procurers of anger which are Enuie Pride Curiositie Suspition Credulitie loue of our selues By restraining by the wisdome of the spirit the first assaults of anger By Christian patience suffering wrongs and not séeking to reuenge our selues That obseruing thy
commandements and following thy example I may through patience inherite the promise through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull 5. Against Enuie pray thus father who hast commanded vs to loue our neighbours as our selues the poyson against which loue is Enuie which sorroweth at the prosperity of our neighbor and ioyeth at his miserie Giue me grace therefore O Lord to shun this plague which hurteth more the possessor than him that is enuied For the auoiding whereof Grant mee grace to contemne all humane things to long for that heritage which multitude of heires doth not strengthen that I may reckon the gifts of my neighbours as mine owne and communicate my gifts with them that Enuie being set apart we may reckon that ours which they possesse and that we possesse may be theirs as Members of one body whereof Christ is the head O Almightie God and most mercifull father who resistest the proud and giuest Against Pride pray thus grace vnto the humble For as pride is the roote of all euill so it is the ouerthrowe of al vertues and as an infectious disease corrupteth all the faculties of the soule Giue me grace therefore O Lord to beate down this great euill By taking a diligent viewe of my selfe that finding mine owne wants I may lay downe my Pride By conferring my state with the first estate of our first parents I may see from whence I am fallen By knewing the lawe I may knowe my owne infirmities And by setting before me Christes example I may learne Humilitie who when hée was Lord of Men and Angells yet became a perfect patterne of Humilitie and Contempt of the world that we being humbled in our selues might â—e exalted of thée Through Iesus Christ Amen O Almightie God and most mercifull Against dulnes in 〈…〉 exercises pray thus father I acknowledge my dulnes and lukewarmnes in going forward in the way of life whose effects daily I féele in my selfe For. How often doe I pray without attention and feruencie of spirit How often do Ill effects I meditate diuine things without affection of my minde and therefore without fruit How hardly doe I rid my selfe from ydle companie How seldome doe I returne into my selfe to gather my spirits to examine my own state I looke into my selfe as it were through a Lattice without repentance or amendment of life I talke freely of other men and seuerely censure their déeds and words O how willingly doe I passe my time in vaine showes or outward things to relieue my wearines How often doe I séeke comforts here and there solace my selt with ydle thoghts How grieuously do I bear discipline correctioÌ„ I obey laws but for a fashioÌ„ with lothsomnes vnwillingnes O how often do I auoide labours which are necessary and profitable to saluation I séeke to bee gracious and in fauour with men How doe I neglect the vse of the Sacraments How seldome and negligently doe I heare godly Sermons How carelesse hitherto haue I bene to auoide sinne How presumptuous of mine owne strength How much haue I pampered my selfe making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes thereof I call to minde my olde manners and the pleasures of sinne not with griefe and disliking but with a delight and liking Grant me therefore O Lord thy Dangers of Lukewarmnes grace that I may ouercome this roote of vices I acknowledge the daÌ„ger wherein a Lukewarme man doth stand whom thou hast threatned to vomit out whose state is miserable and end searefull Giue me grace therefore not to fall backe into mine old sinnes that I be not in danger of a greter ruine but that recouering out of the gulfe of these mischiefes I may with a more chéerefull minde runne the way of life Stir vp in me O Lord an Remedies ardent desire of newnesse of life make me continually to meditate on my ende which if it should happen to be sodaine and I vnprouided the things that come after will be more grieuous which my end that it may be blessed I beséech thée for Iesus Christ his sake c. Amen When thou art entred O my soule In case of Pusillanimitie or feare a coÌ„municatioÌ„ with the soule the way of life thou art perhaps grieued either with the expectation of some euill at hand or with distrust of deliuerance from some euill present But pray O my soule with Dauid I expected him who deliuered me from my feare and from the storme Conceiue an assured hope in Gods prouidence and flée to him in the time of trouble Peraduenture he will humble thée by this temptatian to beate down thy pride which assaulteth the godly euen in holy actions or be purposeth to purge thée of selfe-loue whereby thou pleasest thy selfe many times more than is meete But what is it O my soule that thou néedest feare Doest thou feare the Crosse and affliction The crosse not to be feared If thou be godly the Crosse and affliction as it cannot be shunned so it is profitable and glorious to the godly It abateth vices it encreaseth vertues it confirmeth our Adoption c. Beare it therefore patiently and couragiously 2. Doest thou shrink at sicknes Thy Not sicknesse body is subiect to death why then doest thou so grieue at sicknes which prepareth to death which to the godly is a passage to life Moreouer the sicknes of the body doth many times cure the diseases of the soule 3. Doest thou grieue for the losse of Not losse of worldly things worldly things Belieue in God take hold of his promises He will not leaue thee nor forsake thée 4. Doth the terror of death astonish thée Not death Cast off feare which riseth of infidelitie Compare the course of this life with the last periode thereof Art thou tossed with continual miseries Feare not death which shall deliuer thée from the tyranuy of sin from the deceits of the world from the temptations of Sathan Eternall death shall not touch thée because life is prepared for thée in Christ 5. Doe the assaults of Sathan terrifie thée Remember that God doth arme Not Sathan such as be his with power to resist Satan Thou shalt ouercome by Christ our Captaine Call vpon God and arme thy selfe with the Shield of faith the sword of the spirit c. And by Gods grace thou shalt ouercome 6. Art thou amazed with thy many Not many or great sinnes and great sins The remission of thy sins is sealed and confirmed to thee by many and great promises by Christ and in Christ therefore thou oughtest not to 1. Ioh. 2. feare If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate to the father euen Iesus Christ the righteous 7. Doth the terror of the last iudgment Not the last Iudgment make thée tremble Cast off this feare call to mind the loue of God the father in his sonne and that the same Son of God is both thy