couragiously died either for the honor of God or els for the seruice of their king or for the defence of their countrey Was there euer yet any nation so barbarous so voide of humanitie or as we commonly say so farre from the sunne as that commend not with great praise the valure and worthinesse of those that haue spent their liues for the common-wealths sake Hath not the memorie of posteritie taken them out of their graues to make them aliue againe in the remembrance of men And if we should come to number out the parts of the life of man shall we recken the time which they haue bestowed in eating drinking and sleeping or rather principally bring into a short accoumpt the dayes wherein they haue most valiantly fought for vertue And therefore that which we call life is but a death because it dyeth without leauing any memory therof for that which we call death iâ— in very deed life because it is that which maketh vs to be continue for euer Neither are we to regard how long we liue but how wel we liue neither commeth death too soone if he bring honor with him neither is it for the only opinion of another and for the honor which we shall get by well dying that ought to make vs contemne death but for the loue of that second life whereinto we must enter The Druydes had some forefeeling of the immortalitie of our soules which caused them to be more valiant then all the people of tho world for they made a skorne to saue their liues saying that they made no more accoumpt of them then of the head of a willow tree And the Philosophers who made a iest at them confessed yet that they held a blessed error Howbeit we say that their wisedome was blessed by tasting of this opinion whereby they found groping in the darke the very resting place of felicitie and had found out the counterpoyson which driueth away and slayeth feare the very poyson of our soules which drieth vp and feeblisheth our hearts and minds But we being brought vp and taught in a better Schoole then they were do not only know but constantly beleeue and not only beleeue but are glad also as a man would say of this second immortall life For we haue a spirit lodging in the inward part of our soule which sayeth and soundeth continually if so be we will heare it nothing else but this life to come And vnto this voyce it is that so many millions of Christians haue in the middest of their afflictions and torments followed the standard or ensigne of their Captaine spilling and sheading their bloud in all the corners of the earth as the true and pure seed os faith This is that Trompet which hath encouraged them to fight this combat from wheÌ„ce they haue returned very bloudy but yet haue bene triumphant and crowned victorers If ambitious honor driueth vs vnto most strange hazards of warre if this affection to be esteemed and honored of those before whome wee liue hastneth and kindleth the course of our actions what greater hope is there of these which haue obtayned this for they haue not onely bene honored whilst they liued but wee also reuerence theyr ashes after they are dead theyr bones are holie vnto vs the memorie of their liues is yeerely renued with deuout commemorations and prayers wee honor them in our verie thoughtes wee humble our cogitations before them as placed in a great degree of honor in the Church of God and as hauing found grace before the face of our Lorde and God And therefore wee must not bee voyde of courage for the effectuall bringing to passe of good and holie things seeing that the verie wicked them selues are the better part of theyr dayes so valiant in executing these wicked and most detestable things For with this patience and strength of courage must wee enter triumphing into the kingdome of glorie wee hauing bene told by Toby this goodly and holy Oracle That hee O Lord which serueth thee with all his heart if his life be put in hazard shall bee without doubt crowned And for this cause it is why the Scripture telleth vs that this good Father beeing brought into miserable captiuitie thraldome did neuer for all that forsake the voyce of the truth And to say truly we can no way iustly attribute vnto our selues the name of Christians if we reiect and forsake the Crosse which is left vnto vs in stead of all other maner of weapons and is the very sample paterne that Iesus Christ hath geuen vs to make vs vnderstand when we shall come vnto him and the watchword that witnesseth vnto vs that we are his For we haue no means that can make vs perceiue that we are instructed in his discipline but by this patience the very mother of all the other vertues And Theodoret also sayth That the Martyres run vnto â—orments as vnto the schoole exercise of vertue It now followeth that we see how we should behaue and carry our selues in the disposing of the benefits which it pleaseth God to bestow vpon vs. In very deede the rule which hereof is set before vs and the habit which we take vpon vs to vse them well is called Liberalitie Now the first precept which we are to learne is to acknowledge that all the benefits which we haue we hold of the goodnes grace of God the ordinary exercise whereof is to do good vnto all the world and to spread vpon vs his blessings albeit we no whit deserue them And the reason why he so bountifully destributeth them amongst vs is not to the end we should locke them vp and let the gold and siluer mould which are no way good nor profitable but when they are well vsed but to the end that as he hath created vs vnto his owne image so also we should imitate him in well doing vnto our neighbour according to our abilities And truly we haue farre greater occasion to do it then he For that which he geueth is his owne and he geueth it to such also as be no way able to do him good But we are another maÌ„s purse-bearers we geue the goods of our God we geue them to such as are not onely able to pay vs againe but also to lend vs as much when we stand in need And although they should be vnable to pay yet God by whose commaundement we geue them answereth vs the same for them and maketh it his owne debt and chargeth himselfe also not only to pay the principal but to geue vsury for it yea double treble and an hundreth fold And we are besides to consider that all these benefits should be dealt proportionnably for our necessties and that by the lawe of nature they belong not vnto vs no further then wee haue neede of them for the maintenance of our life The measure of our benefits are heate cold hunger and thirst and if the custome of the countrey wherein
A MOST HEAuenly and plentifull Treasure Or A rich Minerall full of sweetest comforts The Contents the next page will shewe Printed at London by H.L. for Henrie Fetherstone at the signe of the Rose in Paules Church-yard 1609. The Contents of this masse of holy Treatises 1 The holy loue of heauenly wisedome for instruction and institution of a Christian life aright pag. 1. 2. Heauenly Meditations of the seauen penitentiall Psalmes of the holy Prophet Dauid for stirring vp in euerie godly hart true remorse and sacred sorrow for sin pag. 131. 3 Most comfortable Meditations of the seauen Psalmes of Dauids consolation likewise for raising vp the humbled sinner and curing of the woūded soule pag. 211 4 A powerfull Meditatiō of the Lords prayer for holy instructiō and more certain direction how to pray aright and so to obtaine pag. 329 5 Most fruitfull Meditations of the Lamentations of Jeremie for stirring vp of Repentance in time of sin abounding Gods hand for sin striking as now by visitatiō pag. 349 6 The sweete song of holy Ezechias Isa 38. for assuring of euerie penitent sinner that GOD will neuer reiecte them but in greatest extremities send them comfort and turne their teares into Ioye pag. 439. 7 A most Christian and profitable exhortation vnto a sanctified and ciuill life pag. 112. 8 The learned and most worthie Epistle of Saint Basile vnto Saint Gregorie the Diuine pag. 97. TO THE TRVly Noble and Right Honourable EDVVARD Lord DENNIE Barron of Waltham c. To his most worthy and thrise-noble son in Law IAMES Lord HAYE c. S. RIGHT HONOVRABLE AS Man who was created at first to the Jmage of God perfitly hauing breathed in his face the breath of life in that earthly Eden and is now regenerate or created anew to the same Image albeit imperfectly hauing breathed in the face of his soule the breath of the life of grace in this spirituall Eden of Gods Church doth Image-like heerein resemble God plainely in respecting or desiring not so much external and eye-offices or offerings as the integritie of affection and vnfained internall loue of the heart which is the roote frō whence the fruit proceedes the spring frō whence the streame doth flowe the ground from whence the offices arise and altar on which the oblation is made And if the ground be found to be found the spring seene cleare the roote good and the Altar cleane and vpright albeit a mite of penurie bee cast in or a drop of water issue out the one is more accepted then the superfluitie of plentie and the other then a puddle Ocean Euen so likewise let your Honours adumbrate type and resemble the Image both of God true Nobility herin so to accept of this small gift as being offered with a duetifull hand proceeding also frō an affectionat and officious heart and tending to the tēdring and encouraging eies hands of al vertue and piety euē your Honours the patrons and patterns therof So the God of al grace and glory plētifull in the one and all beutiful by the other encrease the measure of his graces in you heer and beautifie you also with the fulnes of his glorie heereafter Your Honours in all dutie WILLIAM GVILDE To the Reader CHristian Reader Drinke heere of the waters of the heauēly Cisterne ouer-flowing with the water of life smell of the pleasāt fruit of the tree of life placed in Paradise and taste thereby how good the Lord is gather heere the pleasaunt flowers and reap if not the haruest yet the gleanings of comfort with iudgement humility learne wisedome of the spirit of true wisedome and suffer thy eyes to behold the beames of cōsolatiō life light and loue proceeding from that eternall Sun of safetie the onely beloued of God the true light and life of the world and longed-for ioye of men And for al be thākful to him to whom al praise belōgeth So the Lord giue thee vnderstāding in all things Farewell In Christ W. G. The holy loue of heauenly Wisedome WE are like vnto that kinde of people who hauing bene led captiue into some farre countrey when they were yong haue not onely lost their time but haue forgotten also both their countrey naturall language and the amitie of their own kindred For we are no sooner out of our cradle and swadling cloutes as it were but that our peruerse and froward affections surprize vs as a man would say like violent windes and filling the sayles of our desires with a thousand delicat gales make vs mightely degenerate from our owne naturall inclination driuing vs therby from all true and right reason For let our soule continue neuer so litle a while in this banishment she by and by forgetteth her originall being leeseth the remembrance of her principall benefite and good and in the end which is a farre greater mischiefe she forgetteth likewise the knowledge of her self Now then there remaineth nothing why we are not altogether like vnto these miserable captiues For if they after their long captiuitie haue neuer so little hope of their returne or do but heare their countrie spoken of a man shall perceiue their hearts to leape with ioye in their bodies so greatly doth this kinde of newes please and like them But contrariwise we vtterly mislike those men who labour to call vs home againe vnto the place where we had our first being and abhorre nothing more then when we see them marke out vnto vs the ready way to come thereto These men will leaue the fortunate Islands and returne vnto the Ithaque set fast like a neast built vpon the very top of a sharpe steepie rocke And we will not onely leaue the mire and dirte wherein we sit fast mortrized rather then we would possesse and enioy most assured and euerlasting felicitie Now some man may peraduenture say vnto me I beseech you Sir where is that felicity which you talke of shew it vnto vs for that is it that we desire for what man is he that would refuse to be happie and blessed Alas my good friends I know that the worde liketh you well but without doubt yee flie from the thing it selfe or at least yee follow naught else but the shadow and leaue the bodie flying from you and hunting after a vaine cloude of delight reiect the true sound and incomparable pleasure Where then is it say you shew vnto vs the way and tract that we may speedely take hold thereof Shall I tell you my good friends one thing and that is this would it not thinke you make you laugh to see a pore or sand blinded man come vnto Pylo◠a most excellent counterfeitor in painting and importune him to shew him his pictures and exquisite paintings or to see a deaffe man presse in to heare the sweet musicke and hermonie of Bayf a most excellent musition would not the first man say vnto the sand blinded man go thy way and remoue first from thee that running humor
cleanse our selues and let vs see from whence and which way we are fallen that thereby we may perceiue by what meanes we may be able to lift vp our selues againe For God saw nothing amongst all his workes which any thing drew neare vnto his perfection and therefore he himself was then desirous to mould and fashion a liuing image of his Deitie which should be his chiefe and especiall worke and set him in the middest of the world Whereupon man forthwith shewed himselfe in the middest of the earth so perfect and complete as that nothing could be wished to be more excellently perfect For he being made a liuely image and being also as it were but a short and halfe picture hauing withall many the lineaments both of the aire and of the grace of the principall subiect or matter was most wonderfully perfect The holy fier which God had breathed into him being very pure enlightened his vnderstanding and filled him with the knowledge of all things in so much that he hauing truth for his guide and vertue for his ayde all his actions passed within the compasse of reason and turning him selfe continually vnto his Creator receiued to himselfe as in a very cleere looking glasse the forme and fashion of the Deitie in beholding of whome he fixed and stayed all his thoughts and thereby became very blessed for he liued in God and God in him But when as this mirror which was beautified and adorned with the obiect of the Deitie would needs runne him selfe amongst the troublesome and dangerous stormes and thereby defile and sully him selfe then this immortall brightnesse disdained any more to shew himselfe vnto him and left him altogether to remaine in darkenesse obscuritie So that man before such time as he had turned his back vpō God being filled with a most sure knowledge of all things is now as it were become brutished and in stead of truth is full of error and lying and in stead of a ruled and moderate will is now full of burning lust so as all his thoughts which before were reunited to the beholding of his creator haue now spread themselues ouer the creatures roame about at all aduētures without either guide or reason This concupiscence and lust then hauing thus prostituted her selfe forthwith conceiued sin which comming to a ful growth amended death And death in deed brought forth the extremitie of al euils and death I say the hope of all horror and obscuritie wherein all the while that mā was swadled wrapped was neuer since euer able to receiue the brightnes of the immortal light ne yet attaine againe vnto the conduct of the truth the only beholding wherof is able to keepe him backe frō comming to the point of his felicitie When man saw himselfe thus defaced he was displeased with himselfe cursed his life as a gulfe of miserie where he saw nothing before his eyes but cōfusion and darkenesse And all his animaduersions were nothing but of euils and all his hope of nothing but of calamities For God being nothing but righteous and man nothing else but sinne what measure or end could there be of his punishment Howbeit the eternall wisedome who wrought with God in the creation of man hauing compassion of the losse destruction of such a worke came as Tertullian sayth to lay a steepe the poison of death in his own blood to wash cleanse vs besides to turne away the iust wrath of his Father that he might haue mercy vpon vs and so turne vnto vs againe Thus we see how we are entred againe into grace with our God purified by his mercie called againe vnto the knowledge of his truth and the beholding of his glorie Howbeit we are so peruerse obstinate in our cursednesse so great enemies to our owne felicitie as that so soone as this eternall light would begin to appeare and shine vppon the clearenesse of our consciences there to expresse and reimprint the face of his Deitie and relieue and recharge the lineaments of this deuine wisedome which are so shamefully defiled and as it were vtterly defaced as that we make a thousand foule blemishes rebound vpon our selues which blind and defile vs and thrust them selues betweene vs and the grace which should enlighten vs. We must therefore as often as we defile our selues so often also lay too our hands to wipe away our foule and filthie staines for the cleansing and clearing of our soules so that we thereby being polished the beames of our principall bountie and goodnesse may cause the clearenesse of vertue and truth most clearely shine and brightly burne vpon vs. Here then we see the meanes which we herein must hold and keepe let vs now looke what the cause of this euill is and then let vs also wisely consider of the remedie for the same In very deede our peruerse and corrupt iudgement is the very fountaine of all our offences and the spring-head of that pestilent humor which so infecteth and spoyleth vs. The things which spoyle and trouble vs are the delightes and pleasures which on euery side alure vs and make vs drunke before we are fully awake This licour then being mixed amongst our tender senses by reason of the infirmitie of our age so delicately seasoneth vs as that we can neuer after lose and forget the sauour thereof We content not our selues with moderatly drinking but we will be ouer head and cares also tarrying still by it as if we would haue the tide ouerflowe vs leauing our selues drowned as it were vpon the swallowing quicksand of miserable old age Now these sweet licours wherewith we so fill and glut our selues turne by and by into bitternes and fill our harts and minds with a venemous humor which infecteth and corrupteth vs. For the affection which we beare vnto the beauty of these created things being entertained and flattered by vs changeth it selfe into a furious and mad lust which peruerteth and ouerthroweth our senses for the flattering and dissembling desire which we haue vnto these worldly riches turneth it selfe into a blinde and senslesse passion and are none otherwise to be esteemed in this world but as the ordure and excrement of the earth and the loue of false honor conuerteth it selfe into a foolish desire to be farre more then the rest of the world and chalengeth vnto it selfe the reuerence and seruice that is due vnto God himselfe The pleasure which we take in our feeding is turned into beastly and shamelesse gluttony The care that we take in preseruing our bodies delicately groweth into beastly vncleannesse and filthy lust and the worthinesse that we beleeue too too much of ou◠own courage and valure turneth it selfe into outragious choler and rashnesse And surely our minds being stopped and oppressed with so foule and slimie humors can neuer breathe forth any thing that is pure and cleane Now for the purging of all these subtile and mortall passions and poysons of the minde we must see what
this lump of earth for it is ready to follow thy will But wheÌ„ thou ô Lord shalt throughly haue renued it do not then I beseech thee forsake it but put a bridle in the mouth therof to the end that by abstinence it may keepe it selfe froÌ„ surfetting which pricketh it forward thereunto that it may by a chaste life keepe in a good â—…mper vnchaste and hote burning lusts that by humilitie it may abate the pride which biting enuie stirreth vp in her that pitifull charitie may chase from her hatred and greedy couetousnesse and that a godly care to serue honor thee may coÌ„tinually set spur to the flanks of her slothfulnesse and filthie negligence 3 For I haue already ô Lord made ouer-great a triall of this troupe of sine which enuiron me so as they will in such sort pull downe and teare in pieces thy workmanship as that wheÌ„ thou shalt come thou shalt finde nothing there but the shreds thereof shiuered broken all to fitters I haue had experieÌ„ce enough of them and these are they that haue brought me into that estate wherein now I am and neuerthelesse see yet at the tayle of these a coÌ„pany placed about me which cast in my teeth the spels blemishes wherewith they them-selues haue defiled me and make me culpable of the iniuries which theÌ„-selues haue done vnto me For thus they say It is thou that hast sinned and it is thou that art so foule and filthy 4 It is true in very deed that I haue sinned ô my God I lay open vnto theâ— the very bottom of my hart thou knowest my whole life I haue sinned in the sight of heauen earth all the world can beare witnes of mine iniquities But if I had not sinned vnto whome shouldest thou haue been mercifull How wouldest thou haue discharged thy selfe of the promises of grace which thou haddest so long agoe announced by thy Prophets And when as thou shalt come to sit vpon the eternall Throne of thy Iustice who is he that would not be afeared of thee yea although we were euen all rightuous Howbeit to the end that thy greatnes might be knowne we must when we shall be assigned a day to come before thee humbly fall downe vpon our faces before thy maiestie and cry out and say Most mercifull Lord we will not stand in defence before thee because our fault is manifestly knowne but loe our grace and pardon is in thy hand for thou thy self hast graunted it vs behold a token of thine owne bloud sealed in our image which for our redemption was imprinted in the weakenesse of our flesh 5 Doest thou thy selfe my God attend and looke that when I shall come before thee that I wil make a rampart of mine innocency and that I am so voyd of vnderstanding as that I would iustifie my selfe in thy presence Alas ô Lord I right well know that I was not yet borne and that I was also nothing but sinne my mother likewise thought to be deliuered of a childe and was brought abed of sinne But it had beene a great deale better for her that she had been deliuered before her time of such monstrous fruite which shameth the tree that bare it and the earth that nursed it and heauen that ripened it I was nursed of sinne within my mothers womb and suckt her milke and behold it is so growne vp with me as that it shadoweth my head and blindeth mine eyes 6 But when I see the eyes of my bodie so seeled vp with sinne that is about me I then open the eyes of my soule and begin to see a farre off the beames of thine infallible truth and acknowledge thy maruellous secret wisedome which thou hast manifested vnto me And then my soule forsaking the impurite of my bodie lifteth her selfe vp vnto heauen and perceth through the incredible brightnesse thereof and casting her eye vppon the booke of eternitie shee therein readeth the draught of the newe couenant which thou art to make with men and then returning into her miserable body she filleth her selfe with hope and ioy and promiseth vnto her selfe assured victorie ouer her sinne 7 For she hath learned in heauen that thou wilt take into thine hand the Sprinkle of sweet smelling hysope and sprinkle vpon me cleane and purified water Thou shalt wash me and I shall become whiter then snowe and none shall see vpon me no not so much as the very trace and steps of sinne But ô Lord what lees shall that be that shall be made of the ashes of my sinnes consumed with the fire of thy loue with the water of the teares which my repentance shall distill from mine heart and in the Sunne of thy grace wipe away our teares and cause a spirituall reioycing to growe in vs and in the end make vs white with the puritie and brightnesse of righteousnesse that we may one day shine farre more excelleÌ„tly then the starres of the firmament 8 And then shall we heare nothing but the pleasant sound of the Trompet of saluation which shall deliuer out grace and mercie vnto all those that will receiue the same Then shall we see the rotten and consumed bones rise againe and take theyr fleshie bodie vppon them to partake that vniuersall ioye whereunto thou hast called the whole world 9 Now to the end I might then appeare so honorably apparelled before thee as such an honorable magnificence is worthie of I beseech thee my God to cast downe all my sinnes vnder thy feete and burie them all in the middest centre of the earth that no eye may be able to pierce through to see them and seperate me for euer from mine iniquitie which at this present I repudiate and do sweare an irreconciliable diuorce betweene me and them 10 Thou seest heere my Soule what an offer I make vnto thee and therefore make thy selfe pure and neate renue in mine heart a newe spirit which will conceiue nothing but holinesse and righteousnesse O Lord my God establish therein an house for thine holie spirit to the end I neuer hereafter either thinke breathe or vtter foorth any thing but the prayses of thee my God and let thy will be alwayes printed in my minde and thy glorie written vppon my lips 11 When thou hast thus clothed and furnished me with pietie and integritie I shall be then verie assured that nothing shall keepe me from thy presence and then as the Eagle naturally looketh full vpon the Sunne euen so will I fixe my sight and eyes vppon thine euerlasting face and 〈◊〉 thereby I shall see in thy wonderfuâ—… countenance all the perfectioÌ„s which I at this present am no way able to conceyue neyther shall thine holie spirit euer dwell out of mine hart for it is he that vnder the wing of a zealous loue shall carrie me euen into thine armes to associate me vnto this heauenly ioy 12 Make me therefore rightly to taste the sweete pleasures of this immortall life Saue me speedely
children will continue found and whole for euer and euer whose parts shall be as great as they very whole enheritaÌ„ce For this is that glorious enheritance which enriching so many people filleth all with eternall blessednes and remayneth alwayes one and alwayes infinite 21 Now although the hope of the seruaÌ„ts of God be not tied to the earth yet neuerthelesse so long as they shall be here in this world yet will not God let them want that which is necessarie for their liues For whensoeuer the ill time shall come and that vengeance shall rise vp against men and that the waters oueâ—…ow stormes reigne and heauen pâ—…re downe fire like rayne yet shall the righteous be then at rest and peace in the middest of the tempests dry amongst the shipwracks and safe and sound in the hotest of the flames And againe whensoeuer any hideous famine shall come to deuoure the people yet shall they haue Manna rayne downe from heauen to satisfie them For the wrath of God is but against the wicked and his anger is not kindled but against them But as for the godly the neerer that they thinke them-selues vnto danger the neerer are they vnto saluation and health 22 It fareth not with them as it doth with the enemies of God who are mightely exalted and honored on hye that their fall might be the greater and the more shamefull because no man can leape a great leape but such a one as standeth very hye The falls of hye Towres shutter all to pieces and are brought as it were vnto dust Howbeit it is farre worse with the wicked for when they haue once had their bloâ—… they fall not only vnto dust but vanish into smoke nay they become nothing at all Behold how the cloudes come foorth as if it were the thunder out of the mouth of a great Cannon they grow into heapes increase and lye out so broad and thick as that a man would say they would fill the emptinesse of the ayre and toll vp the Sunne But after they haue by little and little gotten higher vp ye see them by and by to waxe thin and in the end scatter and consume so as a man shall not see so much as any signe or token that euer they had bin And such is that mightinesse of the wicked whose substance is nothing else but sinne and whose mouing is nothing but vanitie it groweth suddainly and it is gone as suddainly and what soeuer they are able to do for to think to conserue the same they can by no meanes any way further it 23 They borrow and neuer pay againe all is fish that commeth to net and all is theirs that they may gayne by neither leaue they any thing behinde which they are able to carry away and yet notwithstanding all this profiteth them nothing for as the aboundance of meates fatteth not him that is in a consumption because the radycall humor of his life is dried vp euen so is the blessing of God which is the roote of all prosperitie withholden from the wicked But contrarywse the iust which is mercifull and full of compassion geueth his goods and dealeth liberally distributeth his money and is as the course and running of a liuely water which neuer dryeth vp 24 This is a blessing which is promised vnto all those that blesse the name of God that they shall enherit the land that is to say they shall haue a good title vnto the land as it were by enheritance And although they are striuen agaynst for it yet shall they neuer lose it For they are as Gods deere children whome hee hath created and therefore they are of a good and sure ground that they shall hold the same But they which blaspheme agaynst his name are disinherited of his grace and as vnthankefull children depriued of theyr fathers inheritance so as they hauing his curse can not choose but perish 25 For there is no saluation in this world but by trusting in God and by committing our selues vnto his tuition For he so directeth the wayes of a good man and so guideth all his actions as that it is impossible to be amended He aymeth his will at godlinesse and turneth away his eyes from the baytes of sinne he bringeth back the windings and crosse wayes of voluptuousnes into the broad beaten hye wayes of vertue and setteth it in the way of his commaundements 26 For this is a faire and smooth way wherein are no stones ne yet lets for it is altogether playne and smooth So as although the wicked one or the father of lyes casteth his leg before the iust man to make him trip stumble or yet set a snare for him thou thy selfe O Lord standest hard by him to lift him vp againe and wilt not suffer him to be frushed and crushed And with thy mercifull hand yea euen with a most gentle and euen hand thou shoâ—est him vp and redressest him 27 I haue bene yong and now am old and yet as far as I can remember I can not call to minde that euer I sawe God forsake the righteous man nor his children driuen to beg their bread Well may he haue sometimes a little trouble come vpon him to proue his constancie and to try his strength but is passeth and tottereth on without any fearing of him 28 I haue seene a man that hath done nothing all day long but geue and lend so as a man would haue sayd that he had taken great pleasure in scattering abroad his goods and yet he more abounded in wealth then euer he did before He resembled properly the pipe of a pumpe which draweth water by casting of it out for the fulnesse thereof can not abide that any emptinesse should be in it And so the rightuous man geueth and God forthwith filleth him againe his posteritie feeleth no want of his largenesse for the blessing of God causeth his store to bud forth euen as the Sunne maketh the fruits of the earth and multiplieth an hundred for one 29 Seeing then that God is so good and so liberall if thou louest to haue his fauour bethinke thee how thou mayest please him for it is the verie meane to tuâ—ne him from doing hurt and to do good For God loueth such a one as â—…itateth him for loue commeth of resemblance and his actions are to do good foâ— he busieth himselfe about nothing else and he began this worke euen from the first beginning of the world and was neuer wearyed therewith And therefore let vs do like vnto him and so long as we shall dwell here in this world where he hath graunted vs meanes to serue for his glorie and for the profiting of our neighbors let vs neglect no occasion at all to discharge both the one and the other and in so doing we shall be sure to obteyne his fauour which is the richest treasure that we possibly can recouer 30 For there is nothing that pleaseth him so much as to deale vprightly and iustly for thereby
from the rocks of this world which on euerie side threaten my soule with wracke And as the Marriner when he is come to the hauen crowneth the maste of his Ship with floures in token that he is in safetie euen so O Lord crowne thou me with the pretious gifts of thine holie Spirit as pawnes of thy euerlasting blessednesse which thou hast promised me With the gifts I say of that Spirit of thine which reigneth amongst thy faithfull which distributeth faith vnto thine elect loue vnto thy best beloued and hope vnto those whome thou hast predestinate to euerlasting life 13 Now all the while that my soule resteth thus banished looking still to be called home agayne vnto thee I will teach the wicked to walke in the way that may best please thee and set them also in it for feare they hurt not them-selues in the darkenesses of this world against the stumbling blocks which they may suddainely light vppon lying before them And so they will beleeue me and returne vnto thee ô Father of lights and with all their hearts embrace thy faith and walke in thine obedience 14 I know O Lord that there will be some such found as will stop their eares at my words and will obstinatly continue in their sinnes coniure my death and defile their barbarous crueltie with my bloud O my God deliuer me out of their hands and reserue me to declare thy righteousnes and to pronounce their condemnation I will foretell them their miseries and they shall feele them and I shall no sooner hold my peace but that thy hand shall be vppon them and thy hand shall no sooner haue stricken them but that they shall be broken to fitters and be vtterly destroyed 15 And then thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall set forth thy victorie for the ayre shall be still the winds shall be calme and the flouds shall be quiet to hearken vnto my resounding voyce which shall sing out the wonders of the eternall God For thy prayse ô Lord shall be the sacrifice that I will alwayes offer vp vnto thee and which thou also wilt euer haue good liking of 16 I would gladly haue embrued their Aulters with the bloud of a great number of cattell I would gladly haue cut the throats of a thousand oxen and of a thousand lambs to haue done thee honor but bloud stinketh in thy nostrels neither takest thou pleasure in the flesh of beasts The smoke of such offerings the winds carrie away so as they neuer ascend vnto thee But the voyce onely of a iust man passeth aboue the heauens and the Angelles present the same before thee 17 O what an acceptable sacrifice before thee is a broken and contrite heart and an humble heart that acknowledgeth his sinne thou wilt neuer reiect for if it will come vp vnto thee it must first come downe and if it will touch the heauen it must first crawle vppon the ground if it will haue thee to heare it it must fyrst be silent and if it will be crowned in thy kingdome it must fyrst be beaten and scourged in the world These are the Sacrifices O Lord wherewith wee must he reconciled vnto thee and enter into couenant as thou hast set it downe vnto vs. 18 But if it be thy pleasure ô Lord that we shall offer bulls and bullocks vnto thee and perfume thine Aulters with the bloud of beasts if thou wilt that we by the death of an innocent burnt offering should represent vnto thee the death and innocencie of him whome thou hast destined to redeeme our soules If the figure of that which should come in the person of the vnspotted lambe doth please thee by the killing of Weathers and Sheepe looke then with pitie vppon thy poore people comfort thou desolate Syon and encourage her poore enhabitants to the end they may set vp againe the walls of thine holie Citie and reedifie thy Temple not according to that equall proportion O Lord which thou deseruest but according to the wealth and industrie that the poore world can possibly affoord 19 Thither shall come from all parts thy faithfull in great multitudes to offer vp sacrifice vnto thee and there shall the expiation and purging of their sinnes be acceptable vnto thee But it shall neither be the death of beasts that shall wash away their spots for the cleansing of their disobedience and preuarication was prepared from all eternitie This is an inestimable sacrifice a burnt offering without spot which shall drawe away the curtayne disperse and destroy the darkenesses breake downe the wall or hedge that we may see the truth of our saluation face to face make the beames of his diuine mercie shine vpon vs and reassociate vs vnto the communion of that euerlasting blisse which we willingly haue renounced O most mercifull God which hast vnseeled the eyes of mine vnderstanding to see the misterie of my saluation make me O Lord to taste the excellent fruite which flourishing vppon the tree of the Crosse shall with the iuice thereof quicken and geue life vnto our dead soules preserue and warrant vs for euer from that ruine and calamitie which hath so miserably brought together the race of mankinde and ouerflowed them through their disobedience Lord heare my Prayer Psalme 102. I Haue ô Lord cryed and called vppon thee a long time for thy mercie and do yet looke for ayd and help from thee The ayre is filled with my cryes The winds haue carried the voyce of my dolor and griefe euen vnto the vttermost parts of the world and thine eare which heareth and vnderstandeth whatsoeuer is done in the bottomlesse pit of hell doth not yet heare and vnderstand my prayer which reacheth and beateth the very heauens Wilt thou therefore be deafe only vnto me and shall all the world heare me saue thy selfe alone No no my God thou hast oueâ—-long stretched out thine armes now to reiect mee when as I come vnto thee for refuge 2 And now that I feele a thousand and a thousand sorrowes and that miseries assayle me on euery side do not turne thy backe vpon me ô Lord. Alas haue I setled my whole power and strength vpon the sweet countenance of thy face Haue I diuorced my selfe from the world to the end I might drawe neere vnto thee and haue I forsaken the children of the world that I might ioyne my self vnto the master of the heauens and wouldest thou now forsake me O Lord deale not so with me but assist mine infirmitie all the dayes of my life 3 Let my voyce no sooner cry and call vnto thee my God but that I may also soone feele thee and let thy grace descend as speedely vppon me as an Eagle hasteth her selfe to ayd her yong on s For if thou assist me not what maner of fight shall I be able to make against the enemies of my soule 4 My strength and life would dayly vanish away as the light smoke doth in flying in the ayre for the