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
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
THE EMBASSADOR BETWEEN Heauen and Earth betweene God and Man OR A BOOKE Of Heauenly and Healthy Meditations and Prayers for earthly and sickly Soules and Sinners Fit to be borne in the hand and worne in the heart of euery good Christian By W. C. Preacher of the word MATH 7. 7. Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you LONDON Printed by N. O. for Lenard Becket and are to be sold at his shop in the Inner Temple 1613. To the Christian and supplicant Reader REligious reader the manifould myseries and calamities of this our wretched life our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Apostles and fathers of the Church these euery one of these with as many motiues as there are thoughts in the hart or spectacles to the eye of man teach vs and haue taught vnto vs the necessity force vse of prayer and withall inciting vs both to frequency and feruency therin without which besides many other benefits which therby we eyther obtaine or lose can neyther sathan be resisted nor our faith manifested nor God daily honoured with an innumerable consideration on the other side vs like-wayes thereunto mouing as the shortnesse of our life but a span the suddainnesse of Christs comming in a moment the strict and fearfull account that must be rendered at the day of his appearing And for that prayer is a mourning and desire of the spirit to God for that which she lacketh euen as the sicke-man sorroweth for his health whereby being reconciled to God by faith we may inioy the thing we craue or haue need of In what a desperate danger securitye may wee be then thought if we shall shew our selues slacke or careles herein in this so avayleable a duty let vs therefore pray in all places and at all times calling to mind the largnes of Gods gratious loue and his louing kindnes in Christ Iesus our sauiour who biddeth vs aske and it shall be giuen knocke and it shall be opened and whensoeuer thou art burdened or opprest with thy sins or any other misery or calamity in the world be thou assured the Lord will offer himselfe to be reconciled to thee if thou thy selfe be ready and faithfull to call for the same at his hands to the furthering whereof and as it were the tracing a path thereto thou hast heare good reader both the manner and the method both the forme and the fashion both how to pray and what to pray mouldes and methodes fitted vnto seuerall occasions and purposes for thy releife and benefit as time and necessity shall require in that behalfe which requisit regard and serious consideration that these heauenly Embassadours may be the more gratious in the eyes of God and successe-ful in our occasions is most intirely to be tendered thereunto So that God may blesse both them and vs with an happy eâ—rnest in this world of the eternitye in the world to come whither by his blessed will so prospering this intended meanes that it be able to bring vs he grant for the glory of his owne great name Amen Thine in the Lord. W. C. IF by the absence of the author difficulty of the hand misplacing of points some sillables or wordes mistaken the sence in any place be obscured the iuditious reader may be pleased to correct such easy faults as by these meanes haue escaped which I trust are not many A view of the Contents and Prayers as they orderly stand in this Booke 1 A Treatise of the vanity of all earthly pleasures and the misery of our life such as they are to enioy them 2 Of the force the vse and necessity of Prayer 3 A Morning Prayer for the Saboth day 4 An Euening Prayer for the saboth day 5 A Description of Heauenly Ierusalem and the happinesse there out of the Manual of Mr. Crashaw 6 An euery-dayes sacrifice or a Morning praier for any day in the weeke or euery day in the weeke 7 An Euening praier for any day in the weeke or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person or other changing but the number 8 Another Morning praier 9 An Euening Praier to the same 10 A Morning praier for a priuate family 11 An Euening praier for a priuate family 12 A praier to God the father for the forgiuenesse of sinnes 13 A praier to bee said before the vndertaking of any iourney 14 Another for the same somewhat more ample both by sea and land 15 A praier for internall and externall peace and against debate and contentious going to law 16 A prayer for seasonable weather vpon sensible consideration therefore 17 A Meditation of Gods loue and mercy towards vs and our vnthankefulnesse towards him alluding to the phrase of Saint Austin Misereri mei Domine indigna facientis digna patientis 18 A meditation against the feare of death written in French by P. M. S. de Plessis 19 The sick-mans Praier 20 The commendation of the soule to bee said at a sicke mans death out the Manual of Mr. Crashaw 21 Six signes vpon the which a man may rest confident of his saluation 22 Another meditation against the feare of death and for strength and patience in that last houre 23 Sir Thomas Moores verses of the vncertainty of life 24 A Praier or Meditaion before the receiuing of the holy Communion 25 A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Holy Communion 26 A thankesgiuing to God the father vsed by the R. W. Musc and fit to be vsed of al good Christians 27 Martin Luthers Praier 28 Saint Austins Praier 29 A Praier for a woman with childe or in trauaile 30 The Prisoners Praier written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few daies before his triall 31 A thankesgiuing for our Redemption and for other both corporall and spirituall blessings 32 Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it 33 A Praier against that dangerous and deadly sinne of Desperation 34 A praier in time of pestilence 35 A praier for Humility 36 The liuing words of a dying man closed vp in that vertue 37 The summe of the praier of the Lady I. G. at the time of her execution 38 A generall thankesgiuing to God for all his benefits and mercies to man 39 A thankesgiuing before meat 40 A thankesgiuing after meat 41 Two other for the same 42 Certaine Rules and Preceps for the good ordering and gouernement of a mans life 43 Certaine Sentences or Rules of good life pertinent to the precepts going before them 44 The Deriuation of man 45 Admonition against sinne 46 Zacheus certaine gaine the worlds imagined losse 47 The fiue thoughts of a Christian 48 Foure kinde of men according to Dauid that are most indebted vnto God for their liues 49 A Praier for Constancy and grace against all worldly vanities and allurements 50 A short Memoratiue of the mortality of our life and
can deliuer vs but thy out-stretched arme we rely not vpon our selues nor continuing therein forsake thee so long till at last thou forsake vs and we perish vtterly but Lord preuenting it so rend our harts that they may bleed in sorrow for the same that thou maist forgiue vs our great vnthankefullness end all the rest â—â— our sins our ignorances willfullnesse necligences presumptions and all other our transgressions and rebellions o Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake wash them all away in his bloud nayle them fast vnto his Crosse and bury them in his graue where let them consume to nothing hauing not that resurrection that our bodies shall haue from thence least thy should come to iudgement with vs cloath vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with his spirit worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsfull minds mortifie our sinful lusts and adorne vs withall thy graces open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our harts to follow it direct vs in thy wayes and keepe vs from declining from thee teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this world that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come and to that end we besech thee be mercifull vnto vs at this time and receiue vs into thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our prayers watch thou ouer vs to our good and giue vs such rest and sleepe that we may be fitter inabled to serue thée the next day in our exercises studyes and callings heare holy father from heauen and graunt vs all these our requests and whatsoeuer else thou knowest may be for our good for Iesus Christ his sake thine only sonne and our only sauious to whom with thee and thine holy spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendered all power praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen A morning Prayer for a priuate famely It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late except the Lord be with vs so vaine a thing is man therefore we will not attempt any thing before we haue taken counsell and strength from the Lord that he may deliuer vs from euery euill worke if we aske that thing which is euill deny our ignorance if we aske that thing which is good Remember thy promise IN peace and safety we layed vs downe and rose againe for thy gratious eye watched ouer vs that we might take our rest The heauens declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy goodnesse yet thou hast not so respected all nations and thou hast loued Syon thy little hill a nooke and corner of the world far seperated from the serpent and fenced from the wild beast yet who considereth the euill we haue deserued is gone into other landes because their Gods be not like vnto our God we haue had much experience of thy goodnesse yet we trye thee still we proue thee still and yet we see thy workes thou hast seperated vs from schisme heresy that we should be ioyned vnto thee euen a new creature come out of darkenesse to light according to the working of knowledge in vs. O bind our harts with thy feare that we part not from thy loue for our selues and for our brethren we here prostrate our soules before thee O Prince most excellent for the name of thy onely Sonne one drop of mercy to coole this â—ire of sinne nothing good Lord â—o change thy mercy yet the whelâ—es doe eate the crummes that fall from their maisters Table first wee yeeld thee harty thankes for all at once next wee humbly beseech thee for the generall quittance which thy Sonne hath sealed for our sinnes then for all graces we pray thee let vs not want the thing without which wee cannot serue thee plant in our hearts true feare of thy name obedience â—oâ— our Prince and loue to our neighbour giue power good Father to our prayers that they may be effectual sollicitors for thy grace and fauour in all occasions and seasons grant vs true humility in prosperity perfect patience in aduersity peace in Christ and ioy in the holy Ghost This is our desire to liue godly righteously and soberly so blesse vs and keepe vs good Father to the end of our liues Turne vs O God of our saluation grant that we may grow froÌ„ strength to strength that thy Church militant may be like thy triumphant in heauenly charity and al communion of Saints write thy Lawes on the Table of our hearts with the finger of thy good Spirit that by vs they may be often euidently read practised in our liues and conuersations Blesse them which blesse vs looke vpon this realme in thy mercy preserue our King let not the eye of Great Brittaine become dim or loose his sight be gratious and mercifull vnto our friends and parents according to the flesh comfort thy afflicted Saints and members confound the power of Antichrist send thy feare amongst them make their time short and defend thine owne cause and as thou art sanctified in vs before them so bee thou magnified in them before vs yâ— all the world may conuert say En Deus Christianorum Great art thou O God of the Christians and there is none omnipotent besides thee iust and mercifull recompensing righteousnesse and reuenging iniquitie transgressions yesterday and to day and the same for euer and euery where Grant these things O heauenly Father with thy blessing vpon this family O Lord leade them out and bring them in bee at the beginning the middle and end of all their businesses that thou maiest see them accomplished to their best aduantage and for because the world is a forrest of briers many dangers therein that may intangle vs so that when wee part and go out wee are not sure to méet and come in againe vnlesse thou guide vs by thy hand and protect vs vnder the wings of thy safe-guard Therefore bee present and assistant vnto vs and euery one of vs then happy shall wee be and all things shall prosper that wee take in hand which Lord fulfill vnto vs and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shall better foresee for our good euen for his sake who died for sinne and sinned not in whose name we further pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. God the Father which hath made vs blesse vs God the Sonne which hath redeemed vs preserue vs God the Holy-ghost which hath sanctified vs confirme our faith to the end and in the end Oh God Father Sonne and holy Ghost saue vs. AMEN An Euening prayer for a priuate Family Our transgressions are more in number then the hairs of our head wee repent vs of them all from the bottome of our hearts O Father be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs them O Lord God our most mercifull Father vnto thy diuine Maiesty what might wee render as an Oblation acceptable vnto thee which hast
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
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
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
place dominion ouer men and Angels that boweth the heauens and sayleth vpon the wings of the wind who with the breath of his nostrils is able to destroy our both bodyes and soules change the world and the beauty thereof into a chaos and heap of confusion turne the sunne into darkenesse and the moone into blood and alter the propertie and being of all the creatures in the world at the twinckling of an eye considering what we are that speake that offer the Calues of our lips and the fruits of our repeÌ„taÌ„ce poore naked impotent vnworthy wretches daÌ„natos antequaÌ„ natos all these considerations many more bid vs be importunate feruent in our prayers the suruay consideration of our wretchednes mortality our nakednesse in all good workes that it may make vs ashamed as it did our first pareÌ„ts when they hid themselues from the presence of their God as Mâ—riam of her leprosie altogether abashed astonied after mortality exceedingly mortal the view of our sins exceedingly sinfull the number the waight the danger therof that hange about our necks like milstones that we are not able are not worthy to cast vp our eyes to heauen and after our sins our misery exceedingly miserable that the Prophet of God was astonied to see either man or the son of man so kindly visited biddeth vs be feruent in our prayers lastly the successe we expect vnlesse we call in question or doubt of the promises of God which are Yea and Amen and more stable then the pillers of the earth or the base of the surest foundation except we will cast our graine into the earth and expect no haruest plant vines and not drinke the wine thereof powre out our plaintes and petitions and thinke that God eyther heareth not or regardeth not at all or will not grant as farre as is expedient for our good which if we shall do the contrary vpon the truth security of his warrant there is another motiue for feruency in our prayers lastly the pretiousnesse of the fâ—uour of his countenance which must be carefully sought for our owne benefit and all these respects and consideratitions thereunto tending doe crye vnto vs to crye vnto him to be seruent in our prayers for we must not thinke that the noyse of our lips as the ringing of basons meere soundes and voices that wake and flye vp whilst the inward man doth slumber and keepe downe procure vs audience at the handes of God Vâ—lentiores enim voces apud Sâ—cretissimas dâ—i atâ—res non faciunt verba sed dâ—sideria the strongest and most effectuall spech in the secret cares of God proceedeth not from wordes but from intention he that heareth without eares can interpret our prayers without our tongues he that made both the one and the other knowes the language of both a like he that saw fansied Nathaniell vnder the figtree before he was called saw and sanctified Iohn Baptist in his mothers wombe before he came forth and hard the hart of Zacheus before his conuersion seeth and blesseth our prayers feruently conceyued and sowne in the root of our consciences before they spring forth but if they are only verbal and vocal soundes without wringing any drop of contrition from the conscience blood from the spirit they may beat the ayre with empty soundes but the eares of the almighty shall they not enter but their want of deuotion shall be answeared by him as the prayers of those idolaters in Ezechiel 8. Though they cry in mine eares with a loud voyce yet will I not heare them therefore enter not hereunto vnworthely presume not to speake with God but with due respect and reuerence of his maiestie to whom thou speakest stirre vp both thy tongue and thy spirit that they may ioyne hand in hand the sooner to preuayle and if thou hast oftentimes powred out thy petitions and plaintes to God and hast not preuayled yet be not discoraged thereby go on still in thy sure importune him more and more weary his patient eares with thy clamors and thou shalt at last obtaine although peraduenture not in the same manner thou desirest yet in that which he sees more conuenient for thee be of Iobs mind though he kill mee yet will I trust in him though he denie thee yet despayre not in him how long did the holy Patriarkes and Prophets expect the fullfilling of there Prophesies yet in the fulnesse of time they were fulfilled heauen and earth shall passe but not one title of his word shall fall to the ground and therfore I say againe and againe when thou hast ended thy suite begin it a new repeat it and recite it ingeminate it and dwel vpon it be not beaten by any distrust or temptation from thy hould learne adherence to thy suite from the mariners constancy we besech thee o Lord wee besech thee set thy hart truly a worke and it will find this theame to thinke on for where the affection is fastened the tongue is easie and willing to dwell thereupon O Absolon o my sonne Absolon o Absolon my sonne my sonne was the mourning of Dauid when he heard of the death of Absolon and as if his affection had only dwelt vpon the name and memory of his sonne his tongue had forgotten to pronounce all other speach saue only Absâ—lon It manifesteth likewayes what loue our Sauiour bore towards that holy Citty in that he ingeminated and repeated his sorrows ouer and ouer it O Ierusalem Ierusalem if I forget Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning so must our affections be in loue with him and his blessed name more then son or Citty or any worldly delight that it may be euer meditating in our hartes walking on our tongues my God my Lord and the more we are held off the nearer let vs presse let vs attend his leasure and pleasure with patience without distrust without wearines the longer Abraham talked with God the more he preuayled he brought him from the whole number to fiftye and from fiftye to tenne before he gaue him ouer Behould I haue begunne to speake vnto my Lord and am but dust and ashes let not my Lord be angry and I will speake againe and semel and iterum once more I haue begunne and againe I will speake and let not my Lord be offended and so far was God from it that he gaue him both a patient eare and a gratious answeare in that his most importunate request If ten be found there I will not destroy it consider and behould herin the force of prayer from the tongue of a righteous man that it so far was powerfull with God that if in the whole Citty a Citty so excedingly sinfull that the crye thereof ascended vp into heauen they entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum euen into the eares of the holy of holiest with such continuall loudnes and clamor that they gaue him no rest yet notwithstanding in his wrath and resolution
Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
vnto the cloudes by the good thoughtes and motions of the spirit and sometimes cast mee downe to the ends of the earth euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell by the temptations and allurements of the world and the deuill till I come vnto the hauen of my rest to the which Lord bring mee for thy mercies sake Amen In time of pestilence TThe life of man most glorious Lord therof by whose handes it was made in whose hands it is inlightned with such vnderstanding capacity so large ample thy creatures benefits so good so innumerable and all for the delight and seruice of man which are so powerful and comfortable to him in the ouerlooking thereof in his large discourse and reason that he could wish in this world a perpetuity without change not knowing in his fleshly and blinded indgemēt what may be more in heauen with thée to content his naturall desire that he inioys not in this eclipse glimpse of thy goodnes vpon earth that lands possessions sumptuous building gorgeous clothing the cōfort of children friends seruāts with many other adiunctes cannot be equalled or exceeded in the world to come we confesse O thou giuer of all good guiftes y◠we are not worthy of the least of these thy benifits not thy friēds but thine enemies such that haue pulled thee frō the crowne to the Crosse nayld thee there vnto death and not greeuing our selues that we haue thus greeued thée snacht thy benefits out of thy hands not returning that easy curtesy vnto thee thou requirest of vs which is nothing but gratuity and thankes being more vngratefull vnto thee for all we haue for by thee we liue and moue and haue our being inioying nothing but from thy al-filling hands from that ouerflowing fountaine of thy goodnes yet more returning to a mortall man for one single curtesy then to thee for all these correct O Lord this fault in nature this vniuersal defect in mākind O Lord if thou hast prepared so good things for thy enemies and friends together what hast thou in store for thy elect there seuered surely such things as the eye hath not sene the eare hath not hard the tongue cannot vtter the hart cannot conceiue w e thée ò Lord there is fulnes of ioy at thy right hād pleasures for euermore Psal 16. who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasure Psal 36. where ioy shal be euer present yet we cannot be filled or rather filled but not satisfied what it is O Lord thou knowest best but there is the fountaine spring from whēce all goodnes floweth take vs into thy besome vnder the wings of thy mercy into that celestiall habitation where the sight and splendor of that heauenly presence shal more delight then all the obscured and mixed pleasures the world can afford on the other side we know as a strong motiue vnto vs the vnsupportable and heauy iudgement prepared against the day of wrath for those y◠haue drunke downe sinne as the Leuiathan the waters terrefie O Lord our vnderstanding with there horrour fearfullnes y◠we neuer come there to feele them bring vs by one meanes or other to the heauen of our happinesse what thy promises cānot perswade let thy threatnings performe by y◠terrour of thy punishments which are impossible to be vttered and yet must be indured bound hand and foot cast into vtter darkenesse where thy fauour nor mercy shall neuer-more be extended where nether the light of the sunne nor the moone or starres much lesse the light of Gods face shal euer shine where for euer shal be weping and gnashing of teeth without determinatiō or ceasing O Lord who is able to indure it thy Angell y◠walkes in the darkenes and striketh at noone dayes the many dangers that accompany our wretched liues the least of which one time or other strikes home take vs in our pallace in our gardēs in ourwarehouses in the feild on the sea on the earth in the ayre in our beds at our tables whatsoeuer our bodies do whatsoeuer our minds thinke comes thy messēger in one shape or another takes vs by the hand leades vs from whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs to the tribunall seat of thy iustice and mercy where we are eyther to be acquitted or condemned eyther to be receiued or thrust out Lord therfore deale with vs according to thy mercy that if thou prolong our liues bring vs safe out of this storme tempest of mortality that by y◠fal slaughter of others we be brought to such a serious cōsideration of our owne mortality estate y◠we make our preparation thereunto all y◠days of our life knowing y◠he may fal in his tent y◠hath escaped y◠feild perish in y◠hauen y◠hath passed y◠Ocean y◠it must be surrendered one time or another and if it please thée the we fall by y◠stroke of this thy deuouring Angel as the corruption ranlinesse of our nature infectious enough to procure it and bring to passe that thou accept as my deed my will desire and purpose to serue thée my intent for my action that I would as if I should liue to glorifie thée make mée out of loue with this wretched world and all the allurements and baytes therein and in loue only with thee and thy heauenly kingdom for thy blessed name sake Amē For humility vpon these considerations THou mighty Lord of heauen and earth who holdest the ball of the world in thy hand and keepest all times and seasons as in a register who art all hand all eye all foot for strengthe for fight for swiftnesse to whom the in-most chambers and retired clossets the tabernacles and habitations of mortall men nay the hartes and bosomes of all the creatures in the world are vnfoulded and layed open as leuill to thy sight as the aire which we looke on with our eyes what cā we do the is hid frō thy sight ten thousand times brighter then y◠sun or whether can we go y◠our sins offences lye not naked before thée surely no otherway there is but only to inuolue them in the clowds mistes of sighes repentance repentance the guift of God the ioy of Angels the salue of sins the heauen refuge of sinners O where remaines the subiect of the title the Angels sin not and therfore need not repentance nor the spirits of darkenes for the sentence is already past condemnation sealed it is only for me most wretched sinner y◠I am for my brethren of the same inheritance to vs alone doth it belong and we perceiue it not we eat and feed delitiously we are wanton with thy guifts O God abusing them in surfet and riot and luxuriouslye we sinne in drinking in procuring an appetite to exceed therein we sin in our cloathing most superfluously attyred like the rich glutton condemned to hell as if we would exceed Salomon and match the lillies of
the feild and we â—eed not only our selues but our oxen in our meadowes and stalles to feed our vnprofitable carcasses our horses in the stable to beare our vnprofitable carkasses when the poore in our streetes at our gates feed vpoÌ„ empty aire for lacke of sustenance we remeÌ„ber not theÌ„ not Christ in them the hungereth and Christ the must feed vs which is the aduocate for the poore yâ— iudge of the rich in this obliuion and height of our sins what is become of humility of repentance we are all begotten in sin and to misery are we brought forth coÌ„cupiscence hath bene the nurse whose milke wee haue sucked from time to time as we haue growne in yeares so hath corruptioÌ„ growne vp with vs as part of our owne nature what remayneth theÌ„ O Lord for vs but humility repeÌ„taÌ„ce to prostrate our selues vpon the knees of our harts and say Lord haue mercy vpoÌ„ sinners with the poore publican not with yâ— proud Pharise to say I am not like this maÌ„ or other my brethren for I doe thus and so let vs not be so mad as to forget nature so much all our imperfections the substance and mettall whereof wee are made and that we must suddenly turne to the earth vpon which now we trample with such contempt and scorne and must become chamberers and fellowes with wormes and rotlennesse and what cause haue wee then to be proud Nay what cause haue wee not to bee humble when of all the large possessions and inheritances wee possesse wee haue no more truely our own then the length and bredth of our Carkasses And againe let vs humble our selues that Christ may exalt vs and not exalt our selues lest hee throw vs downe as hee scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts Let vs learne of him to bee humble and meeke which although the King of heauen and earth hauing all power and preheminence and proud in subiection vnder his feet yet was not touched with this vice himselfe that chose poore Fisher-men to bee his Disciples payd tribute to his inferiours rode vpon an asse praied for his Persecutors imbraced yong children cured the halt and the lame and the blinde and regarded the low estate of his Handmaid and will regard vs if wee regard this vertue which hee so regarded if wee be imitators of his steps and examples which hee grant that hath thus led the way the God the King the Prince of humility for his own deere sake Amen The liuing words in effect of a dying man closed vp in this vertue I Vnto thy hands O Lord I commend my soule and body prostrate in all humility and obedience to thy good will and pleasure Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon thy humble and prostrate seruant The summe of the Prayer of the Lady G. at the time of her execution VVIllingly and ioyfully O Lord come I hither into thy hands to resigne my soule and body in whose protection I trust they shall bee safer and better then in this life although in the best measure they euer were giue vnto me my God thy poore and weake seruant and vessell patience constancy and strength to vndergo this my sentence of death strengthen the frailty of my sex in the act of this my suffering and though I dye for that I neuer of my selfe desired yet howsoeuer lest any sinne in the least consent or thought hath defiled my purity therein for it pardon me my God and blot it out of the booke of thy remembrance and not onely that but the whole course thereof throughout my whole life that my soule with the wings of faith in thy mercy may cheerefully ascend to thy blessed kingdome And so preparing her selfe to dye with these words rendred her life Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit A generall Thankesgiuing to God for all his benefites and mercies to man O Eternall God in Christ Iesus most gracious and mercifull for all thy blessings both temporall and spirituall bestowed vpon me the least of thy seruants and most vnworthy to cast vp mine eyes to thy heauenly Tabernacle where thou reignest in glory doe I yeild all possible hearty thanks vnto thy diuine Maiesty for all thy blessings and mercies bestowed vpon me especially for the singular benefite of my Iustification and the admirable gift of eternall saluation purchased by the righteousnesse and deerest life of thy beloued Son Christ Iesus my Sauiour My lot is fallen in a pleasant place well is me and yet woe is mee because it is and I vnderstand it not hast thou beene fauourable vnto all thy creatures in the world or hast thou neglected others and beene mindfull of me Good Lord why shouldest thou bestow thy health thy wealth thy rest and liberty aduancements friends possessions Children like the Oliue Oliue branches and their trees for me them to repose securely vnder Why shouldest thou I say bestow these blessings vpon me more then vpon others I can giue no reason for it but stand wondring and admiring thy mercy which is the cause of it and if thou shouldest take a suruey of my worthinesse to enioy all these at thy hands and finding mee so vnworthy as I am of the least shouldest withdraw them all backe againe what could I say but commend thy iustice Haue I deserued liberty and Ioseph thy seruant deserued bonds Haue I deserued rest and thy Dauid to bee tost to and fro vpon his watery couch day and night to haue the sonne of his owne loynes and the loynes of his owne body rebelling against him Hath thy Lazarus deserued to lye at the gates afflicted in body minde crauing but crums wherewithall to be refreshed and I like the rich man whose dogges more merciful theÌ„ their maister came and licked his sores sitting at my table furnished with abundance like his Haue I deserued health and thy Iob to lye full of botches and biles vpon the dung-hill Are these thy blessed seruants tried in the furnace of affliction layd in the throat of hell and am I wrapt vp into Abrahams bosome haue I their portion and do they stand at reward or sent empty Why my soule is it so well with thee mercy aboundance of mercy and why art thou so ill my soule O mercy yet most wretched sinner that I am haue I not in a Christian loue and godly nature beene moued to serue thee in a larger measure considering these thy benefites vpon mee so largely multiplyed then the poore and persecuted Children that neuer tasted thy mercy but in imitation of their misery Continue O Lord this thy goodnesse vnto me and the more to perswade thee thereunto lift my heart and spirit out of this dull and earthly Center wherein it moueth to the meditation of thée and these thy mercies with a thankfull retribution of all my thoughts and affections to thée from whence they come that I may euer serue thee from this hower with those dutyes which the world the flesh and
the Diuell would haue me deser vntill the point of death and good father grant that I may loue righteousnesse and pitty with as great good will as euer I loued wickednesse and vanity and that I may go before other in thankfulnesse towards thee as farre as thou goest in mercy to mee before them O teach mee to seeke thee in all things and all things in thee euen for thy name sake for thy promise sake for thy Sonnes sake our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus A Thankesgiuing before meate TO thee O Lord the giuer of al good gifts vpon whose bounty and mercy depend all the creatures in the world which openest thy hand and fillest vs with thy blessings or wee goe empty away and perish Thy bounty and goodnesse it is O Lord that furnisheth our backs and feedeth our bellyes and spreadeth our tables blesseth preserueth and vpholdeth all that we haue our basket and our store the oyle in our cruses prouision in our presses the sheep in our foldes in our stables the children in the wombe at our tables the corne in our fields in our floores and garners and all that wee haue or is in the ayre in the earth in the sea or wheresoeuer else the least of which thy good gifts and blessings let vs not at this time nor no time else presume to touch make vse or enioy without an awfull reuerence and respect to thee the author and owner thereof Sanctifie therefore we beséech thée at this time them vnto vs and vs in them so that thy name may bee glorified and our bodies comforted through Iesus Christ Amen Thanksgiuing after meate DEere Father wee render mâ—st humble and hearty thankes vnto thee as is most meet requisite for all thy former benefits good creatures ordained giuen to our vse sacrificed ready to be sacrificed euery day for our pleasures so now at this time for the large competent satisfaction thou hast bestowed vpon vs to the refreshing of our weake fainting bodyes So good Lord as thou hast beene gracious vnto vs in breaking this thy corporall and materiall bread vnto vs at this time to the food of our bodies so likewise giue thy Spirituall bread vnto our soules in that abundant measure that the more they eate and drinke thereof the more they may hunger thirst after thee to fulfill thy precepts to walke in thy commandements and to do the workes of charity and mercy towards others to whom thy bounty hath in some measure bene restrained which grant most mercifull Father for thy mercies sake Amen Before Meate TO thee the Author of our beeing Before the world our time fore-seeing The time approach't thou hadst decreed That thought did cease effect succced Into the world poore naked bare We were brought forth nurst by thy care Of whom ere since we begge and craue For food for rayment all we haue Blesse these thy gifts wee shall receiue Shall feed shall taste of by thy leaue And all things else what ere it bee That thou shalt send that come from thee Blesse soule and body basket store Our health our wealth our rich poore What ere we doe so blesse the same That stil our mouths may praise thy name Thy Church king God saue blesse And grace from heauen so send That we may liue a happy life And make a godâ—y end After Meate OVr bodyes thus refresh't and fed Whom thou do'st daily fill So let our liues be spent and led According to thy will And as thou break'st thy earthly bread Vnto our mortall hands So breake that bread vnto our soules Whereon our well-fare stands For as the body doth decay Doth languish and complaine From food and nourishment debar'd That doth her state maintaine So will the soule and all her powers Dry wither parch and perâ—sh If that thy grace which is her life Refresh not feed and chorish Lord therefore stretch thy mighty hand And let thy loue appeare In feeding this in filling that In holding both so deare That when we leaue this wicked world Whose pleasure is but paine In peace and rest in heauen with thee We euermore may raigne Amen Certaine Rules and Precepts for the good ordering and gouernment of a mans life 1 IN the morning wheÌ„ thou first awakest blesse God giue him thankes for his carefull protection and watching ouer thee for the quyet rest and sleepe hee hath bestowed vpon thee to the refreshing of thy body and the renuing of thy minde but be sure that he haue the first place in thy heart 2 Call to minde all thy businesse for the day following and to thy selfe propose to the effecting thereof a good order method euer thinke of the end before thou vndertake any thing and to all thy honest intents indeuours craue the direction of God and his assistance otherwise thou toylest in vaine and thy labours will not prosper 3 As for the successe and effecting of thy businesse so before thou setst thy foot out of doores put God againe in minde of thy person implore his assistance protection ouer thee knowing that many a one hath gone out of his house neuer come in againe and that so it may befall thee if he preuent it not 4 At the euening when thou retirest thy selfe call to minde what thou hast effected what thou hast neglected what euill thou hast healed that day what vice thou hast stood against in what part thou art bettered and as thou went iâ— out in his feare so returne in his fauour giuing him thankes for the ability and motion of thy body in the accomplishment of thy affaires for of our selues we are not able to lift our hands to head food to our mouths therfore by his goodnesse sufferance we haue all and enioy all that we haue 5 If thou hast neglected any duty wherein thou mayst haue pleasured thy brother not indaÌ„gered thy selfe any coÌ„mon curtesie that by the law of nature one man is bound vnto another Cor. 11. 13. If thou hast offended any man by deed or by word by instigation or procurment call them to mind condemne thy selfe therein be sorry therfore and before thou seek to giue thy body any rest rest not till thou hast sought a pardon at the hands of God which will neuer be granted but vpon this condition That thou be hartely sorry for the same and purpose in thine heart neuer to offend in that kinde againe 6 When thou preparest thy selfe to bed likewise prepare thy selfe as for thy graue remembring that many go to bed neuer rise againe till they be raised w e the sound of the last trumâ—et and for ought thou knowest the thing so often resembled therby may now be ready for thée For vt somnus mortis sic lectus Imago sepulcri the number of thy dayes expired thou must passe from the land of the liuing in yâ— moment or howsouer there is one of thy number spent and yâ— art