comfortlesse confusion and remedilesse condemnation Alace alace O my Soule When shall the dead senselesse sinners of this Age reade with attention consider with meditation that fearfull Stile vvhich that good Spirit of GOD our Teacher giveth to that Evill spirit the Devill our irreconcilable Adversarie Is not that evill spirit stiled by that Good Spirit The Accuser of the Brethren Where-by thy Teacher Rev. 12.10 ô my Soule the Spirit of thy Father and of thy Saviour vvould teach thee That no sooner doe anie of the Children of our GOD commit especiallie anie grosse knowne sinne against His Majestie but as soone that Evill one praesenteth craftilie albeit maliciouslie the names and sur-names of those vvith their sinnes before GOD crying O LORD Thy Majestie madest this Man to Thine owne Image Thy Majestie delivered Thy Sonne to death for him Thy Majestie vvast readie by Thy Spirit to renewe him and yet for all this Thy great loue hath hee not defiled him selfe vvith abominable Idolatries blooddie Murders filthie Adulteries and Fornications brutish Drunkennesse mercilesse Oppressions c. Wilt Thou not ô just Iudge of the Worlde rub Shame upon the face of such a one vvho hath so grosselie rubbed Shame upon Thy Name and upon Thy Blessed Gospel professed by him Yea vvilt Thou not ô just Iudge of the World adjudge such a one to bee mine for ever vvho hath after the offer and proofe of such rare loue and kindnesse refused to bee Thine O my Soule vvouldest thou not bee loath that such an Accusation should bee made against thee especiallie by such an Accuser Forget not then forget not then to accuse thy selfe before thy GOD to the ende that His Majestie may bee mooved out of pittie for thy Savioures sake to excuse thee yea to defende thee even before and against the Devill thine Accuser and deadliest Enemie BLinde Man slipping the first Path in the which hee should stay his steppes is made to fall from that high vvay in the which alone hee should walke heere and to deboash him selfe in that by-way vvhich leadeth him alace towardes that Lake out of the which there is no redemption because man cannot seeke after that true Director and Guide vvho neyther can deceiue nor bee deceived While hee looketh for Life hee findeth in ende nothing but Death yea vvhile delighting unhappilie in his praesent foolish sportes hee promiseth great commodities and comforts to himselfe confusion yea condemnation proue in ende to bee his portion What Noble wise man ô my Soule having his young Childe to put to Schoole doeth not even after deliberation make choise both of that Master by whom hee would haue him to bee taught and of that Pedagogue by whom hee would have him attended O Man I must tell thee were thy Raiment never so course were thy Cheare never so sober yet thou lodgest within thy Clay Bodie an immortall Soule which would bee wiselie committed to some good Master to some faithfull and painfull Pedagogue But where shall such a one bee found Let no man seeke after Man to bee his Pedagogue seeke after Man to bee his Master but after that Blessed GOD vvho onelie made Man and is able to instruct man truelie to governe man rightlie And so let man seeking after a Master after a Pedagogue runne to the Face of GOD runne to the Mouth of GOD even unto holie Scripture by the which Hee sheweth Him selfe to man by the which Hee speaketh unto man inquiring there To what way he shall take him selfe in what way he shall keepe him selfe while hee so journeth heere to the ende when that Night of Death shall fall downe upon him hee may set his feete upon the Thresholde of the Gate of that Citie and bee received with joye to lodge even for ever in the inwardest Palaces of that Citie Rev. 21.27 within the which no uncleane thing can possiblie enter Oh my Soule when shall the men of this Worlde prooue as holilie wise about the governing of their Soules which must necessarilie either liue or die for evermore as Monoah the father of Sampson was circumspect about the dressing of the bodie of that his sonne who was onelie to liue for a while with him Hee was not praesent with his Wife vvhen the Angel of God appeared unto her but can hee not runne to his God and say I pray Thee my Lord let the man of God whome Thou sentest come againe nowe unto us Iudg. 13.8 and teach us what wee shall doe unto the Childe when hee is borne Alace alace ô my Soule who runneth thus to God Who prayeth thus to God That Hee by His Spirit would teach them by that blessed Booke of His Worde what they shall doe to their owne Soules and to the Soules of those who belong unto them while they liue heere Oh Lord God vvhen shall that true aunswere given by Thy Majesties gracious Mouth made unto David Thy Scholler inquiring Thy Majestie about this purpose bee hearkened unto by the men of this Age bee believed by the men of this Age By what meanes shall a young man redresse his way By taking heede there-unto according to Thy Worde Psal 119.9 That which our Master spake to the vylde Sadducees touching the grounde of their fearefull errour denying the rising againe of the dead may bee moste truelie applied unto all kinde of sinners debording from the vvayes of Pietie of Righteousnesse or of Sobrietie Thou art an Idolater a Blasphemer a prophaner of Gods Sabbath a Traitor an Oppressor a Murderer a false man an Adulterer a Fornicator a Drunkard because thou knowest not and believest not the Scripture to bee that Booke vvhere-by God thy Master teacheth thee vvhat is that thou shouldest eschew vvhat is that thou shouldest imbrace IN manie respectes ô my Soule is the estate of man now alace couched under Sinne to bee pittied but in this respect especiallie That beeing naturallie sensible of the mortall Clay Vessell hee is naturallie senselesse of the immortalt heavenlie Soule What man having a maimed or diseased bodie hearing vvho can cure him knowing vvhere he may find that Cure seeketh not incontinent for that man longeth not even with wearinesse to be with that man and yet alace while man is not onlie wounded but dead in soule through a greater number of sinnes lying on it than there be haires on his head he cannot only refuse to heare that Physician to come to that Physician who is onelie able to cure him but he can finde an heart to hate such a tongue to revile such yea now and then a verie hand to stryke such as advise him to heare that Physician to belieue that Physician and to bee content to receiue his Potions and to use that his Salue which is only able to cure his soule Naaman the Syrian beeing infected with Leprosie 2. Kings 5. informed by that base handmaid who served in his house That there was a man in Israel able to cure him will not stint till he
you Offend not O my Soule that I speake thus for if manie professing CHRIST amongst us may bee believed when they speake they haue appointed their hearts for GOD and yet if their lyves shall be narrowlie tryed it shall be clearelie found that they haue dedicated their flesh and so their eyes eares mouth handes feete and that foule member of their bodie for the Devill for alace be those their members imployed in the service of anie beside the devils service Is this to bee thankfull to that GOD who hath beene kinde unto them Is this to honour GOD by their flesh who hath so honoured mans flesh Knowest thou not ô loose Christian that the Devill is the Accuser of the Children of GOD CHRISTS Brethren Rev. 12.10 Who first craftilie entyseth them to sinne against GOD and then maliciouslie accuseth them before GOD for sinning against Him Now O! how fearefull an Accusation shall this bee hearken hearken ô my Soule when Satan thine accuser ô loose Christian presenting himselfe before that great GOD upon the sight of thy loose and lewde life shall peartlie say ô LORD it pleased thy Majestie out of thine unspeakeable loue towardes man to cloathe thine owne blessed Sonne with the flesh of man even to the ende that in that flesh He might suffer for man and thereby to advance man to the highest Heavens who having willinglie made himselfe my Companion through sinne should haue beene adjudged to the lowest helles with mee for ever and yet LORD here is a man yea a verie world of men who haue defiled themselues with abominable Idolatries bowing their knees to the worke of mans handes lifting up their handes and sending up their cryes to base creatures forgetting the great and blessed Creator yea defiled in their flesh with fearefull Blasphemies cruell Murthers filthie Incests Adulteries and Fornications with brutish Drunkennesse Covetousnesse and Oppression O LORD will not Thy Majestie being that just judge of the world be avenged upon such grosse unthankefulnesse and adjudge with the soules the bodies of such men to that Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone forevermore seeing they haue so grosselie shamed that their flesh which thou hast so greatlie honoured Thinke upon this ô my Soule Roman 6.12 1. Thess 3.3.4.5 keeping thy selfe from all inward filthinesse Forget not this O my Soule but charge me alwayes In GODS Name to keep this my bodie all the members of it from all outward uncleanenesse EVen the filthiest deboashed liver O my soule offendeth when hee is compared to the Devill and yet everie filthie liver will treade the devils path Cannot the devill O my Soule peartlie praesent himselfe amonst the Children of GOD before GOD And yet no sooner goeth hee from His Majesties praesence but hee can run with speede not onlie to overthrow all that belonged to that just man Iob but also to bereaue him of his health thinking thereby to make him blaspheme GOD. Even the filthiest liver offendeth if hee bee called a Iudas yet as Iudas went from his Masters Table to deliver Him into the hands of His Enemies so manie called Christians can take their Iourney as it were from CHRISTES Chamber to overthrow CHRIST Alace alace O my soule howe manie bee there who praesent themselues with GODS Sainctes in GODS House before GOD to heare His Word and yet comming from it deboash themselues in all uncleannesse O! how manie bee there who going to Prayer and rysing from Prayer thinke never upon that which they haue confessed or bound themselues unto while they were praying till they goe backe againe to their Prayer deboashing themselues betwixt their one prayer and their other prayer even in those same sinnes for the which in prayer they accused themselues they condemned themselues craving GOD pardon and solemnlie avowing to abstaine from them The judgement of Charitie which suspecteth the best of all adviseth mee to thinke that these knowne Murderers Adulterers Fornicators Drunkardes and so foorth when they goe to their prayer doe nowe and then confesse these their sinnes craving pardon for them and promising to amende their liues and yet with the Swine even nowe washen after they haue risen from their knees they can turne to the puddle of their wonted wickednesse Let all such then who doe heare GOD speaking unto them by His Worde and who doe speake to GOD by prayer joyne repentance with their hearing and with their prayer remembering that he onelie is blessed who heareth the Worde of GOD and doeth it And that the prayer of that man Luke 11 28. Prov. 28.9 who draweth away his care from hearing the Law is abomination before GOD. LET mee not bee carefull ô my Soule for my life what I shall eate or what I shall drinke or for my bodie what I shall put on For thy blessed GOD that Great Master-House-holde of His Kirke can wiselie provide for His owne even in their greatest extremitie albeit not alwayes that which they would bee at yet ever that which shall serue them untill His good worke bee accomplished in them The King of Aegypt taketh Straw frō the Israelites which before was furnished unto them the Taske-masters of Aegypt resolue them notwithstanding heereof that the number of their Britkes must bee fulfilled daylie And when they with wearie heartes are carefull to provide themselues of Strawe they can finde none Exodus 5. for the people of the Land will neyther giue them anie for request nor sell them anie for Silver How then shall they come by it and where shall they finde it Blessed bee GOD ô my Soule vvhen the King vvho was a man carrying the same shape which the Israelites carried vvith his Taske-masters and people can refuse all helpe unto distressed Israel can adde affliction to afflicted Israel that senselesse dead hard Earth vvhich they trode upon vvill offer her helpe unto them praying them as it were to pull up her haire before they should perish and so shee propyned them with that Stubble wherewith shee was covered before they should want altogether that wherewith they might make Bricke unto cruell blooddie Pharaoh O David no favour canst thou finde notwithstanding of thine humble carriage and manie good services in the eyes of Saul thy master and father in Law and yet art thou not lovinglie embraced and kyndlie entertayned by that stranger Achis 1. Sam. 27. that uncircumcised King of Gath Ahab and Iezebel doe busilie seeke thy lyfe O Eliah but doe not the verie devouring Ravens entertayne it as carefullie O Nebuchadnezar thou art so fearcelie set against those three Children of GOD 1. King 17.3.4.5.6 who refused to worship that Image vvhich thou madest that thou vvilt not onelie haue them casten into an hote fierie Fornace but thou wilt haue this Fornace to bee hote at that one time Daniel 3. seaven tymes more than it was wont to bee hote Alwayes vvere not these furious fearce fierie flames mercifull unto them Yea so mercifull unto them that not
I finde another lawe in my members Rom. 7.23.24 rebelling against the law of my minde and leading mee captiue unto the law of sinne which is in my members And after this bursteth he not foorth into that languishing complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliver mee from this bodie of death Besides this O my Soule is not miserable man thus depryved of all righteousnesse and corrupted throughout in bodie and soule made a miserable Beggar beeing before so great a Monarch that hee hath no title to anie of the creatures of GOD so that beeing out of CHRIST the verie meate which hee eateth the verie cloathes which cover his nakednesse the verie aire which hee breatheth into c. shall procure his condemnation suppose hee sinned not otherwayes against his GOD. But which is moste lamentablie miserable O my Soule not onelie is man thus depryved of good and corrupted with evill made a miserable Beggar but a monstrous Slaue yea a Slaue unto a fearfull Slaue even unto Satan that evill one who not onelie lodgeth but even worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 fighting against man by those his ugliest champions Sinne the Worlde Death and the Graue When shall this bee seene and perceived by us O my Soule Surelie could this bee seene Sinne should bee hated by us with an unfained hatred Satan should bee resisted by us as our onelie deadliest enemie Wee use to say O my Soule Burnt Bairne Fyre dreaddeth Hath not that fierie Dragon long agoe burnt us all alace in our first parentes Feele wee not even to this day the fearfull hurt which wee received by that burning Yea carrie wee not about with us goe where wee will the scarres and markes of that burning Should wee not then abhorre to looke to that Dragon to obey anie of his counsels were they never so apparantlie profitable or pleasant For albeit his coate appeareth somewhat to bee friendlie his heart shall remaine alwayes the heart of an irreconcilable Foe SCarre scarre O my Soule with sinne as thou lovest thy GOD and thy selfe for hath not thy GOD who loveth thee with a great loue with a wise loue tolde thee That whosoever sinneth against Him must not onelie receiue wages for his sinnes but besides his wages that boontieth which is due unto Sinne also The wages of Sinne O my Soule as thou knowest is Death Rom. 6.23 even that first death with all those diseases which leade a man unto it separating the soule from the bodie and the bodie from the soule and that second death banishing soule and bodie from the comfortable sight of Gods saving Face and gracious presence for ever and why wilt thou die thus O my soule The boontieth of sinne ô my soule is shame Rom. 6.21 procuring such confusion to man that he dare not lift up his head before GOD before Angels before Men unlesse in soule he bee senselesse both of his GOD and of his sinne This shame was that boontieth wherewith our Iust GOD propined our first parents the first sinners O my soule for howbeit Adam and Evah being free of sinne were naked altogether in respect of materiall naturall seene cloathes yet they were not ashamed but could stand before their GOD and looke one upon another with a good heart and chearfull countenance so glorious were they through the beautie of the Image of GOD which then covered them Alwayes O my Soule no sooner are they infected with Sinne by disobeying the Voyce of their GOD Gen. 3.7.8 but as soone they were so covered with Shame that they dare not looke upon GOD and are confounded while they beholde themselues VVOuldest thou bee freed O my Soule from that Death which is the Wages of Sinne and delivered from that Shame which is the bontieth of Iniquitie I beseech thee shake off that Shame which alace too manie misseled by Satan in this our Age are clogged with albeit it procure daylie matter of new death and greater shame unto them and with a good heart smyling countenance put thou on that Shame where-with too few alace in this our Age are covered albeit it bee able GOD beeing mercifull unto us not onelie to slay Death and shake off confounding Shame but also to procure quickening Grace and saving Glorie Alace O my Soule how manie with Vincentius the Hereticke beside Augustine in his fourtie-eight Epistle while they thinke shame to amende their Faultes thinke no shame to continue in their Faultes Corah with his companions lift up themselues against Moâ—ses Numb 16. and Aaron A certaine space is graunted unto them to advise themselues about this their sinne But dare they not face the matter peartlie beeing as readie to present themselues upon the morrow before the LORD as Moyses and Aaron were What wonder then that our GOD just in all His Wayes cover them with Death and with Shame to their destruction who would not confesse their sinne and willinglie acknowledge That Death and Shame belonged unto them because of it to their conversion Fewe Sinners alace O my Soule in these our dayes with Moyses with David with Daniel with that Great Apostle Paul can acknowledge and confesse their sinnes crying yea crying aloude That Shame yea open Shame belongeth unto them and That Glorie and Righteousnesse belongeth to their GOD and therefore what wonder that amongst our Sinners there bee fewe who haue our Blessed GOD to looke their eyes with Moyses to put away their sinnes with David Deut. 34.6 2. Sam. 12. Dan. 9. 1. â—â—m 1. to heare them with Daniel to receiue them to mercie with Paul Pronounce thy selfe heerefore O my Soule worthie of death because of thy sinnes that GOD through His CHRIST may receiue thee to Life Take the Coate of Shame to thee for thy sinne O my Soule to the ende that thy GOD for thy Saviours sake who for a while was covered with Shame for thee may cloathe thee with Grace heere and with Glorie heere-after for ever FOrget not forget not O my Soule to giue in a Bill of Complaint against thy selfe unto thy GOD accusing thy selfe condemning thy selfe before His Majestie for the secret sinnes committed by thee hid from the Worlde yet knowne by Him And with this forget not to giue in the like Bill against thy selfe before GOD before Angels yea before Men for thy manifest and knowne sinnes seene by that Sunne which shineth by day and not kept secret from that Moone which governeth the night For if thou O my Soule deceived by that olde cunning Deceiver vvho as yet taketh pleasure to deceiue shalt attempt to refuse for anie alluring promise can bee made unto thee for anie harming threatning can bee pronounced against thee to giue in those Billes against thy selfe to the ende that thou happilie judging thy selfe bee not justlie condemned with the Worlde I know one beeing taught of my GOD who will both peartlie and fearcelie giue in his Bill against thee ayming at no lesse than thy
AN HEAVENLY CHARIOT Layde open for transporting the New-borne Babes of GOD from time infected vvith Sin towards that aeternitie in the which dwelleth Righteousnesse Made up of some rare pieces of that purest Golde which is not to bee found but in that ritcliest Thesaurie of Sacred Scripture By M. DAVID LINDESEY Minister of CHRISTS EVANGEL at LEITH HEB. XIII VERS 14. Here we haue no continuing Citie but we seeke one to come COL III. VERS 1.2 If ye bee risen with Christ seeke those thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Set your affections on things which are aboue not on things which are on the Earth Imprinted at Sainct-Andrevves By Edward Raban Printer to the Vniversitie 1622. TO THE TRVELIE RELIGIOVS AND Right Noble Ladie LADIE ANNA KER Ladie Balmerinoch Grace Mercie and Peace through IESVS CHRIST our LORD and onelie SAVIOVR SEeing in this last and most dead Age of the Worlde Right Noble Ladie there be not a few living alace not onelie under the blinding Darknesse and corrupting Superstition of abominable Poperie but also under that shining Lanterne of that saving Gospel which leadeth men directlie towardes that bright morning Starre CHRIST IESVS blessed for evermore who holding ah mee this Earth for their Home doe never dreame that they must bee remooved from it and so who cannot bee mooved so much as to beginne to thinke upon another Habitation let bee to fit themselues for it not-with-standing that None-sparing Sworde of Death slaying daylie without respect of persons men of all Rankes in everie place may sensiblie cleare unto them the trueth of that Golden Sentence Heere wee haue no continuing Citie I Heb. 13.14 the basest in all respectes my LORD and MASTER hath imployed about the building of His Tabernacle longing now to bee dissolved and to bee with Him whome my Soule loveth haue out of that affection which I carrie to all such as call upon His Name beene bolde over-comming at length manie difficulties to offer these few Lines unto the view of others that if it were possible some one simple Soule or two might bee mooved by them GOD beeing happilie with them to loose their affections from thinges heere beneath and to set them upon those thinges which are aboue I haue dedicated them unto your Honour whome GOD hath so happily weaned from the deceitfull Milke of all things earthlie and so Graciouslie married unto His blessed Sonne that nowe your Honour can wiselie account of nothing but in so farre as it leadeth you unto Him who out of loue gaue Himselfe for you Accept these Lines Madame as a Testimonie of that Loue and Reverence which I must carrie to that speciall Grace of GOD bestowed happilie upon you for the continuance and encrease whereof I shall never cease to draw up my simple Prayers unto that GOD who is readie to heare all such as call upon Him in trueth is able to keepe your Honour unto His everlasting Kingdome Your Ladiships in our Blessed Saviour the LORD IESVS D. L. AN HEAVENLY CHARJOT O My Soule wa st thou not sent downe heere in time by that blessed wise Creator to seeke after that aeternitie which is aboue O my Soule Couldest thou learne to know with what loue thy GOD loved thee in what accompt thy GOD hath thee busilie wouldest thou while this ever-slyding time remayneth seeke after that ever-abyding aeternitie Oh ô my Soule When shall I beginne grauely to consider that admirable order kept by my GOD in bringing foorth that great Worke of Creation praesented unto mine eyes by that first Chapter of holie Scripture Wouldest thou O my Soule leasurelie payne thy selfe a little to meditate aright upon that order O! with what a loue wouldest thou loue thy GOD O in what accompt wouldest thou haue thy GOD And so O with how swift feete wouldest thou endevour to run through fleeting sinfull tyme towardes that ever-continuing aeternitie in the which dwelleth Righteousnesse Yea O my Soule I must tell thee Could that order bee well taken to heart by thee were I warming my selfe in my Parlour at the refreshing and dauting fire of greatest Honoures Pleasures and daintiest Cheare even with my dearest Companions thou wouldest bee able easilie by a verie little nod to draw mee to the doores making mee with Peter to seeke after some secret place that there I might weepe bitterlie because I cannot bee mooved to seeke Him who could not bee stayed from seeking of mee because I cannot learne to account of Him who could willinglie account of nothing till Hee found mee The Worke of Creation is begunne the first day The Worke of Creation is prosecuted till the sixt day and a number of good Creatures of diverse kindes aboue us about us beneath us in the Heavens in the Seas and in the Earth brought foorth But can our GOD cease to worke till Hee haue made Man And when Hee hath made him will He goe anie farther Yea resteth He not then O my Soule I charge thee before GOD that thou remember this I commaund thee as thou wilt bee aunswerable unto GOD that thou forget not this BVt O my Soule what would thy GOD tell thee by this comlie admirable order kept by His Majestie in bringing foorth that Worke of Creation Surelie That Hee made all the other creatures for thee which Hee made before thee and that Hee made thee for Himselfe whome Hee made after them And what would thy GOD O my Soule teach thee heereby Surelie That all His other creatures could not content Him untill Hee founde Man And darest thou O my Soule attempt to thinke or alleadge That thou art made for anie other beside thy GOD Yea darest thou rest upon anie of those creatures were the sight of them never so pleasant to thine eyes the sound of them never so meledious to thine eares the savour of them never so delicious to thy smelling the taste of them never so sweete to thy mouth the touch of them never so alluring to thine other members O my Soule manie servantes hast thou for thy Maker hath made all the other creatures for thee onelie one Master hast thou even that GOD who made thee for Himselfe and therefore see that thou use all these creatutes which thine eye seeth thine eare heareth thy smelling savoureth thy tasting tasteth or anie member of thy bodie toucheth as pleasant sweete Coardes sent downe from Heaven to draw thee upwardes towardes that GOD who made them for thee and thee for Himselfe otherwayes bee assured thou shalt bee convicted not onelie of grosse unthankfulnesse but of high treason forgetting the Giver and abusing the gift yea for thrusting the perishing gift into the Throne of the ever-living Giver HEarken hearken O my Soule and belieue mee speaking unto thee from the mouth of thy GOD who esteemeth of thee highlie out of that loue wherewith Hee hath loved thee freelie Haddest thou O my Soule that hearing eare to hearken unto and that understanding heart to
sinne to be a sufficient scarre to affray him from the cōmitting of sinne yea from wallowing in uncouth sinnes even with delight as if hee were some filthie Swine made with his Face downwardes and not a Man vvhome GOD hath honoured vvith His owne Image Tell mee tell mee O my Soule if any man would eyther of purpose or with pleasure defile his outward Garment with anie kynde of Filth if hee could bee perswaded that nothing coulde cleanse that his Garment againe but a Vessell full of his owne best blood Now telleth not the Scripture thee O my Soule That thou beeing defiled with Sinne canst not possiblie bee cleansed from it but by the Blood of IESVS onelie Shalt thou then attempt at anie time to commit sinne of purpose and to continue in sinne with pleasure And if thou darest doe so canst thou thinke thy selfe to bee one vvho eyther esteemeth honourablie of that honourable Blood of IESVS shedde to cleanse thee or reverentlie and honourablie of that blessed GOD vvho shedde His Blood for thee SInne is a filthie thing Sinne is a most cruell filthie thing O my Soule as thou mayest easilie perceiue and let this humble thee Alwayes honourable and precious is that Blood of blessed IESVS Forcible and strong beyond measure is that Blood of blessed IESVS and let this comfort thee IESVS His Blood is honourable and precious for it can doe away the filth of Sinne making a man even cleane in His eyes before whom the well informed Childe of GOD stryveth speciallie to bee cleane Forcible and strong is the Blood of IESVS for it can wash a man not from one sinne but from everie sinne yea from all sinnes were they never so monstrous so presumptuous Hast thou not ô my soule considered that first Chapter of Matthew for thine information Yea for thy speciall consolation anent this point ô blessed IESVS my sole saviour of whom art Thou come according to the flesh and so what fathers what mothers will Thy Majestie as man haue is Thy Majestie O my Saviour onlie come of Abraham and not of Pharez also whom Iudah begot on Tamar his Daughter in Law Will Thy Majestie O my Saviour haue Sarah onlie the wife of Abraham for Thy Mother and not Rahab the Harlot and Ruth the Moabitish also But wherefore O my soule would blessed IESVS haue such Fathers haue such Mothers according to the flesh Surelie surelie to testifie before GOD Angels and Men that He came not to call the Righteous but Sinners Marke 2.1 to Repentance were their sinnes never so manie never so monstrous providing that they by a liuelie faith coulde keepe that blood which He hath shedde to wash them and by sincere repentance accompaning this their faith testifie to the world that they haue learned being taught by the Spirit to accompt honourablie of this His blood shedde for them O My Soule I will tell thee to thy comfort were thy sinnes never so manie were thy sinnes never so monstrous that precious blood of blessed IESVS who hath loved thee is sufficientlie able to wash thee from them all Alwayes I must tell thee for thine information and reformation That wise IESVS vvill not vvash thee in His blood from thy manie sinnes by past from thine uglie sinnes praesent to the ende that thou mayest afterwardes defile thy selfe with sinne or continue in the trade of thy praesent sinnes but to the ende Revel 1.5.6 that thou being washen by Him mayest prooue a Spirituall King subduing Sinne and a Spirituall Priest offering up thy selfe in bodie soule in a living and an holie Sacrifice unto GOD. Tell me Rom. 12.1.2 tell mee O Zachariah the Father of Iohn the Baptist Wherefore came CHRIST into this Worlde bringing cleane and cleansing blood with Him Was it not That we being delivered out of the handes of our Enemies Luke 1.74.75 should serue Him vvithout feare O Paul tell me wherfore died my LORD and LYFE IESVS CHRIST for mee Was it not That I hence-foorth should not attempt to liue to my selfe but unto Him vvho died for mee and rose againe Yea 2. Cor. 5.15 tell mee O Paul Wherefore hath our Glorious GOD appointed that His blessed Gospel to bee preached vvhich I may justlie call That buntch of Hyssope by the which our soules are sprinkled vvith that cleansing bloode of that cleane Lambe vvho maketh that destroying Angel to passe by us vvhile others die Was is not O my soule that wee denying all ungodlinesse and worldlie lustes should liue holilie and righteouslie Tit. 2.11.12 and soberlie in this praesent Worlde HAth that Great GOD and blessed Saviour of the Worlde IESVS loved thee O my Soule And loving thee vvashen thee from thy sinnes in His blood Yea renewed thee so by His Spirite that thou darest not attempt to liue to thy selfe seeking such things as may profite thee may pleasure thee but unto Him vvho died for thee studying alwayes to doe those thinges vvhich may please Him and conquish Glorie unto Him Bee sure bee sure O my Soule that this blessed One thy great Saviour enjoying all Priviledges hath no Priviledge in a manner vvhereof Hee will not gladlie make thee Partner And must not this comfort thee against all temptations and crosses if thou canst loue Him and cleaue unto Him And shall not this confound thee if knowing this to bee true as thou must know it to bee most true if thou darest attempt to forget Him and to bee unthankfull unto Him IESVS hath one GOD O my Soule and Hee will haue His GOD to bee thy GOD. Iohn 20.17 IESVS hath a Father and Hee will haue His Father to bee thy Father IESVS is not onelie cloathed vvith an humane nature but also with a Divine nature and Hee will haue thee to bee a Partner of the Divine nature also 1. Pet. 1.4 IESVS is the LORD His CHRIST and so that holy One vvhome His Father hath annoynted Psal 45.7 vvith the Oyle of gladnesse aboue His fellowes to bee the Great King and Priest of the Kirke and Hee will haue thee made a King and a Priest unto GOD His Father also IESVS is the Heyre of that Inheritance immortall Revel 1.6 undefiled which fadeth not away and Hee will haue thee to bee an Heyre of that Kingdome annexed with Him Yea Rom. 8.17 this IESVS is entered alreadie into that Heaven of Heavens even in my nature sitting there at the Right Hand of that Great Majestie and He vvill haue thee O my Soule to be there Iohn 17.24 even with this my bodie also Yea till I be there in bodie in soule the whole Elect of GODS Members with me that holy One that blessed One IESVS vvho is Loue it selfe for otherwayes Hee had never died for mee will account Himselfe to bee imperfect yea to bee maymed as it were such is the force of that loue Ephes 1.13 wherewith Hee loved us and so rarelie inestimable are those
which may grieue GOD and please his Father that hee may obtaine his Fathers favour If an Husband finde that hee is wronged by his Wife let him not doe that which may grieue GOD and please his Wife to the ende he may obtaine his Wiues favour If a Wife finde that shee is wronged by her Husband let her not doe that which may grieue GOD and please her Husband to the ende shee may obtaine her Husbandes favour But let them all sticke constantlie unto GOD doing that alwayes which is good in His Eyes so bee sure that GOD shall eyther mooue King Husband Child Wife and so foorth to doe that which they shoulde doe or else strengthen Subject Childe Husband Wife c. to beare out with contentment the greatest wronges that can bee done unto them Wilt thou not then ô my Soule loue this GOD seeke this GOD serue this GOD with all men and against all men whether hee clappe thee or kuffe thee heale thee or wound thee quicken thee or slay thee TRue Saving Prayer O my soule may justlie be styled That Royall Ambassadour Prudent and Couragious Who lodging alwayes in a cleane Cabinet is directed from that Greatest King towardes that Greatest Monarch and who can no wayes upon anie condition bee mooved to stay from journeying forwardes till he come before Him to whome hee was sent discharging that Commission which hee carrieth in his Bosome and besides Him neyther to Mineon nor Courteour or anie of his Subjectes whatsoever Tell mee ô my Soule can anie in Heaven anie under Heaven teach thee to pray to thy Salvation besides that Great King even the Spirit of the Father and of His Dearest Sonne And therefore that Great Teacher of the Gentiles can resolue thee thus Roman 8.26 The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what to pray as wee ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for us with sighes which cannot bee expressed This Ambassadour of Prayer comming from the Spirit cannot lodge but in the quickened Soule and renewed heart of GODS Childe Reprobates I confesse may possesse manie Delicates but this Delicate of Saving Prayer they cannot haue And therefore the same Great Teacher of the Gentiles can marrie as it were Prayer and Salvation after an unseparable manner together saying Rom. 10.13 Whosoever calleth upon the Name of the LORD to wit being ledde by the Spirite of Adoption the onelie Anker of Heavenlie Supplication shall bee saved Saving Prayer besides this is so prudent and couragious that beeing sent by this Spirite from the honest heart of GODS renewed Childe towardes that onelie Super-excellent Monarch GOD his Father it will not giue so much as a looke let bee a God-spcede as it were unto anie Angel unto anie Sainct in Heaven unto anie Man on earth beeing so directed by that Spirit by whome it was sent till it come in before that Great Majestie of the GOD of Heaven with whome onelie it hath to doe and there in His Bosome powre foorth the selfe O my soule Art thou not thus charged by GOD thy Father Psal 50.15 Call upon Mee in the day of thy trouble Art thou not thus charged by GOD thy Saviour When yee pray pray thus Our Father which art in Heaven Matth. 6.9 c. Art thou not thus charged by GOD thy Redeemer thy Comforter and Keeper If anie man aske Wisedome let him aske it of GOD. Iames 1.5 Search search ô my soule the whole Olde Testament the whole New Testament and trye if there thou mayest forgather eyther with Praecept directing thee to pray unto anie in Heaven or under Heaven besides thy GOD or with anie Promise That if thou prayest unto anie besides His Majestie thou shalt come speede or lastlie with anie practise shewing thee that ever anie of GODS Children ever sent up their Prayers to anie besides that Blessed GOD in whome they believed Vnderstande understande heerefore O my Soule that the ignorant prophane vaine bablinges of the blinde superstitious Papistes can bee no Saving prayers indyted by the blessed Spirite of GOD but windie foolish effectlesse words comming from their owne deceived Braynes and fonde imaginations For if they come from GOD His Spirit they would bee directed unto God onelie but since they bee drawne up unto creatures they cannot come from the true Spirite of that Creator blessed for evermore but from the lying spirites of base cursed creatures THE blinde blooddie restlesse Seminarie compassing the Earth to and froe with Satan sowing alwayes where hee commeth anie occasion being offered unto him his poysoned and poysoning Popple eyther to impede the receiving or to hinder the grouth of the good Wheate of GODS Worde to the ende that hee may perswade Man and Women of all Rankes even with some Greedinesse readilie to imbrace his lying Doctrine touching the Invocation of Sainctes hath verie highlie here-to-fore and doeth verie farre as yet advaunce that effectlesse Comparison taken from the Courtes of Earthlie Kinges And this Comparison hee hath hatched to the ende he may the more subtillie advaunce the Grandour and augment the Wealth of that Vylde Court of ROME And with this not onelie draw away poore simple people from beeing truelie courteous with that KING OF GLORIE Blessed for ever but also to stirre them up albeit hee abhorreth to confesse this to kythe themselues grosse and avowed Traytors against His Majestie O shamelesse Papist Is not this thy fonde alleadgeance as Subjectes considering the Grandour of their Princes and their owne basenesse are accustomed to goe unto their Kinges by Noble-men and Courteoures So the Children of GOD considering the Excellencie of that Majestie wherewith their GOD is cloathed beeing sensible in the meane time of their owne vildenesse by reason of those sinnes wherewith they are clogged should not attempt to goe to their GOD but by those Saincts which bee in heaven Hadst thou ô effronted Papist hearkened unto that answere now neareby twelue hundreth yeeres agoe given to this purpose by that famous Bishop of worthie memorie Ambrose thou wouldest haue beene affraid from kepping so greedilie without anie shew or reason Ambrose on Rom. 8. this effectlesse comparison from keeping it so pertinaciouslie even to this day without anie kinde of shame For this cause men and women are mooved to goe unto Kinges by Noble-men and Courteoures because Kinges bee but men and know not to whom they should commit the governament of their Countrey but while a man hath to doe with his GOD from whom nothing can be hidde for all men are knowne by Him wee haue neede of no such mediator but of a devoate humble holie heart for whensoever such an heart shall speake GOD shall loving lie answere it But O deceived and deceiving Seminarie to what purpose will this thy comparison serue thee in that countrey where the King with whom thou hast to doe hath by a speciall Edict under His great seale and publicke Proclamation raised thereupon authorized His eldest Sonne to bee