neuer wearieth the soules of such as delight in the liuing God whose beautie Dauid saw as neuer satisfied with the contemplation of the glorious Maiestie oâ— Iehouah whose beautie the more the Spirituall minde beholdeth in his word his workes his fauour power and prouidence the more is hee mooued with desire to see more and more And thinkes no happinesse comparable to the happinesse of a heauenly life Much were the Disciples mooued at the sight of Christs transfiguration in so much as they desired to haue built there Tabernacles to haue enioyed that blessed sight Still to desirous was Dauid still to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple Where God is truely heard and duly called vpon by a holy congregation nay by one particular faithfull Christian there appeareth the glorie of God There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mightie God of Iaakob whose glorie filleth the Temple which onely the Spirituall man seeth with a supernaturall eye Though the carnall man bodily present apprehendeth it not Paul at his conuersion saw Gods glorie but they that were with him heard onely a voyce but saw it not Such beautie shineth in the hearts of the deere Children of God by the operation and illumination of the Holy Ghost by whom Stephen saw the glorie of God in the heauens and Christ sitting at his right-hand which none 〈◊〉 can see but such onely aâ—are inlightened who take such surpassing sweet delight in the beholding the face of God not onely in the Word wherein hee is in part seene but especially through faith that their soules are euen rauished and as it were transchanged by the splender therof as it were into the Image of the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father â—od commanding the light to shine out of darkenesse shineth in our hearts to giue light of the knowledge of the Glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let vs therefore indeuour to exercise our selues in puritie and sanctitie clensing our consciences from all counterfeit sincerity and labour to become in deed such as wee would seeme to bee And not to neglect the visiting of the materiall Temple to heare the Word of GOD and to pray vnto him if wee hope to be happie for there is none happie but they whom GOD loueth and who loue GOD if wee loue God wee will delight in him to heare him often for our instruction and confirmation of our faith and to seeke him by our prayers for he is ready to bee found of all them that are true of heart who shall heere behold his beautie and hereafter enioy his glorie A Prayer vnto God that he will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to prayse him GRant O most gracious Lord God according to the riches of thy grace that I may bee strengthened by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and so my whole spirit soule and bodie may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus for thou Lord knowest what I am by nature a man vnworthy to take thine holy Name into my mouth or to come into thy presence being inclynable to no good dutie but apt to euery vanity I come therefore vnto thee heauenly Father in the Name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne in whom thou hast promised to receiue them that sincerely seeke thee heare the voyce of my petitions O Lord when I crie vnto thee and when I lift vp my hands towards the mercies seat of thy holy Temple reiect me not vnto thee O Lord I lift vp my soule crauing pardon for my sinnes and that thou wilt admit me into the holy societie of thy Saints and that I may delight to dwell in thy holy Temple vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings for euer Let my heart bee euer vpright in thy Statutes and faithfull euer before thee for thou hast pleasure in righteousnesse and hee is blessed in whose heart are thy wayes knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy Name giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to walke euer vprightly as in thy presence Indue me with thy Spirituall knowledge leade me by thy right hand to thine holy Temple shew mee thy glorie and thy beauty that I may be comforted through thy presence Open mine eares that I may heare thee and thy Word by thy holy Ministrie and prepare my heart to receiue knowledge and vnderstanding and open my mouth and fill it with thy prayses and let my prayers in thy Sons Name bee acceptable vnto thee Shew me thy way and giue mee vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandements and walke in them My hearts desire Lord is to dwell with thee to haue the full free fruition of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth that I may serue thee with a pure affection and giue thee prayse in the congregation of thy Saints Turne thy face vnto me O Lord that I may see the beautie of thy countenance and bee changed into the same Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit bee admitted to visite thine holy Temple with faith and assurance of thy presence wherein I know is libertie and life protection and plentie of all good things Make my heart stable vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure conscience and vndefiled that I may not come into thine house only to bee seene and to seeme seruiceable or dutifull vnto thee but may inwardly hunger thirst for thy Word the food of my soule the bread of life and imprint the same so effectually in my soule that it may prooue fruitfull in â—ee and that I may shâ—w it in my 〈◊〉 holy conuersation to thy Glorie that being filled with the comforts proceeding from the beautie of thy countenance I may euer posâ—sesse my soule in that peace which passeth all vnderstanding euer-more reuerencing thy glorious Maiâ—stie that euer-more filleâ—h both the heauens and the earth fill my heart O Lord with thy Spirit that I may draw neere vnto thee and to thy Holy place my strong Rocke to thee will I alwayes resort Make mee to heare ioy and gladnesse and that I may more abound in hope and be strengthened to euery good work through the power of the holy Ghost by Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Lord increase my faith The Conclusion A Prayer for true happinesse which shall bee consummate onely in heauen O Lord what am I the son of dust and ashes that I should presume to come into thy presence to seeke and desire felicity and happinesse here in this wildernesse of so many vanities miseries and troubles as are among the children of men As for me Lord thou knowest wherof I am made thou remembrest that I am but dust what happinesse therfore Lord can I look to obtaine here where sinne dwelleth in my mortall body
and by sinne I offend and displease thee and in thy displeasure is death O preuent me Lord therfore from sinfull feeding my foolish mind with false felicitie as to repose my happinesse in the things of this life in health riches honour beautie carnall friends worldly wisdome pleasures delights ease which are not worthy in respect of true happinesse in deed to bee the least esteemed Giue me therefore here O Lord euen in this life an entrance into true happinesse send foorth thy Spirit and breath life into my dead soule transforme me into thine own image from glory to glory by thy Spirit withdraw me from delight in the vanities of this life for as long as I delight in the pleasing things of this world I am farre from happinesse and it lies not in my power to restrain my heart from that which naturally I affect I cannot subdue the corruption of mine owne nature but that which is impossible to mee is possible with thee declare therefore thy great power in mercy vpon me I am by nature wretched miserable and poore and naked a most vnhappy man yet such is my blindnesse that I see it not I feele not mine owne vnhappinesse Lord remooue that darknesse from me and graunt that seeing I may see mine owne errour and in hearing I may vnderstand and take the right way to felicitie work faith in my heart that I may taste how gracious thou art in working in me a new heart a new mind and new affections holy and heauenly the beginning here of happinesse to come Make mee to feele the peace of a good conscience let my faith be seen through obedience vnto thee let me feele in my soule through faith the merits of thy Son working the assurance of the remission of my sinnes and assured hope of the enioying of my finall felicity and endlesse happinesse in heauen None are truly happy or blessed but such as thou dost chuse cause to come vnto thee for none can come vnto thee but whom thou callest and they onely are iustified whom thou iustifiest them wilt thou glorifie and whom thou glorifiest are and none else truly happy Carry me therefore gracious Lord carry me by the wings of thy mercy and by the strength of thy fauour in Christ my Sauiour into that heauenly Canaan the inheritance of them that are in Christ Iesus elected to saluation Let me euen here in this base outward forme of an vnhappy man behold thee through faith in thy word let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse for in the liuely beholding of thee is the fulnes of ioy and highest happinesse in this life O that the time would therefore speedily come wherein I being dissolued may see thee my Sauiour face to face when this my mortall body shall be quickened and made like vnto thy glorious body for I know thou wilt keepe vnto the end that which I haue committed vnto thee both my soule and body to bee glorified and made happie though I yet see not what I shall be and therfore when thou wilt I will willingly lay down my life and commit my soule vnto thee my God through Iesus Christ as vnto my most faithfull Creator and louing Redeemer to whom with the holy Ghost bee all glory for euer Amen The consummation and full perfection of our happinesse shall be When wee shall bee made partakers of the diuine Nature 2. Pet. â— v. 4. When Christ shall tranâ—forme our base bodies that they may bee like the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. v. 21. When she shall perfectly enioy those things which eye hath not seen nor the eare heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to coâ—ceiue which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2 11.9 Who then or what shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ in and by whom wee haue firme hope to attaine vnto this so great happinesse neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor perill nor the sword Romanes 8. verse 35. Which God for his Christes sake graunt to whome with the Holy Ghost be ascribed all glory for euer Amen The principall things contained in this Booke A Meditation or Consultation what are the best things that men in this life should principally ayme at to attaine vnto highest happinesse c. Fol. 1. A motiue to Prayer against the temptations of Sathan c. 18 A Prayer for Gods holy assistance against Sathan 23. A Meditation to stirre vs vp when wee are vnapt to pray 29. A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings spirituall and corporall c. 35. A motiue to begin the day with Prayer 54. A Prayer fit to bee vsed euery morning 57. A motiue to Prayer before a man 〈…〉 65. A Prayer for a man before hee goes to hiâ—â—â—ghtly rest 70. A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience c. and may serue as a motiue to some prayers that follow viz. 77. A generall Prayer in whatsoeuer troubles and affections with a confâ—ssion that sinne is the cause of them 103 A Prayer for a man hindred by 〈…〉 kind of 〈…〉 lawfull takings c. 114 A consideration or consultation touching the estates and conditions of seuerall men c. necessary for all men that hope of any blessing vpon their labors Trauels Professions Artes Trades or Jmployments 124 A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and endeauors in whatsoeuer calling 139 A Prayer for a man whose Calling requireth Journeyes by land or sea 149 A motiue to a Prayer for patience in godly Parents that are affâ—icted in minde for the disobedience and vngodly liues of their children c. 150 A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children and for patience in Parents c. 166 A Christian incouragement to all that feare God act to bee 〈◊〉 at the threats 〈◊〉 and policies of whatsoeuer enemies c. To which is added a Prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger 173 A Prayer to God that hee will defend vs from our strongest enemies with Thankesgiuing to God for our former deliuerances 189 A necessary motiue to stirre vs vp to a holy desire to resort to the Temple of God to pray vnto him with the Congregation and to heare his VVord c. 198 A Prayer to God that hee will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him 219 A Prayer for true happinesse which shall be consummate only in heauen 226 FINIS
other thine vnspeakeable fauours from time to time bestowed vpon mee touching my corporall comfort which I neither can expresse with tongue nor conceiue with my heart Accept I humbly beseech the merrits of thy Sonne and his obedience in stead of my thankfulnesse for I am corrupt and sinnefull not worthy to take thy glorious Name into my mouth nor to heare that sacred Word from thine I am dull in hearing thee speake vnto mee and slower in practise of the good things thou commandest but prone and apt to doe the contrarie Such is my wretched condition that what I should doe in answer of thy will I cannot doe it But what thou forbiddest I cannot but doe it A wretched creature deare Father I am by nature yet grieued in heart that I am thus yoked that when I would serue thee I finde a law in my members rebelling against thy Spirituall working in mee and am cast downe in my Spirit finding so strong an enemy in mine owne flesh that still fighteth against thy Grace working in me striuing to hinder euery good and holy motion arising of thy Spirit So that when I would doe good euill is present with me when I would pray dulnesse and drowsinesse nay to my shame O Lord meere infidelity seemeth so to possesse my heart that I cannot open my mouth vnto thee Thou giuest mee many occasions through the infinite tokens of thy loue to mooue mee to thankefulnesse and yet I rest vnthankefull I feele also in my selfe as many occasions through mine owne corruption and wants to huÌ„ble my selfe before thee in prayer yet I rest often-times altogether mute and can neither pray nor be sufficiently thankefull The comforts which thou daylie and hourely vouchsafest mee I receiue and enioy yet doe I not shew my selfe so forward to acknowledge these thy mercies as I am ready to receiue them They are infinite my selfe not worthy the least of them And such is thy loue and Fatherly prouidence ouer mee that euery day and euery night and euerie minute in them doe testifie vnto mee that thou art euer my mightie God in defending mee from dangers and my most louing Father in coÌ„tinually supplying all my wants Thou mayst Lord iustly with-hold from mee my food in the day and my rest in the night because in the day I neglect to serue thee and in the night I forget to call vpon thee Thou canst not but obserue that I haue not so thought and meditated of thy louing kindenesse and mine owne dangers this night as to affoord the least breach of my sleepe to thanke thee I layde me downe I haue slept my sleepe and by thy power risen againe O that mine vprising from my sleepe might through thy Grace worke mine vprising from my sleepe in sinne Gracious God and full of loue grant me thy loue that I may render thee loue which I confesse deserueth not the name of loue in comparison of thine though for thy loue I should giue my body to be burned yet such is thy mercie that thou acceptest the least mite of true obedience as a great measure of my loue so full of humane and spirituall infirmities which haue ouerspread as thou knowest all-offending Adams issue Holy Father I know thee and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ hee it is that hath taken away that heauie burden of my corruption by his most perfect Righteousnesse and the guilt and punishment of my transgressions by his owne al-sufficient sufferings Therefore though I be slack in thankfulnesse for thy blessings and fauours formerly bestowed vpon mee Let mee euen this morning as I newly enter into the light of the day so by thy Grace grant Lord that I may enter into the light of new and sincere knowledge and obedience Humbly praying thee to bee vnto mee this day following a God to preserue a Captaine to defend mee a light to guide me and a louing Father to releeue me Let thy blessings bee plentifully powred vpon mee let heauenly knowledge abound in mee let faith more and more increase and be strengthened in me and the power of sin and Satan more more be weakened in mee So shall mine obedience towards thee my God more and more appeare in mee and then shall all that I take in hand this day and at all times prosper which grant good Father in Iesus Christ sake Amen Lord increase my saith this day and euer A motiue to prayer before a man goes to bed IT is commonly obserued that hee that forgets to giue God thankes when hee beginnes the day for the rest and saftie in the night past will not be well disposed to commend himselfe to God when hee goes to rest in the night yet is the night the most dangerous time when darkenesse ouer shadowes the house wherein wee sleepe and when our eyes are shut vp by the drowsinesse of our spirits what comfort can there then appeare Though wee may lie downe in some artificiall light wee are suddenly be cloudâ—d with naturall darkenesse wherein all that intend wicked and secret mischiefes are most apt to attempt most dangerous plots vpon such as are secure without God And Satan himselfe findeth the darkenesse of the night the fittest time to present vnto our wandring thoughts some euill imaginations our mindes being then at seeming quiet free from externall obiects And what that malignant enimie suggesteth in darkenesse the man not hauing faith and the feare of God longeth for the light to put that euill in practise that Satan hath in the darke mooued him vnto Besides we see by dayly experience that many haue layd themselues downe to rest in the night in seeming safty that could not say with Dauid J rose againe in safetie for the Lord sustained me for some haue beene preuâ—nted by sudden death some by sickenesse So that if the Lord sustaine vs not if hee defend vs not if hee watch not ouer vs if his Angels garde vs not especially in the night wee cannot but be subiect to manie ineuitable perils And how can wee thinke to enioy quiet rest in safty if we cal not vpon him that is our keeper and the giuer of rest sleepe and health For where God is not in the minde there are the thoughts wandring vpon things offensiue to God pleasing to Satan hurtfull to our soules and distempering the body which in a moment may seperate the vnprepared soule from the wretched body What and how diffâ—rs the man that lies downe to sleepe not calling vpon God from brute creatures which couet and take there rest and sleepe as man and rise vp to feed Should reasonable man so neerely resemble vnreasonable creatures who in their kinde praise God and man to dishonour him by vsurping the benefit of rest and sleepe without acknowledging them his owne gifts And how can he acknowledge them his gifts without thankesgiuing vnto him for them and prayer to him to enioy them Let no man be so stupid sottish and bruitish as to goe to
his rest without recommending himselfe to God his body his soule and all that hee possâ—ssâ—th for it is hee onely that keepeth Israel namely all that feare him hee is euer watchfull ouer his for he neuer slumbreth nor sleepeth To his power prouidence and protection then let vs recommend our selues confessing our sins and crauing pardon â—n the mâ—rits of his Sonne so shall we lay our selues downe in peace to rest and rise againe in safetie for the Lord himselfe will sustaine vs. A Prayer before a man goe to his nightly rest O God powerfull and louing in Iesus Christ I thanke thee that thou hast safely brought mee to the end of this day wherein I thankfully confesse I haue receiued at thy most bountiful hands through Christ many coÌ„fortable blessings not worthy of the least of them but rather of punishment for this dayes sinnes though committed in the light yet are they the works of darknes Good Father disperse dispell the darknesse of my sinning minde as a mist and send mee the light of thy sauing grace to enlighten mee now in the darknes of the night which with thee is as the noone day but to me it is fearefull without thee for that in it many dangers lye hidden to mee vnknowne and if I knew them vnable I am without thee to preuent the least of them But thou that hast made the blacke euening hast made also the bright morning and in both thou art a like watchfull ouer those that are thine I doe therefore humbly recommend my selfe my soule and my body into thy most powerfull protection The darknesse of the night doth as well declare thy glory as doth the clearest rest day Though to mee weake creature the night is most dangerous but that thou art my light and my saluation what or whom therefore need I to feare Thou art the strength of my life of whom or of what should I be afrayd Thou art to mee a strong rocke a house of saftie in the night for weake is the strength of the strongest materiall house vnable to preuent the dangers which thou permittest to befall many But Lord I trust not in houses of clay I trust in thee my strength to thee I come for succour defence this night withhold not thy helpe lest I perish in the darknesse I trust in thee let my darknesse be turned into light and let the light of thy sauing couÌ„tenance cheere mee in this nights darknesse for without thy fauor I liue in darknesse in the most cleare day light and hauing thee my light the darknesse of the night shall bee light vnto mee Lord abandon from my heart all vnholy thoughts this night and giue mee a watchful heart though my body sleepe mine eyes shut vp and all thy visible creatures all carnall obiects be taken from my sight let the eyes of mine vnderstanding be alwayes open to behold to my comfort thy brightnesse and glory The Heauens declare thy glory and the Firmament sheweth the work of thine hands these and all other thy creatures shew thy greatnes and the preseruation of them sheweth thy goodnes and mine owne continuall preseruation I cannot but to my shame and condemnation confesse to thy praise and glory Giue me therefore holy Father a thankfull heart for thy mercies this day past and a fearefull heart to offend thee sleeping by euill and corrupt dreames or waking by euill and vngodly thoughts and vnholy imaginations that sleeping and waking I may feele the working of thy Spirit either in holy Meditations or faithfull Prayers that euen as the day requireth mee not to bee idle in well performing my lawfull labours so I may not spende my night-wakings in idle fantasies but in holy thoughts And let mee not be ouercome as Samson with sleep who lost his strength least Sathan finding mee so sleeping should depriue me of my faith in thee which is my strength the strength of my life but that I may so watch as whether I wake I may wake to thee or whether I sleepe I may sleepe in thee Lord let me not sleepe in my sinnes â—et mee not carry the guilâ— of my transgressions past vnto my bed but through the merites of my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus vouchsafe mee pardon for all my sinnes and be thou pleased to bee reconciled vnto mee through his Blood So will I lay mee downe to take my rest beseeching thee so to watch ouer mee that I may rest in peace and rise in peace and let the words of my mouth that I shall vtter this night and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable vnto thee O Lord my GOD my Strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my Faith this night and confirme it in mee for euermore Amen A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience by the example of most holy men that haue been in greatest affliction and may serue as a generall motiue to sundry seuerall Prayers following TRouble comprehendeth all the miseries that man endureth in this life aduersitie enemies sicknes pouertie persecution and all kindes of afflictions and sufferings infinite in number grieuous in qualitie and irksome to flesh and blood and befalleth on men diuersly either for the punishment of sinne past or for the preuenting of sinne to come God sendeth affliction vpon his owne dearest children to weine them from the loue of the vanities of the world that they perish not with the world But vnto the wicked as the beginning of their sorrowes and to terrifie his own from committing like sinnes by example of their punishments Gods children are forewarned that they must suffer He that will liue godly in Christ must suffer affliction yet by promise not aboue their strength for God putteth to his hand to make their burden light with a promise also of future comfort and though their troubles seeme great and grieuous faith in God maketh them more easie to them that suffer then they conceiue that beholde them with carnall eyes Great indeed are the troubles of the righteous but God deliuereth them out of all Sorrow heauinesse may endure for a night namely during this life but ioy commeth in the morning after this death and at the resurrection of the dead glory for euermore Troubles are but for a moment and then commeth comfort therfore doe the children of God with ioy and patience vndergoe them But contrary the comfort of the wicked is here short and momentany but thâ—ir future misery will be perpâ—tuall The patient suffering of the children of God is a manifest token of the righteous iudgement of God as Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians whose patient suffering he commended imputing it a glory vnto them that they were accounted worthy of the kingdome of God for which they suffered Whereby it appeareth that euery suffering euen of the godly is not glorious such as befall them for their transgressions But if we liue godly in Christ and for that suffer
of God and of his good creatures because Dauid saieth There is a God that careth for the poore they deceiue themselues for there is no promise but to the poore fearing God and that endeauour to liue by their lawfull labours for no wilfully idle poor man can expect any promised comfort from God but the godly who are made poore by Gods prouidence to draw them to himselfe through affliction God tryeth all his children poore and rich not after one and the same manner but some by enemies as he did Dauid some by sicknesse as hee did Hezekiah some by imprisonment as he did Joseph some with pouertie and penurie as he did Lazarus some by losse of children and goods as hee did Iob yet hee hath his time againe to release them as hee raysed Dauid to the Crowne of Jsrael as hee healed Hezekiah and gaue him longer life from the prison hee made Joseph a Prince hee gaue Iob abundance of wealth and tooke Lazarus from his misery inâ—o Abrahams bosome When then that hath any faith or feeling of these most worthy examples of Gods humbling his Chrildren and againe raysing them vp will faint or feare whatsoeuer befall them in this life Were he persecuted as Eliah by Jezebel who had no visible helpes but a silly boy attending him did not God send an host of heauenly Angels for his defence God hath his Angels ministring Spirits still ready to incampe about his such is his care and watchfulnesse his power and his prouâ—dence that no Saul shall preuaile against his chosen Dauid though hee were a mightie King with his armies against that one single man he could not hurt him no Senacherib with his mighty Host could not haue his will against faithfull Hezekiah And therfore sayth Dauid full of assurance If an Host pitched against me my heart should not bee affrayd So Iaakob was not dismayde at Esaus coÌ„ming against him with foure hundred men because hee knew that God was with him But admit that an Herode haue power permitted him of God to take away Iohn Baptists head and to kill Iames with the sword shall we deeme it a hurt vnto them in furthering and hastening their deliuery from misery to their future glorie with Christ Whatsoeuer the enemies of God practise against the faithfull Children of GOD by persecuting them as they did by whipping Paul by imprisoning Peter by stoning Steuen Doe they not make these the more glorious in their patient suffering for Christ who hath prouided for them a Citie a Kingdome a Crowne What lose then these seeming miserable men when for their momentanie sufferings they shall receiue a perpetuall reward Gods faithfull Children the more they are persecuted and afflicted the more they flourish in well doing and the more they suffer the more faithfull strong and constant they grow And the more miseries they indure so much the more take they hold of Gods power prouidence and promises who hath assured them that hee will neuer faile them nor forsake them But whatsoeuer by whomsoeuer and in what manner soeuer they suffer all shall worke together for their future eternall happinesse A generall Prayer in whatsoeuer troubles afflictions with a confession that sinne is the cause of them O Father full of mercie and abundant in louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy best beloued thou hast euer a most Fatherly care of thy Children though thou permit them often times to vndergoe heauie afflictions in this present life by reason of which their greeuous troubles they are commonly censured of the world to bee euill doers and to bee cast out of thy fauour as was thy deare seruant Iob. And such as euer prosper and fall into no mis-fortunes nor troubles like other men to bee most beloued of thee which often causeth thy dearest Children to doubt of thy loue But Lord I know thee to be a Father whose propertie is to correct those whom thou louest best to keepe them vnder thine obedience who else by reason of their originall corruption the worlds vanities and Satans malice might bee easily drawne to rebell against thee I account it therefore gracious Father an especiall token of thy fauour and loue towards me that thou in so gentle a manner dost remember me and so fauourably to correct me for I cannot but acknowledge Lord and confesse against my selfe that my heart within mee is so filthy my minde so polluted and my will and affections so infected with sinne that if thou shouldest seeme to winke at and passe by mine infinite transgressions and not in some measure to afflict me I could not but according to mine owne corrupt condition but runne into and commit more and more heinous sinnes then hetherunto I haue done which already are more then sufficient to cast mee cleane out of thy fauour and consequently leaue me to mine owne vnruly will which euermore hungreth and thirsteth after things most offensiue vnto thee I doe confesse O Lord that pleasure and ease and fulnesse of all carnall delights are most sweet vnto to my carnall minde but much offensiue to thy most holy will The things that I should doe I cannot doe but the things that I should not doe they are my chiefe delight I loue what I should loathe and loathe that which is life vnto my soule whereby I heape vpon mee dayly a most importable burden of thy wrath And were it not that thou dost visite me with these thy Fatherly corrections I could not but meerely forget that euer thou createst me that Iesus Christ came and suffered to saue mee or that there were a Holy Ghost sent to comfort me And therefore good Father lay vpon me here what troubles or afflictions thou in thy wisdome thinkest sit to reclaime me from my euill wayes and yet as thou knowest to an obduâ—ate heart afflictions though they bee sharpe and greeuous yet they profit not without thou with thy corrections adde the molifying playster of thy Spirit to make my heart appliable to thy working hand Thou saydest vnto Paul hauing carnall motions that thy Spirit was sufficient to sustaine him O let thy Spirit possesse me then shall my stubborne heart relent then shall my peruers will in some measure frame it selfe to thy Will then shall my corrupt mind now wandring after vnholy things be reclaymed and onely seeke thee and the things more pleasing vnto thee The Fathers of our flesh haue beene carefull of our corporall preseruation and haue in loue corrected vs for our childish faults And shall I thinke that it behooueth me not to subiect my selfe to thy louing care of the preseruation of my soule who seeing not onely the faults of my weake youth but the grosse sinnes of my ripest age that I should repine at thy louing chastisements which thou so fauourably inflâ—ctest vpon me not to confound mee but to conforme mee to thine obedience And therfore Father as thou well obseruest my sinnes which either I neglect to call to minde or which I cannot but