breathe the life of grace daily more and more into me and to inspire me continually with good motions with holy and heauenly desires that so I may delight in those things which are pleasing vnto thee and bring foorth the fruits of the spirit abundantly throughout the whole course of my life to the praise of the glorie of thy grace from whence alone is all my sufficiency and abilitie to the benefit of those among whom I either now doe or hereafter shall liue and to the endlesse comfort and saluation of mine owne soule through Christ my Lord and Sauiour who with thee O father and with thy holie spirit bee blessed and praised both now and euermore Amen The loue of the world and worldly desires banish all true loue of God from the soule HEE that suffereth any wordlie desires or the inordinate affection of any earthly thing whatsoeuer to take place in his heart cannot loue God sincerely entirely and vnfainedly yea the more the desire of his heart is inlarged vnto the affecting of those things the more is the loue of God abated and diminished in him as much as the one increaseth so much the other of necessitie must decrease O Lord who hast manifested thy loue so richly towards me fill my heart daily more and more with the loue of thy maiestie let the same whollie possesse me For this end suffer me not to be intangled at any time with the inordinate desire of any of these fading and fruitlesse vanities but free me I beseech thee from the sinful and immoderate affecting thereof yea purge my heart and banish farre from me the loue of al those things which might be a meanes in any sort to alienate my minde from thee and grant that my soule may delight in thee and that I may loue thee with my whole heart yea that the affection of my loue may bee set and fixed vpon thee alone who only art worthie to bee loued aboue all things and that if I loue or affect any thing else it may not bee otherwise then in thee and for thee vnto whom I am desirous to giue my heart with all the affections thereof The sinfulnes of mans nature corrupted O Lord what a fountaine of corruption do I see continually springing vp within me and how much more doth there abound in me which beeing hid from mine eyes is seene onely of thee who alone knowest the heart and beholdest the inward and most hidden secrets thereof which the eye of man cannot pierce into Doe thou vouchsafe to clense it daily more more Powre downe plentifully that cleane water of thy sanctifying grace which may wash away that filthines euen those staines and pollutions wherewith I am defiled and which beeing lothesome in mine owne eyes cannot but be as an abomination before thee who art so pure that thou canst not see euill nor behold wickednesse O let thy spirit purge and purifie my soule from that inbred corruption and contagiō thereof which cleaueth so fast vnto it yea let it be as fire to drie vp those polluted streames which flow continually from that vncleane fountaine that so I may be found of thee without spot and blamelesse in the day of that glorious appearance of thy sonne my blessed sauiour and redeemer in whom though I see him not yet doe I beleeue and reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious Blindnes of minde a great miserie IF any want the eyes of their bodies they account it a greate miserie and would vse any meanes be at any cost to enioy the comfort and benefite of their sight And yet most want the eyes of their soules and thinke it to be no miserie neither regard nor seeke once for that wherein the comfort of their liues consisteth and whereby they should come to see the light of glory in the kingdome of heauen O Lord though others be wilfully blinde and so most miserable whiles they see it not yet open thou mine eyes euer more and more Suffer not sinne with the deceitfulnes thereof to drawe any filme ouer them but giue me daily a clearer sight of mine owne miserie and of thy vnspeakeable mercies towards mee who am vnworthie of the least of them Hardnes of heart a fearefull plague THere can no worse plague happen vnto any one then a harde and obdurate heart and yet alas how fewe be there that complaine of it although they be farre gone with it How fewe that seeke to be thoroughly recouered of it although they haue present meanes continually offered vnto them for the cure of it Oh they know not the danger of it or if they doe and seeke not carefullie for the remedie surely they are exceeding desperate of their estate Good Lord breake thou this stony heart of mine I humbly pray thee Giue me to see and to grieue daily more and more for the hardnes of it and neuer to sleepe in rest till I feele it softned and mollified yea till I be cured and altogether recouered of it Howsoeuer it shall please thee outwardly to afflict me for my good yet Lord keepe me alwaies I beseech thee from that inward spirituall and most fearefull iudgement which thou vsest to send vppon the reprobate who beeing past all feeling seale vp vnto themselues thereby the assurance of eternall perdition Feare of God I Haue oft wondered to see in what awe most stand of mortall men who haue power of their goods life or outward estate how carefull they are to please them how affraid to offend them and yet in the meane while how regardlesse they are and shew thēselues to be of that great that powerfull and immortall God whose name is terrible yea who is able presently to cast them both soule and bodie into hell for euer there to haue their portion among the damned Either men are Atheists and thinke there is no God for they that beleeue that there is a God can not but know that his power is infinite and therefore must needes feare him more then any man whose power is but finite when it is greatest Or else they are maruellous desperat who though they know and will acknowledge the power and the fiercenes of his wrath yet feare not the punishment and the horrible torments which he hath threatned against them O Lord let me not be either so blinded or so hard-hearted as the wicked and vngodly are Let me alwaies feare before thee and tremble at thy presence standing continually in awe of so great and glorious a maiestie which the Angels adore and reuerence And let this feare of thee and thy righteous iudgements banish and driue out of my heart the loue of all sinne so that I may not once dare willingly to commit the same though I might thereby gaine the whole world Yea Lord doe thou plant thy feare in my heart let it possesse my soule and then it can not be but that I should seeke in all things to please thee more then men and feare to offend thee in
may alwaies make pretious account of the least measure which it shall please thee in mercie to vouchsafe vnto me referre it wholly to thy honour and glory And sith whatsoeuer I am I am in thee whatsoeuer grace I haue I haue it from the whose gift onely it is let me be content with that portion which thou in thy wisdome and goodnesse allottest vnto me and knowing that for the present it is sufficient for me neither enuie those that haue receiued more lest I repine against thee nor despise those that haue lesse lest it displease thee and cause thee in iustice to withdraw that grace from me which in mercie thou hadst freelie giuen vnto me and to bestow it vpon those who would make better vse of it Death alwaies to be desired of the godlie IF anie shall take away from me my torne and ragged-worne coate and in stead thereof put vpon me a new and a better shall I thinke that I haue anie iniury done vnto me haue I anie cause to complaine as if I were wronged If the Lord vncloath me by depriuing me of this temporall this sinfull and corruptible life and in stead of it cloath me with that which is eternall incorruptible and most glorious doth he hurt me doth he any wrong or iniurie vnto me shall I complaine yea rather Lord let me desire alwaies to remoue out of this bodie and to dwell with thee for euer Let me desire earnestlie to put off this corruption to be dissolued to be with Christ my Sauiour in the heauens for this is that onelie happinesse and felicitie which I expect and hope for Lord euen when it pleaseth thee let me see thy saluation which thou hast promised The imprisonment of the godlie in this life THe godlie whiles they remaine in this world liue as it were in perpetuall imprisonment They are laden with manie chaines and fetters which lie heauie vpon them and cause them to sigh in themselues and to long earnestly for the time of their deliuerance freedom O blessed Lord thou knowest what a burden vnto my soule this corruptible and sinnefull bodie of mine is which I carry coÌ„tinually about with me and how this earthlie mansion keepeth downe and oppresseth my minde and maketh me heauie and vntoward for the performance of that good which thou commandest and wherein my heart desireth to approue it selfe vnto thee I am so fast in prison so much encumbred with manifold annoiances which are as it were so manie heauie irons pressing downe my minde and hindring me from walking before thee with that freedome of spirit and that cheerefulnes and alacrity wherein thou delightest that my soule mourneth secretlie within me and longeth to be freed from this miserie and bondage wherein I am now detained O Lord when wilt thou set me at libertie Continually doe I expect and waite for the redemption of this earthlie and sinfull bodie The vanitie of all earthlie things OH the vanitie of the things of this world riches pleasures honour whatsoeuer else to him that hath a carnall and fleshly eye may seeme most pretious and glorious how fruitles how fading and transitorie are they was there euer anie that found any true peace any sound ioy or contentment in anie or in all of them What a vaine thing then is it for any one to be carried with such an vnsatiable desire after them yea to place if not his onely yet his chiefe happines and felicitie in them as many doe O Lord draw my heart daily more and more from the things of this world whereunto the most are so fast glewed weane my soule both from the loue and desire of them and let my delight be in thee let me reioyce in thee continuallie yea let my soule alwaies long after thee and in comparison of thee esteeme of all these earthly things but as drosse meere vanitie A true discerning of the worlds vanitie maketh men willing to leaue it and desirous of a better estate out of it MAnie there be that complaine of the vanitie and deceitfulnesse of this world and yet are loth to leaue it to depart out of it Such either had neuer a true sight of the vanitie of all things here below and of the wretchednesse and miserie whereunto men euen the best are subiect in this life or else they neuer indeed fullie tasted of the blessednesse and felicitie of the life to come euen those endlesse ioyes and vnspeakable glorie which are prepared and reserued for the Saints in the kingdome of God or if they haue in some sort tasted of this heauenly gift yet without any certaintie or assurance that it belonged vnto them and that their right and portion should be in it and therefore could not be so soundly affected with it as thereby to be brought into a true dislike and contempt of this present euill world which notwithstanding at least they wouâ—d seeme to be out of loue with The man that seeth indeed how vaine how deceitfull and how miserable this world is and hath withall receiued the first fruits of the spirit of God and tasted of the sweetnes blessednes of the world to come and also knoweth that the assurance of the promise thereof is made and sealed vnto him and that by the truth it selfe euen by him whose word shall stand when heauen and earth shall passe away that man as he shall finde cause enough to complaine of this euill world wherein he liueth so it cannot be but that he should desire vnfainedly to be gone out of it to make change for a better euen that which his soule longeth after and in the hope and expectation whereof he resteth continually sighing in himselfe and waiting earnestly for the fruition and full possession thereof when as being vnclothed of the burden of this flesh loosed out of the prison of this earth he shal be clothed with glorie and immortality and liue for euer in that celestiall mansion not made with hands but eternall in the heauens O Lord when shall I be fullie deliuered from the bondage of corruption vnto which I am now daily subject when shall I lay downe this bodie of sinne and death which I now carrie continually about with me when shall I remoue out of this earthlie tabernacle when shall I leaue the wildernesse of this wearisome world and departing from hence be translated into that glorious kingdome of thine which thou hast promised vnto me My soule longeth to dwell in thy courts to see thy saluation to enioy thy blessed presence and to liue and rest with thee continuallie For here alas I find no resting place yea I see vanitie wretchednesse and miserie on euerie side in euerie place One sorrow succeedeth another The snares of many afflictions and temptations haue taken holde of me many deepe waters haue passed ouer me and euen almost ouerwhelmed me I am assailed continually with many and those verie dangerous and perillous enemies who fight against my
stand together the one of theÌ„ doth exclude the other the more the one of theÌ„ doth increase the more the other must needs decrease and bee diminished Is there any therefore that with a greedie and ambitious minde doth hunt after the praise of men and the glorie of this world sure it cannot be but that he should exceed in charitie who shall thinke him to bee truly religious or well affected towards God or vnfainedly desirous of his glorie O Lord let not my heart bee set vpon the glorie which is froÌ„ earth and from men but vpon that which is from heauen euen that which commeth from thee alone Let the glorie of this world though neuer so glittering in the eyes of men seeme vnto me as indeed it is in it selfe but vaine vanitie yea more vaine then vanitie it selfe but let the glorie of thy name bee deare and pretious vnto me aboue al those things which are most desired of theÌ„ that know thee not yea O Lord let it please thee to inflame this chill and this cold heart of mine with a greater loue and zeale thereof dailie more and more and to increase in me an earnest desire and endeuour to seeke and to set it foorth to the vttermost of my power and by al means and vpon all occasions which thou shalt offer vnto me In this onely let me alwaies be very ambitious A singular priuiledge belonging vnto all the children of God THe Lord doth cause all things to work together for the best vnto his children It is good for euery one of the godly to labor to see and to finde this by experience in himselfe and in his owne estate The diligent obseruation hereof cannot but make him both patient cheerefull and vnfainedly thankfull in all miseries and afflictions either outward or inward whether it be sicknesse of bodie or distresse of minde or whatsoeuer else may befall him throughout the whole course of his life euen to his last houre O gracious father whose exceeding loue and vnspeakable goodnes all thy children doe daily tast of in so great and abundant measure giue me I humbly pray thee not onely to see and acknowledge the same with al thankfulnes but also to haue a liuely sense and feeling thereof at all times in all things Let me assuredly perswade my selfe that thou doest loue me and hast loued me eternally in thy sonne and in thy loue towards me doest and wilt cause euery thing which betideth me in this world to tend vnto my greatâ—st good and let the assuraÌ„ce together with the continuall experieÌ„ce hereof cause me to rest quietly contentedly and thankfully in all estates howsoeuer it shall please thee to deale with me Iustification by faith onely IS it not strange that any should be so blind so extreamly deluded with a vaine and fond conceite of their owne goodnes and inherent holines as to thinke or once to imagine that they may stand iust before God thorough their owne righteousnes that they should perswade themselues that by the merit and worthinesse of their owne workes they haue right and interest vnto life and saluation yea that they should challenge and make claime thereunto as vnto that which is due vnto them as a iust recompence and reward which they haue well deserued and which God himselfe cannot without iniustice detaine and withhold from them nay that they should goe so farre as to affirme boldly that they may doe workes of supererogation more then God hath commanded or could require at their hands such as wherby they may merit great things not onely for themselues but for others also Had they euer the spirit of Christ or did they euer receiue the annointing of that holy one who teach maintaine or beleeue this doctrine so directly crosse and contrarie vnto the Scriptures so exceeding derogatorie from the free grace and mercie of God and from the merit of the death and passion of Christ Iesus our onely sauiour and redeemer by and for whose satisfaction obedience and righteousnesse alone we receiue the promise of the Gospell through faith without any deserts of our owne Alas what is man or what are the workes of the best men that they should present them vnto God and plead with him for the obtaining of so great a reward for the righteousnes and worthinesse of their owne deedes Nay certaine it is that if God should make inquiry into the best actions of the most holy and sanctified men that liue vpon the earth or that euer were most pure most perfect and most spotlesse and blamelesse in this world as great is the commendation wherewith God hath honoured many of his Saints if he should marke and obserue them and enter into iudgement with them for the same there is none no not one of them as the best and holiest of them haue freelie acknowledged that should bee iustified yea that should not be condemned and perish euerlastingly being neuer able to endure his presence so pure and so holy is his Maiestie so iust and so righteous are his iudgements that no flesh can abide the triall thereof O Lord most glorious and most righteous God when I looke vp vnto the throne of thy iustice and set my self before thy tribunall and iudgement seate I feare tremble am ready to flie froÌ„ thy presence as not able to stand before thee nor to answere for one of a thousand of those things whereby I haue most grieuously offended thy most glorious Maiesty and for which thou mightest iustly condemne mee for euer if thou shouldest once call me vnto a straite account of the same yea euen of the least of them and deale with me therein not according to thy great mercie but according vnto mine owne deseruings When I looke back vnto my life past take a view of the whole course therof how sinfull how vnfruitfull vnprofitable it hath been I am confounded in my selfe and dare not lift vp mine eyes to heauen for the multitude of my offences and transgressions whereby I haue continually displeased prouoked thee When I consider my present estate how many weaknesses and infirmities I am subiect vnto how sinne cleaueth fast vnto me and inuironeth and compasseth me round about on euery side yea how defectiue my best endeuours how corrupt and sinfull my best actions and seruices are and haue been yea how much my whole life hath swarued from that perfect and exact rule of iustice which thy law requireth I am astonied and strickeÌ„ with a great feare knowing that the time will shortlie come when I must appeare before the tribunall of thy iustice to answere for all my actions euen for all those things which I haue done in the flesh the workes of my hands the words of my mouth and the most secret thoughts and imaginations of my hart and to receiue accordingly What therefore is my hope vnto whom shall I flie wherein is my trust Surely my hope my trust and my confidence is not in any merits
it were continually with manifolde vexations and distractions The only way to liue peaceably and ioyfully is to leade a holie and a religious life in al sinceritie and vprightnes This bringeth with it that sweete peace and that inward solace and ioy which the world cannot giue O blessed Lord the daies of this my pilgrimage are few and euill make them comfortable vnto me I humbly pray thee by leading me forward in the waies of righteousnesse and true holinesse grant that I may alwaies endeuour my selfe to haue faith and a good conscience before thee and before all men and to walke continually in simplicitie and godlie purenes without al guile hypocrisie that so my heart may reioyce in thee vnfainedly yea euen be filled with that ioy which is vnspeakable and glorious How they are to liue that are redeemed by Christ IT is a shame for the Lords free man to make himselfe a seruant a drudge and a slaue to the world to sinne and Satan Hee that Christ hath redeemed must liue like one set at libertie being alwaies very carefull and warie that hee be not intangled nor ouercome with any lust with any corrupt and vnlawfull affection lest thereby he bring himselfe into that bondage and seruitude then which there can be nothing more wretched and miserable O Lord since it hath pleased thee of thy infinite goodnes and mercie to redeeme me with so great a price euen with the pretious blood of thy deare Sonne that immaculate Lambe graunt that being freed from that estate of corruption vnto which before I was in bondage and hauing escaped froÌ„ the filthinesse of the world wherewith I was formerlie stained and polluted I may be carefull to renounce all those vngodly courses euen that vaine conuersation wherein I walked and delighted before I knew thee and that sauing grace of thine which thou in the riches of thy mercies hast reueiled and manifested vnto me and that I may daily more and more labour and striue after spirituall libertie and freedome liuing as thy seruant as thy redeemed one and shewing foorth the vertues of thee my God and Sauiour who hast called me out of darknesse into that maruellous light of thine Gods loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things and his wrath feared IF wee bee out of fauour with men of no esteeme no reckoning amongst them If despised and disgraced of the world and made as such as are vile and of no reputation If wee bee but in daunger to lose our goods our riches our lands and liuing or to haue our outward estate by any meanes impaired and decayed or in any sort diminished If any of our dearest friends and nearest kinsfolke die and depart from vs for a while or if we our selues be in any perill of death loe then we are very sad and heauie we are exceeding pensiue and grieued out of measure as though no greater euill could befall vs. But if we be cleane out of the loue and fauour of God then which there can be no greater miserie if we be not regarded of him but are vile in his sight such as by reason of our sinnes hee doth lothe and abhorre more then wee doe the vgliest and the loathsomest creature in the world and doth many waies testifie the signes of his hatred and the deepe displeasure which hee hath taken against vs If wee be in continuall danger to hazard the most desireable goods which are better then all things which this whole world can affoord euen those pretious things of God wherin onely true happinesse and felicitie consists If wee be in neuer so great and apparent danger and ieopardie to lose the vnspeakable riches of that glorious and immortall inheritance reserued for the Saints in that heauenly kingdome that celestiall Canaan the Paradise of God where there are such ioyes such pleasure such blessednes as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or to comprehend If our neerest and inmost friend which resteth continually in our bosome and in the secretest lodgings of our hearts vnto whom wee professe the greatest loue and friendship that may be in briefe to whom wee are ioyned and vnited with so neere and strait bands that it is death for vs at any time to bee seuered and separated for the least while for one moment euen our owne soule if that bee dead in vs whiles it seemeth to liue dead in trespasses and sinnes whiles it liueth according to the flesh delighting in those things which are vnlawfull dead in regard of the life of grace whiles it liueth the life of nature yea continuallie in extreame danger to die eternally euen that second death which of all euils is the most fearfull most wofull aboue that any man doth thinke or can imagine though he haue â—resented vnto his minde the most dreadfull things and fullest of horror that can possibly enter into the heart of man yet behold such is the sottishnes of mans nature though wee knowe these things yet wee are not inwardly touched nor moued with them as we ought to be though we reade of them our selues though wee heare of theÌ„ oft by others yea though the Lord from day to day and from time to time causeth them to sound in our eares by the ministerie and preaching of his word in the mouthes of his faithfull seruants whom he sendeth and by the inward and secret voice of his spirit which suggesteth these things vnto vs yet our hearts are not affected with the consideration of them wee haue almost no sense or feeling of these euils and miseries wee make no account of them we are little seldome or neuer troubled with the meditation and remembrance of them The feare and danger of them doth not strike our soules with griefe and sorrow nor make vs so pensiue and heauy as the feare and dread of farre lesser euils doe Wee grieue more at the losse of the fauour and countenance of men yea of carnall and worldly men then of that glorious and immortall God whose louing fauour is better then life and the want of it worse then death we grieue more at the losse of the things of this world which are vaine earthly and transitory and such as can neuer make the owner of them trulie blessed and happie though he had them in greater abundance then his heart albeit neuer so vnsatiable could desire theÌ„ of the things of the world to come which are most excellent heauenly and enduring for euer in the hope and expectation whereof there is ioy and comfort vnspeakable and glorious euen whiles they are not seen but beleeued and in the full fruition and possession whereof there is entire and absolute felicitie and blessednesse We are grieued more at the death and departure of our friend then at the death and destruction of our owne soule more troubled with the feare of the losse of this temporall life which is alwaies fading and whereof wee can haue no certaintie or assurance one houre no not
and causeth his face to shine most comfortably vpon them in their grearest distresse and affliction as when they haue plentie abundance of peace and prosperitie yea rather if there bee any chaunge in the immutable and vnchangeable God euen then when for a while hee seemeth to withdraw himselfe from them and to leaue them comfortlesse in the middest of their miseries and greatest extreamities hee is most tenderly affected and hath a most gracious respect vnto them although it doth not so appeare vntill he manifest it O my soule why then art thou so cast downe why art thou so disquieted within me why doest thou not waite vpon God why doest thou not rest wholly on his good will and pleasure Why doest thou not put thy whole trust and confidence in him yea returne continuall thankes and praise vnto him whose mercie and goodnes is exceeding great towards thee who in euery thing seeketh thy profit and the furtherance of thy saluation and happinesse yea who is euery way infinitlie gratious vnto thee far aboue that which thou art able to thinke or to conceiue O blessed Lord let mine eyes and my heart be alwaies lifted vp vnto thee my God and louing Father the Father of all mercies and heauenly comforts and suffer me not at any time to bee so forgetfull of thee so distrustfull of thy loue and gratious fauour towards me as that I should faint in the day of affliction or temptation when it shall seeme good vnto thee to trie and exercise me in that manner that it pleaseth thee but grant that I may haue as sure hope and confidence in thee and be as thankfull vnto thee when sorrow and griefe shall lodge with me yea when a multitude of sorrowes shall compasse me about on euery side as when I shall be most filled and replenished with spiritual and diuine comforts and consolations knowing that thou art euer the same alwaies faithfull in that thou hast promised and infinit in thy grace and goodnesse towards thy childreÌ„ most caring for them when they seeme to be least respected and in a manner forsaken of thee The loue of the world and worldly things is the cause of distraction and much disquietnes THE inordinate loue of any worldly thing is the cause of much disquiet of heart and great distraction and vexation of minde How many do hereby pierce themselues thorough with many sorrowes how doe they trouble their own soules when otherwise they might be at rest into what bondage doe they bring themselues yea euen consume themselues in vaine with vnprofitable cares and pensiuenesse It is the wisdome of a Christian therfore neuer to affect or to couet after those things which are vnlawfull for him neuer to desire or to long after any thing which may hinder him in any sort from inward peace and freedome of minde or be a cause of anguish griefe and distraction vnto him but to weane his soule from the excessiue and disordered loue and desire of them considering that they are such things as when he hath the full fruition and enioyment of them he shall finde that they will not satisfie his desire and expectation and that they will quickly vanish away and perish with the vse of them O Lord withdraw my heart I beseech thee daily more and more from the loue of the world and the things thereof seeing they are vaine transitorie and full of griefe and vexation not yielding that delight and contentment which they promise and make shewe of but rather much anguish and vnquietnes of minde Seeing they are a cause of such vnlooked for bitternesse let me not so affect them as I haue done let them not seeme so sweete and pleasant vnto me as they doe vnto others who haue not tasted of better things and therefore finde such relish in these but grant that all the affections of my heart may be set vpon thee alone and that I may delite and reioyce continually in thee who art the onely fountaine of al true ioy peace and happines assuredly perswading my selfe that hauing thee to be my God I shall haue the desires of my heart yea more then euer I did or could expect or desire freely granted vnto me according vnto thy promise wherein I trust and in which standeth my comfort How Christians are to iudge of their estate A ChristiaÌ„ is not to iudge of his estate according vnto his present sense and feeling For the Lord many times is neerest vnto them when he seemeth to bee furthest off from them when they seeme to be euen lost in themselues then is he readiest to be found of them and to shew them his saluation O heauenly Father giue me with faith and patience continually to waite vpon thee and to hold fast that confidence and the reioycing of that stedfast and assured hope wherewith thou hast heretofore vpholden me Let me neuer thinke my selfe to bee altogether forsaken of thee because thou sendest some griefe and affliction vpon me or sufferest Satan to assault me with diuers and sundrie temptations or else for a time withdrawest from me the ioy of thy spirit and the comfort of thy saluation yea though thou seemest to absâ—nt thy selfe from me and to denie that gratious presence of thine vnto me wherewith thou hast heretofore comforted and refreshed me exceedingly but grant that I may cleaue fast vnto thee euen when I haue least feeling of thy loue and fauour and of the worke of thy grace in me and that I may alwaies haue sure trust in thy mercie knowing that thou aâ—t wont to bee neere at hand vnto thy children when thou makest as though thou wert a farre off and wouldest not be found of them The presence of God how blessed and comfortable a thing it is OH how blessed a thing it is alwaies to enioy the gratious and comfortable presence of God! For when he is present all things are pleasant and delightfull the heart reioyceth and the spirit of man is refreshed exceedingly and when he doth absent himselfe or hide his face though but for a season then euery thing becommeth irksome and full of wearines and lothsomnes the soule can take no true pleasure nor delight in any thing no more then the stomacke being distempered in meates in which there is no sweetnesse no relish O my God the God of my ioy the fountaine of my peace and happinesse doe not thou hide thy gratious countenance nor depart farre from me at any time but let thy spirit alwaies dwell within me and comfort me Let my soule taste of those sweet delicates of thine euen that hidden and that heauenly Manna which how pretious and delightsome it is none knoweth but those only vnto whom thou hast freely vouchsafed to giue it let thy face euer shine vpon me and manifest thy presence alwaies by causing me to feele the comfortable fruites and effects thereof within me Oh when shall that blessed and wished for time come when as I shall bee satisfied with the
seuered or separated from the other but that there will be a want found of the benefite which should be receiued thereby Meditation is a preparatiue to praier Praier the end of meditation If thou wouldest pray effectually thou must begin with meditation if thou wouldest meditate profitably and fruitfully thou must end with praier Vse both these duty as thou shalt haue occasion as if thy heart be wel ordered and rightly affected as it ought thou canst seldome or neuer want it and withall pray vnto God for a blessing vpon them and doubt not but that thou shalt finde much sweetnes and comfort in them and reape no small benefite by them MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS I will meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies Psalm 119.15 Teach mee to doe the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God Psalm 143.10 If I regard wickednes in mine heart the Lord will not heare me Psal 66.18 The Lord is neere vnto all that call vpon him euen to all that call vpon him in truth Psal 145.18 Enemies to deuotion first sinfull lusts HE that hath an aguish fitte vpon him can taste nothing well but all things euen the most sweete and wholesome meats are vnsauorie to him he can find no relish in them So it is with the man whose soule is disteÌ„pered through sinne He findes no sweetnes no sauour in the things of God yea his soule doth loath and abhorre them though they be sweeter then Manna it selfe O Lord keepe me from this spiritual distemperature which of all others is most dangerous and grant that I may alwaies delight in those things which are pleasing vnto thee yea that I may finde much sweetnes in them euen in meditation praier and all other holy exercises which thou hast prescribed in thy word that so my soule may liue for euer 2 Worldly Cares THe cares of this world and the desire of these earthly vanities oh what snares they are to the soule and to the spirit of a man How many are taken in them and so brought into a kinde of thraldome bondage What incumbrances are they vnto them in the performance of good actions How doe they coole yea quench the holy motions the godly desires and purposes of the heart and hinder it from diuine and heauenly meditations which otherwise it would relish farre better and finde much more sweetnes and delight therein then now it doth O my God preserue thou mee both now and alwaies from the inordinate and immoderate cares of this euill world and from the excessiue and vnlawfull desire and affection of all vaine and transitorie things Let me not be insnared and intangled with them as others are Let them not be any let or hindrance vnto my soule to withdraw it from the more serious meditation of spirituall and heauenly things or in any sort to coole my affection towards them or to cause me to take the lesse pleasure and delight in them or to be the more vnfit to be conuersant about them Let them not so oppresse my minde that I should finde lesse libertie and freedome of spirit in good things or become more vnapt for the performance of any dutie of thy worship and seruice any holy or religious exercise which thou requirest of me but grant I beseech thee that seeing how deceitfull this world is how vaine all things here below are I may daily be more and more weaned from the loue and desire of them yea may haue thy loue so shed into my heart that all my delight may be in thee all my affections set vpon thee in such sort that all carnall and earthly things which would withdraw me from thee and from the loue of spirituall and heauenly things may be bitter and vnpleasant vnto me and that I may serue thee with more chearefulnes and alacritie all my daies to thy glorie and to the increase of my happines in thy kingdome 3 Sathans suggestions THat euil and enuious spirit the enemie of al mankinde neuer resteth but seeketh vncessantly to cast ill motions and suggestions into the hearts of men and to draw away their minds from euery good thing which they enterprise and take in hand He vseth all meanes to make them faint in the seruice of God to coole their zeale to quench their spirituall deuotion to hinder them in the performance of all good duties and religious exercises which might make for the increase of grace in them and to cause them if it be possible to fall from that purpose of heart and godly resolution which heretofore they haue had to continue in the Lord and to walke in the waies which he hath commanded yea no sooner shall the good spirit inspire into them any good motions any holy desires but that wicked and envious one standing readie at hand will labour presentlie to strangle them so that they shal neuer come to any effect but vanish away and leaue the hearte more heardened and lesse capable of goodnes and of any spirituall and heauenly grace then euer it was before Oh how closely and how slily doth he insinuate himselfe into the minds of men and deceiue and delude them in this maner when they think little he is so neare them or so busie in working them so great a mischiefe euen that which if it be not carefully preuented in time wil be their vtter ruine in the end O Lord let me neuer giue eare vnto the deceitfull inchantments and to the enticing dangerous charmes of that subtile and wilie serpent who is alwaies hissing about me Let me not once listen vnto him nor yeeld vnto any of his suggestions but alwaies resist him in the first motions vnto euery sinne wherunto he shall tempt me And whensoeuer that good spirit of thine shall speake inwardly and secretlie vnto my soule and inspire any good thought any holie affection or desire into my heart let me hearken thereunto as vnto thy voice Let me carefullie vse the meanes to foster and cherish such beginnings of grace as it shall please thee in mercie and goodnes to infuse into me that so I may not fall away from any good thing which thou hast wrought in me heretofore nor finde my selfe more vnfit or vnto ward vnto any dutie or spirituall exercise wherein heretofore thou hast caused me to take much ioy and great delight but graunt that I may daily increase in grace and goe forward cheerefully constantly in the wayes of pietie and true holines and with full purpose of heart cleaue fast vnto thee to the end of my daies neuer forsaking thee nor being forsaken of thee who art the God of my hope my strength my saluation WORKES OF CREAtion ALl the workes of God are excellent and glorious if we stand to consider them â—b 40.10 from Behemoth whom the scripture mentioneth and setteth forth as one of the cheifest of them to the Ostrich from the great Whale in the middest of the seas to the least fish that moueth in the waters
from the Eagle to the flie from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall from the starres of heauen to the dust of the earth and from the Angels of God to the wormes that creepe vpon the ground Who is there that considereth of them aright or is so affected with them as he ought Lord let me alwaies delight to be searching into them and in them as in a glasse see cleerely thy wisdome and mightie power and learne to know thee the Creator of all things both in heauen and in earth and in all places and knowing thee to worship and serue thee in spirit and truth lest I be like vnto the heathen who when by the frame and workmanship of the world and the creatures therein wherein thy maruellous wisdom is ingrauen they knew thee to be God and yet glorified thee not as God became vile and abominable and altogether inxecusable forsaking thee their Creator who art blessed for euer Amen Worke of Redemption OF al the workes of God that of the Redemption of man-kind is most wonderfull and glorious whether we consider the person of the Redeemer the persons redeemed or the meanes and manner in and by which it was effected and brought to passe It passeth all knowledge all vnderstanding The Angels â—et 1.12 those heauenly creatures doe admire at it and desire continually to haue a more cleare and perfect insight into it as being so great and vnsearchable a mysterie that no creature is able fully to comprehend the breadth the length and depth and height of it Oh the maruellous blindnes of men for whom it was wrought that they can see and discerne so little of it their great forgetfulnes that they so seldome remember it their extreame sottishnes that they scarce euer admire it in that holy maner that they ought yea rather little regard it and esteeme very lightlie of it O merciful God farre be it from me to sinne so great a sinne against thy maiestie by prising so inestimable a benefit so much vnder the worth and value of it and by being so meanely affected with it as the most are yea let me and al thy redeemed ones alwaies cleerely behold and faithfully remember this great and gratious worke of thine towards vs let vs highly esteeme of it reioyce continually and glorie in it and vncessantlie praise and magnifie thee for it for euer What can be rendred vnto thee O Lord for so great loue for those exceeding riches of thy grace towards vs in Christ Iesus what can be rendred vnto thee worthie of that infinit goodnesse of thine sufficient for so vnspeakable mercie and bounty All that we can returne vnto thee for it is honour glorie and thanksgiuing O let vs neuer be found wanting in this seeing we owe vnto thee much more although there is nothing that thou more desirest of vs and yet euen this is thy gift also yea thy especiall grace O doe thou make me truly and vnfainedly thankefull Mercies of God WE can neuer be sufficiently thankfull vnto the Lord for the least of those blessings which he daily and most freely vouchsafeth vnto vs health peace libertie maintenance and continuall protection preseruation c. and yet who is there almost that is heartily and vnfainedly thankefull for those great and wonderfull mercies of his which coÌ„cerne our eternall happinesse saluation in the heauens euen that glorious estate which of his free grace and bountie he hath promised vnto vs and will in due time giue vs full possession of for euer O the exceeding dulnesse of the hearts of men that are no more mooued with the consideration of these things yea that esteeme more of those ordinary kindnesses which are shewed vnto them by men then of all those infinit and vnspeakable blessings and benefites which are vouchsafed vnto them by so gratious a God so kinde and louing a Father O Lord let me neuer be vnmindfull of the least of thy mercies and fauours which thou hast shewed vnto me from the beginning of my life vnto this present giue me a thankful heart for them especially lift vp my heart and soule vnto a due and serious meditation of those great and inestimable mercies of thine wherein thou hast in a speciall maner shewed thy selfe so exceeding good and gratious vnto me in electing me vnto life and saluation in freeing and deliuering me from that wretched estate and that wofull miserie whereinto I was so deeply plunged by the sin of my first parents in redeeming me therefrom by so deare a price euen the death of thine own Sonne my blessed Sauiour in adopting me into the number of thy children by faith in him and in prouiding that glorious mansion for me in the heauens there to liue and raigne with thee for euer O giue me a liuely sense and feeling of thy goodnesse thy loue and vnspeakable mercies so gratiously vouchsafed vnto me so vile and vnworthie a creature Inflame my heart with an vnfained and most entire loue of thy maiestie and let my mouth alwaies praise thee yea let me in heart in soule and with all the powers of the same praise thee continually and yeeld that glorie which is due vnto thee both now and euermore Amen The folly of the wicked to be wondered at I Maruell much when I reade how the Israelits being in the way to Canaan a type of heauen for the goodnesse and pleasantnesse of it desired so oft and so earnestly to returne againe into Egypt a figure of hell it selfe where they had been so hardly intreated yea so cruelly and vnmercifully handled But much more do I maruell can neuer sufficientlie wonder at those who when the Lord offers to bring them out of the house of that spirituall bondage and not onely to free them from the power of darknesse and the tyrannie of sinne and Sathan but also by the light of his word spirit to leade and conduct them safely into that heauenly Canaan which floweth with the milk honie of his rich and plentifull graces euen the inheritance of his chosen the place where his honour dwelleth desire rather notwithstanding still to be vnder the hands of their cruel taske-masters in the kilnes among the bricks and in the yron fornace and to indure the most seruile and the most wofull and wretched thraldome and slauery that euer was or can be possibly that so they may fill themselues with the Onions and Garlike of Egypt Lord let the couÌ„sell of the wicked be farre from me suffer not thy seruant to delight in the waies of such a foolish generatioÌ„ who know not thee nor regard that which should be their happines But let me euer praise thee with ioyfulnesse that thou hast deliuered my soule out of the hands of my cruell and deadly enemies and brought me from the house of bondage the kingdome of darknesse and death it selfe into the wayes which leade vnto thy heauenly and glorious kingdome And although I
and the ofscouring of all things and so to become euen fooles for Christs sake praying for those that both speake and doe euill vnto thē and blessing them that persecute them yea and not this onely but also euen hating their owne liues and giuing vp themselues vnto death the most bitter and cruell deaths that can possibly bee deuised by the most bloodie tyrants that euer were or can bee rather then to bee once drawne from the loue the faith and obedience of Christ and from the profession of that trueth which they haue receiued Alas how farre doe wee come behinde those Worthies that haue gone before vs whose example the Lord hath set vp as a light amongst vs that we might see how to tread in their steps and to imitate thē in those graces for which their memorie shall bee blessed for euer how vnlike are our liues vnto theirs if we lay them both together looke vpon them with an equall view How few are those that shine in those excellent vertues of zeale deuotion faith sinceritie pietie charitie brotherly loue patience constancie and perseuerance in all which they haue been so eminent that the very remembrance of them may shame this age wherein we liue and cause many to blush who thinke that they haue great wrong done to them if they may not haue the name for good Christians and be so reputed and esteemed amongst men how little soeuer they deserue it indeed Nay so degenerate are the most in these latter times and their liues and manners so much swaruing from the vertues and religious courses and practises of our forefathers those whō God hath made examples for our imitation that euen hee according to the common rate shall bee accounted honest religious enough and one that hath made sufficient proceedings in the schoole of Christianitie that is no open notorious and hainous offender not tainted with any grosse and capitall crime theft adulterie drunkennes extortiō oppression no common railer or slanderer of others no malitious detracter no troublesome contentious person but one of a free and ingenuous disposition of a ciuill carriage and commendable behauiour one that liues quietly and friendly among his neighbours and is carefull of outward obseruances which either law or some other sinister respect draweth him vnto and which a meere pagan heathen might performe as well as hee though he bee farre from the truth of religion neither fearing God nor working righteousnesse but altogether neglecting those maine and especiall duties both of the publike and priuate worship and seruice of God which hee requireth and hath expressely commanded as prayer due and diligent reading hearing meditating and conferring of the word and those things which might tend to spirituall edification sanctifying of the Sabbath instructing of his familie yea although in reregard of zeale he be of a colder temper then the luke-warme Laodiceās euer were euen almost ashamed of that forwardnes and feruencie in the discharge of those duties which the word of God doth prescribe vnto him and of that strictnes and precisenes which the Scripture exacteth of him This is the estate of our times thus haue most declined and gone backward in this last and worst age of the world wherein wee see that verified which the trueth it selfe long ago foretold and which now is most apparent to all that haue any discerning viz. that the loue zeal of many is growen cold men generally are lesse feruent and more defectiue in the duties of pietie and godlinesse then they haue been heretofore although the meanes were neuer more plentifully afforded vnto any then they are now and through the grace and mercie of God haue been a long time It is wofull to see and cōsider the great change and alteration which now if we haue eyes wee cannot but see almost in euery place amongst all sorts and degrees of men what a generall defection as it were is there from the pietie deuotion innocencie simplicitie and godlie purenes the holie conuersation and religious practises the zeale integritie sinceritie vnfained loue and charitie and al those excellent vertues and graces of the holy men of God that haue bin before vs O blessed Lord as thou hast set the liues of many of thy Saints and seruants as an ensample before mine eyes that I should be a follower of thē and walke as they haue walked according to the rule of thy word so grant I beseech thee that I may bee excited and prouoked whiles I looke on them to imitate them in their vertues and to labour to frame my life according to that paterne which thou in them hast prescribed vnto me and carefully to endeuour proceeding by one and the same rule according vnto which they haue walked to attaine vnto that perfection of diuine and spiritual graces which it pleased thee to vouchsafe vnto them euen because they chose the way of wisedome and delited in the waies of thy commandemēts Let the example of their zeale for thy glorie make me more zealous and earnest in those things which are good and whereby thou maist be glorified Let the example of their true and godly deuotiō make me more deuout and religious Their vprightnes sinceritie and godly simplicitie let them stirre me vp vnto the same vertues Their diligence cheerefulnes and alacritie in the works of thy worship and seruice let them draw me vnto the same duties The example of their patience in so many and so great afflictions and trials let it be an especiall motiue and inducement to make mee the more patient the example of their meeknes to make me the more meeke of their humilitie to make me the more humble of their kindnes long sufferance and brotherly loue and affection to make me the more tender hearted louing and charitable vnto all men of their contempt of the world and the vanities thereof to make me the lesse to regard them of their holy and heauenly conuersation to make mee the more heauenly minded the more heauenly affected hauing my heart continually lifted vp farre aboue all these earthly and transitorie things to the serious consideration and meditation of those most excellent and glorious things which are aboue euen those vnsearchable vnspeakable riches and treasures of that glory and endlesse blessednes and happines which thou hast prepared for thy children in that celestiall kingdome that thus being carefull to follow the example of thy chosen seruants whom thou hast set vp as lights to shine vnto me for my better direction in the way of godlinesse which leadeth vnto life and saluation I may hereafter enter into that ioy and be made partaker of the same glorie of which they haue now the fruition in that heauenly mansion Heauenly mindednes THE eye of a Christian should be alwaies in heauen euen when hee is most busied in these earthlie affaires he is to haue his minde lifted vp vnto those things which are aboue and to bee euer viewing and beholding with the
glorious He hath set vp the scepter of his kingdome in his heart so that all his enemies shall fall downe before him euen Sathan the chiefest of his aduersaries who fighteth continually against him and seeketh by all meanes to bring him into bondage and thraldome vnder him What should I say more Beeing vnited vnto Christ his redeemer and made bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh he is also ioyned and nearly allied vnto God the Father and so being ioynt-heire with the Sonne hath that crowne of immortal glory belonging vnto him and shal at length euen when this short life is ended liue and raigne in that celestiall kingdome with God himselfe and with all his holy Saints and elect Angels for euermore And in the meane-while euen whiles he liueth here crawling as it were vpon the earth hauing the place of his abode heere below where he is as one of no reputation in the world which knoweth him not he hath his life his conuersation and his chief abode in heauen being alwaies looking vp vnto that place of his glory which is aboue where Christ Iesus his sauiour sitteth at the right hand of his father his eyes are euer lifted vp vnto heaueÌ„ and set vpon those things which are within the vaile where his hope yea his heart is so that euen whiles he liueth with his bodie on earth in minde and in soule he is transported in a maner into heauen it selfe and seeth those things in spirit which are vnutterable and which flesh and bloud or the senses of a natural man can neuer reach vnto neuer be able in any sorte to comprehend O Lord who can expresse the honor which thou hast giuen vnto thy Saints who is able to declare the speciall grace which thou in thy infinite goodnes and mercie hast vouchsafed to euery one whom it hath pleased thee to giue vnto thy Christ and in him to elect and chose vnto life and saluation according to the good pleasure of thy will before the world was Oh with what glorie and honour hast thou crowned them how highlie hast thou aduanced them being moued thereunto by nothing that was in them but only of thy free loue and mercie that therby thou mightest cause thy infinite grace and glorie to shine forth vnto the world to the praise of thy name throughout all generations O blessed God whose mercy and kindnes vnto mankind is so infinit and incoÌ„preheÌ„sible seeing it hath pleased thee in the exceeding greatnes of thy loue and riches of thy grace towards mee in Christ to chuse mee vnto life and glorie and to make mee euen me so vnworthie a creature one of that small number whom thou hast so highly honored in this world and wilt for euer glorifie euen with that exceeding measure of glorie in the world to come O let my heart and my mouth neuer cease praising and magnifying thy great and glorious name and howsoeuer I may seeme vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world which doth neither know thee nor thine but hath alwaies hardly intreated those whom thou hast chiefly honored esteeming them as the scumme and ofscouring of the earth the very abiects of men yea men vnworthie to liue in the world yet let me neuer passe any thing at all how the blinde world doth iudge or esteeme of me or how it is affected towards me but let me alwaies reioyce in thee and glorie in thy saluation and rest continually in a comfortable hope and ioyfull expectation of all that goodnes of thine which thou hast treasured vp in store for mee in thy kingdome and whereof thou hast giuen mee the first fruits already as a pledge and assurance of that which I shal haue the full fruition of hereafter for euer An humble heart most pleasant vnto God a proud most vile and abominable AN humble and a lowlie hart is a mansion wherein the Lord delighteth to dwell he filleth and replenisheth it with the riches of the graces of his spirit but as for the proud and high minded they are an abomination vnto him His soule doth loath them and his spirit will neuer rest nor remaine with them they are no fit mansion for him yea they are meete only to be an habitation for Satan that euill and vncleane spirit who being the father of the children of pride can take no pleasure where hee findeth true humilitie but seeketh for lodging in those especially who are of a proud and hautie spirit These are his darlings in these is his chief delight in them he hath a roome alwaies ready trimmed prepared for him euen in the closets of their hearts where he dwelleth and raigneth continually from whence he will neuer depart as long as hee findeth so fit a mansion for him The onely way to cast him out of the heart and soule of man is to emptie it altogether of pride and to haue it garnished with that excellent grace of humilitie and lowlinesse O Lord who art the fountaine of all grace giue vnto me I earnestly desire thee a contrite spirit a meeke and an humble heart Banish all pride and vanitie of minde far from me and make me lowly yea base and vile in mine owne eyes that so that wicked spirit being vtterly dispossessed and finding no abiding place within mee I may bee fit to entertaine that good spirit of thine thou maist delight to dwell and remaine with me and to fill my emptie soule with those pretious riches and treasures of thy heauenly graces which are the things which my heart desireth and longeth after Oh doe thou heare me and satisfie me as my trust is in thee who I know assuredly wilt neuer faile me nor withhold thy goodnesse from me whiles I seeke vnto thee with a heart vnfained Confidence in any creature a most vaine thing WHat a vaine thing is it to put any trust or confidence in man or in any creature what is this but to rest vpon a broken reed How greatly do such deceiue themselues how oft doe they faile in their desires and misse that which they hoped for O Lord God who art glorious and wonderfull in power and strength nothing is or can be hard vnto thee thou only art my hope all my trust confidence is in thee Whom haue I in heauen or in earth but thee vpon thee thee only I rest and depend continually O doe thou neuer forsake me Suspition THE best man is alwaies leâ—st suspitious But hee that is giuen euer to mistrust and to suspect the worst of others as it may be iustly feared that hee hath a very corrupt and vnsound heart himselfe so it may bee vndoubtedly affirmed that he is very offensiue and displeasing vnto God very vnquiet in himselfe and most vncharitable towards his neighbour whom notwithstanding he hurteth not so much thereby as himselfe O Lord increase the grace of true charitie daily more and more in me Let me alwaies be looking into mine owne hart considering the
paths of mine owne feete let me feare mine owne waies and suspect the worst of my selfe in all my actions being priuie vnto those secret corruptiōs which lie lurking within me and both thinke and hope the best of others because I know not what thy worke is or may be in them yea let me alwaies be ready to iudge accuse and condemne my selfe and euen in my thoughts to excuse and acquit others by making a fauourable interpretation of all their doings vntill such time as thou doest manifest giue cleere euidence that they are such as are not to be approoued Thus I shall please thee and not sinne against those towards whom I ought alwaies to bee charitably affected and free from all ill suspition and wicked surmizes Why the Lord suffereth oft times the infirmities of his children to be knowne to others IT is a meanes oft times to make a mā the more hūble to know that others are priuie vnto his wants his weaknesses and infirmities which hee was desirous to keepe secret to perceiue that the sores and blemishes of his soule lie open vnto the view of others which hee could wish rather were couered and kept close And for this end the Lord many times in mercie and goodnes doth suffer the shame and nakednes of his children to bee discouered before the face of others when as they would gladly haue it hid frō the eyes of all and not seene of any yea hee doth suffer them to fall by many weaknesses and infirmities euen such as are no waies pleasing but grieuous and irksome vnto them that so he may cause them to be the more humble and lowly and not to lift vp their hearts at any time aboue their brethren but so to demeane themselues that it may appeare that they esteem better of others then of themselues which is an excellent and a singular grace whereunto all that are yet defectiue herein should labour by all meanes to attaine O Lord if it seeme good vnto thee at any time to make others to see the weaknes of thy seruant to cause my wants imperfectiōs and infirmities to be knowne and discerned of others as thou knowest how readie I am to faile if thy grace doth not continually sustaine me let it not grieue me so much that others behold that in me which may cause me to be ashamed as make me euery day more carefull to vse al meanes to bee healed and cured of those diseases whereunto my soule is subiect and inclinable through sinne and to increase as in all other graces so especially in true humilitie and meeknes of spirit without the which I can neuer please thee nor haue the light of thy coūtenance shining vpon me The heauen of the godly and the hell of the wicked in this life IF there be a heauen in this world it is the true Christian onely that enioyes it in whose heart that blessed spirit doth dwell comforting and refreshing him continually in an vnspeakable maner If there be any hell in this life it is in the soule and conscience of the wicked and vngodly man whom Satan that euill spirit hath possessed and bereaued of that which should bee the ioy and comfort of his life and not that onely but also euen oppressed with many feares and sorrowes and with much anguish and horrible amazement arising from his hellish and guilty conscience O blessed God who hast giuen me to see the great difference which is betweene the estate of thy children and of the wicked and vngodly euen in this world how that the one is blessed and happie the other wretched and miserable grant that I may not at any time desire to haue the same lot with the wicked though it seeme outwardly to fare well with them but let me alwaies rest in thee and reioyce in that portion which thou hast giuen vnto mee knowing that on earth there can be no better inheritance nor any estate more to be desired The cares of this world what hindrances they are to the sincere and entire worship of God HE that is insnared and intangled with the things of this world or that is not free from all inordinate affectiōs whatsoeuer cannot haue a perfect and an vpright heart before God nor freedome of spirit in his worship and seruice The soule onely that is emptied of the troublesome cares and sinfull desires wherwith most are surcharged and the minde that is set at liberty from all earthly vanities is fit to come before God with truth vprightnes and sinceritie and to offer such sacrifices with which he is well pleased and wherein he most delighteth O Lord let not the excessiue and inordinate desire of any earthly thing cleaue vnto me emptie my heart of the cares of this world banish farre from me the loue of all those things whereby I may any waies bee hindred from the performāce of those duties which thou requirest of me and grant that I may be carefull to vse all meanes whereby my affections may be so rightly ordered that I may serue thee with a good heart in integritie and sinceritie all my daies True zeale THey that are trulie zealous are more zealous against themselues then others As they doe not when iust occasion and opportunitie is offered suffer the open sinnes of others to passe vnreproued so they are least partiall towards themselues but are readiest to check themselues euen for their inward and most secret corruptions As they haue an eye vnto the actions of others are carefull to discountenance sinne by fastening a seasonable rebuke and iust censure vpon it wheresoeuer it doth apparētly shew and manifest it selfe so especially they are alwaies chiefly prying into their own actions and hauing espied a fault are most seuere censorious in iudging and rebuking themselues for it They are grieued at the offences of others but their owne sinnes they doe most gall them yea they cā neuer be quiet whiles they see the relikes remainders of them abiding in them but euen groane daily vnder the burthen of them and vse all means to haue their hearts purged and freed from them Good Lord increase true zeal daily more and more in me let me not through childish feare nor any other sinister respect bee too slack and remisse in shewing my dislike of the sinnes which others doe commit against thy Maiestie and yet let me not be so readie to censure others as to reprooue and reforme my selfe A dangerous thing to affect the glorie of the world HE that loueth God and seekes his glorie cannot bee altogether carried away with the vaine glor e of this world but will either despise it or at least set very light by it He that loueth the glory of this world and doth not only affect it but is also very eager in the pursuite of it thirsting after the praise and applause of men it is a signe that there is little or no loue of God or of his glorie in him These are things that cannot
he cannot but freely euen from his heart forgiue others as God for Christs sake forgaue him Either therefore manifest thy loue vnto thy bretheren in freely forgiuing and forgetting the wrongs and iniuries which they haue done vnto thee or else freely acknowledge and confesse as indeed the truth is that thou neuer as yet tastedst effectually of the loue of God in Christ that it was neuer shed into thy heart and that thy sinnes are still vnpardoned that thou hast no assurance of the forgiuenes of them which if thou hast not thou art a miserable and a wretched creature one that canst haue small ioy or comfort of thy life Chuse therefore which of these seemes best vnto thee either to continue in this miserie and to be branded as it were in the forehead for an impenitent sinner one vpon whom God hath shewed no mercie but is still vnder the curse euen the most fearefull curse that can be in a most comfortles estate Or else which thou oughtest rather to desire and to be carefull of aboue all things that thou hast obtained mercie that thou art in the loue and fauour of God and that all thy sinnes are freely and fully forgiuen thee because thou art louing and mercifull in forgiuing others that haue sinned against thee O merciful God cause me daily more more daily to see the exceeding riches of thy grace and to taste of that infinite and vnspeakeable loue and kindnesse of thine in Christ Iesus so freely and so graciouslie pardoning and forgiuing vnto me all my sinnes euen that great debt which no creature was able to make satisfaction vnto thy maiestie for me and those hainous offences for which thou mightst haue iustly condemned me And let the liuely sense and feeling of that incompreheÌ„sible loue and mercie which thou of thy infinite goodnes hast freely vouchsafed vnto me cause me following thy example to put on the bowels of mercie euen those tender affections of loue and compassion that I may willingly and freely forgiue all those that shall any waies offend me euen as thou for Christs sake forgauest me Hereby I shall haue a sure euideÌ„ce of thy loue towards me and an infallible signe and seale to certifie and assure me of the absolute remission and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes which is blessednes it selfe euen the verie gate which leadeth into heauen vnto that glorie and saluation which thy Saints hope for and whereof hauing giuen them the first fruits here thou wilt giue them the full possession hereafter in thy kingdome for euer A comfort for such as are vniustly slaundered of the wicked A Good man that is vniustly slandered and reuiled or any waies wronged of the wicked hath many things to stay his minde to comfort him and to cause him not to bee moued or disquieted but rather to be glad and ioyfull First he is thereby made conformable vnto Christ vpon whom the rebukes of many were laid and who was more vniustly wronged and disgraced and more shamefully vsed then he either is or can be Againe he suffers it of euill and wicked men who alwaies hate them most who God loueth best and hereby hath an argument of Gods speciall loue and fauour to him And he doth not onely suffer it of those which are euill but also for that which is good euen for his goodnes for righteousnes sake yea for Christes sake for Gods sake whom thereby they chiefly dishonour and who will surely therefore take vengeance of them but recompence him with a greater measure of glorie O Lord though the wicked of this world studie how they may vexe and molest me whiles they imagine lies and speake al manner of euill in most malitious disdainfull and despightfull manner against me yea hate and persecute mee without a cause as they haue done thy seruants heretofore nay thine owne sonne whom thou in loue to mankind didst send out of thy bosome yet let not me bee discouraged at any time therewith but rather looking vnto the author and finisher of my faith euen Christ Iesus who endured such speaking against of sinners let me suffer with patieÌ„ce the euill which they speake of me falsely hauing not only mine owne conscience but thee also who art priuie to all my actions yea knowest all things and wilt iudge vprightly a witnes of my cleerenes and innocencie in those things which they would cause to cleaue vnto me let me despise their shame and bee most ioyfull when they seeke most to oppresse me and to cast me downe with ouermuch sorrow anguish and heauinesse knowing assuredly that the shame which they would cast vpon me shall turne to my greater glorie Compassion towards others in their griefes WE should be affected with the miseries of others as with our owne and haue a sense and a feeling of those things which are grieuous vnto them as much as if the same were our griefe as it is theirs or the same burthen lay vpon vs that doth vpon them This is that which God hath commanded and which all of vs must frame our selues vnto if we will not be guiltie of sinne both against God and our neighbour But alas such is the weaknes feeblenes of mans nature that few or none are thus indifferently affected towards themselues and others yea most do little regard the euill which presseth others and lieth heauie vpon them whereas if the same or a lesser be laid vpon themselues they are sore vexed and grieued they complaine much and thinke that none can bee compassionate enough towards them Good Lord I beseech thee to heale me of this infirmitie and to free me from this corruption Grant that I may haue a sympathie and fellow-feeling of the sorrowes and miseries of others as if they were mine owne let me alwaies haue a tender compassion ouer them and be affected vnto them in that maner as I would desire if I were in their estate that they should be vnto me This is that which thy holie and righteous law bindeth me vnto and which therefore I desire to performe that so I may please thee and doe good vnto my neighbour by helping him to beare the burthen which oppresseth him A comfortable life how to be obtained ALL men are desirous so to liue that they may haue ioy and comfort of their liues but few attaine hereunto For either they know not the right way which leades vnto it or if they know it yet they â—â—haled and drawen aside either with tâ—â— violence of the temptatâ—ons of Satan or the strength of their owne corrupt and distempered affections to the seeking of it elsewhere They are in an error and farre out of the way that thinke that either riches health pleasures honour or any earthly or worldly thing whatsoeuer will bring them true constant ioy Nay a man hauing all these as much as his heart can wish or desire may bee in a miserable and comfortlesse estate and condition full of grief and anguish yea euen racked as
fulnesse of thy presence and drinke abundantly out of the riuers of thy pleasures for euermore The old man neuer dies in this life EVery Christian as long as hee liueth in this world hath the old man liuing in him hee is in part but not wholly crucified and slaine hee hath receiued his deadlie wound and lieth a dying euery day but will not bee quite dead till the soule be separated by death from this earthly this sinfull and this corruptible bodie O Lord subdue and mortifie daily more and more I humbly pray thee the corruption of my nature let mee feele the power and strength thereof weakened and decaying in me put thy spirit into my hart wâ—ich may striue continually against it and suppresse the force of it so that although in some sort it liue in me yet it may not raigne at any time nor haue dominion ouer me And when it pleaseth thee make an end of these wretched and miserable daies and deliuer me from this bodie of sinne and of death which I carrie continually about with me that so being wholly freed from the bondage vnto which I am now subiect and restored vnto perfect libertie I may serue thee with all cheerefulnes and alacritie as thy holie Angels and Saints in glorie now doe and shall for euermore A free minde how to be obtained THere cannot bee a free minde where the heart doth not continually rest vpon God and stay it selfe vpon him only Hee that doth this shall quickly finde all sinfull and immoderate feare and the excessiue and inordinate loue of all earthly things much diminished and abated in him yea flying quite away and vanishing in such sort as if hee had neuer bin annoied or encumbred with them He that doth it not it cannot bee but that he should liue and spend his daies in coÌ„tinuall disquietnes yea in great miserie and vexation of minde and spirit by reason of many distracting thoughts superfluous cares and vaine desires which will euen pierce his soule with many sorrowes and oppresse his minde with much griefe anguish and perplexitie Ah Lord thou knowest the secret thoughts and desires of my heart thou seest what it is that my soule longeth after how faine I would serue thee with that cheerefulnesse of minde and that freedome of spirit which is the sacrifice wherein thou art so much delighted Haue regard vnto me I humbly intreate thee consider my request which I powre out vnto thee from a heart vnfained Giue me daily a greater measure of thy grace whereby I may breake thorow those snares which are laid for me and wherewith I am readie continually to bee intangled and grant that I may resigne my selfe wholly vnto thee and rest yea set and fixe my heart euen roule my selfe vpon thee that so I may passe the rest of my pilgrimage heeâ—e on earth peaceablie cheerefullie and comfortably as one that is set at libertie from all sinfull and inordinate affections from the vaine desires and the needlesse and troublesome cares of this euill and wicked world Amen An effectuall motiue to true humilitie and lowlines of minde OH how meanly ought euery one to esteeme of himselfe How little ought he to be in his owne eyes seeing that in himselfe he is nothing notable of himselfe no not so much as once to thinke that which is good If he were as wise as Salomon so famous for his wisedom and vnderstanding yet if the Lord did not continually guide his heart and direct his stâ—ppes there would be much follie aâ—d vanitie sound with him If he were aâ— râ—ghteous as Dauid â— man after Gods owne heart yet if the Lord did not alwaies preserue him and strengthen him through the assistance of his gracious spirit he would fall most dangerously yea if he were as pure and as holy as the Angels themselues those heauenly spirits yet if the Lord should not sustaine him with his especiall grace and continue him in that estate but withdrawe his hande from him he would quickly fall as it were a starre from heauen and all his glorie being lost and his light dimmed yea quite extinguished become like vnto Sathan the prince of darkenes nothing but sinfulnes and impuritie There is no wisedom no righteousnes no holines no stedfastnes but onely in God and of God who is the fountaine of all grace and goodnes and from whom the streames thereof are to be deriued into the hearts of men or else there wil be nothing but barrennes and emptines in them God is all in all the best without him are as nothing hauing no power no ability to do any thing which is good What is it then that men should glorie of in themselues Or how should they not alwaies haue a verie meane conceite and esteeme of themselues yea euen annihilate themselues and giue the glorie of all vnto God vnto whom alone it is due O blessed God giue me that meekenes of spirit and that true humblenes of minde which as it is a thing rare and pretious in it selfe so of thee verie much set by Teach me considering mine own weaknes of which I haue daily experience and my insufficiencie of my selfe and of my owne strength to doe to will or to thinke any thing which is good to be lowly vile and abiect in mine owne eyes yea to esteeme my selfe as nothing without thee and alwaies acknowledging mine owne feeblenes and manifold fraileties and infirmities to depend wholly and onely vpon thee yea to cleaue fast vnto thee and to ascribe the praise and glorie of whatsoeuer good is wrought in me or by me vnto thee alone who art the God of my streâ—gth the author and giueâ— both of grace and glorie and the beginner and finisher of euery good thing which is wrought in any of thy children Another THE more that any one doth emptie himselfe of his owne worth and goodnes the more will the Lord fill and replenish him with the abundant riches of his diuine and heauenly grace The lower that he doth abase and cast downe himselfe the higher wil the Lord aduance him and lift him vp euen farre aboue that which he did either desire or expect Thus his gaine wil be exceeding great in that wherein to others he may seeme to suffer some losse much to preiudice himself O Lord grant I beseech thee that I may euery day be more humbled with the sight of mine owne vnworthines of my spirituall pouertie and beggarlines that so it may please thee to inrich me with the greater measure of thy grace let me yet be more vile in mine own eyes that so I may at length be exalted of thee aboue that which I deserue and be crowned with honour and glory in thy kingdome for euermore Vainglorie what a vanitie and follie it is VAinglorie as it is a common disease in the world so the greatest vanitie that can be yea meere follie and madnesse itself It argues euidently that he that is carried away with it
shewe thy selfe maruellous towards them aboue that we are able to thinke or coÌ„ceiue in this frailetie of ours which is not able to comprehend the brightnes of that heauenly light which thou wilt cause to shine forth vnto them in a wonderfull and glorious maner no more then our bodily eyes are able to behold the glittering beames of the Sunne when it is in the full strength thereof O blessed Lord affect my heart with the due consideration of that maruellous glorie of thine euen that happie and glorious condition which in thy vnspeakeable mercie and kindnes thou wilt raise me vnto as soone as these wretched dayes of sinne and miserie are ended And let the remembrance thereof cause me continually to sigh and to long after it and to rest euer in a ioyfull expectation of it desiring either to be dissolued by death or which I rather desire to see my Sauiour comming in the cloudes with glory and maiesty attended with thousands of Saints and Angels that so I may haue entrance into that heauenly paradise and take full possession of that rich vndefiled and neuer fading inheritance enioying the sweete fellowship and communion of all thy chosen and beloued ones yea liuing continually in thy most blessed presence and beholding that maruellous light wherein thou dwellest who inhabitest eternity Who shall be citizens of that heauenly kingdome THey that will be citizens of the kingdome of heauen must first liue as pilgrims and strangers here vpoÌ„ earth They must passe by all these transitorie and earthly things vsing them when they haue occasion as if they vsed them not They must not set their hearts vpon any thing which is here below but aspire alwaies vnto those things which are aboue desiring and longing with an earnest affection to bee at home euen at that heauenly mansion where the place of their perpetuall rest and abode is and where they shall continue for euer with that blessed companie and society of those glorious and celestiall creatures which now continually desire and expect their comming that so they may reioyce together in the fruition and accomplishment of the same felicitie and happinesse O Lord let my heart I beseech thee bee more and more daily alienated and estranged from this world and the things thereof which are but meere vanitie and let me carrie my self continually as a pilgrime and soiourner heere on earth as all thy Saints haue been not suffering my affections at any time to bee fastened vnto any of these fading and transitorie things but weaning them altogether from the same resting alwaies in a desire and ioyful expectation of my returne vnto that blessed home of mine that so when this wearisome and sinfull course is ended I may be receiued into thy celestiall mansion and liue with thee in glorie for euer Soli Deo gloria AN ALPHABETICAL Table of the chiefe points contaiâ—ed in the seueral Meditations A ACcount of all our actions to be giuen to God pag. 27 Affections ouermastered with much difficultie pag. 263 AfflictioÌ„s the necessitie of theÌ„ 94 the benefit thereof 153. the Ancre of the soule in afflictions 96. A comfort for the afflicted pag. 370 Ambitious mans Idoll pag. 309 Angels watch ouer the godly pag. 36 B BLessings of God not the lesse to bee regarded because they are common 34. especiall blessings and fauours especially to be remembred pag. 201 Blindnesse of minde a great miserie pag. 293 C CAre ought rather to bee had for the soule then for the bodie 49. for things to come then for things present pag. 149 Censurers the danger of their sinne pag. 168 Christians must neuer stand at a stay 30. what manner of life it becomes them to leade 110. 342. their imprisonment in this world 66. their life a pilgrimage on earth 106. God their â—â—ght and guide 368. their glorious conquest 261. 263. Their excellencie 216. their paradise in this life 395. How they are esteemed of in the world 267. 275. what reckoning they are in with God 277. A singular priuiledge of theirs 244. how they are to iudge of their estate pag. 377 Comfort for afflicted consciences pag. 257. 370 Compassion towards others in their griefes pag. 337 Confidence in any creature a vaine thing pag. 230 Conscience the comfort of a good conscience especially in death 125. how the conscience is disquieted pag. 203 Contentednes in all estates pag. 90 Couetousnesse a dangerous disease 91. Idolatrie pag. 309 Crosse seâ—â—fflictions D DEath alwaies to bee expected and prouided for 24. 25. 108. to be desired 65 of whom it is most feared pag. 76 Deniall of a mans selfe how necessarie pag. 365 Desertions of the godly pag. 122 Deuotion hindred first by sinfull lusts 1. secondly by worldly cares 3. thirdly by Satans suggestions pag. 6 E EState of a Christian how to be iudged of pag. 377 F FAith pag. 246 Feare of God pag. 296. 299 Forgiuing of others how necessarie pag. 329 Freedome of minde how to bee obtained pag. 384 Freewill pag. 322 G GOds glorie carefully to bee sought after in all things 26. His truth and faithfulnes 123. His loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things and his wrath feared 344. his especiall prouidence ouer his children 86. his all-seeing presence how it ought to affect vs. 150. his presence how blessed and comfortable a thing it is pag. 380 Grace different degrees thereof in the godly 61. 63. the decay of it dangerous pag. 100 H HArdnes of heart what a fearfull plague it is pag. 295 Haste of the wicked to hell prouokes the godly to make the more speed to heauen pag. 53 HeaueÌ„ who citizeÌ„s thereof pag. 404 Heauenly-mindednes pag. 199 Holy Ghost how the soule is to be fitted and prepared for the entertainment of so glorious a guest 116. grieuing thereof pag. 118 Humilitie motiues thereunto pag. 227. 386. 390 I INfirmities of others must be borne with 172. Why the Lord suffereth oft times the infirmities of his children to be knowne to others pag. 233 Iudgement day how dreadfull it will be to the wicked pag. 211 Iustification by faith only pag. 246 K KNowledge conscience and practise must goe together pag. 303. 306 L LIfe the shortnes and vncertaintie of it 206. As is the life of man so is his death and finall estate 209. the life of the righteous as well to be sought after as their death wished pag. 315 Life to come how it is to be desired in regard of the excellencie and glorie of it pag. 399 A comfortable life how to be obtained pag. 339 Liues of the Saints of old and men in these daies how different pag. 179 Loue of God by what meanes it decaieth in men pag. 289 Loue of the world a cause of distraction and much disquietnes pag. 374 M MEditation of things holy and diuine by what meanes especially it is hindered and interrupted pag. 1. 3. 6 Mercies of God pag. 15 O OLd man neuer dies in this life pag. 382 P PAtience of God pag. 114 Patience in affliction pag. 153 A signe of a well growen Christian pag. 279 Prayers of the faithfull what benefit they bring to others pag. 31 Prouidence pag. 86 R REdemption pag. 12 Repentance the follie and danger of deferring it pag. 319 Reproches comfort therin pag. 334 Resigning of a mans selfe and al that hee enioyes to Gods will pag. 325 Respect of persons for outward ornaments and indowments more then for the inward vertues and graces of the minde how vnbeseeming a thing it is pag. 84 S Satans guilefull temptations 76. 79. 102. his policie and practises against the Church of God what euent they vsually haue 143. None free froÌ„ his temptations 155. Whom he tempteth most pag. 162 Securitie the danger of it pag. 38 Seruice of God the greatest freedome pag. 356 Sin how hurtfull and dangerous it is 22. 99. the occasions of it carefully to be auoided pag. 82 Sinfulnes of mans nature corrupted pag. 281 Spirit of God the life of the soule 286. See Holy Ghost Suspition pag. 231 T TEmptations Diuers kinds of them in the godly 157 more danger in lesser temptations sometimes then in greater 165. See Satan V VAinglorie 242. the follie and vanitie thereof pag. 392 Vanitie of all earthly things pag. 63. W WAtchfulnes pag. 146 Wicked their follie 18 42. 49. 281. 361. their bondage and slauerie 47. what an vnpleasant and distracted life they leade 312. What difference there is betweene their estate and the estate of the godly eueÌ„ in this life pag. 236 Word of God the vnfruitfull hearing of it dangerous 59. it ought to bee heard with feare and trembling pag. 299 Worldlings their follie 42. their dulnes and sottishnes 205. 281. their miserable estate pag. 310. 574. Worldly mans Idoll pag. 309 Worship what it is that God especially requireth 323. hindrances thereunto pag. 238 Z Zeale pag. 240 FINIS