can deliuer vs but thy out-stretched arme we rely not vpon our selues nor continuing therein forsake thee so long till at last thou forsake vs and we perish vtterly but Lord preuenting it so rend our harts that they may bleed in sorrow for the same that thou maist forgiue vs our great vnthankefullness end all the rest â—â— our sins our ignorances willfullnesse necligences presumptions and all other our transgressions and rebellions o Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake wash them all away in his bloud nayle them fast vnto his Crosse and bury them in his graue where let them consume to nothing hauing not that resurrection that our bodies shall haue from thence least thy should come to iudgement with vs cloath vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with his spirit worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsfull minds mortifie our sinful lusts and adorne vs withall thy graces open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our harts to follow it direct vs in thy wayes and keepe vs from declining from thee teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this world that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come and to that end we besech thee be mercifull vnto vs at this time and receiue vs into thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our prayers watch thou ouer vs to our good and giue vs such rest and sleepe that we may be fitter inabled to serue thée the next day in our exercises studyes and callings heare holy father from heauen and graunt vs all these our requests and whatsoeuer else thou knowest may be for our good for Iesus Christ his sake thine only sonne and our only sauious to whom with thee and thine holy spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendered all power praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen A morning Prayer for a priuate famely It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late except the Lord be with vs so vaine a thing is man therefore we will not attempt any thing before we haue taken counsell and strength from the Lord that he may deliuer vs from euery euill worke if we aske that thing which is euill deny our ignorance if we aske that thing which is good Remember thy promise IN peace and safety we layed vs downe and rose againe for thy gratious eye watched ouer vs that we might take our rest The heauens declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy goodnesse yet thou hast not so respected all nations and thou hast loued Syon thy little hill a nooke and corner of the world far seperated from the serpent and fenced from the wild beast yet who considereth the euill we haue deserued is gone into other landes because their Gods be not like vnto our God we haue had much experience of thy goodnesse yet we trye thee still we proue thee still and yet we see thy workes thou hast seperated vs from schisme heresy that we should be ioyned vnto thee euen a new creature come out of darkenesse to light according to the working of knowledge in vs. O bind our harts with thy feare that we part not from thy loue for our selues and for our brethren we here prostrate our soules before thee O Prince most excellent for the name of thy onely Sonne one drop of mercy to coole this â—ire of sinne nothing good Lord â—o change thy mercy yet the whelâ—es doe eate the crummes that fall from their maisters Table first wee yeeld thee harty thankes for all at once next wee humbly beseech thee for the generall quittance which thy Sonne hath sealed for our sinnes then for all graces we pray thee let vs not want the thing without which wee cannot serue thee plant in our hearts true feare of thy name obedience â—oâ— our Prince and loue to our neighbour giue power good Father to our prayers that they may be effectual sollicitors for thy grace and fauour in all occasions and seasons grant vs true humility in prosperity perfect patience in aduersity peace in Christ and ioy in the holy Ghost This is our desire to liue godly righteously and soberly so blesse vs and keepe vs good Father to the end of our liues Turne vs O God of our saluation grant that we may grow froÌ„ strength to strength that thy Church militant may be like thy triumphant in heauenly charity and al communion of Saints write thy Lawes on the Table of our hearts with the finger of thy good Spirit that by vs they may be often euidently read practised in our liues and conuersations Blesse them which blesse vs looke vpon this realme in thy mercy preserue our King let not the eye of Great Brittaine become dim or loose his sight be gratious and mercifull vnto our friends and parents according to the flesh comfort thy afflicted Saints and members confound the power of Antichrist send thy feare amongst them make their time short and defend thine owne cause and as thou art sanctified in vs before them so bee thou magnified in them before vs yâ— all the world may conuert say En Deus Christianorum Great art thou O God of the Christians and there is none omnipotent besides thee iust and mercifull recompensing righteousnesse and reuenging iniquitie transgressions yesterday and to day and the same for euer and euery where Grant these things O heauenly Father with thy blessing vpon this family O Lord leade them out and bring them in bee at the beginning the middle and end of all their businesses that thou maiest see them accomplished to their best aduantage and for because the world is a forrest of briers many dangers therein that may intangle vs so that when wee part and go out wee are not sure to méet and come in againe vnlesse thou guide vs by thy hand and protect vs vnder the wings of thy safe-guard Therefore bee present and assistant vnto vs and euery one of vs then happy shall wee be and all things shall prosper that wee take in hand which Lord fulfill vnto vs and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shall better foresee for our good euen for his sake who died for sinne and sinned not in whose name we further pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. God the Father which hath made vs blesse vs God the Sonne which hath redeemed vs preserue vs God the Holy-ghost which hath sanctified vs confirme our faith to the end and in the end Oh God Father Sonne and holy Ghost saue vs. AMEN An Euening prayer for a priuate Family Our transgressions are more in number then the hairs of our head wee repent vs of them all from the bottome of our hearts O Father be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs them O Lord God our most mercifull Father vnto thy diuine Maiesty what might wee render as an Oblation acceptable vnto thee which hast
the Diuell would haue me deser vntill the point of death and good father grant that I may loue righteousnesse and pitty with as great good will as euer I loued wickednesse and vanity and that I may go before other in thankfulnesse towards thee as farre as thou goest in mercy to mee before them O teach mee to seeke thee in all things and all things in thee euen for thy name sake for thy promise sake for thy Sonnes sake our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus A Thankesgiuing before meate TO thee O Lord the giuer of al good gifts vpon whose bounty and mercy depend all the creatures in the world which openest thy hand and fillest vs with thy blessings or wee goe empty away and perish Thy bounty and goodnesse it is O Lord that furnisheth our backs and feedeth our bellyes and spreadeth our tables blesseth preserueth and vpholdeth all that we haue our basket and our store the oyle in our cruses prouision in our presses the sheep in our foldes in our stables the children in the wombe at our tables the corne in our fields in our floores and garners and all that wee haue or is in the ayre in the earth in the sea or wheresoeuer else the least of which thy good gifts and blessings let vs not at this time nor no time else presume to touch make vse or enioy without an awfull reuerence and respect to thee the author and owner thereof Sanctifie therefore we beséech thée at this time them vnto vs and vs in them so that thy name may bee glorified and our bodies comforted through Iesus Christ Amen Thanksgiuing after meate DEere Father wee render mâ—st humble and hearty thankes vnto thee as is most meet requisite for all thy former benefits good creatures ordained giuen to our vse sacrificed ready to be sacrificed euery day for our pleasures so now at this time for the large competent satisfaction thou hast bestowed vpon vs to the refreshing of our weake fainting bodyes So good Lord as thou hast beene gracious vnto vs in breaking this thy corporall and materiall bread vnto vs at this time to the food of our bodies so likewise giue thy Spirituall bread vnto our soules in that abundant measure that the more they eate and drinke thereof the more they may hunger thirst after thee to fulfill thy precepts to walke in thy commandements and to do the workes of charity and mercy towards others to whom thy bounty hath in some measure bene restrained which grant most mercifull Father for thy mercies sake Amen Before Meate TO thee the Author of our beeing Before the world our time fore-seeing The time approach't thou hadst decreed That thought did cease effect succced Into the world poore naked bare We were brought forth nurst by thy care Of whom ere since we begge and craue For food for rayment all we haue Blesse these thy gifts wee shall receiue Shall feed shall taste of by thy leaue And all things else what ere it bee That thou shalt send that come from thee Blesse soule and body basket store Our health our wealth our rich poore What ere we doe so blesse the same That stil our mouths may praise thy name Thy Church king God saue blesse And grace from heauen so send That we may liue a happy life And make a godâ—y end After Meate OVr bodyes thus refresh't and fed Whom thou do'st daily fill So let our liues be spent and led According to thy will And as thou break'st thy earthly bread Vnto our mortall hands So breake that bread vnto our soules Whereon our well-fare stands For as the body doth decay Doth languish and complaine From food and nourishment debar'd That doth her state maintaine So will the soule and all her powers Dry wither parch and perâ—sh If that thy grace which is her life Refresh not feed and chorish Lord therefore stretch thy mighty hand And let thy loue appeare In feeding this in filling that In holding both so deare That when we leaue this wicked world Whose pleasure is but paine In peace and rest in heauen with thee We euermore may raigne Amen Certaine Rules and Precepts for the good ordering and gouernment of a mans life 1 IN the morning wheÌ„ thou first awakest blesse God giue him thankes for his carefull protection and watching ouer thee for the quyet rest and sleepe hee hath bestowed vpon thee to the refreshing of thy body and the renuing of thy minde but be sure that he haue the first place in thy heart 2 Call to minde all thy businesse for the day following and to thy selfe propose to the effecting thereof a good order method euer thinke of the end before thou vndertake any thing and to all thy honest intents indeuours craue the direction of God and his assistance otherwise thou toylest in vaine and thy labours will not prosper 3 As for the successe and effecting of thy businesse so before thou setst thy foot out of doores put God againe in minde of thy person implore his assistance protection ouer thee knowing that many a one hath gone out of his house neuer come in againe and that so it may befall thee if he preuent it not 4 At the euening when thou retirest thy selfe call to minde what thou hast effected what thou hast neglected what euill thou hast healed that day what vice thou hast stood against in what part thou art bettered and as thou went iâ— out in his feare so returne in his fauour giuing him thankes for the ability and motion of thy body in the accomplishment of thy affaires for of our selues we are not able to lift our hands to head food to our mouths therfore by his goodnesse sufferance we haue all and enioy all that we haue 5 If thou hast neglected any duty wherein thou mayst haue pleasured thy brother not indaÌ„gered thy selfe any coÌ„mon curtesie that by the law of nature one man is bound vnto another Cor. 11. 13. If thou hast offended any man by deed or by word by instigation or procurment call them to mind condemne thy selfe therein be sorry therfore and before thou seek to giue thy body any rest rest not till thou hast sought a pardon at the hands of God which will neuer be granted but vpon this condition That thou be hartely sorry for the same and purpose in thine heart neuer to offend in that kinde againe 6 When thou preparest thy selfe to bed likewise prepare thy selfe as for thy graue remembring that many go to bed neuer rise againe till they be raised w e the sound of the last trumâ—et and for ought thou knowest the thing so often resembled therby may now be ready for thée For vt somnus mortis sic lectus Imago sepulcri the number of thy dayes expired thou must passe from the land of the liuing in yâ— moment or howsouer there is one of thy number spent and yâ— art
the way then to runne out of the way 32 A good life and a bad make death apeare in two shapes happy is he that liues so that it appeare in the best 33 He that feares to dye feares to find that he liues to seeke 34 If death bee not good of it selfe yet it is the end of many euils 35 Health is aboue wealth and a competency with content riches enough And many a one hath the vse of much money that hath not the vse of himselfe 36 Be silent in thy intentions least by the contrary thou be preuented and laughed to scorne 37 As the Touch-ston tries so gold tries man 38 It is better to be truly reprehended by a friend then falsly flattered by an enemye 39 By other mens examples not by thine owne learne what is worst to eschue what is best to follow 40 As he sleeps well that feeles not he sleeps ill so hee sins much that thinkes not that he sinnes at all 41 Seuerall accidents haue seuerall remedies but patience is appliable to all 42 The later day is commonly the scholler of the former 43 To conquer the affections of ones owne heart is more then to conquer a kingdome 44 The couetuous man is good to non but he is worst to himselfe and wantes aswell that he hath as that he hath not 45 So trust thy friend that he cannot hurt thee being thy enemy 46 He that doth an iniury to one threatens it to many 47 It is hard to keepe safe that that many men desire as a faire wife ready money 48 The eye nere offendes if the hart gouerne it well 49 Nothing is thine own truly that thou canst dispossesse thy selfe of 50 There is no day of a mans life so happy that somthing doth not happen to grieue him 51 Hee that giues not willingly will allwayes find some reason why he should not giue 52 The increase of knowledge is the increase of sorrow 53 There was neuer wise man but saw more cause of sorrow then ioy 54 That mans end is easy and happy that death finds with a weake body and a strong soule 55 Youth and nature passe ouer many infirmities that are owing till our age 56 Who liues most vertuousoy will dye most patiently 57 Liue to dye once dye once to liue euer 58 Thinke of God with wonder speake to God with reuerence serue him in loue obay him in feare and do nothing but as in his presence and sight and thou shalt liue the life of the godly go the way of the blessed liue in his feare and dye in his fauour The diriuation of man 59 Homo ex humo cadauer ex carodata vermibus 60 Sapiens miser plus miser est quam rusticus miser scit enim exaggerare causas dolendi quas rusticus miser nescit Admonition against sinne 61 When sinne allures thee thinke that thou seest Christ comming towards thee as he lay in the armes of Ioseph of Arimathea taken downe from the Crosse all wanne and bleeding wounded the delicacy beuty and admiration of all his partes clouded sullied and stayned speaking thus vnto thee ô forbeare to commit it for it fetcht me from the armes of my father from my royalty and glory in heauen whole and vntoucht to the armes of this mortal man all wounded and torne as thou seest and with this contemplation forbeare Zacheus certaine gaine the worlds imagined losse If Zacheus to winne heauen restored fore-fould from those he had hut iniured single how do they labour to winne hell that do iniury foure-sould yet make not restitution single The fiue thoughts of a Christian 1 Thinke of pleasure to dispise it 2 Of death to expect it 3 Of iudgement to escape it 4 Of hell to preuent it 5 Of heauen to desire it Foure kinde of men according to Dauid that are most indebted vnto God for their liues 1 Those that haue escaped a dearth 2 Prisoners there bondes 3 Those escaped in a mortall sickenesse 4 Seafaring men that are neyther among the liuing nor the dead A Prayer for Constancy and grace against all worldly vanities and allurements GIue me grace to effect thy will O Lord command me what thou pleasest giue me constancie and perseuerance in my calling and duties of life according to thy will and direction and then let my course be in what thou wilt appoynt Be I a husband chastity and content shall adorne my calling in despight of the allurement of all other beauties all other accidēts Be I rich pride nor oppression nor contempt the adherent vices of that Mammon shall not ceize me with their easinesse in their snares be I whatsoeuer I am bee thou my guide and rule of my life and then all my actions shall bee squared and fitted by the ayme of thy word to the leuell of thy will that so they may end in thy glory my comfort and that they may so doe good Lord so guide temper my disposition with such a regiment of thy goodnesse that thou let not the world with her smiles beguile me nor with her frownes affright me arme me with sanctity strength wisedome that I may vse it as though I vsed it not and let not Sathan deceiue me therein let not my owne cōdition betray me to his malice let mee euery day increase my strength in thee adding to the spirituall estate and welfare of my soule that the longer I liue I may walke more securely in the midst of so many enemies giue me a true estimation of all earthly flatteries vanities and pleasures such deep sight therin y◠through the shades beauties allurements I discerne the poyson y◠lyes at their roots so forbeare the one that I perish not by the other let my delight bee least taken when my body most liues but whilst the one walkes dully vpon earth let the other soare sprightly to heauen let me not for y◠glimse and shining like a glo-worme in this world loose the splendor beauty more glorious then the stars in the firmamēt in the world to come prepared for me and all that perseuer in thy waies vnto the end which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amē A short Memoratiue of the mortality of our life and the folly of our liuing Ashes earth stād forth thou art here acus'd That thou thy brittle substāce hast abus'd The potters vessels being earth and clay Not safely guarded suddenly decay And then their vse though needfull much before Fails in effect and are obseru'd no more Thou wōdrous workmā of vnboūded skil That shewest so large art on a stuffe so ill What are our bodies made of but of mould And yet how rich a substance do they hold The which so many waies we do deface That for the iewel should preserue the case Sometime a thousand vanities our guide We dash this bark vpon the rocks of pride Or on the shelues of gluttony or lust We perish suddenly and not mistrust Sayling along
THE EMBASSADOR BETWEEN Heauen and Earth betweene God and Man OR A BOOKE Of Heauenly and Healthy Meditations and Prayers for earthly and sickly Soules and Sinners Fit to be borne in the hand and worne in the heart of euery good Christian By W. C. Preacher of the word MATH 7. 7. Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you LONDON Printed by N. O. for Lenard Becket and are to be sold at his shop in the Inner Temple 1613. To the Christian and supplicant Reader REligious reader the manifould myseries and calamities of this our wretched life our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Apostles and fathers of the Church these euery one of these with as many motiues as there are thoughts in the hart or spectacles to the eye of man teach vs and haue taught vnto vs the necessity force vse of prayer and withall inciting vs both to frequency and feruency therin without which besides many other benefits which therby we eyther obtaine or lose can neyther sathan be resisted nor our faith manifested nor God daily honoured with an innumerable consideration on the other side vs like-wayes thereunto mouing as the shortnesse of our life but a span the suddainnesse of Christs comming in a moment the strict and fearfull account that must be rendered at the day of his appearing And for that prayer is a mourning and desire of the spirit to God for that which she lacketh euen as the sicke-man sorroweth for his health whereby being reconciled to God by faith we may inioy the thing we craue or haue need of In what a desperate danger securitye may wee be then thought if we shall shew our selues slacke or careles herein in this so avayleable a duty let vs therefore pray in all places and at all times calling to mind the largnes of Gods gratious loue and his louing kindnes in Christ Iesus our sauiour who biddeth vs aske and it shall be giuen knocke and it shall be opened and whensoeuer thou art burdened or opprest with thy sins or any other misery or calamity in the world be thou assured the Lord will offer himselfe to be reconciled to thee if thou thy selfe be ready and faithfull to call for the same at his hands to the furthering whereof and as it were the tracing a path thereto thou hast heare good reader both the manner and the method both the forme and the fashion both how to pray and what to pray mouldes and methodes fitted vnto seuerall occasions and purposes for thy releife and benefit as time and necessity shall require in that behalfe which requisit regard and serious consideration that these heauenly Embassadours may be the more gratious in the eyes of God and successe-ful in our occasions is most intirely to be tendered thereunto So that God may blesse both them and vs with an happy eâ—rnest in this world of the eternitye in the world to come whither by his blessed will so prospering this intended meanes that it be able to bring vs he grant for the glory of his owne great name Amen Thine in the Lord. W. C. IF by the absence of the author difficulty of the hand misplacing of points some sillables or wordes mistaken the sence in any place be obscured the iuditious reader may be pleased to correct such easy faults as by these meanes haue escaped which I trust are not many A view of the Contents and Prayers as they orderly stand in this Booke 1 A Treatise of the vanity of all earthly pleasures and the misery of our life such as they are to enioy them 2 Of the force the vse and necessity of Prayer 3 A Morning Prayer for the Saboth day 4 An Euening Prayer for the saboth day 5 A Description of Heauenly Ierusalem and the happinesse there out of the Manual of Mr. Crashaw 6 An euery-dayes sacrifice or a Morning praier for any day in the weeke or euery day in the weeke 7 An Euening praier for any day in the weeke or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person or other changing but the number 8 Another Morning praier 9 An Euening Praier to the same 10 A Morning praier for a priuate family 11 An Euening praier for a priuate family 12 A praier to God the father for the forgiuenesse of sinnes 13 A praier to bee said before the vndertaking of any iourney 14 Another for the same somewhat more ample both by sea and land 15 A praier for internall and externall peace and against debate and contentious going to law 16 A prayer for seasonable weather vpon sensible consideration therefore 17 A Meditation of Gods loue and mercy towards vs and our vnthankefulnesse towards him alluding to the phrase of Saint Austin Misereri mei Domine indigna facientis digna patientis 18 A meditation against the feare of death written in French by P. M. S. de Plessis 19 The sick-mans Praier 20 The commendation of the soule to bee said at a sicke mans death out the Manual of Mr. Crashaw 21 Six signes vpon the which a man may rest confident of his saluation 22 Another meditation against the feare of death and for strength and patience in that last houre 23 Sir Thomas Moores verses of the vncertainty of life 24 A Praier or Meditaion before the receiuing of the holy Communion 25 A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Holy Communion 26 A thankesgiuing to God the father vsed by the R. W. Musc and fit to be vsed of al good Christians 27 Martin Luthers Praier 28 Saint Austins Praier 29 A Praier for a woman with childe or in trauaile 30 The Prisoners Praier written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few daies before his triall 31 A thankesgiuing for our Redemption and for other both corporall and spirituall blessings 32 Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it 33 A Praier against that dangerous and deadly sinne of Desperation 34 A praier in time of pestilence 35 A praier for Humility 36 The liuing words of a dying man closed vp in that vertue 37 The summe of the praier of the Lady I. G. at the time of her execution 38 A generall thankesgiuing to God for all his benefits and mercies to man 39 A thankesgiuing before meat 40 A thankesgiuing after meat 41 Two other for the same 42 Certaine Rules and Preceps for the good ordering and gouernement of a mans life 43 Certaine Sentences or Rules of good life pertinent to the precepts going before them 44 The Deriuation of man 45 Admonition against sinne 46 Zacheus certaine gaine the worlds imagined losse 47 The fiue thoughts of a Christian 48 Foure kinde of men according to Dauid that are most indebted vnto God for their liues 49 A Praier for Constancy and grace against all worldly vanities and allurements 50 A short Memoratiue of the mortality of our life and
conscience shal not disquiet and the deuill driue thee to despaire in so that thou canst not truly repent and late repentance is seldome true repentance and besides it stands not with the Lords honour to be so often shaken off when he would lodge with vs and how many in these thoughtes haue perished suddainly preuented by death of their expectation preparation proposed if notwithstaÌ„ding all this that neither consideration nor perswasion can moue vs to be early wise for our owne good the good of our soules let vs know if we deferre our repentance to the last iudgement shall but iustly requite vs if eyther death do strangle vs before we speake or the wrath of God rebound vpon vs when we haue gone out and wept betterly wept our fill therfore I say againe preuent it lest thou be preuented by it and frustrated of they expectation cast from the fauour of God thou be condemned for euer to that lake that burnes with fire brimstone the terror and torture thereof as inexplicable as vnsufferable which cannot be indured and yet must be induâ—ed without ceasing or determinatioÌ„ By this we are now resolued we must die either in youth or in age at one seasoÌ„ or at another the cannoÌ„ decree so direct to all that no one shall euer find an euasion the sonne of God himselfe hauing taken our nature vpon him was not exempted but died was layed in the bowels of the earth to sweeten it to all mankind we know in regard of our time we haue but a short time to liue and that short not sweet but full of mysery we know that as we liue so we shal die according to that ancient true sentence Qualis vita finis ita vt cecideris itâ— eris and as we die so shall we rise to iudgement we know that our sins of Omission and Commission of desire consent our thoughtes and our deedes shall be brought vnto iudgement with vs we must render an account of our idle wordes if so no maruell that the scripture telleth vs when these all in vs and all in all of vs are let loose at liberty without any restaint or reckoning That many are called but few are chosen And wee know that wee haue broken all thy Commandements and the breach of the least is eternall damnation These things considered and daily and seriously layd to heart which concernes the well-fare of euery Christian what cause haue wee but to mourne and sorrow For what will it profite a man to winne all the world to enioy all the riches and pleasures thereof and to loose his owne Soule And if wee stand vpon pleasure what pleasure is like vnto this To lay vp Treasure in Heauen which the moath shall not corrupt nor theeues breake through and steale to walke in the paths of the Lord all the dayes of our life to liue in his feare that we may dye in his fauour that at the last day wee may stand with confidence vnshaken when the wicked shall tremble at his presence like Popler in the Forrest What are all the pleasures of this world but Vanity but vanity and vexation of the minde and there is no true content vnder the Sunne And in their passage which is very sudden they leaue a kinde of sting behinde them and there besides is more griefe in a little sorrow then content in a great deale of pleasure And this is the sowre reckoning that euer killes the sweete welcome of all earthly pleasure And therfore once againe if wee stand vpon pleasure what pleasure is like vnto this and the more pleasant because the more secure to thinke how sweete that breath that flowes from the lippes of our Sauiour shall bee vnto vs aboue Myrrh and Cassia Come you blessed I was hungry and you fed mee I was naked and you câ—oathed mee inherâ—te the Kingdome of my Father prepared for you from the beginning On the other side the thought of that heauy Sentence the thought imagination whereof like the vpper and the neather Mill-stone is able to câ—ush and grinde in peeces all the pleasures of the world and the sensuall appetites thereof and to throw them into the ayre like Chaffe against the winde that indanger or bring vs within the compasse thereof The tenor whereof shall be more grieuous against whom it is pronounced that day then all the pleasures of the world in the fullest sayle were euer contentiue Ite Maledicti Goe you cursed descend to the lake of perdition you that haue had your portion in this world Purple and fine Linnen and fared dilitiousoy euery day that haue neglected me in my members in charity and pitty and in deedes of mercy that beeing hungry gaue mee no foode and beeing naked gaue mee no rayment Will this bee the answere of Christ at that day to those that to him in his persecuted and afflicted members denyed their releefe when they therewith plainly euicted excuses shall craue mercy at his handes and shall not obtaine it Si in igne ardebit qui non dedit propria sua vbi ardebit qui surripiat aliena Si sterilitas in ignem mittitur rapacitas quid merebitur All the sonnes and daughters of men in the world from Adam the first man of the race to the last that shall stand vpon the earth shall to their ioy or griefe receiue one of these two sentences Then If Let vs all therfore labour to be partakers of the best of the blest and that wee may let vs serue him in loue For Seruire eo regnare est his seruice is perfect freedome Let vs obey him in feare for The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome Let vs be acquainted with him in this world that wee may not bee as strangers and aliants to him in the world to come Let vs heare him when hee speakes vnto vs and not with our eares stopped passe by him like the deafe Adder not regarding the Voyce of the Charmer charme hee neuer so wisely lest the Prophets and Preachers of the Word the Law and the Gospell our Parents and Tutors our owne Consciences consenting and witnessing thereunto send vs vnto the Iudgement seat of GOD with this Inscription written on our Fore-heads Noâ—â—erunt iâ—cantari they would not be charmed they would not bee acquainted Let vs not waste our time and weigh â—t not heape vp sinne and feare it not awake GODS wrath and sorrow not lye fettered in death and struggle not slippe into the Graue and see it not least wee perish and preuent it not And let vs not haue lesse regard of our time then wee haue of our treasure which we somtimes reckon by graine and weight that wee reserue with heede and care imploy with diligence and fore-cast and let that passe a thousand times more pretious without Arithmetike and Ballance thought or regard Let not the slashes of vaine-glory that flye through the world like lightening and the subtile plots and
place dominion ouer men and Angels that boweth the heauens and sayleth vpon the wings of the wind who with the breath of his nostrils is able to destroy our both bodyes and soules change the world and the beauty thereof into a chaos and heap of confusion turne the sunne into darkenesse and the moone into blood and alter the propertie and being of all the creatures in the world at the twinckling of an eye considering what we are that speake that offer the Calues of our lips and the fruits of our repeÌ„taÌ„ce poore naked impotent vnworthy wretches daÌ„natos antequaÌ„ natos all these considerations many more bid vs be importunate feruent in our prayers the suruay consideration of our wretchednes mortality our nakednesse in all good workes that it may make vs ashamed as it did our first pareÌ„ts when they hid themselues from the presence of their God as Mâ—riam of her leprosie altogether abashed astonied after mortality exceedingly mortal the view of our sins exceedingly sinfull the number the waight the danger therof that hange about our necks like milstones that we are not able are not worthy to cast vp our eyes to heauen and after our sins our misery exceedingly miserable that the Prophet of God was astonied to see either man or the son of man so kindly visited biddeth vs be feruent in our prayers lastly the successe we expect vnlesse we call in question or doubt of the promises of God which are Yea and Amen and more stable then the pillers of the earth or the base of the surest foundation except we will cast our graine into the earth and expect no haruest plant vines and not drinke the wine thereof powre out our plaintes and petitions and thinke that God eyther heareth not or regardeth not at all or will not grant as farre as is expedient for our good which if we shall do the contrary vpon the truth security of his warrant there is another motiue for feruency in our prayers lastly the pretiousnesse of the fâ—uour of his countenance which must be carefully sought for our owne benefit and all these respects and consideratitions thereunto tending doe crye vnto vs to crye vnto him to be seruent in our prayers for we must not thinke that the noyse of our lips as the ringing of basons meere soundes and voices that wake and flye vp whilst the inward man doth slumber and keepe downe procure vs audience at the handes of God Vâ—lentiores enim voces apud Sâ—cretissimas dâ—i atâ—res non faciunt verba sed dâ—sideria the strongest and most effectuall spech in the secret cares of God proceedeth not from wordes but from intention he that heareth without eares can interpret our prayers without our tongues he that made both the one and the other knowes the language of both a like he that saw fansied Nathaniell vnder the figtree before he was called saw and sanctified Iohn Baptist in his mothers wombe before he came forth and hard the hart of Zacheus before his conuersion seeth and blesseth our prayers feruently conceyued and sowne in the root of our consciences before they spring forth but if they are only verbal and vocal soundes without wringing any drop of contrition from the conscience blood from the spirit they may beat the ayre with empty soundes but the eares of the almighty shall they not enter but their want of deuotion shall be answeared by him as the prayers of those idolaters in Ezechiel 8. Though they cry in mine eares with a loud voyce yet will I not heare them therefore enter not hereunto vnworthely presume not to speake with God but with due respect and reuerence of his maiestie to whom thou speakest stirre vp both thy tongue and thy spirit that they may ioyne hand in hand the sooner to preuayle and if thou hast oftentimes powred out thy petitions and plaintes to God and hast not preuayled yet be not discoraged thereby go on still in thy sure importune him more and more weary his patient eares with thy clamors and thou shalt at last obtaine although peraduenture not in the same manner thou desirest yet in that which he sees more conuenient for thee be of Iobs mind though he kill mee yet will I trust in him though he denie thee yet despayre not in him how long did the holy Patriarkes and Prophets expect the fullfilling of there Prophesies yet in the fulnesse of time they were fulfilled heauen and earth shall passe but not one title of his word shall fall to the ground and therfore I say againe and againe when thou hast ended thy suite begin it a new repeat it and recite it ingeminate it and dwel vpon it be not beaten by any distrust or temptation from thy hould learne adherence to thy suite from the mariners constancy we besech thee o Lord wee besech thee set thy hart truly a worke and it will find this theame to thinke on for where the affection is fastened the tongue is easie and willing to dwell thereupon O Absolon o my sonne Absolon o Absolon my sonne my sonne was the mourning of Dauid when he heard of the death of Absolon and as if his affection had only dwelt vpon the name and memory of his sonne his tongue had forgotten to pronounce all other speach saue only Absâ—lon It manifesteth likewayes what loue our Sauiour bore towards that holy Citty in that he ingeminated and repeated his sorrows ouer and ouer it O Ierusalem Ierusalem if I forget Ierusalem let my right hand forget her cunning so must our affections be in loue with him and his blessed name more then son or Citty or any worldly delight that it may be euer meditating in our hartes walking on our tongues my God my Lord and the more we are held off the nearer let vs presse let vs attend his leasure and pleasure with patience without distrust without wearines the longer Abraham talked with God the more he preuayled he brought him from the whole number to fiftye and from fiftye to tenne before he gaue him ouer Behould I haue begunne to speake vnto my Lord and am but dust and ashes let not my Lord be angry and I will speake againe and semel and iterum once more I haue begunne and againe I will speake and let not my Lord be offended and so far was God from it that he gaue him both a patient eare and a gratious answeare in that his most importunate request If ten be found there I will not destroy it consider and behould herin the force of prayer from the tongue of a righteous man that it so far was powerfull with God that if in the whole Citty a Citty so excedingly sinfull that the crye thereof ascended vp into heauen they entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum euen into the eares of the holy of holiest with such continuall loudnes and clamor that they gaue him no rest yet notwithstanding in his wrath and resolution
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
to seuer the goates from the sheepe then to imbrace both Iew the gentle now to deuide betweene seruant and seruant at the same mil betweene man and wife in the same bed betweene Iacob and Esaw in the same womb to giue a blessing to the one and a curse vnto the other know therfore the danger of deferring thy repentance and eschew that common sinne least it one day fall thus heauy vpon thee 15 Often and euer thinke vpon the loue of Christ neuer enough to be thought vpon the gratious and admired worke of thy redemption by the bloud of that immaculate and vnspotted Lambe Christ Iesus at the very name whereof shall be bowed all the knees in heauen and in earth but at the thought thereof shall be rent all the hartes of both a mistery so great that the host of heauen admire and the Angels desire to prye into whom in thy poore measure imitate in admiration of his mercy and iustice how they meet imbrace and kisse each other and be thankefull to him that hath so gratiously dealt with thee and all mankind 16 Periculosum existimo quod bonorum virorum non comprobatur exemplo e contrario There was neuer that goodnesse or vertue in the world that might be imitated eyther with ease or difficulty by life or death in whose steps some haue not imitated to tread the end of whose dayes hath bene peace vpon earth and glory with the saints in heauen so on the other side there was neuer vice that set foot vpon earth from yâ— least sence that infects to that which waighes downe to the pit of hell that hath not had imitatours whose reward hath bene misery and contempt vpon earth and a continuance augmentation thereof in the lake of perdition in the world to come therefore let the reward of the on and the punishment of the other be euer set before thy eyes that thou maist follow the better and eschue the worse 17 Do not that iniure to any other that thou wouldest not another should doe vnto thee though thou canst oppresse not yâ— poore by thy might be not quarellsome a company keeper nor gamster nor surety but for a tried friend a good occasioÌ„ because for besides the iosse of time which these expend they draw oâ— oaths quarels surfets sicknes and for the most part end in bloud he the hath any of these cannot rightly intitle his owne goods to himselfe nor anything that he doth possest 18 Againe I say haunt not tauernes alehouses brothels but beware of the danger of the expence the bane both of body and soule and take heed yâ— thou take not delight in any vnlawful thing for there is no one vice that hauing wholly possest a man that is not accompanied with a whole traine of wickednesse at the heeles thereof able to eat vp and deuoure the very root and substance of goodnesse it selfe therâ—ore take heed that thou fal not into the snars therof 19 Keepe not company with any notorious or detected person by whom though not otherwayes thy reputation and credit may be called in question in the opinion of the world for by the company be it good or euill that thou kepest such shalt thou be censured to bée for similis similem querit and in what company soeuer thou come haue a care that the company may be rather bettered by thy presence then any way impeached therby kéepe a straight watch ouer the words thoughts deeds of thy heart restraining the liberty thereof where it would extend further then conuenient and honest 20 Bee fearefull to commit sinne especially any examplar sinne to shew the way as it were to others least they perish therein vnrepentant and it be one day layd to thy charge euery one shall haue enough to answer for himselfe woe to him that shall bee prest with the weight of his owne and others euery sin as a milstone to presse him downe to the pit of Hell Certaine sentences or Rules of good life and pertitinent to the Precepts going before Seruire Deo regnare est 1 THE seruice of God is perfect freedome 2 Where ignorance finds no mercy contempt shall sure find misery 3 There is no man borne without sinne happy is he that increaseth it least 4 Till death there is no man happy then happy is he that dies in the Lord. 5 Make vse of time for it passeth with a swift foot and that which followes most commonly is not so good as that which goes before 6 Hee that vngodlily dies rich shall haue many mourners to his graue but few comforters at his iudgement 7 Expect that loue from thy children that thou thy selfe hast tendered to thy parents 8 So dispose thy time as if thou shouldest liue long and yet as if thou shouldest dye suddainly 9 Doe well to thine enemies that they may become thy friends 10 It is the part of a wiseman to preueÌ„t iniuries ere they happen of a valiant maÌ„ to withstand them ere they come 11 Out of other mens faults iudge how odious thyne owne are 12 There is more trust in vertue then in oathes 13 Hee that wil speake what he would shall heare that he would not 14 Delight not to speake ill of the dead 15 Striue to be rich in that that when thy shippe shall perish suffers no shipwrack 16 Learne that being a child that will adorne thee being a man 17 The wast of time is a deare expence 18 It is better to fall amongst the Rauens of the ayre then the flatterers of the earth for the one strikes the dead but the other wounds the liuing 19 He liues in vaine that hath no care to liue well 20 Greatnesse is not the cause of goodnes but goodnes is the cause of greatnesse 21 So loue that thou maist hate so hate that thou maist loue 22 If by thy labour thou accoÌ„plish any thing that is good the labour passeth but the good remayneth to thy coÌ„fort if for thy pleasure thou shalt do any thing that is ill the pleasure passeth but the euill remayneth to thy sorrow 23 The goodman will not â—in for the loue hee beares to God and goodnesse it selfe But the euill man for feare of punishment 24 Be thou neuer so ould thou maist euery day learne therefore neuer be ashamed to learne that thou knowest not 25 Dispise not ould age but greiue to see it miserable 26 Sweare not often but performe what thou swearest beeing honest though to thy losse 27 T is tiranny to do what may be done and not regard what ought to be done 28 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body forbeare it being any way preiuditiall to thy soule 29 So loue thy best friend that thou be not thine owne worst enemy 30 Desire in any thing rather to be in substance without shew then in shew without substance 31 Forbeare to speake much for he that doeth shall not often speake well and it is better to be lame in
on this vncertaine sea Where we are tost turmoyl'd euery day Where we are lifted as the winds do keep Vp to the clouds downe into the deep Where if we passe the daÌ„ger of the maine Within the hauen landing we are slaine What shelues and sands and windes and waues with-stood Yeelds by infected ayre or tainted bloud Or vselesse whilst in readinesse we stand And nere aduenture on the sea from land Yet will coÌ„tinuance where the windes not weare vs Dis-ioynt our ioynts all in sunder teare vs. Though sea land al their daÌ„ger saues Yet wil this croked cripple dig our graues Where beeing accepted world nor friend to minde vs Death so hauing left vs so shall iudgement find vs. For wormes that eate our bodies pierce our skinne Waste vs to nothing do not waste our sin Which will not leaue vs where our friends forsake vs But as a witnesse to that bar will take vs Where we poore trembling wretches standing there Quake like the popler with espects of feore Conscience there wounding and will not conceale That which vndoes vs if it shall reueale Where if the righteous scarce shall fauour finde What place for gracelesse sinners is assignd Such as thy precepts haue not kept in awe But broke each text canon of thy law Bin drownâ— in natures pleasures al my life At peace with sin sinners but in strife With thee the Lord that art the king of peace For which my woes begin my pleasures cease Now all my glasse of vanity is run For pleasures past I perish am vndone For appetites vntasted scarce enioyd Are soule and body endlesly destroyd When to the blessed for a little paine Which was but pleasure comes an endlesse gaine Where this worlds wâ— the sorrow anoy They haue sustaind is eaten vp in ioy Where as the light of Gods most glorious face Angels Ministers of loue and grace Prophets Patriarkes there in rayment bright Which spent their oyles to lend the world their light Whose blest examples as the liues they lead Brought them to heauen brings others be-in dead Where their deceased parents and their friends And they imbrace in ioy that neuer ends Where they their sonnes daughters did deplore That weÌ„t before theÌ„ meet part no more Ad what I may the halfe no tongue caÌ„ tell But this am sure of their estate goes wel And mine lamented what they gaine I lose Depriu'd of these true substaÌ„ces for shows Sooth'd by exemplary head-long times Reckning the venom'st vices venial crimes As these our dayes fraught with all kinde of sinne Of ages past crimes that nere haue bin New bred in vs that prey vpon our blood Our health our wealth what 's dere what 's neere what 's good New sins with their new plagues to stoppe their tide Which more lift the more they are deni'd For which the land should mourn weep in woe But it runs forward it nere thinkes so Surfets pride with other such excesse Eat vp our health which we might else possesse And our vnteÌ„perance doth dig our graue By which abuse that kils vs that shold saue By course of nature set these causes by Our sise decreaseth and our old men dye Full in account of years if that they gaine The childhood that their pareÌ„ts did attaine And yet they dy'd tho many years god lend A day stil came that al those years did end By which we learne the frailty of our kind The truth of Gods decree on sin assign'd That takes possession on the long-liu'd man Vpon the child that yesterday began Vpon the rich in palaces of gould Vpon the poore in cotâ—ages of mould Spares no degree froÌ„ scepter to the swaine From the first childhood to the last againe Spares no condition neither Prince nor King Titles are vaine as any other thing As we experience with more truth wâ— TheÌ„ land ere mourn'd for to coâ—irme it so Layes all their pompe glory in the dust That former times ere had or latter must Puls downe the plumes of vanity and pride Vnpaints our painted flesh doth deride Our childish follies that we somuch cherish That at a moment shall so quickly perish The face the hand the body so innured From lights of heauen and earth so much obscured That sun nor aire nor wind shall touch the skin They so regarded take so much pleasure in Those thou wilt strip their trifles cast away Into a winding sheet and bed of clay Wheras the worms vermin shal destroy What was their own delight others ioy Shal pul the flesh sinows froÌ„ the bone And what they leaue corruptioÌ„ ceize vpoÌ„ Where that proud earth that so in height did stand Resolues to a heap of dust a graine of sand When thus it is let all mankind appeare And take a true view what we must bee here Within the earth we there must make our bed VpoÌ„ our flesh being worms vermâ—n fed Since youth and strength and health and all decay And euery one but hastens on the day Since former ages could not one man saue To shew a monument against the graue But euery child parent that they ow'd And saw brought forth they saw againe bestowd Thither our carkasses sinke downe rot Our ill remembred and our good forgot From out this transitory world of woe From which we part to God that mindes not foe Let vs so liue that wee forget not why We liue within this world which is to dy And both so liue dy that when we end Though world become our foe Christ bee our friend And then howeuer whatsoere befall In loosing little wee haue gained all FINIS