this life or of the life to come both those which we either haue or yet hope to enioie from the greatest to the smallest from the kingdome of heauen to one onelie drop of water that we are worthie of all the plagues which either haue heretofore seazed or bene yet possessed of vs. Yea if thou shouldest ransacke all the hid and secret treasures of thy fearefull iudgements which in thy lawe thou threatenest against the breakers thereof not onlie to the rasing and swéeping of vs from the face of the earth but also to the throwing of vs headlong into the bottomles pit of hell yet would we therin also acknowledge thy righteous iudgements For to vs belongeth shame and confusion of faces but vnto thée glorie and righteousnes The third Blossome conteining 1 An appeale to Gods promises in Christ for the remission of our sinnes 2 The bloud of the Lambe washeth vs wooll white 3 A praier in the behalfe of the dispersed Church against Papists and Heretikes and for godlie vnitie 4 Gods blessing maketh our land fruitefull and that we are the Lords sheepe our vnworthinesse notwithstanding 5 A request for the continuance of his loue and mercie 6 To what end it is to be desired 1 ALl this both guilt of sinne and desert of punishment notwithstanding O father of mercies and God of all comfort we trusting vnto the promises which thou hast made vs in Iesus Christ are bold through him humblie to call for the performance of them And first we humblie desire thee to forgiue vs all our sins Thou hast said that if we confesse our sinnes thou art faithfull to forgiue vs them We acknowledge the debt cancell therefore the obligation let not the multitude of them preuaile against vs but where our sinne hath abounded let thy grace more abound and as we haue multiplied our sinnes so we praie thée to multiplie thy mercies 2 And although we haue by continuance in them so soked ourselues that thereby we are not onlie lightlie stained but also haue gotten as it were the scarlet and purple die of them yet let them all we praie thée being washed in the bloud of thy swéete Lambe be made as white as the snowe in Salmon and as the wooll of the shéepe which come from washing And to conclude as our sinnes haue magnified themselues in an infinite length breadth deapth and height so let thy mercies which passe all vnderstanding of all sides and assaies outreach them 3 Therefore also we most humblie desire thée O Lord that the sinne being pardoned thy wrath which is alreadie declared may be appeased towards all the Churches of our profession and especiallie towards vs that the manifolde breaches of the Churches and Commonwealthes maie be made vp that those being receiued into the bosome of the Church which belong to thine election the rest of the Papists and Heretikes may be vtterlie rooted out and that our enimies in religion béeing slaine we may to the vttermost thinke all one thing in the honest and peaceable gouernement of the Commonwealth 4 Upon which vniting of vs in all truth and honestie the curses of the plague and barrennesse being remoued a waie may be made to thy blessings which as the hills do the vallies may make our land holesomelie fruitefull And that not onlie the wrath which is alreadie kindled may be quenched but that which hath bene latelie threatened may be caused to retire For the graunt whereof vnto vs we beséech thée to remember that how vnworthie soeuer yet are we thy people and the shéepe of thy pasture whome thou hast redéemed with thy most pretious bloud watched ouer with a carefull eie defended with a mightie hand despise not therefore O Lord the workes of thy hands 5 And séeing thou hast loued vs when we hated thée visited vs when we desired thée not then acknowledged vs when we knewe thée not now that there be a number of vs which loue thée desire thine abode and acknowledge thée hold on thy loue still depart not from vs denie vs not O thou God of truth which art the God that sinne by the assistance of Gods spirit 6 For the due examination of our thoughts and an vpright hart 7 For conuersation fit and agreeable to our calling 8 For constancie in our profession against all temptations and impediments 1 O Mercifull and heauenlie Father we thy seruants do humblie prostrate our selues before thy diuine Maiestie acknowledging here in thy sight our hainous offences committed against thine omnipotencie séeing and beholding thy heauie wrath against them We féele our selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie of horrible sinnes whereof euen the verie least being but conceiued in thought is sufficient in iudgement to throwe vs downe to the euerlasting burning lake 2 Our owne consciences O Lord do beare witnes against vs. of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed lawe of our securitie and senslesse blindnes running headlong to destruction committing sinne after sinne although not notorious to the world yet horrible before thine eies The thoughts of our hearts rise vp in iudgement against vs the vanitie of our talke before thy Maiestie condemneth vs the wickednes of our déedes from thy sight reiecteth vs all our wicked thoughts words and déedes with the inward corruption of our nature do altogether as it were a whole lumpe and loade of sinne lie heauie vpon vs and with their intollerable weight do euen presse vs downe to Hell 3 We do dailie grone vnder the burthen of them inwardlie lamenting our owne follie so gréedilie running into them In heauen earth or hell we sée none able to susteine the weight of them but euen thy dearelie beloued sonne Iesus Christ who in mercie intinite and compassion endlesse hath susteined and ouercome that endlesse punishment due vnto them in him therefore in him most mercifull Father and through him we come to thée being fullie assured according to thy promise that thou wilt accept and take that full recompense which he thy deare son hath made for vs as a iust ransome for all the sinnes of all those who with a true faith take hold on him In him therefore we sée thine anger towards vs appeased thy wrath satisfied and our debts paied 4 Increase in vs good Lord we beséech thée this liuelie and féeling faith for we féele it oftentimes in vs verie weake and troubled with manie doubts increase it in vs O Lord that we maie through thy holie spirit be assured that the punishment of our sinnes is fullie in thy sonne discharged Make vs O Lord our God to feele this â—ame in our soules and consciences that Iesus Christ is ours and all that he hath done that we are graffed into his bodie and made one with him and therefore fellow heires with him of eucriasting life Let vs not onelie haue these words in our mouthes good Lord but through thy holie spirit let vs feéle the comfort of them in our hearts fullie sealed and setled in vs
deliuered before at large A Listning eare that loues to learne how to amend that is amisse By grace diuine shall haue the choice of that which good healthfull is Resist the force and strength of sinne with spirituall artillerie Absteine froÌ„ noisome lusts This is the footepath to felicitie Haue alwaies in rememberance Christ Iesus crucifide to death And let the same thy comfort be till vtter gaspe of life and breath Meeke minded be all pride detest and learne of Christ humilitie Forbeare thy furious foe This is the footepath to felicitie Lament the lacke of faith and truth which lies forsaken and forlorne Exhort to peace where it doth want and of the needie thinke no scorne Make much of such as pleasure take in fostring loue and charitie In such is hope of grace This is the footepath to felicitie Nothing so much doth like the Lord as louing of his heauenlie lawe Giue eare therto and from the same let no alurement thee withdrawe An vpright life delight to leade thy lust keepe in captiuitie By vertue honour seeke This is the footepath to felicitie Reuolt not from the word of truth but euen to death the same professe And make account that thy reward will be eternall happinesse Hell is the hire of euerie one that is to truth an enimie A true beleeuer die This is the footepath to felicitie Marke what reposed is in heauen for such as do their maisters will Free libertie from thraldoms yoke and blessed Angels food their fill Lord lighten thou our mistie eâ—â—s that we may loue the veritie Extend to vs thy spirit This is the footepath to felicitie Make vs to ioie in nothing more than in thy word procuring peace I meane thy Gospell full of grace the loue whereof O Lord increase New harts new minds create in vs and make vs like thy maiestie Good like thy selfe so shall we finde the footepath to felicitie Amen FINIS A Guide to Godlinesse diuided into three speciall branches namelie Confession Petition Thanksgiuing and their seuerall blossomes A Christian treatise and no lesse sweete and comfortable than necessarie and profitable to be read both for common and priuate vse c. BY ABRAHAM FLEMING 1. Timoth. 4 8. Godlines is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that which is to come ¶ Printed at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the Starre 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader AMong all the meanes which God hath ordeined to bring man to the state of blessednes I finde praier to be pretious profitable and necessarie Pretious because it is the incense which we are commanded to burne vnto the Lord in the sanctuarie of our harts pretious I saie because thereby we obteine at the hands of God whatsoeuer tendeth to the good estate of the soule and yet once againe pretious because the Lord God at the ascending thereof vp into heauen stretcheth foorth his bountifull hand and largelie bestoweth vpon vs whatsoeuer is beneficiall for our mortall bodies Profitable because it procureth vnto vs the ministration of all maner commodities behoofull for this life For it is the onlie instrument which we are commanded by Christ in the Gospell to vse if we stand in neede of anie thing either temporall or spirituall during our pilgrimage in this life as the verie words of our sauiour seeme to import in this sense saieng Whatsoeuer ye aske of the father in my name it shall be giuen you Againe Aske and ye shal haue as if he said If ye aske not ye are worthie to want because you neglect the vse of the precept Now who is so ignorant but knoweth that the asking which Christ meaneth is praier For to aske of God is not to aske after the maner of men with a kind of carnal and corruptible affection the end where of is to staie the force of concupiscence or desire and the obteining of that which is required but it is an inward secret heauenlie by we are so farre from profiting that of our selues we should waxe worse and worse 3 For the more light of knowledge is shewed the blinder would we remaine the greater obedience is taught the frowarder and stubberner would we become if thou by the mightie working of thy holie spirit shouldest not cause it to be fruitefull And although we haue this naturall corruption in common with the whole rotten race of Adam yet we confesse that in vs it hath budded and shot forth so much more than in others as we haue had mo meanes to kill it and to cause it to wither than others haue had 4 Where first of all the gratious offer of the treasure of thy holie Gospell vnto vs maketh vs guiltie manie waies For where passing by manie other nations thou hast trusted our nation withall yet with a number of vs it hath found as small entertainment and felt as great resistance as amongst them at whose gates it neuer knocked For a great portion of the land partlie neuer yéelding themselues to the obedience thereof and partlie falling from it after they had once yéelded stand proudelie as it were at the staues end with thée The rest which make profession of their submission vnto it do it not accordinglie For first there bée heapes of our people which either through a déepe rooted affection and loue to Popish religion or through a wicked opinion which they nourish of embracing the truth set foorth are so nousled blinded and misled as that they still abide in an vtter ignorance of the truth it selfe in such fort that although there be no want of preaching yet they are as rawe in the knowledge of the true seruice of thée as they were expert before in the seruice of the diuell 5 And where knowledge is to anie such sufficiencie as is requisite for the inheritors of the kingdome of heauen there is it for a great part ioined with such hypocrisie as maketh them more detestable before thée which searchest the verie reines than if they had still continued in their ignorance Now for the remnant of vs which through grace haue trulie and faithfullie beleeued it is with so great weakenes of faith and so small reformation of manners that our glorious profession of the Gospell supported and borne out with so small shewe of good fruites which the excellencie therof doth require maketh not onelie the enimies to condemne vs but our selues to suspect one another whether we belong vnto thée or no. 6 Wherein O Lord we acknowledge that to be our great and horrible sinne that being put in trust with this vnspeakeable treasure of thy holie Gospell and preferred before our neighbors professors about vs yet we are in thankefull obedience vnto thee behinde them all first in knowledge last in zeale before them in the doctrine of thy holie Gospell behinde them in the discipline of the same 7 The yoke of the slauerie of our bodies which the Popish religion
thee the Lord of Lords and the King of kings creating at the beginning ruling all things euermore in heauen and earth according to thy wonderfull wisedome and power and our selues to be thy poore seruants the worke of thy hands and the shéepe of thy pasture subiected to thy Maiestie and depending vpon thy fatherlie prouidence for all things 2 Neuerthelesse séeing thou in thy wisedome annointest Kings and Quéenes appointing them to rule ouer thy people to sit as Lieutenants in thy seate to minister iustice and most of all as Fathers and Nurses to mainteine and cherish thy Church commanding vs not onlie to obey and honour them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good 3 We therefore beséech thée for the great mercies sake and for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercie to all Kings and Princes that mainteine thy glorious Gospell but especiallie we praie thée to blesse our most gratious Queene and gouernour Elizabeth thine handmaid with all spirituall blessings in Christ Iesus and with all temporall blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thy effectuall loue she may more and more finde great increase of vertue and wisedome and strength in Christ Iesus to the faithfull and happie discharge of her dutie that her holinesse and ioie and zeale of thy house may be multiplied and euerlasting 4 And séeing it hath pleased thée of thy singular mercie to giue her this speciall honour first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterward miraculouslie deliuering her out of the hands of her enimies to set a crowne vpon her head and to make her the instrument to aduance thy glorie and Gospell for which she suffered and to bring it out of darkenes into light out of persecution into this great and long peace 5 As we giue thée most hartie thankes for this singular benefite so we beséech thée to make her and vs euermore thankefull for it and in thy good pleasure still to preserue her for the continuance of these blessings towards vs with all increase from time to time to thy glorie the benefite of the Church and her infinite peace in Christ Iesus the prince of peace 6 And furthermore we praie thée for her and the estate that such as be enimies of the Gospell and her enimies also for the defence thereof may not despise the peace offered them to repentance but that they may account thy long suffering and her peaceable and vnbloudie gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfeigned loue to the truth and their mercifull souereigne Otherwise if they still remaine disobedient to the truth rebellious to her highnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of our saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies waxe wearie with looking and their hearts faint with waiting for the comming of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lord we beséech thee but a blessed and a long reigne to her and peace to Sion for euermore 7 Also deare father so blesse so loue so in thy spirit sanctifie and kéepe her that she may in the spirit of counsell and fortitude so rule that other sister also namelie this her Commonwealth that they may flourish together and growe vp together as palme trées in beautie and in strength giuing aide and helpe one to another that in the Church the glorie of God may appeare as the Sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flowe with milke and honie and true peace abound therein as in the triumphant reigne of Debora 8 These graces O Lord are great and we miserable sinners vnworthie of the least of them therefore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy Sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing them into the bottome of the sea and making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy Saincts that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious souereigne this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlie ouer a blessed people a people blessed of the Lord and beloued of the Lord. 9 Yea Lord that thy graces may abound as the waters of the Sea in the Prince and in the people in the Church and in the Common-wealth from daie to daie till the daie of our translation into thy kingdome where iustice inhabiteth where also we shall inhabite and reigne with thée according to thy promise for euer Graunt these things O mercifull father for thy deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hand praieng furthermore for them as he hath taught vs to praie Our Father which art in heauen c. The third Branch of Thankesgiuing Generallie deciphering in a pithie and ample meditation Gods great goodnes manifestlie appearing in the diuersitie of the blessings wherwith he hath crowned man Also a praier for grace to be thankefull The contents more particularlie lie open in the sequeale The first Blossome 1 An inuocation or calling vpon God ioined with submission 2 An acknowledgement of Gods manifold blessings and his prouidence 3 A petition for the gratious gift of thankefulnes 4 Testimonies of Gods infinite loue and of the effects of the shining Sunne 5 The sundrie vses of Gods good creatures appointed for mans releefe 6 Ornaments of the minde 7 A request for true knowledge and perceiuerance with the operation of the same 8 Another for thankefulnes 9 What sacrifice God delighteth in 10 A supplication for grace to offer vp the same 1 SEtting before vs O most mercifull louing father the godlie Patriarches the holie Prophets the true Conuerts the constant Martyrs all such as haue loued thy glory far aboue their owne life we prostrate our selues with all submission on of soule and spirit before thy throne of Maiestie humblie beseeching thée for Iesus Christ his sake who is the fulnes of our tore and comfort to bend downe thine eares and to heare the praiers which we powre foorth before thée and for thy sonne sake in whom thou art well pleased grant the request of thy seruants made vnto thée at this present 2 We know most gratious God and louing father yea we cannot but in conscience acknowledge and with tongue confesse that manifold yea innumerable are the gifts which thou hast heaped vpon vs yea so manie are they that we can not with voice vtter neither yet in heart conceiue the greatnes and worthines of them For wheras all other creatures are made framed and fashioned to serue the vse of man and to yéeld themselues obedient and tractable to his commandement and gouernment onelie man representing and bearing thine owne image and likenesse ruleth as a Lord and reigneth as a king ouer all creatures indued with life yea there is nothing within the compasse
mentall as with welth wisedome strength comlines possessions children knowledge vnderstanding faith honestie credit estimation and such like Consider of this excellent blessing be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie If thou haue a house to hide thy head in lodging fit for thy naturall nightes rest and quietnes cloathing to couer thy shame and nakednes sustenance to preserue thée aliue substance to mainteine thy house and familie Consider of this excellent blessing be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie The sixt Chapter 1 What we ought to do when God punisheth vs with aduersitie 2 Affliction in bodie and conscience with an exhortation to patience 3 Of what behauiour we should be in the alterat ion of our state 4 Considerations for him that is disfranchised either for some offence committed or otherwise 1 MOreouer if thou be punished of the Lord for thy sinne either in thy wife children or anie other thing that thou possessest despaire not therefore neither let diffidence or mistrust ransacke thy soule and drowne thée in disquietnes Consider of this fatherlie chastisement be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 2 If thou be afflicted in thine owne bodie and pricked in conscience at the horrour of thy sinne cal to God for comfort beséech him to mitigate and asswage thine anguish and to set thée at libertie Let this be thy meditation dailie in patience pitch thy pauilion be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 3 If thou wast once rich and now art poore once in plentie now in penurie once a maister now a seruant once a commander now an obeier once fauoured now forsaken once clothed now naked once a harbourer now harbourles once a man now a wretch Consider thy condition God can raise thée vp as he hath throwne thée downe murmur not at his chastisements for he punisheth his children in compassion like a Father and not with rigour like a Tyrant in anie case be thankefull and giue him the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 4 If thou hauing bene sometimes a Citizen art now an alien be not therewithall discontented he can worke thy restitution by whose sufferance thou art fallen into that condition Consider whereof this alteration sprang either from some offence which purchased vnto thée this punishment or from a good cause as the quarell of Christ and his holie gospell the profession whereof hath brought thee into such extremitie O be ioiful and glad in this respect thy banishment is libertie thy heauines is comfort thy bitternes is swéetnes thy shame is fame thy dammage is aduantage thy losse is lucre thy death is life Consider this throughlie faint not vnder the crosse but praie vnto the Lord to arme thée with constancie and patience shewing thy selfe thankefull giuing vnto God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie The seuenth Chapter 1 The dutie of all such as beare office in a Common-wealth principallie towards God and consequentlie towards man 2 Admonitions for fathers of families and housholders concerning domesticall gouernement 3 Lessons for all estates and degrees 4 Exhortations vnto the rich and the poore 5 The peruerse state of the world 6 Of the waie of death and of such as walked therein 7 Of the waie of life and what is to be done of such as would walke in the same 1 FUrthermore if thou bearest office in the Common-wealth and hast autoritie to command by vertue of thy place praie to God to direct thy spirit by his spirit of equitie and iudgement that thy vocation may be so followed and discharged as that by thy sinceritie and vprightnes thou maist become a mirrour to all magistrates and officers Praie instantlie that this may so come to passe it is his speciall blessing be thankefull for it and giue God the glorie This is the footepath to felicitie 2 If thou be a housekéeper and hast hanging on thy hands wife children seruants and a familie first sée that God be sincerelie serued and then thou thy selfe honoured In the morning powre foorth thy praiers vnto God vnfeignedlie beséeching him to guide thée thy whole houshold in his faith feare and loue trulie and vprightlie to followe their functions and callings at their handiworke or other exercise whatsoeuer it be put them in minde of Gods goodnes and instill into their eares wholesome precepts of Christian knowledge At noone tide preparing to dinner laie before them in plaine speach according to their slender capacities the tender care and fatherlie loue of God in prouiding for them such foode as is requisite toward the supportation and maintenance of life wherevpon put them in minde to haue alwaies in their hearts a reguter of Gods care ouer his déere children whose bowels of compassion are so farre extended that he will not sée his people perish through penurie and want of necessarie prouision The like exercise also vse at supper and at euerie ordinarie and extraordinarie refection that as the externall elementarie sustance which entreth in at the mouth and goeth downe the stomach where after it is digested it is dispearsed by iust measure and proportion to the nourishment of all their bodilie members so their minds may be fed fat with the foode of the soule that is with spirituall exercises holy meditations godly thoughts Christian conuersation obedience whatsoeuer else is acceptable in the sight of God When the night approcheth by reason of the declining and shrinking of the Sunne to the westerne angle of the world call together like a good shepheard thy whole familie or flocke and thou among them as a perfect patterne of pietie knéeling downe with humilitie thanke God for the vse of the daie past for the luckie successe of your labours for his louing kindnes in preseruing you from perill and beséech him with integritie and holines of heart to make this night comfortable vnto you to ouershadowe you with the shield of safetie when you are asléepe that you may by no meanes be indangered but as you lie downe so you may rise vp the beloued of the Lord and the adopted children of your heauenlie Father Consider these circumstances and account them all Gods blessings ascribe nothing to thy selfe which art a lumpe of sin but attribute all vnto Gods prouidence which hath wrought all in all be thankefull for it and giue the glorie to his eternall name This is the footepath of faith which leadeth the high waie to heauen 3 To speake of all states and degrées of people generallie and inclusiuelie If thou be King or Quéene noble or vnnoble forren or frée maister or seruant rich or poore acknowledge thy selfe but dust and ashes be not proude in thine owne conceite glorie in nothing vaunt of nothing bragge of nothing remembring the saieng of Paule what hast thou that thou hast not receiued and that of Iob
laide vpon vs we willinglie shake off but the holie bands of thy lawe whereby our riotous life and affections should be brought into bondage we do hardlie and heauilie admitte The Gospell which brought a fréer vse of our lawfull honors pleasures and commodities was welcome vnto vs but the same Gospell which restraineth the vnlawfull licentiousnes of our ambition intemperancie and couetousnes is not so Finallie so much of the Gospell as doth more néerelie respect our saluation we séeme to haue some care to retaine but so much of it as doth more directlie respect thy glorie and the profite one of another we make small accompt of 8 And seeing the naked treasure of thy holie Gospell had ben a rich reward of a most seruiceable subiection it comming vnto vs not alone but accompanied with so long a peace with so great a welth so plentifull aboundance of all things as this land hath neuer or seldome vsed other lands about vs haue long looked after maketh our guilt a great deale more because that in thy so great a larges towards vs we haue bene so vngratious towards thée againe 9 Here therfore is another staier whereby our sinne climeth higher For that we in the commodities of this life surmounting our auncestours of the same profession of the Gospell in the time of King Henrie the eight of most famous memorie and King Edward the sixt â—re for the fruits that such a liberalitie asketh at our hands a great deale worse than they and going beyond other lands in these outward blessings are outrunne of them euen in the verie outward testimonies and tokens of our obedience towards thée The second Blossome conteining 1 A confession of particular sinnes in seuerall estates and first against Gouernours 2 Against Iudges and their indirect proceedings 3 Against ministers 4 Their inordinate affections 5 Their imperfections wants and infirmities 6 Against the people and their lacke of loue to the truth 7 Our securitie and want of grace 8 The aggrauating of our sinnes and making of them more huge and heinous 9 The burthen which Gods Lawe laieth vpon our shoulders 10 Our vnworthines of anie benefit or good blessing either temporall or eternall 1 OUer and besides this huge heape and as it were réeke of our generall and common sinnes we haue to confesse at the the barre of thy iudgement seate the particular sinnes that we haue cocked vp in our seuerall estates For our gouernours O Lord for the most part being more mindfull of the fulfilling of their affections than either of thy glorie or of their good estate which are committed vnto them haue not held so steadie a hand as they ought to haue done either for the stablishing of the lawes by which vnder thée they should haue ruled vs and we by them should haue bene gouerned of thée or for the thorough execution of so manie and so farre foorth as they haue bene well established 2 Our Iudges and other ministers of iustice likewise haue either ignorantlie or corruptlie declined from righteous iudgement or giuing sentence for the truth they haue done it diuers of them with no coÌ„science of thy true feare or loue of truth but for respect either of vaine glorie or of persons 3 The Ministers which should haue bene lightes vnto all estates haue for the most part no light in themselues and their estate in whose good constitution and sound health the rest should haue recouered their health is of all other the most sicke vnto death For if the whole number be surueied scarse the hundred will be found to be in the lotte of a faithfull ministerie 4 For ah alas how manie are there which occupieng the place of Ambassadours either for want of abilitie or for that they loue ease and sléepe carrie no tollerable ambassage at all How manie which carrieng the light of the Gospell in their mouthes carrie also in their hands the filthie water of ambition and couetousnes wherewith to quench it 5 And those which by thy grace are for their might and will in some good measure iustifiable notwithstanding for the most part beare it with such infirmitie through slippes as well in a sound and substantiall maner of reaching as also in an euen life answering therevnto that if thy blessing were not maruellous vpon their labours we should not néede to feare the quenching of this fire of the holie Gospell kindled among vs by the enimies as that which hauing so small attendance of blowing would die of it selfe 6 Finallie the people beare so small loue vnto their gouernours of all sorts in loue so small reuerence and in them both so little willing obedience that it may be not vneasilie séene that all the partes of the Church and Commonwealth haue conspired to prouoke the Lord God against them These our great and ouergrowne sinnes albeit they are gotten aboue our heads yet rest they not here For where thou hast by thy holie seruants the Ministers of thy blessed word sharplie chidden vs and in a seueare denouncing of thy iudgements due vnto them fearefullie threatned vs for them yet haue we not trembled at thy voice at which the Mountaines do melt and the rockes do rent asunder 7 A strange thing that the Lion should roare the weake Lambes should not be affraide that the Lord of hoastes should proclame warre against vs and we should not goe foorth and méete him for intreatie of peace Naie his wrath as hath bene shewed hath bene and yet is kindled amongst vs and yet as senslesse men and as dead flesh we are not moued We are pricked and we féele it not We are wounded and we do not so much as aske who hath stricken vs. The tempest that is comming toward vs threateneth our vtter drowning and yet as a drunken man we lie sléeping in the verie toppe of the mast 8 Whereby it is euident against our selues that vnto the multitude of our sinnes we haue added another degree of wickednes which is the continuance in them vnto our disobedience we haue ioined stubbornes and the biles and botches of our rebellion being ouglie in thy sight do through the putrefaction and festrednes of them cast out such a stincke as the earth which we tread vpon the waters which we drinke and the aire which we breath are tainted and poisoned with the infection of them 9 Yea Lord taught by the wonderfull iustice of thy righteous lawe we charge vpon our heads all the sinnes of our fathers and grandfathers to the vttermost of our generations which are past as those wherevnto we are iuster inheritours than vnto anie landes or goodes that they haue left vs. whereby it falleth out against vs that our sinnes touch the cloudes yea breake into the heauens of thy Maiesties owne residence whose measure being alreadie as it seemeth filled there remaineth nothing but that it should be turned vpon our heads 10 Wherevpon we make against our selues another confession that we are vnworthie of all the benefites of
that thereby they might amend their inordinate trade of life he professed himselfe a teacher in this Schoole to the end that others as well as he might perceiue what aduantage a well disposed life affordeth This Schoolemaister we must presuppose to be such a one whose hart the finger of the Lord had touched and into whose vnderstanding the sunne of sanctification had shined He was not one that walked in carnall libertie neither in the concupiscence of the eie neither in the vanitie of the mind for then should there be a repugnancie and dissention betweene his conuersation and profession which ought to agree like musicall concords Take him therefore to be such a one as being renewed in the spirit of the inner man is able to teach to instruct to rebuke and to informe that the man of God might be made perfect in all righteousnesse But now entering into this Schoole of Skill let vs like good scholers with full purpose Gods grace being our gouernour to profit and go forward in that we professe learne by hart our A B C in this Schoole and according to our lessons frame the course of our life Abraham Fleming To the Reader The starkest foole if well he marke This skilfull Schoole prooues greatest clarke Come therefore you that wise would be And learne anew this A B C. The Schoole of Skill or The rule of a reformed life The first sententious sequence of the A B C deliuering diuers doctrines of vertue and vice to be folowed and auoided A Wife man shal heare and increase in learning and a man of vnderstanding shall atteine vnto wise counsels Be not wise in thine owne eies but feare the Lord and depart from euill Commit thy works vnto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be directed Death and life are in the power of the tong and they that loue it shall eat the fruit therof Euen a foole when he holdeth his peace is counted wise and he that stoppeth his lips prudent Fauour is deceiptfull and beutie is vanitie but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish and wine vnto them that haue gréefe of heart He that turneth awaie his eare from hearing the lawe euen his praier shall be abhominable In the transgression of an euill man is his snare but the righteous doth sing reioice Kéepe thine hart with all diligence for thereout commeth life Let thine eies behold the right and let thine eielids direct thy waie before thée Manie reuerence the face of the prince and euerie man is a friend to him that giueth gifts Northerne windes driue awaie the raine so doth an angrie countenance the slandering tongue Obey thy father that hath begotten thee and despise not thy mother when she is old Pride goeth before destruction and an high minde before the fall Quietnes in a poore cottage is better than strife in a princes pallace Riches gather manie friends but the poore is separated from his neighbour Smite a scorner and the foolish will beware reprooue the prudent and he will vnderstand knowledge The foolishnes of a man peruerteth his waie and his heart fretteth against the Lord. Ualiantnes in a King is like the strength of a Lion his lookes shall sraie his foes Wisedome is high to a foole therefore he cannot open his mouth in the gate Youth is worthie to be reuerenced if it be adorned with discretion and continencie Zeale without knowledge is foolishnes loue without honestie is lewdenes and friendship without faith is flatterie The second sententious sequence of the A B C deliuering diuers doctrines of vertue and vice to be followed and auoided APplie thine heart to instruction and thine eares to the words of knowledge A man that wandereth out of the waie of wisedome shall remaine in the congregation of the dead Be not light of credit but lay thine eare open to truth and honestie so shalt thou be worshipfull Be thou not enuious against euill men neither desire to be with them Count nothing thine owne whiles thou liuest in this world for euerie man hath his talent but lent Cast out the scorner and the seditious man so shall contention and reproch ceasse Do good to thine enimie to the vttermost of thy might so shalt thou fulfill the law of charitie Drawe towards the wise to learne wisedome so shalt thou be had in reputation Eate thou not the bread of him that hath an euill eie neither desire his deintie meates Euen in laughing the hart is sorowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse Foolishnes is ioie to him that is destitute of vnderstanding but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightlie Flatterie is like vnto the wéeping of a Crocodile and when he talketh most friendlie he meaneth least honestie God ouerthroweth the wicked and they are not but the house of the righteous shall stand Giue no eare to the report of a slanderer for in his tongue lieth deadlie poison He that keepeth his tongue kéepeth his life but he that openeth his lippes destruction shall be to him He shall be sore vexed that is suretie for a stranger and he that hateth suertiship is sure Intend nothing that may turne to the harme of thy neibour for he is as thine owne selfe Iustice and truth are in such as feare God as for the wicked they abhorre vertue Kéepe not companie with dronkards nor with gluttons for the féete of such go to death Knowe him well whom thou makest of thy counsell least he bewraie thy secrets Looke not vpon the wine when it is redde and when it sheweth his colour in the cup or goeth downe pleasantlie Let not thine heart be enuious against sinners but let it be in the feare of the Lord continuallie Mercie and truth do preserue the King for his throne shall be established with mercie Make no friendship with an angrie man neither go with the furious man Notorious liers flée from as from a Scorpion for they are the verie frie of Sathan Neuer giue thy consent in a thing that is wicked for God rewardeth both with shame Opprobrious words defile the scule of him from whome they proceede and wound to the death Of thine increase spare somewhat to the poore that God may blesse thy store Pitie the case of such as be succourlesse and shut not thine eies against the naked Patience is a souereigne vertue and bringeth the soule of the iust to euerlasting comfort Quicken thy heart with honest mirth least too much heauines ouerthrowe thy health Quietlie tarrie the Lordes leasure in the tune of thy trouble for so to do is wisedome Rob not the poore because he is poore neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement Righteous lips are the kings delight and he loueth them that speake right things Set not thy mind vpon vanitie for therein consisteth nothing that is sound Submit thy neeke to the yoke of obedience so shalt thou be praised among the people The wrath of a King is as
way to make her an harlot 87 Be warie how thou viewest the beautie of a woman too narrowlie least thou be taken in her loue and so fall to follie 88 Be chaste in communication and talke for manie times the heart giueth vtterance to the tongue 89 Be carefull to kéepe thée in one place and continue in thy calling if thou intend to be thriftie 90 Be more desirous to saue than to spend least in the time of néede thou haue not to serue thy turne 91 Be a true paimaister of thy hired seruant and let him haue his wages for his worke 92 Be courteous and gentle so shall such as be absent commend thée and they that be present shall reioice in thy companie 93 Be merrie at thy meate and giue God thankes for the same so shalt thou haue alwaies enough 94 Be mindfull of thy dutie to God euerie morning euening magnifie his holie name 95 Be sober and continent among yong women in the presence of thy wife least she burne in gealousie ouer thée 96 Be in thy conuersation humble and gentle and haue a regard to the whole course of thy life 97 Be in thine apparell modest in thy communication honest in thy behauiour sober and in all thy doings discréete 98 Be to the stranger courteous to thy neighbour friendlie to all a wellwiller to none an enimie 99 Be to thy prince trustie and loiall to the magistrate obedient and to thy betters dutifull 100 Be thankefull to God for all his benefites and let his praise be alwaies in thy mouth harlot 16 Be not suertie for a stranger and for him whome thou knowwest not be not handfasted 17 Be not in thy neighbours danger if thou be humble thy selfe and with thy friends intreate thy creditour 18 Be not sluggish but consider the Emmet and by her example learne to be wise 19 Be not slouthfull and idle least pouertie créepe vpon thée and beggerie ouertake thée as a traueller 20 Be not proud of countenance abhorre a lieng tongue and detest hands that shed innocent bloud The seuenth Honicombe yeelding most whoalsome dehortations from vice and vitious life 21 BE not haunted with an hart that is full of wicked imaginations for that is the next waie to mischiese 22 Be not a false witnesse that bringeth lies nor a sower of discord among brethren 23 Be not a companie kéeper with a faire woman least thou be taken and intrapped with her faire lookes 24 Be not familiar with an harlot for she bringeth a man to beggerie but an honest woman is worth gold 25 Be not a tempter of thy neighbours wife to lewdnesse least thou runne in danger of Gods cursse 26 Be not a blasphemer of the Lords name least he be sharplie auenged of thée for thy presumption 27 Be not a reprouer of the scornfull least he owe thée euill will but rebuke a wise man and he will loue thée 28 Be not of the number that saie Stolne waters are swéete and the bread that is priuilie eaten hath a good taste 29 Be not a gatherer of goodes wrongfullie for they profit nothing in the end 30 Be not a stirrer vp of hatred and strife but embrace loue for loue couereth the multitude of sinnes 31 Be not a much babbler for therein is great offence but refraine thy lips so shalt thou be wise 32 Be not double of tongue and a dissembler for the Lord abhorreth the counterfeite hypocrite 33 Be not an extortioner nor an oppresser of the poore for the Lord will take their cause in hand 34 Be not fugitiue and lightfooted from place to place but continue content with thine owne estate 35 Be not gealous ouer thy faire and youthfull wife least thou turne her loue into hate 36 Be not couetous and gréedie of monie for in time both thou and thy wealth shall awaie 37 Be not delicate and nice for that is the propertie of women but auoid all such vanities 38 Be not inquisitiue after things aboue thy knowledge least thou be counted a busie bodie 39 Be not a mainteiner of wrong iudgement least the Lord confound thée in thy wickednesse 40 Be not ouer carefull for thy life least thou fall into mistrust despaire of Gods prouidence The eight Honicombe yeelding most whoalsome dehortations from vice and vitious life 41 BE not a talebearer from care to eare least thou be forsaken of thy friends and made an outcast 42 Be not vniust in buieng and selling let thy balance be euen and thy weights without fault 43 Be not a dissembler nor a discouerer of secrets but faithfull of heart and trustie in counsell 44 Be not a purchaser of thy neighbours house ouer his head for in so doing thou suckest his bloud 45 Be not suertie for a stranger least thou smart for it for he that hateth suertiship is sure 46 Be not a worker of deceiptfull workes but a sower of righteousnesse so shalt thou receiue thy reward 47 Be not corrupt in heart for such doth the Lord abhorre but in such as are of an vndefiled conuersation he hath pleasure 48 Be not ouer bold to trust in thy riches least thou haue a fall but vse them in the feare of the Lord. 49 Be not a sower of disquietnes in thine owne house least thou haue wind for thine heritage 50 Be not malicious least thou be insnared with thine owne mouth but be méeke of spéech so shalt thou be honoured 51 Be not a medler in other mens matters least thou be ill thought of and haue small thanks for thy labor 52 Be not hastie in vttering thy wrath least thou be counted a foole and in the end thou discouer thine owne shame 53 Be not a slanderous person for such a one woundeth like a sword but a wise mans tongue is wholesome 54 Be not an imaginer of euill for commonlie mischiefe doth followe but be a counseller of that which is honest 55 Be not a lier and a forger of vntrueths for such doeth the Lord abhorre but they that deale trulie please him 56 Be not a sluggard faine to haue and not to get but be diligent and thou shalt haue plentie and abundance 57 Be not proud for after pride followeth strife whilest thou thinkest none comparable in worthines vnto thy selfe 58 Be not a getter of thy goodes by vanitie for they are soone spent but they that are gathered together with the hand shall increase 59 Be not desperate and out of hope in thy heauinesse for that is the next waie to kill thy hart 60 Be not a bolsterer of the wicked in his wickednesse least thou be partaker of his punishment The ninth Honicombe yeelding most whoalesome dehortations from vice and vitious life 61 BE not deceitfull for such a one shall not roste that he tooke in hunting but the riches of the iust are of great value 62 Be not shamelesse in sinning least the vengeance of the Lord ouertake thée and thou be crushed in péeces 63 Be not sparing in vsing the rod
esteemed otherwise we shall seeme to preferre the shell before the kernell the barke before the pith the shadowe before the substance yea most absurdlie we shall refuse wheate for chaffe pure gold for drosse cleere wine for dregs and in conclusion repent our want of grace It were behoofull therefore for vs first and principallie to see to our mind which is chiefest part of our essence and being that the same after some serious studie and contemplation desiring to be refreshed be not fed with fond fansies fables dotages imaginations dreames I cannot tell what idle and vnfruitefull discourses which kindle the affections and set the flesh a gogge but rather with holie exercises and godlie meditations such as are and may be prouided for the purpose to reuiue the spirit and quicken the new man if the partie be gratiouslie affected Thou hast heere therefore presented vnto thine hand good Reader a plant of pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall flowers called by the name of holie Hymnes and spirituall Songs to reade at thy leasure for thy recreation and not so much for thy recreation as for thy profit which I haue put partlie in rythme and partlie in prose for the satisfaction of sundrie Readers desires some beeing addicted to this and some delighted in that kind of writing I would to God it were in me to frame my wit to the will of the well disposed in all points I haue done what I could the Lord knoweth what I would his name be praised for all whose glorie to seeke and set foorth I beseech him giue vs all grace so shall the faithfull reioice and clap their hands but shame shall fall vpon the reprobat force them to hang downe their heads Abraham Fleming A Plant of Pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall Flowres ¶ The first Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition vnto God for the remission of sinnes 2 A description of Gods greatnesse 3 Of his habitation and that he seeth all things A. 1 AS the Sunne is the soule and life of the world so is thy word O God the comfort of my heart Be gratious fauourable vnto me thy seruant that I may be freé from the malice of mine enimies Reward me not according to my deseruings O Lord for I am full of sinne and in me there is no righteousnesse According to thy louing kindnesse therefore O mercifull father blot mine offences out of thy register and pardon me Haue mercie on me O founteine of all mercie cleanse me from the corruption of sinne and wash me with the water of thy word Am not I a reasonable creature indued with knowledge and vnderstanding O Lord to whom should I then come but to theé 2 Men beasts fishes and foules they are the works of thine hands by the vertue of thy word they were created and made From the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same I will continue in the contemplation and view of thy greatnes Lighten the eies of my hart O Lord that they may seé the mightines of thy maiestie in thy creatures Endlesse is thy glorie and thy power is incomprehensible wonderfull art thou in thy iudgments Maruellous things are wrought by thine omnipotent hand day by day the eies of all people are witnesses of thy power 3 In heauen is thy dwelling place from whence thou beholdest the commings in and the goings out of all men Nothing is hidden from thine eies O Lord the brightnesse of thy maiestie can not be absent Giue me grace O God to leade my life in the loue of thy lawe so shall I not miscarrie The second Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 A commemoration or remembrance of the benefites of Christes death and passion 2 A petition for thankefulnesse 3 A confession of Gods greatnesse and almightinesse B. 1 AL people praise the Lord with faithfull heart and voice Be bold to magnifie his name and therein to reioice Remember well the worke which he for vs hath wrought And laud his name accordinglie in word in deed and thought Hell gates he hath shut vp in spite of Sathans power And saued the soules of sinfull men from torments sharpe and sower Most mightie is his arme his greatnesse hath none end From force of foes that vs assault all his he doth defend 2 Lord lighten thou our hearts that we may praise thy power Eternallie which flourisheth and worketh euerie hower 3 Most mightie is thy word thy maiestie surmounts In glorie none so excellent as scriptures cast accounts No Prince nor Potentate may once with thee compare Giue vs thy grace no lesse to learne O Lord with Christian care The third Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A request for assistance against our aduersaries 2 A confession of our vilenesse by reason of sinne 3 A petition for true mortification and regeneration 4 Of the pretiousnesse of mans soule R. 1 ACcording to thine vnmeasurable mercies O God heare my praier and let thine eares be open to the crie of my complaint Be my sauiour and deliuerer from danger and distresse bridle thou the desperatenesse of mine aduersarie that he do me no mischefe Rebuke them O Lord that go about to raise reproches against me chastise them that they may seé wherein they haue offended As for me I will withstand them in their maliciousnesse for I hope thou wilt arme me with the spirit of fortitude and patience Holie one of Israell heare the supplication of me thy seruant and in the time of necessitie assist me 2 A worme and no man I confesse my selfe to be yea more vile and contemptible than anie vnreasonable creature for sinne hath sâ—oong my soule My heart is defiled with a thousand corrupt cogitations yea the thoughts which are hidden in my heart are not so infinite as they are wicked From mine infancie and cradle I haue bene blemished with sinne and as for righteousnes or iustice there is none in mine entrailes Lord I am so ouerwhelmed in sinne and iniquitie that I stand in continuall feare of thy punishment Oh giue me grace to repent Euening and morning I call my sinnes to memorie and they are more in number than the haires of my head yet O Lord be mercifull 3 Make me a new creature by the inspiration of thy sanctifieng spirit and let mine inward man be circumcised with the razour of mortification Increase in me godlie desires and let all carnall concupiscences be quite quenched in me that I may long after nothing but the loue of thy lawe 4 Nothing is more pretious in thy sight O Lord than the soule of man O let not sinne preuaile against it Grant me thy grace euen to the last houre of my life that I may haue in heauen mine inheritance purchased by Christ his death and passion Amen The fourth Flowre called a Spirituall Song conteining 1 A glorifieng of God 2 An exhortation to praise him 3 A repetition of certaine properties in him 4 A protestation or vow of Christian
dutie to do him reuerence A. 1 ALl glorie vnto God the guider of the iust Blest be his name in heauen earth whereto the righteous trust 2 Repaire his temples to him worship and adore Alleluiah sing and saie to him for euermore 3 He is the God of grace whose kingdom knows none end A mightie God from all annoies that can his flocke defend Most mercifull is he to such as do repent Forgiuing them which for their sins are sorie and lament Laud we his holie name as dutie doth command Each tongue sound out his maiestie adore him sea and land 4 My heart my tongue and voice shall plaie the organ pipes In praising him out of the skore our desperate debts which wipes No time will I let slip if God do giue me grace Great thanks to render to his name which filleth euerie place The fift Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 The reward of the proud and impenitent 2 An admonition not to be high minded 3 To be touched with compassion towards the afflicted 4 To be mindfull of Gods mercies in tribulation 5 A declaration of his omnipotencie and power 6 A petition that the word of God might be the rule of our life H. 1 AN humble heart is a sacrifice vnto the Lord a contrite spirit he will not despise as for the proud and impenitent he casteth them out of his fauour in the heate of his indignation 2 Be not high minded neither puft vp with a vaine opinion of thy selfe but consider that thou art but dust and ashes and that thou hast nothing but naughtinesse by nature 3 Relent at the aduersities and afflictions of thy neighbour and in the bowels of compassion mitigate his miserie for nothing falleth vpon him but the same may in time chance to thée Arme thy selfe with patience to endure all tribulations if God chastise thée with anie kind of punishment acknowledge thine owne transgressions in that behalfe and be penitent 4 Haue in thy mind the greatnes of Gods mercies which are aboue all his workes put thy trust in him in the time of trouble he will deliuer thée and set thée at libertie Aske after succour where it is to be found the Lord is all sufficient he hath treasures of good things for them that loue him as for the wicked of this world they are out of his fauour Much mightier is the mercie of the Lord than the heart of man can conceiue of his power there is no end all the world is replenished with his greatnes most excellent and glorious 5 Fall downe ye hils before his presence tremble ye deepes at the sight of his maiestie for the whole compasse of the world he holdeth in his hand to dispose the same at his pleasure Lord God of Iacob who is like vnto thée Heauen and earth are witnesses of thine excellencie the Sunne and the Moone declare the greatnesse of thy glorie to all nations Euerie creature telleth abroade that thou art omnipotent for at thy becke all things obeie yea heauen it selfe which is thine owne habitation trembleth and quaketh at thy thundering voice 6 Make me O Lord God obedientlie to leade my life direct thou my footesteps by the rule of thy lawe and let thy holie word be a lanthorne before me that I go not astraie If I haue at anie time swarued and done amisse it hath come to passe through the want of thy word which I beséech thée let lighten my goings like a bright burning lampe Notwithstanding O Lord I deserue no such fauour and loue at thy hands yet for thine owne sake which art the founteine of mercie vouchsafe to shew thy selfe gratious Glorie honour and praise be ascribed vnto thée which hast béene from beginning of beginnings and shalt continue in power and maiestie when all things vanish and decaie The sixt Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 A petition for humilitie and assistance against our enimies 2 For mercie and loue of Gods lawe 3 For the leading of a good life A. 1 AN humble heart O God vnto thy seruants giue Be thou to them a louing Lord whiles in this world they liue Regard thy little flocke be thou to them a sheeld And thē defend frō greedie Wolues least ouercome they yeeld 2 Haue mercie on vs all whose waies most wicked are And to the path of Paradise our speedie steps prepare Make vs to loue thy lawe and therein to delight For that is an oblation most pleasant in thy sight 3 Let me so leade my life that what I thinke or saie Extend vnto the laud and praise of thee my God alwaie Make me an instrument thine excellence to sound In faith and in good works O God vouchsafe I may abound Nothing though high of price and glorious to the eie Grant mightie God frō thy precepts may drawe my feete awrie The seuenth Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 An inuocation to God for succour in affliction 2 For restitution of perfection lost by sinne 3 For the fortifieng of faith in time of triall 4 For prosperous successe of our enterprises 5. For protection and strength in persecution of the Gospell 6 A deprecation against Gods enimies and the aduersaries of his Word M. 1 AT euening and at morning I praise thée O God earlie do I call vpon thée yea before the rising of the Sunne do I direct my voice to thee my King and my God Be not far from me in the time of mine affliction but when troubles assault me be thou present and at hand to defend me so shall I féele comfort in my soule and glorifie thy most excellent name 2 Restore to me the fulnesse of thy grace which mine owne sins and the transgressions of my progenitours haue diminished that by the restitution of the same I may the more vprightlie leade my life before thy face 3 And though the world be full of wickednesse and thy glorie dailie derogated by the diuelish deuises of lewd liuers yet so fortifie my faith that I fall not awaie from thee Helpe me O God to withstand the subtile suggestions of Sathan and all Sathanicall souldiours such I meane as set shoulder against thée thy son Christ. 4 Accept me among thy chosen children and ouershadowe me with the shield of thine omnipotencie that whatsoeuer I take in hand may haue happie successe to my profit and to thy glorie 5 Mightilie protect me in all perils and dangers speciallie in the time of persecution when thy Gospell is called in question among false Heretikes superstitious Papists and cauilling Scismatikes Fortific my spirit with the armour of thy word that I may powre it out plentifullie in the presence of thine enimies to their shame and confusion and to the aduancement of thy name Let not their sophisticall assertions intangle or intrap me but let thy sacred Scripture so flourish and fructifie in my heart that by thy gratious gift of vnderstanding I may controll them in their errours Enter thou with me O
that we feéling our selues inwardlie before thy iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards theé released may be swallowed vp with an vnfeined loue toward thy heauenlie Maiestie and towards our brethren for thy sake 5 Make sinne to die in vs dailie more and more that we may hate detest and vtterlie abhorre all sinne and wickednes in all men but especiallie in our selues that we may stronglie through thy holie spirit set our selues in open warre and defiance against all sin and wickednes that we please not our selues in our sinnes but streightlie examining sinne by the iust rule of thy holie lawes we may vtterlie from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioie comfort and consolation vpon those things which be agreéable to thy blessed will 6 Giue vs grace alwaies to be afraide to do anie thing contrarie to thy good pleasure and from the bottome of our hearts to examine and trie our thoughts before thy presence that they be vpright and vnfeined not hypocriticall in outward shew onlie and appearance but that euen all corners of our hearts being opened and disclosed before theé we may euen as though it were openlie before the face of the whole world bring them in shewe knowing that a double hart is detestable in thy sight 7 O Lord direct and guide our feéte that we may walke alwaies as before thine eies not onelie before the eies of man being more carefull to walke circumspectlie in this respect that we haue theé to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more than the eies of man that thus we may walke as becommeth thy children not onlie in outward shew but also in sinceritie of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor nourishing the same in our breast but earnestlie embracing and studiouslie seéking after those things which be pleasant in thine eies 8 O good Lord make vs constant and firme harted that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life lands possessions or friendes drawe vs awaie from theé to do anie the least thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure neither the fauour or friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this world nor the vaine promotions of the same do moue vs anie whit from the true and endles ioie delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreéable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwaies to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at the length we shall come to thy euerlasting rest Amen T. C. The second Branch of Petition The first Blossome conteining A praier to God at our vprising in the morning O Bountifull GOD which among all other thine aboundant blessings hast giuen vs the bright daie and Sunne shine to be the guide and gouernour of all our doings we beseéch theé that as thou art the father of light and hast sent light among vs not onlie the light of the cleére daie but also the light of thy glorious Gospell so thou wouldest direct all that we go about in light that we may shew our selues children of light in applieng our labour and occupieng both our minds and bodies in the workes of light that when the daie of retribution shall come when thou wilt reward euerie one according to the measure of their merits we maie enter into that light whose brightnes shall neuer be darkened there to liue with him who is the light of the world Iesus Christ the righteous to whome with theé and the holie Ghost be all laud praise honour and glorie for euermore Amen The second blossome conteining A petition to be said at the putting on of our clothes O Eternall and most mercifull Father we beseéch theé as thou hast giuen vs clothes to couer our bodies to hide our nakednes to preserue our corporall health so to decke and beautifie our soules with the riches of thy true knowledge which is the summe and substance of all perfect happines through Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The third Blossome conteining A petition to be said at the washing of our hands GRant O mercifull sauiour that as with this water the filth and vncleannes of our bodilie members are washed and scowred so our inward soules may by the dailie remembrance and vertue of thy bloudie death and passion be purged from all sinne and iniquitie that both bodie and soule being voide of blemish we maie come the neérer vnto theé in perfection Amen The fourth Blossome conteining A petition to God at our going abroade about our worldlie businesse O Gratious God which sanctifiest the hearts of thy chosen seruants and circumcisest their thoughts in so much that they become wholie acceptable vnto theé and are altogether cleansed from carnalitie and corruption we beseéch theé so to pitch the tents of thy protection and prouidence about vs this present daie that all things whatsoeuer we purpose may by thy gratious guiding be so disposed and prospered that our hearts be not carried awaie with the cares of this world as hauing little hope in thine all sufficiencie and bountifulnes O Lord so season vs with the salt not of vnsauourinesse least we be throwne out vpon the dunghill of reprobation and so troden vnder foote as out-casts of none account but with the salt of sinceritie and righteousnes so powder our spirits that whatsoeuer we take in hand this present daie may be so furthered helped forward and prospered by thy goodnes that we thereby may reape sufficient commoditie none offended or discontented either with vs or our labour nor thou by anie meanes dishonoured but highlie praised and glorified both in vs and in our doings according to the saieng of thy sonne in the holie Gospell Let your light so shine before men that they seéing your good workes may glorifie your father which is in heauen This O Lord and all other graces necessarie grant vnto vs for thy sonnes sake our onlie mediatour and aduocate Amen The fift Blossome conteining A petition to be said when we are at worke and about our businesse PRosper O Lord by the presence assistance of thy grace the businesse which we haue in hand Put into our minds to do it faithfullie and rather for conscience sake than couetousnes Further our affaires we beséech thée of thine infinite goodnes giue our labours prosperous happie successe and graunt vs grace to glorifie thée in thy blessings Amen The sixt Blossome conteining A petition vnto God at the leauing off from our labour whether it be of bodie or minde ALmightie God and most mercifull father which cloathest the lillies of the field with such roialtie as Salomon when he sat vpon the throne of his maiestie neuer possessed which feedest the birds of the aire the beasts of the land and the fish
of the ample and wide world but thou most gratious God of thine infinite loue and incomprehensible prouidence hast preordeined and appointed from originall of all beginnings to turne to the profite commoditie vse benefite of mortall and miserable man Beasts both wild and tame thou hast made subiect to his power some seruing for sustenance and nourishment othersome being made appliable and fit for his ease and assistance in bodilie labour as partakers of his paines and fellowe labourers with him in his bodilie businesse 3 These creatures O Lord being thus ordeined and ordered by and through thine euerlasting and vnchangeable appointment thou hast giuen and bestowed vpon vs men most vnthankfull and of all other the vnworthiest of such singular benefites thou hast inriched vs with their continuall and incessant increase and thou doest dailie more and more with new accesse of graces and good gifts inlarge thy bountifull liberalitie towards vs in such wise that if we had anie féeling of Christianitie nay if we were not altogether sold to sinne and made bondslaues to our owne sensualitie and corrupt concupiscence we could not but with zeale of spirit burning heate of hart crie out with the Prophet Dauid O Lord how wonderfull are thy workes thorough all the world Great is God and most worthie to be praised and his greatnes can not be searched out One generation shall praise thy workes vnto another and they shall declare thy mightie power I will set foorth in words the glorious Maiestie of thine excellentnes and thy wonderfull workes c. In consideration therefore O Lord of the benefites which thou hast and at this present doest powre vpon vs which are so manie that they can not be numbred and so great that they can not be measured we beséech thée to plant in our harts the good propertie vertue of thankefulnes least we prouing a barren and vnfruitefull soile be so farre from yéelding good and hoalesome hearbes that we séeme altogether choaked with noisome wéedes wherewith being ouergrowne we become vile despised contemptible and nothing worth 4 There be most liuelie representations and such testimonies of thy tender loue towards vs as more plaine and manifest can not be by anie meanes neither for the outward eie of the bodie to behold nor yet for the inward eie of the mind to contemplate and marke namelie creatures both heauenlie and also earthlie heauenlie as the Sunne wherein the brightnes of thine omnipatent and vnspeakable maiestie is testified to the world which with his glorious beames and most comfortable heate being the lampe of light and life to all things which thou by thy word in the beginning didst create ministreth not onlie to man but also to beast foule fish yea to the créeping worme occasion of inward delight and ioie For as when it declineth and draweth downe auoiding the scope and compasse of our eies it carrieth awaie with it in like maner the brightnes and glorie of the daie whereby the darke and vnpleasant night approcheth and créepeth vpon vs euen so when it appeareth clad with roabes of maiestie and commeth like a Bridegrome foorth of his chamber the fogges and mistes of the wearisome night are chased and driuen awaie and thereby followeth ouer the face of the whole earth most comfortable appearances of thine eternall prouidence and infallible arguments and tokens of thine endlesse loue to the safetie and health of vs vile wretches and cursed caitifes notablic continued Without the louelie light of this bright shining lampe which this our transitorie life can by no meanes lacke it is not possible to accomplish anie thing Thou most mercifull father hast assigned and appointed the same to be the directer of all our doings for the want of so necessarie a benefite procureth palpable darkenes and most vncomfortable blindnes 5 For the former excellent benefite therfore most gratious God as also for all other namelie thy creatures framed and made for the succour of man for cloath and apparell to couer his bodie that it may not be annoied with the force of sharpe and nipping stormes nor féele the smart of anie tempestuous season for giuing him foules of the aire fish of the salt sea and fresh riuers and beasts of the field and forest to be his sustenance against the assaultes of hunger and to breake the force of famishment to mainteine nature prolong life strengthen the bodie cherish the heart and to quicken and reuiue the spirits of the whole man for prouiding to his vse whoalsome hearbes and plants of speciall vertue to expell manie contagious and hurtfull diseases and flowers of most fragrant sauour and pleasant smell to delight the senses for making the earth bring foorth and yéeld trées of wonderfull force stones of maruellous indurance and other metals of strange and singular qualitie to make him commodious dwelling places wherein to inhabite and harbour that neither the rage of frostie winter neither yet the heate of smothering summer nor anie sudden tempest and storme except it please thée to worke contrarie to the common course of nature and expectation can worke his inconuenience for bestowing vpon him the riches and treasures which lie hid in the secret celles and bosome of the ground and the pretious pearles of the vnmeasurable and bottomlesse deapth of the Sea finallie for making all things as well wanting as indued with life subiect to his rule readie at his commandement and appliable to his seruice we giue thée most hartie thankes and praise thée for thy goodnes 6 Besides these externall gifts of thine wherwith of thine vnspeakable and frée liberalitie thou hast plentifullie stored furnished man thou hast most gratiouslie reuealed and euidentlie giuen triall of thy singular care and tender affection wherewith thou louest him thou hast illuminated and lightened him with the lampe of vnderstanding reason and iudgement whereby he being conducted and guided hath knowledge to make choice of that which is good and that which is euill of that which is whoalsome and that which is noisome of that which is commodious and that which is iniurious of that which is hurtfull and that which is fruitefull and so consequentlie of that which with his nature is agréeable and that which is repugnant and contrarie to his being 7 As these thy gifts are great good God and most louing father as indéede they are excéeding great and wonderfull so we beséech thée to powre into our hearts the liquor of true perceiuerance and knowledge that we somewhat according as the deprauation and corrupt state of our nature will permit may discearne the force and fruite of thy fatherlie fauour and that this vile and filthie vessell of our bodie which is polluted and as it were waxen mooldie with the dregges and léeze of sinne and wickednesse being sanctified and clensed with the cléere watersprinkle of thy purifieng spirit may become a fit and well seasoned vessell to receiue the swéete and comfortable water of the fountaine of life 8 And because