distressed to trust in thee O consider this my God and permit mee not though sore oppressed to giue ouer calling continually and faithfully vpon thee for with thee there is mercy and with thee is timely redemption though thou seeme to tarry long and to giue no eare vnto my prayers which maketh those that are ignorant of thy waies to thinke thou hast vtterly forsaken me yet I know and am assured that thou forgettest me not neither dost thou so leaue mee but that thou wilt returne vnto me again and in the multitude of thy mercies lift me vp againe and then shall they that thus haue censured me finde and confesse that indeed I haue not trusted in thee in vaine and that thou art a God indeed powerfull able and louing willing and ready to helpe thine in the time of most need I am thine O Lord for in all my troubles I haue hitherunto found thee my God my helper and my refuge though there be that haue said there is no helpe for me in thee I haue found them lyers for thou hast neuer failed me nor forsaken mee hitherunto neither wilt thou faile me or forsake me for euer Thou hast euer beene my rocke and fortresse and hast euer deliuered mee therefore art thou worthy to be praised yea I will praise thee for I was left vnto thee as soone as I was borne and thou hast euer beene a louing father vnto me though as a father thou hast gently corrected me yet thy louing kindnes thou hast neuer withholden from me but when in my greatest troubles and afflictions I haue beene like to perish thou hast not left mee to the will of mine enemies and when they they thought to reioyce most at my miseries thou hast lifted vp my head aboue mine aduersaries in thee therefore will I trust and not be afraid what man can doe vnto me Haste thee to help me O God of my saluation and praised bee thy holy name for euer Amen VERSE 7. Hearken vnto my voice O Lord when I cry haue mercy also vpon me and heare me THese words of Dauid import a most earnest praier vnto God though séeming short yet coÌ„taineth matter of good consideration euen of vs y t in all our necessities we should cry vnto God teacheth vs that when we are in distresse wée may not lie still thinke that God will helpe vs if we call not vpon him and againe we may call and cry and not bée heard As Dauids enemies when they were deseruedly ouercome cryed for helpe at God but he neglected them and reiected them because they cried being a wicked people in their distresse for helpe at Gods hands whom they before despised But contrarily the children of Israel the people of God cried vnto him in their distresse and the Lord heard them and deliuered them 1. Sam. 12. 10 11. There are vocall cries and there are cries that none heare but God as the guiltlesse bloud of Abel yet cryeth vnto God for vengeance Likewise the sinnes of Sodome and Gomorrah cryed vnto God for iudgement as sin and murther daily doe these are wofull cries silent and yet God heareth them in displeasure whereby wée may learne that sinne and chiefely the murther of Innocents be it neuer so secret doe cry and shall be reuealed and though neuer so séeming to be grounded vpon pretended deuotion zeale it crieth to God for vengeance Dauids cry was of another kinde for where the former cries were the cries of the sinnes of the wicked against their wils for reuenge against their owne impieties Dauids tended to the glory of God and his owne succour and safetie and therefore said he Hearken vnto my voice O Lord when I cry Which teacheth vs not to bée mute when any occasion of feare or affliction may moue vs to séeke the helpe of God We must cry vnto God not vnto dumb stocks and stones nor to any dead creature or Angell whom they are fondly framed to represent but vnto the liuing God he onely can heare be our praiers neuer so secret and silent He heard Moses and Anna onely mouing their lips without sound So that it is not the loudnesse of the voice but the affection of the heart that maketh the cry where unto God giues eare many no doubt can and doe cry Lord Lord and that loud enough and yet they are not heard because they cry not in faith And therefore Dauid did not onely say Lord hearken vnto my cry but withall craued that God would haue mercy vpon him for men may cry long enough and loud enough and not be heard vnlesse GOD shew mercy Therefore saith Dauid Hearken vnto my voice when I cry haue mercy also vpon me heare me for God heareth no mans prayer but in his mercy and therfore is mercy in the first place so be sought but by faith for he y t trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compasse him about though we be in neuer so great misery or danger if wee cry faithfully vnto God he will heare vs and in his mercy helpe vs As Dauid complained vnto God saying I am in a wonderfull strait let vs now fall into the hands of the Lord for his mercies are great and let vs not fall into the hands of men God sheweth mercy vnto thousands that loue him and kéepe his Commandements and heareth them but the wicked and such as contemne his Word he will not heare for they cry not in saith they cry onely for their owne necessities not referring the end of their desires to Gods glory they cry of themselues with the lips only they come in their owne names and respect onely themselues and their owne outward wants and féele not nor acknowledge their inward defects they are sinners and repent them not they aske therefore and receiue not They cry vnto mee saith God but I will not heare them because they pray without faith and repentance Therefore when affliction anguish shall fall vpon them they shall call vpon me but I will not answer they shall seeke me but shall not finde me But the faithfull afflicted he heareth and such as depart from their sinnes and walke righteously before him he considereth as Dauid himselfe confesseth I cried vnto the Lord saith he and hee heard mee and deliuered mee out of all my feare and trouble They that feare the Lord néed feare no trouble for mercy compasseth them about on euery side Gods prouidence attendeth them they no sooner cal vpon God but hée heareth nay before they cry he is ready to helpe them for his eie is euer vpon them euen at an instant to preuent whatsoeuer danger therefore may the faithfull goe comfortably forward in the strength of the Lord trusting in him and they shall neuer be ashamed he is our strength and saluation and our defence let vs powre out â—ur hearts before him and say Hearken vnto my voice O Lord when I cry haue mercy also vpon me and heare me Then will he assuredly
colour and therefore as long as none but wicked men scandalize vs and condemne vs we néed not be ashamed no though they raile reuile and curse vs wee néed not feare it for in stead of their curses God will blesse vs yet let vs pray Teach me O Lord thy way and leade me in thy path aright because of mine enemies None but enuious and wicked men are malicous enemies vnto such as feare God and they indéed cannot sléepe vntill they haue contriued some mischiefe against the innocent whom they would disgrace taking all occasions and aduantages to worke them any violence though they be already afflicted they will afflict them more if they bee already fallen they will euen tread vpon them to kéepe them downe that they may not rise It is their glory if they can adde more sorrow to the sorrowfull and more griefe to the grieued they are continually trauelling with wickednes conceiuing mischiefe but they commonly bring forth a lie for the mischiefe y t they intend to others fals in the end vpon their owne heads and their cruelty vpon their owne pates they are snared euen with the works of their owne hands for God hath euer he doth and euer will preserue his owne from these wicked men though he suffer them somtimes bodily to perish vnder their tyranny it is but to aggrauate the sins of their persecutors and the sooner to bring his vnto their finall glory Therefore behoueth the most godly to bée wary of their waies for how much the more godly religious and zealous they are in walking with God so much the more malicious is Satan to raise vp troubles slanders and reproaches against them by such as he can stir vp against vs who howsoeuer inwardly enuious they are yet haue they learned of their master to speake plausibly though deceitfully flattering with their lips hauing a venomous heart within whereby they oftentimes allure the innocent without suspicion to bewray vnto them their secret thoughts and intentions and in simplicity by their inchanted subtilties discouer that which these wicked serpentine wretches worke vpon and wrest to bring not only their names reputation and credit but their estates and liues in question By their wicked counsell they compasse our steps they set their enuious eyes vpon our waies If they finde wée walke vnblameable they wil plot to haue some blockes to be laid in our waies that if it be possible we might stumble though they could not make vs fall altogether If we erre on the other side neuer so little they will insult ouer vs they will blow the trumpet of our defamation and cry There there so would we haut it But these deuices of theirs God séeth and what they practise against such as feare him therfore let vs only say Teach vs O Lord thy way and leade vs in the right path because of our enemies As long as wee walke in the way of God truly and be lead that path that is right let vs not feare Heare what Dauid said vnto Salomon his sonne whom he exhorted to walke in the waies of the Lord to keepe his Statutes and his Commandementes his Iudgements and his Testimonies We must endeuour to haue Gods lawes euer before our eies and neuer depart from his precepts This is the way walke in it Though it bee a strict way and vnpleasant to a carnall minde it is a most swéet and comfortable way a way that leadeth here to happinesse and after to Heauen There is another way a common high way much beaten by diuers passengers all carnall men traffike this way a very pleasant way wherein yet many haue walked for a time but they haue found that as a man that eateth too much hony may surfet through the swéetnesse of it so they were euen glutted with the vanities that are strewed in the way It is a way full of carnall content indeed but it is but short men are at their waies end many times when they think themselues not halfe way there and are grieued their iourney is so soone done But when they come to the end of the race they suddenly finde a most fearefull gulph which they cannot auoid turne backe againe they cannot as ordinary trauellers often doe when they haue mistaken their way and take another but they that walke this high and pleasant way must bée enforced to stay and to take vp their hideous Inne not for a night as waifaring men doe but remaine there for euer with the Deuill and his Angels A Prayer that God will be pleased to direct vs in his waies and leade vs vprightly because of our enemies O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing father in Iesus Christ vouchsafe to looke in mercy vpon me teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies Giue mee grace that I may walke aright and pray aright and beleeue aright and in all mine actiōs be guided by thee aright Reframe me from the way of the wicked and guide me in the paths of righteousnesse make thy way plaine before my face for of my selfe I am blinde I cannot see the right way direct and guide me that I stumble not to cause mine enemies to laugh and reioyce at my fall Send out thy light and thy truth let them leade me and bring mee to thine holy mountaine where I shall be safe from mine enemies order and direct my goings O Lord aright according to thy word reclaime me from euery euill way and direct my feet in the way of truth in that way that leadeth to life preuent mee of that forbidden way which is pleasant yet perillous seeming plaine and delectable but the end thereof is death Lord let my walkings bee vpright because of mine enemies who watch euen the course of my life they pry into all mine actions they obserue my conuersation and if they see mee but slide or slip neuer so little awry they sound the trumpets of my disgrace If they see mee to fall into any sinne through my frailty they cry out and say That there is no feare of thee before mine eies O my God consider this and in mercy remember I am but dust by nature subiect to great infirmities which I doe acknowledge O Lord reclaime mee from my euill inclination by thy grace set me in the way of truth and obedience and leade me therein for euer and learne mee to liue after thy Commandements and yeeld mee thy feare and thy direction that I may walk in them for mine owne waies are as my will is by nature euill euermore but thy waies are mercy and truth and such as truly feare thy name thou teachest the waies of perfect obedience and reducest euen sinners to walke aright reclaiming them by thy grace from their euill waies Guide me that I may know thee and thy waies and leade me aright in them let me neuer goe astray from them lest mine enemies take occasion by my transgressions to say that I haue
THE IMITATION of DAVID His godly and constant resolution in bearing all his trialls troubles and afflictions being a King Whose example of faith patience hope obedience and deliueries thankfulnesse and prayer is left euen for Princes Potentates and all true Christians to imitate Collected by way of Meditations and Prayers out of the 27. Psalme By I N. LONDON Printed by Iohn Haviland for Richard Whittakers and George Latham 1624. TO THE HIGH and most noble CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and of Yorke and Earle of Chester bee here in this life truest honour highest happinesse and most perfect peace and after this life eternall glory in the Heauens I Know not how to excuse mee most gracious Prince in that I haue presumed to attempt a matter of so high and diuine a subiect considering what I am and to aduenture it to your Highnesse knowing who you are but that my heart was willing ouercame a weake vnderstanding which first it may please your Highnesse of your princely clemency to accept namely the will and to pardon the deed for I may truly protest that I intended herein nothing lesse than to be thought desirous to seeme so impudent as to giue your Highnesse the least or to thinke that you needed any other aduice or counsell in this behalfe than that which you haue so plentifully receiued from him that gaue strength vnto Dauid and wisdome vnto Salomon his son together with the sweet fructifying seed which hath beene so diuinely sowne in your Princely breasts by the wisdome of our second Salomon your most pious and most truly religious Father Humbly beseeching your Highnes to conceiue no other intention in me than an vnwillingnesse to let slip the Interim of my sequestred imploiments in your Highnesse seruice much against my will without some exercise inwardly comfortable though outwardly little profitable yet if any thing vsefull though but to the vulgar it may pray your Princely fauour being done your Highnesse seruice depending beseeching the length of daies to lengthen your daies to his glory your honor and comfort of such as feare God Your Highnesse most humble seruant Iohn Norden TO THE MOST Illustrious Religious and most royally borne Princesse E ETernall happinesse Hearts true content L Long life in peace and plenty permanent I Internall and externall be her graces S Such as to which Heauens Angels daigne imbraces A Amids her foâ—s Iehouah be her shield B By Sea and Land in trenches and in field E Engrau'd b'Elizaes Image in her brest T That Queens that farre in fame surmounts the best H Here then shall highest honour crowne her crest Q Quiuers of Dauids arrowes may she haue V Vpon her head Heauens helmet her to saue EE Earth Aire and Seas all Elements and Winde N Nourish her happinesse the Heau'ns her minde E Estraited neuer let her foes her finde O Order her actions all Iehouah right F Fix in her heart the Target of thy might B Breake thou the rankes and Armies of her foes O O draw thy sword fight for her where she goes H Hem her about with Angels of thy might E Embrace her loue her soone restore her right M Make great thy name in marching on her side I Inthrall her foes and snare them in their pride A Assist her still and still be thou her guide As heartily wisheth her Highnesse faithfully deuoted Io. Norden The Table A Motiue to the Reader touching Meditation and Praier Of Meditation Of Prayer A Premeditation touching the argument of the 27. Psalme pag. 1. Meditation the first The Lord is my light and my saluation whom shall I feare the Lord is the strengâ—h of my life of whom shall I be afraid 11 A Prayer that God will be our light and our saluation in all our troubles and dangers 30 Meditation the second When the wicked euen mine enemies and my foes came vpon me to eat vp my flesh they stumbled and fell If an host pitched against me my heart should not be afraid though warre be raised against me I will trust in thee 35 A Prayer to God that hee will defend vs from our enemies 56 Meditation the third Oâ—e thing haue I desired of the Lord â—hat I will â—â—qâ—ire euen that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my liâ—e to behold the beauty of the Lord and to visit his Temple 64 A 〈◊〉 for spirituall knowledge and increase of our holy desires to visit the Temple of God to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him 92 Meditation the fourth In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide mee and set me vpon a rocke 99 A Prayer in whatsoeuer trouble 128 Meditation the fifth That he will now lift vp mine head aboue mine enemies round about me therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of ioy I will sing and praise the Lord. 136 A Prayer with thanksgiuing to God for defence from enemies in that they haue not preuailed against vs. 156 Meditation the sixth Hearken vnto my voice O Lord when I cry haue mercy vpon me and heare me 164 A Prayer that God will haue mercy vpon vs and heare vs. 182 Meditation the seuenth When thou saidst seeke ye my face mine heart answered vnto thee O Lord I will seeke thy face 189 A Prayer that God will neuer hide his face from vs. 197 Meditation the eighth Hide not thy face from mee nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast beene my succour leaue me not nor forsake me O God of my saluation 206 A Prayer that God will bee alwaies neere vnto vs in our afflictions and not to hide his face and fauour from vs. 225 Meditation the ninth Though my father and my mother forsake mee thou Lord wilt take me vp 232 A Prayer that God will shew himselfe our Father in all our troubles and afflictions when all other helpe faileth 245 Meditation the tenth Teach me thy way O Lord and leade me in a right path because of mine enemies 254 A Prayer that God will be pleased to direct vs in his waies and leade vs vprightly because of our enemies 275 Meditation the eleuenth Giue mee not ouer to the lust of mine enemies for there are false witnesses risen vp against me and such as speake cruelly 282 A Prayer that God will preserue vs from our enemies that they preuaile not against vs and to preuent vs of false witnesses 297 Meditation the twelfth I should haue fainted except I had beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing 305 A Prayer that God will not forsake vs in our troubles and that our faith faile vs not 320 Meditaâ—ion the thirteenth Hope in the Lord be strong and hee shall comfort thine heart and trust in the Lord 328 A Prayer for strength patience and hope in troubles 352 A Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes reformation of life
heard that our enemies haue boasted through the false and forged benediction of him that is a deceiuer and yet taketh the falsly conceiued authority from heauen But our God laughed their pride insolency and security to scorne taking our cause into his owne hand confounded their deuices daunted their hearts weakned their armes abandoned their Nauies by his owne power euen as he gaue proud Benadab into Ahabs power though a wicked King and an Idolater therefore not for Ahabs sake but for his owne Names seke and his owne peoples safety And to shew his Omnipotent power in defending his owne and confounding his and their enemies So that the truly faithful in God being threatned beset and besieged by wicked multitudes néed not to be afraid for though war be raised against them that God that defended Dauid Hezekias and all that haue truly called vpon him in like danger will as hée hath euer hitherunto defend vs. They that haue the God of Hosts on their side néed not to feare though Kings combine and people rage as if they would eat vp their flesh Onely let them liue godly pray faithfully and vse ordinary meanes lawfully then if an Host pitch against them their hearts néed not be afraid though warre be raised against them let them trust in him and they shall sée the saluation of God They that fight against Gods people fight euen against God himselfe as Paul persecuting his children persecuted Christ. If therefore a mighty Host inuade vs we may boldly though in seeming weaknesse encounter them for there are more with the children of God though not séene than with the wicked God neuer faileth nor forsaketh his vnlesse they forsake him he leaueth them not vnlesse they leaue him Infinite are the examples hereof in holy Scriptures which might be also produced further to confirme our assurance And were it néedfull there might be inserted not a few examples of Gods like deliueries recorded in our owne Chronicles and in our own remembrances But where Gods Spirit speaketh by the pens of Gods owne Secretaries there néed no humane testimonies but onely to shew that God is still the same He is Alpha and Omega the same yesterday to day and for euer therefore may the man that is godly assure himselfe with holy Dauid If an Host of enemies pitch against him his heart need not bee afraid though war be raised against him he may trust in this That when the wicked euen his enemies and his foes come vpon him to eat vp his flesh they shall stumble and fall A Praier to God that he will defend vs from our Enemies O Holy and most mightie God of Hosts who dwellest in the heauens and yet art thou absolute also in the earth gouerning guiding directing and protecting those that feare thy name so that they need not feare the power or malice of whatsoeuer aduersaries for saluation belongeth vnto thee alone and thy blessing is euermore vpon them that faithfully depend vpon thee Therefore Lord though we be weake in power ignorant in carnall policies destitute of humane aid and beset with enemies who raise deadly warre against vs confirme our faith in thee and we shall be strong yea stronger than our enemies and wiser than our most politicke and subtill aduersaries and shall be either able to withstand their violence or escape their mischiefes though we haue no other defence but thy prouidence no other armour but thy loue no other weapons but true faith and a holy feare of thy name yet in this defence will we trust and in this saluation will we reioyce In this confidence Lord come we vnto thee powring out our hearts before thee not because thou knowest them not but because thou knowest them therefore come we vnto thee that thou maist bee pleased to remoue our feare and ease our griefe and to be strengthned and confirmed in a liuely assurance of our safetie and saluation in thee and of thy defence against these our enemies for there is none besides thee that can deliuer vs. Remember Lord thy goodnesse which thou vouchsafedst to our faithfull fore-fathers of old how thou deliueredst them from their enemies when they cried vnto thee Heare vs we pray thee O Lord and helpe vs for vaine is the helpe of man Turne our feare into assurance of thy fauour and helpe our mourning into reioycing in thee Loose our sorrowes and gird vs againe with gladnesse let not our sinnes hinder thy mercies wherein wee pray thee to turne the counsell of our wicked aduersaries into foolishnesse their strength into weaknesse and their hope into despaire Thou art the Lord of hosts high and mightie louing vnto those that feare thee helpfull vnto those that trust in thee and a terrible God vnto them that despise thee or thine What Tyrant can stand before thee What King can encounter thee or take thy children out of thy hands Pharaoh could not detaine Israell when thou wouldest transplant them Saul could not hurt Dauid thou defending him Senacherib could not haue his desire against Hezâ—kias thou fighting for him our enemies could not hurt vs thou curbing them O shew thy selfe now as thou hast euer done our defender With speed O'Lord reforme all our imperfections couer the multitude of our grosse and fearefull sins which call for enemies and other punishments in thy iustice to be inflicted vpon vs Turne thou vnto vs and we shall returne vnto thee Let our repentance appeare by the mortification of our sinfull desires Humble vs and we shall be humbled then shalt thou in compassion pardon vs and in thy fauour compasse vs about as with a shield Thou shalt bee our refuge in our greatest danger for there is no God besides thee no help but of thee Thou alone art able to command an Hoste of Angels from heauen to attend and guard vs Twentie thousand thousand Angels canst thou send from heauen to defend vs thy selfe the chiefe Leader of that celestiall army whereof one of them is sufficient to confound a million of thine and our wicked enemies when they assaile vs to cat vp our flesh thou in a moment canst make them to stumble and fall What then is man Or what is the force of Princes when thou takest part against them in the behalfe of them whom thou wilt defend Therefore cast we our burden and care vpon thee for thou hast promised to care for vs. O send therefore from heauen and saue vs haue mercy vpon vs O God haue mercy vpon vs for we trust in thee And vnder the shadow of thy wings will wee shelter our selues vntill our enemies bee either conuerted or confounded Then shall we praise thy name O Lord for that thou hast not left vs as a prey vnto the will of our enemies and though we walke in the midst of troubles yet we know and are assured that thou wilt take a conuenient time to finish the worke of our absolute deliuery For thy mercy and thy truth and thy power endure from
glory of God might shine in the face of Iesus Christ whose glory we sée in the preaching of his word wherein he declareth the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared vnto glory This glory the more the spirituall man beholdeth the more is he moued with desire to sée more and more and can neuer be sufficiently filled with that heauenly Contemplation Much were the Disciples moued at the sight of Christs transfigured glory in so much as they desired to haue enioyed the sight of it still so glorious it was that their minds were euen rauisht with the beauty thereof So Dauid desired to dwell in the Temple of the Lord not for a day but all the daies of his life to behold the beauty the goodnesse and mercies of God reuealed in his Word and to exercise himselfe in prayer Where God is duly and truly called vpon by a holy Congregation there appeareth the glory and beauty of Iehouah There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mighty God of Iacob whose glory filleth the Temple which the faithfull man séeth with a spirituall eye but the carnall man though bodily present in the same Temple apprehendeth it not As when Paul was conuerted he saw the glory of God shine vpon him but they that iournied with him though néere him saw nothing So that God is onely séene of them to whom hée pleaseth to reueale himselfe This beauty of the Lord shineth in the hearts of Gods elect children by the reuelation of the holy Ghost which none séeth but themselues And they take such sweet delight in the beholding of the face of God in Christ as they doe receiue in their soules the very Impression of the Image of the glory of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth euen as Moses receiued thorow the splendor of the glory of God vpon Mount Sinai in his countenance such an impression of that glory that the children of Israel could not endure to behold with their eies the glory of his countenance What remaineth then but that we neglect not the continuall visitation of the temple of God to accompany the Congregation in the hearing of that heauenly Word to pray vnto God for his blessings and to giue him praise for his benefits And the Lord open our spirituall eies that we may euen here behold his beautie and bee hereafter pertakers of his glory A Praier for spirituall knowledge and increase of our holy desires to visit the Temple of God to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him O Gracious Lord God most louing who reiectest none that come vnto thee with a perfect heart and none can come vnto thee vnlesse thou call him as well by thy inward Grace as by thy outward Word Vouchsafe according to the riches of thy Grace to grant that I may be strengthned by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and that my whole spirit soule and body may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus For thou knowest Lord what I am by nature a man vnworthy to enter vnder thy roofe or to presse into the place where thine honour dwelleth For thou art a God that louest righteousnesse and acceptest of such as are of cleane hearts and whose conuersations are vpright before thee but I am a sinner and corrupt as all my fathers were Cleanse me therefore O gracious Lord God in the bloud of Iesus Christ and make me fit to approach thine holy Temple that I may see thy beautie and behold thy glory Open mine eares that I may heare prepare my heart that I may vnderstand what thou teachest in thy word Enlighten mine inward eies the eies of my soule that I may see thee and take comfort in thy presence And open my lips that I may speake vnto thee in faith and answer mee againe in loue Teach mee that celestiall language that may moue thee to heare me For what booteth it me to come into thy house with deafe eares not to heare thee without attention to vnderstand thee mute and not be able to speake vnto thee Yet I know good Father that thou hearest them that cannot speake and thou teachest them that vnderstand not and thou openest the eies of them that see not such is thy loue towards vs as thou acceptest euen of the language of heartie sighes whither they be for sinne or for want of spirituall graces Thou knowest the inward desires of the heart tending to good or euill I am sorry good Father that any corruption lurketh in my defiled heart to keepe out that blessed guest thy Spirit I cannot of my selfe abandon corruption I cannot of my selfe so mortifie my sinne but that the dregges therefore will still remaine But cast me not out of thine holy Temple because I am a sinner but rather because I am a sinner admit to visit thy Temple to heare thy Word that I may learne to liue more and more obediently vnto thee Make thou my heart cleane and I shall bee all cleane so shall I visit thine house to honour thee and comfort my selfe by thy holy presence and shall take spirituall pleasure in thy beautie and be finally pertaker of thy glory Thou louest righteousnesse O make me righteous Thou hatest iniquity abandon my sinnes Knit my heart vnto thee that I may both feare and loue thy name Giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to serue thee both in the materiall Temple with thy people and in all places at all times for thou art euery where to be found And where thou art there is thy house for thou dwellest not in Temples made with hands but in the heauens and in the hearts of them whom thou hast sanctified Turne thy face vnto me O Lord for thy face I seeke Shew me thy beauty and glory of thy countenance and change mee into thine owne Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit admit me continually to visit thy holy Temple Make my heart stable and vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure heart and conscience vndefiled That I come not into thine house onely to seeme religious but in true faith and due reuerence and giue thou a blessing vnto my godly desires Amen VERSE 5. In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide mee and set me vpon a Rocke THe very name of Trouble is fearefull to a worldly man for he loues pleasure ease and when trouble commeth he is cast downe and is as it were at deaths doore but the true childe of God being fore-warned that if he will liue godly he must looke for and prepare himselfe to suffer trouble and affliction in this life Trouble therefore doth little or nothing moue him when it commeth because when he first entred into the schoole of christianity he learned that
and where before hee continually besought God to hide him from his enemies now he cryeth Haue mercy vpon me O God according to thy louing kindnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies put away mine iniquities I know my iniquities and my sin is euer before me Sinne we see is the fruit of security and by that godly mans example it appeareth that some troubles are better than a quiet and secure estate as appeareth also by Hezekiah who being magnified in the sight of all Nations and was free from feare of trouble he became proud his heart was lifted vp but when God had sent him an enemy Senacherib to rouse him by threats sicknes to afflict him then he became humble then he fel to his prayers to God and God then did hide him in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his pauilion did he hide him in his sicknes set him again vpon the rocke of health Gods owne children are knowne by his fatherly correcting them and they that come into no troubles in this life liue they neuer so carnally contented may suspect themselues and may be suspected to be none of his and therefore faith Eliphaz to Iob Blessed is the man whom God correcteth and afflicteth here If then affliction and troubles be the way to become blessed or at least an argument of Gods fauour with what patience should we endure them nay with what ioy should we embrace them Saint Paul accounted the afflictions of this present life not to be worthy of the glory which we shall enioy hereafter Why therefore should we feare or repine against trouble séeing it is so necessary for vs It is not yet meant neither is it required of vs voluntarily to runne into or to séeke troubles as some Voâ—aries do wilful pouerty other néedlesse crosses which is not onely not required of them of God but offensiue vnto him being méere idlenesse one of the sinnes of Sodome It is required of vs onely when troubles of what kinde soeuer befall vs to vndergoe them with patience faith and constancy and then shall God hide vs in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall hee hide vs and set vs vpon a Rocke To him let vs commit our soules in well doing as vnto our faithfull Creator knowing that we are not afflicted by chance but by the will of God our most louing Father in Jesus Christ the Rocke of our saluation him let vs séeke in trouble and to him let vs pray A Prayer in whatsoeuer trouble O Lord my God in Iesus Christ who art onely wise in disposing all things for all men and to whose will all creatures in Heauen Earth and Sea are subiect and none be he neuer so mighty can withstand what thou wilt haue done Open thine eyes and behold me open thine eares and heare mee open thine hands and releeue mee I am in trouble not by chance but of thine owne wil not in thine anger to destroy me but in thy loue to reforme me my sinnes I doe confesse haue offended thee and yet are they strong in mee it is a deadly disease which none can cure but thou through the bloud of thy sonne O wash me throughly from mine iniquity cleanse me from my sinnes vse not thy seuerity against me O Lord for I were neuer able to abide it but as thou hast begunne gently to correct me so proceed not as a iust Iudge but as a louing Father so shall not I wax worse and worse but shall grow from vertue to vertue from faith to repentance and consequently to newnesse of life by thy spirit Make therefore thy corrections light vnto me by thy supporting hand that though they be many they exceed not my power to beare them for I am of my selfe weake but assisted by thy spirit I shall become strong and though I be ignorant how to ease mee of this burthen he shall teach mee that repentance that through faith in thy Sonne shal procure the mitigation of mine afflictions though they be many and of diuers kinds they are all knowne of thee and all necessary for mee because thou hast sent them and that not in vaine for all worke and worke together for my good through thy blessing I am cast downe I am brought low I am scorned because of my basenesse and troubles but I beare it and keepe silence when I heare the vpbraidings and contempt of my late familiars who abandon my ancient-society because they wax aloft and I become low this yet comes not to passe without thee thy hand is in euery action for the good of thine if enemies assaile me thou biddest them if pouerty and want oppresse me thou sendest it if sicknesse afflict me thou doest it and therefore good and none of these shall exceed my strength through thy strength As for mine enemies thou canst bridle them for pouerty and want thou canst supply them for sicknesse and carnall infirmities thou canst cure them all these haue their turnes to visit me onely to turne mee to thee Lord I come vnto thee reiect me not I pray vnto thee deny me not but as thou hast eares to heare and eyes to see euen from Heauen heare my prayers and behold mine afflictions they are great yet they shew the greatnesse of thy loue that wouldst not that I perish therefore imbrace I thy corrections as a gentle yoke not heauy but only to my carnall part to which euery crosse seemeth a curse and euery medicine seemeth mortall Beare with my weaknesse Lord and lay not much trouble vpon mee but according to the measure of mine affliction let the measure of my patience be and the measure of thy mercies aboue measure And as thou obseruest my sinnes so consider what correction is fit for my reformation I know thou art iust but most sweetly tempered with mercy yet no equality betweene thy mercy and thy iustice for all thy waies are mercy and truth and there is no iniustice in thy feuerity for thou shewest mercy to whom thou wile shew mercy and executest iustice iustly Who then can complaine in whatsoeuer sharpe affliction when all mens sinnes are the cords that draw them vpon them and no man deserueth thy mercy to bee freed from them therefore disclaime I any merit of mine Lord to bee released and craue onely mercy for thou in thy mercy wilt blesse the righteous and with fauour wilt compasse him about as with a shield so that no affliction crosse or trouble shall be too heauy for him Thou Lord hast promised to be a refuge for the poore yea a refuge in due time euen in greatest afflictions O hide me therefore in thy Tabernacle in the secret place of thy pauilion hide me and set me vpon a sure rocke VERSE 6. That he will now lift vp my head aboue mine enemies round about me therefore will I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of ioy I will sing and praise the Lord. DAuid hauing bin long beset with enemies
after he was coÌ„stituted also anointed King by Samuel by the malice of Saul who sought his death and continued many yéeres in continual troubles wherin being exercised he betooke himselfe to prayer to God liuing in hope that the time would come wherein hee should be fréed from Sauls tyranny and as hée was anointed so should he bée at length eustalled King hauing in many yéeres little or no breathing time or freedome from afflictions yet was his faith strong and his confidence in God firme as appeareth by the first second and third verses of this 27. Psalme wherein hée declareth the fauour of God towards him that he was his light and his saluation and his strength so that he feared not Saul nor whatsoeuer wicked enemies being assured that if they came vpon him to take away his life God would make them to stumble and fall as by his owne hands and Gods prouidence Goliah fell and after Saul his enemy by his owne sword so that in the first Uerse hée tooke courage through faith in God and sang In the time of trouble God shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide me and set me vpon a Rocke And in this verse Now shall hee lift vp mine head aboue mine enemies round about me When Saul was dead his mighty enemy he tooke the Gouernment of his Kingdome but was not yet frée from enemies whereby wée may see that the death of one enemy is the life of another and to teach vs not to be secure at any time but when one danger is past to looke for another yet not without Hope though cast downe in the end to be lifted vp and raised againe For as the Moone wareth full and decreaseth and the Sea ebbeth and floweth and as the sky cleareth and cloudeth so doe the estates of men high and low rise and fall and fall and rise What a fall had Ioseph being the darling of his Father to be sold as a slaue to be falsely accused and to be strictly imprisoned and yet in the end to bée so highly aduanced Now saith Dauid shall he lift vp my head as if hée could limit God the time to raise him No doubt it was not his meaning to tie God to a certaine time but when Saul his Predecessor was dead the Crowne open sor him he might well say Now that is now hath God appointed the time to bring that to passe which long before he had promised Indéed when he was made King he might well say that God had lifted vp his head aboue his enemies round about him for he had many as before is shewed and net a few euen of Sauls followers after who when they saw Dauid exalted might enuy his aduancement being lifted vp so farre aboue them and had then power to recompence their wickednesse against him But he had no reuengefull spirit if he had had hée would haue reuenged himselfe vpon Shemey that railed on him and cursed him and vpon Doeg that discouered his abode to Saul Neither of these did he touch but as touching Shemey though he swore vnto him that hée would not slay him yet hée commanded Salomon that he should cause his hoare head to goe to the graue with bloud which it séemeth hée spake by the spirit of prophesie fore-séeing that he should die by the sword Thus Dauid deliuered from his enemies and lifted vp aboue them sheweth the wonderfull power of God in preseruing him and his prouidence and loue in aduancing him yet continued hée not long without his troubles and enemies to exercise him though he were now established in his Kingdome for he hauing peace security a while we find into what sinnes he fell though he were aduanced aboue his corporall enemies his spirituall foes grew stronger than he therefore it is good that the children of God though neuer so great in the world haue afflictions and troubles lest they forget God as this godly King for a time did yet vpon repentance God raised him againe Which example of sinning we must auoid and imitate his repentance By his assured confidence in God he still withstood and preuailed against all that rose vp against him none could make him afraid but rested still assured that God would now namely whensoeuer he was beset with danger lift vp his head aboue all his enemies round about him His enemies in their policies became fooles in their strength weake and all their deuices brought to nought So that Dauid might well sing this ioyfull Song The Lord hath lifted vp my head aboue all mine enemies round about me Nothing preuaileth without or against God None can be lifted vp to sit safely without God therefore the man that is wise being aduanced will-imitate Dauid in faith and a holy resolution then shall he mount that rocke that shall neuer bee moued God shall maintaine his lot so that troubles shall not dismay him enemies shall not hurt him neither shall any thing make him afraid None must yet stand in conceit that Dauids infirmities and falls should bée a priuilege for them to commit sinne but rather let his fall be a-motiue to them to bée watchfull ouer their waies for the preuenting of like danger and to beware of security For easie it is for a man to fall of himselfe as Dauid did but without God not to rise againe and repent as Dauid did Though he fell and was lifted vp Saul fell and neuer rose Peter fell and rose againe but Iudas fell and that finally Dauid had an eie vnto his waies and respect vnto his walkings to preuent a second fall so as his enemies could not preuaile yet hée confessed that it was the Lord that supported him and made him to abide in safety It was not his owne power or wit or policy but the mercy of God that preserued him and that lifted vp his head aboue his enemies He was constant and waited the Lords leisure he made not haste as hée might haue done hauing Saul twice within his power though he were anointed King yet would he lay no violent hands vpon him that was pre-anointed and inuested but waited his time as Ioseph did whose head was lifted vp aboue his enuious brethrer Mordochay and the Jewes likewise with patience waited the time and were lifted vp aboue Hâ—man but otherwise higher by the gallowes than they Many are lifted vp aboue their enemies in conceit and yet themselues lifted vp as enemies against themselues for the more man insulteth in pride ouer other men the more the mighty triumph ouer the weake the rich ouer the poore the glorious ouer the base and the more that they in authority abuse and tyrannize ouer them they gouerne so much the further off are they from the true lifting vp how high soeuer they cary their heads and so much the more enemies they are vnto themselues There is no true lifting vp without loue for God is loue he lifteth vp the heart and soule
heare vs and helpe vs he will delay no further time than may be for our good hee may séeme vnto vs long in comming but he will come in a time conuenient and his delaies worke onely patience and hope in vs which if these graces haue their perfect working in vs we shall finde that he will neuer faile vs nor forsake vs howsoeuer such as are ignorant of Gods power and prouidence may thinke that vnlesse God come at our first call he will not come at all which is an argument they beléeue not Gods promises for if they did they would make no such haste but wait the Lords leisure not that he is so busted as he cannot intend either to heare vs or helpe vs for his eare is alwaies open to heare and his hand alwaies able to helpe euery man as well as one and that at an instant but we may not limit the holy one of Israel for hee knowes the times and seasons fit for euery of his intentions shall wee thinke that Dauid in his extremest dangers did not pray for deliuery yet though his saith were great he was not presently set frée though he cried out How long Lord how long wilt thou absent thy selfe for euer Ioseph likewise in his captiuity and imprisonment shall wee thinke that hée cried not vnto the Lord for deliuery and that instantly and yet he suffered him to endure the very iron setters and stocks vntill Gods appointed time came and then when the counsell of the Lord had sufficiently tried them then he deliuered them and shewed the abundance of his mercies towards them in aduancing them both we may not therefore murmure or repine at Gods corrections though they continue in our opinions long it is not onely that it is vnsauory to our carnall mindes but for want of faith for where faith is strong it produceth hope and in hope we wait with patience and we finde by experience that hope and patience shall not be in vaine Then whosoeuer is afflicted let them cry vnto God to haue mercy vpon them and that in a liuely faith and he will at least case them if hée doe not altogether deliuer them hee will kéepe his owne vnder his owne hand and not suffer them to haue the fréedome of the raines at their owne pleasure knowing the vnrulinesse of our owne naâ—ure which if he curbe it not will runne into euery sinne and make no conscience of any impiety as we may sée by holy Dauid himselfe when God permitted him but to haue a little liberty a small breathing time from his troubles into what sinnes did he runne yet a man chosen of God if he so farre forgat himselfe how shall we that haue not his spirituall gifts refraine our selues from offending God more grosely in our security Troubles and afflictions fall not vpon vs without Gods prouidence though Satan worketh what he can to trouble vs as appeareth in his trying of Iob to draw vs from God but howsoeruer he aimeth to make vs distrust God by his tentations and afflicting vs the more doe the children of God cleane vnto God for succour and cry vnto him for mercy and that which Satan intendeth to be for our hurt God worketh it for our good for all things worke together for the good of them that loue God and are called of his purpose namely his owne elect who as they are truly Gods owne so they depend vpon him alone and know that what crosse or affliction soeuer befall them it comes from none but from their owne louing father for their especial good to preuent greater danger as the holy Apostle Paul himself confesseth y t lest he should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of reuelations there was giuen vnto him a pricke in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him because he should not be exalted out of measure God seeing our corrupt nature alwaies apt to be puffed vp with a kinde of pride and security when wee féele the abundance of Gods graces and fauours towards vs in his wisdome and mercy taketh downe our ouer good conceits of our selues by corrections as Dauid before he was afflicted went awry Manasses a great Idolater by troubles was reclaimed and then he praied vnto God and humbled himselfe wée may sée it also in the prodigall sonne who as long as hée had money to bestow vpon his vanities and lusts he liued a rebellious life against his father but when he was afflicted by penury and want he returned home to his father repenting and crying vnto him in effect as here Dauid doth O father hearken vnto my voice I cry vnto thee for pardon haue mercy also vpon me and heare me as much as if hée had said Father forgiue mée Gods corrections though grieuous and vnsauory for a time yet good and profitable for vs we are thereby the more drawne from the delighting in sinne and made more obedient vnto the will of God especially if they bée seasoned with reuerence to God that sends them with faith repentance and feruent praier then shall wée finde that they will bring vs being exercised with them the quiet fruit of righteousnesse Wherefore let vs not onely not be discouraged at the chastisements of God for they are in loue but rather make vse of them for our humiliation and vnfained reformation Adding daily and continuall praiers vnto God who smiteth vs neither to kill vs orto maime vs but onely to kéepe vs in awe hauing a speciall eye vnto his hand for when we intend or are committing of any sinne against God let vs do as schollers do who when they are in their vnhappinesse haue one eie as it were to sée whether the master obserueth them or no and should giue them a clap before they were aware We are to be as wary of the hand of God and as the maiden of the hand of her mistrisse so shall God hearken vnto our voice when we cry hée will haue mercy also vpon vs and heare vs. A Praier that God will haue mercy vpon vs and heare vs. HAue mercy vpon me O God haue mercy vpon me for my soule trusteth in thee and in the shadow of thy wings will I trust vntill mine afflictions come to an end I will call vpon thee O hearken vnto my voice when I cry vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and heare me But how canst thou heare vnlesse I speake Yes Lord I know that thou hearest the very silent sighes and groanes of the faithfull heart As for my vocall voice it is but the voice of a sinfull man but an outward voice that soundeth but in the aire it only entreth into the eares of man and beasts passing thorow the throat and soundeth by the lips a voice of no force to pierce the skies to sound through the clouds to mount the heauens it is a low voice a weake voice it ascendeth not where thou my louing God sittest in the heauen of heauens and therefore how can it
procure thine attention any thing at all Why then should I say vnto thee hearken Why did Dauid say vnto thee hearken He was assured to bee heard Therefore I pray thee hearken O my God Hearken vnto the voice of my cry haue mercy also vpon me and heare me Heare the voice of my renewed heart the voice of my soule that figheth for my sinnes haue mercy therefore vpon me O Lord and pardon me that I may so cry and it may please thee so to heare as I may heare thine answer within as I cry within Lord let thy holy Spirit both speake to thee and answer me for I cannot preuailingly cry vnto thee vnlesse thou cry in me by thine owne Spirit sanctifying my spirit and answering my spirit again by thy spirit Hearken euen vnto thy selfe speaking in me and let my spirit heare thy spirit speaking to me and in mee So shall my soule sound forth a glorious voice a sharpe and piercing voice a voice whose sound shall ascend aboue the clouds where I haue a most louing and preuailing Mediator with thee euen Iesus Christ the righteous in whose name and for whose sake thou wilt deny nothing vnto those that come and cry faithfully vnto thee Then I euen I shall heare a most sweet and comfortable Eccho of Grace resound in the eares of my soule that shall assure me of answer of euery my petitions When I cry Lord forgiue me my sinnes I shall heare Thy sinnes O man are forgiuen thee when I shall say Open thou my lips I shall heare Open thy mouth and I will fill it When I shall say Lord I beleeue I shall heare Thou beleeuedst therefore shalt thou be saued When I call for strength in my tentations I shall heare My grace is sufficient for thee When I shall call vnto thee in my necessities for helpe I shall heare I will neuer faile thee nor forsake thee This is thy goodnesse O Lord and thy mercy therefore will I euermore pray vnto thee O hearken vnto my voice when I cry vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and heare me The ground of all my comforts in all my troubles to bee eased is thy mercy yea thy mercy onely In mee there is nothing worthy to bee regarded of thee it is thy mercy only that maketh me to dwell in safetie And had it not beene of thy free mercy I had bin confounded long agone therefore in thy mercy heare me when I call vpon thee and in thy mercy releeue mee in thy mercy helpe mee Then shall neither enemies preuaile against me pouertie and want shald not ouer-much oppresse me sicknesse shall not dismay me nor any outward or inward trouble sinne nor Satan preuaile against me For thou O God art the God of my saluation my glory the God of my strength in thee will I euer trust So be it VERSE 8. When thou saidst seeke yee my face mine heart answered vnto thee O Lord I will seeke thy face IN this verse there is as it were a familiar conference betwéene the Lord and Dauid God saies vnto Dauid and in the plurall number to all that are his Seeke yee my face And Dauid againe in the name of the faithfull replies Thy face O Lord will I seeke It séemeth to be a strange command that we weake Creatures that cannot looke with stedfast eies vpon the Sun that is but one of his inferior Creatures but shall be striken blinde with the radiant beames thereof should séeke and behold his face which none could euer sée and liue And it séemeth likewise to be as strange a promise in Dauid to say that hée would séeke the face of God To séeke the Lord is in many places of Scripture enioyned vs but to séeke and to sée his face is not so frequently commanded But these phrases of spéech differ not for both signifie the séeking of his helpe and are not literally to be vnderstood as if God had a visible face to be séene or that he had a corporall being to be felt God is a spirit and spiritually to be sought and spiritually to be discerned and is not otherwise to be séene but in the face of Iesus Christ who is also now glorified in the heauens not visibly to bee apprehended by vs vntill his second comming What is then meant by the séeking of the face of God onely his fauour and his protection in the time of our danger And to séeke God is to implore his power prouidence and helpe in our afflictions As Ieremiah comforting the captiue Israelites in Babylon You shall goe and pray vnto me saith God and I will heare you and if you seeke me yee shall finde me if you seeke me with all your hearts And againe Azariah said to Asa Iuda and Beniamin The Lord is with you while yee be with him And if yee seeke him he will be found of you but if yee forsake him hee will forsake you God is present with the faithfull by his continuall helping power as long as they hold him fast by their praiers and wrastle with him with their faithfull petitions as Iacob did with the Angell and cry vnto him till he answer and neuer leaue seeking of him till hee finde him If we séeke him in the Word wée shall finde him there as the spirit hath described him both a mercifull God and a consuming fire The faithfull finde him mercifull euen in this life the wicked shall finde him a seuere Judge hereafter The first shall sée his face and reioyce the second shall sée his face and tremble The first shall sée and behold the beauty of his countenance with great gladnesse for euer the second shall sée his face for a moment in his last sentence and that with horror God saies vnto all Seeke yee my face but few with their hearts doe séeke him And that is the reason that many call vpon him and are not heard they séeme to séeke him and finde him not but vnto the truly faithfull hée offereth himselfe as he did to Moses My presence shall goe with thee and I will giue thee rest This is the true beholding of the face of God to enioy his presence namely when he is ready in his power and prouidence to helpe vs in our afflictions and to deliuer vs in our dangers any other presence of his in this life we néede not séeke his glory is aboue the Heauens What is man then that he should séeke to sée his all-glorious face here in earth which Moses saw but in a bush obscurely in respect of his full and compleat glory and yet with that sight his face did shine so as the people could not abide the glory of his face How much lesse the glory of the most vnspeakable beauty of y e face of y e most high whose dwelling is in the heauens and whose power is ouer all his works in heauen and earth And therefore saith Dauid O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in all the world which hast
set thy glory aboue the heauens where he sitteth and séeth the troubles and afflictions of his and is néere them when they call vpon him he turneth his face and louing countenance towards them to cheare them and comfort them as for the wicked he beholdeth them a farre off I haue set the Lord saith Dauid alwaies before me for he is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide As if he had said I sée the face of God continually and hée it is that preserueth me from danger so that mine heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope The tongue of men or Angels cannot sufficiently expresse what God is onely the heauens doe shew vnto vs his glory the Sunne the Moone and Starres fixed in the Firmament the Earth the Sea and all that are therein all being the works of his hands This God did Dauid séeke to this God did Dauid pray and hée turned his face vnto him and deliuered him out of all his feare To him I will pray A Praier that God will neuer hide his face from vs. THY fauour O Lord which thou shewest vnto vs weake and vnworthy creatures is as an vnfathomable Sea of loue who becommest as it were a suter vnto vs to come to seeke and to see thy face Thou the most beloued seemest to make loue vnto vs Thou the most mighty creator callest vs vnto thee thy weake creatures And shall we hatefull deformed and vile wretches stand therefore in conceit that wee are louely and beautifull because thou great Iehouah absolute in all perfection doest thus intreat vs Thou saiest Seeke my face And what is it but as if thou saidst Come and see me come and receiue me come and dwell with me It seemeth to be rather the voice of a familiar friend than of the Creator of heauen and earth But when I consider thy greatnesse thy Maiesty and glory thy power and omnipotency I cannot but feare considering what I am and rather desire to hide me from thee as Adam did than to intrude my selfe into thy presence in my deformities and to couer my nakednesse of all goodnesse with the fig leaues of shamefull absence than to come into thy presence being naked of all spirituall vertues Should I come into thy presence O most powerfull and holy Lord God in the bespotted garments of mine owne corruptions Then maist thou well stand with the burning sword of thy fury to keepe me from the sweet Paradice of thy louing and amiable presence amiable in deed to them whom thou makest worthy but most fearefull vnto such as haue not on the wedding garment of the righteousnesse of IESVS CHRIST If thou obserue the selfe-deseruings of the best men and deale with them accordingly who can see thy face and liue Who dare to seeke thy face as of himselfe worthy But sith it pleaseth thee to call me though vnworthy and to accept me as worthy how can I but giue all diligence to attend thy call Should I stand consulting with flesh and bloud whether I should seeke thy face and liue or remaine out of thy fauour and perish eternally Thou saist Seeke my face O that my heart could truly answer and faithfully performe the seeking of thy face for I cannot say of my owne power I will seeke thy face Though my spirituall part bee willing my carnall part is weake I desire yet to seeke and to finde thee for with thee is the well of life Thine eies are vpon them that feare thee and thine eares open vnto their cry Shew me therefore the light of thy countenance and turne thy face towards me that I may see it in thy fauour and louing kindnesse Thy face is no way so liuely to be seene as in the Image of thy Sonne who although he were here in the earth in the forme of a seruant he had the inuisible forme of thine owne Essence and is now ascended and glorified in the heauens endowed with that absolute glory which hee had from the beginning with thee whose visible forme cannot bee seene with mortall eyes whose face yet shineth more gloriously than it did vpon the holy Mount which Peter Iames and Iohn to their vnspeakable comfort beheld with their eies that visible glory of his cannot bee here seene it is hid from vs vntill the time but he vouchsafeth vnto vs his Word wherein we see him through faith O seeke his face euermore my soule seeke his Word beleeue his promises obserue his Will Grant Lord that I may flie sinne and embrace righteousnesse that I may pray continually loue all men beare with the weake bee patient in troubles and thankfull vnto thee for all thy mercies and grant Lord that I may seeke thee while it is to day let mee omit no time in seeking thy face thou saist Seeke my face let me cast off all impediments and clogs of worldly occasions and cast my care vpon thee for thou hast promised to care for mee what thou hast said is true what thou hast promised is Yea and Amen as sure as if I were possessed of what I aske I am in danger I will seeke thy face as Dauid did who found it in the Wildernesse pursued by Saul I haue enemies I will seeke thy face as Eliah did being threatned by Iezabel If I bee in prison I will seeke thy face as Ioseph did who was deliuered and aduanced what misery or danger trouble or affliction soeuer it shall please thee to inflict vpon mee I will seeke thy face so shall I not bee confounded in the perilous time and in whatsoeuer calamity I am be thou neere vnto me and saue me VERSE 9. Hide not thy face from mee nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast beene my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation BY this prayer of Dauid it may appeare that God sometimes hideth his face from his dearest children and séemeth as if hée had cast them away in his anger which yet though it be fearefull it is not small for he continueth not long in his displeasure though the weaknesse of men bée they neuer so sanctified will many times shew it selfe and produce such corrupt fruits as may incense God to displeasure and inforce him to absent himselfe from them for a time in so much as he may seeme to haue left them quite to their owne corrupt wills as it séemeth holy Dauid felt some alteration as it were of Gods dealing towards him that he cried out hide not thy face from me wherby it séemeth Dauid had not that comfort of Gods presence as in times past he had especially when hée was afraid that God had cast him away in displeasure It may be the weaknesse of Dauids faith which is not at all times alike strong could not so well apprehend Gods mercies as before or that he felt his owne infirmities to grow stronger and his spirituall powers weaker so that in the combat betwéene the flesh and
slightly regard for so we may indéed turne his fatherly displeasure into iust reuenge let vs obserue in wisdome the Lords waies how indéed he neuer winketh long at our least sinne for many little sinnes make a great cry and when God heareth their clamour hée turneth away his face as a thing loathsome vnto him as he did from Dauid for a time who féeling it ranne crying againe vnto God O hide not thy face from me O Lord nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure Thou hast beene my succour saith Dauid leaue mee not neither forsake mee O God of my saluation though Dauid found that God had hid his face from him and séemed displeased with him yet he tooke a godly courage through saith to put God in minde of his former fauours towards him saying Thou hast beene my succour and thou changest not thou art still the same and whom thou hast once chosen thou neuer forsakest He may be angry with his dearest children for a time but he endureth not long in his displeasure but when he with rebukes doth chastise a man for his sinne his beauty consumeth and all carnall delights are as it were irkesome vnto him in respect of the losse of Gods fauour Though Dauid séemed much to bee troubled that God did hide his face from him and to withhold his helping hand against his enemies yet he had hope to redéeme his fauour againe because he was before his succour which no doubt hee in his heart acknowledged not to procéed of his owne deseruing but of the meere and frée mercy of God And therfore as hee first fréely chose him without his desert he would not cast him off in regard of his humane frailties incident to all men euen to y e best men but would rather renew maintaine and confirme those diuine graces which it had pleased God before to plant in him and so would returne againe vnto him in loue and turne his face towards him againe and not vtterly to leaue him nor forsake him and why because he was assured that as God had promised to be so he was and would be the God of his saluation for euer for he neuer faileth the performance of his promises to a thousand generations And his gifts and callings are without repentance Therefore if we be chosen of God we cleaue vnto God if we cleaue vnto God God is faithfull to succour vs will neuer leaue vs nor forsake vs. Though he seeme to hide his face from vs a little as he did from Dauid and to be displeased with vs as he seemed to be with him we may with like boldnesse build our assurance of his future helpe as Dauid did by his former succouring of vs And as Dauid held it as an argument of Gods neuer failing help in that hee was ence his succour how much more may such as haue often found him their defence and succour assure themselues that though he hide his face for a while he will neuer faile them nor forsake them But that he will establish his according to his promise y t they may yet liue not be disappointed of his louing fauour again howsoeuer they seeme to be forsaken Hee that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compasse him about on euery side A Prayer that God will be alwaies neere vnto vs in our afflictions and not to hide his face and fauour from vs. O Lord hide not thy face from me and cast mee not away in thy displeasure Thou diddest not in the beginning choose mee for my worthinesse O cast me not off for my weaknesse thou knewest before whereof I was made and that in me neither was nor is any goodnesse at all and therefore if thou shouldest hide thy face from me I could not iustly accuse thee of leuity or lightnesse soone to loue and as soone to reiect but condemne my selfe in that I haue cast away thy feare and haue forgotten and neglected thy due praises for thy former succour and goodnesse towards me I haue runne too farre in the way of sinne and vanity by a lewd law that is in my members rebelling against the law of thy Spirit incensing thee to displeasure against mee wherein thou seemest to hide thy face from me as if thou hadst neuer knowne me to be one of thine yet Lord I know thee and doe acknowledge that thou hast beene my succour thou hast beene a gracious God vnto mee when I haue called vpon thee thou hast heard mee when I haue sought thee thou hast turned thy louing countenance towards me thou hast not left me nor forsaken me therefore Lord forsake me not for euer giue mee not ouer leaue mee not vnto my selfe but keepe mee vnder the shadow of thine owne wings shew me the light of thy countenance againe and as thou hast beene formerly my succour leaue me not now nor forsake me O God of my saluation If thou turn from me altogether I shall altogether perish Remember that I am thine and the worke of thine owne hands destroy me not therefore ô my God that which thy selfe hast made for there is none that can plead or maintaine my cause against thee but as sinne hath cast mee downe thy grace can raise mee vp I haue falne through frailty I may rise againe by faith in thee I haue lost the view of thine amiable countenance by turning my face vnto vanity I may finde it againe if it please thee to turne me to thee and thy face to me I haue beene too negligent when thou saidst Seeke my face I gaue not such eare vnto thy words nor such eye vnto the beauty of thy face as I ought But be thou pleased now to be found when I seek thee I pray thee heare mee now I intreat thee And cast mee not away in displeasure though I haue displeased thee As long as I see thy face I am safe but as soone as thou turnest thy face from me I am troubled When thou leauest me I am left without spirituall hope or helpe and busie my selfe in things that profit not And therefore I cannot but confesse indeed that thou maiest turne away thy face from me a sinner but remember then I became a sinner when thou didst hide thy face from mee Yet haue not I forsaken thee O God neither can I goe from thee wheresoeuer I should couet to hide my selfe No I will not onely not couer to hide my selfe but I come euen as Dauid to Saul to discouer my selfe vnto thee Alas to discouer my selfe when I cannot hide my selfe from thee Though thou mayst hide thy face from me I cannot hide my waies from thee No Lord I seeke thee let mee finde thee Leaue me not nor forsake mee O God of my saluation nor cast me thy poorest and meanest seruant away in thy displeasure But as thou hast euer beene my succour sustaining me releeuing me defending me and comforting me So gracious Lord God in Iesus Christ continue my louing and helping father still And then
or abuse vs to complaine to him and he will redresse it If we bée sicke he knoweth our diseases he is our Physician and knoweth whether life or death be fittest for vs. If we die he will restore vs to life eternall therefore may wée fréely cast our care vpon him for hee careth for vs. Fathers saith Salomon are the glory of their children How much more shall the God of all glory our heauenly Father be a glory to vs his children who hath prouided for vs an inheritance which no man can depriue vs of yea a Kingdome whose glory shall haue no end The remembrance of our futurâ— enioying it is as a most deepe Sea of comfort in this inferiour Kingdome of crosses It cannot bee fadomed with the line of mans capacity what hee hath promised hee will performe for his children therefore may we stand assured and boldly affirme that though the fathers and mothers of the faithfull doe forsake them that God will take charge of them A Prayer that God will shew himselfe our father in all our troubles and afflictions when all other helpe faileth O Gracious Lord God most mercifull and louing Father from whom proceedeth euery good and perfect gift and who of thine owne will hast begotten vs with the Word of truth shew thy selfe a father vnto mee who am depriued of father and mother from all helpe and comfort in this life beset on all sides with troubles dangers and many afflictions relying only vpon thy prouidence shew thy selfe vnto me a father a powerfull and protecting father as thou diddest vnto Ioseph who being depriued of father and mother hated of his brethren sold as a slaue falsly accused sharply imprisoned hauing none to helpe him or to comfort him forsaken of all his friends yet when all helpe failed thou tookest him into thy protection and directedst him in thy waies he became louing vnto thee as a sonne obedient vnto thee as a seruant he waited on thee as vpon a most faithfull father hee called vpon thee and thou heardest him and gauest him the honour of a sonne euen in this life holinesse and honour testifying vnto him that thou his father hadst a respect vnto his faith constancy and wrongs neuer leauing him nor forsaking him to teach vs O Lord faithfully to depend vpon thy mercy power and prouidence in whatsoeuer danger I was left vnto thee as soone as I was borne and thou like a most louing father tookest me vp hast hitherunto kept me O forsake mee not for if thou my father leaue me and forsake mee who will or can take charge of me I am many waies afflicted and full of sorrow not so much for my troubles as for that I haue sinned and offended thee so louing a God as thou Hast beene vnto me euer vnto this day but now louing Father I seeme destitute of thy fauour of thy releeuing hand I am he â—ily oppressed and what I endure is not hid from thee and thou onely knowest how to releeue me my father my mother and all my friends haue forsaken me Dauid being thus destitute he resorted vnto thee confessing that when his father and his mother forsooke him thou tookest him vp and is thyr fatherly affection dead and discontinued in Dauid No no louing art thou still powerfull art thou still and helpfull art thou still for thy faithfulnesse and thy truth and thy power and thy prouidence are for euer and happy yea most happy is he that hath thee his releeuing and helping father for nothing is wanting to him that is thus cast vpon thee He hath not only the promise but the assurance of thy presence and loue both in this life and the life to come Yet gracious Father among all men it goeth hardest with thine owne children often troubled much abused deeply distressed falsly accused scoffingly derided and many crosses cruell calamities and great afflictions follow them I am enforced to vndergoe the burthen of infinite trialls as if thou hadst not onely not taken mee vp but vtterly cast mee off And were it not that I truly know thee to bee my father in that thou so fatherly yet sharply correctest me I could not but faint but thy grace sustaineth mee and doth inwardly comfort mee else should I vtterly despaire O my father take mee into thy protection leaue me not forsake mee not for I am brought very low and there is none that careth for mee there is none willing to adde any comfort but sorrow vnto my soule there is neither father nor mother neither friend nor helper to commiserate mine estate but thou whom I only trust for thy promises tend to mine encouragement to cast my care vpon thee who hast willed all that are oppressed to come to thee and be eased But Lord what booteth it mee to seeke thee when I cannot finde thee to pray vnto thee when thou seemest to refuse to heare me Haue I so deepely offended thee that neither my repentance can pacifie thee the mediation of thy Sonne reconcile thee nor my faithfull prayers preuaile with thee Is thy mercy come to an end Hast thou no more blessings for thy children O wretch that I am Why doe I thus reason with thee am I able to ouer-rule thee with my words Shall I teach thee what thou shouldest doe No Lord I only bewray mine ignorance by my words which can no further preuaile with thee than thou in thy wisdome and mercy thinkest fit for mee Therefore will I close my lips I will keepe silence and wait both thy pleasure and leisure for thou hast a time to be angry and a time to hee pacified I will rest with patience and commit my selfe vnto thee in obedience and if thou lay a greater burthen vpon mee then yet I beare if thou suffer mee to sinke and to bee cleane ouerwhelmed with more bitter waters than yet I feele I will yet trust in thee though my body perish and all outward helpe faile mee preserue my soule O Lord for thou art the father of it and respectest it farre aboue my carnall parâ—â— yet both make but one body yet may the one prosper when the other may perish But I know that such is thy care of both that rather than thou wilt permit me vtterly to bee confounded thou wilt euen send from Heauen and saue me Be it vnto me euen as thou wilt O God my strength and my saluation VERSE 11. Teach mee thy way O Lord and lead me in a right path because of mine enemies IT is the property of an enemy to bée alwaies prying into the life of him hee hates and to obserue whatsoeuer faults hée doth commit though he himselfe bée quilty of more and to publish and proclaime them to the world to his vttermost disgrace And therefore it behooueth all men especially a man that hath enemies as Dauid had to looke vnto his waies lest by the errors of his life they take aduantage and so make his cause otherwise good séeme the worst
desires to die he destroyed them in the Wildernes in his heauy displeasure The frailty of a faithlesse man is great he can beare no troubles hee can endure no afflictions with any kinde of patience because hée hath no true and sound vnderstanding of God and his prouidence He thinkes if he prosper and by his naturall policy and meanes can preuent dangers and troubles or hauing them can vse sinister meanes to ease them hée ascribes it to his owne carnall wisdome but when that preuaileth not but that hée is pinched and déeply plunged in distresses and miseries which he cannot ease then hee begins to faint and to murmur and cry Who shall giue mee flesh to eat How shall I get mony to supply my wants Would God I had died when I was young would God I were dead and the like The troubles and afflictions of the wicked and the godly differ not in the outward shew the wicked may bee poore so may the most godly they may haue like outward crosses and afflictions but their bearing of them is vnequall the wicked as before is said faint and fume and murmur and grudge at euery small crosse or affliction and although they heare the promises of God who is ready to helpe yet they beléeue them not They can bee assured of nothing that hangs vpon Gods promises they would think and speake and obiect against God as that Prince in Samaria did when Elisha foretold from the mouth of God plenty to that distressed and besieged City Though the Lord said hee would make windowes in the Heauen could this come to passe So incredulous are men without sound faith that once downe they thinke they shall neuer rise once in trouble they shall neuer haue ease and this is the cause that men séeming faithfull faint vnder their crosses and despaire in their afflictions but it is otherwise with the truly faithfull indéed who know by the foretelling of the Spirit of God in his Word that troubles attend the godly as the shadow the body and therefore prepare themselues before hand for them and reioyce in them in as much as they are partakers here of Christs sufferings So they are likewise assured that when his glory shall appeare they also shall appeare with him in glory yet the most faithfull may haue a kinde of fearefulnesse and fainting for a time but not such as shall preuaile but they will soone ouercome all such faithlesse qualmes by a liuely apprehension of Gods ready helpe through faith and then they may indéed say as Dauid did I should haue fainted except I had beleeued to see the goodnesse of the Lord in the land of the liuing There is none of himselfe so strong but when troubles and afflictions come will faint if faith in God faile them A Prayer that God will not forsake vs in our troubles and that our faith faile not HAd I not taken hold O God of thy louing promises and beleeued thy Word I should haue fainted and yet should faint vnder my troubles if I did not beleeue that thou O Lord knowest my troubles and that mine afflictions are not hid from thee thou hast promised to be a refuge for the poore a refuge in due time euen in affliction keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye according to thy promise hide me vnder the shadow of thy wings from the wicked that oppresse me I haue called vpon thee in my troubles O Lord and cried vnto thee my God and thou hast heard me and holpen mee yea when I haue beene ready vtterly to haue fainted I haue cried vnto thee and thou hast redeemed mee and deliuered me Those mercies of thine O Lord remember still renue them euermore towards mee for I stand in continuall need of thy continuall presence Thy goodnesse is great O Lord which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee and done to them that trust in thee euen before the sonnes of men I haue felt thy fauour and formerly tasted of thy loue How could I but haue fainted but that I still beleeued to bee partaker of thy goodnesse and mercy in my troubles Thou O Lord art my secret place thou preseruest me in trouble and compassest me about with ioyfull deliuerance therefore will I not faint knowing that thine eies are vpon mee and thine eare open vnto my prayers I trust in thee I will not bee afraid what man can doe vnto me Thou Lord hast said concerning the faithfull hee shall call vpon mee and I will heare him so that both my prayers and thy hearing are both thine owne gifts Nay thou addest further Lord I will bee with him in trouble I will deliuer him and glorifie him O why should I feare then or faint seeing thou art pleased to be with me in my troubles as to take part as it were with me of mine afflictioÌ„s wonderfull and vnspeakable O Lord is the extent of thy power and wonderfull the limits of thy loue impossible it is to finde out the depth of thy compassions towards thy children thou hearest vs before we call thou giuest before wee aske thou helpest vs before wee cry thou giuest vs power to call thou teachest vs what to aske and thou euen meetest vs when we are but euen comming vnto thee Thus gracious hast thou euer beene O Lord thus gracious thou art and thus gracious wi lt thou shew thy selfe vnto them that beleeue to see and taste of thy goodnesse euen vnto the end of the world and as thou art gracious so art thou absolute in wisdome thou knowest how to releeue the distressed and how to comfort the afflicted yea when they are ready to faint and to giue ouer any more to call for helpe being as it were hoarse with crying as Dauid was thou giuest them of thy water of life and it reuiueth the fainting soules and strengthneth the weake spirits that gâ—oane vnder the burthen of any calamity or trouble Strengthen mee therefore with thy grace O Lord I shall not then faint nor feare for my sure defence is in thee who wilt in time bring the malice of mine enemies to an end and as I beleeue so shall I see thy goodnesse in the land of the liuing for thou that hast promised it art iust of thy promises and powerfull to performe what thou hast said Therefore euen here I doe meerely beleeue to receiue at thy hands free release and pardon of all that hath beene the ground of my troubles and cause of my miseries Grant mee Lord freedome from mine enemies and restitution of what I haue beene depriued of by any of them then shall they finde that I haue not onely not fainted but beleeued to see and haue seene thy goodnesse O Lord euen here in the Land of the liuing where euen mine enemies and my soes shall witnesse that I haue not beleeued in thee my God in vaine VERSE 14. Hope in the Lord be strong and he shall comfort thine heart and trust in the Lord. THis
within the same the fountaine of all perfect hope the giuer of patience and maintainer of our strength thou knowest my troubles and beholdest mine afflictions and what and how many they are and how burthensome vnto mee thy weake creature in stead therefore of my weake ability giue mee thy preuailing strength giue me hope in thee let mee be strong in thee let my comfort be of thee and let me truly trust in thee then shall I with patience beare these and whatsoeuer troubles it shall please thee to lay vpon me Arme mee with faith O Lord that I trusting in thy defence may not sinke vnder the weight of my troubles importable to flesh and bloud thou hast promised to bee the God of my saluation so shall nothing hurt mee my glory so nothing shall disgrace me my rocke and my strength so nothing shall moue mee nor remoue mee from my trust in thee I am thine saue mee keepe me as the apple of thine eye hide me vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings then shall no enemy annoy mee no trouble dismay mee nor affliction or feare shall cast mee downe by thee I shall withstand or escape the fury force fraud of all my foes by thee I shall bee timely releeued in all my necessities and in thee shall I bee comforted in all mine afflictions I will not feare thou art my God I will not faint thou art the comfort of my heart Let mee still taste of thy goodnesse and behold thy saluation in hope let mee hold fast by thee in faith let me be strong in thee with comfort let mee reioyce and be glad in thee Continue thy mercies towards mee O Lord for my soule trusteth in thee knowing and confessing that I haue no other Comforter but thee no Defender but thee nor any Helper but thee Forsake me not therefore O my God in my greatest need send from Heauen and saue me for all power belongeth vnto thee therefore doth my soule cleaue vnto thee it longeth and thirsteth for thy saluation O let mee plentifully taste how sweet thy goodnesse is thy goodnesse appeared in my creation more in my redemption but most in mine election thou formedst me in the wombe thou broughtest me thence giuing me hope euen from my Mothers brest and I was euen then cast vpon thy prouidence therefore leaue me not nor be farre from mee now trouble is befalne mee but as thou hast taken charge of me from the beginning so continue still to defend me for I haue none besides thee to helpe me therefore cast I my burthen vpon thee for thou hast taken vpon thee to nourish me In thee O Lord I trust let mee neuer be ashamed nor confounded deliuer me according to thy promise for thou art my hope O Lord in thee haue I trusted from my youth Let my prayers O Lord enter into thy presence heare me and helpe me let nothing hinder the worke of thy mercies towards me not mine vnworthinesse O Lord but accept me worthy in thy most worthy then shall not the weaknesse of my faith diminish my hope nor extenuate my strength nor depriue me of my comfort in thee but my faith hope strength and comfort shall increase more and more and patience shalâ— haue it perfect working in me to wait vntill thine appointed time come for my deliuery out of some of my troubles for I endure many O Lord and the least of them of weight more than sufficient to presse mee downe vnlesse thou support mee yet I acknowledge them easie in comparison of my euill deseruings O pardon mine offences cleanse me of my sinnes and make mee vpright in thy waies then shall I with perfect patience beare my troubles and rest in hope vntill it shall please thee to ease me of my troubles or to bring them to an end which grant gracious Lord God in Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be honour power and praise for euermore Amen A Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes reformation of life and comfort in affliction O My God my God hide not thy face from mee stop not thine eares at my prayers and refuse not to heare the words of my complaint though I cannot but confesse O Lord against my selfe that by reason of my sins I haue deserued thy displeasure and that in so high a measure as if thou shouldest vtterly confound me yet were there no iniustice in thee for the euills that I haue committed and the good duties I haue omitted in thy seuere iustice deserue the same but Lord looke not so narrowly into my waies as to obserue and register against me euery sinne committed and euery duty omitted by me knowing that I am by nature corrupt and sinfull as all my fathers were Lord what were Abraham Izaak Iaacob Iob Noah Lot Moses Eliah or Dauid though a man chosen after thine owne heart Paul that elect vessell but men by nature carnall and euen sold vnder sinne vntill thou of thine owne free mercy vouchsafedst to infuse heauenly wisdome into their hearts and diuine graces into their soules vntill thou diddest fully season them aboue others by thy holy Spirit yet Lord thou knowest that euen these select vessels of thine were not without their owne naturall infirmities They stood not vprightly by their owne strength but by thee if they had had will and power of and in themselues to worke righteousnes they might haue had whereof to boast but not with thee but being only supported by thee they gaue the sole glory to thee Seeing then gracious Father that all our most godly fore-fathers had their defects by nature and their perfection through thy grace I being corrupt as they were by nature borne corrupt and brought forth the fruits of corruption vntill thou begattest them anew by thy Spirit what differ I from them by nature And therefore Lord as they became holy not of themselues but by thee so canst thou make me holy as they were holy by the same grace There is none O Lord that by his owne wisdome is capable of that wisdome whereby to know thee aright how much lesse able by his owne power to performe that obedience which may make him accepted of thee If then it be as indeed it is of thine owne free mercy and grace that any man becomes wise in thee and righteous before thee who hath cause to boast of his owne merit Or who needs despaire of his owne vnworthinesse seeing thou art equally mercifull to all whom thou hast called and accepted into the number of them that shall be saued O send downe send downe from Heauen that thy sanctifying Spirit into my heart that that liuely faith whereby our most godly fore-fathers were accepted of thee may be more and more inkindled and breake forth into a holy flame of godlinesse and zeale and my whole man be changed into the same image of sanctity which appeared in them in whom thou most delightest then thou my God now deseruedly offended with me for
my sinnes past shalt bee so fully reconciled vnto me againe though not by my best renued workes which are and will be for euer here imperfect but through the merits and mediation of thine owne and onely Sonne whose death is my life and thy mercies in him my saluation This is my hope O Lord though I bee yet in the estate of corruption and enforced to vndergoe infinite infirmities of body and minde by nature Thou who art the God of Abraham and of all our godly fore-fathers dead to the world art no lesse the same God vnto those that are thine yet liuing in the world And as they already dissolued are now in glory with thee in the Heauens so confirme my faith in thee and order my waies that I being likewise dissolued through Christ my Redeemer may be also glorified with them and with them giue glory to thee Make me therefore gracious Father to abound here as they here abounded in all spirituall graces and heauenly vertues that I may finde thee a like louing father vnto me as thou wert a father vnto Abraham and a helping God as thou wert vnto Iaacob and then shall I offer euen here the sacrifice of vnfained praise vnto thy name and make mine humble prayers vnto thee in his name whose death and mediation thou acceptest aboue all other whatsoeuer sacrifices O accept that his sacrifice made once for all for all beleeuers it is sufficient Lord to purge me from all my sins that formerly haue offended thee and to keepe mee from future wilfully displeasing thee My sinnes O Lord I doe confesse haue worthily moued thee to correct me I feele thy rod but the rod of a louing father not to confound me but to confirme me not to destroy me but to saue me O let me not faint vnder thy correcting hand which thou hast promised shall be no more heauily laid vpon mee than I shall be able to beare Let not therefore Lord my faith faile me but let perfect patience haue it effectuall working in me then whatsoeuer it shall please thee to appoint mee to beare I shall beare it for my heart through thy grace is prepared to obey thee Thou hast beene euer my helper since I was borne thou hast vpholden me sustained and relieued mee O forsake me not now when all carnall helpe faileth me There is no certaine hope in the helpe of man though he promise he may be vnable or vnwilling to performe if he yeeld me helpe it is of thee and among thy promised meanes of helpe and nothing hindreth the performance of thy promise of helping mee but the weaknesse of my faith in not stedfastly beleeuing mine impatience in not willingly bearing and my want of liuely hope in not contentedly waiting thine owne good time in effecting what thou hast promised Yet I haue hope louing Father that comming thy helpe will come and that in a time most cōuenient in thine owne wisdome although through mine infirmity I thinke it long but when it commeth it shall be as a Well not only of releeuing but of liuing water springing vp not onely to my corporall comfort but to my spirituall eternall glory In the meane time O Lord let mee euermore taste of thy goodnesse that I faint not vnder the burthen of my troubles but as thou hast worthily corrected me so vouchsafe mercifully to relieue me In hope and assurance of this thy mercy O Lord I commend and commit my selfe my soule and body vnto thy fatherly disposing for thou hast promised to take care of me therefore cast I my care vpon thee not as carelesse of mine owne duty but in a liuely faith going forward waiting thy leisure and thy good pleasure when thou wilt come and how thou wilt deliuer me O Lord make no long tarrying Amen An effectuall Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes O Lord when I doe consider the account that I am to make for the time which I haue so sinfully spent in this life and how I haue walked here as in a Wildernesse of all impieties I feele my conscience burthened with so heauy a weight of feare and trembling that I am cast downe as into a gulph of ineuitable danger and know not which way to turne mee with any hope of comfort if I turne me to the consideration of my best workes I finde them rather to aggrauate than to extenuate my feare if I appeale vnto thee as thou art a seuere Iudge I shall be condemned in thy iust iudgement I therfore as the prodigall son doe vpon the knees of mine vnfained heart fall downe before thee imploring mercy though I deserue it not but Lord I know that in thy seuerest iustice thou art accustomed to remember mercy and in thy hottest displeasure thou shewest compassion euen to greatest sinners euen vpon their vnfained desire to repent how much more vpon their actuall and sincere repentance especially of such as through a liuely faith take hold of Christ who hath taken vpon him to stand betweene thy iustice and a sinner O accept his death and merits for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes who by reason of them am become deepely indangered and indebted vnto thee And if thou shouldest exact the vttermost farthing at my hands I were neuer able to make the least satisfaction and the more hardly can I answer the committing of so many sinnes and the omitting of so many good duties by how much I haue receiued a great measure yea many talents of grace and a great portion of heauenly knowledge at thy hands which I should haue vsed not onely to the good of mine owne soule and comfort of mine owne conscience but to the increase of spirituall knowledge in others whom I should haue endeuoured to haue drawne to the obedience of thy will by the example of mine obedience Alas good Father such hath beene the neglect of my duty in this behalfe that I haue not onely laid these heauenly treasures vnder the earthly corruption of mine owne heart but haue laid out the wicked dregs of originall sin and haue therewith gained vnto my selfe infinite iniquities and innumerable actuall sinnes in so much as iniustice thou maist condemne me as a most vnprofitable disposer of thy manifold graces and the more good Father by how much I haue not onely sinned my selfe and that oftentimes as it were with a high hand but in alluring and stirring vp others to sinne by mine example nay Lord many times by mine owne instigation and thereby the more dangerously drawne downe thy displeasure vpon my selfe and them that haue sinned by the example of my sinne Lord what shall I say to excuse me What shall I bring vnto thee to appease thee If I say the corruption of mine owne nature prouoked mee and I did sinne thou hast commanded mee to mortifie the deeds of my corrupt flesh by thy Spirit If I pleade that the world allured mee and I did sinne thou hast forbidden mee to loue the world or the things in the
world if I say Satan inticed me and I did sinne thou hast commanded me to resist Satan and his tentations so that though I plead with Adam that my Heuah my carnall part that thou gauest me did moue me and I did sinne it will be no excuse for mee if I say the world allured or Satan tempted me it booteth me not and therefore Father I cannot but freely confesse against my selfe that I euen I haue sinned and done all these euills against thee against thee O Lord I haue sinned against my selfe and haue deseruedly stirred vp thy displeasure against me and in thy displeasure is death This this O Lord is the gaine that my sinnes haue gotten not onely a dissolution of the soule and body due to all flesh but the death of body and soule due onely to impenitent sinners among whom I euen I acknowledge my selfe worthy to bee numbred without thy mercy For who hath power Lord by his owne corrupt nature to repent By nature Lord I sinne How can I by the same sinfull part repent of that wherein nature it selfe delighteth A fountaine bringeth not forth bitter water and sweet How then Lord can I bring forth true repentance out of a corrupt heart as it is corrupt Yet Lord though my heart bee corrupt by nature being made in part sincere and holy by thy grace it shall so farre forth worke repentance as is thy grace powerfull and effectuall in me So that though sinne by nature dwell in me by thy grace may sanctity also as Esau and Iaakob in Rebeccahs wombe striuing for superiority Therefore good Father as Esau the elder gaue place and became seruant to Iaakob So let sinne which is in me the first borne giue place in mee vnto sanctity And let sanctity haue the sole dominion in my heart then shall my heart bring forth the good fruits of a godly life though while I liue here the weeds of corruption will also grow but Lord let them not ouergrow the good seed of thy spirit but let them wither and die before they grow vp to beare any fruit vnto death But feed me now at the last with the most wholesome fruits of thy spirit and giue me grace to expresse my sorrow for my sins that I haue done with an inward relenting heart grieued that euer I contriued sin in my inward thoughts that euer I acted it or consented vnto it Lord see and behold my sorrow for my sins if it bring not forth sincere repentance water it so with thy mollifying spirit that it may worke in mee that which may testifie that I repent indeed so that sinne may become loathsome vnto me and sanctitie sweet And although while I carrie about me this vnholy lump of earth my best exercises cannot but sauour of the fountaine from whence they flow if of corruption corruptly if of thy spirit heauenly O season therefore my heart O Lord my soule and whole man with thy spirit that whatsoeuer I thinke speake or doe may sauour from aboue that I may feele in my heart and soule a true and liuely detestation of whatsoeuer sauoureth of the loue of this world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life Giue me strength to performe all perfect obedience in all righteousnesse euen to the forgetting of sinne And yet to remember my sinnes past and to repent them that thou my louing Father before whose presence I presently stand maiest bee pleased to turne thy louing and fatherly countenance in mercy towards me in the merits and mediation of Christ my Reedeemer Let these mine humble petitions O Lord ascend vp vnto thee and let the infallible tokens of thy mercies appeare towards mee that my heart now cast downe for feare of thy iudgements may bee againe lifted vp feeling the inward testimonies of thy mercies in Christ. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory A Praier for the morning with thankes for rest and safetie O Father mercifull and euermore louing in Iesus Christ who this night past hast beene a powerfull and prouident Watch-man ouer me euen when by the deadnesse of sleepe I was depriued euen of sense care or feare of any danger which yet without thy preseruation and prouidence might suddenly haue seized vpon me and that by infinite meanes For Lord thou knowest what a malicious and watchfull Aduersary we haue who is attended on by a troupe of infernall Ministers that hourely seeke by some meanes to surprize vs Besides the corruption of our owne nature that is alwaies working in vs sinfull thoughts vncleane desires and most vngodly affections mouing vs in our night-wakings in stead of holy meditation and godly praier to purpose the committing of infinite sorts of sinnes when we enter into the day hauing no meanes to preuent the execution of most sinfull actions but by thine owne most gracious working holy feare and godly obedience in our hearts Wherefore louing Father I come this morning into thy holy presence from which I cannot hide mee and vpon the knees of my heart I vnfainedly intreat thee that as it hath pleased thee this night to preserue me and giuing me comfortable rest and sleepe in safetie so thou wilt be pleased to watch ouer mee this day that no danger befall me either in body soule or any thing belonging vnto me But that I may be so led vnder the pauilion of thy protection guided by thy spirit that neither in thought word or deed I may offend thee endeuouring to performe all holy and heauenly duties vnto thee my God who for all thy mercies requirest onely pure and sincere obedience which is also thy gift for none by his owne power can thinke a good thought much lesse Lord worke any thing pleasing vnto thee but the contrary therefore disclaime I all mine owne merit and cleaue onely vnto thy mercy in Iesus Christ Humbly beseeching thee for his sake to take charge of me this day preuent the malicious intentions of Satan and his ministers mortifie mine owne sinfull affections and infuse into my heart all diuine graces that my waies this day may nothing sauour of sinne but of sanctitie And as I haue by thee safely passed this night so I may begin continue and end this day and all the daies of my life in thy faith feare and obedience And that in all mine actions whereunto I am bound by my place and calling I may so walke and so performe them as that thy blessingâ— may accompany whatsoeuer I endeuour Giue me Lord an vpright heart asking and let me euer receiue counsell from thee to be guided in whatsoeuer I purpose that so prospering the glory may bee thine to whom all power wisdome strength and glory belongeth Amen A Praier to be vsed before a man goes to his rest LOrd as it hath now pleased thee to bring mee in safetie to the end of this day and hast therein by many blessings testified thy fatherly care