I may eate with those that eate I mourne with those that mourne No hand more open to the cause then mine and in their families none prayes longer and with louder zeale Thus when the opinion of a holy life hath cryed the goodnesse of my conscience up my trade can lack no custome my wares can want no price my words can need no credit my actions can lack no praise If I am covetous it is interpreted providence if miserable it is counted temperance if mâ—lancholly it is construed godly sorrow if merry it is voted spirituall joy if I be rich t is thought the blessing of a godly life if poor supposed the fruit of conscionable dealing if I be well spoken of it is the merit â—f holy conversation if ill it is the malice of Malignants thus I saile with every winde and have my end in all conditions This Cloake in Summer keepes mee coole in winter warme and hides the nasty Bag of all my secret lusts Under this Cloake I walke in publique fairely with applause and in private sinne securely without offence and officiate wisely without discovery I compasse Sea and land to make a Proselyte and no sooner made but he makes mee At a Fast I cry Geneva and at a Feast I cry Rome If I bee poore I counterfeit abundance to save my credit if rich I dissemble povertie to save charges I most frequent Schismaticall Lectures which I find most profitable from whence learning to divulge and maintaine new doctrines they maintaine mee in suppers thrice a weeke I use the helpe of a lie sometimes as a Religious Stratagem to uphold the Gospell and I colour oppression with Gods judgement executed upon the wicked Charity I hold an extraordinary dutie therefore not ordinarily to bee performed VVhat I openly reprove abroad for my owne profit that I secretly act at home for my owne pleasure BUt stay I see a hand-writing in my heart lamps my soule 't is characterd in these saâ— words Wâ—e hee to you Hypoerites Match 23. 13. Job 20. 5. The triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment Job 15. 34. The Congregation of the hypocrites shall bee desolate Psal. 11. 9. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour but through knowledge shall the just bee delivered Luke 12. 1. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisie Job 36. 13. The hypocrites in heart heape up wrath they die in their youth and their life is amongst the uncleane Salvian de Gubern Dei l. 4. The hypocrites love not those things they professe and what they pretend in words they disclaime in practise their sinne is the more damnable because ushered in with pretence of pietie having the greater guilt because it obtaines a godly repute Hieron. Ep. Endeavour rather to be then to be thought holy for what profits it thee to bee thought to be what thou art not and that man doubles his guilt who is not so holy as the world thinkes him and counterseits that holinesse which be bath not HOw like a living Sepulcher did I appeare without beautified with gold and rich invention within nothing but a loathed corruption So long as this faire Sepulcher was clos'd it past for a curious Monument of the Builders Art but being opened by these spirituall Keyes 't is nothing but a Receptacle of offensive putrefaction In what a nasty dungeon hast thou my soule so long remain'd unstifled How wert thou wedded to thy owne corruptions that could'st endure thy unsavory filthinesse The world hated mee because I seemed good God hated mee because I onely seemed good I had no friend but my selfe and this friend was my bosome enemy O my soule is there water enough in Jordan to cleanse thee Hath Gilead Balme enough to heale thy superannuated sores I have finned I am convinced I am convicted Gods mercy is above Dimensions when sinners have not sinn'd beyond Repentance Art thou my soule truly penitent for thy 〈◊〉 Thou hast free Interest in his mercy fall then my soule before his Mercy seate and he will crown thy Pemitence with his pardon His Prayer O God before the brightnesse of whose All-discerning eye the secrets of my heart appeare before whose cleare omniscience the very entralls of my soule lie open who art a God of righteousnesse and truth and lovest uprightnesse in the inward parts How can I choose but feare to thrust into thy glorious presence or move my sinfull lips to call upon that Name which I so often have dishonored and made a Cloake to hide the basenesse of my close transgressions Lord when I look into the progresse of my filthy life my guilty conscience calls mee to so strict account and reflects to mee so large an Inventory of my presumptuous sinnes that I commit a greater sinne in thinking them more infinite then thy mercy But Lord thy mercies have no date nor is thy goodnesse circumscribed The gates of thy compassion are alwayes open to a broken heart and promise entertainement to a contrite spirit the burthen of my sinnes is grievous and the remembrance of my hypocrisie is intolerable I have finned against thy Majesty with a high hand but I repent mee from the bottome of an humble heart As thou hast therefore given mee sorrow for my sinnes so crowne that gift in the freenesse of remission Bee fully reconcil'd to mee through the all-sufficient merits of thy Sonne my Saviour and seale in my afflicted heart the full assurance of thy gratious favour Bee thou exalted O God above the heavens and let mee praise thee with a single heart cleanse thou my inward parts O God and purifie the closet of my polluted soule Fix thou my heart O thou searcher of all secrets and keepe my affections wholly to thee Remove from mee all by and base respects that I may serve thee with an upright spirit Take not the word of truth out of my mouth nor give mee over to deceitfull lips Give mee an inward reverence of thy Majestie that I might openly confesse thee in the truth of my sinceritie Bee thou the onely object and end of all my actions and let thy honour bee my great râ—ward Let not the hopes of filthy lucre or the praise of men incline me to thee neither let the pleasures of the world nor the feares of any losse entice mee from thee Keepe from mee those judgements my hypocrisie hath deserved and strengthen my resolution to abhorre my former life Give me strength O God to serve thee with a perfect heart in the newnesse of life that I may bee delivered from the old man and the snares of death Then shall I praise thee with my entire affections and glorifie thy name for ever and everâ— The Ignorant mans faltering YOu tell mee and you tell me that I must bee a good man and serve God and doe his will and so I doe for ought I know I am sure I am as good as God has made
affections in owe Such Toyes may work upon their timerous apprehensions when wholesome precepts faile and find no audience in their youthfull eares Tell not mee of Hell Devills or of damned soules to enforce me from those pleasures which they nickname sinne What tell ye mee of Law My soule is sensible of Evangelicall precepts without the needlesse and uncorrected thunder of the killiug Letter or the terrible periphrase of roaring Boanarges the teadiousnesse of whose language still determines in damnation wherein I apprehend God farre more mercifull then his Ministers T is true I have not led my life according to the Pharisaicall squire of their opinions neither have I found judgements according to their prophecies whereby I must conclude that God is wonderfully mercifull or they wonderfully mistaken How often have they thundred â—orment against my voluptuous life And yet I feele no paine How bitterly have they threatned shame against the vaunts of my vaine-glory Yet find I honor How fiercely have they preach'd destruction against my cruelty and yet I live VVhat Plagues against my swearing yet not infected What diseases against my drunkennesse and yet sound What danger against procrastination yet how often hath God been found upon the deathbed What damnation to Hypocrites yet who more safe What stripes to the ignorant yet who more scotfree What povertie to the slothfull yet themselves prosper VVhat falls to the proud yet stand they surest VVhat curses to the Covetous yet who richer VVhat judgements to the lascivious yet who more pleasure VVhat vengeance to the prophane the censorious the revengefull yet none live more unscourg'd VVho deeper branded then the Lyerâ—â— yet who more favor'd Who more threatned then the presumptuous yet who lesse punished Thus are wee foold and kept in awe with the strict fancies of those Pulpit-men whose opinions have no ground but what they gaine from popularitie Thus are wee frighted from the libertie of Nature by the politick Chimeraes of Religion whereby we are necessitated to the observing of those Laws whereof we find a greater necessitie of breaking BUt stay my soule there is a voyce that darts into my troubled thoughts which saith Because thou hast not kept my Lawes all the curses in this booke shall overtake thee till thou be destraoed Deut. 29. Deut. 29. 27. And the anger of the Lord was kindâ—ed against the land to bring upon it all the Curses that are written in this book 2 Chron. 34. 24. Thus saith the Lord Behold I will bring will upon this place and upon the inhabitants thereof even all the curses that are written in the booke Deut. 28. 15. But if thou wilt not hearken unto the vâ—yee of the Lord thy God to observe and doe all his Commandements and his statutes which I command thee this day all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee Bernard It is certaine thou must die and uncertaine when how or where seeing death is alwayes at thy 〈◊〉 Thou must if thou be wise â—lwayes be ready to die Bernard To commit a sinne is an humane frailtie to persist in it is a devillish obstinacy Bernard There are some who hope in the Lord but yet in vaine because they onely smooth and flatter themselves that God is mercifull but repent not of their sinne such confidence is vaine and foolish and leads to destruction PResumption is a sinne whereby wee depend upon Gods mercies without any warrant from Gods Word It is as great a sinne O my soule to hope for Gods mercy without Repentance as to distrust Gods mercy upon Repentance In the first thou wrongst his Iustice In the last his mercy O my presumptuous soule let not thy prosperitie in sinning encourage thee to sinne lest climbing without Warrant into his mercy thou fall without mercy into his judgement Be not deceived a long Peace makes a bloody Warre and the abuse of continued mercies makes a sharpe judgement Patience when slighted turnes to fury but ill-requited starts to vengeance Thinke not that thy unpunisht sinne is hidden from the eye of heaven or that Gods judgements will delay for ever The stalled Oxe that wallowes in his plenty and waxes wanton with ease is not farre from slaughter The Ephod O my desperate soule is long a filling but once being full the leaden cover must goe on and then it hurries on the wings of the wind Advise thee then and whilst the Lampe of thy prosperity lasts provide thee for the evill day which being come repentance will bee out of date and all thy prayers will finde no eare His Prayer GRatious God whose mercy is unsearchable and whose goodnesse is unspeakable I the unthankfull object of thy continued favours and therefore the miserable subject of thy continuall wrath humbly present my self-made misery before thy sacred Majestie Lord when I look upon the horridnesse of my sin shame strikes me dumb But when I turne mine eie upon the infinitnesse of thy mercy I am emboldned to poure forth my soule before thee as in the one finding matter for confusion so in the other Arguments for compassion Lord I have sinned grievously but my Saviour hath satisfied abundantly I have trespassed continually but he hath suffered once for all Thou hast numbred my transgressions by the haires of my head but his mercies are innumerable like the starres of the skie My sinnes in greatnesse are like the mountaines of the earth 〈◊〉 his mercy is greater then the heavens Oh if his mercy were not greater then my sinnes my sinnes were impardonable for his therefore and â—â—y mercies sake cover my sinnes and pardon my transgressions make my head a fountain of â—â—eares and accept my contrition O thou Well-â—â—ring of all mercie strengthen my resolution â—â—at for the time to come I may detest all sinne â—â—crease a holy anger in me that I may revenge my selfe upon my selfe for displeasing so gratious a Father Fill my heart with a feare of thy judgments and sweeten my thoughts with the meditation of thy mercies Goe forwards O my God and perfect thy own work in me and take the glory of thy owne free goodnesse furnish my mouth with the prayses of thy name and replenish my tongue with continuall thanksgiving Thou haâ—â— promised pardon to those that repent behold I repent Lord quicken my Repentance Thou mightst have made me a terrible example of thy justice and struck â—â—ee into hell in the height of my presumption but thou hast made me capable of thy mercies and an object of thy 〈◊〉 for thou art a gratious God of long-suffering and â—low to anger thy name is wonderfull and thy mercies incomprehensible Thou art onely worthy to bee praised Let all the people praise thee O God O let all the people praise thee Let Angels and Archangels praise thee Let the Congregations of Saints praise thee Let thy works praise thee Let every thing that breath's praise thee for ever and for ever Amen FINIS
being done Ride on with thy Honour and create a name to live with faire Eternitie Enjoy thy purchas'd Glory as the merit of thy renowned Actions and let thy memory entaile it to succeeding Generations Make thy owne game and if thy conscience check thee correct thy saucy Conscience till shee stand as mute as metamorphos'd Niobe Feare not the frownes of Princes or the imperious hand of various Fortune Thou art too bright for the one to obscure and too great for the other to cry downe BUt harke my soule I heare a voyce that thunders in mine eare I will change their glory into shame Hos. 4. 7 Psal. 49. 20. Man that is borne in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish Prov. 25. 27. It is not good to eate too much Hony so for men to search their owne glory is not glory Jer. 9. 23. Thus saith the Lord Let not the wise man glory in his wisedome neither let the mightie man glory in his might nor let the rich man glory in his ricâ—es But let him that glorieth glory in this that hee understandeth and knoweth mee that I am the Lord Gal. 5. 26. Let us not bee desirous of vain-glory c. St. August The vaine glory of the world is a deceitfull sweetnesse an unfruitfull labour a perpetuall feare a dangerous bravery begun without providence and finished not without repentance St. Greg. He that makes transitory honour the reward of a good worke sets eternall glory at a low rate VAine-glory is a Froth which blowne off discovers a great want of measure Canst thou O my soule bee guiltie of such an emptinesse and note bee challeng'd Canst thou appeare in the searching eye of heaven and not expect to be cast away deceive not thy selfe O my soule nor flatter thy selfe with thy owne greatnesse Search thy selfe to the bottome and thou shalt find enough to humble thee Dost thou glory in the â—avour of a Prince The frowne of a Prince determines it Dost thou glory in thy strength A poore Ague betraies it Dost thou glory in thy wealth The hand of a theefe extinguishes it Dost thou glory in thy Friends One cloud of adversitie darkens it Dost thou glory in thy parts Thy owne pride obscures it Behold my soule how like a Bubble thou appearest and with a Sigh breake into sorrow The gate of heaven is strait canst thou hope to enter without breaking The Bubble that would passe the Floodgates must first dissolve My soule melt then in teares and emptie thy selfe of all thy vanity and thou shalt finde divine Repletion evaporate in thy Devotion and thou shalt recâ—ute thy greatnesse to eternall Glory His Prayer ANd can I choose O God but tremble at thy judgements Oâ— can my stony heart not stand amazed at thy Threatnings It is thy voyce O God and thou hast spoken it It is thy voyce O God and I have heard it Hadst thou so dealt by mee as thou didâ—â— by Babels proud King and driven mee from the sonnes of men thou hadst but done according to thy righteousnesse and rewarded mee according to my deservings What couldst thou see in mee lesse worthy of thy vengeance then in him the example of thy justice or Lord wherein am I more uncapable of thy indignation There is nothing in mee to move thy mercy but in misery Thy goodnesse is thy selfe and hath no ground but what proceedeth from it selfe yet have I sinned against that goodnesse and have thereby heaped up wrath against the day of wrath that insomuch had not thy Grace abounded with my sinne I had long since been confounded in my sinne and swallow-lowed up in the Gulph of thy displeasure But Lord thou takest no delight to punish and with thee is no respect of persons Thou takest no pleasure in the confusion of thy creature but rejoycest rather in the conversion of a sinner Convert mee therfore O God I shall bee then converted Make mee sensible of my owne corruptions that I may see the vilenesse of my owne condition Pull downe the pride of my ambitious heart humble me thou O God and I shall bee humbled Weane mee from the thirst of transitory honour and let my whole delight bee to glory in thee Touch thou my conscience with the feare of thy name that in all my actions I may feare to offend thee Endue mee O Lord with the spirit of meeknesse and teach mee to overcome evill with a patient heart moderate and curb the exorbitances of my passion and give mee temperate use of all thy creatures Replenish my heart with the Graces of thy Spirit that in all my wayes I may bee acceptable in thy sight In all conditions give mee a contented minde and upon all occasions grant mee a gratefull heart that honoring thee here in the Church militant before men I may bee glorified hereafter in the Church Triumphant before thee and Angells where filled with true glory according to the measure of Grace thou shalt bee pleased to give mee here I may with Angels and Archangels praise thy Name for ever and ever The Oppressors Plea I Seeke but what 's my owne by Law It was his owne free Act and Deed The execution lies for goods or body and goods or body I will have or else my money What if his beggerly children pine or his proud wife perish They perish at their owne charge not mine and what is that to mee I must be paid or hee lie by it untill I have my utmost farthing or his bones The Law is just and good and being ruled by that how can my faire proceedings bee unjust what 's thirty in the hundred to a man of Trade Are we borne to thrum Caps or pick strawes and sell our livelihood for a few teares and a whining face I thanke God they move mee not so much as a bowling dog at midnight I 'le give no day if heaven it selfe would bee securitâ—e I must have present money or his bones The Commodity was good enough as wares went then and had hee had but a thriving wit with the necessary helpe of a good marchantable conscience he might have gained perchance as much as now hee lost but howsoever gaine or not gaine I must have my money Two teadious Tearmes my dearest gold hath laine in his unprofitable hands The â—oft of Suit hath made mee bleed above a score of Royals besides my Interest travell halfe pints and bribes all which does but encrease my beggerly defendants damages and sets him deeper on my score but right 's right and I will have my money or his bones Fifteene shillings in the pound composition I le hang first Come tell not mee of a good conscience a good conscience is no parcell of my trade it hath made more Bankrupts then all the loose wives in the universall Citie My conscience is no foole It tells mee that my owne 's my owne and that a well cramm'd bagge is no deceitfull friend but will stick close to mee when
all my friends forsake mee If to gaine a good estate out of nothing and to regaine a desperat debt which is as good as nothing bee the fruits and signe of a bad conscience God helpe the good Come tell not me of griping and Oppression The world is hard and hee that hopes to thrive must gripe as hard What I give I give and what I lend I lend If the way to heaven bee to turn begger upon earth let them take it that like it I know not what ye call Oppression The Law is my direction but of the two it is more profitable to oppresse then to bee opprest If debtors would bee honest and discharge our hands were bound but when their failing offends my bagges they touch the Apple of my eye and I must right them BUt hah what voyce is this that whispers in mine eare The Lord will spoile the soule of the Oppressors Prov. 22. 23. Prov. 21. 22. Robbe not the poore because hee is poore neither oppresse the afflicted in the gates for the Lord will plead their cause and spoile the soule of those that have spoled him Ezek. 22. 19. The people of the land have used oppression and exercised Robbery and have vexed the poors and needy yea they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath Zach. 7. 9. Execute true judgement and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother and oppresse not the widow nor the fatherlesse nor the stranger nor the poore and let none of you imagine evill in your hearts against his brother But they refused to hearken therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of Hosts Bernard p. 1691. Wee ought so to care for our selves as not to neglect the due regard of our neighbour Bern. ibiâ—â— He that is not mercifull to another shall not find mercy from God but if thou will'st bee mercifull and compassionate thou shalt bee a benâ—factor to thy owne soule IS it wisdome in thee O my soul to covet a happinesse or rather to account it so that is sought for with a judgement obtained with a Curse and punished with damnation And to neglect that good which is assured with a promise purchased with a blessing and rewarded with a Crowne of Glory Canst thou hold a full estate a good pennyworth which is bought with the deare price of thy Gods displeasure Tell mee what continuance can that Inheritance promise that is raised upon the ruines of thy Brother Or what mercy canst thou expect from heaven that hast denied all mercy to thy Neighbour O my hard-hearted soule consider and relent Build not an house whose posts are subject to bee rotted with a curse Consider what the God of truth hath threatned against thy crueltie Relent and turne compassionate that thou mayst bee capable of his compassion If the desire of Gold hath hardned thy heart let the teares of true Repentance mollifie it soften it with Aarons oyntment untill it become Wax to take the impression of that seale which must confirme thy Pardon His Prayer BUt will my God bee now entreated Is not my crying sinne too loud for Pardon Am I not sunke too deepe into the Jawes of Hell for thy strong arme to rescue Hath not the hardnesse of my heart made mee uncapable of thy compassion O if my teares might wash away my sinne my head should turne a living Spring Lord I have heard thee speake and am affraid the word is past and thy judgements have found mee out Fearefulnesse and trembling are come upon mee and the Jawes of Hell have overwhelmed mee I have oppressed thy poore and added affliction to the afflicted and the voyce of their misery is come before thee They besought mee with teares and in the anguish of their soules but I have stopt mine eares against the cry of their complaint But Lord thou walkest not the wayes of man and remembrest mercy in the middest of thy wrath for thou art good and gratious and ready to forgive and plenteous in compassion to all that shall call upon thee Forgive mee O God my sinnes that are past and deliver mee from the guilt of my Oppression Take from mee O God this heart of stone and create in my brest a heart of flesh Asswage the vehemency of my desires to the things below and satisfie my soule with the sufficiency of thy Grace Inflame my affections that I may love thee with a filiall love and incline mee to relie upon thy fatherly providence Let mee account godlinesse my greatest gaine and subdue in mee my lusts after filthy lucre Preserve mee O Lord from the vanitie of selfe-love and plant in my affections the true love of my neighbours Endue my heart with the bowels of compassion and then reward mee according to thy righteousnesse Direct mee O God in the wayes of my life and let a good Conscience bee my continuall comfort Give mee a willing heart to make resâ—itution of what I have wrongfully gotten by oppression Grant mee a lawfull use of all thy Creatures and a thankfull heart for all thy benefits Bee merciâ—ull to all those that groane under the burthen of their owne wants and give them patience to expect thy deliverance Give mee a heart that may acknowledge thy favours and fill my tongue with praise and thanksgiving that living here a new life I may become a new creature and being engraffed in thee by the power of thy grace I may bring forth fruit to thy honour and glory The Drunkards Iubile VVHat Complement will the severer world allow to the vacant houres of frolique-hearted youth How shall their free their joviall spirits entertaine their time their friends What Oyle shall bee infused into the Lampe of deare societie if they deny the priviledge of a civill rejoycing Cup It is the life the radicall humor of united soules whose love-digestive heate even ripens and ferments the greene materialls of a plighted faith without the helpe whereof new married friendship falls into divorce and joyn'd acquaintance soone resolves into the first Elements of strangenesse What meane these strict Reformers thus to spend their houâ—e-glasses and bawle against our harmelesse Cups to call our meetings Riots and brand our civill mirth with stiles of loose Intemperance where they can sit at a fisters Feast devoure and gurmundize beyond excesse and wipe the guilt from off their marrowed mouths and cloath their surfeits in the long fustain Robes of a tedious Grace Is it not much better in a faire friendly Round since youth must have a swing to steep our soule-afflicting sorrows in a chirping Cup then hazard our estates upon the abuse of providence in a folish cast at Dice Or at a Cockpit leave our doubtfull fortunes to the mercy of unmercifull contention Or spend our wanton dayes in sacrificing costly presents to a fleshly Idoll was not Wine given to exhilarate the drooping hearts and raise the drowzie spirits
he will own thee repent and hee 'l pardon thee pray to him and he will heare thee His Prayer O God whose glory is the end of my creation and whose free mercy is the cause of my redemption that gavest thy Sonne thy onely Sonne to die for mee who else had perished in the common deluge of thy wrath What shall I render for so great a mercy What thankfulnesse shall I returne for so infinite a love Alas the most that I can do is nothing the best that I can present is worse then nothing sinne Lord if I yeeld my body for a sacrifice I offer nothing but a lumpe of filth and loathsome putrifaction or if I give my soule in contribution I yeeld thee nothing but thy Image quite defaced and polluted with my lusts or if I spend the strength of the whole man and with both heart and tongue confesse and magnifie thy Name how can the praises of my sinfull lips that breath from such a sink bee pleasing to thee But Lord since thou art pleased in thy well-pleasing Sonne to accept the povertie of my weake endeavours send downe thy holy Spirit into my heart clense it from the filth of my corruptions and make it fit to praise thee Lord open thou my mouth and my lips shall shew forth thy praise Put a new song into my mouth and I will praise thee and confesse thee all day long I will not hide thy goodnesse in my mouth but will bee showing forth thy truth and thy salvation Let thy prayses be â—y honour and let thy goodnesse be the subject of my undaunted Song Let neither reputation wealth nor life been pretious to mee in comparison with thee Let not the worlds derision daunt mee nor examples of infirmitie deject me Give mee courage and wisedome to stand for thy honour O make mee worthy able and willing to suffer for thy Name Lord teach me to deny my selfe and to resist the motions of my owne corruptions create in mee O God a single heart that I may love the Lord Jesus in sinceritie remember not O Lord the sinnes of my feare and pardon the hypocrisie of my self-love Wash me from the staines and guilt of this my hainous offence and deliver mee from this fearefull judgement thou hast threatned in thy Word Convince all the Arguments of my unsanctified wit whereby I have become an advocate to my sinne Grant that my life may adorne my profession and make my tongue an instrument of thy glory Assist me O God that I may praise thy goodnesse and declare thy wonders among the children of men Strengthen my faith that it may trust Thee and let my works so shine that men may praise thee That my heart beleeving unto righteousnesse and my tongue confessing to salvation I may be acknowledg'd by thee here and glorified by thee in the kingdome of glory The worldly mans Verdour FOr ought I see the case is even the same with him that prayes and him that does not pray withâ— him that sweares and him that feares an oath I see no difference if any those that they call the wicked have the advantage Their crops are even as faire their flocks as numerous as theirs that weare the ground with their religious knees and fast their bodies to a skelliton nay in the use of blessings which onely makes them so they farre exceed they tearme mee reprobate and stile mee unregenerate 'T is true I â—ate my labours with a jolly heart drinke frolick cups sweeten my paines with time-beguiling sports make the best advantage of my owne pray when I thinke on 't sweare when they urge mee heare Sermons at my leasure follow the lusts of my owne eyes and take the pleasure of my own wayes and yet God bee thanked my Barnes are furnisht my sheepe stand sound my Cattle strong for labour my pastures rich and flourishing my body healthfull and my bagges are full whilst they that are so pure and make such conscience of their wayes that run to Sermons â—igge to Lectures pray thrice a day by the hower hold faith and troth prophane and drinking healths a sinne doe often finde leane harvests easie flocks and emptie purses Let them bee godly that can live on Ayre and Faith and eaten up by Zeale can whine themselves into an Hospitall or blesse their lippes with charitable scrapps If godlinesse have this reward to have short meales for long prayers weake estates for strong faiths and good consciences upon such bad conditions let them boast of their pennyworths and let mee bee wickedâ— still and take my chance as falls Let mee have judgement to discover a profitable Farme and wit to take it at an easie Rent and Gold to stock it in a liberall manner and skill to manage it to my best advantage and luck to finde a good encrease and providence to husband wisely what I gaine I seeke no further and I wish no more Husbandry and Religion are two severall occupations and looke two severall wayes and he is the onely wise man can reconcile them BUt stay my soule I feare thy reckoning failes thee If thou hast judgement to discover wit to bargaine Gold to employ skill to manage providence to dispose canst thou command the Clouds to droppe or if a wet season meet thy Harvest and with open sluces overwhelme thy hopes canst thou let downe the floodgates and stop the watry Flux Canst thou command the Sunne to shine Canst thou forbid the Mildewes or controll the breath of the malignant East Is not this Gods sole Prerogative And hath not that God said When the workers of iniquitie doe flourish it is theâ— that shall be destroyed for ever Psal. 92. 12. Job 21. 7. Wherefore doe the wicked live become old yea are mightie in power 8. Their seed is establisht in their sight and their off-spring before their eyes 9. Their houses are safe from feare neither is the wrath of God upon them 10. Their Bull gendereth and faileth not their Cow calveth and casteth not her Calfe 11. They send forth their little ones like a flock and their children daunce 12. They take the Timbrell and the Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ 13. They spend their dayes in wealth and in a moment they goe downe to the Grave Nil in Paraenes Woe bee to him that pursues emptie and fading pleasures because in a short time hee fats and pampers himselfe as a Calfe to the slaughter Bernard There 's no misery more true and reall then false and counterfeit pleasure Hierom. It 's not onely difficult but impossible to have heaven here and hereafter To live in sensuall lusts and to attaine spirituall blisse to passe from one paradise to another to be a mirrour of felicitie in both worlds to shine with glorious rayes both in this globe of earth and the orbe of heaven HOw sweet a feast is till the reckoning come A faire day ends often in a cold night and the road that 's pleasant ends in
Hell If worldly pleasures had the promise of continuance prosperitie were some comfort but in this necessary vieissitude of good and evill the prolonging of adversitie sharpens it It is no common thing my soule to enjoy two heavens Dives found it in the present Lazarus in the future Hath thy encrease met with no damage thy reputation with no scandall thy pleasure with no crosse thy prosperitie with no adversitie Presume not Gods checks are symptomes of his mercy but his silence is the Harbinger of a judgement Bee circumspect and provident my soule Hast thou a faire Summer provide for a hard Winter The worlds River ebbes alone it flowes not Hee that goes merrily with the streame must hale up Flatter thy selfe therefore no longer in thy prosperous sinne O my deluded soule but be truly sensible of thy owne presumption Look seriously into thy approaching danger and humble thy selfe with true contrition If thou procure sowre Hearbs God will provide his Passeover His Prayer HOw weake is man O God when thou forsakest him How foolish are his Counsels when hee plots without thee How wilde his progresse when hee wanders from thee How miserable till hee returne unto thee How his wit failes How his wisedome falters How his wealth melts How his providence is befool'd and how his soule beslav'd Thou strik'st off the Chariot wheeles of his Inventions and hee is perplext Thou confoundest the Babel of his imaginations and he is troubled Thou crossest his designes that hee may feare thee and thou stop'st him in his wayes that he may know thee How mercifull art thou O God and in thy very judgements Lord how gracious Thou mightst have struck me into the lowest pit as easily as on these bended knees and yet been justified in my confusion But thou hast threatned like a gentle father as loath to punish thy ungracious childe Thou knowest the crooked thoughts of man are vaine still turning point to their contrivers ruin Thou saw'st me wandring in the maze of death whilst I with violence pursued my owne destruction But thou hast warn'd me by thy sacred Word and tooke me off that I might live to praise theâ— Thou art my confidence O God Thou art the rock the rock of my salvation Thy Word shall bee my guide for all thy paths are Mercy and Truth Lord when I looke upon my former worldlinesse I utterly abhorre my conversation strengthen mee with thy assistance that I may leade a new life make mee more and more sensible of my owne condition and perfect thou the good worke thou hast begun in mee In all my designes bee thou my Counsellour that I may prosper in my undertakings In all my actions bee thou my guide that I may keepe the path of thy Commandements Let all my owne devises come to nought lest I presume upon the Arme of flesh let not my wealth encrease without thy blessing lest I bee fatted up against the day of slaughter Have thou a hand in all my just imployments then prosper thou the worke of my hands O prosper thou my handy-worke That little I enjoy confirme it to me and make it mine who have no interest in it till thou owne mee as thy Child Then shall my soule rejoyce in thy favours and magnifie thy name for all thy mercies Then shall my lips proclaime thy loving kindnesse and sing thy praises for ever and for ever The Lascivious mans Heaven CAn flesh and blood bee so unnaturall to forget the Lawes of Nature Can blowing youth immure it selfe within the Icey walls of Vestall Chastitie Can lusty diet and mollicious rest bring forth no other fruits but faint desires rigid thoughts and Pblegmatick conceits should wee bee stockâ— and stones and having active soules turne altogether passives Must wee turne Anchâ—rites and spend our dayes in Caves and Hermitages and smother up our pretious houres in cloysterd folly and recluse devotion Can Rosie cheekes can Ruby lippes can snowy brests and sparkling eyes prescut their beauties and perfections to the sprightly view of young mortalitie and must wee stand like Statues without sense or motion Can strict Religion impose such cruell Taskes and even impossible commands upon the raging thoughts of her unhappy votaries as to withstand and contradict the instinct and very principles of Nature Can faire-pretending pictie be so barbarous to condemn us to the flames of our affections and make us Martyrs to our owne desires Is 't not enough to conquer the rebellious Actions of imperious flesh but must wee manacle her hands darken her eyes nay worse restraine the freedome of her very thoughts Can full perfection bee expected here Or can our worke be perfect in this vale of imperfection This were a life for Angels but a task too hard for fraile for transitory man Come come we are but men but flesh and blâ—od and our borne frailties cannot grapple with such potent tyranny What nature and necessitie requires us to doe is veniall being done Come strive no more against so strong a streame but take thy fill of beautie solace thy wanton heart with amorous contemplations cloathe all thy words with courtly Rhetorick and soften thy lips with dialects of love surfeit thy selfe with pleasure and 〈◊〉 thy passion into warme delights VValke into Natures universall Bower and pick what flower does most surprize thine eye drink of all waters but be tied to none Spare neither cost nor paines to compasse thy desires Enjoy varieties Emparadise thy soule in fresh delights The change of pleasure makes thy pleasure double Ravish thy senses with perpetuall choyce and glut thy soule with all the delicates of love BUt hold There is a voyce that whispers in my troubled eare a voyce that blanks my thoughts and stops the course of my resolves A voyce that chills the bosome of my soule and fills me with amazement Harke They which doe such things shall not inherit the kingdome of God Gal. 5. 21. Exod. 20. 14. Thou shalt not commit Adultery Matth. 5. 28. Whosoever lookes upon a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Rom. 13. 13. Let us walke honestly as in the day not in rioting nor in drunkennesse nor in chambering nor in wantonnesse 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abstaine from fleshly lusts which warre against the soule Nilus in Paraen Woe bee to the fornicator and adulterer for his garment is defiled and spotted and the heavenly Bridegroome casts him out from his chast nuptialls A world of presumptuous and hainous offences doe arise and spring from the filthy fountaine of adulterous lust whereby the gate of heaven is shut and poore man excluded from God S. Gregor. Mor. Hence the flesh lives in sensuall delights for a moment but the immortall soule perisheth for ever LUst is a Brand of originall fire rak'd up in the Embers of flesh and blood uncover'd by a naturall inclination blowne by corrupt communication quencht with fasting and humiliation It is rak'd up in the best uncovered in the
rambles through all the Spheares and brings with it confusion and combustion my reeking sword shall vindicate my reputation and rectifie the injuries of my honorable name and quench it self in plenteous streames of blood Come tell not mee of Charitie conscience or transgression My Charitie reflects upon my self begins at home and guided by the justice of my passion is bound to labour for an honorable satisfaction My conscience is blood-proofe and I can broach a life with my illustrious weapon with as little reluctation as kill a Flea that sucks my blood without Commission and I can drinke a health in blood upon my bended knee to reputation BUt hark my soule I heare a languishing a dying voyce cry up to heaven for vengeance It cries aloud and thunders in my startling eare I tremble and my shivering bones are fill'd wâ—â—â—h horror It cries against me and heare what â—â—eaven replies All that take up the sword shall perish by the sword Matth. 26. 52. Levit. 19. 18. Thou shall not avenge or beare any grudge against the Children of my people but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe I am the Lord Deut. 32. 35. To me belongeth vengeance and recompence Ezek. 25. 12 13. Because that Edom hath delt against the house of Iudah by taking vengeance and bath greatly offended and reveng'd himselfe upon them Therefore thus saith the Lord God I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom and will cut off man and beast from it Matth. 5. 39. Resist not evill but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheeke turne to him the other also Tertull. What 's the difference between one that doth an injury and another that out-ragiously suffers it except that the one is fiâ—st and the other second in the offence but both are guilty of mutuall injury in the sight of God who forbids every sinne and condemnes the offender Tertull. How can wee honouâ— God if wee revenge our selves Gloss. Every man is a murtherer and shall bee punished as Cain was if hee doe as Caindid either assâ—ult his brother with violence or pursue him with hatred REvenge is an Act of the Irascible affections deliberated with malice and executed without mercy How often O my soule hast thou cursed thy selfe in the perfectest of Prayers How often hast thou turn'd the spirituall bâ—dy of thy Saviour into thy dâ—mnation Can the Sunne rise to thy comfort that hath so often set in thy wrath So long as thy wrath is kindled against thy brother so long is the wrath of God burning against thee O wouldst thou offer a pleasing sacrifice to heaven Goe first and be reconciled to thy brother I but who shall right thy honor then Is thy honour wrong'd Forgive and it is vindicated I but this kind of heart-swelling can brooke no Powltresse but revenge Take heed my soule the remedy is worse then the disease If thy intricate distemper transcend thy power make choyce of a Physitian that can purge that humor that foments thy malady Rely upon him submit thy will to his directions hee hath a tender heart a skilfull hand a watchfull eye that makes thy welfare the price of all thy painâ—s expecting no reward no fee but prayses and Thanksgiving His Prayer O God that art the God of peace and the lover of unitie and concord that dost command all those that seeke forgivenesse to forgive that hatest the fâ—oward heart but shewest mercy to the mecke in spirit With what a face can I appeare before thy mercy-seate or with what countenance can I lift up these hands thus stained with my brothers blood How can my â—ippes that daily breath revenge against my brother presume to owne thee as my father or expect from thee thy blessing as thy child If thou forgive my trespasses O God as I forgive my trespassers in what a miserable estate am I that in my very prayers condemne my selfe and doe not onely limit thy compassion by my uncharitablenesse but draw thy judgements on my head for my rebellion That heart O God which thou requirest as a holy present is become a spring of malice These hands which I advance are ready instruments of base revenge My thoughts that should be sanctified are full of blood and how to compasse evill against my brother is my continuall meditation The course of all my life is wilfull disobedience and my whole pleasure Lord is to displease thee My conscience hath accused me and the voyce of blood hath cryed against mee But Lord the blood of Jesus cries louder then the blood of Abell and thy mercy is farre more infinite then my sinne The blood that was shed by me cries for vengeance but the blood that was shed for me sues for mercy Lord heare the language of this blood and by the merits of this voyce be reconciled unto mee That time which cannot be recalled O give mee power to redeeme and in the meane time a setled resolution to reforme Suppresse the violence of my headstrong passion and establish a meeke spirit within mee Let the sight of my owne vilenesse take from me the sense of all disgrace and let the Crowne of my reputation be thy honour Possesse my heart with a desire of unitie and concord and give mee patience to endure what my impenitence hath deserved Breath into my soule the spirit of love and direct my affections to their right object turne all my anger against that sinne that hath provoked thee and give me holy revenge that I may exercise it against my selfe Grant that I may love thee for thy selfe my self in thee and my neighbour as my selfe Assist me O God that I may subdue all evill in my selfe and suffer patiently all evill as a punishment from thee Give me a mercifull heart O God make it slow to wrath and ready to forgive Preserve me from the act of evill that I may be delivered from the feare of evill that living here in charity with men I may receive that sentence of Come ye blessed in the kingdom of glory The secure mans Triumph SO now my soule thy happinesse is entaild and thy illustrious name shall live in thy succeeding Generations Thy dwelling is establish'd in the fat of all the land thou hast what mortall heart can wish and wantest nothing but immortalitie The best of all the land is thine and thou art planted in the best of Lands A land whose Constitutions make the best of Government which Government is strengthned with the best of â—aws which Lawes are executed by the best of Princes whose Prinâ—e whose Lawes whose Government whose land makes us the happiest of all subjects makes us the happiest of all people A land of strength of plenty and a land of peace where every soule may sit beneath his Vine unfrighted at the horrid language of the hoarse Trumpet unstartled at the warlike summons of the roaring Cannon A land whose beautie hath surpriz'd the ambitious hearts of forraigne Princes and taught them by their martiall
Oratory to make their vaine attempts A land whose strength reades vanitie in the deceived hopes of Conquerours and crownes their enterprizes with a shamefull overthrow A land whose native plentie makes her the worlds Exchange supplying others able to subsist without supply from forraigne kingdomes in it selfe happy and abroad honorable A land that hath no vanitie but what by accident proceeds and issues from the sweetest of all blessings peace and plentie that hath no miâ—ery but what is propagated from that blindnesse which cannot see her owne felicitie A land that flowes with Milke and Hony and in briefe wants nothing to deserve the title of a Paradise The Curbe of Spaine the pride of Germany the â—yde of Belgia the scourge of France the Emperesse of the world and Queene of Nations She is begirt with walls whose builder was the hand of heaven whereon there daily rides a Navyâ— Royall whose unconquerable power proclaimes her Prince invincible and whispers sad despaire into the fainting hearts of forraigâ—e Majesty She is compact within her self in unitie not apt to civill discords or intestine broyles The envie of all nations the ambition of all Princes the terror of all enemies the security of all neighboring States Let timerous Pulpits threaten ruine let prophecying Church-men dote till I beleeve How often and how long have these loud sonnes of Thunder false prophesied her desolation and yet she stands the glory of the world Can Pride demolish the Towers that defend her Can drunkennes dry up the Sea that walls her Can flames of lust dissolve the Ordnance that protect her BEe well advis'd my soule there is a voyâ—â— from heaven roares louder then those Ordinance which saith Thus saith the Lord The whole land shall be desolate Jer. 4. 27. Esay 14. 7. The whole earth is at rest and at quiet they breake forth into singing Yea the Firre trees rejoyce at thee and the Cedars of Lebanon sing c. Yet shalt thou be brought downe to hell to the sides of the Pit Jer. 5. 12. They have bâ—lied the Lord and said It is not hee neither shall evill come upon us neither shall wee see sword or famine 1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall Luke 17. 26. They did eate and drink and they married wives and were given in marriage untill the flood came and destroyed them all Gregor. Mor. A man may as some build a Castle upon the rowling waves as ground a solid comfort upon the uncertaine ebbs and fluxes of transient pleasures S. August Whilst Lot was exercised in suffering reproach and vilence he continued holy and pure even in the filth of Sodom but in the mount being in peace and safetie he was surprised by sensuall securitie and defiled himselfe with his owne daughters 〈◊〉 prosperous and happy state is often the occasion of more miserable ruine a long peace hath made many men both carelesse and cowardly and that 's the most fatall blow when an â—â—â—xpected enemy surprises us in a deep sleep of peace and security Greg. Mag. SEcuritie is an improvident carelesnesse casting out all feare of approaching danger It is like a great Calme at Sea that foreruns a storme How is this verified O my sad soule in this our bleeding nation VVer 't thou not but now for many yeares even nuzzl'd in the bosome of habituall peace Didst thou foresee this danger Or could'st thou have contrived a way to bee thus miserable Didst thou not laugh invasion to scorne or didst thou not lesse feare a Civill warreâ— Was not the Title of the Crowne unquestionable And was not our mixt government unapt to fall into diseases Did wee want good Lawes or did our Lawes want execution Did not our Prophets give lawfull warning or were wee moved at the sound of Judgments How hast thou liv'd O my uncarefull soule to see these prophesies fulfill'd and to behold the vialls of thy angry God pour'd forth Since mercies O my soule could not allure thee yet let these judgements now at length enforce thee to a true Repentance Quench the Firebrand which thou hast kindled turne thy mirth to a right mourning and thy feasts of joy to humiliation His Prayer O God by whom Kings raigne and kingdoms flourish that settest up where none can batter downe and pullest downe where none can countermand I a most humble Sutor at the Throne of Grace acknowledge my selfe unworthy of the least of all thy mercies nay worthy of the greatest of all thy judgements I have sinned against thee the Author of my beeing I have sinned against my conscience which thou hast made my accuser I have sinned against the peace of this Kingdome whereof thou hast made me a member If all should doe O God as I have done Sodom would appeare as righteous and Gomorraâ— would be a president to thy wratâ— upon this sinfull nation But Lord thy mercy is inscrutable or else my misery were unspeakable for that mercy sake be gratious to mee in the free pardoning of all my offences Blot them out of thy remembrance for his sake in whom thou art well pleased Make my head a fountaine of teares to quench that brand my sinnes have kindâ—ed towards the destruction of this flourishing kingdome Blesse this kingdome O God Establish it in pietie honour peace and plenty Forgive all her crying sinnes and remove thy judgements farre from her Blesse her governour thy servant our dread Soveraigne Endue his soule with all religious civill and princely vertues Preserve his royall person in health safetie and prosperitie prolong his dayes in honour peace or victory and crowne his death with everlasting glory Blesse him in his royall Consort unite their hearts in love and true Religion Blesse him in his Princely issue Season their youth with the feare of thy Name Direct thy Church in doctrine and in discipline and let her enemies bee converted or confounded Purge her of all superstition and heresie and root out from her whatsoever thy hand hath not planted Blesse the Nobilitie of this land endue their hearts with truth loyaltie and true policy Blesse the Tribe of Levi with pietie learning and humilitie Blesse the Magistrates of this kingdome give them religious and upright hearts hating covetousnesse Blesse the Gentry with sinceritie charitie and a good conscience Blesse the Commonaltie with loyall hearts painefull hands and plentifull encrease Blesse the two great Seminaries of this Kingdome make them fruitfull and faithfull nurseries both to the Church and Common-wealth Blesse all thy Saints every where especially those that have stood in the gappe betwixt this kingdome and thy judgements that being all members of that Body whereof thou Christ art head we may all joyne in humiliation for our sinnes and in the propagation of thy honor here and be made partakers of thy glory in the kingdome of glory The Presumptuous mans Felicities TEll bauling Babes of Bugbeares to fright them into quietnesse or terrifie youth with old wives sables to keep their wild