The Guide not followed will be gone The coale not kindled wil not warme And woe to thee if the good Spirit leave thee for then the Ill one will lead thee In stead of good Angels ill thoughts will haunt thee And thou knowest whither they goe whom he doth lead When God knockâ— at thy heart let him not stay at the doore when his Enemy at the first Motion is let in Doe not that for shame If so know that to keep out Gods Spirit is to shut dore on thy Blisse and doe not that for feare No My Soule In Prosperity or Adversity At thy Devotions or other occasions In Church or Closet By Day or night Well or Sick If thy minde be moved to some knowne good or against some evill God knocks doe thou open His Angel is at dore take him in His Spirit would enter bid him welcome Welcome blessed Spirit that Luc. 13. 36. Mat. 21. 19. comes to carry me to Heaven Welcome Holy Comforter that comest to keep me from Hell O come and never goe from me Holy Spirit of God My Soul thou hast seen what Heavenly Helpers Holy Meditations and Motions be Hear the God of all help and he will assure thee so If others Amos. 6. 3. put off the evil day it 's wisdome for thee to have it before thee If others Act. 24. 25 put by good motions it will be thy happinesse to entertaine them believe him who sayes both O that they were wise that they understood Deut. 32. 29. this that they would consider their latter end Wherefore Holy Brethren Partakers Heb. 3. 1. of the Heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus For consider him that endured such Heb. 12. 3. contradiction of Sinners lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds And Behold I stand at the doore and knock Apoc. 3. 20. if any man heare my voyce and open the dore I will come to him and Sup with him and he with me The Summe of this Part is Good Meditations are great Nurses Psal 119. 15. Psal 1. 2. Gen. 24. 63. of Gods feare Serious thoughts of Death Judgement Heaven and Hell are Meditations good against all Sins in the World Sober Considerations of Christs Birth Life Death are destructive to Pride Avarice and Lust which Three make all Holy Motions of God great Aids to the Practice of Godlinesse How they may be known to be Gods What good offices they have and doe from him to us as His Messengers and guides for our best good Why and how to be entertain'd as sucâ— and how foule and fearfull it is to neglect good and embrace Ill Motions Saturday-Soliloquie Remedies of Humane Frailtie OR A Soliloquie shewing the Soul What Provisions of Grace and Mercy God hath made to support her weakness in the way of Piety MY Soul For all thy Cares 1. Part. and Helps thou wilt fail in Eph. 5. 17. 1 Pet. 5. 8. thy Perpetuall Service so long as Flesh and Devil cease not their Perpetuall Motion God Ez. 18. 23. Gal. 3. 11. Col. 2. 12. Rom. 6. 19. Jam. 2. 26. Psal 41. 4. therefore in tendernesse of mercy hath provided for thee Remedies of Grace Repentance that thou do not die Faith to make thee and it live And New Obedience to keep all alive Sin my Soul is ill humour to Heaven a disorder of Holy Spirit and just temper in thee For this Disease Repentance is Gods Remedy * Tert. de paenit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. And very sufficient to heal thee For it will Bleed a Act. 2. 37 thee in Contrition Vomit thee in Confession b Ezek. 18. 31. Orig. Purge thee by Conversion c 1 Cor. 5. 9. Sweat thee with Guilt d Act. 9. 10 Bath thee in Teares e Joel 2. 12. Diet thee from occasions of ill f 2 Cor. 7. 11. Cauterize the corrupt part with Threats g Jona 3. 4 5. and foment the weak with Promises h Joel 2. 13 And Exercise all in Almes i Dan. 4. 27. Fasts k Joel 2. 12 and Prayers l Luk. 18. 13. And of the healing vertues of all these Penitent Soules have had Blest Experiments For that Bleeding cured the Barbarous Jewes m Act. 2. 38. Vomiting David n 2 Sam. 12. 13. Purging Ephraim o Hos 14. 8 The Sweat did the Jailer good p Act. 16. 29. The Bath helpt Magdalen q Luk. 7. 38. The Cautery Saul r Act. 9. 16. Fomenting s Hos 6. 1 2. Israel The Exercise did Zacheus t Luk. 19. 8. Ahab u 1 King 21. 19. even the Publican w Luk. 18. 13. Ease O my Soul Admire and Adore that Great and Good Physitian that Isa 57. 18. Prescribes thee so faire and yet so Soveraigne Jer. 8. 6. Peccata commssa plangâ—re plangenda non committere a Medicine To Grieve thou hast done ill and desire thou maist doe better To be sorry for what was amisse and not doe again what will make thee Sorry When I have wandred to returne When I have been fool'd to Jer. 3. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 3. 2. Joh. 12. 40 Isa 1. 16. Paenitens ferè innocens est Eccl. 7. 29. Hos 14. 4. Isa 1. 18. Luk. 15. 17 Ezek. 18. 30 31. Luk. 15. 22 24. 2 Cor. 7. 10 Luk. 4. 18. Act. 11. 18. grow wise When I am sick to be well When I am foul to wash When I cannot be a Saint as good as Adam was fully Innocent to be as well as Enoch may be truly Penitent Was ever Prescript so faire And yet my Soul this Heales Sin Guilt and Staine Returnes thee both to God and thy self Recovers both Fall and Wit Restores both Tainted Bloud and Spirit Reduces to a Paradise both of Joy and Innocence Saves thee from Death sets thee in Health Disposeth thee to long even everlasting life Can any Medicine be more Soveraigne Take it then my Soul if thou lovest thy self And how and when thy Physitian gives it Not half for he appoints the whole Nor this hereafter for he wills it Now To Grieve for Sin and do no more Joel 2. 12. is to see not to lose thy Sicknesse And to amend what is not first griev'd to recover before thou art Sick To be Compunct and not Confesse is to bleed inwardly To Confess but not be Contrite to Vomit wantonly To Confesse and Pro. 28. 13 not Amend to cast and lick up the Vomit To be Frighted for Sin and not 2 Pet. 2. 22 bettered is to Sweat and take cold Joh. 5. 14. after it To weep for it and commit it 2 Pet. 2. 22 is with the Sow to wash and wallow To Abstain occasions and not acts is to fast it into a better Stomack To be Threatned into Despaire is instead of Gen. 4. 13. Sin to burne thy self And
feast Fiends That makes thee dread the sight of Death as Hell and the thoughts of it as Devils because there are Devils and Hell which thou deniest but dost dread none hath more horrour for them then thou who saiest thou hast no such Faith See more Soliloquie p. So end the Seven Services for the first Week Seven Services for the 2d. Week Sunday-Service Against neglect of Gods Service Morning Prayer Psal 5. 27. 42. Lesson Gen. 28. or Jor. 7. to ver 17. Mat. 11. Evening Prayer Psal 95. 122. Lesson Eccles 5. 1 Cor. 11. or Heb. 6. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Neglect of Gods Service O Lord Thou hast devoted a Time and Place to thy worship and holinesse becometh thy house for ever Make me ever carefull to pay thee then and there the dues and duties of Religion which I owe thee Solemnly waiting on thy Majestie amongst thy Sâ—rvants in thy Court and Sanctuary Lâ—t me be diligent in thy service and râ—verend at it That as thy Saints and Angels in heaven incessantly serve thee I may with thy Saints on earth constantly worship thee till we all come together for ever to adore thee Even for his sake whose meat and drinke it was to serve thee Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Neglect of Gods Service 1. GOd wil find no time to save us if we find no day to serve him a Psal 2. 11 12. Act. 26. 20. 2. Have we six in a Week and shall not God have one day b Exod. 20. 9. 3. Publique worship is the Pillar of Religion and high service of Almighty God c Gen. 4. 26. 4. If every one take away his stone we shall pull down the Pillar to the ruine of Religion d Lam. 2. 5. In the Church we are before Gods face as well as Mans e Psal 95. 6. It is both a Scandall to man f 1 Cor. 11. 22. and Scorne to God g Eccles 5. 1 2. to be irreverent in the Church to dare and jeer God to his face 7. The truest Picture of the Saints with God in Heaven is a Congregation devout at Gods Worship on Earth h Apoc. 4. 10. 8. We cannot doe better then to goe to Heaven nor worse then to doe any thing ill or unseemly in it i Gen. 28. 17. 9. The Devils misbehaviour in Heaven cast him into Hell k Jud. v. 6. 10. He that laughs in the Church is tickled by the Devill * Risus in Ecclesia Diaboli opus est Monday-Service Against Procrastination Morning Prayer Psal 95. 7. Lesson Prov. 1. Mat. 25. to 14 or 24. to 36. or Act. 24 Evening Prayer Psal 4. 90. Lesson Eccles 8. Apoc. 21. ¶ Prayer against Procrastination LOrd keepe me from the delayes of holy and necessary duties Make me to consider how many art now perishing in Hell for neglecting the times of thy gracious visitations on earth That whilest the Spirit of grace and life blowes on me I may improve that breath to purchase my selfe an estate in the life of glory and immortalitie Even for his sake who lingred no time to shed his bloud to save me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! Remedies against Procrastination 1. IT is unworthy God He calls to day a Psal 95. 7. and you will come to morrow The Devill shall have the floure b Levit. 2. 1. of age and God the bran 2. It is unsafe for man The Adventure of an immortall soule upon two great uncertainties to come Having my breath c Prov. 25. 1. James 4. 13. and Gods Spirit d Joh. 3. 8. If either fail I am lost for ever And God knowes Innumerable soules are thus lost * Coesarius Inuumerabiles animoe siâ— periêre 3. It is unwise The house of my soule is set on fire e Isa 2. 18. with guilt to day and will quench it to morrow I fall into the puddle f 2 Pet. 2. 22. of sin this week and will rise the next 4. It is uncomfortable For the longer I keepe off from God 1. Gods acceptance is more doubtfull He is for first fruits g Levit. 2. 12. and firstlings 2. Mans performance is more difficult Because Satan hath the greater power over me h 2 Tim. 2. 26. and sinne in me i Prov. 5. 22. By the strength of Custome k Jer. 12. 23. which it is a miracle to conquer * S. Bern. 3. Repentance hath a greater taske more spots to wash l Isa 1. 16. knots to loose m 2 Pet. 2. 20. roots to digge n Jer. 4 5. foes to kill o 1 Pet. 2. 21. Sinne in time of a Child growes a Gyant for strength and Lust spawnes like a fiâ—h in number If it be now ten strong next yeare it will be an hundred and the next yeare a thousand c. 4. The best fruit of sinne is repentance p 2 Cor. 7. 8 9. the rest is shame q Rom. 6. 21 23. and death 5. It is unprofitable at best For the lesse seed the lesse harvest r 2 Cor. 9. 6. The lesse good â— the lesse glory s Rom. 2. 7. And the more Springs and opportunities I lose the more seed-times of good t Gal. 6. So I reap lesse comfort of what is past u Isa 38. 3. and reward to come x Luk. 19. 16. Tuesday-Service Against Presumption Morning Prayer Psal 7. 19. Lesson Deut. 29. or Levit. 26. Mat. 24. Evening Prayer Psalm 68. Lesson Eccles 8. 1 Thes 5. ¶ Collect or Prayer against Presumption KEepe me O Lord from carnall security If I fall into sin let me not lie in it out of a Presumption of thy mercy but do thou awake me to repentance and raise me in thy goodnesse And since repentance is not in my power make me fearfull to fall into sin in hopes of thy grace and mercy and more afraid to lie in it if I fall lest I sleep without feare till some Suddaine judgment awake me and present the horrour of eternall death before me From a lethargy in sin O thou Holy Physitian of soules preserve now and ever Deare Saviour I beseech thee Amen Daily Prayers Remedies against Presumption 1. IT is the Devils lullabie to sleepe out the time of Salvation as did the five foolish Virgins a Matth. 27. 7. 2. It is the Devils high way to desperation b Prov. 1. 28. 3. None but a poysonous spirit will suck the strength of sin out of the flower of mercy c Eccles 8. 11. Isa 10. 2. 4. It is to make quarrels amongst Gods Attributes in the confidence of mercy to put contempt on justice d Rom. 2. 4 5. It is to leave the soul at last without all hope of succour and sanctuary because guilt dares not fly to offended justice e Gen 3. 10. Apoc. 6. 16. and hath no refuge else but abused mercy f Rom. 2. 4.
by thy mercy obtaine everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Confession ALmighty and most mercifull Father I have erred and strayed from thy wayes like a lost Sheep I have followed too much the devices and desires of my owne heart I have offended against thy holy laws I have left undone those things which I ought to have done and I have done those things which I ought not to have done and there is no health in me But thou O Lord have mercy upon me miserable Offendour Spare thou me O God which confess my faults Restore thou me that am penitent According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord and grant O most mercifull Father for his sake that I may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life to the glory of thy holy name Amen Prayer for Pardon ALmighty God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who desirest not the death of a Sinner but that he may turne from his wickednesse and live and hast promised pardon to them that truly repent unfeignedly believe thy holy Gospel of thy mercy I beseech thee to grant me true repentance and thy holy Spirit that those things may please thee which I doe at this present and the rest of my life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last I may come to thine eternall joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Lords Prayer OUr Father which art in Heaven Hallowed be thy Name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our dayly bread And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill c. The Versicles Vers O Lord open thou my lips Resp And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Vers O God make speed to save me Resp O Lord make hast to help me Glory be to the Father c. Alleluiah Praise the Lord. ¶ Read the Psalmes for the Service of that day Then the Lessons appointed for it After say the Creed c. Then the Daily Prayers Animadversions to the devout Reader touching these Daily Prayers IF thou wouldest have reason why these Prayers are so short and in severall which use to make a long one all put together that thy Devotion may be quicker they are so short a little space being run with a greater speed and that thy Spirit may hold out fresher in severalls as so many rests all the way it runs If thou beest a Man of another Spirit take that course of prayer wherein thy soule speeds best This is propounded not prescribed to every Devotion and intended for help not the hinderance of any Morning Prayers 1. Collect for Grace O God! I can aske no greater gift than thy Glory and therefore beg no better gift than thy Grace yea even this consummate is nothing else but 1 Cor. 13. 10. that nor can I come at it but by the way of grace I doe therefore for Jesus Christ his sake beseech thee bestow on me that blessed gift Grace to doe thee service on earth that thou may'st give me thy salvation in heaven through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 2. Collect for Peace MY poore Soule is an humble Suiter for peace O God! the Col. 1. 20. blood of Jesus is my plea thy Spirit my Advocate I deserve by my sinnes eternall enmity but for thy deare 2 Cor. 5. 19. Sonnes sake have favour for me by whom the world is attoned O let me be reconciled to thee I know not how Rom. 8. 26. to pray this as I ought but thy Spirit can make effectuall Intercession for me Lord let thy Spirit move and thy Son make my peace Subdue my lusts conquer Satan for me that my conscience may have peace with thee and I in it By thy grace through the mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 3. Collect for Health O Lord when I am sick let me thinke I may die when I am in health that I may be sick that I may not mispend the stock of my life but doe thee honour with my health and thou mayest give me comfort for it in my sicknesse Even this that sin hath not bound me to my bed but thy providence hast cast me downe which can and will lift me up or to health in this world or to happines in a better such an enjoyment of health give me I beseech thee for Jesus Christ his sake Amen 4. Collect for Safety O Lord so many daies as I live so Act. 10. 28. many lives I owe thee thou renewest my lease every day a poore Tenant at thy will I am and a fraile Isa 28. 5. cotage of clay by thy power I keep Job 4. 19. Deut. 10. 12. Lord that hast hitherto spar'd me still preserve me and let me pay as I can what I owe of service the onely rent thou requirest for tenement and appurtenances life health wealth and all the good things I have of thee for which thou both grantest terme of life and givest eternity This to that continue I beseech thee for his sake who was surety and is sole Purchaser for me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 5. Collect for Friends FOr all my Kindred and Friends Lord receive my prayers Doe thou good unto them all O God! To those that erre shew thy truth and those that see it keep from errour to those that doe amisse give grace to doe better and those that doe well continue in so doing to those that are afflicted give comfort and deliverance to those that prosper humility and temperance blesse the sick with health and the healthy from sicknesse supply those in want and let those that want not give supply to all grant thy grace O God! and shew thy mercy let love bind us one to another and Religion knit us all to thee that all who are of naturall kindred may meet in heavenly consanguinity Even so Esth 2. 31. Job 1. 13. Lord let the bloud of Jesus runne through all our veines and the Spirit of Jesus go along with the blood that the glory of Jesus may be the end of us all And how ever we suffer and scatter on earth we may live and joy together in the blisse of Heaven By the Union of that holy Spirit and communion of that blessed blood Amen Amen 6. Collect for the Kingdome O Lord we were the mirror of the world for mercy we are for misery a people wofully torn divided distressed distracted a multitude of headlesse heartlesse disordered men ready to be destroyed O thou great Physitian that canst as easily cure Jer. 4. 22. a Kingdome as a Man heale our Land for thy tender pities sake Lord have mercy on us and heale us In the blood of Jesus purge our sins the cause of all our maladies whether ours or of the Ages before us from their guilt and curse
of them all good Lord deliver us Deliver us from blood O God from all the innocent and pretious blood which lies upon us From our sins of peace which brought the warre and the sinnes of warre which brought and left us in that guilt of blood O Jesus that hadst mercy even for those that shed thine and Act. 2. 27. madest the matter of their sinne the meanes of their salvation let the virtue of thy blood expiate the guilt of all shed amongst us and the voice of Heb. 12. 24 it out-crie all the clamours which it makes in Heaven against us And by the grace of thy Spirit make our hearts bleed for our sins that it may crie so for us With our sinnes remove our woes Piece our rents and close our wounds with thy heavenly hands O God of peace that we perish not under them let us not make our selves a prey to foraigne force nor fall by an intestine fury Meet Body and Head in common safety meane while looke upon our languishings and keep life in the Body Lord who delightest not in the death of one Sinner pitty millions of poore sinfull miserable soules at the very point to perish pitty us good Lord and preserve us for thy great mercies sake in Christ Jesus Amen Amen 7. Collect for the Church 1 Cor. 11. 2. FOr thy deare Spouse and my best Mother I thy poore Child and Hers on bended knees hold up my hands and humbly pray all thy Goodnesse O God! Truth Love and Peace be with her For errour truth for schisme love for persecution peace Behold O Lord not what She is but was and not what She was for sin but thy Service And Heare Lord not the cries of her sins but groanes of her miseries And make her to be as Good as She was yea Lord make her be as Good as She should be Beautifull in Her selfe Unblemished in her Children Shining in truth Comely in order Holy in life Repair'd in her ruines Restored in her Rights Relieved in her injuries To Thy glory Her honour and the happinesse of us all through the Grace and Worthinesse of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 8. Collect for the Catholique Church O God of peace send Unity amongst all that professe thy Name As they have but one Head Ephes 4. 1 4 c. let them be but one Body as they are but one Body let them have but one Spirit the Spirit of truth and holiness in doctrine and life be in all Cease schismes and warres in the Christian world Let not them spill one anothers blood for whom thy Sonne shed His. Let there not be many Hearts under one Head nor more Heads with it lest they make a Massacre in thy Body or a Monster of it O let thy Scepter have obedience and thine Orders Observance every where Suffer none by delusion or depravation of mind or ambition of Spirit to pull downe thy Throne whilst they pretend for thy Scepter and let confusion and tyranny into the Church whilest they professe to bring in liberty and order and pull downe thy House to set up thy Glory From Violence avarice sacriledge schisme heresie Anarchy tyranny King of the Church keep us Do Thou governe us and let us obey thee doe Thou save us and let us serve thee Even all Christian souls save through out the world Dear Jesus Amen Concluding Prayer IT is thy promise to grant whatsoever I aske in thy Sons name Lord thou wilt not performe lesse because I BreviariuÌ„ totius Evangelii Tert. aske so in his Words In His blessed Breviary therefore I Summe and offer up all and say Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Blessing God the Father blesse me God the Son defend me God the holy Ghost preserve me and all mine and His now and evermore Amen So ends Morning Prayer A Charitable Prayer for these Miserable Times O Lord that dost not willingly afflict the Children of Men Behold from thy Holy Habitation of Heaven the Multitudes of miserable Souls Lives amongst us and have mercy upon us Have mercy on all Ignorant Souls instruct them On all Deluded Mindes and Enlighten them On all seducing and seduced Spirits and Convert them Have mercy on all broken Hearts and Heal them all strugling with Temptation and Rescue them All Languishing in Spirituall Desertion and Revive them Have mercy on all that stagger in Faith and establish them That are falne from Thee and Raise them That stand with Thee and Confirme them Have mercy on all that groan under their Sinnes and Ease them that blesse themselves and goe on in their wickednesse and curb and stop them Jesus that didst shed thy Bloud for all Soules to save them shed thy Holy Spirit on all and heal them And Lord have mercy on all miserable Bodies Those that are ready to Famish for want Feed them Those that are bound to Beds of pain Loose them Those that are in Prison and Bonds Release them Those that are under the fury of Persecution and cry under the yoke of Oppression Relieve them Those that lie smarting in their Paines and Wounds Cure them Thâ—se that are Distracted in their Thoughts and Wits Settle them Those that are in Perils of their Lives Preserve them Jesus that didst freely Distribute thy Comforts and Cures to all Miseries and Maladies of Men when thou wast on Earth Have mercy on all and Help them Far or near with us or from us Lord have mercy on all Even every Sonne and Daughter of Adam at this time in paine and anguish upon the face of the Earth where ever they are whosoever they be what help I would pray for my self from thee or Comfort from Man in their condition I beseech thee the God of all Help and Comfort to give it to them Take them to thy Care and Tender them Supply them and Succour them have Compassion on them and Heal them Jesus that didst give thy Bloud for them deny not thy bowels to them Thou that didst Redeeme them all preserve them Even all Miserable Souls and Bodies I beseech thee for thine Infinite mercies sake Amen A Prayer against the Temptations of the Time O God Who wilt not suffer us to be tempted above what we are 1 Cor. 10. 13. able to bear Succour me that the Temptations of the Time doe not overwhelme me Discover to me the wayes of thy Providence so far that I may see why I should neither deny it or doubt it And make me know Thy Judgements Job 11. 6. Rom. 11. 33. Job 40. 4. 41. 3. Jer. 12. 1. to be so unsearchable and thy wayes past finding out that I may humbly submit my wit to thy Wisdome and admire and adore the Justice which I doe not see Let me not be of so narrow a mind as to confine thy Worke to one World which thou dost not finish but in Two Nor let me be such a Creature of Sense as to believe thou
prosper me O blessed Captaine of my salvation deare Jesus who didst shed thy blood for me shield me now that am to fight for thee and all engaged with me Have mercy on us all deare Jesus and give us victory Amen Amen Our Father c. 4. Thanksgiving after Fight LOrd that hast been the shield of Ps 28. 30. 124. 128. After Victory 26. 98. thy Servant I give thee the glory of thy goodnesse And still Lord in all dangers be my shield that I may give thee yet more glory for that thou hast given me to see many fall and my selfe stand that thou hast shewed me this day many wounded and kept me safe Glory be to thee O Lord for thy mercy for ever by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Our Father c. 5. Prayer for one wounded in Warre O Lord thou woundest and healest 1 Sam. 2. 6. thou killest and thou makest alive I doe beseech thee therefore to heale him in thy mercy who is not wounded without thy providence Lord Jesu thou good and great Physitian of wounded bodies souls who never failest to cure whom thou pleasest to recover take him to thy care who is wounded in thy cause and even for thy tender mercies sake I beseech thee heale his Soule of his sins and his Body of his wounds O thou that thy self was wounded and sheddest thy blood for him and us all in this bleeding condition of his let thy blood be his cordiall and thy wounds his remedies And thou Lord of life who on earth with thy Word made the sick and wounded to recover yea the dead to live say unto him from Heaven Live and Recover that he may serve thee more and better on Earth And now and ever fit and prepare him with thy grace that when he dies he may live and reigne with thee in Heaven through the blessed merits and mediation who wast wounded and slaine to heale and save us all O Jesus Christ our Lord our life and onely hope and succour and Saviour in life and death Amen Prayers for the Sick 1. A Confession and Prayer for mercy and Deliverance O Lord I do humbly confesse to the glory of thy justice that the sicknesse which I suffer is the fruit of my sin the Root of Mankind was poysoned with it and I am a branch of it yea and am much and many waies polluted by it and so am like my Root a poysoned branch I am therefore a Child of Death Rom. 5. 12. and Heire of the Grave the issue of his sin and sicknesse is my portion as I am his Child But Lord I am the seed of a second Adam looke at me not as I am in the first but thy Christ a graft of that Isaiah holy stock the root of Jesse the branch of righteousnesse the Holy One of God for his pretious merits sake forgive me my sin and have mercy on me in my sicknesse And O deare Iesus Joh. 5. 14. that didst take flesh and blood for me pity me poore flesh and blood groaning before thee comfort me and succour me help me and heale me even by the merits of thy pretious blood I beseech thee Amen Amen Prayer for Patience in Sicknesse I Am thy Prisoner O Lord chained by infirmity to a bed of paine but let me not fret even because I am thine Thine whose chaine I cannot breake Thine who dost draw me to thee by this chaine Thine who for my sinne dost justly bind me Thine who knowest when it 's best to loose me Thine who seest what lies upon me Thine who hearest every groane within me Thine who for my sinnes mightâ—st bind me in everlasting chains and sendest this sicknesse to save me O Lord since I am so many waies thine let me submit to thy chaine and lie as thy prisoner so thy Patient before thee and let thy pity in thy good time release me and charge not the errors of my infirmity upon me for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Thanksgiving for Recovery of Sicknesse WHat shall I render unto the Psal 116. Lord for all his benefits done to me the snares of death compassed me and the paines of Hell tooke hold upon me I found woe and misery then called I on the name of the Lord and he heard me yea thou Lord wast he that helped me Thou art my God and I wil praise thee It was not Man it was thou that healed me All Physitians are of no value all Medicines vaine without thee Thy Mercy O Lord was my Balme and I will magnifie it Thou wast my Physitian and I will praise thee My heart in all extremity shall therefore trust in thee My lips shall speake of thy praise and my life honour thee I will not be so wretched as to offend thee with the healthinesse thou hast given me with the life anew bestowed on me O Lord keep that wretchednesse for ever from me thy grace therefore ever give me to have in all my waies this mercy and thy glory before me even so be it I beseech thee O Lord for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Amen Prayer against the Plague O Lord Pestilence is thy Arrow and my sins have made mee thy marke nor canst thou misse me in thy justice But spare me Lord spare me in thy mercy Though I deserve the stroke for my selfe spare me for my Saviours sake let his innocency be my shield and his blood my antidote O Lord I have I wish no other antidote or shield By the soveraigne and all-saving merits of his I beseech thee pardon my sinne and spare my life Spare my soule that it may better serve thee spare my body that it may better serve my soule spare my heart that I may keepe it more carefully for thee spare my blood that my spirits may be more active to serve thee And as I pray Pestilence from my body so I beseech thee keep it from my soule Preserve me from the house and shield me from the chaire of pestilence As from infected Bodies so from Spirits which breath errors and vices pests and plagues of souls From all mutuall diseases defend me Body and Soule but from those fearfull ones above all I beseech thee And all those thou hast made neare and deare unto me deare Saviour doe it for thy mercies sake Amen Prayer for one infected with the Plague I Am struck O God and by thy hand I beseech thee let me bleed in thy Armes in thy Armes of mercy let me depart if I must die but Lord embrace me with thy favour that I may live live out this danger and see thy deliverance out-live my sins and doe thee more service Meane while mercy Lord for Jesus his sake mercy to thy poore Servant pardon to my sinne comfort to my spirit acceptance to my repentance strength to my faith life to my charity salvation to my soule that whether I live or die I may be thine O Lord who to redeem and save me
put it in thy senses Man of reason be not a beast for sense live and love above worldly vanitie looke and long after sure solid satisfying soule-felicity else saving thy selfe nothing is or can be so vaine Wednesday-Service Against the Villanies of the World Morning Prayer Psal 12. 14. 120. Lessons Gen. 6. or 19. Mat. 24. Evening Prayer Psal 18. 55. Lessons Jer. 5. or Isaiah 13. 2 Pet. 2. or 1 Joh. 5. Collect against the villanies of the World O Lord since the World is a Sodome 2 Pet. 2. 8. let me be a Lot vexed not delighted with her filthiness Since it is a Mesech let me be a David not taken but tired with her Psal 120. 4 wretchedness Lord why should that have my joyes where my Soule is never free from dangers nor thy glory from wounds where Blasphemie is as common as the ayre and Oppression as the earth where Iniquitie flowes like water and lust flames as fire why should I be in love with her that is in hate with thee where if I follow her course I go to the damnation of another world and if I crosse it meet with nothing but vexation all the way O Lord though I be in it let me not be of it if it be wicked let me be good yea the more wicked it is the better let me be that thou mayest Apoc. 3. 12 take a more mercifull notice of my goodnesse And because it is hard to breath the ayre of corruption and take 2 Cor. 6. 17 no taint into conversation let me be willing to get fairly from it and come to thee where is blisse pure without teare or taint Take me from the Devils of the world to thy Angels O God! meane time let me live a Saint even amongst Devils that I may at last be a Saint amongst Angels yea as one of thy Angels in that world where is no woe nor wickednesse Sinner nor Satan but thy blessed unitie with holy and happy society of glorified Men and Angels enjoying adoring lauding and serving thee for ever ever so be it for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Daily Prayers Meditation of the Villanies of the World MOther of all misdeeds and mischiefs when shall I be delivered from thee gaole of my Soule and wrack of my salvation a hill of poor Pismires tossing up and downe thou art at best a hell of debauch'd and damned Spirits at worst Source of sinne forge of hell and a field of all temptation If I love my God I must hate thee because an enemy to his honour if I love my self I must loath thee because an adversary to my salvation if I hate the Devill I must not love thee because thou art his Sword to destroy if I may not love the flesh I must not love thee because her staffe of support if I must not love vice I must abhorre thee because thou art the Mistresse of Vanitie if I must love grace I must detest thee because the Step-dame of Virtue Hagge of Satan Hate of Heaven Schole of Vice Seminary of Errour Mother of Sinne Step-dame of Saints Pest of the Spirit Nurse of the Flesh who by thy bad counsels and examples breedest the Brat of Sin in thy wicked womb and then sucklest and indearest it with thy profits and pleasures thy wretched dugs woe is me that I must stay in thee shame on me if I love thee thy best things are vanities of Earth thy worst villanies against Heaven what in thee can I love Though thou be a Whore I will not be a Villaine to my God so much a Villaine as to love such a Whore so Jac. 4. 4. 1 Joh. 2. 14 much a Villaine as by any lust of mine to make thee more Strumpet and by my additions of particular ills to encrease thy whoredomes I will have care what I can not to be Partaker of thy guilts but Ringleader I will never be to thy rebellions I would not come to thy end and therefore will avoid thy way God I thank thee for thy good Spirit which carries me against the streame of my corruption and tide of the World I cannot goe but in the strength of that Spirit against such a tide and streame God I pray thee let me continue my course that I fall not at last into thy Sea of Wrath and when the world of nature shall end be tormented with a world of sinners world without end for ever and ever Thursday-Service About Death Morning Prayer Psal 39. 49. Lesson Geu 3. or 5. Luk. 16. Evening Prayer Psal 90. 23. Lesson Eccles 12. Rom. 5. ¶ Thursday-Collect or Prayer about Death O Lord who hast appointed all to die make me ever mindfull of my dissolution that I may lesse love the vanities of this and more seek the felicities of a better life where death and distresses are not but we shall be as the Angels of God healthy and vigorous and happy for ever O let me every day so live that I may come to that life when I die And because the best-led life may have need of some time to prepare for death Of thy great mercy I beseech thee keep me from an unprepared heart and unexpected end Even for his sake who himselfe had the horrour of death Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers after it Meditation of Death DIe I must and after live in weal or woe for ever and no time after to recover the woe if I lose the weal As I tender then eternity let me look to my life Die I must and know not where House a Field Land or Water Bed or Board every where then let me look to it Die I must but know not how By a violent or naturall course casualty or infirmity lingringly or speedily every way then let me looke for it Die I must but know not when Day or night this or that day next or this This or that hour that or this minute this or that time Morn Noon Even ever then let me look after it And how look to it better then to finde out the murderer and doom him to death O Sin shalt thou lie in my bosome that hast laid all Mankind in a grave I will have thee to the crosse Rom. 5. 12 for that yea and for this too lest thou adde murder to murder and kill my Soul after my Body O what a sad hour of parting will that be if when Soul should leave the Body to death God shall leave the soul to be damn'd All full of horrour and utterly comfortlesse when it should be most the comforter of the Body But strength thou hast not to have death under foot without a Christ in Luke 2. 28 29. thy Armes Thou canst not welcome it without fear till thou embrace him in thy Faith To whom then should I look but to thee O Lord who art my Saviour And for what but thy mercy which is my Salvation And why but for my sinnes my onely destruction And how
but by repentance the onely remedy of my sins And when but in my life the onely time of my repentance And this day this hour this minute which may be the last of my life O Jesus as I sinne let me repent daily that when I die as I must I may live eternally with thee and by thee Amen Amen See more Soliloquie p. Friday-Service Of Judgement to come Morning Prayer Psal 50. 143. Lesson Dan. 12. Mat. 25. or Act. 17. Evening Prayer Psal 98. 99. Lesson Eccles 11. 2 Cor. 5. or 2 Thes 1. ¶ Fryday Collect or Prayer of Judgment to come O Lord Almighty who hast determined a day wherein thou wilt bring all Men and things to Judgement make me to try my Soul daily at the bar of my Conscience that judging my selfe for my Sins thou maist not condemne me at thy dreadfull Tribunall And Lord let that day be often in my thoughts that the fear of it and thee may be ever before my eyes and my Conscience may be kept more clean by the power of that fear Even for his mercies sake who was my Redeemer shall be my Judge and is my Advocate Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Daily Prayers Meditation of Judgement O Barre in the Clouds I must appear 2 Cor. 5. 10. 1 Thes 4. 17. Apoc. 6. 16 Joh. 12. 48. before thee woe to me then if found guilty and now if I beware not of all Capitall guilts if I sin against the light of my mind and Gods great grace and goodnesse for then I am a Capitall Offender If I Heb. 10. 26 27. Rom. 1. 29 Gal. 5. 19. doe what upon pain of death God forbids me by his Heavenly Law for that 's a Capitall Offence For that and this will not God judge me Why For this even the World for Tit. 3. 111. that Conscience will condemne me And God for more for if Conscience can charge me with more then the World God can lay to my charge 1 Joh. 3. 20 1 Cor. 4. 4. more then my Conscience To the world Manifest and Secret are two things but to Conscience all one To be and be known are two things to Conscience and to be remembred and known but what is seen to Providence is never out of memory if once seen to hide guilt then will not serve to take no notice or forget it not justifie To a circumstance imagination syllable God doth observe Psal 50. 21 Apoc. 20. 12. Eccles 12. 14. and enroll every act thought word what ever I speak conceive or doe be it never so close or hid No way then to be saved but to get a pardon before my Doome No plea for that but Christs Bloud no Mediatour but Jesus And no fees for that Advocate but my Teares Not my Purse but Heart must bleed 1 John 2. 1. Luk. 4. 8. Mat. 11. 28. to move his mercy and then he will undertake my peace and Mediation Repentance by the plea of his passion and Intercession of himself never failes of Pardon because he never in Promise Those particular Sessions on my self prevent his generall Assizes my Penance his Vengeance But delay not thy pardon lest thou finde thy doome before it Have it not to seek when thou shouldest have it to shew thy Petition to draw when thy execution begins nor think with an half repentance to get a whole pardon Remorse for sinne without amendment Act. 3. 19. Heb. 9. 27. is but half And death is thy little Doomes-day no amending after it O Lord That I may be cleared by thy Sentence let me be condemned by mine condemned in my Conscience not by a constrained force and fury of guilt but by a voluntary and fair Penitentiall Processe Let thy Deputy 1 Cor. 11. 31. thus doome me that thou maist not condemne me Let me fall at my own Breast that I may stand before thy Bar O Christ Thy Pardon will raise me from such a fall and in that strength of grace and mercy even before thee shall I stand From being cast by thy mouth as low as Hell from falling from thy Bar to the bottomlesse pit and prison beware thou my soule Deliver me Deare Saviour now and ever Amen More of this see Soliloquie p. Saturday-Service Of the paines of Hell Morning Prayer Psal 11. 2. Lesson Isay 66. Luk. 16. or Mar. 9. Mat. 24. Even Prayer Psal 9. Lesson Deut. 32. or Isay 30. Jude 2. or 2 Pet. 2. ¶ Saturday-Collect or Prayer of the Paines of Hell O Dreadfull Majesty that hast Earth for thy Foot-stoole and Hell for thy Prison Of thy mercy forgive me that guilt which in thy justice would bring me to that fearfull Gaole Lord let me often think of Hell that I may never come to it And let me seriously muse on those eternall fires that I may carefully avoid them and Sin the fuell of them and way to it O suffer me not to buy any Sin so dear on Earth as to lose Heaven by it and suffer in Hell eternally for it Dear Saviour that hast triumphed over it preserve me from it by the merits of thy precious blood and passion O Lord Amen Daily Prayers Meditation of Hell NAy but if one were sent Luk. 16. 30 from the dead they would heare him No! not a Preacher from the Grave if none in the Pulpit Especially in a point of so universall a belief as hath not onely a Church-full but World-full of Preachers A point of so cleer and convincing an evidence as hath even those who are most Infidels to it Prophets of it What else doe the Archests and interest of Atheists and Epicures preach Heare they it not from Pulpits in their breasts that heed none in the Church Their terrors in life and honours at death are they not flashes of that infernall fire which they would extinguish Prophecies of what they would not have Hell Which because their guilts condemne them to they therefore rather would not then cannot believe Within thee or without thee in Breast or Booke Talmud Alchoran or Bible Church or World Guiltie one there is a Hell for thee Therefore is thy torture in life when distresse sets guilt on worke and Hell appeares within thee and dread in death when it appeares unto thee No wonder for if most credible what more horrible If Gods Palace be the best place Heaven his Prison is the worst Hell If the joyes of that passe all understanding the pains of this are above our comprehension Discourse may make them great but Experience makes that little Sad thoughts of this are good To have the Mind on hell is the way to keepe the Soule out And have thought of it for if once in no comming out O Epicure whose art it is to put all thoughts of Hell from thee by so Isa 28. 15. much it is nearer and heavier to thee When thy Body which thou pamperest shall die to feed wormes and thy soule which thou wouldst bury with it live to
Table which is the Chaire of thy Presence Yea where in High and Ineffable Mystery I find a Presence of thy Body and Keep both a Commemoration 1 Cor. 10. 16. and Communion of it and thy Blood O Lord Since I so much love thy Greg. Epistela Dci c. Selfe till in thy sight how should I not long to see Thy Letters the Word and Thy Seale the Sacrament and till in Beatificall presence weare that as a Ring in thy Remembrance 4. I loathe the Life in which I cannot See Thee At best an Exile at 1 Cor. 5. 6. worst a Trouble to Thee I loathe my selfe for casting away love on so base and unworthy a life Where I doe either Crucifie Thee with my Sinnes or Wound thee with my Miseries where Act. 9. 5. such is thy holy zeale to God and sympathie and tender mercy to my Soule I renue thy Passion by my Guilts or thine Agony by my Conflicts I loathe that Crucifix on my Brest which encourageth to trample Thee under foot I can endure O Christ to see Thee in Image a Picture of my Dearest Friend but abhorre to love it Eodem cultu Crux quo Christus like thee or to passe so much time and devotion to that as makes me more forget my Lord then dutifully remember me O Jesus thy selfe shalt be my Crucifix Not hung at my Brest but in my Heart No roome but that is good Heb. 13. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 12. Heb. 12. 1. enough for thee That next Martyrdome hyes me most to thee if I cannot flie a Martyrs pace I will run a Saints And by the speed of a mortified course make more haste after thee 5. I joy in thy Crosse not in thy Grief O Christ Can I see thy Body all gore and my heart not bleed The Zach. 12. 10. Luk. 23. 76. Speare be in thy Heart and no Sword at mine I will not I cannot endure it O Jesus No! I joy in the Root Thine infinite Mercy O God! And in Luk. 2. 78. Col. 1. 20. the fruit The perfect Redemption of man It is finished Yes blessed be Joh 19. 30. the Blood that was the Price Blessed the Body that laid out that Blood Heb. 10. 11. Heb. 7. 25. Joh. 16. 33. The Satisfaction is full Salvation is sure Sinne is nail'd Hell foil'd Satan chain'd The World baffled The 1 Pet. 4. 2. Flesh wounded Death slaine The Grave buried Every adversary power 1 Cor. 15. 54 57. is conquered by Christ Triumphant in the Chariot of his Crosse over all Col. 2. 15. All is finished O Drie Tree of more Blessed Fruit O lignum faelix c. c. 1. than ever Earth bare No Rather O Wet Body that madest a Whole World happy Sap and virtue of that Happy Tree It was not the Wood Col. 1. 20. but Blood of the Crosse that brought forth that fruit the Redemption of Man And what good doth not grow from and upon that Pulpit of Repentance Pillar of Faith Anchor of Hope Magazine of Charity Armory of Mortification Schoole of Patience Mirror of Obedience Rock of Constancy Shop of Humility the whole Duty of a Christian O blessed Root of Gods mercy that bringest forth the happy fruit of Mans Grace and Glory O Tree of Death more Blessed then the Tree of Life that hast such a Fruit and Root Thus are my Joyes triumphant in thy Cross But 6. I grieve to see thee Crucified againe O Christ And my Soul is Crucified for having a hand in thy Cross Wo to the World for Offences which Heb. 6. 6. make thee Bleed afresh and bring thee to thy Crosse againe Woe is me that see thee daily Crucified betwixt Hereticks and Schismaticks Theeves of thy Truth between Hypocrites and Profligates Theeves of thy Grace Amidst men of intemperate Heats and cools in Religion Theeves of thy Honour I grieve to see thee Crucified in vaine So much of the world lost when 1 Cor. 1. 17. all was paid for A price sufficient to have ransom'd not a World onely but a Hell full of Divells effectuall onely to a handfull of men Yea even within thy holy Pale which should preserve thy Bloud to a drop woe is me How is it spilt to a stream Whilst some give others leave thee or themselves none Making void by Gal. 2. 21. 2 Pet. 2. 1. their Sinnes the healing Vertues of thy Bloud and Wounds By Unbelief millions out of the Church and by Mis-belief thousands in it and by miscarriage of Life Millions of thousands both in and out My heart bleeds to see thy Creeds without Faith thy Decalogue without Obedience Thy Prayer without Use thy Sacraments without Reverence Nay to see it made Faith Conscience Devotion Zeal to have no respect to Sacrament Prayer Decalogue or Creed My Soul is troubled to see thy Holy Demeanes robb'd thy Mansions ruined Souls sold for Money for which thou didst pay Bloud And Lord what teares of Bloud are sufficient to bewaile it that thy One onely Commandement of Love which cannot live at all out of thy Church within it should be slaine and buried all in Broile and Bloud-shed O Christ can my Eyes see thee thus Crucified again twice and in vaine once and my Heart not grieve Yet 7. I hope And in Thee and the Bloud of thy Crosse alone I hope for Col. 2. 14. Pardon because I read it seal'd in thy Bloud I hope for Salvation because Act. 20. 28. I finde it purchased under that Seal Wilt thou not make good thy Seal Wilt thou not preserve thy Purchase Nor Sin nor Devill then shall damne me O Christ He shall not steal thy Rom. 8. 34 35. 1 John 2. 1. Purchase It shall not voide thy Seal Thy Bloud is my plea against both In it I see my Pardon and Salvation written nor care I so thou be my Advocate for Saint or Angel to set to 1 Tim. 2. 5 their Hands I hope in thee for my Salvation And so I doe for my Mothers too The Spouse bought with thy Bloud and lov'd as thy Body O Lord thou art by singular stile her Ephes 5. 24 25. Saviour And shall she want what she so much needs thy Salvation She is on the Crosse Dear Jesus deliver Her Force without and Fury within Crucifie Her Lord tender Her Enemies and Children both fall upon Her O Christ rescue Her O let Her not want thy Bowels for whom thou gavest thy Blood Behold Her miseries let Her not want a Bath for whom thou yet hast Blood Forgive Her sinnes Till that hath no Vertue She is not without hope By the Merits of thy Golgotha dry her Akeldama By the passions of thy Calvari take her off the Crosse O Christ Whilst thou hast one drop of Blood I will not Despaire for my selfe or Her Whilest that is warme that chilnesse shall never seize my Spirit And I know thy streames of Blood are neither Drain'd
and troubles * Si quis bujusmodi consolationis majoris certitudinis causâ pastorem pium doctum conveniat suum in ejus sinum exoneret petatque absolutionem Consolationem rem utilissimam fecerit Zanch. in 1 Joh. 1. Job 33. 23. Some Divine Counsellour to Examine our Estate and if cause be Seale from God our Evidence for Heaven by giving his Pardon to that which threatens Hell For the Devil wil be sure to set on the 1 Cor. 2. 11 1 Pet. 5. 8. Soul which he finds in a straight and doubt and may devour it if it have none but it s own relief As God knows he daily does * Tanquam portum Refugium illis quos Diabolus c. Luth. in Gen. 32. 3. And every man being favourable for Absolution a Quisque sibi benevolus judex est Basil if his own Judg and no man able without his Relation to know and helpe the Maladies of anothers heart b Prov. 14. 10. 2 Sam. 1. 13 14 15. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Pulpit generalls not comming home often to * Ne fingas tibi peculiarem Confessionem Luth. in Gen. 32 Nemo sibi dicat occulte ago poenitentiam apud DeuÌ„ ago ergo sine cause dictuÌ„ est QuoruÌ„ peecata c. Aug. the Particulars of many Soules c Melius in privata confessione ubi morbos aperit quà m in publicâ concione ubi quâ re cuique privatim opus sit pastor ignorat Zanch. in 1 Joh. 1. 1. Bishop Andr. S. in Joh. 16. 7. p. 636. Consolationem accipiunt quam in publicâ concione non possunt apprehendere Luth. in Gen. 32. nor of power ordinarily to make Entries and Discoveries of hearts as when the dores are set open of purpose Hence great profits may come upon pious Confessions even out of those cases My disease better remedied because more known d Quod ignorat medicina non curat Hier. My state more assured because better Examined My way e Ob praedicationes multas non eruditior quod euique credendum agendum c. Haec inquisitio docet commâ—dissimè sic fit Luth. better directed because errors more Discerned My piety more advanced because my Soule better Studied My Repentance more perfected because my self more humbled f Dan. 9. 7 My Sins more abhorred because I more confounded g Magis coram Ipso pastore quam Deâ— solo Zanc. in 1 Joh. Jam. 5. 15 15. My Spirituall wants better relieved because more particularly known and recommended And God knowes what losses many suffer for want of this 4. Yea and Harmes too as well as losses voidable by a seasonable use of such Spirituall Counsels * ColloquuÌ„ privatum Melan In propriâ causâ quisque excaecatur ut saepenumero quod maluÌ„ est benefactum judicet vol saltem quod gravissimum extenuet Zanch. ib. Parlies since many Acts passe for innocent and good or not greatly bad which are truly and very ill * Juvatur ad scelerum agnitionem sui a pastore non sic si solus c. Idem and would so appear if Cited and Questioned before a Judgement well exercised in causes and cases of Conscience So they lose the Advantages of keeping themselves good and cleare before God of such things as pollute them and provoke him because they knew neither And run into hazards never to amend them because not considered as amisse or very little if any thing By which meanes without a miraculous mercy Facit cognosci lapsus morbos gradus peccatorum Mel. l. c. Erudit docet nos defectus nostros Luth. of God they Live in them without Regret and Die in them without Repentance Flattered into a better Belief of themselves and their state to God then either their Life can give good Evidence or true Judgment good Warrant for And God knowes how many Consciences without Check swallow down as harmlesse acts grievous Guilts which at last swallow their Soules up by not bringing their wayes to the Test and Triall v. Luth. S. de Euch. which would discover them dangerous and so make way to have them at once both Abhorred and Amended 5. To these good ends and purposes Constanter rotinemus Conf. Sax. Diligenter retinemus Conf. Ausb Private Confession is reteined in the Reformed Churches and the Moderate and sober use as much Commended as the Tyrannous and Superstitious abuse is condemned in the Roman With true and large praises a Veris amplissimis Conf. Ausb For weighty causes b Conf. Sax. As an Appointment of God c Rom à Deo institutam ut salutariter ipsis inserviat Conf. Boh. Non pugnat cum verbo Dei imò conformis est Zanch. in Joh. 1. Officii sui esse meminerit non negligendum quod a Domino offertur remedium ut ad se sublevandum privatâ confessione apud pastorem suum utatur Calv. Instit l. 3. c. 4. n. 12. n. 13. Ut sistant se pastori oves quoties Sacram Coeâ—am participare volunt adeo nou reclamo ut maximè velim hoc ubique observari Idem Examina publica vel privata Communicantium minimè improbamus imò requirimus abfit verò tyrannis superstitio Pare in 1 Cor. 11. And meanes of Remission d Per Potestatem clavium Evangelii Dispensatio fit non solum omnibus in communi sed singulis Conf. Ausp Medium remissionis Externum Privatum Privata Confessio est in qua dicitur Remittuntur tibi c. Zanch. in 1 Joh. 1. Most Comfortable e Cum fiduciâ Remissione frui sc credant secundum verbum Cui remiseritis c. Conf. Boh. Non aliter quà m si à Christo ipso perciperet cum hic illis has tradidâ—rit neque ullo modo dubitet per ministerium hoc clavium virtute potestate Christi peccata sua ci remitti juxta id Cut peccata c. Conf Boh. Valde plâ—na consolatione est ista confessio Luth. de Euch. Profitable f Res utilissima Zanch. 1 Joh. 1. Sunt aliae utilitates mulâ—ae Mel. l de panit Necessary g Sentio vehementer necessariam Hem. in 1 Cor. 11. Multas praeclaras res in sc complectitur Luth. S. Euch. Est enim opus valde praeclarum pretiosum quod non nisi a vero Christiano ficri potest Luâ—h ib. Desirable h Hanc tam piam utilem causam spero valituram apud multos ut morem pâ—tendae absolutionis magis ament libentius retâ—uâ—re studeant Mel. l. c. For Spirituall Ease Advice better Assurance and Intelligence betwixt God and the Soule Greater Remonstrance and Assistance against Sinne and the Consciences more Light Purity and Peace Of which their Churches and Doctors are sufficient witnesses i Mille mundos perdi mallet c. Luth. 1. Eccl. Angl. Exhort 2. ad Euch. In visit aegroti Can. 1. 103.
those Spirits of Comfort Hope against the Heb. 11. 1. Rom. 5. 1. Rom. 15. 13. faints of feare Peace against the troubles of Guilt and Joy against the Droopings of Spirit My Soule If with hard toyle and abstinence like Jonathan thy eyes begin to faile and thy strength to faint Joy is Hony to cleare them 1 Sam. 14. 29. 2 Cor. 4. 16 and revive thee If with Israel in this Wildernesse of want and woe thou art ready to Sinke and perish Peace is Manna to feed and Sustaine thee If Apoc. 2. 15. with David thy Bones are dried with heavinesse of heart this Joy is Marrow to moysten them and Strengthen Psal 63. 5. Isa 66. 14. thee But if not True thy Faith is none of this And my Soule since all thy Comfort depends on this looke to it for All have not Faith and few what is true Counterfeits of Faith are not true Cordialls to Conscience And there 2 Thes 3. 2 1 Tim. 1. 5 be many Counterfeits 1. A Vaine Delusion When what thou believest is thy Phansie not Gods Word Or a Revelation as thou thinkest Isa 8. 20. Ephes 1. 8. New but contrary to the Old For if Faith be not Wedded to the Word * Luth. 2 Thes 2. 11. the Comfort it bears is Bastard Delusion all 2. A Blind Resignation is deceit too Indeed to give up the Mind in absolute Rom. 4. 18 19. Mal. 2. 7. beliefe to what he sayes be it above or against thy reason or sense is right And to see Superfluities to Salvation though Revealed Truths with the Churches eyes not ill But Necessaries Isa 53. 11. Rom. 1. 17 thou must see with thy owne And know what thou dost believe and not live by anothers faith If not have thy joy in anothers heart 3. An Idle Speculation it is not neither It undertakes a great Worke and employes at it a great Workeman That Augean-stable to clense the Heart Act. 15. 19 1 Cor. 7. 19 Gal. 5. 6. and Labour for the strength of Paradise to Keep Gods Commandements this it undertakes And which abhors no toyle which wit can imagine possible Cant. 8. 7. Love that it employes It is but an idle Comfort that 's brought by a Loytering Faith And 4. A Great Confidence doth not ever Mr. Banes in Eph. c 7 Helps 93. Bifield in 2 Pet. Rom. 14. 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make it good for Assurance of Salvation may be without True Faith and it true without that assurance That 's the effect of a strong one not the essence of all Every man is not strong Some points of wind may serve to make the way Every ship hath not Saile-full And if the ballast be not waighed and fraught with an humble and good Conscience may as soone everturne 1 Tim. 1. 19. as arrive the ship If tender it Sinks it in despaire if tough Splits it on Presumption No comfort for many but as a gulfe and rock to the Mariner if full perswasion be or there is no faith And A Good Opinion is lesse Though others Apoc. 3. 17 18. concurrent with my owne of my Selfe What would I not be could I be what I would I am not in Happy condition because I thinke it but must first be so and then I may beleive it If Groundlesse if Word-lesse A good beleife is an ill faith Because thou wouldest seeke to have a better didst Mat. 25. 3. thou not presume it to be so good Apoc. 3. 17 18. But 6. A Bad Dispensation that 's worst 2 Pet. 1. 10. Phil. 2. 12. Ro. 11. 20. Rom. 5. 1 2 of all To grow bold to Sin because Sure of Heaven As Faith is never without hope a Spur to good So nor without feare the Bridle of ill Noah Heb. 11. 7. was saved by Faith but built an arke for feare If thou plunge thy selfe into Heb. 4. 1. Seas of Sin thou maist perish for all thy Faith If perfect it hath two eyes one for Promises another for Precepts Jonah 3. 5. Act. 24. 14 Divine Word and Witnesse both An ill life can no more stand with good Faith then a great Sicknesse be with good health Act. 15. 9. None of those then it is No A Trusting in God for Salvation by Christ Act. 15. 11. according to his Word that 's the Substantiall Soveraigne Cordiall-Healing-Saving Faith That there is none but by Christ is Mar. 5. 7. Luk. 4. 41. Act. 16. 17 Apoc. 13. 10. the Devills That none by Christ but as he conditions and wills the Saints My Soul though thy Repentance be right and Faith sound and both set thee well all will be but the worse if thou dost not keep so For this Mercy hath made Remedy And New obedience is the Preservative In. Adam my Soul the Covenant 3. Part. was Doe or Die a Gal. 3. 12 All or None b Deut. 27 26. Exactly or Nothing c Gal. 3. 10 Jam. 2. 10. 3. 2. but in Christ who doth consider d Heb. 4. 15 2. 18. and succour thy frailties with his Meritorious and Gracious Reliefs the Tenure runs e Heb. 8. 6. 9. 14 15 Endeavour to do all f Act. 24. 16. be upright in thy Endeavour g 1 Tim. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 18. 21. Hate great Sin love none Flie the worst follow not any h Rom. 16 18. 2 Joh. 9. 11 Detest Enâ—rmities i Eph. 5. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 9. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Rom. 6. 12 Delight not in Infirmities This would not passe for Obedience of old and therefore it 's called New k Heb. 8. 13 And thy Health is happily maintained and preserved by it It preserves thy Repentance and proves it sound l Mat. 3. 8. 2 Cor. 7. 11 It preserves thy Faith and makes it saving m Jam. 2. 14. It preserves thy self in both and keeps thee living n Ephes 2. 1. 2. S. John Baptist S. James S. Paul his Preservative It preserves thee from Apostasie that thou fall not wide from God o Psal 87. 38. Luc. 8. 13. 15. and from Despair p Job 8. 13. 27. 8. that thou fall not short of Him for sincerity is the Mother of Constancy q Jer. 32. 40. Act. 24. 14 15. and the Nurse of Hope r Isa 33. 14 Gilt wears off Gold endures the Guilty fears Judgement the Honest heart hopes s 1 Joh. 3. 21. S. Lukes and S. Johns Preservative It preserves thee under the Crosse t Job 13. 15. the Burden of thy flesh u Heb. 12. 11. and against Temptation w Gen. 39. 10. Luk. 8. 13. the trouble of thy Spirit the naturall womb of Patience and Step-mother to the Devils issue Guilt gaules the back Innocence gives strength to bear a Crosse Shallow Dan. 6. 22 1 Pet. 4. 16 2 Thes 2. 10 Psal 1. 4. Gen. 39. 10 Job 27. 6.