woundes salue for my sores whose mercies are infinitelie more than my detestable sinnes can bee I haue wandred alace like a lost sheepe Good Sheepheard seeke mee and bring me home againe O Lambe of God who taketh away the sinnes of the world let the light of thy countenance shine on me and looke on mee as thou didst on Peter By dying thou hast overcome Death and brought agâ—ine Life by rysing therefrom If I had the knowledge of Angels and all my members were converted into tongs never should I be able worthily to magnifie the boweles of thy compassion extended to mee wretched sinner which passeth all vnderstanding Thou didst not take deare Christ the Angels but the seed of Abraham beeing made like vnto mee in all things Sinne excepted which nature thou hast glorified in the heavens Now since it is humane nature wherein thou raignest I beleeue also to reigne and bee glorified with thee And albeit my sins hinder me in the constant course of my Salvation yet thy loue this Commnuion and coniunction taketh all lettes out of the way Thou art not so hard O Lord as to despise mee since thy Sonne hath caried my nature vnto heaven Canst thou forget that which thou hast fast by thee No truelie thou art slow to anger full of mercie with thee is plentifull redemption Most louing art thou for no man hateth his owne flesh at any time thou O God louest thy Sonne and they that are his which are risen with him and placed by Faith hope in heavenlie places I was not worthie to bee thy servant but thou hast made mee thy Sonne and fellow-Heire with my Brother Christ Consider the paines of my Redeemer and pardon the redeemed his offences Why did he so obedientlie suffer the punishment of disobedience but onelie to saue mee and thine Elect There was no goodnesse in mee that could induce thee to the same it was thy bountie and free mercie and now thine hand is not shortned but it can saue mee Wil thou then try thy power against straw and stubble against mee who am but a shaddow and lighter than vanitie My sinnes are alwayes in my sight still representing before me thy anger I feele the grievous burthen of them thy iudgements against them but thou will not the death of a Sinner but that hee should turne and liue Enter not therefore in iudgement with mee O Lord for no flesh shall bee iustified in thy sight for thy Christ whom I imbrace by a true Faith is made vnto mee righteousnes wisedome and redemption To whom with thee and the holie Ghost bee all glorie and praise for euer Amen A PRAYER BEFORE the Communion WOunderfull must thy loue bee O Lord towards mee poore and miserable Sinner that thou woldest haue thy deare and onelie Sonne to suffer all tormentes and death for mee and to take vpon him all my infirmities and miseries yet not contented therewith wouldest haue the remembrance of this thy great mercie least it should be forgotten razed out of mine heart and that my Faith should not waxe faint sith thy Sonne hath ascended vp to Heaven after a strange and wonderfull manner fed and nourished mee and distilled in mee that spirituall Life by the meanes of his Bodie making the Crosse the wine-presse out of the which those grapes liquor of eternall life are drawne out Giue me thy holy Spirit that I may haue streÌ„gth against Sathan the World the Flesh Grant spirituall life to abide in mee as the branches hath that naturall from the wine that forsaking my selfe louing of my selfe I may liue in thee by thee and for thee vntill I come vnto thee where I shall see thee face to face True it is O Lord no reasoÌ„ can reach to this spirituall food but Faith onely doeth goe through for by those visible Elements I dâ—e apprehend spirituall and invisible graces and that not by imagination for as Breade doeth nourish the body so doest thou O Christe the soule And as Flesh is a substance so thou Sonne of God incarnate is the cause of this substantiall nourishment of my soule As life is in the bodie so Christ by his Blood shall giue mee life and is my life the condition estate of my flesh my blood and my whole life was more than miserable but by throgh and in thee O Christ all things were restored and made perfect in me The forebidden blood of beastes in the Law should make me shunne a brutish and a beastlie life But thy Blood teacheth mee to liue a Christian holie righteous and sober life For it is not nowe I that liueth but thou in mee who is only consubstantiall with the Father and holy Ghost yea this vnion I haue with thee by true faith as the head with the members an vnion I say of affections wittes participation of heavenlie and eternall blessednesse that I liue not to my selfe but to thee O Lord who loued me and gaue thy selfe for me For they that liue on sweet meates haue sweete breath so they haue a sweet odour in all their words works who taste of this spirituall and heavenlie food in whome Christe doeth spiritually dwell by faith O Christ thy manhood was seene on earth but the God-head not at all yet did great wonderfull things without changing or coÌ„founding of natures so in these Symboles Christs bodie I see not which notwithstanding worketh in me a beginning and grouth of renovation The body of the Sunnes light aboue is in it selfe whole albeit it bee dispersed heere beneath so thou O Christ is aboue in heaven whole yet dost communicate to everie belieuer to bee partaker of thy Body and Blood but diminution or weakening of thy selfe which thou offeredst for me weak not inclosed in me when thou is receiued of mee without any dishonour at all to thy Maiestie when thou commeth vnto this my sinfull cottage hauing mine heart to be thy Temple and dwelling place who filleth the heavens and the earth thy Footstoole O happy is he that doth eate the flesh of my Lord and Saviour with earnest desire to obey his will and stayeth on his promises trusting alwayeâ— on him In this earth am I partaker of Christ by the helpe of his word Sacraments But in heaven aboue without any externall meanes I shall feede on that heavenlie Breade and drinke of that spirituall drinke feeling in effect his presence and enioying that glorious life fulfilled in the Kingdome of God where I shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on mee neither any heate For thou O Lambe which is in the midst of the Throne shall governe mee and lead me vnto the liuelie fountaines of waters And thou sweete Saviour shall wype away all teares from my eyes O happy day when I shall feede on that heavenlie Manna the food of thy holy Angels in that Paradise and thrise happie am I in Christ to taste of the sweetnesse of the life
to come I doe refuse the deceitfull pleasures of this world and choose rather to suffer adversitie with the people of God than enioye the pleasures of sinne for a season Reioyce thou one of that flocke on whom it hath pleased the Father to giue a Kingdome Thou art my good Shepheard who feedeth mee with thy owne Blood that I may liue by thy life For they that liue by the infected and poysoned blood of olde Adam only are more miserable than beastes Prepare O Lord in me loue and repentance make mee cleane and purifie mine heart by Faith the onely receptacle and mansion of thy presence to receiue such a pretious Guest Put on mee the wedding Garment sith thou deare Husband Iesus will ioyne vnite thy selfe to mee never heereafter on thy part to bee dissevered make mee beware of Hypocrisie and couÌ„terfaite dealing in approaching with my body but my heart farre off betraying thee againe with a Iudas kisse The pure the contreâ—te and broken heart for the sence of Sinne laden and wearie are here invited by thee who wil not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flaxe such are eased and find rest to their soules And because none oblation pleaseth thee without reconciliation with my Brother I make an attonement with him forget and forgiue him as I hope to be forgiven for his sake who hath come vnder the poore roofe of my soule by participation of his bodie on earth beginning alreadie a life in mee in heaven for whom haue I there but thee whom can I desire on earth beside thee The Israelites did eate that Manna and died but they that eate this heavenlie food shall never perish But after thou hast guided me by thy counsell wil receiue me to glorie Adams forbidden tree procured death but by thee is everlasting life agreeing heaven with earth Men with Angels as it is the fulnes of Ioy to behold thy Face feele thy presence so let my soule haue a liuelie feeling of comfort in my Christ with a growing strength in grace and in the saving knowledge of thee my God and not to losse a good conscience for the trash of this world and as thou willes me to remember thy Sonnes death O Fâ—ther bee thou as thou hast promised and wilt performe mindfull of mee in the riches of thy mercie to the ending of my life in Iesus To whom with thee and the holy Ghost bee praise and honour for now and euer So bee it A Prayer and Thankesgiuing afâ—er the receiuing of the holy Supper of our LORD O LORD GOD Father Almightie I yeelde thee heartie thankes for thine inestimable loue and favour towards mee miserable Sinner not onely for that I haue my being moving and living in thee and from thee but also because it hath pleased thee of thy meere mercie to redeeme me from eternall damnation wherein I was cast by reason of transgressions and that by the Blood of thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot that I might liue with thee in that thy Kingdome in the Heaveâ—s Let not the effusion thereof be in value towards mee but still feede and nourish my soule by participation of the Body of thy Son Christ Iesus as an effectuall pawnde earnest of that glory which shall follow And now what shall I render vnto thee for all thy spirituall and temporall blessinges thou hast vouchsafed on mee And what doth the Lord my God require of me but to feare thee to walke in all thy wayes and to loue thee and serue thee with all mine heart and with all my soule Command mee Lord what thou wilt and doe in mee that thou commandest The most detestable vice is ingratitude and greater honour can be giuen to none than to bee called the Childe of God Thou hast the Son of thy delight with whom thou mightst haue contented thy selfe and hast thou not the holy Angels which doe readily thy will yet it hath pleased thee to adopt man-kinde O suffer me not holy Father to degenerate from thee and to turne to my former nature Giue me an vnderstanding heart to doe thy will and preserue mee as the apple of thine eye Remoue my sins which are as a clowde betwixt thee and mee O my God which art my light my life and salvation albeit I find in my selfe great temptations and grievous assaultes of Sathan the flesh and the world Thogh thou euen thou my deare God wold kill mee yet will I trust in thee for I know thou canst reviue me and when thou woundest canst heale mee Grant I never doubt of thy promises through vnbeliefe but beeing confirmed in Faith giue glorie to thee as fully perswaded that thou that promisest art also able to doe it For it is the greatest punishment that can befall man to forsake thy word and admonitions not to relye on thy promises but harden the heart by obstinacy and rebellion Take not thy Spirit from me but fasten mine heart to thee Show mee the light of thy countenance that I wander not from thee and sleepe in sinne but I may gather in this last age of the world Manna for that great and everlasting Sabbath in the Heavens that Ierusalem aboue the Citie of the living God where I shall find peace and rest for ever hauing accesse and entrie to that light of Glorie which hath broken and overthrowne the kingdome of Sathan For I know as thou strengthenest and fortifiest thy secreâ— ones thou redoublest their temptations Oâ— but hard is the combate when thou striuâ—â— against vs and seemest to bee our adversariâ—â— for how should dust and ashes stand beforâ— thee Strengthen guide me by thy might that encouraged by thy promises I may conquere and bee conpassed with ioyfull deliverances Great infirmitie and weakenesse doth remaine in mee I am full of vexation and anguish of minde but let mee never yeelde noâ— waxe faint but sustained and vpholded by thy grace and power that bâ—eing pressed I bee not oppressed but rise againe as the Palme tree For as the seede dead and rotten in the earth bringeth foorth greater aboundance so tribulation is the seed of the Church Assist me therfore by thy heavenly grace to try how much more precious the tryall of my Faith is than gold which bringeth so great a glorie when thou shalt change my teares into ioye my mourning into mirth my sorrow into solace my death into life Make my delite to bee always in thy word which being eternall can make mee also eternall I choose it to be my Treasure that mine heart may be alwayes therein for he that will liue must needes know thee hee that will reigne must needs serue thee that he wil haue ioy of heart must needes praise thee for thou art that Ladder by which Angels come downe to vs and wâ—â— ascend vp to Heaven to them Thou art the Way the Veritie and Life no man commeth to the Father but by Thee Quicken â—â—e therefore in thy Blood that I may bee of the number of thy Children and true member of the bodie of thy Church and never forget this Covenant I haue now bouÌ„d vp with thee who hath giuen mee that Inheritance by thy Will and Testament wherof this holy Supper is a true pledge Nowe hence foorth I am fullie deliberated to obey willinglie thy Statutes and persevere ioyefullie vnto the death and suffer crosses patiently sith thou my Saviour art my life To thee therefore with the Father and the holie Ghost Triniâ—â—e in Vnitie bee all praise and glorie and honour for nowe and euer Amen
for the Soule to your daylie practise as afore and thus my good intention to your favourable censure wishing alwayes your Hon. not to think it amisse althogh it agreeth not so much with my professioÌ„ as in respect of others more beseeming that I should exhort your Ho. as you haue begun to bee constant in your religious dueties althogh I know it was not needfull for mee to remember you of those things you haue beene taught of God because I know the sinceritie of your profession and practise hath so many witnesses since you beleeued the Gospell of Salvation and was sealed by the Spirit of promise you haue a witnesse in your selfe which I am perswaded will not faile in life or death to plead your aboundant consolation Now thus with due acknowledging of the manifold kindnesses I haue receiued both from your selfe and from my right Honourable good Lord Patron I commit your Honours and your most Noble Familie to the mercifull protection of the Almightie who mot without ceasing multiplie his graces vpon you and crowne you with all kind of blessings The God of mercie and Father of Glorie who hath abounded towardes you not only in outward happinesse of vnstained Nobilitie grandour greatnesse of meanes and favour with the highest on our earth but which is greatest of all in the vnsearchable riches of Iesus Christ in the largenesse and eminencie of manie singulare gifts and abundance of all good workes make you perfite to doe his will and worke in you an increase of all that is pleasing in his sight That yee may see many good and happie dayes in this life and end them with comfort and immortalitie in the life to come I rest Your Hon. owne Physitian in all humble duetie M. P. ANDERSON THE COVNTESSE OF MARRES SANCTVARIE Morning meditation of the first Day I Doe present my self O LORD before thy sacred Majestie a poore sinfull creature filthy within and filthie without but where shall I goe to bee cleansed the waters of Iordan cleansed the leprosie of Naamans bodie 2 King 5.14 but all the waters in the Ocean can not cleanse the leprosie of my soule I am enforced to come to thee O Lord for where shall I goe Thou hast the words of eternall Life Iohn 6.47 If thou wash mee not I can haue no part with thee Iohn 13.8 Wash I beseech thee O Lord not my feete onelie but my hands and my head also Mercifull Father let not the gates of thy mercie bee closed vpon mee which haue beene opened to so manie poore sinners before me If thou refuse to be mercifull where shall mercie bee found Luc. 23.43 O Lord thou didst not abhorre the penitent Theef nor the woman of Canaan when shee requested thee Mat. 15.22 neither the woman apprehended in adulterie Iohn 11 8. nor the Publican praying to thee Mat. 26 74. neither yet the Disciple that denyed thee In the smell of these thine Oyntments doth my soule runne after thee Cant. 4.10 I doe confesse in sinceritie 1. Tim. 1 15. O Lord that of all sinners I am the chiefe where sinne hath abounded Lord let thy mercie superabound I say vnto thee O Lord with that poore leper Lord if thou wilt Mat. 8.2 thou canst make mee cleane yea although I bee spotted as the Leopard and blacke as a Moore one drop of the blood of Iesus Christ is able to make mee as white as snow I beleeue Lord Psal 51.7 helpe my vnbeliefe It is thy praise O Lord that thou makest the barren wombe the mother of manie children and turneth the barren wildernes into a fruitfull Land Psal 107 35. Exod. 15 25. Iohn 2.9 Mat. 12 10. Thou Lord canst make bitter waters sweet and canst turne water into Wine O Lord pittie my withered heart as thou pittied the withered hand Quicken this dead heart of mine by the quickening vertue of thy Spirit yea Lord Act. 16.14 Numb 17.8 open my heart as thou openedst the heart of Lydia thou that madest the rodde of Aaron to blossome make my soule to floorish in true repentance It is no small mercie O Lorde that thou hast spared mee so long If thou hadst dealt with mee as I haue deserved thou mightest haue taken the Axe in thine hand Mat. 3.10 and hewed mee downe as an vnprofitable tree and casten mee into the fire Long hast thou spared mee O Lord but let mee not bee reserved to anie further wrath as I am partaker of thy sparing mercies make mee partaker also of thy converting mercie Create into mee a new heart Psal 51.10 and renew a right Spirit within mee Let mee finde that change into my soule that is proper to the children of God Translate mee yet further out of the Kingdome of darknesse Col. 1.13 into the Kingdome of thy deare Sonne Fashion me so to thine owne image Gal. 2.20 that I no longer live but Christ may live in me Marke mee with that new Name which no man knoweth but hee that hath received it Giue mee to taste of that hidde Manna which no man can decerne but he that hath tasted of it Create in my soule spirituall senses that in a spirituall manner I may take thee vp who is the spirit of spirits Furnish my languishing soule with some of the first fruits of thy heavenlie Canaan that in the strength thereof I may walke vntill thou possesse mee into that promised rest Bee with mee in all my tentations and lead mee through all difficulties that I may sing that joyfull triumph with thine owne Apostle Thankes bee to GOD who hath given vs victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Evening Meditation of the first Day SINNE makes mee ashamed to speake vnto thee O Lord but my Saviour encourageth mee to present my selfe before thee vnder the shaddow of his merits doe I appeare in thy sight and in his Name doe I present my selfe and my supplications to thy Majestie O Lord dost thou not number my steppes If the conscience of the sinnes of this one day doe so dash and confound mee what feares may arise in my soule through the memorie of sinnes committed my whole lifetime I doe confesse O Lord my whole life hath beene a wandring from thee and all my dayes I haue beene doing nothing but making vp a dâ—ttâ—y against my selfe thou needst not O Lord to lead any processe against mee for my conviction the conscience may both accuse witnesse and condemne O Lord all my life hath beene either sinfull or vnfruitfull If I haue done anie thing that seemed good it was either counterfeit or corrupt or some way vnperfite the dung of all my sacrifices justlie mightest thou cast vpon my face I haue rather seemed nor truelie beene religious therefore doe I seeke salvation without my selfe Mat. 3.17 I seek it in him in whom thou art well pleased Israel stinged with fyrie Serpents Numb 21 6. were healed by looking to the
2.22 24. all which were fastned on his shoulders and hee did beare them who never displeased God nor offended man and of whom his verie enemies did confesse He had done all thinges well yet did the Lorde broke him and made him subject to infirmities Esay 53.10 and layd vpon him the iniquities of vs all And what griefe thinkest thou was hee in when hee sweate so powerfully and prayed so ferventlie No doubt he felt the vnsupportable weight of thy sinne Mat. 11.28 the fierce wrath of God against it Rom. 2.8 the justice of the righteous God requiring due punishment for it 1. Thess 1.10 the killing power of the Law Rom. 5.12 pronuncing condemnation to it the strong force of Death Rom. 7.11 the Stipend and reward addebted to it the tyrannie of Sathan Iohn 8.34 insulting on thee for it the infinite and eternall tormentes of Hell 1. Pet. 2.19 just desert to it which no tongue can expresse 1. Pet. 3.19 Mat. 24.41 Mat. 13.42 nor heart conceiue where the worme dieth not and the fire not quenched where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth This I say made thy sweete Saviour in anguish of spirit so to bemone himselfe Iohn 3.16 yet to show that God so loved the world that bee gave his onely begotten Sonne for it And that bee came hither to save sinners Ioh. 12.47 for whom hee was contented to die Hee yeelded his wil to Gods saying neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt THE THIRD STEP to ascend by THirdlie this did aggravate his miseries that hee was betrayed by his familiar friend whom he trusted Psal 44.9 which did eate of his bread his own Purse-master Iohn 13.12 whose feete hee had washed and that with a kisse speaking as the custome of this worlde is peaâ—eablie with his mouth Ier. 9.8 but in his heart bee layed waite for his neighbour Psal 28.3 Bee thou not drawne away poore Soule with the wicked Psal 120.2 and with the workers of iniquitie which speakes friendlie to their neighbours Psal 105. 17.18 when malice is in their heart Deliver my Soule O Lord from the lying lippes and from a deceitfull tongue So did Ioab kill Amasa 2. Sam. 20.4 Iudg. 16.20 and Cain slewe Abel Sampson is betrayed by Philistimes so Ioseph was solde for a slaue they helde his feete in stockes vntill his appointed time came and the counsell of the Lord had tryed him Hypocriticall was thy salutation O sonne of perdition Sayest thou Haile Master Thy Master Iudas whom thou wast bound to defend But what will not the hungrie desire of money doe by it hee lost Christ Col. 3.5 hee lost his Soule hee lost Heauen Iohn 3.36 and damned himselfe The Traitor had a fit end hee hanged himselfe but that was not all hee hanges in Hell perpetuallie for it 2. Thess 1.6.7 Iudg. 1.7 Gen. 9.6 as hee deserved so is hee served for blood will have blood for had hee repented truely he had not put hands in himselfe the word was in his mouthe but the thing was not in his heart Such is the force of conscience setting before him the hainousnesse of his fact the grievousnes of GODS vvrath judgement without mercie and hells fire without redemption For an evill conscience is a Witnesse a Summonder a Iudge a Tormenter a Prison of sinners What thing more grieuous thaÌ„ day and night to cary about such a one a man may avoide all thinges but his owne heart for whither soeuer he goeth it goeth with him either to accuse or excuse Rom. 2.15 The testimonie of a good conscience is a continuall feast which maketh a man alvvayes merrie 1. Tim. 1 19. The putting avvay of a good conscience maketh ship-vvracke of Faith Endevour therefore O my Soule to haue a cleare Conscience towardes GOD and towardes man For if thy heart condemne thee God is greater than thine hearte and knoweth all thinges But if thine heart condemne thee not then hast thou boldnesse towards him and whatsoeuer thou seekest in faith shall thou receiue from him A sicke conscience can no Physician in the world cure but that heavenlie Physician Iesus 1. Tim. 6.10 Thou seest the desire of money is the roote of all mischiefe they who are poysoned therwith doe erre from the Faith Pro. 27.20 these pierce themselves through with many sorrowes they fall into tentations into snares into manie foolish and noysome lustes which drowne men in perdition and destruction which is too evident in this miserable creature Iudas But thou my Soule flie thou those thinges Tim. 6.11.12 and follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith love patience meeknesse laying hold on eternall Life wherevnto thou art called Thus there is no griefe to that of thy minde no losse to that of life no feare to that of destruction so there is no enemie to a covetous and a dissembling friend no treachrie to that which one of a mans own may practise Iudas was amongst the Apostles by externall vocation but not of them by inwarde sanctification as Christ often foretold them that twelue hee had chosen Iohn 6.70 and one of them was a devill Where the Lordes mercie is evident and thy prodigious malice manifest neither did the faith and firmitie of the Apostles fall by reason of this Traitours defection for what though some did not belieue Rom. 3.3.4 shall their vnbeliefe make the promises of GOD without effect God forbid Let GOD bee true and all men lyears Hee departed from Christ the rest did abide vnto the end they that continued Luc. 23.28 shall bee saved He went to the chiefe Priestes hee might haue knowne Psal 1.1 That blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the wicked And Iacob in the spirite of prophesie saw this Tragedie and abhorred the Actors Simeon and Levi Gen. 49.5.6 brethren in evill the instruments of crueltie are in their habitations vnto their secrets let not my soule come my glorie bee not thou joyned with their assemblies for in their wrath they slew the man Christ and in their selfe-will they digged downe a wall Hee vvent I say not called or sent for or seduced by his Lordes enemies but vvillingly offered himselfe the sinne is more tolerable that hath a preceeding cause Adam was deceiued by the Serpent but the Devill hatched and brotched these venemous contagions of himself and in himselfe No man motioned this businesse to him hee intruded himselfe separating himselfe in soule and bodie from his Master It is good to haue the heart established by grace Heb. 13.9 and alwayes to cleaue vnto the Lord. Hee would recompense the losse hee had by the pouring out of Maries box of Oyntment but hee came short Neither seeketh he a certain summe as to gain much by the bargane but as selling a vyle slaue or base thing referreth the price to themselves what they would giue
keeping faith and a good conscience in surrendring obedience in holinesse to God Charitie to thy neighbour puritie of life and diligence in thy calling that the Lord may direct thy steps in his Trueth may guyde thee by his Counsell and reserve thee to his Glorie For thy Armour are Teares and Prayers other-wise thou neither can resist nor possiblie prevaile Iacob against Esau vsed these spirituall meanes Patience and Devotion for a slender and light wind of temptation can shortlie cut vs off from confidence for Peter was a deseâ—bler a lyar and perjure vntill that grace reduced him So man is nothing yea hee is much in himselfe to his owne minde vntill hee haue the experience of his owne deficiencie but beeing tempted hee will learne from whom hee hath receiued strength and with howe much vigilancie hee should keepe the same For who denyeth mee before men I will denye him saith hee before my Father which is in Heaven hee that denyeth him by mouth doeth not beleeâ—e by â—eart the faith in the hearte is the roote of confession confession is the fruite of Faith while the Roote is liuing there are blossomes and leaues if not dead For â—y the hearte wee beleeue to righteousnes Rom. 10.10 and by the mouth wee confesse to salvation And therefore Soule the confession of the mouth without faith in heart neither faith in heart without confession of the mouth availeth Lord giue that thou askest and aske what thou wilt Peter was prompt in promising fearefull in keeping but diligent in amending greatest spirits gather strength to themselves the greatest occasion of sinne If we consider how feeble we are to resist evill and changeable to persever in goodnes we wold quake But O dead Soule thou art nothing else than a vanitie and shaddow of death and gulfe of darknesse in earth without forme and voyde which without Gods blessing can bring out no good thing I haue confusion sinne and death of my self whilest I stand it is by thy gift if I fall it is of me and ever should lye vnlesse thou raised mee Blinde am I vnlesse thou enlighten me and when I fell vnlesse thou laid thine hand vnder mee there should I haue lyen yea ever haue fallen vnlesse thou had sustained mee oft-times perished vnlesse thou hadst governed mee And now dead Soule remember the occasion of this Peter his fall Preachers are Cockes to crow the glad tythinges of salvation so Nathan to David Ier. 7.26 and Ionas to the Ninivites but yee would not heare me nor incline thine eare but hardened the necke saith hee The Lord looke on vs with the eyes of his mercie that we may bitterly worthilie weep for our transgressions applying the merites of Iesus Christ by a true faith vnto our soules for wee haue many sweete promises of salvation and favour of our God offered vnto vs who came not to call the righteous Mat. 9.13.14 but sinners to repentance for the whole need not a Physician but these that are sicke For it is not onelie requisite that thou accuse thy selfe for sin but thou first accuse thy selfe and looke not for rebuking from others but who can build without God keepe witho t God begin without God O! Rom. 11.33 the vnsearcheable and infinite and vnspeakable goodnesse of God! amongst the railinges of the Priestes falshoodes of witnesses against Christ being buft and bespitted Christ casteth a glanse of his eye vnto Peters tossed faith Turne vnto mee beleeue in mee followe mee this is the tyme of my Passion the tyme of my marriage wilt thou followe mee bee not afrayed thou shalt overcome let not the infirmitie that I haue taken for thy sake make thee swarue bee strong in me Thus he that sleepeth is wakened the feeble confirmed the casten downe raised out of the dry rock of his heart floods of teares doe spring once beeing touched with the rod meditation of his bitter Passion For Thou art hee who will not the death of a Sinner but rather to convert and liue for Thou camest not into the world to judge it but to saue it THE SECOND DEgree in this Ladder of the ascension of the Soule to Heaven by the meditatioÌ„ of the Passion of Iesus Christ And the first Steppe thereof INto this Garden then in Mounte Olives over the Brooke Kedron came out a multitude with Iudas and bound Christ and caried him to Annas the high Priest Heere hast thou deepe matter poore Soule of spirituall contemplation thy Saviour of his wisedome did see all these thinges yea the verie houre of his death But hee that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh Psal 2.4 and haue his enemies in derision For their counsells are not hid from him who by his word onlie was able to cast them to the ground Which is like a fire Iâ—r 5.14 and men as woode to devour them for it is liuelie and mightie in opereation and sharper than any two edged sword and entreth through even vnto the dividing asuâ—â—â—er of thâ— Soule Heb. 4.12 and the Spirit and of the joyntes and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearte If such a mylde worde did cast his enemies downe what shall become of them in that day Psal 37.12.13 when hee shall rebuke them in his wrath so the wicked practised them against the just Mat. 25.47 but the Lord shall laugh him to scorne for hee seeth his day commeth Neither is our sweete Saviour so much moued with his owne cause as indeed hee was verie much that hee did forget his Fatherly care over his own Disciples Let these goe Iob. 1.10 The Lord hath a hedge about his owne against Sathan Zach. 2.5 hee is I say a wall of fire round about his owne yea hee is patient and long suffering with his enemies who beeing cast downe hee permitteth to ryse and not to bee swallowed vp of the earth Num. 16.32 with Corah Dathan and Abiram Thou canst not marveill sufficieÌ„tly on the blindnes of this companie they had oft-ten seene him before yet Iudas to be sure that Christ should not escape as by his divinitie hee had done sundrie times gaue them the signe of a kisse The Lord can keepe his owne and not suffer them to bee exposed to the pleasure of their foes They that sought for Lot were smitten with blindnesse by the Angels Gen. 19.11 and so the Lord did to the Syrians at the word 2. King 6.28 of Elisha but small was their power against him for how soone Christ professed that it was hee they fell and beeing risen againe are no whit bettered but persevere in their wicked course O! the riches of the mercie of God Ezek. 33. 11. as I liue sayeth the Lord I desire not the death of the wicked but that bee turne from his way and liue Ier. 20.12 Turne you turne you from your evill way for why will ye die yee house of Israel Hee might
vengeance But this mylde Lambe of God Heb. 12.24 the Mediator of the new Covenant his blood speaketh better thinges than those Hee regarded not the injurie shame and paine hee was in and forgotte not to haue pittie on them that cruelly tormented him Hee suffered together with them of whom he did suffer hee cured them that wounded him and procured life for them that killed him And therefore by this his prayer full of Majestie Hee was heard in that which he feared for he is his beloved Sonne Mat. 17.5 in whom hee is well pleased But heere diligentlie consider what was the companie he was crucified with for hee came not to saue the just Mat. 9.13 but sinners an example whereof he manifested in sauing of one of the Theeues touched with repentance wherof his faith confession gaue notice So is hee on the Crosse as if hee were in that great Daye of judgment giuing out sētence of salvation to the Elect and condemnation to the Reprobate Perillous is it to delay Repentance and to promise our selves securitie to the last day It is a fooilsh thing to neglect the maters that concerneth eternity in glory or pain imbrace the changable occasions of this world which is all put in evil The priviledge of a few is not a lavv to all yet where vndoubted signes of Gods grace goodnesse doeth appeare there may Christian charitie interprete vnfained repentance to follow for there is neither measure nor tyme can bee appointed to the Lordes mercie For what day soeuer a Sinner shall repent hee shall liue EZek. 18.22 not die As this Malefactor did confesse Christs immortality in that hee desired to bee remembred when hee came to his Kingdome who had takē the life of others before The Lord being tyed to the Crosse hands and feete and nothing free but Heart and Tongue which hee gaue to that Penitent who by the bear beleeued to righteousnesse and by the tongue confessed to saluation Rom. 10. By Faith he did see that Christ should reigne whom he did see die vvith him By Hope he looked for an entrie to his Kingdome by Loue defended the innocencie of our Sauiour Iesus Christ against the reproach of his fellow Great is this his Faith Who had taught him had hee seene miracles who had bene kept in prison either of giving sight to the blind or raising of the dead yet he confessed him to be an euerlasting King who was companion to him in punishmēt despising the present paine praying for things to come requiring rather to be exemed from eternall judgement thā delivered frō tēporall punishment sorrowing and longing for that that hee hoped for thā feele that that he suffred In Christs extreamities hee beleeued in him and was not ashamed to haue the Iewes witnesses of his Faith vvho railed on Christ in the midst of all the scandals and reproaches of the people and now when Christ was in his weakest most miserable estate vvhat didst thou see sinfull convert to aske heere for a Kingdome thou hadst onlie before thine eyes the Crosse and the Nailes O! but the crosse is the ensigne of a Kingdome and it is the duetie of a King even to expone his life for his Subjectes As the good shep-heard doeth his Soule for his sheepe Ioh. 10.11 Gen. 17.1 Gen. 18.3 Abraham beleeved but taught from heaven and by the Angels which came vnto to him Esay 6.1 And Esaias but hee saw the Lord sitting vpon his Throne and lifted vp and the lower parts thereof filled the Temple Ezekiel beleeued but hee saw the Lord vpon the Cherubines Ezek. 1.4 and so did the other Prophetes but after diuerse manners God spake Heb. 1.1 Moses beleeved but the Lord spake vnto him out of the burning Bush but none of these occasions did this penitent haue but saw no Majestie of glorie but equality of paine hee saw him tormented but worshipped him as if he had beene in glorie hee saw him on the Crosse but praised his Saviour as if hee hadde sitten in the heavens hee saw him cōdemned yet acknowledged him to bee a free and absolute King and wold not shrinke but died in that profession in spyte of all the the argumentes that Sathan could object or flesh and blood vrge in the contrarie Truelie Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2.8.9 that no man should boast himselfe Therefore should wee pray Lord increase our Faith So where Sin aboundeth Grace super-aboundeth The Lord is more ample in his grace than hee in his prayer hee gaue more than hee could seeke Hee sought to bee remembred when hee came into his Kingdome but the Lord promised that this day hee should be with him in Paradise O the great goodnes of God! vnspeakeable is thy fauour towardes them whome thou lovest Thou as the bright Sun hast made thy hote beames to shine vpon our soules therby to draw vs to the Knowledge of Thee and to warme our heartes that wee may loue Thee Expell this darknesse O Lord wherewith our heartes is replenished and thaw by the heate of thy mercie the frozen condition of our soules that they may melt considering that euerlasting and vnsearchable favour thou hast borne towards mankind The third Step in the fourth degree of the ascension of the Soule to Heaven c. ONelie Iohn and some vvomen in great cōstancie did attēd Christ on the crosse Whose grace was sufficient for them 2. Cor. 2.9 whose power is made perfect through weaknesse in whose infirmities the power of Christ is showne who tooke pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions anguish for Christs sake For when they were weake then were they made strong That is true friendship which is founded in God whose knot is Christ they that bee touched with the sense of the miserie of his members shal neuer lacke that is good Marie the Virgine Marie Cleophas Marie Magdalene accōpanied were inspectors of this lamentable spectacle his owne Mother he called Iohn whom hee ever loued his Mother he honoured wold haue her provided for for he knew it spoken by Simeon that the sworde should passe through her Soule Luc. 2.35 and with the eye of mercie did see her wrestling with such calamities He especially of singulare favour looked on her because shee loued mee Psal 91.14.15 therefore will I deliver her because shee hath knowne my Name So did David fugitiue from the face of Saul commend his parents to the King of Gath. But the obedience promptitude and alacritie of Iohn in receiuing his Mother declareth the willing heart of a Disciple to accomplish the minde of his Master so he acquited loue for loue Nothing is comparable to the sense of the loue of God in the heart of man If it had beene no more than natural love Marie wold neuer haue followed her Sonne to such a vile death if shee had not belieued that that Death shuld
serving of him according to his will be afraied of his justice vvhereby hee will surelie punish the wicked Place thine hope in his eternall mercie bottomlesse grace and euerlasting glorie The third and last Steppe of the fift Degree of the ascension of the Soule to Heaven by contemplation of Christs entrance there ANd now Pilgrime Soule wilt thou aspire vpward yea let mee heare Lord thy loving kindnesse in the morning for in Thee is my trust Psal 143.8.9 Show mee the way that I should walke in for I lift vp mine heart vnto thee Deliver me from mine enemies for I hide me with Thee Remember mee with the favour of thy people Psal 106.4.5 Visite mee with thy Salvation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen and rejoyce in the joye of thy people glorie with thine Inheritance Poure cleane water vpon mee make mee cleane from my filthinesse Ezek. 36.36.37 Giue me a new heart and a newe spirit Take away that stonie heart out of my bodie and put in an heart of flesh that I may walke in thy Statutes and keep thy Iudgements For thou art the Poole of Bethesda Iohn 5.4 with fiue porches vvithin the vvhich vvhosoeuer steppeth in and doth cast the anker of Faith in the depth of thy wounds shâ—ll be made whole of whatsoeuer disease hee hath But alace whosoeuer washeth himselfe because of a dead bodie Eccl. 34.26 toucheth it againe what availeth his washing for no vncleane thing shall enter into thy Kingdome Such as doe returne with the Dogge to his vomit beleeue but for a season Pro. 26.11 and in the day of temptation goe away But I sorrowfull Soule as the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters Luc. 8.13 Psal 42.1 so doe I pant after thee O God ascended But woe is mee sinne is a sicknesse incurable which none can forgiue but thou O Christ Luc. 5.21 who putteth away iniquitie for thine owne sake Luc. 7.48 and will not remember sinnes For this purpose will I weake Soule make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel Esay 43.25 2. Chro. 29 1â— that hee may turne away his face from me and now will sorrowe that I doe not feele my selfe so much sorrowfull for the weight filthinesse multitude of my sins whose number doth passe the sand in the Sea-shore and doe beare mee downe as a heavy burden are growne over mine head With Peter not of infirmitie once and againe but infinite times haue I denyed Thee With Iudas I euen I haue betrayed Thee Heb. 6.10 With Iewes Gentiles I crucified Thee often haue I renewed thy wounds trode thy precious blood vnder foote vvith my louers hath my soule gone a whooring notwithstanding of that promise of marriage in my Baptisme vvhereinto I vvas betroathed vnto thee confirmed in thy blessed Supper ratified on the Crosse in thy blood to bee solemnized in thy glorie vvhereof I received the first fruites and earnest of the spirit Now alas doe I know and behold that it is a bitter and an evill thing to haue forsaken thee my God Ier. 2.19 and that thy feare was not in mee And these displeasures haue I O my Christ because I dearlie loue thee although there were no hell nor punishment at all I doe acknowledge all the tormentes of the world can not satisfie for the least imagination of the thought of mans heart Gen. 6.5 which is onely evill conâ—inually yea my righteousnesse if any I haue vvhich is the beautie and flowre of all that is best in mee is as a fiâ—thie clout But tâ—ou promisedst in trueth â—sâ—y 64.6 wilt performe in mercie that thou wilt not the death of a Sinner but whensoeuer hee shall repent bee shall liue Lord accept of the desires groanes of my heart Heare my cryes and vveeping forgiue my frailtie wipe awaye the filth and corruption of my soule furnish mee strength and spirituall courage against the life of sinne so pregnant and powerfull vvithin mee Inflame mine affections zealouslie to bee disposed to thy glory graÌ„t Perseverance Loue Hope and all Christian vertues vnto my last breath for I resolve by thy grace O my God to walke in thy vvayes the rest of my dayes I haue to spend lameÌ„ting for by past offences promise to shunne all occasions of evill hereafter O of how short continuance is this life Esay 40.7 endles is the eternitie in that life to come Iob. 2.7 plentifull is that reward Wisd 2.3.4.21 it is momeÌ„tary that pleasureth euerlasting that annoyeth yet as the Lordes greatnesse is so is his mercie Rom. 8.28 And therfore doe I account that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall bee showne 2. Cor. 4.17.18 for the light affliction which is but a moment causeth a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glorie The thinges which are seene are temporall Gal. 3. 1. but the things which are not seene are eternall I know troubled Soule it beboued Christ whom thou didst see suffer and so enter into his glorie Luc. 24.26 in thy Place to take state and possession that wher hee is thou mayst be also for he hath married thee vnto himselfe for ever â—os 2.19 yea hee did marrie thee in righteousnes and judgements and in mercie and in compassion he hath euen married thee in faith fulnesse and thou shalt know the Lord. â—ant 2. 16. Therefore thy beloued is thine and thou art his it is the voyce of thy welbeloued that knocketh saying OpeÌ„ to me my Doue my Sister â—ant 5.2 my Loue my well-beloved for mine head is full of dew and my lockes are wet with the drops of the night Say not deceitfull Soule to thy Christ Goe and come againe â—ro 3.28 and to morow I will giue thee if thou now haue it Remember the portion thou shalt haue vvith him in wed-locke who hath acquired vnto thee by his Poverie a Kingdome by his sorowes thy joy by his travles thy rest by his shame thy glorie by his Death thy life vvho vvould buy a match at such a deare and costlie rate Returne therefore disobedient Soule vnto the Lord hee will not let his wrath fall vpon thee for hee is mercifull Lam. 3.12 and will not keepe his anger And who is great like vnto him who takâ—th away iniquitie and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage hee retaineth not his wrath for euer because mercie pleaseth him hee will turne againe Micah 17.18.19 and haue compassion yea hee will subdue thy iâ—iquitie and cast all thy sins in the bottome of the Sea For thy Christ did come into this world to finish the wickednes Dan. 9.24 to seale vp the sinnes and to reconceale the iniquitie and to bring in euerlasting righteousnesse Rev. 3.20 And novv behold poore Soule he standeth at the doore
and knocketh if thou will heare his voyce and open the doore hee will come in vnto thee and supp with thee Esay 60.19.20 and thou with him where there shall bee no more Sunne to shine by day neither the brightnesse of the Moone Iohn 14.23 to shine to thee for the Lord shall bee thine euerlasting light and thy God thy glorie and the dayes of thy sorrow shall bee ended Loue him therfore freelie beloued Soule and keepe his word 2. Iohn 3.24 and his Father will loue thee hee will come vnto thee dwell with thee for hee that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him and Christ in him and heereby shalt thou know that hee abideth in thee even by the Spirit which hee hath given thee I will intreate thee of all favour poore Soule to meditate thy omission of good thinges commission of evill and losse of wholesome time occasion which three are past by and these three present the shortnes of this life the difficultie to bee saved 1 Pet. 4.17 18. and the fewnes of them that do enter in that strait way For if judgement beginne first at the house of God what shall be the end of them which obey not the Gospel of God and if the righteous scarcelie hee saued where shall the vngodlie and sinners appeare Doe not forget these three things to come Death than the which nothing is more terrible the last Iudgment than the which nothing is more horrible eternall Punishment than the which nothing is more vntolerable O that thou were wise then wouldst thou vnderstand this Deut. 32.29 thou wouldst consider thy letter end But I poore Soule doe not know what to doe â— Chro. 20.12 but mine eyes are towards thee O Lord for trulie great travel doe sinners take to perfect their iniquities they imagine nothing impossible so they may aquire their designes The way of sinners is made plaine with stones so smooth thinke they iâ— Wisd 5.7 but the end thereof is hell darknesse and paine Flee from sinne as from a Serpent the teeth thereof are the teeth of a Lyon Eccl. 21.10 to slay the soules of men All iniquitie is as a two edged sword the wounds thereof can not bee healed And if thou hast sinned doe so no more but pray for thy fore-sinnes that they may bee forgiuen thee Eccl. 5.5.6.7 And because thy sinne is forgiuen bee not without feare to heape sinne vpon sinne And say not The mercie of God is great hee will forgiue my manifold sinnes for mercie and wrath come from him his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners Make no tarying to turne vnto Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenlie shall the wrath of the wrath of the Lord breake foorth and in thy securitie thou shalt bee destroyed But blessed is that people whose God is the Lord for peace shall bee vpon them â—â—l 6.16 and mercie and vpon the Israel of God Vnto him therefore â—h 3 20. that is able to doe exceeding aboundantlie aboue all that wee aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in vs be praise in the Church by Christ Iesus thorowout all generations for euer Amen THE AGREEMENT OF DIFFERENCES IN THE INCARNATION PASSION AND Ascension of our Saviour THE MYSTERIE OF the Incarnation A Mother and a Virgine beares a Sonne The Creature her Creator on her knee FroÌ„ all beginning yet but now begun Servant to Time Lord of Eternitie Earths Weaknes HeaveÌ„s Power in him doth dwell That is both God and Man Emanuel Meekenesse is heere combin'd with Maiestie The Lyon with the Lambe keepes peacefull place Obedience findes a Seat in Emperie This Earthly substaÌ„ce breeds a heaveÌ„ly grace To Poverty rich Gifts are broght by Kings Terrestriall figures of Coelestiall thinges Who sits in HeaveÌ„ vpon the Throne of State Suckes here on Earth the milke of Infancie Who rules the Stars guids the sterne of Fate Sustaines the yoke of humane Miserie Eats drinks wakes sleepes weepes a mortall man In whom Immortall happines began THE MYSTERIE OF the Passion THe Iudge of MaÌ„ by MaÌ„ is iudg'd to die He that coÌ„mands the law the law obeys Submission hath a Seat in Soveraingn'ty This stormie Night begets our Halâ—yon days The best of Hope springs froÌ„ the worst of Fears And giues vs cause of Ioy from cause of Tears The Lord of Life is subiect vnto Death The Masters power the Minister obeyes At once inspyring expiring breath Submittes to Kinges yet Kings kingdomes swayes Sin vpon Vertue hath imposde a Blame Honour by Basenesse is exposde to Shame Thus from the Crosse our Blessednes is bred His suffering made it a triumphant Signe Our looks are raisde while he bowes down the Head He tasteth Vinegar to giue vs Wine Saues all by loosing all to Tyrannie Helpes all yet cryes Lamasabachtani THE MYSTERIE OF THE Resurrection and Ascension DEath froÌ„ the Graue Life to the Graue is broght Flesh without Sin sees no coruptioÌ„ By yeelding was this noble Conquest wroght O're Sin the World Death Hel al Pollution Extensiue Weaknes with intensiue Power His Hurts haue healed these wouÌ„ded states of our ASCENSION He that the Earth hath for his Footestoole laid Makes his Ascens vp to his Heavenlie Seat There dwels his Power which his Mercy made And here his Mercy which his Power makes great All glorious in his Seaâ— he sits vpon All gratious in the Place he treades vpon Hee which is taken vp is left behind Vnbounded Power doth circumscribe al things He that hath fram'd the heart ruls the mind Doth giue Himselfe to Beggars as to Kings Mercie remaines whilst Maiestie doth tower And Grace descends with his ascending Power Succumbat ratio fidei captiva quescat A SHORT CONFESsion of our Sinnes MY life O LORD is a perpetuall rebellion against thee for who can make cleane that which is conceiued in the filth of sin My time was a Sea and flood of sorrow secluded froÌ„ all goodnes vntil thou didst put forth thy hand and pull mee into thine Arke and had I not bene made cleane in some measure by the red Sea of the Blood of thy Son in Baptisme I should haue lyen in the filthie puddle of my vyle corruption Neither hath Sathan ceased to bereaue mee of the loue whereby thou first didst loue mee Hee did not show me deceiuing Serpent the wages of Sinne but â—â—eeting and turning did hyde thy wrath from mee Amitie with him is enimitie with my God His loue is hatred because the Image of my Saviour is in mee hee pursueth at my heales but if thou bee with mee who shall bee against mee I can not thinke a good thought of my selfe but shall doe all thinges through thee O Christ who strengthenst mee who is my life resurrection the hope of the afflicted my light in darknesse the wholesome dew of my drye and withered Soule my strength in weaknesse the Physitian of my
downe thy Spirit to put vpon my soule that I may awake out of the deep sleep of vnrighteousnesse take the staffe of God in mine hand and never to looke backe with Lots wife Gen. 26. but ever to haue my face towards the new Ierusalem that in the end I may say with thy servant Paul 2. Tâ— 4. â— I haue runne a good race I haue foughten a good fight from this time foorth is the Crowne laid vp for mee Leade mee thorow the snares of this day See my feete vpon a rocke Psal 2. and order my goingâ— Furnish me with wisdome that I may go in and out wiselie before thy people set a watch before my lippes Psal and the doore of my speech let all my speeches bee seasoned with grace and tend to edifieing Let my heart ever be with thee what ever I bee doing beneath And finallie as thou led thy servant Moses vnto mount Pisga and did let him see Canaan a farre off Deut. 34. 1 let my soule delite to walke vpon the mountaine of heavenlie meditations looking a farre off to that heavenlie Canaan while in thine owne good time thou bring mee through the waters of Iordan even through death it self and enter me into that rest Now to my blessed Lord the purchaser of this rest with the Father who from all eternity appointed the same the holie Spirit who daylie confirmeth me in the hope of it bee praise for ever 3 Eph. 1.13 Amen Evening meditation of the second Day O LORD let that same Spirit which indyted thy holy Word whereby thou speakes to my Soule indyte my prayers Rom. 8.26 whereby my soule speaketh to thee thou knowest the voyce of thine owne Spirit but the voyce of a stranger thou wilt not heare I continue my complaint to thy Majestie still lamenting this ignorance and yet remaineth into the mind notwithstanding I am ever endevouring to know thee Who can take thee vp who is such an infinite and incomprehensible Spirit thou dwellest into a light 1. Iohn 4.12 wherevnno man can haue accesse No man can take thee vp by naturall light 1. Cor. 2.14 for the naturall man knoweth not the things that are of God they are foolishnesse vnto him I crave therefore such a measure of that vncreated light even the light of thy Spirit as may breed into the mind a continuall reverence of thee bring the heart to an holie obedience to thee and make all my affections and actions directlie to tend to thy glorie True it is O LORD now and then I haue enjoyed sensiblie this light but ever after humiliation and fervent prayer I am become colde in prayer I seek thee not with that hunger and thirst as I should doe and this maketh my feellings not so frequent Lord stirre vp my spirit that I may seeke thee continuallie with that holie zeale and fervencie that becommeth mee Indeede O LORD these desertions are â—earefull and terrible to fall vnto thy Children Truelie I am most certaine that greater deadnesse darknesse and senselesnesse can not fall vnto a reprobat If the memorie of by past experiences did not comfort me these fearfull desertions wold mak me faint fall a back Lord let not thy servant bee tempted aboue his strength 1. Cor. 10.13 Returne O Lord deliver my soule Psal 119.8 save mee for thy mercies sake forsake mee not over long And if it shall please thee O Lord to hold mee vnder the bitter sense of those fearefull desertions for a time for my further humiliation let this ever bee my greatest griefe that I misse thy presence Teach mee to seeke vncessantlie vntill I finde thee to knocke vntill thou open to call vntill thou answere Psal 39.7 What waite I for O Lord Is not mine hope even in thee Yea let the hope I haue to enjoye thee and thy presence for ever make mee to possesse my soule with the greater patience in the middest of all these feares And now O Lord in this absence from thee albeit the body be here on earth Phil. 3.20 let my conversation ever bee in heaven Giue me grace this night to examine my heart vpon my bed Teach thou my reines in the night Psal 4.4 let mee lye down in thy peace and rest vnder the shadow of thy protection Psal 4.9 Let my bed remember mee of the grave and my rising againe of the last resurrection Make â—ee alwayes wâ—tchfull and suffer not Oyle to bee inlacking to my lampe Mat. 25.8 When my Lord shall come grant I may meet h m with joy ever bee with him in heaven whom my soul hatâ— sought on earth Amen Morning meditation of the third Day O LORD my God if I had eyes to see the miserie of this time wherein I doe live I could take vp both the vniversall defection of the whole world and the particular desolation of my owne soule then would mine eyes bee a fountaine of teares Thy servant David powred out rivers of teares Psal 119.136 when hee did see the wicked not keepe thy Law 2. Pet. 2.8 Lots heart was vexed within him when hee saw the iniquitie of Sodome but alaace Lord I am not so sensible these things are hidde from mee therefore I pray thee remove this vaile that overshaddoweth my soule Act. 9.18 Make the skales to fall from mine eyes that I may take vp those decayes into a clearer light from the Priest to the people Hos 4.9 all haue a part in this defection Where is that wonted zeale to thy glorie Who are they who in singlenesse of heart seeke thee All doe seeke their owne thinges Phil 2.21 but few the things which are Christs Religion which should overrule mens wayes are made a coverture to vice and sinne O Lord demaske them and let them appeare who turne the trueth of GOD into a lie and laboure to cover vngodlinesse with a cloâ—ke of an holie profession Mat. 2.12.13 Take the scourge into thine hand and purge thy Temple put to the door those buyers and sellers who make the house of God a denne of theeves and touch mine heart with a livelie feeling of my particular defects I confesse O Lord I haue fallen from my first love from my former zeale Revel 2.4 from my former care and diligence in thy service Where is the melting hearte the mourning eye the painfull diligence night and day at home and abroad to seek thy face Where I was wont to pray with delite with libertie and with teares now I wearie of prayer I finde no inwarde libertie no softnesse of heart I come vnto thee with a senselesse heart I depart from thee with as senselesse a heart Where my heart was wont to bee pricked at the hearing of thy Worde Act. 2. â— where I was wont to depart from Sermons with great comfort now I finde my selfe neither casten downe nor raised vp Thy Word O Lord worketh not
vpon my heart as it was wont to doe this is one token that my spirituall Life is weakened therefore as thou hast breathed in my nostrels Gen. 2.7 the breath of a naturall life breath vpon my soule Cant. 4.16 that I may finde the motions of a spirituall Life Call vpon my soule out of the grave of sinne Iohn 12.43.44 as thou called Lazarus his bodie out of the grave Let me find a quickening vertue flowing from thy livelie Spirit to quicken my dead spirit Lord teach mee to redeeme these losses and grant I may ever count it my greatest losse to lose the signes of thy presence Suffer not mine heart to bee oppressed with the thornie cares of this life Luc. 8. but learne mee to cast my care vpon the Lord. What ever I bee doing in these worldlie things 1. Cor. 7.29.30 let mee so doe them as I were not doing them Giue me that dexteritie to discharge such a duetie in mine earthlie calling as may ever agree with mine heavenlie calling Furnish mee with wisedome that I may walke wiselie even towards them that are without 1. Thess 1â— Make my life a patterne of godlinesse that where ever I come or goe I may smell of Iesus Christ Giue mee grace to bee carefull not onlie of mine owne soule but of the soules of all them of whom I haue anie charge that so thy glorie ever beeing before mine eyes thou mayest glorifie mee one day through Iesus Christ my Saviour who fitteth at thy right hand Amen Evening Meditation of the third Day O LORD I never prease to draw nere vnto thee but that Evill one draweth neere to mee If Iehoshua come in before the LORD Zach. 3.1 Satan will bee at his right hand to resist him hee troubleth and distracteth my minde with Armies of vnrulie cogitations It is my greatest difficultie O Lord at anie time to get a free minde to serve thee Exod. 5.3 When Israel desired to goe to the Wildernesse and sacrifice to the Lorde Pharaoh doubled their burdens so doth Satan double his tentations vpon me when I would goe out of my self to serve thee What am I poore weak creature that I should resist such mightie spirituall powers O Lord 1. Cor. 12.9 it is thy battell I fight and thy grace is sufficient for mee Thy people when they builded the wall of Ierusalem Neh. 4.17 they did hold their weapons in the one hand and builded with the other hand Lord furnishe mee with a double portion of thy Spirit that I may resist Satan with the one hand and draw neere to thee with the other O Lord I am come to thine Holinesse to repent my sins Ah Lorde my sinnes are great but my repentance is slender Lord giue me that repentance which thou gavest vnto Peter hee sinned grievouslie but repented earnestlie yea hee weeped bitterlie O Lord hast not thou the keyes of David which openeth Rev. 3.7 and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Open mine heart that I may make such a repentance as â—ought to doe Thou didst keepe Ionas that hee drowned not Thou O Lorde diddest streatch foorth thine helping hand and keeped Peter Mat. 14.31 that hee did not sinke when hee did walke on the waters Lord streatch foorth thine helping hand let not thy servant sinke into the sea of sinne O Lord thou prepared an Arke for thine owne Noah and the Whales bellie for thine owne Ionas Lord if I shall get my foot once within the Arke I shall bee safe Iesus Christ is mine Arke let me be found in him then shall there be no condemnation to mee Rom. 8.1 my sinnes indeed are great O Lord but shall I ballance the sinnes of a finite creature with the mercies of the infinite Creator Psal 25.9 Nay Lorde all thy wayes are mercie and trueth to these that feare thee I haue nothing to lay betweene mee and Hell but thy vndeserved mercie O Lord my God thou art a strength vnto the poore a refuge against the tempest and a shadow against the heat Who so dwelleth in the secret of the most Hie Psal 91. 1. shall abyde in the shadow of the Almightie I will say vnto the Lord O my hope Psal 42.10 and my fortresse hee is my God in him will I trust Confirme my soule O Lorde in the certaintie of this perswasion Strengthen also the arme of thy feeble and weake servant that I may fight with the greater courage against that spirituall Gohab Let mee not depart from thee at this time without some spirituall comfort Thou wouldst not suffer the multitude Mat. 14.19 that waited vpon thee three dayes in the Wildernesse to depart vntill they were refreshed Lorde refresh my soule with some crummes of grace falling from thy Table When Ionathan was wearie 1. Sam. 14.28 and put foorth his rodde and tasted of the honie his dimme eyes received sight and his feeble bodie was strengthened O Lord Luc. 8.46 if I shall touch Iesus by the rodde of faith my dimme eyes shall receive sight and my feeble soule new strength O my Lord am not I seeking this strenth of thee to bruise the head of the old Serpent Gen. 3.15 a sworne enemie to thy Kingdome Denie not armour to thine owne weake souldiour that in the power of thy might I may subdue that great dragon Sinne that it may bee borne downe and Iesus his throne may bee set vp in the secret corner of mine heart Sanctifie my rest this night in such sort that when this wearied bodie hath received its bodilie refreshment I maye rise by thy grace to morrow to doe thee better service in Iesus Christ Amen Morning meditation of the fourth Day THY sacrifices O Lord Psâ—â— 5.17 are a contrite a broken heart I come to thy Altar but I want the sacrifice O Lord who vouchsafedst a sacrifice vpon Abraham Gen. 22.13 vouchsafe a sacrifice vpon me I would wish mine heart could bee dissolved in bitter teares but such is my present hardnesse that neither can I repent as I should neither is mine heart so softened as it should bee EZek. 11.19 It is thy praise O Lord to take the stonie heart away and to giue an heart of flesh Lord I haue a stonie heart rent it O Lord take it away and giue mee a soft heart that I may make such a repentance as my great offences require Lord there is no contentment to my soule but either when thou humblest mee with a sense of sinne or raisest mee vp with a sense of mercie rather than I bee senselesse let mee be sensible of my sinne that in the bitternesse of my heart I may bewaile it Teach mee now to mourne with thy children 2. Thess 1.7 that I may rejoyce in the day of their rejoysing Cherish O Lord those litle sparkles of grace which in thy great mercie thou hast kindled in my soule Increase my faith
my love and my light Learne mee to forget those things that are behind mee Phi. 3.13 and follow hard towards the mark O Lord open thine owne Treasures and sende downe of thy spirituall graces Let mee finde a lifting vp vertue in thy spirit continuallie raising vp my spirit Speake peaceable things to my soule this morning that all the day long I may rejoyce in thee Giue mee faith to applye the sweete promises of mercie made in thy Worde Hedge mee so about with thy grace that my secreet corruptions breake not out Let my whole life bee a walking with thee and a moving towards thee Iohn 12.32 Draw mee everie day somewhat neerer to thy selfe and deface the image of sinne in me that the image of Christ may bee set vp in my soule Bee thou O Lord a bulwarke to thy servant that the violent spait of the corruption of this time dryve mee not away Save mee that I communicat not with the sinnes of other men 1. Tim. 5.22 and cleanse mee from my owne sinnes As this bodie of clay weareth and wasteth graunt O Lord that sinne may weare and waste in me Bring the worke of thine owne grace to perfection and leade mee from faith Rom. 1.17 to faith and from feeling to feeeling 1. Cor. 13.12 vntill faith end in sight and feelling into an endlesse fellowship which I hope to enjoy in the Heavens with my blessed Head and Husband Iesus Christ Amen Evening meditation of the fourth Day I Blesse the time wherein I was acquainted with thy Majestie If thou hadst not sent the light of thine owne Spirit Eph. 2.12 as I was borne a stranger I had died a straÌ„ger I confesse O Lord that before my calling I was doing the workes of the flesh Eph. 2.3 and of the minde and was by nature the child of wrath as well as others But thou O Lorde who art riche in mercie through the great love that thou hast loved mee in Christ Iesus Eph. 2.4 hast made mee to see that I was walking in a way to mine owne damnation Thou in mercie reclaimedst mee and broughtest mee backe yea thou diddest pardon those selfe-same sinnes in mee for the which thou hast condemned others O Lord what didst thou see in mee more than in others Nothing but matter of wrath and condemnation Yea Lord as thou didst separate Eliah from Elisha 2. King 2.11 walking in one way together by a fyrie chariot so hast thou shedde mee from the reprobat sometime walking in one course with them I say with thy servant David Not vnto mee Psal 115. 1. not vnto mee O Lord but vnto thy Name let the glorie bee given Who is able to thinke aright of thy mercy all thy wayes are mercy truth to them that feare thee Psal 25.1 When I remember what I haue beene I am enforced to wonder at thy mercie If thou hadst beene as readie to punish mee for my sinne as I was readie to commit sinne I had had my portion amongest the damned Spirites ere now What follie was there wherein I did not take pleasure I stopped mine care at the voyce of GOD and hearkened vnto the voyce of the Serpent The deceitfull pleasures of sinne ensnared my soule but thou hast broken the grinne Psal 124.6 and my soule like a bird hath escaped all thinges are naked and patent before him Heb. 4.13 with whom we haue to do Thou didst see Nathanael vnder the figge tree Iohn 1.48 I do therefore in all humilitie crave thee mercie for all my sinnes before my calling and also after my calling Like a Dogge I haue returned to my vomite 2. Pet. 2.22 and like a Sowe washed I haue defiled my selfe in the myre againe After that thou hadst made mee cleane these same sinnes for the which I haue lamented and repented I haue falne into againe As my salvation was begunne of thy mercie so let it bee continued and perfected of that same mercie for mercie is all I leane to At that last houre when all these outward comforts as false friends will flie from mee in my greatest neede then Lord bee at my right hand yea bee in the secreet corner of mine heart that my death as well as my life may edifie others in the faith of Christ Let my mouth whilst I haue breath vtter foorth a good matter Psal 45.1.2 Then leade thou mee through the valley of death and in end bring mee into that glorious and lightsome Pallace where the glorie of God shineth most brightlie â—sal 17.15 that my soule may ever bee delighted with the brightnesse of his Face and may haue my part in that Songe of Thankesâ—giving Rev. 5.9.10 c. which the glorified Spirites sound to the praise of GOD to whom be everlasting praise Amen Morning meditation of the fift Day O Heavenly Father as all the waters runne into the Ocean so doth all poore sinners powre out their complaintes in thy bosome Thou art the onelie refuge of a wearied soule to thee onelie doe wee flie in our greatest necessities and at thy mouth doe wee seeke resolution in our most perplexed affaires I haue manie things to lament to thy Majestie but in speciall I lament to thee that my meditations are so confused and mixed with impertinent cogitations Lorde this is a token of a confused heart I am sorie that the heart which should bee the dwelling place of thy Spirit should bee so preoccupied by earthlie fleshlie and profane cogitations I may withdrawe my selfe from the companie of the Worlde but allace I can not with drawe my selfe from a profane heart where ever I goe I carrie a profane heart about with mee and albeit thou givest mee an outward libertie to bow the knee of my bodie yet my spirite is bound Ah Lord I can neither speake nor thinke of thee as I should doe Thou art infinite vnmeasureable incomprehensible what can a finite creature take vp of an infinite God Forgive mee Lord that I worship thee in such ignorance let mee see thee in a clearer light and I shall worshippe thee with a greater affection The better O Lord that I know thee the better I loue thee the more will I reverence thee That woman of Samaria Iohn 4.9 before Thee knew thee preferred a drinke of water to thee but from time shee knew thee shee esteemed much of thee and preferred thee vnto all things To the end therefore O Lorde that thou may haue that rowme in mine heart that thou oughtest to haue manifest thy selfe more clearelie to my soule Drawe abacke this curtaine off my soule that I may take thee vp more sensiblie I crave light with the increase of light and grace with the increase of grace faith with the increase of faith and because that heere is no perfection Graunt I may studie to a growth vntill thou perfite thine owne worke and in the meane time O Lorde consider what I am
and where I am a weak creature in a waste Wildernesse Therefore as thou carried thy own Israel vpon Eagles winges through the wildernesse towards that earthlie Canaan carrie mee through this waste Wildernesse of the Worlde vntill I come to mine heavenlie Canaan Thou knowest O Lorde my soule is as a shippe tossed to and fro with continuall tempests manie times when I haue a straight course to Heaven I am driven aside by the contrarie windes of my corrupt affections Lord Iesus bee thou Pylote to the Shippe of my soule that I make no shipwracke as tentations followeth tentations like the waues of the sea everie one vpon the backe of another so let grace bee doubled that although Satan seek to winnow me as wheat yet he prevaile not I long O Lord to be with thee where Satan will not tempt sin will not accuse and these vnrulie affections will not trouble me Ah when shall this poore spirit bee disburthened of this lodging of clay that that which is divine may behold thy divine Majestie alwayes so long as I am heere in the bodie Thou that teachedst Davids fingers heere to fight Psal 18.33 so that a Bow of brasse was not able to withstand him So strengthen thou mine arme that I may bee able to resist these malitious enemies Thy servant David overcame the Lyon and the Beare and the vncircumcised Philistim yet was hee overcome with his vncircumcised heart Of all difficulties it is the greatest to â—me man to overcome himselfe Lord helpe mee by grace to sight against my selfe I will not despare Lord notwithstanding of all these enemies so long as I may make my plaint to thee Thy eyes are vpon the lust Psal 34.15 thine eares open vnto their crye Thou didst heare the groanings of thine owne Israel Lorde heare the gronings of my soule Thine eare O Lorde is not heavie Esay 59 1. nor is thine hand shortened streatche foorthe the arme of thy mercie and help my distressed soule Didst not thou command the stormie windes and raging seas when thy Disciples were in hazard and they obeyed thee If my small affections never rage so mightilie if thou wilt command peace they will settle and bee obedient to thy voice And now O Lorde this daye wherein I am entred I know not what inconvenient I may meete with leade me safelie through all difficulties O thou that art the shepheard of my soule Psal 23.1 that I safelie going through the snares of this daye at evening I may bow my knees and sound thy praises in Iesus Christ Amen Evening meditation of the fifth Day I Haue wandred froÌ„ thee O Lord this day That troublesome Spirit hath oppressed my Spirit with varietie of vnnecessarie affaires I bussie my selfe about manie thinges Luc. 10.42 but yet one thing is needfull I finde by daylie experience that the cares of this worlde are thornie cares they pricke and annoy my soule Mat. 13.7 they chocke the seede of grace which in mercie thou didst sowe I to mine heart they are mightie impediments to the growth of my inner man I pray thee let not these earthlie cares diminish mine inward peace nor prejudg my vnion with thy Majestie nor draw on darknes vpon my mind but O Lord let the secret beames of thy lightsome face continuallie shine vpon my soule Let mee ever live in a spirituall sense of my vnion from the which such inward joy may flow to my spirit as may make all estates acceptable to mee O Lorde of all difficulties I finde it the greatest to keepe the heart in a sense of thy presence I confesse O Lorde for all the paines I haue yet taken in thy worship if thou yet leave mee I may fall into as great Athisme as they who never knew thee Therefore waken my Spirit renew my senses lift vp all the powers of my soule Phil. 3.19 that I may ever minde heavenlie things True it is O Lord my earthly calling is a great impediment to my heavenlie calling althogh I were no ways distracted but all times gave my selfe to reading prayer and meditation it were litle enough for the intertaining the life of Christ in my soule But O Lorde as thou hast laide a double burthen vpon mee so double thy Spirite vpon mee that even whilest I am doing the points of my earthlie calling my spirit may bee above Lorde open mine eyes that I may see my predominant sinnes let mee not bee a slave to my affections but give mee grace to strive against everie sinfull motion And as thou O Lord dost now cover all thinges heere beneath with darknesse so cover my sinnes that they bee not seene againe Let never mine heart bee so farre from thee as it hath beene neither bee thou so longe absent from my soule Esay Write my name vpon the palmes of thine hands and let mee be as a signet vpon thy right hand O thou the Watchman of Israel Psal 121.3 who neither slumbrest nor sleepest bee thou my keeper this night Let this temporall rest bee a pledgde to mee of that everlasting rest which I hope to enjoye in the Heavens through Iesus Christ Amen Morning meditation of the sixt Day I Complaine to thy Majestie of the vncessant malice of my sworne enemie hee is a restlesse tempter and I am a carelesse resister hee knoweth my weaknesse and taketh his advantage of my infirmities When I haue best resolutions to serve thee then rageth hee most against mee and when I set my face towards heaven then hee laboureth to dryve me froÌ„ the right mark that Evill one albeit I went not to my rest after in calling vpon thy name yet hath caryed my fantasie after profane earthlie and carnall thinges Ah Lorde I what hee cannot accomplishe in the daye hee laboureth to bring it to passe in the night Take not these for mine actions but for mine enemies divelish suggestions I wold wish the minde were so pure and the heart so spirituallie disposed that ever sleeping or waking I were about spirituall matters And because O Lord thou canst not dwell inro a filthy heart sweepe the house of my soule wash mee a-new Psal 51.7 and make mee cleane prepare a lodging for thine owne Spirit into the secreet corners of mine heart possesse thoâ— thine owne dwelling for thou hâ—st bought it with the bloode of thine owne Sonne Keepe me O Lord 1. Iohn 1.7 1. Pet. 1.5 vnto that Life which thou hast keeping for mee and whilest I am heere in the bodie save mee from carnall securitie Let my delite ever bee to watch and praye and multiplie the spirit of prayer vpon mee Mat. 6.6 Let mee not wearie of wel-doing but leade mee in thy pathes I am sorie that my time hath beene so wasted time slydeth away and I profite litle or nothing in it Let no day slippe away without some spirituall advantage O Lord I count it my greatest gaine to gaine Christ Phil. 3.8 yea I
esteeme all things doung in respect of him Let mee feele sensiblie O Lorde that I am rooted Eph. 2.20 and builded in him Let vertue proceed from him to heale my diseased soule in him Lord bee well pleased with mee thy weake servant Furnishe mee with grace to doe everie point of thy worshippe with some peece of good conscience that in the end thou bee not ashamed of mee nor denie mee not to bee thine but mayest call vpon mee saying Come faithfull servant Mat. 25.21 enter into thy Masters rest vnto the which rest O Lord of thy infinite mercie bring this poore soule of mine in thy owne good time Amen Evening Meditation of the sixt Day WHAT shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefites bestowed vpon mee a sinfull worme Psal 116.12 I haue found thy kindnesse in outward things I haue had a proofe of thy favour in inward mercies If Ruth Ruth 2.3 when she found favour with Boaz in suffering her to gather cornes on his field amongst his slaves and give her bodilie refreshment with his servants made such an humble confession saying What am I that I should haue found favour in thine eyes and that thou shouldest knowe mee seeing I am a stranger What may I say to thy Majestie who albeit I was a stranger from the wombe yet hast thou O Lord received mee to mercie and communicatest of thy spirituall Treasure to my soule O Lord thou hâ—st powred in life in my soule where Death had taken seasing yea as thou quickened Lazarus his dead bodie Iohn 11.43 so hast thou quickened my dead soule thou madest light to breake vp where there was nothing but darknesse As the morning clowde passeth away at the rising of the Sunne so the clowde of naturall darknesse passeth away at the breaking vp of the light of thy Face Thou hast O Lorde brought libertie to my soule where I was fettered in the chaines of an vnbelieving heart whereas at my first wakeninges I found terrours feares accusations and great inward griefes thou hast now pacified my soule and brought peace and joye to mine heart Blessed bee the time that ever I knew thee happie was that houre wherein thou manifested thy selfe vnto mee Peter Iames and Iohn were so ravished with the glorie of Christ his transfiguration Mat. 17. 1.2 that they desired never to have removed off that mountaine so Lord the smallest glimmering of thy light doeth so delight the heate that it maketh vs to forsake all that wee may abyde with thee I say to thee Ruth 1.16 O Lord as Ruth said to Naomi where thou goest I will goe My deare Lord strengthen my weak faith that day by day I may get a faster grippe of Iesus Christ and howbeit I continue not at all times in the like degree of feeling yet let never my faith faile mee and whensoever I misse thee give mee grace to seeke thee with a sorrowfull heart vntill I finde thee Leade me forward from faith to faith and feeling to feeling vntill faith end in sight and feeling in a perfite fruition of these supernaturall joyes which I longe for and daylie awaite in Christ Iesus our Lorde and Saviour Amen Morning meditation of of the seventh Day IT hath pleased thee O Lord to separate this Day from the rest of the dayes for thine onelie worshippe LORD in like manner separate mee from my corruptions and in some measure sanctifie mee this Day to thy service that I may dedicate the same whollie to thy service and not onelie cease from medling with my worldlie businesse but I may cease from sinne and haue all the powers of my soule lifted vpward O Lord warme mine heart with the loue of thee inslame mine affections with the zeale of thy Glorie Oh Lord how long shall I dwell in the tentes of Kedar Psal 120.5 when shall this wearisome pilgrimage be ended when shal that blessed Iubile come when all thy Saintes shall be set at libertie and wee to enjoye perfect rest with thee for euer Heere I am oppressed with feares doubtinges deadnesse of spirit blindnesse of minde In the meane time sweet Christ Iesus leaue me not in this place of my banishment for thou art Light and without thee I can doe nothing but walke in darknesse Iohn 8.12 Thou art Life and without thee there is nothing but present Death Thou art the Way and without thee I can doe nothing but walke in the broad way Goe thou before mee my deare Sauiour then shall I cheerefulie follow thee let mee see the way I should walke into and lead mee into that way Make the light of thy face continually shine vpon my soule that in thy light I may see light And now O Lord since I am to goe to thy house to heare thy will out of thy Word be thou my convoy and giue mee grace to take heede to my feete Eccl. 4 5.1 when I goe to the house of the Lord grant I may watch so narrowly over mine heart and minde that I bee not wandring in tyme of thy worshippe make thy word comfortable vnto my soule yea let it bee sweeter to mee than the honey and the honey combe that I may returne from thy Service with a minde more illuminated and heart by grace better established and affection better informed and all the powers of my soule in a greater measure sanctified finally so rule me by thy good Spirit this day that no part of it bee stollen away from thy service but that I may spend it so regiouslie that when the Evening shall come I may reape the peace of a good conscience the which peace is to mee an arles pennie of that endlesse Peace I hope to enjoye in the Heavens through Iesus Christe our Lord Amen Evening Meditation of the seaventh Day O Lord my God although thy Majesty knoweth it was my purpose in the Morning to haue spent this whollie day in thy service yet I haue stollen a part of it froÌ„ thee my minde hath gone a whooring after other vanities no I dare not but confesse that euen in the verie houre of preaching and prayer my heart hath wandred from thee Oh Lord it is easie to promise obedience but not so easie to performe I perceiue by doolefull experience that my soule is subject to such inconstancie that I can not keep it in the state with thy Majestie no not the space of one day no Lord not one houre yea scarse a quarter of an houre I resolve wel Rom. 7.18 but practise nothing my desire is euer to walke with thee but alace everie moment I wander froÌ„ thee manie are the changes whervnto I am subject sometime I finde the Spirit-slightering vpward incontinent drawing downe to the earth sometimes delighting to talk with GOD at other times wearying of spirituall exercises sometime marveilouslie enlightned with a great light at other times plight with a palpable darknes â— Pet. 1. sometimes rejoycing with
minde most evidently to vs it belongeth to the Iustice GOD by the same reasonable creature Gen. 3.15 the Devill should bee overcome which hee had gloried to bee subdued by him as God therefore hee triumphed over Death The offering of Isaac is a shadow of this dispensation done for vs Gen. 22.8 Isaac being a type of the divinitie and the Rain of the humanitie In the purification of the Leper also for whom was taken two Sparrowes aliue and cleane whereof the one was killed Lev. 14.4 and the other dipped in the blood of the slaine then let gâ—e the live Sparrow into the broad fielde And so of the two Goates offered for the sinnes of the people whereof the one was sacrificed and the other did escape 2. What did hee suffer in Soule and Body man hath sinned so did hee suffer in both not in his Passion onely but all the time of his life hee was in the flesh As his povertie flight to Egypt and all other his persecutions contained in the historie of his Gospell declare Esay 53.4 3. Why sâ—ffered hee surelie hee hath borne our iniquities and caried our sorrowes 1. Pet. 2.24 hee his own selfe bare â—ur sinnes in his body on the tree that wee beeing delivered from sinne should live in righteousnesse by whose stripes wee are healed Thy trespasses brought shame and ignominie on thy Saviâ—ur and nailed him to the Crosse and drived him to the lowest part of the earth Hence doeth shine God his Iustice and Mercie to vs wâ—rd aâ—d espâ—â—ially Iesus Christ his lâ—ve to vs all Of his Iustice punishing sin The Angells which kept not their first estate deludge of Noah Iud. 6.7 the subversion of Sodom Gen. 19.24 and Gomorrha are examples which suffer the vengeance of eternall fire Chorah Numb 16.32 Mat. 23.37.38 â—sal 76.2 Dathan and Abiram their destruction and the miserable desolation of Ierusalem the bewtie of the earth and the chosen habitation of GODS worship can beare record Bâ—t none of them all can bee compared with this that God would not but by the death of his onely begotten Sonne be pacised for our sinnes Cease therefore to provocke so iust a GOD by thy wickednesse Psal 95 7.8 since thou receiuest a kingdome that can not bee shaken craue grace Heb. 12 2â— that thou may so serue GOD that thou mayest please him with reverence and feare for even thy GOD is a consuming fire Rom. 1.15 whose wrath is revealed froÌ„ Heaven against all vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men The fierce Lyon is tamed and dauntoned when the Whelp is beaten with roddes in his sight Psal 147.19.20 cast thou off superfluitie of maliciousnes for whilst thou seest not onelie the people dearest to GOD of any Esay 2.6 for hee hath not so done to everie nation so dangerouslie forsaken because they did not repent nor acknowledge the day of their visitation but his well-beloved Sonne also in whom hee is well pleased mayest thou behold to die 1. Iohn 3.5 that execrable death because he appeared that hee might take away our sinnes and in him is no sinne Despise not therefore the riches of his bountifulnesse Rom. 2.4 and patience and long suffering not knowing that the bountifulnesse of GOD leadeth thee to repentance It behoued our woundes to bee verie deepe and corrupt which could not bee healed Esay 1.6 but by the woundes of the Sonne of God hee hath redeemed vs not to sinne but from sinne not with corruptible thinges as Siluer or Gold 1. Pet. 1.17.18 Heb. 10.29 but wiâ—h the precious bloode of Christ as of a Lambe vndefyled and without spotte How sore punishment shall hee bee thought worthie which treadeth vnder foote the Sonne of GOD and compteth the blood of the Testament as a vnworthy thing wherewith hee was sanctifyed and despiteth the the Spirit of Grace Againe nothing more could declare GODS mercie Rom. 5.8 than the death of his owne Sonne what is dearer to man Ioh. 3.16 than his owne children Iacob deploreth his sonne Ioseph David yeelded a bitter and heavie sorrow for Absâ—lon yea Gen. 37.34.35 2. Sam. 18.23 Ier. 31.15 in Rama was a voyce heard murning and weeping and great lamentation Rachel weeping for her children and would not bee comforted for such cace hath procured in many astonishment rather than teares seeing therefore that GOD hath delivered his Sonne begotten from all eternitie Phil. 2.6 equall with himselfe coessentiall and consubstantiall to a shamefull death for thee despare not with that damned Crue Cain Saul and Iudas But rouse vp thy selfe in the consâ—ience of GOD'S mercie saying with David The Lord is full of compassion and mercy slow to anger and of great kindnesse hee will not alwayes chyde nor keepe his anger for euer Psal 103.8.9.10.11.12 he hath not delt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs after our iniquities for as high as the Heauen is aboue the Earth so great is his mercies towardes them that feare him So farre as the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoued our sinnes from vs. As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the LORD compassion on them that feare him For as by one mans dissobedience Rom. 5.20.21 many were made sinners So by the obedience of one many shall also be made righteous For where sinne aboundeth there grace aboundeth more that as sinne hath reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by righteousnes vnto eternall Life by Iesus Christ our Lord who was made a curse for vs Gal. 4.4 5. that the blessing of Abraham might come on thee through Christ Iesus Thus is hee made vnto vs of GOD 1. Cor. 1. 30. Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption Seeing therefore that wee haue Christ the pledge of GODS favour and lâ—ue who hath payed more than wee were indebted and hee restored that which hee tooke not Psal 69.4 and hath merited more for vs than the Ocean Sea is bigger thaÌ„ the smallest droppe of water The righteous GOD of his Iustice being once satisfied can not sue double pay in punishing those that belieue in Iesus Christ And what can bee said of Iesus Christ his most burning Loue to mankind never Bridegrome loved his Bride so intirelie and ardently never man matched so vnworthily and with greater disparagment in marriage as Christ and his Church If thou see any cast his affection vpon a Wenâ—h deformed maimed yea a sâ—old and durty thou wilt say Such a one is benummed yea bewitched But God when we were dead in sin and trespasses Eph. 2.2 yea which is worse walked after the course of the Devill his enemie 1. Iohn 1.8 emptie and voide of all goodnesse fraughted and defyled of all vice of meere vnlookt-for love not onlie had hee given his onelie begotten Sonne to deliver vs from the bondage and staverie of Satan but hath adopted vs to be anexed heires
Luc. 22.21 if it had not beene so he would not haue come hither to haue taken him and now deâ—re Soule no man betrayeth Christ but he that knoweth him and his Trueth Take heede to thy knowledge and looke that it bee in sinceritie and not in hypocrisie or else in the end thou shalt proue an Apostate The thoughts of the Iust are right Pro. 12.5 but the counsells of the wicked are deceitfull And thus Iudas lost securitie arming himselfe with the power of the guarde of the high Priestes It is the peace of God that passeth all vnderstanding that fortifieth the heart of man for peace is nothing but a good conscience Although I were compassed about with ten thousand men Psal 3.6 yet would I not bee affrayed for I know assuredlie that thou wilt bee with mee It is a dangerous matter to harden the hearte against Christ or if it bee once indâ—red tâ—ou shalt not stay vntill thou come into extreame induration I pray the LORDE preserue thee my Soule froÌ„ the hardnes of heart against the Trueth Rom. 9.18 2. Pet. 3.17 and against Iesus Christ for seldome is it that one going forward therin and ever returneth to grace Gen. 18.14 but with the Lord all thinges are possible For it is an hard matter to bee given over to a reprobate sense and when the Lord taketh out of the Soule Zach. 8.6 all sight and sense of his judgements thou shall never leaue off from evill doing Stryue therefore O my Soule to keepe thy selfe in feâ—â—ing Rom. 1.26 and let not that miserable sward and scroofe to growe over thy vnderstanding but waken the conscience with the acknowledging of the power and mercie of God and suffer not it to come to such fatnesse Act. 28.26 27. as seeing thou shouldest not see and become vncurable In the Garden then the cup of Gods indignatioÌ„ was presented vnto him even as the good master of the house distributeth to his servants their taske so doth the Lord dispose the measure of afflictions vnto his owne But vnto the wicked in his hand hee hath a cup and the wine is red Psal 75.8.9 it is mixed and hee shall poure out of the same surelie all the vngodly of the earth shall wring out and drinke the dregges thereof But well knoweth the wise God 1. Cor. 10.13 how strong a measure of temptation his own can beare What is the reason then that thou doest not fully rely on thy God to whom all thy bones are knowne Psal 139.15 though thou wast made in a secret place and fashioned beneath in the earth And why dost not thou willingly receiue at his handes whaâ—soever quantitie of tryall it pleaseth him to send Psal 50.15 Call on him therefore in the day of trouble he will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie him The translation of this Cup he craved then of his Father whome hee knewe caried a favourable affection towardes him Esay 65.24 who will before wee call answere whiles wee speake hee will beare for it is not the will of our Father which is in heaven Mat. 18.13 that one of these little ones should perish Parents may neglect duetie to the children Esay 49.15.16 and a woman whose loue is most vehement may forget her childe and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe though they should forget yet will I not forget sayth the Lord behold I haâ—e graven thee vpon the palmes of my handes But alas poore Soule thy sinnes made him both kneele and bee cast below on the earth and wilt thou with a stiffe necke and out-streached arme proudlie walke therein hee sweate blood for vs and wee draw the blood of our brethren by Avarice oppression and vsurie Woulde to God the Blood of Iesus woulde soften our hard heartes as the blood of Goates doe breake Adamantes that beeing sanctified by the same wee may render new obedience vnto him by feeling and lamenting our sinnes and imperfections and ever haue recourse from the angry God to the pacified god giuing eare in reverence and feare to the admonitions and exhortations out of the word least it befall vs because hee hath called and wee refused And be streatched out his band and none would regarde bee also laugh at our destruction and mocke when our feare commeth Pro. 1.24 for this is the nature of Gods invitation that the men doe die that speak the word but the worde shall bee founde living Zach. 1.4.5.6 And so it is that the Prophets dyed with their fathers but the word never left them vntill it brought a judgement vpon the disobedient With Teares therefore poore Soule confesse thy sinnes vnto the Lord â—sal 6.6 for if thou hyde them thou accusest thy selfe Psal 32.5 bee forgets them when thou rememberest them thou art deare vnto him wheÌ„ thou art vyle vnto thy selfe hee findeth thee when thou art lost and annibilated he much regardeth thee when thou art nothing in thine owne eyes Beggers doe show their wounds to moue compassion let vs open to God the sores of our festered conscience without delay least by the occasion of sinne and delay of repentance grace bee intercepted from vs. Remember what tâ—y Saviour hath done for thee and with what vnkindnesse thou hast recompensed h m. Consider the wrath of God against sinne which maye moue verie senselesse creatures but joyne heere withall a liuelie faith taking holde on the mercie of God which hee hath manifested in his beloued Sonne 1. Iohn 2. 1.2 for his mercie is the port vnto the which sinners should aryue the comfort of the offenders and great securitie of the righteous I know his mercies are great but can not comprehend the quantitie and am ignorant of the qualitie of the greatnesse thereof for vnlesse it had beene great few or none should haue ever beene saved When Christe came in the fleshe hee called Magicians Mat. 2. 1. or wisemen then the Publicans then the Whoores the Malefectors and whom last the Blasphemers these are the first fruits of his calling even those who be tyed with the bonds of Sinne. Art thou therefore vngodly remember the Magicians art thou an oppressour thinke on the Publican art thou vncleane the LORD pittied the whoore art thou blood-thirstie let that Traitour and Malefactor bee obversant vnto thine eyes art thou profanelie wicked remember Paul who was first a blasphemer and then an Apostle first a Persecuter and then an Evangelist for this is a true word and by all meanes worthie to bee receiued 1. Tim. 1.15.16 that Christ Iesus came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chiefe sayeth hee Notwithstanding for this cause was I receiued vnto mercie that Iesus Christ should first show on me long suffering to the example of them which shall in time to come beleeue in him vnto eternall life But heere there is required especiallie that thou shouldest fight a good fight
filled full with reproaches and hath giuen his backe vnto the smitters and his cheeke to the nippers Esay 50.7 neither hid be his face from shame and spitting that thou mayst bee admonished of the greatnesse of thy sin and weight of Gods anger thou didst merite for thy sinnes in everlasting punishments in Hell So didst thou not O Lambe of God resist euill Mat. 3.39 but whosoeuer did smite thee on thy right cheek didst turne to him the other also euer beaten while life did laste thee By thy shame bloody blew-face bewtifull doe wee appeare who were deformed in sin Nowe it restes His examination and processe thereof to bee discussed Woe is mee poor Soule that not onely false recordes witnesses for wicked endes but that the Princes Elders should haue admitted suborned coÌ„stituted them without respect to the law of God Act. 6. 11. So Steven had proofe thereof God will never suffer his followers in this Ier. 7.4.5.6.7 to be destitute of comfort Mat. 7.21 For wee should not haue Christ in our mouth but doe the will of him that sent him else all boasting of the Temple of God is to no effect for what hath the wicked adoe to declare his ordinances Psal 50.16 17. or take his Covenant in their mouth seeing they hate to bee reformed and doe cast his words behind them But what did these false witnesses they could doe no other than to mixe Trueth with Falset or interprete against the minde of the speaker right done or thinges spoken falslie Our Saviour had said Destroy this Temple Iohn 2.19 and in three dayes I will raise it vp againe But they said I can destroy this Temple he meaning of his bodie they of the materiall temple Christ said I will raise it vp againe they said hee would build it Great are the offences deare Soule which false witnesses commit against God Exod. 20. whose commandement they wilfully break against the Son who is Trueth it selfe against the holy Ghost whose habitation they defile with lies For the mouth that lieth killeth the Soule yea and offendeth against the Iudge who beleeueth them and against their neighbour who falleth in the hazard of his life and goods as of Naboth 1. King 21.9 And therefore Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deale truely are his delight Pro. 12.22 and reason for false witnesses shall not bee vâ—punished Pro. 19.9 and bee that speaketh lies shall perish And therefore deare Soule come never in custome hereof for both spirituall corporall punishments abideth them For he that slandereth not with his tongue nor doeth evill to his neighbour nor receiueth a false report against his neighbour Psal 15.2.3 shal rest in the Lords Mountaine And therefore speake trueth in the heart for when inquisition shall bee made and thy witnesse bee found false Deut. 19.19 shall bee done vnto thee as thou thoughtest to doe vnto thy brother Therefore my Soule eschew the thing that is euill and bee not ashamed to say the truth for thy life Accept no person against thine own conscience that thou bee not confounded to thy owne decay Eccl. 4.33 Heere then hee admits al while the witnesse proue nothing but appointeth as Darius did in favours of his Nobles Dan. 6.16 our Daniel to be casten in the Den of Lyons Now what is Christ thy Saviours part in all this businesse he holds his peace First to accomplish the prophesie Esay 53.7 next a graue example of patience If the Iudge doe thee wronge thou art no better than Christ was commit thy cause vnto God Psal 146.7 which executeth justice for the oppressed looseth the prisoners Trueth may bee hid but not overcome iniquitie may floorish for a time but can not bee permanent His innocencie also heere appeares which behoued to be that we might be made the righteousnes of God by him 2. Cor. 5.21 And these things he suffered the night-tyde that the licentious in a soft bed wheÌ„ his head Prince and King did suffer these thinges by night should earnestlie regard them I see Annas doth not loose our Saviour which of compassion did loose the Daughter of Abraham whom SathaÌ„ bound many yeeres Sampson by vertue of the haire of his heade could burst the bonds of strange womeÌ„ but Christ after so many miracles wonders and powers done by him willinglie gaue himself bound to releiue our bondes Our Saviour being asked if hee was Messias not onelie confessed but told he should come in judgement in visible forme at which the high Priest rent his rayment and accused the most Innocent of blasphemie I pray thee why doest thou adjure the Sonne of GOD it was not to find out trueth but occasion of death if any could bee such as was in Achab who ajured Micha the sonne of Iemlie whom he presentlie committed to fetters The sleeping of the Conscience is common both to the wicked and to the godlie and it should bee diligentlie attended vnto that it may be tymouslie wakened for the longer the Conscience lyeth in sinne the bitterer and harder the wakening will bee David did lye a yeare in this stuÌ„ber and after adulterie 2. Sam. 11 4. committed murther yet the Lord in mercie wakened him Ready is it to bee lulled asleepe and of all judgements a sleeping conscience is the greatest happie is hee that finds him reconceiled to his God a wakening conscience will tell thee when thou hast done euill that thou mayst haue displeasure repent wheÌ„ thou hast don well thou mayst haue joy through Iesus Christ Rom. 2.19 of whom wee haue our sufficiencie and without whom wee cannot thinke a good thought What is it then that he asketh of Christe is it concerning his Doctrine and his Disciples he did not point out any particular because hee had many to laye to his charge his dittay should haue beene made before hee was taken How should the high Priest bene ignorant that Christ was both Messias and the Son of God for hee saw his marveilous workes which testified of him he saw the Prophesies onelie fulfilled in his person Yet our Saviour did with his mouth confesse freely that he was the Sonne of the liuing God Heb. 4.15 which is the greatest coÌ„fort that euer can befal any soule that he hath the Sonne of the liuing God his Mediatour Priest and King and companion in all his calamities And shall not such a mightie King revenge the injuries done to his members Truely he will not onely take the defence of theÌ„ in this world but draw them as his own flesh bones to himselfe for hee is gone to prepare a place for them Iohn 14.3 and will come againe and receiue them to himselfe that where hee is they may bee also For what can bee more comfortable my Soule thaÌ„ to remember wee haue such an omnipotent and everlasting King not onely night day to
Iohn 2.3 and not for ours onelie but for the sins of the whole world by Faith applying the merites of Christe vnto himselfe to doe this businesse whereof Iudas destitute contemning the deepenesse of his mercie and riches of grace lost hope of recovering no man can seriouslie repent but he that looketh for forgiuenes And therefore to wrestle with temptation is first to look to the promises of God which is so sure and certaine that it is more easie that beaven earth should passe away Luc. 16.17 than they should faile or that any title of the Law should faile For the Lord is strong Exod. 34.6.7 mercifull and gracious slow to anger and aboundant in goodnes anâ— truth reserving mercie for thousandes forgiuing iniquities and transgressions and sinnes for the Lord is gracious and mercifull slow to anger Psal 145.89 and of great mercie the Lord is good to all and his mercie is over all his workes In this conflict cast the eyes of thy faith on Christ Iesus to whom a voyce from Heauen came Saying Mat. 3.17 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am wel pleased For hee receiued of God the Father honour and glorie 2. Pet. 1 17 and there came such a voyce to him fâ—om the excellent It is reported that Alexander the Great when he saw Iaddus the hie Priest with his priestlie apparel meeting him ceased from his rage against Tyrus and also richlie rewarded him How much more when our euerlasting Priest Iesuâ— Christ who is just yea our righteousnesse shall appeare in the sight of God his Father making intercession for vs to mitigate his wrath Heb. 7.26 and shall giue vs forgiuenesse of sins and life everlasting for he is able perfectlie to saue them that are able to come vnto God by him seeing hee ever liueth to make intercession for them Let not therefore Sathan bereaue thee of Gods loue mercie towardes thee the merite of his passion efficacie of his death For the gift is not so as is the offence for if by the offence of one many bee dead much more the grace of God Rom. 5. 15. and the gift by grace which is by one Man Iesus Christ hath abouÌ„ded vnto many Moreouer neuer sinner yet to this day desiring to bee reconcealed with his God was euer secluded froÌ„ mercie if the sinne be great his mercies is aboundantlie more and so much more as all the whole globe of the Sea exceedeth the smallest droppe of water If thy sinne be old which thou hast drunken in from thy mothers breast and in processe of time hath euer augmented the same bee thinke thee of Gods mercie is from al eternitie if thy iniquity bee latelie committed Gods mercies are daylie renewed which euerie moment hee poureth vpon vs. And therfore poore Soule because of the savour of thy Bridgromes oyntmeÌ„ts Cant. 1.2.3 his Name is as an oyntment poured out therefore the Virgines love him draw mee wee will runne after thee the King hath brought mee vnto his chamber wee will rejoyce and bee glad in thee wee will remember thy loue more than wine the righteous doe loue thee yea thou despysest not the poore sinner thou abhorredst not the confessing Thiefe neither the weeping woman neither her that was found in adulterie neither him that sate at the receipt of custome nor the humble Publican nor the denying Disciple nor the persecuting Paul yea not these that crucified thee but prayed for them Strengthen thy faith therfore in the spirituall fight by the holy meditation vse of the Sacraments for whosoeuer are baptized in Christ Gal. 3.27 hath put on Christ he covereth our nakednesse and doth wash away the filth of our Soules whose sinnes if they were as Crimson Esay 1.18 shall bee made white as Snow for it is the â—lood of Iesus Christ that cleanseth vs from all sinne 1. â—ohn 1.7 Bee not therefore affraied sinful Soule Art thou baptized in Christ hee will hâ—ue care of thy cause as if it were his proper owne The Rainebow was a signe of the Covenant betwixt God and man That the earth shâ—uld never be destroyed by deluge of water therafter Gen. 9.13 So baptisme is a vndoubted seale of our purgation by Christ at Gods hand he made a league with vs for our foule sins never to bee cast from his presence But in the Sacrament of the blood bodie of Iesus haue we a most certaine and liuelie pawne which is our Passeover offred for vs who by his obedience hath delivered vs from the Tyrannie of death and made vs partakers of life eternall It was worthie of consideration how precislie Peters falles are registrate in the booke God For whatsoeuer thinges are written afore-time are written for our learning Rom. 15. 4 that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope Peter therefore denyed his Master seven times Foure times to Maides Mat. 26.69 and three times to men First to Maides I say when he sate without the Hall and the Maide came vnto him saying that Thou wast with Iesus of Galile Secondlie as Peter was beneath in the Hall for now hee had entered but before hee was not come in There came one of the Maides of the high Priests Mar. 14.66 and when shee saw Peter warming him shee looked on him and said Thou wast also with Iesus of Nazareth Thirdlie then a Maide saw him againe and began to say to them that stood by This is one of them Fourthlie when hee went out into the Porch from the common Hall And another Maide saw him and said vnto them that were there Mat. 26.71 This man was also with Iesus of Nazareth Thus foure times denyed he his Master before these weak Vessels Man never should be courageous stout in his owne conceite The Lord is my strength my buckler and the horne of my salvation If the Lord leaue vs to our selues wee are a prey to Sathan to euerie winde and blast of temptation Thrice also denyed he before men and first Iohn 18.25 before the Souldiers standing and warming himselfe Iohn 18.26 Secondlie hee denyed before Malohus coosen whose eare hee smote off Thirdlie hee denyed him anone to them that stood by who saide vnto him againe Mat. 26.70 Mar. 14.70 Surelie thou art one of them for thou art of Galile and thy speech is like Neither doe I so punctually set these dolorours spectacles before thine eyes sinful Soule to dig vp the Sepulchres of these glorious Saints which are in heauen who repented and weeped bitterlie for their sinnes who were patterns to others not to distrust And thou Peter being converted confirme thy brethren And Dauid after his fall did teach the Lordes wayes vnto the wicked Psal 51.13 that sinners might bee converted to him The beleeving and repenting sinner therefore may be perswaded that there is euer mercie to bee found how great soever his sins
is a new buriall place that hee will bee laide in so a renewed heart by the Spirit is his dwelling place for hee can not rest in the ludging of that soule that hath sold it selfe to sinne as he will haue also a cleane a pure bodie as a winding-sheete to bee wrapped in as sweetly smelling savours of Vertues Faith Repentance Loue Patience c. joyned thereto To the mouth of this Buriall doe they rolle a great stone by the Lordes providence to stop the mouthes of his enemies Eph. 1.19 for it was hee that raised him from death to life wherein most of all thinges his power did appeare And this vvas done in the preparation to the Sabbath For as God the Father perfected the work of creation then so the Sonne hath accomplished the work of redemption and did rest the Sabbath from his worke 1. Cor. 15.24 shall giue sweete securitie and peace to our bodies and soules Novv hast thou woefull Soule the accomplishment of the Prophets concerning his buriall Psal 16.9 that his flesh should rest in peace and the type of Ionah perfected â—â—y 53.9 And therefore seeing in Christ by Christ our sinnes are buried let vs not digge them vp againe of new Math. 12.39 but since wee are buried with him by Baptisme vnto his death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ raised vp from the dead by the glorie of the Father so wee also should walke in newnes of life And albeit our buriall was a part of the punishment inflicted to Adam Gen. 3.19 that he shuld turne to dust yet now they are not filthie prisoÌ„ houses of the body but glorious Bed-chambers of the Sonne of God from whence hee shall raise vs to that heavenlie inheritance Esay 57.2 after that wee haue sleeped a little while therin for hee hath sanctified them by the vertue and power of his buriall Dan. 12.2 For as hee caried our sinnes in his Bodie vpon the tree so hath hee hidde them in the graue with himselfe to the vvhich place we must ever send Sathan when hee shall trouble and assault our vveake consciences with the terrible face of Sinne. For Ionas being cast in the sea it was quieted So Christs resting in the womb of the earth as in a whales bellie doeth mitigate the Lordes anger For as Death now hath beene pursued by Christ to the utermost yea euen vnto the graue and bovvels of the earth so can it not hurt Iohn 5.24 but greatlie benefite the beleeuers to eâ—ernall life And therefore nowe mayst thou boldly say Phil. 1.23 I desire to bee dissolved and bee with Christ The second Step of the fift Degree of the ascension of the Soule to Heaven on the buriall of Christ Iesus our Saviour WHile Ioseph and Nicodemus thus handled the glorious Bodie of Iesus laide it in the Graue the women that followed him heavie hearted looking on that spectacle yet had they great hope to see him rise againe when the graue was closed with sadnes joy mixt together prepared for embalming of him The third day following the morow was the Sabbath wherein they rested the third day Christ did rise before they came they disappointed of their commendable intention wherein shined their godlines Liberalitie Loue Diligence Abilitie and more than manlie fortitude 1. Cor. 1.17 whereby God to his glorie out of the weakest instruments doeth effectuate great things For as they were going to the Graue the Lord of glorie sent an Angel to tell the resurrection to these women An Angel vvas a witnes before the women and the womeÌ„ before the men which rolled away the stone from the doore of the Graue For neither in death nor in buriall the God-head had uttered it selfe but in the resurrection it brake out And therefore the Lord hauing respect to the weakenes of these women which were not so able to remoue the stone did send an Angel that when they came they should see that Christ was risen froÌ„ the dead They heard before that the third day hee should rise but they beeing weake in Faith were supplied by the Angel vvho testified of his resurrection The Lord did promise to make an everlasting Covenant with his people of the sure mercies of David Esay 55.3 Therefore sayd hee Act. 13.34 It behoued the Lord to rise from death for mercie had never continued if Christ had not risen For all the promises of God are in him Yea and Amen 2. Cor. 1.20 For hee would not suffer his holie One to see corruption â—sal 16.10 Had hee not risen his Bodie behoued to rotte but God did raise him vp who said Psal 2.7 Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten Thee Esay 538. And who is able to count his Generation for hee is that everlasting Essence albeit hee died hee arose to liue without end And now my Soule since thou art dead with Christ Col. 2.20 and risen with him Seeke these thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Sette thy affections on thinges which are aboue Col. 3. 1.2.3 not on things which are on earth for thou art dead and thy life is hid with God in Christ When Christ which is thy life shall appeare then shalt thou also appeare with him in glorie Be carefull therfore to get this excellent knowledge of Christ Iesus thy Lord for whoÌ„ couÌ„t al this losse that thou mayst winne Christ mayst be found in him not hauing thine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law Phil. 3.8.9.8.10 but that which is through Faith of Christ that thou mayst know him I say and the vertue of his resurrectioÌ„ and the fellowshippe of his afflictions and hee made conformable vnto his death if by any meanes thou mayst attaine vnto the resurrection of the dead Let thine heart â—ee filled with the vvord and promises of salvation that it may be established by grace And now seeing Christ is thy riches thy treasure all that thou staÌ„dest in need of let thy heart be where hee is Ascend with him liue in this vvorld as not liuing here for thy conversation is in heaven it is not thou now that liuest Gal. 2.20 but Christ that liueth in thee and in that that thou liuest in the flesh vntill thine appointed time thou liuest by Faith in the Son of God who loued thee 1. Cor. 6.17 and hath giuen himself for thee Be thou therefore joyned to the Lord that thou mayest bee one spirit with him And behold as in a mirror the glorie of the Lord with open face and be changed in the same image froÌ„ glorie to glorie 2. Cor. 3.18 as by the Spirit of the Lord. Let all thy vnderstanding vvisedome cogitation and memorie bee bent on him vvho is risen and Death shall no more prevaile over him Poure out thy best affections on him Bee sorowfull to offend him Rejoyce in