riches honours and the like as they are earthly blessings but not by the vse of them to peruert them and make them cursings This commeth to passe when oftentimes men of immerited ranke obtaine honour they seeme strangely transported aboue themselues ancient acquaintance is dashed out of date with their present raysing They liue as they might euer liue to haue supplicants and neuer to be petitioners themselues if these heare a poore mans suit and doe him right it is as the vnrighteous Iudge did to the Widow rather for importunacie then feare either of God or Man These men no sooner attaine honour then they get some face casten in a mould which may suit with their honour Too publike accesse they say purchaseth contempt the client must pay his entring penny before he approch his presence It is a braue thing will some thinke to be a dore-keeper to an honourable man yet had I rather be a dore-keeper elsewhere I will not prostitute my selfe for an vnlawfull gayne to the heauiest poyze of honour It is enough for me to obserue and admonish my friend of an after-accompt This hath beene my position and I would not willingly forgoe it I will not purchase me that estate pro termino vitae which should forfâ—it my estate post terminum vitae Prouidence hath taught me many things traduced to me from the silliest of Gods creatures For I thinke my selfe of farre more excellencie then the Pismire and should I then bee out-stript by her in that which maketh me most excellent I haue passed too much of my Spring alreadie and now the Winter is come and my fruit should be ripe and the great Husbandman expecteth it yet am I but where I was It is a Rule in Christianitie Non progredi est regredi and behold I haue not onely not come forward but made a cowardly retreat yet doe I come to share the victorie that neuer was at the battell to the reaping that neuer was at the sowing and to taste the fruit of that Vine I neuer planted I will stand no longer idle but with all feruencie of deuotion heattie contrition and integritie of heart returne with the good Shunamite and receiue the blessing of my father If Esau will not Iacob shall the present delight of this world though it rellish as well in the pallat of a carnall man as euer Esaus pottage did yet I find the substance of my soule created for another end a more excellent inheritance The remainder of my time shal be spent in weeping for the sinnes of my youth That mine age may expresse her selfe sorrowfull in some proportion as my youth was ioyfull Graunt therefore holy Father that the sensuality of my youth bring me not to a lethargie in mine age If my Spring was without flourish let not my Winter be without fruit And though habite of sinne take away from the reprobate all thought of sinne where the Tree lyeth as it falleth yet let mine eyes be as continuall Lauers to wash away the pollution of my soule for a cleane Lord alwayes requireth a cleane habitation How much I haue erred in the vanitie of my heart supposing my selfe to stand where I did fall to goe forward where I made a retrograde in the course of vertue yet when I was blinde thy Mercies directed mee when I was downe thy Might supported mee and when I renewed my errours by a new relapse making my sicknesse more dangerous Thou the great Physition of our Soules binde vp my Wounds powre Balme into my Sores and set me on my feet againe The Prodigals Inquisition WHat shall I giue to the Lord for all that hee hath giuen to me if I look into my creation I see my selfe created of nothing if I looke into my recreation I see my selfe renewed that was become worse then nothing if I looke into my dayly conseruation I see my selfe without Gods mercie hourely returne to nothing As there is no moment nor point of time wherin I stand not in need of Gods prouidence so should there bee no point of time wherein I ought not to shew my thankefulnesse For that vice of all others is most hatefull to the Almightie it is called Desiccans Ventus drying vp the fountaines of Gods mercies Farre be it from me to stop the spring of Gods exceeding bounties by my own vnthankfulnesse but as I haue receiued much so to render vnto the Almightie for that I haue receiued In Athens no vice was more extremely punished then Vnthankefulnesse and amongst the Persians such as were more readie to receiue then giue were marked with the note of infamie That Lord who is good to all and whose mercie is ouer all his workes should be dayly praysed and glorified in his workes But how should my soule praise the Lord Prayse is not seemely in the mouth of a sinner I am a man of polluted Lippes and vncircumcised Heart exposed vnto the vanities of the World conuersant in things outward satisfying the flesh and affections thereof How can I then prayse the Lord Or if I prayse him how should my prayse be acceptable vnto him But shall I therefore hold my peace and cease to prayse him who hath prepared for my soule a Mansion of Peace No Lord Vae tacentibus I will declare thy mercie betimes in the morning and I will preuent the euening Watch with my Meditations my heart shall no longer be diuided from my Lord for a heart diuided cannot liue Saul said to Samuel Honour mee before this people The Prodigals treatise of the honourers of the Worldlings SO the Rich man sayth to his Riches the Ambitious man to his Honours and Preferments carnall Man to his Temporary Delights Honour me ye Riches honour me ye Preferment honor me ye Delights before this people But my soule shall disclayme these outward Honors these like the Pagans adore their imaginarie Gods which notwithstanding wil leaue them miserable wretched and despicable Here the Italian hath his Saturne Candie her Iupiter Samos her Iuno India her Baccbus Egypt her Isis and Osyris olde Troy her Vesta Tritonia in Africke her Pallas France and Germanie their Mercurie vnder the name of Teuthe Athens her Minerua Delphos Apollo Delos Diana Paphos Venus Thrace her Mars Lampsacho of Hellespont her Priapus and Lypara with Lemnos their Vulcan And what doe our Christians else now adayes They erect Statues in honor of riches so doth our worldling whose Scriptures be his Sculpturae in honour of our great and eminent places such be our ambitious men others in gorgeous edifices with a daring motto vpon them Non norunt haec monumenta mori And these be our vaine men who built faire houses for their bodies let the mansions of their Soules lie desolate others doe satiate their boundlesse affections in the pleasures and delights of this world where like Penelopes wooers they contriue their one subuersion How miserably be these men led into captiuitie and
Senatour Sir Iohn Swinnerton which is seuen yeeres and a halfe since I was admitted Preacher to the Gaole of Ludgate and by your Honour and Worships Predecessors hitherto successiuely therein haue bin continued And most willingly long since your Honour and Worships in Court did generally condiscend the Stipend thereunto belonging to augment In acknowledgement heartie thankefulnesse in some lieu thereof vouchsafe to receiue the first Fruits of my poore Haruest a Bunch of Grapes of my first Vintage a Flower from a Slip of the first growth I do vnfainedly acknowledge I owe my self and mine by your Hon. and Wor. all to be commanded who haue been so good and beneuolent lately to me mine Continue fauorable still in receiuing of this my small grown Wheat leaue the Chaffe my Wine leaue the Dregges my sweete Flower leaue the vnpleasant sented Earth nay I hope a little Treasure though in a base Earthen Vessell presented to your view I am the miserable Sonne of Man that is subiect vnto Mutabilitie but poore meane and therefore the more respectlesse and least regarded in these dayes wherein Money is so loued and Mammonists adored respected and of all capped and crouched vnto with low-bended knee I am a Vine whose Branch is weake young and tender and stands in need of supporting Will your Honour and Worships vouchsafe with your powerfull hands to support mee I am a new gathered fresh flourishing Flower which soone fadeth I am in the Bud and Bloome soone blasted Vouchsafe your carefull Ouersights and Protections that the Critikes of this our Age wherein we liue may not breake into your Fields Orchards or Gardens which like a wild Boare will extirpate me wholly and I will by Gods grace as by dutie bound for euer heartily and dayly pray and supplicate vnto the Almightie for continuance of his great goodnesse and mercie towards your Honour and Worships Now the Lord Almightie who of his infinite goodnesse feeds you all with the finest Wheat and cloatheth you with the purest Wooll continue Peace Plentie Prosperitie Safetie and Health within the walls of that most famous and Honourable Citie whereunto God hath elected and made you the prime Gouernour and eminent Magistrat next vnder our most gracious Soueraign and dread Lord the K. Maiestie a place conspicuous to the whole World and admired at the state and ciuill gouernment thereof May it still so flourish in Plentie Honour and with discreet vnderstanding Magistrates The Lord God grant that all your successors may be such vigilant Watchmen for the preseruation maintenance thereof as now it is may that good care be continued still from generation to generation from predecessors vnto all successors and from this your Lo. time wherein all things quietly are gouerned and safely rest And when ye shal surcease to liue amōg men your names may liue for euer and be remembred for the good you haue done that as now men do reioyce to heare of your names whilst you are liuing they may lament for the losse of you when you are gone May this be an Inheritance bestowed by the Almighty to cōtinue vnto all your Ho. and Wor. successors to the Worlds end Amen Now that Blessednesse the Lord vouchsafe your Ho. Wor. which is mentioned in Psal 128. To feare him walke in his wayes quietly to eat the fruit of your endeuours the fatted Oxe in your Stalls the Sheepe of your Fould and the Doue that flyeth about the Courts of your owne Houses The Lord make your Wiues like Dauids Vine fruitfull make your Children like Oliue Branches decking and standing round about your Tables and may they drop sweetnesse and goodnesse to the Church and Common-wealth wherein they are borne bred and brought vp O Lord let them vestigiate the steppes of their Fathers to be an honour vnto their Posteritie Linage a godly President vnto successiue Posterities and Generations that many hundred yeeres hereafter it may be spoken both of you and your Children Loe these are the Men that feared the Lord and therefore God did so blesse them that they did see their Childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation to flourish prosper graciously and vertuously to liue and in Magistracie doing good their Parents to succeede Furthermore the Lord Iesus giue vnto your Honour and Worships from the first day of this New yeere at the expiration of your dayes the New Heauens and the New Man Christ Iesus in the immortalitie of your Soules and of his infinite mercie graunt that as here on Earth yee feast like Princes yee may be partakers of that most Royall Feast and Banquet of Iesus Christ the Prince of Glorie and Light of the whole World who came a Light at this time into the World to light all thither And this blessednesse I will dayly and heartily pray vnto Almightie God to bestow on you all at the end of this your mortall liues The Lord Iesus with that blessed Life of Glory indow you and all your Posterities for euermore Amen Your Honor and Worships much bounden and in the seruice of my Lord and Master Iesus Christ at all times to be commanded Henry Goodcole TO ALL GODLY zealous religious sanctified and Christian-minded People who expect and vnfainedly desire the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ fruition thereof to the euerlasting ioy of their Soules PEruse mee Will you please Then finde helpe for each Disease Soule and Body I apply And cure both their Maladie Such good meanes not disdaine When to thee so friendly sent Lest in sicknesse thou remaine And thy folly doe repent Had I wist breedes much woe Gentle Patient be no foe To the health and happie states Of such peerelesse louing Mates Farewell good Soule till wee meet In Heauens Blisse each to greet Expect wee doe and dayly pray Lord graunt to vs that happie day CHristian and conscionable Reader thou mayest now iustly with Apelles reprooue and deride me who thus haue presumed to diuulge and diue into the height of all Learning Arts Sciences Knowledge Wit and Skill whose vnskilfulnesse in all of them recommands me to the lowest degree that may be to be abased I know it is but lost labour to cast water into the Ocean an vnthankefull respectlesse Gift to cast a Sheaue of Wheat into a rich mans Garner or to put a small Bunch of Grapes into a vaste Wine-presse small encrease thereof can issue Yet seeing I am called and sent into my Heauenly Lord and Masters Haruest hired and sent to his Vineyard in both to worke and not to loyter That I haue in both endeuoured I present thee good Christian friends this little of my hard labour and gleaned Corne obtained by following others of my fellow Labourers Though theirs was pure yet mine not without Chaffe receiue my Grapes though not without some soure and sharpe distaste altogether disliking your Pallat and disappointing your expectation The Lord of the Vineyard hath sent by me some Bread and Wine to strengthen
and comfort you withall eate a morsell thereof and draw out your Wine for his sake that sent it and doe not refuse or dislike both for the meanenesse of the Messenger that brings now presents his Lords affected loue expressed to you therein If you accept thereof thankefully and gladly I shall returne my Master intelligence and thinke my paines well bestowed rest well satisfied and account my selfe most bountifully by you to be rewarded if my suit be graunted namely your kind acceptance therof from my vnworthy hands Thine at all times to bring thee to my Lord and Master Iesus Christ his Courts H. G. THE PRODIGALS Teares The Prodigals testimony of his conuersion manifested in the detestation of his former follies HEare O heare you that walk after the lusts of your hearts you that spend your time in vanitie deferring the time of Repentance from Infancie to youth and from youth to Age not caring to turne from you the euill day which draweth neere nor applying your hearts to wisedome but how to satisfie the inordinate lusts affections of the flesh you draw on sinne after sinne multiplying traÌ„sgressions you are become a stiff-necked people hardning your hearts against the sweete and comfortable motions of Gods Spirite ready to awake you from this sleepe of sinne and to renewe in you that image which was well-neere defaced in you by meanes of your transgressions Heare the teares and attende the complaint of a conuerted peruert one that hath wandred too login the field of vanitie And now after the taste of those bitter huskes of penurie returnes home with blubbered face contrite heart and humbled spirit crying Peccaui I haue sinned I haue sinned walking in the foolishnes of mine owne heart and like the wilde Asse shifting the wind so haue I shut mine eares to the words of discipline and correction And what did the Prodigall in the Gospell which I did not He receiued his portion and consumed it and haue not I receyued the portion of Gods loue in as ample manner as any euen the portion of my heauenly Father which hee no sooner bestowed on me then I in the height of my heart wasted Nor did the prodigall goe further from his Father then I from the Instructions of my heauenly Father Departing from Bethel the house of God to Bethauen the house of iniquitie Oh miserable Exile From the mansions of peace concord and tranquillitie to the receptacles of sinne horrour and impietie From the smooth running streames of Syloe to the waters of bitternes from the tower of my strength to the vale of desolation Vnhappie exchange to depriue my selfe of so glorious inheritance so exquisite blessings so incomparable bounties for the vaine flourish of a little worldly delight which in the ende conuerted to bitternesse for a momentanie pleasure to forfeite an eternall Treasure not subiect to the change or mutability of Time nor exposed to the violence of any perturbations nor engaged to popular respect but in it selfe of it selfe perfectly refined deriuing her best luster from none other subject then the originall of all Beauties the Idaea of all perfections the mirrour of all lustres God himself And this to loose for any Earthly respect how much were the eies of my vnderstanding eclipsed to conceyue no better of an infinite goodnes then of a floting pleasure producing none other Fruite then bitternes anguish and sorrow And what remedie Esau could not regaine his Byrth-right with many teares And can my vnfayned repentance though I should blinde mine Eyes with weeping and groane in the heauines of my heart repossesse me of all that I haue lost Can the sighes of a troubled spirite and the extreame heauinesse which I sustaine by reason of the burden of my sinnes preuayle with the Lord who poyseth the sinnes of men and hath sworne in his wrath to be euenged of the wicked Yes Lord yes as I haue found grace and fauour in thy sight suffer mee to speake a word vnto thee be not displeased with me The Prodigals comfortable and vndoubted assurance that God will accept his teares and contrition relying and trusting in the mercies and promises of God REmember not my sinnes passed let thy mercies preuent them I am weakened and cleane out-worne and go mourning euery day I shall remember all my yeares vnto thee with bitternesse of heart I know Lord that Peter wept and was pardoned and shal I that knocke at the gate of thy mercie bee excluded Marie Magdalene had in her manie legions of Diuells yet with teares of vnfained repentance she was assoyled and made a Temple of the Holie-Ghost Behold Lord my teares are vnfayned my anguish of heart aboundant and my griefes bee not hid from thee Thou hast promised to looke to him that is poore that is broken in spirit and that trembleth at thy wordes Beholde Oh Lord I am poore depriued of thy fauour broken in spirite to haue offended so benigne a Sauiour and I tremble at thy words as at iudgements of terror worthily deseruing to be eternally thrust from thy presence and to haue my beeing with the reprobate Yet Lord wilt thou bee good vnto Israel thou wilt wash mee from my filthynes and cure my infirmities thou wilt binde vp my wounds with that good Samaritane powring the oyle of thy Diuine comforts into them For this Lord will I thanke thee and for this badge of thy loue will I sing praise vnto thee I will make melodie in my heart to the Lorde For it is a good thing to bee thankefull These teares which I shed shall witnes my contrition the prayses which I sing to thee shall expresse my affection and the speedie renewing of my wayes shall shew my conuersion The prodigals confession of the manner of his vanities with a feeling of Gods great goodnesse FAther I haue fed too long vppon the huskes of Vanitie I haue strayed too farre from thy Temple and walked in vnknowne wayes where I was famished for want of Spirituall foode all athirst for want of Spirituall drinke For the well was deepe and I had not wherwithall to draw but now since my returne I am replenished with all things thou hast put on me a new Garment so as I haue layde away all my olde affections and betaken me to a new spirituall Schoole Thou hast put vpon my finger a Ring to intimate that I am married and affianced to thee thou hast feasted me with thy choicest dainties expressing the ioy thou conceyuest at my conuersion I will stay therefore no longer in the Tents of Kedar nor with the inhabitants of Mâ—loch I am now for my Fathers houshold for my Father hath many seruants and in my Fathers house there bee manie mansions I haue fedde too long with the Hogge eating Akornes vnder the Tree but neuer looking vp from whence they came When thy greatest benefits O Lord were multiplyed vppon mee and thy Fatherly kindnes was shewne in aboundance I was as one that had
not receiued or as one that had not tasted them For why the vanityes of the world had bewitched me and the deluding Objects of seeming happines had captiuated me But now Lord I am escaped the snare of the Fowler the Net is broken and my soule is deliuered or as a brand from the fire so haue I bin preuented by thy mercies The Prodigals bequest to God ANd what shall I giue vnto the Lord for all that hee hath giuen vnto mee Sacrifices and burnt-offerings thou wilt not haue but a contrite and broken hart O Lord thou wilt not despise My heart is prepared my heart is prepared I will giue thee what thou hast so long time asked And if thou say as thou sayedst vnto Dauid Giue mee thy heart I will answer with Dauid I will giue thee my heart It is thine O Lord it is thine for thou sufferedst thine owne heart to be pierced for it and should I then detaine it from thee that hast so dearely purchased it I will reserue it only for thee thou shalt make it thine owne Temple for the heart is the Temple of God To whom fitter may I bequeath my heart then to thee who hast giuen thy selfe for a ransome thy Spirit for a pledge thy word for a guide the world for a walke and reserues a kingdome for my inheritance To whom fitter then to thee that createdst mee after thine owne forme renewed it when I had defaced that forme illuminated mee with thy Spirit inuested mee with thy grace and ministreth whatsoeuer thou knowest to be necessary for the conseruation of Nature Who fitter then thou whose mercy preuenteth mee falling whose grace conducteth me walking and whose comforts raise me drowping I will therefore with vnfained repentannce returne to thee for I shall find fauour in thy fight My heart will I sacrifice vnto thee for more acceptable it is vnto thee then many burnt offerings I will not suffer it to stray from thee O Lord for I feare as Dina was defloured when she strained from home so my heart by gadding from thee her best home and surest Sanctuary may chance to be corrupted with the filthinesse of this world Shee hath many suiters and all hope to haue her Giue her mee sayeth the Tempter giue her mee saith riches giue her mee saith pleasure but none of these shall haue her for what is riches that I should set my minde vpon them or pleasure that I should giue my selfe ouer vnto her Haue I not tasted the vanitie of the one and the perill of the other For wherein can the Epicure glory or the sensuall man please himselfe hee hath tasted of pleasures in aboundance and slaued his best affections to vnworthiest obiects Hee hath drunke deepe of the Babylonian Cup exposed himselfe to the places of publique shame and made himselfe heire of beggary What delights were vpon Earth which this licentious man embraced not what consorts hee embraced not what meanes of spending houres and that without tediousnes he vsed not And is there any thing so vaine Behold his time is expired the period and date of his dayes extended and all his former delights like a vapour vanished And great is his account when it shall be demaunded of him Where is thy talent What aduantage hast thou made of it O quam amar a est ea voluptas c. saith a blessed father which ruines thy soule depriues thee of an inheritaunce driues thee from heauen presseth thee to hell and makes thee eternally wretched what fruits then of so many idle houres What comfort in the vaile of bitternesse or by the riuer wherein repent thou wouldest but no time is admitted weepe thou wouldst but teares are fruitles suffer thou wouldest but sufferings are effectlesse There is no ioy left which may any way solace thy poore forlorne spirit Being placed there where neither the Saints can come vnto thee or thou to the Saints O misery aboue miseries to loose and to loose that irrecouerably which should haue beene kept eternally instead of felicitie to gaine misery instead of comfort and spirituall consolation death ruine and perdition Shall then pleasures haue my heart that produce no better fruits then bitter repentance No no leaue me all delights and all outwardly-seeming comforts goe farre from mee You cannot content me for I am of a more incircumscribed nature Once I confesse were you too much possessed of my heart for my affections were deuoted my vnderstanding darkened and all my intellectuall powers and faculties so exposed to your seruice as I walked in darknesse and yet which was more miserable imagined that I was in light I was blind and knew it not in darknes perceiued it no naked and felt it not But the Lord hath giuen me sight that I may see his glory light that I may walke in his light and apparrelled me with the best ornaments of his diuine Spirit a defence against the inclemency of all seasons taking vppon me the whole spirituall armour of a Christian to discomfit Sathan subdue the flesh renew the spirit and confirme in me the power of the Almighty The Prodigall describeth how the things in this present world doe hinder man in his best deuotions seruice vnto God and his forsaking of them YEt honour with her ambitious and elated titles challengeth a part in me it is a fine thing to haue store of attendance to be great in the eye of the world to haue the chiefe place in Feasts to be admired c. once it is mortally dangerous and as the world goes of a thousand least meritorious Euer to be gaping with the fish and with a greedinesse to apprehend euery occasion lest while the water is in troubling the meanes of obtaining be cut off Deserts in precedencies of this kind least obserued where all Arts be oft-times exiled learning discountenanced and ignorance for a purple Magistrate honoured vt pueri Iunonis auem alas poore honour when merite seldome possesseth thee The Laconians would not haue honour hereditarie from the father to the sonne without the demerits of the sonne Alas then how many of Iuuenalls Blockes should we see represented vpon the Theatre of Honour Braue descents basely disparaged and prodigality without one prodigalls teare in greatest families Farewell then Honour thy name is onely worthy because onely men of name possesse thee thou art not a fit harbor for the poore Prodigall to lodge his heart in Yet riches be faire inducements and worthy a heart of gold True they are so but many Mammons haue them They build on a weake foundation they know how to enlarge their Barnes but not to communicate to the necessity of the Saints They can sing a Requiem to their soules with Now soule take thy ease but they remember not what the Prophet saith There is no rest to the vngodly Then must my heart plant my pauillion else-where for she would gladly haue a resting
place that when the deluge of sinne is past she may bring one Oliue braunch vnto the Arke of her Soule to expresse her peace is made The Prodigall expresseth that nothing can content the Soule or hath any right in the Soule but God only and alone GIue vnto God that which is Gods It is he that deserueth thee O my heart and there is none fit to possesse thee but he He it is that can onely satisfie thee he it is that can onely suffice thee thou requirest peace he will giue it thee as hee gaue it vnto such as followed him Hee is the God of peace who then can establish my heart in peace but he that is the God of peace Teneat te cor meum quia perfodisti eor tuum vt saluares meum It is not pleasure shall transport me nor riches ensnare me or honour inflame mee I am wholy prest for my Sauiour I will take vp his Crosse willingly with Simon of Cyrene and on my shoulders beare it where though I faint vnder my burden yet will hee support me with his mercies for his loue is more strong then wine What afflictions can separate me from the loue of my God No Lord I haue sinned I haue sinned and in the abundance of my sorrowes doe I flie vnto thee for refuge neither hunger nor nakednes shall take me from thee I haue tasted thy exceeding mercies towards me and thy compassions haue beene from generation to generation For who euer came vnto thee for sight and went away blind for hearing and went away deafe for speech and went away dumbe for health and went away sicke for comfort and went away sorrowfull for the forgiuenesse of sinnes and went away a sinner O inexplicable mercy O inscrutable pietie O ineffable clemencie I that haue euer offended and neuer till now repented I that haue multiplied trangression vpon transgression making league with my sinnes I that haue beene a rebellious childe and haue turned my eare from thy discipline and instruction I that neuer felt remorce of conscience neuer made recourse to thy Temple neuer brake the bread of comfort to the hunger-starued soule To bee short I that gloried in my sinnes and made light of my offences deferring repentance from day to day am now heard in thy mercy comforted in my misery and promised an inheritance of glory Cyrus that renowned Prince of Persia promised such as aided him against his grandsire Ast yages that if they were footemen he would make them horsemen if horsemen they should ride in their Charriots But the King of Hostes that rideth in the clouds for things temporall things eternall for things of no valew bounties of incomparable esteeme No hee will do more euen whilest we soiourne heere in this tabernacle of clay for he will helpe vs fainting exhort and excite vs fighting and crowne vs vanquishing Hence it is poore Prodigall that I reape comfort seeing his mercy vpon all flesh readier to saue then to kill willinger to heare then wee to aske and as forward to crowne as we to fight The prodigals earnest desire THough Father I haue euer retired my selfe in the heate of the day and haue not laboured in thy Vineyard yet comming in the euening of my dayes the Sunne-set of my life it is thy fatherly will that I shall haue my penny Suffer mee at least Father to feede vpon the crummes vnder thy Table or as the Prodigall sonne let me be one of my fathers meiny I desire no great place in thy house for I am vnworthy of thy acceptance yet Father speake but comfortably to thy Seruaunt and my soule will be glad Thou hast promised that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinnes thou wilt put all his offences out of thy remembrancr Behold Lord I present my selfe vnto thee prostrate vpon the ground desiring remission and pardon of all my sinnes nor be these teares I shed dissembling for thou knowest the secrets of al hearts and examinest the reins and I know thou hast denounced a double woe vpon the Hypocrite and Pharisee It is not my prayer but my harty praier not my tears but my harty teares not my conuersion but my harty conuersion which pleaseth thee For the Pharises praier the harlots vow the traitors kisse the sacrifice of Caine the fast of Iezabel the oblation of Ananias theteares of Esau are nothing they are not accepted because not heartily offered but this sacrifice which I offer proceeds from my heart otherwise Father had I not giuen it thee For I know thou art iust and righteous and considerest all the wayes of man whether they be straight or crooked How long Lord how long ere thy fury will be appeased that my wayes may be directed to thee my hope erected by thee and my confidence planted in thee so may the tempests rage but not dismay mee the flouds rise but not come neare mee the winds blow but not remoue me for my foundation is built on a rocke a rocke impregnable a mount in accessible a fort irremoueable Blessed fort where the Saints be enthroned glorious mount with Gods presence beautified and puissant rocke which against the gates of hell hath preuailed O that I might be but a doore-keeper in the house of the Lord singing Songs of mirth and spirituall melody to inhabite there all the dayes of my life Happy Cittizens which bee enfranchised there ioyfull Quiristers that may sing there and victorious souldiours that for the Church millitant are transplanted to a Church Triumphant Heere they beginne to fight there to raigne Heere they were in Tents of Clay now in Campes of Immortality Now in heauen heere on earth In heauen to receiue their reward in earth to sustaine all Afflictions For whosoeuer will pertake of consolations must likewise haue his share of tribulations And that which the Poet saith is true Pati noncesset Qui regnare cupit Fit it is deere Father that thy Children suffer here to raigne els-where that no punishment how intollerable soeuer may seeme worthy of the infinite loue which is borne vnto vs in CHRIST our Lord. For is the maister inferiour to the Seruant Thy Sonne blessed Father whose foot steps we ought to folow was whipped that we might be exempted scourged that wee might bee spared Crowned with Thornes that wee might be crowned with a Crowne of pure golde Crucified that wee might be glorified Farre be it from me to refuse thy Crosse which bore that Crosse that I should haue borne so willingly Thy Crosse was my gayne thy death my life thy wonndes my cures thy Caluarie where thou wast hanged my place of Glorie whereto I shall be aduanced Woe is mee that I should so long wander from the folde of the true Sheepheard Hee that is the great Sheepheard of our Soules Long haue I strayed from these green and flourishing pastures of true consolation following mine owne vanities erring in the pricking brakes of
sensuality briars and brambles of all inordinate affections Serote amaui Deus meus serote amaui pulchritudo mea But now my repentance purchased with much experience my portion of comfort obtained with a great portion of Teares my misereis ended by the sweetnesse of thy mercyes diffused respites my griefe relisheth my distaste and giues me hope as one addressed to conuersion so to taste the fruites of thy ineffable consolations The Prodigals Faith strengthened and ioy expressed in the rembrance of Gods moste louing receyuing and accepting of Sinners into his fauour I Know LORD the greatest Conuerts haue beene grieuons sinners Paul a persecutor Peter a denyer Thomas incredulous litle Zaccheus couetous Magdalene an adultresse yet Paul strucken blinde leaues persecting Peter put in minde by a Cocke bewayles his denying Thomas by his finger becoms a belieuer Zacheus from the figge tree becomes Christs receiuer and Magdalen becomes a conuert by hearing her Sauiour Sinners vse to be touched before they be conuerted Manasses must bee in prison before hee feele himselfe Ionah in the depth before hee find himselfe Dauid must find some discomforts or hee will be aboue himselfe Naâ—man strucken with leprosie ere hee be conuerted Nabuchadnezzar must feede amongst beasts ere Gods power must be acknowledged Pharaoh must haue many plagues sent him ere Gods people be dismissed Yea Lord and wherefore should sinners murmure or repine at thy Iudgements pronounced against them Should the pot aske the Potter why he breaketh it in peeces Or should man expostulate the cause with GOD Oh farre bee it that I which am but dust and ashes conceiued in nothing but sinne drinking iniquitie like water should spurne at the will and pleasure of GOD No Lord though thou leaue mee at Deaths doore yet know I thou wilt haue mercy vpon me For thou art euer gracious to thy seruants Touch me gently O Lord and let mee feele thy correction as thy childe to saluation not as the reprobate to confusion and though my many transgressions haue deserued thy iust ire and indignation against mee yet Lord intuere filium tuum toto corpore extensum Beholde thy Sonne suffering and consider fot whom hee suffereth not for himselfe for hee was innocent but for me miserable wretch that by my sinnes nayled my Sauiour to the Crosse yet behold I haue re-crucified him adding wound vpon wound by multiplying sinne vpon sinne It was not sufficient for me to crucifie my Sauiour vpon earth but I must moue his indignation in heauen It was not enough for mee to cast lots vpon his garments but I must make large rents in that garment of righteousnesse which hee cloathed mee withall at his passion Hence is it that I haue lost Felicity for which I was created and purchased my selfe misery for which I was not created And how is it possible for mee to redeeme the time I haue so vainely consumed my Talent so carelesly neglected and those comfortable motions of thy diuine Spirit euer moouing and in flaming mee to goodnes and I peruerting those excellent motions prostituting my selfe vnto the sensuall pleasures of the flesh altogether respectlesse of my soules health so presently I may satisfie the inordinate lusts and affections of the flesh The prodigall soules pennance or mourning weede WEepe weepe disconsolate soule let those many houres which thou hast spent in feasting be redeemed by fasting let thy sensuall meetings nightly carowsings and thy daily rioting bee now supplied with incessant praying continuall weeping and charitable distributing First render what thou hast taken by violence from any man Oppression is a crying sinne and will be heard Make restitution with good Zacheus diuide thy goods and giue vnto the poore For` better is one pennie in the life time then an hundred on thy death-bed Large testaments little auaile the giuer they proceede from a miserable spirit that hee cannot vse it is content to giue it But wee are taught to doe all things hartily not to delay our charitie to our end lest we be preuented of our purpose before our end It is little to giue vnto the poore wheÌ„ it is not in our power to detain it froÌ„ them And why be good wills since they proceede not froÌ„ good wil so highly coÌ„mended The best of our rich worldlings giue but a part and they bee praysed The worst worldling that euer was the Traytour Iudas gaue all and he is condemned The Prodigals conclusion I Will distribute to the poore For who can indure ro see CHRITS Image contemned I am but Gods Almoner I will then make vse of mine owne and get Friendes by mine vnrighteous Mammon A Christian like conclusion fitting the obseruance of the greatest mannager of States who oftentimes heare the crie of the poor obturatis Auribus not imitating that excellent vse of Phillip Prince of Macedon Qui alteram semper seruat aurem A good Eare that is applied in the hearing of Iustice emploied in the discussion of Trueth and exercised in performing due Iudgement Sylambris his skinne was a good Caueat to temporizing justices it was the onely memorable acte that euer Cambyses did and more worthie in him because worthlesse in all Actes saue it May that Princesse of all Vertues long sit as President ouer the Princes of all Iles. So may Albyon as her name is deriued from Whitenesse receyue a greater luster by the colour of Iustice This Vertue is resembled by the Phylosopher vnto the Euening-Starre and rightly so shee may Shee shynes the brightest when the Sable clowdes of all vices crawle the thickest shee expelleth darknes makes the intellectuall parte more piercing giues vs now to distinguish betwixt the Cymerian cloudes of errour and the true portraiture of Honour teaching vs to descend ere we ascend and that Scala Iacobi is Hnmilitas Animi The Poet in the description of Tideus who in the right of Polynices discomfited Etecles and many valiant Thebes to his immortall glorie wryteth that on the right hand of his Shielde hee had the Image of Iustice and a paire of Scales in her Hand with this Motto Et causa pensare iuuat And on the lefte hand a Lyon fierce and couragious with this imprease Vincere qui nescit pereat Heere was one to discusse the cause an other to manage it Equity poising Fortitude vanquishing auspicious attendants for the brauest Champions The Prodigall condemning his Iudgement BVt alas poore Prodigall thou art me thinkes running as farre from thy wit as thou rannest before from grace what hast thou to doe with cardinall vertues that canst truly distinguish of nothing but vices These bee fitter obiects for Statists and best guardians of Thrones I will discend into my selfe and vnrip mine owne vanities that the source dried from whence they were deryued the Characters of Vertue may bee imprinted where vice was cockered Nothing easeth a melancholy soule bteter then comfort Let the Physician but say his bodie is strong and he is
reuiued the state of himselfe depends on anothers word hee is not his owne for why hee is slaued to his owne indigested passions But my disease hath bin much otherwise I was sicke and knewe it not had Vlceres running and felt them not For I was obdurate and became as one that heard not Custome in sinne tooke away from mee all sence of sinne Oft hearde I the Lord inuiting and his holy spirit inducing me to returne with the Shunamite But beholde I cryed with the Sluggard Yet a little and then a little presuming on mercie and deferring my returne There was no portion of sacred Scripture mentioning mercie but I had it no sentence of Iustice but I would turne from it making the arme of his mercie longer then the arme of his justice I delayd from this day till tomorow and I found my selfe more vnapt too morrow then today For I was bound to the yoke of seruile affections and turned my minde from correction pampering my selfe with Sure God will bee mercifull Am not I his Image And will hee see his owne similitude defaced Did he not creatc mee and framed hee mee to destroy me Though I haue worthily incensed my Creator I can be no lesse then his creature Tush tush God hath forgotten it Let vs eate and drinke and be merry Miserable foode that famisheth the eater vncomfortable drinke that poysons the taster and harsh melodie that confounds the hearer The prodigals Resolution NOw Father will I change my diet it shall be meate and drinke to mee to doe thy will The melody which I make shall be in my heart vnto the Lord and if I daunce it shall be as Dauid did before the Arke and if I sing in this strang land in this place of my pilgrimage it shall be the Lords Song Thus will I conuert my selfe vnto the Lord and regaine my inheritance with many teares I will weepe and weepe bitterly iudicium enim est quod ille teneat qui pro amissione tui amare flebit Is it a light thing for thee O my Soule to be bereft of that soueraigne Good which ruleth thee and conducteth thy feete in the wayes of Peace O no Sell all thou hast heere is a gemme of an incomparable valew loose this and thou makest shipwracke of thy Soule depriues thee of all hope the tempest is great nor can the Port be attained except the Anker be fixed Rise then poore disconsolate spirit and meete thy Sauiour that is walking vpon the Sea as vpon drie places meete him and entertain him for both Seas and winds obey him hee is the best Pilote though thy shippe sincke he will preserue thee For hee came not to wound but to heale to saue not to kill Hee it is that is protection to the fatherlesse a Castle of defence to the desolate For who euer trusted in him and was left succourlesse though my friends forsake mee yet the Lord taketh mee vp Hence it is that my soule reapeth comfort It is not the high-towring Cedar of this world that expresseth his minde by his looke his spirt by his gate shall depriue me of this prerogatiue he was ambitious heere hee will be as despicable there Humility is the best step and directest path to this honour she thinkes none worse then her selfe and in that shewes her owne eminency she neuer entertaines comparison confessing herselfe the miserablest of all creatures without comparison The prodigall desireth Humility to accompany him in his way to God SOueraignesse of Vertues let me haue thy company I shall more delight in thy aspect then the obiect of Beautie Thou hast perfection in thee and not knowing thy selfe thou knowest farre aboue thy selfe Blessed Attendant may thou liue in the Court free without a writ of Protection at Princes instalments may thou euer bee in their Election may thou be as thou shouldest be worne but not out worne by greatnes Thou art the best seruitour of Honour elated mindes can not possesse thee because their sphere is farre aboue thee I wish admiration of ages that thou might ride on thy foote-cloth but I doubt it thou wouldst change thy nature with thy honour it is dangerous sitting in a poysoned saddle Humility can ride without stirrops Thou it was presented thy selfe when I was not my selfe Ambition had puffed me vp Wantonnesse brought me on my knees Selfe-conceit made mee admire my selfe Emulation not in vertue for seldome appeares it in the vitious but in the corriualship possest me of a phrensie aloue-sicke fancy I was made a Cage of vncleane Birdes no impiety to which I was not slaued Humility I thanke thee thou readst a Lecture of Mortification vnto mee before I knew not what Mortality meaned Thou Anatomizedst to me my Constitution keepe me but company a little while longer and I will answere thy hopes But let mee rip vp mine owne errors a little further I know he deserues not Humilities conuoy that Apologizeth his sinnes Two causes I haue of inward sorrow one of outward The two inward haue relation to my selfe onely the outward to others generally The first in my selfe instanced the second to others traduced The inward motiue causes of sorrow of sinnes committed vertuous workes omitted Many come into my remembrance which I am ashamed to expresse yet because maladies concealed are most augmented I will augment my shame that the Lord may couer my sinne The Prodigals hearty suite vnto God to pardon the sinnes of his youth FOrgiue O Lord my secret sinnes and race out of thy memorie the exorbitances of my youth Spare the sprigge O Lord for it was tender soone wreasted from the primarie seedes of goodnes and drawne into the mazie labyrinth of all errours May not my crooked wayes be once made streight that the oblation that I offer might be accepted with Abel and I find fauour in thy sight Yes Lord these penitent teares I offer will be able to appease thy wrath It is recorded that Antipater on a time charging in a Letter which hee wrote to Alexander his mother Olympias with great crimes was answered againe by Alexander One mothers teare will race out many of these Letters Though the mother should forgether childe or the child the mother that bare him yet Lord wilt thou be mindfull of our teares and cancell that great Bill thou hast against vs if we returne vnfainedly to thee and in the sorrow of our heart make confession of all our sinnes Behold Lord I haue committed great folly and from the bortome of my heart confesse that I haue worthily deserued thy displeasure My commissions and omissions like two heauy poises weigh me downe Erect my hope O Lord for I haue none to flie vnto but thee Woe is me what excellent works of mercy haue I ommitted and what shall I answere O Lord when thou shalt aske me where is the naked thou clothed the afflicted which thou visited the succourlesse which thou releiued the hungar-starued which thou fed
alas Lord I shall not be able to answer one for a thousand I haue fared with the rich Glutton deliciously euery day I haue abounded with all dainties replenished my heart with all delights whilst my poore brother silly Lazarus cryed at my gate for one small Almes I shut my eares to his cry and comforted my selfe with Musicke sicke and heart-sicke was Lazarus and I visited not him hungry yea hunger-starued was he naked I did not cloath him Impudent Beggar was the best Liuery I gaue him Me thinks I see my selfe seconded in Antinous he was angry with poore Vlisses comming in the forme of a Beggar to his owne house giuing him no better entertainement then a knock with a footstoole alas poore Vlisses Irus hath better welcome and reason good my pernicious Beggar can play the officious Pander Christian charitie growes like a small brooke in a drie Summer not the least refreshing for the wearied passenger or comfort for the smothered traueller The dayes of hospitalitie runne out The Great mans chimny that vsed to steame vp with English smoake is transplanted to his Nose and that like to a second AEtna breaths nought but Indian smoake And where art thou poore beggar all this while thou maist see monuments of honour remaines of hospitality but comming to his house you shall find the Romane Aphorisme to proue true Pater patriae is become Parasitus Curiae no matter a good outside will beare it But returne my soule to thy owne character Hypparchion was strucken blinde for saying there were moates in the Sun And great mens errours must be wouen vp or the spider will throw her web ouer them Thy outward motiues of sorrow be traduced from thy selfe to others as thy inward were engrossed to thy selfe These motiues be exemplarie giuing occasion of offence to others or instructing others how to offend of great force be examples and farre more powerfull then precepts and excellent is the definition which that generally generous Knight maketh of Imitation saying it is a Globe of precepts much am I ashamed that in the casting vp of my accompts I can find nothing through all the progresse of my time worthy obseruation deseruing this Inscription at my death that merited no better in my life Hic vir diu fuit This man was long onely being without liuing And hence is it which Seneca sayth There is no sight more vnseemely then to see a man in Age that hath no other argument that hee hath liued long saue his Age. Manie be olde in yeares that are young in houres which moued the Cinique to answer vnto a miserable fellow that saide hee had liued so many yeares No my friend thou hast scarce liued so many houres This remembrance moueth mee to incessant lamentations inforceth mee with the Prophet to roare out amaine in the consideration of my manie mis-spent howres both employed and idle and worse when employed then when idle For worse is not to doe then not to doe well as it is better to doe well then to doe good For a man cannot offend in dooing well but hee may offend in doing good if he do not well the Intention making the Action absolute But woe is mee I am neither for the Primitiue nor Diriuitiue neyther doe I well nor good But if Iacob sayde vnto Pharaoh Few and euill haue my dayes beene How much more I that haue passed my dayes altogether in vanitie may I say Few be my houres of vertue many the yeares of vanity which though fewe in number yet many in respect of my crimes How many might I haue instructed how many wained from the loue of this world if I had spent my Oyle in the seruice of my Creatour What excellent Obseruations drawne from the liues of others exemplified in my selfe communicated to others with my selfe might I haue contracted vnto one head to establish the inconstancie of humaine frailty make the Image of my owne life the representation of another The Pagan would in any case liue for his Countrey but I a Christian neither liue for my selfe my Creator nor my Countrey nor as it seemes doe I know my Creation from whence or to what end Man is ex terra but not ad terram But I liue as one secure of Gods ordinance planting my selfe on earth as one euer made to dwell on earth All tongues euen from the Etimology of earth teach mee whereto I should trust and of what weake and infirme subsistence I am yet neither Tongue not Nation neither Precept nor Example can rightly teach me to know my selfe but I must be euer soaring euer aspiring raising my minde aboue my meanes Alasse of vanitie What to this houre can I demonstrate in my selfe deseruing immitation That worthy Prince Titus the loue and Darling of mankind thought that day to be lost wherein hee had not in some measure expressed the royaltie of his disposition by the bountie of his minde The very same rule should euery Christian man obserue confirmed by the word of Almighty God Actes the twentith Chap. and the fiue thirtie verse It is more blessed to giue then to take Then cursed it is euer to take and not to giue He expresseth his minde by his hand If the one were as open as the other there were hope in him though his pouerty could not away with bountie for the Widdowes-Mite is accepted A Gardner offering a Rape-roote beeing the best present the poor man had to the Duke of Burgundie was bountifully rewarded by the Duke which his Steward obseruing thought to make vse of his bountie presenting him with a very faire Horse the Duke vt perspicaci erat ingenio presently conceyues his Stewards purpose wherefore hee thought good to receiue the horse and frustrate his hopes giuing him nothing A singular rewarde and accommodate vnto your auariciously bountifull man who as the Comike sayth Semper in dando versatur vt priuatas opes augeat But miserable wretch that I am what can I giue vnto my CREATOR in lieu of his manyfolde Fauours Shall I weepe little enough hee is Sencelesse of himselfe that will not weepe for himselfe How should I LORD reconcile my poor distracted soule vnto thee with what face cā I require for mercie I haue offred the prime of my dayes to the seruice of Belial my first Fruites be gone already and wilt thou be content with the gleanings My yeares of abilitie wherein I could haue laboured in the Vineyard and earned my pennie are gone ouer mee and I in the pensiuenesse of mine owne heart seeing my disability am forced to crie out with Mylo at hi lacerti iam mortui sunt Once was I apt for thy seruice but behold my sinewes are weakened my strength impaired and my eyes bedimmed not for that men keepe not thy Law but for that I haue walked in vnknowne wayes and with the Sodomites stumbled in the Lake euery night will
rather of voluptuous affections withdraw you from your primarie essence you proceed from the soule and shall any extrinsecall obiect draw you from her alas it were pitie your founder the soule is imprisoned already and one that beares her small good will a domesticall enemy that euer plants her battery to ouerthrow the faire and beautifull structures of the said impudencie it is and shameles boldnes for the handmaide to dominiere ouer her Mistris for the case to bee better esteemed then the instrument is in it alas what harmony would a faire and curious case make without her instrument silent musicke if Arion had played on such hee had neuer inchanted fishes but had beene as mute as any fish But the Body vseth to say to the Soule as our gallant to the simple plaine man He is a good soule seeming to disparage Goodnesse with the Epethite of Simplicitie But these braue cutters are deceiued that disparagement maketh them worthy It is the truest badge of a Christian to walke in Trueth and simplicitie These simple shrubbes will find footing in the narrow wayes when our lofty Cedars shall seeke for broader passages And whence I pray you commeth this haughtinesse of minde but from the corruption of the bodie Alas if man would but consider his composition How weake in his birth how naked in his life how perplexed and in his Death ofte-times how irresolued he would fashion himselfe to an other forme neyther how to imitate the Apish fashions of the Spanyarde or Italian but how to expresse himselfe in the duty of a Christian The Prodigals contempt of the world declared in condemning the multiplicities and varieties of fashions in the same IF GOD were in loue with fashions he could neuer bee better serued then in these our dayes For our World is like a Pageant where euery mans Apparrell is better then himselfe where if our bodyes did chaunge formes so often as our Apparrell changeth fashions they should haue more shapes then fingers or toes Miserable Age when our best parte is dis-valued and the worst of man like Esaps Crow so ridiculously varied with all colours The soule being of more tempered judgmēt cā no way chuse but laugh at the bodies foolery and ask her as the philosopher did Scylla Whereto doe all these tend must these euer be stript off thee Dare death affront one of such eminencie Surely no she will disspence with thee for a time if it be but to instruct the World in new vanities O silly man how much imputation thou aspersest on thy selfe in affecting such trumperies Goe but vnto the first ordinance and how farre are these fashions altered from the letherne coats which God made in Paradise There were none of these vanities but the corruptions of these times haue introduced many errours of no lesse occurrence When in reuolutions of times we euer haue obserued the following age to be worse then the precedent and that of Homer to be true Pauci nunc similes patribus nascuntur bonestis I will wish a better cloathing for my bodie not so obseruant to the eye but better fitting for her state These outward couers ofte times make vs forget our imperfections caring for no more then to garnish the body whilest we all together stand neglectfull of the state and condition of the soule The Ancients that were sequestred from the world and onely meditated of their ends though superstitiously deuoted yet in this respect to be admired They stoode not vpon earthly pompe nor on outward garish vanities their refectory was a Cell their companion a deathshead their remembrancer an hour-glasse and their studie how to dye And death certainely could not bee terrible to such fixing their mindes on nothing heere in this life which might trouble them in departure vnto a better life It is true the pompe of death more terrifieth then Death it selfe Obiects of vanitie make our dissolution heauie and some I haue seene passe away with an indifferencie of life others before representment of death merry but at their approach when Resolution should haue shewne her selfe best prowde recreants to themselues Causes I haue conceyued two-fold eyther for that their minde were seated on Earthly affaires and could not pierce into the excellencie of their future hopes or that oppressed with the heauie remembrāce of their sinnes they trembled to appeare so vnprouided or grieuously loaden before a throane of iustice where they must of necessity answer theyr meditation at the instant of death is all of his Iustice without recourse to his mercie O these if they might would sue a repriue at Deaths hands with many intreaties I obserued this poore soule that I am it hath bin an especial motiue to my conuersion admonishing my selfe by their conuersion life to preuēt their miserable end I will therfore first desire to liue well before I will wish to die will for hard it is for him that will not liue the life of the righteous to die the death of the righteous life and death beeing in this nature concomitants the cōclusions euer seconding the begining I must obserue S. Ieroms rule who whither he slept or wakt euer thoght that sūmons to be sounding in his eare Arise ye dead and come vnto Iudgement This preparation will addresse me to thinke of my end before I come to it and the more welcome will it be when I come to it I haue wondred at men when they desired one time after an other for it makes me weepe when I see my houre glasse beside mee and see euery drop of sand follow other so speedily How precious is that treasure which can neuer be redeemed and so precious is Time shewing State in himselfe for he will stay for no man but offering his opportunity which accepted yeeldes remedie to any malady if thou be sicke in minde no time so sinister or akward but will shewe in some season a cordiall to thy discomforts if in body euery day is not canicular there be some promising helpes euen in dayes if not to cure yet to allay thy infirmities Change of Fortune the worldlings greatest sickenesse is soone taken away by continuance either by respect to our selues or to others to our selues considering they were but lent vs to others seeing the like accidents common vnto them with vs. The Prodigall condemning the spent thrifts of time O That our worldling would but call to minde the preciousnesse of the Time Hee would not desire so speedyrunning horses for his pleasure to soake the poore grate vpon the bons of the needy making spunges of them to inrich himselfe nor the ambitious wholly exposed to the insatiare desire of honour would abuse so inestimable good with so indefinite an euill in Courtiers applause spending the beauty of the day with the complements of an oylie tongue That holy Father well obserued this who to put himselfe in minde of his dayes taske would euer sommon himselfe in the Euening with this account O my
soule what hast thou done to day Hast thou employed thy time in studies well fitting Gods glory thy brothers benefit and thine owne soules health Whom hast thou oppressed Whom hast thou iniured O! these commemorations are able to rowse vp the sluggish soule from the sleepe of sinne and securitie and to bring him to the knowledge of himselfe and his owne infirmities Alas how many vaine houres wee spend with Nabuchadnezzar in walking vainly in the pride of our hearts nay euen in the royall places of Babel strowting in the very height of our hearts as vessels not composed of ordinary substance but admiring our owne demerites beginne to boast of our owne actions Heere we glory in gorgeous buildings when indeede our houses should be like Obadiahs temples dedicated to Gods worship There of our learning yet for all our learning we are but Agrippaes halfe-christians Heere of the applause of people and amidst our glory with Herod become miserable There of policie but Haman like it becomes starke folly vaine be the imaginations of man full of vanities falshood and vntrueths and wherein can we glory of our owne strength O then since our times is so short our houres so few and our constitution so weake let vs become respectiue of the time lest hauing lost it we be neuer able to recall it againe The Prodigalls care to redeeme his expence of time past O My soule thinke thou of this redeeme that time thou hast spent if not in houres for many haue beene the houres of my vanity yet in teares that the Lord God beholding thy contrition may take thy repentance in lieu of thy times expence Thou hast a reckoning O Lord of all my idle houres how vainely I haue consumed my daies in the affections of vanity O that I might redeeme the time with sorrowing and yet there is some comfort appearing For as thou hast a booke of accounts wherin my sinnes are set downe so I know thou hast a bottle wherein to put my teares albeit I be vnworthy to lift vp mine eyes to heauen to pray to thee yet am I not vnworthy by blinding mine eies with teares to weepe before thee True it is that teares be the best and soueraignest Balme to cure the wounds of a sin-bleeding Soule and neuer came teares from the heart which cured not the poison of sinne Mine eyes therefore like plentifull fountaines shall euer be sending forth water to rince the vlcers of my soule and fire of zeale to consume the thorny cares in which I haue beene too long enwrapped There shall be no impediment now if the progresse of my pilgrimage doe hinder mee from so heauenly an expedition O that I had not eyes to see my follies before this time or hauing eies woe is me I directed them not to the line and leuell of wisdome yet my comfort is though poenitentia sera raro est vera yet poenitentia vera nunquam est sera Neuer too late vnfainedly to forsake my euill wayes for thou wilt receiue the thiefe rather then faile euen at the last houre to expresse thy mercies and fatherly compassion to penitent sinners yet that example Ministers mee a double vse not to despaire at the last because there was one nor to deferre my repentance to the last because there was but one Happy thiefe happy theft the thiefe an heire in heauen the thiefe an inheritance in heauen Amongest the Scythians no fact was with such seueritie punished as theft for saith the Historian if it had beene lawfull to steale amongest them what had beene safe amongst them But I say no theft in this kind was lawful to this good thiefe for without it nothing at all had beene safe vnto him The Prodigals description of the diuersities of theft THe oppressors of the poore steale for they sucke the blood of the Orphanes and treasure vp vengeance for themselues The Monopolists steale for they doe ingrosse to themselues a peculiar gaine inlarging the Garnars with the Rich man to make their punishments the greater The Lawyer with his mentall reseruations for he who should procure his Clients peace prolongs his suite because he hath an Action to his purse as his aduersary had to his land The proud Pharisee steales for he meanes to steale Gods glory from him attributing that to his owne merites which is none of his making himselfe the Author and accomplisher of euery deseruing worke let mee be none of these good Father I see their miserable ends by their sinister meanes For how should vicious beginnings haue vertuous ends They peruerted the wayes of Iustice walking in crooked by paths where the Saints of God neuer traced Be it farre from me to be said to steale thy glory with the Pharisie or protract the poore widdowes cause with the trifling Lawyer or hoord vp vengeance for my selfe with the couetous ingroser or sucke the blood of the needy with the remorcelesse oppressor The Prodigall sheweth wherein true content consisteth I Will desire one thing of thee O my GOD and that shall bee all to taste true contentation and not the worldlings seeming content who professe themselues to be fully satisfied yet crie still more and more that content proceedes enforced I would haue mine enfranchised let it be riches to mee to possesse thee cloathing to me to put on my Lord Iesus foode unto mee to feede on the bread of his word and life vnto mee to liue for my Sauiours glory So shall my riches be eternall not subiect to the casualties of Fortune or Chance for no moates can corrupt that treasure which is reserued in Heauen for the Elected So shall my cloathing neuer be worne out but like the Israelites garments continue euermore new For they which put on Christ shall continually haue their raiments renewed So shall my foode for it is Spirituall Manna feede my soule with holy and heauenly meditations nourished so shall my life neuer fade being by the Almighty preserued Alasse Lord if I should continue in my old transgressions and in the hardnesse of my heart assay to clime vp to heauen with the Gyants should not I be soone destroyed yea Lord what am I that I should be able to stand against thee Or is my house of Clay so firme that it can support it selfe without thee When the King of Iuda proclaimed warre against the King of Israel the King of Israel returned answere That the Thistle rebelled against the Cedar And should I that am lighter then vanitie oppose my selfe against the Eternall power of the Almightie No Lord I will rather humble my selfe before thy Throane and with teares of heartie remorce purchase pardon Thou hast hung the white banner out to expresse thy mercie vnto all such as will submit themselues I will descend therfore before the red signall of thy wrath denounce bloud and vengeaunce I haue fore-slowed my returne O Lord too long sleeping on the bedde of securitie I haue carowsed Balthazar-like
spent in this vale of teares that the remnant of my time may redeeme the vanitie of my youth lamenting to haue committed that in the prime of my yeeres which makes mee grieue in the winter of mine age Yet in the very extent of my griefe there is one thing that comforteth me I know Lord. The Prodigals harmony to the afflicted children of God THou neuer forsookst the man that resposed his confidence in thee but when the faithfull Soule is plunged in greatest afflictions contrary to all humane expectation thou forthwith deliuerest him Thou neuer shewedst thy selfe more mercifull to Daniel then in the Lyons denne nor to Dauid then when persecuted and pursued by Saul nor to Susanna then when she was falsely accused by the Elders nor to thy chosen people the Bethulians then in the defeat of Holofernes Army Gods mercy is neuer better expressed then by the character of mans misery where euents aboue expectance make Gods people most blessed where they were supposed to be most wretched Hence is it Lord that I admire thy mercies I haue wandered and thou diddest guide mee yea thou reducedst mee to thine owne sheepefold when I had lost my selfe in the desarts of sinne I was sicke and sicke to death for I laboured of the lethargie of sinne and thou camest to the caue of my Sepulchre the place where I had beene long sleeping in the graue of sinne and awaked my soule bidding her follow thee Shee shall follow thee like the goate vpon the mountaines she shall not stay in the brakes of vanitie for thou hast reuiued my soule from death and hast renewed her like the Eagles feathers It is said that the Eagles feathers consume all feathers that lie with them So shall the diuine motions of my soule fixed vpon the brasen Serpent a type of Christ curing all infirmities dispell the vnstable and wauering representments of earths vanity no comfort shall seeme perfect no delight pleasant no meditation Concordant to the eare of my soule but the meditation of my Christ crucified that in imitation of his humility I may not onely submit my selfe to the Crosse but make it both bread and drinke to doe my Fathers will so in the very comfort of my spirit I may truly say my yoake is easie and my burden light For well doe I know Lord though thy seruants be tempted they cannot be tainted though assaulted neuer surprized and though the Cittie of God be alwayes besieged yet neuer ruined Christians and persecutions close together like Christ and his Crosse The Israelites before they came to their Land of Promise their temporall Canaan endured many difficulties and shall I that am in my iourney to a spirituall Canaan suffer impatiently any affliction any difficulty or anxiety whatsoeuer No Lord I know the more I suffer in this life the greater shall be my victory for impediments attending a Conquest maketh the Conquest more glorious A Cittie lightly assaulted may long hold out but that Citty is to be commended that inuironed on euery side hemmed in with troupes of Assailants inclosed with violent opponents yet maugre the fury of warre or hostile incursions fortifies her selfe with courage instead of wals and assures her selfe either of victory or a glorious end The Prodigals admonition to resolution and constancie in the Battell and seruice of the Lord Iesus Christ REsolution must be a Christians best cognisance he should not be amazed at any opposition but in the sincerity of his owne cause the integritie of his profession remaine constant without wauering resolued without dismaying and patient in enduring any occurrence that can any way befall him Such was the resolution of those three children who rather then they would fall downe before false gods willingly submitted themselues to the extreamest torments which either tyranny could inflict or flesh and blood endure Such was the resolution and magnanimity of all the Apostles who went to death willingly to propagate Gods glory Yea euen in all those persecutions mentioned in the Ecclesiasticall Historie We shall manifestly see portraied the patience of Martires continually suffering and the cruelty of Tyrants with all inhumanity punishing Rasis is renowned for his resolution in the Machabees pulling out his owne bowells to intimate his contempt of life which is taxed by Saint Augustine saying That this fact was done Magne non Bene But alas Lord where is that Christian fortitude we are now shaken with euery wind of contrarily working passion euery shadow euery feare euery perturbation doth now dismay vs. Wee feare death because we haue deserued Death after death wee reade of the constancie of the Apostles Martyrs and Confessors and reading admire them but are loath to imitate them We say they are good Records excellent Annalls and worthie memorie yet those memorials be quickly extinguished those Annalls soone raced out of our memorie Manie suffer in minde if they loose their goods or if defamed they will endeuour to repurchase heir good name with the expence of their bloud These be imputations so impropriate to thēselues as they cannot heare them Alas if man would consider the deprauednes of his own nature what aspersions how scandalous soeuer what reproches how contumelious soeuer or what inuectiōs how bitter soeuer cā giue him a Title due in regard of his naturall vilenesse Heyres of sinne slaues of sinne and champions of sinne what can such heyres haue but an inheritance of shame What can such slaues haue but the hire of shame And what can such champions glorie of but that they are boulsterers of shame But if wee will fight the Lords battell for heyres of sinne wee shall become heyres of righteousnesse For slaues of sinne seruants in Christes Familie and for Champions of sinne Armourers in the Lords Army Were not this a Battell worth fighting when our Earthly Tents should be trāslated to heauenly mansions our tabernacles of clay to sanctuaries of eternitie where we putting on the whole cōpleat armour of resolued Christians may say with the Apostle Wee haue fought a good fight and thanks be to the Lord that hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ Iesus Christ a most happy name indeede where I neuer heare the name of Iesus but I heare the name of Saluation nor of Christ but I heare in it the name of Vnction Who would not fight vnder this name to purchase to himselfe an eternall name of glory not on earth for that is vaine and temporary but in heauen for that endureth perpetually Ranke mee O Christ amongst thy squadrons Set me in the forefront of the battell and let mee fight with that resolution as no fury of Antichrist though neuer so violent may daunt me but as one prepared against the extreamest of perills not to loose ground nor play recreant to my faith which I haue alwayes professed but to stand vnto it manfully till I haue gotten the victory Cato tearmed it Nobile lethum to die in the defence of ones