the eternall Spirit offered himselfe to God without spot purge our consciences from dead workes verse 14. The blood of Iesus Christ his Son clenseth vs from al sinne 1 Ioh. 1. 7. If any man sin wee haue an Aduecate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous 1 Iohn 2. 1. And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world v. 3. These haue washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe Reu. 7. 14. Thou hast redeemed vs by thy blood to God Reu. 5. 9. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keepe them from the euill Ioh. 17. 15. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth v. 17. Neither pray I for these alone but for them which shall belieue on me through the word v. 20. I haue prayed for thee that thy faith may not faile Luke 22. 32. In that day ye shall aske in my name and I say not vnto you that I will pray the Father for you Ioh. 16. 26. For the Father himselfe loueth you because ye haue loued me v. 27. Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8. 34. Hee is able to saue them euermore that come vnto God by him seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. IOHN did baptize in the wildernesse and preach the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins Mar. 1. 4. According to his mercy hee saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. The like figure whereunto euen baptisme doth now saue vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. Repent and bee baptized euery one of you in the name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of sins Act. 2. 38. This is the Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Mat. 26. 28. Seeke the Lord while hee may be found call ye vpon him while he is neere Isa. 55. 6. Let the wicked for sake his way and the vnrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne to the Lord and he will haue mercy vpon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon v. 7. For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor my waies your waies saith the Lord v 8. As I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Ezekiel 18. 22. Turne you turne you from your euill waies for why will yee dye ô yee house of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. I haue no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selues and liue Ezek. 18. 32. They shall know me from the least to the greatest saith the Lord and I will forgiue their iniquity and remember their sin no more Ier. 31. 34. Thou shalt finde the Lord if thou seeke him with al thy heart and with all thy soule Deut. 4. 29. For the Lord thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee nor destroy thee v. 31. If my people shall humble themselues and pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked waies then I will heare from heauen and will forgiue their sinne 2 Chro. 7. 14. If thou returne to the Almighty thou shalt be built vp Iob 22. 23. I haue blotted out as a thick clowde thy transgressions and as a clowde thy sins returne vnto me for I haue redeemed thee Isa. 44. 22. Cease to doe euill learne to doe well Isa. 1. 17. Come now let vs reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as skarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall bee as wooll Isa. 1. 18. Goe proclaime these words to the North and say Returne thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall vpon you for I am mercifull saith the Lord and will not keepe anger for euer Ier. 3 12. Onely acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed the Lord thy God verse 13. Come let vs returne to the Lord for he hath torne and hee will heale vs he hath smitten and he will binde vs vp Hosea 6. 1. I will heale their back-slidings I will loue them freely Hosea 14. 4. Seeke the Lord and yee shall liue Amos 5. 6. Turne yee vnto mee saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turne vnto you Zac. 1. 3. Come vnto me all ye that are heauy laden and I will ease you Mat. 11. 28. Likewise I say vnto you There is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth Luke 15. 10. The Son of Man came to saue that which was lost Luke 19. 10. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Luk. 5. 32. That repentance and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name among all Nations Luke 24. 47. Repent ye therefore and bee conuerted that your sinnes may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The Lord is not slacke as some men account slacknesse but is long suffering to vs-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. If wee confesse our sins hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse 1 Ioh. 1. 9. Manasses built altars for al the Host of heauen 2 Chron. 33. 5. And he caused his children to passe by the fire in the valley of Hinnon also he vsed Witch-craft and dealt with familiar Spirits c. v. 67. But when hee was in his affliction hee besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the Lord of his Fathers v. 12. And prayed vnto him and he was intreated of him and he heard his supplication v. 13. He denied before them al saying I know not what thou sayest Mat. 26. 70. And againe he denyed him v. 72. Then he began to curse and to sweare saying I know not the man v. 74. And the Lord turned and looked vpon PETER and PETER remembred the words of the Lord Luk. 22. 61. And PETER went out and wept bitterly v. 62. And behold a woman in the City which was a sinner brought an al abaster box of ointment c. Luk. 7 37. Her sinnes which are many are forgiuen her for she loued much v. 47. A woman which had bin healed of euill Spirits and infirmities Mary Magdalene out of whom went seauen diuels Luk. 8. 2. The younger tooke his iourney into a farre countrey and wasted his substance with riotous liuing Luk. 15. 13. When he came to himselfe he said c. v. 18. I will arise and goe to my Father and say Father I
against enuenomed wounds Then would we as soone as we feele the sting of sinne in our consciences bruise the Serpent by true contrition destroy the sinne and apply the oyle of teares issuing from it to cure the wound before it festered But among other iust causes of teares this is not the least that wee misspend our teares and spill that heauenly dew and profane the Font-water of our second baptisme as Saint Cyprian calleth it Wee haue teares at our owne will in worldly losses but none at God's command for the losse of his grace Wee take on for the death of our friends departing frō vs but cannot wring out a teare for the spirituall death of our soules departing from God Yet all our fretting and vexing all our weeping and howling cannot fetch our friend backe againe or repaire our worldly losses whereas on the contrary as Saint Chrysostome piously noteth the afflicting of our soules and serious bewailing of our sinnes by God's grace shall reuiue our soules and recouer all our spirituall losses and that with aduantage What pittie nay what folly is it to powre costly eye-water out of a Venice-glasse into a vile pot or basen to wash our feete withall Do we not the like when we turne godly sorrow into worldly and abuse pretious teares to the bewailing of vile base losses haue we suchstore of them or such want of better employmēt for them See we not wrath is gone out against vs and the fire long agoe kindled and not yet quenched by our teares Lord thou hast shewed thy people terrible things thou hast giuen vs a drinke of deadly wine and hast caused vs to suck out the dreggs of it because we Moab like are setled vpon our Lees. As Pharaoh saw the hugh of his bloodie minde in the waters of Aegypt turned all redd as blood so we may see the crimson colour of our sins in the vialls of thy wrath powred of late vpon vs. We trade not spiritually for the pearle of the Gospell and therefore our Merchant's returnes faile Wee would not weepe for our sins and therefore the heauens did weepe for vs a long season in continuall showers We haue bin hard hearted and barren in good works and therefore thou madest heretofore the heauen aboue vs as brasse and the earth vnder vs as Yron By drunkennesse and gluttony by euill perswasions and worse examples one soule hath infected another and therefore thou hast sent a Plague whereby one body infecteth another Such a Plag◠as our ancients neuer heard of and our posterity will scarce belieue The chiefe of our Cities haue beene ploughed vp and sowed so thick with dead corps's that one could scarce lye by another Against this and all other iudgements which thy law threatneth and our sins prouoke wee haue no weapons to contend with thy iustice but prayers and teares We haue no meanes to clense the infected aire but our sighs and groanes O Lord remoue our sins as a clowde and iniquities as a mist and then this dreadfull bloodie clowde which lately powred downe but now onely droppeth will vanish of it selfe Consummate the worke of mercy thou hast begun and quite remoue this iudgement through thy tender compassion in the bowells of Christ Iesus wee beseech thee But remoue this iudgement in mercie not in iudgement Take not thy hand off of vs to fetch a greater stroake at vs. Deliuer vs not from one Plague as thou diddest Pharoh to send a worse in steede thereof Put vs not out of thine hands into which we are fallen to giue vs ouer into the hands of our enemies Saue vs not from the Sword to kill vs with Famine neither preserue vs from a corporall to starue vs with a spirituall Take not away one plaister to apply a smarter in the place but perfectly heale our wounds Bee absolutely reconciled vnto vs in him vpon whom thou hast already layed the chastisement of our peace O remember not our our old sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great misery Helpe vs ô God of our saluation for the glory of thy name ô deliuer vs and bee mercifull to our sins for thy names sake O thinke vpon thy congregation and Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Looke vpon the hands of many thousands that haue beene lifted vp to thee in Publike and many more in Priuate to iustifie thee in thy Iudgements and blesse thee for thy mercies and intreate thee for this Land and thy disconsolate Spouse yet weeping in teares of bloud in diuerse places To strengthen and support the weaker of these hands and fill their mouthes with continuall Deuotions I haue furnished and replenished this Manuel which I name THE HAND-MAID To PRIVATE DEVOTION to waite on her in her Chamber or Oratorie The purtraying of her Mistresse I leaue to the pensill of some Diuine Apelles whose taske will be the harder because she neuer commeth abroade All that my intention aimeth at and my endeauours promise is but to lay open a priuate way and set vp certaine Stages for thy holy race and pricke thee on forward in it Farre better helpes in this kinde the pious charitie and zeale of religious and learned persons hath afforded thee of whom yet I may truely say as Tully spake of the Emperours that dealt with Mithridates before Pompey Laudandum quod secerunt ignoscendum quod reliquerunt They are to be commended for that they haue done and pardoned for that they left What they haue left I labour to supply and if I cannot supply it yet I thought fit to implie and intimate that the Authors themselues or the Publishers of their workes might adde what they finde wanting First my thinkes I see in their bookes of Deuotion and prayers Salomon's temple without the gate called Bewtifull I meane exquisite meditations and orizons without an entrance thereunto by preparation With that part therefore I begin and it taketh vp the more roome in my booke because it hath beene so scanted for place or rather quite excluded in theirs In it if thou finde some tertnesse I intreate thee Courteous Reader to remember with me the precept of the Lord Iesu Haue salt and haue peace If I haue salt haue thou peace the rather because Hymnes Prayers and other religious exercises are spirituall sacrifices and euery sacrifice by the Law was to be seasoned with salt Et quoniam mel in Dei sacrificijs non offertur nimia dulcedo arte mutata est quâdam piperis austeritate condita apud Deum nil tantum suaue placet nisi quod habet in se aliquid mordacis veritatis It is S. Ierom's obseruation vpon the legall sacrifices that God neuer appointed hony to be offered vnto him And the morall truth vailed vnder that shadow was that in our spirituall oblations nothing pleaseth God that is onely sweete and hath not some smacke 〈◊〉 it of biting truth Next I haue much maruelled what the reason might be that they vndertaking
7. Purge me with Hysope and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow Psal. 51. 7. I will purge away thy drosse and take away all thy Tinnâ— Isa. 1. 25. For their sakes I sanctifie my selfe that they also may be sanctified Iohn 17. 19. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15. 16. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified 1. Cor. 6. 11. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Eph. 5. 26. For by one offering he hath perfected them for euer that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. To them that are sanctified by God the Father c. Iude 1. 1. I know that my redeemer liueth c. Iob 19. 25. Though after my skin wormes destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God ver 26. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsell and afterwards receiue me to glorie Psal. 73. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast giuen me bee with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Math. 25. 34. Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luke 12. 32. If so be we suffer with him we shall also bee glorified together with him Rom. 8. 17. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glorie that shall be reuealed in vs ver 18. Whom he iustifieth them also he glorifieth ver 30. Who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned to his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course I haue kept the faith 2. Tim. 4. 7. Henceforth there is layed vp for me a crowne of righteousnes which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but vnto them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Blesse the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits Psal. 103. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sinne and healeth all thy diseases ver 3. O Lord thou hast brought vp my soule from the graue thou hast kept me aliue that I should not go downe to the pit Psal. 30. 3. The Lord killeth and maketh aliue c. 1. Sam. 2 6. It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect Psal. 18. 32. He teacheth my hands to warre so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes ver 34. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle Psal. 103. 5. Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord for he hath torne and he will heale vs he hath smitten and he will bind vs vp Hos. 6. 1. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe I passed ouer this Iordan and now I am become two bands Genes 32. 10. Also the Lord gaue Iob twise as much as he had before Iob 42. 10. Charge the rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 1. Ti. 6. 17. Thou hast set me at libertie when I was in thrall Psal 4. 1. Cornelius a iust man and of good report Acts 10. 22. And these all hauing obtained a good report through faith receiued not the promises Hebrewes 11. 39. Oyntment and perfume reioyce the heart so doth the sweetnes of a mans friend by heartie counsell Prou. 27â—9 Then came to Iob all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had bene of his acquaintance c. Iob 42. 11. Thou Lord onely makest mee dwell in safetie Psal. 4. 8. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal. 91. 1. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord shall preserue thee from all euill he shall preserue thy soule A preparatorie Hymne collected out of diuerse Psalmes where in the deuout soule desireth Accessea. Audienceb. Assistancec. Acceptanced. a Thou sayest seeke ye my face my heart said vnto thee thy face Lord will I seeke Psal. 27. 8. Hide not thy face farre from mee nor put thy seruant away in anger ver 9. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me Psal. 51. 11. b Heare ô Lord when I crie vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and answer me Psal. 27. 7. Ponder my words ô Lord consider my meditation Psal. 5. 1. My heart is enditing a good matter my tongue is the pen of a ready writer Psal. 45. 1. c O Lord open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Psal. 51. 15. Let my prayer bee set forth before thee as incense and the lifting vp of my hands as an euening sacrifice Psal. 141. 2. Set a watch ô Lord before my mouth and keepe the doore of my lips ver 3. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight ô Lord my strength and my redeemer Psal. 19. 14. A preparatorie Prayer wherein all the conditions requisite in Prayer are expressed and prayed for HEauenly Father whose gift it is that I can aske any good gift at thy hands without whose grace I cannot desire thy healthfull and sauing grace Infuse into my heart the Spirit of supplication that in an awfull reuerence of thy Maiestie out of a true sence and feeling of my wants and infirmities and a liuely faith in thy promises I may with chearefulnesse of mind and feruencie of Deuotion and constant perseuerance lift vp a pure and plaine heart vnto thee at all times humbly intreating thy souereigne bountie for such things onely as thou in thy eternall wisdome hast pre-ordained to giue and calling vpon thee in such order and manner as thou hast prescribed me to aske in that absolute patterne of all prayer set downe in the Gospell by my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. In whose name mediation and words I crie Abba Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name c. A preparation to the hearing of the word GOd in his infinite wisedome hath so disposed the meanes of our saluation that the soueraigne Antidote against sinne death is conueyed into the soule through the same passage whereby the deadly poyson first entered Death stole in at the eare by suggestion of the euill spirit and now life in the hearing of the word passeth in at the same gate of the soule by the operation of the holy Spirit Hast thou an eare ô Christian by thy profession for the diuell and none for God An eare to receiue poyson dropped in and not to
ye to the waters Isa. 55. 1. Giue vs euermore of this bread Ioh. 6. 34. For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drâ—nketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords bodie 1. Corinth 11. 29. I am the bread of life hee that cometh to me shall not hunger and he that belieueth in me shall neuer thirst Ioh. 6. 35. Christ dwelleth in vs by faith Ephes. 3. 17. I will wash mine hands in innocencie and so will I go to thine altar ô God Psal. 26. 6. To the impure all things are impure Tit. 1. 15. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee Math 5. 23. Leaue thou thy gift before the Altar and go thy way be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift ver 24. Wee being many are one bread and one bodie for we are all partakers of this one bread 1. Cor. 10. 17 A preparatory Hymne to bee vsed before or at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament wherein the deuout soule expresseth her a Desire of the foode of life b Hope that she shall obtaine it c Thankes for it a As the Hart panteth after the water brookes so panteth my soule after thee ô God Psal. 42. 1. My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God ver 2. My soule thirsteth for thee my soule longeth for thee as a drie and thirstie land Psal. 63. 1. I will blesse thee while I liue I will lift vp my hands in thy Name ver 4. b My soule shall be satisfied with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with ioyfull lips ver 5. Thou preparest a table before me and my cup runneth ouer Ps. 23. 5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Psal 16. 5. I will take the cup of saluation call vpon the Name of the Lord Psal. 116. 13. c I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord now in the presence of all his people ver 14. I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thanksgiuing and will call vpon the name of the Lord ver 17. saying The Prayer before the Communion GRacious Redeemer who out of thy pierced side openedst to all that thirst for thy grace a double fountaine for sinne and vncleannesse the one of water the other of bloud the one to purge the guilt the other the filth of sinne and hast sealed these inestimable benefits of sanctification and redemption vnto all beleeuers by the Sacraments of Baptisme and of thy holy Supper assist me by thy Spirit in the sanctified vse of these holy Mysteries and Symholls of thy most blessed bodie and bloud Most louing bountifull Lord who hast prepared such a table for me giue me a mouth and stomacke according that I may worthily receiue these heauenly dainties to the glorie of thine infinite goodnesse and the euerlasting comfort of my soule Cleare the eyes of mine vnderstanding from all mists of hereticall fancies carnall imaginations that I may rightly distinguish the signes from the things signified by them and also discerne thy bodie from common meate Sharpen my appetite that I may hungrily feede vpon this bread of which whosoeuer eateth shall neuer hunger and stily drinke of this cup of which whosoeuer drinketh shall neuer thirst O thou true foode of my soule receiue me who am now to receiue thee Quicken me with thy Spirit who wilt feede me with thy flesh vouchsafe me thy grace who communicatest to me thy nature that as in and by these holy Mysteries I receiue life from thee so I may also receiue by them grace to liue to thee not seeking mine owne pleasure nor doing mine owne will but deuoting the remainder of my life to thy seruice and yeelding my selfe wholly to the power of thy sanctifying grace to worke in me alwaies that which is pleasing in thy sight So be it Amen Religious duties to be performed at the time of the receiuing the Communion 1. Prepare thy body by a decent gesture 2. Recollect thy mind and fixe thy thoughts wholly vpon this most sacred action stir vp in thee 3. Stirre vp in thee 1 An holy feare out of this consideration that God is there present in a speciall manner and his Angels attending on him and obseruing thee Say to thy selfe in the words of Iacoh O how fearefull is this place it is no other then the house of God and gate of heauen 2 An holy astonishment or admiration out of this consideration that the Lord thy Maker and Redeemer and the high possessour of heauen and earth so farre humbles himselfe as to bee thy guest Say to thy selfe in the words of Salomon Is it true indeed that God will dwell on the earth Behold the heauen and heauen of heauens cannot containe him how much lesse the narrow roome of my soule 1. King 8. 27. 3 An holy abashment or confusion out of this consideration that so vile a worme and sinfull wretch as thou art should haue so infinite a Maiestie and holy God to come and sup with thee Say to thy selfe in the words of the Centurion Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe or with S. Peter Depart from me for I am a sinfull man 4 An holy sorrow out of this consideration yâ— thy sins did put thy Sauiour to these torments which are signified and liuely represented in this Sacrament Say to thy selfe in the words of Ieremiah O that mine eyes were a fountaine of teares to bewaile those sinnes which drew so much bloud from my Sauiour 5 An holy ioy out of this consideration that the infinite debt of thy sins is discharged and the acquittance deliuered into thy hands Say to thy selfe in the words spoken of Zacheus This day saluation is come into mine house 6 An holy desire of expressing some kind of thankfulnesse to God out of this consideration that together with the SacrameÌ„t thou receiuest Christ himselfe and all the benefits of his passion Say to thy selfe in the words of Dauid What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefits that he hath done vnto me I will take the cup of saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. 4 Ioyne the signes with the things signified Take Feede on bodily Bread Wine ghostly Bodie Bloud 5 Obserue meditate vpon the resemblances betweene them 1 Bread and wine true and in substance not in appearance onely Christs bodie a true bodie his bloud true bloud not in shew onely as some Hereticks haue imagined 2 Bread one bodie or lumpe made of many graines wine one liquor or drinke of many grapes Christ his body one of many members vnited together 3 Bread and wine an entire repast Christs body and bloud the perfect refection of the soule 4 Bread and wine strengthen and comfort the heart Christs body and bloud est ablisheth the heart and comforteth the conscience 5 Bread and wine the common foode of men not children
his who made them Saints In the Deuotion fitted to these dayes first I lay the ground out of Scripture and then descant vpon it in the Admonition Hymne and Prayer all which allude to the History of that feast 4. After these feasts the week-dayes come in their order The Saints Martyrs and Arch-angels dayes I haue purposely omitted not that I dislike the keeping of them for I haue euer and will iustify and maintaine the obseruation of them according to that godly institution and practice of our Church But I desired to keepe my book within the compasse of the title which is a Manuell And albeit wee honour Saints and Martyrs yet religious Deuotion which is my Theame is restrained to God by holy Dauid Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord. In the Church of Rome there are many Deuotionâ— to Saints and more to our Lady then to Christ but wee acknowledge no religious Deuotions but to him who charmed the old Serpent with that voice of his Father Him onely shalt thou serue In the weeke daies Deuotion those words of our Sauiour were my loadestarre My father worketh and I worke For all the morning prayers haue relation to some worke of God the Father in the sixe dayes of Creation and all the euening to some worke of God the Sonne in the sixe dayes immediately before his glorious resurrection The admonitions for morning and euening containe 12 beatitudes or blessednes 8 mentioned by our Sauiour Mathew 5. and the rest out of other choice Texts of Scripture All which blessednesses I wish thee from my heart desiring thee to afford me one Prayer who haue stored thee with many Thine in the Lord Iesus D. F. THE MORNINGS DEVOTION An admonition for the Morning VVEE haue a more sure word of Prophecie whereunto ye do well that yee take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a dark place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in your hearts 1 Pet. 1. 19. I am the roote and the off-spring of Dauid saith Christ and I am the bright morning Starre Reu. 22. 16. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall giue thee light Ephes. 5. 14. It is now time to awake out of sleepe for now our saluation is neerer then when wee belieued Rom. 13. 11. The night is past the day is at hand therfore cast off the works of darknesse and put on the armour of light verse 12. See that ye walk circumspectly redeeming the time because the dayes are euill Eph 5. 15. Walke honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonesse not in strife and enuying but put on the Lord Iesus and make no prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13. 14. A Hymne for the Morning O Lord thou art my God earely will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee I will sing alowd of thy power and mercy in the morning Psal. 63. 1. 2. Psal. 59. 10. My tongue shall speake of thy righteousnesse and thy praise all the day long Psal. 35. 28. I layd mee downe and slept for thou Lord sustainedst me Psal. 3. 5. I haue dwelt in the secret place of the most High abode vnder the shadow of the Almighty Psal. 91. 1. 4 He shall couer me with his feathers and vnder his wings will I trust his faithfulnesse and truth shall bee my shield and buckler ver 4. Lord arise and lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon me Ps. 4. 7. Teach me to number my dayes that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome Instruct mee in the way which I shall go and guide me with thine eye Psal. 90. 12. Psal. 32. 9. Teach mee thy way ô Lord and I will walke in thy truth ô knit my heart to thee that I may feare thy Name Psal. 86. 11. Hold vp my goings in thy path that my footsteps slip not Psal. 17 5. O satisfie mee earlie with thy mercy and that soone that I may reioyce and be glad al my dayes Psal. 143. 8. Let the beauty of the Lord my God be vpon mee establish thou the worke of my hands vpon me ô prosper thou my handie worke Psal. 90. 17. A Prayer for the Morning GRacious Father rich in mercy to all thy children that call vpon thee accept I beseech thee this my morning Sacrifice of praise thanks giuing which with a willing heart and deuout affection I offer vnto thee in confidence of thy sonnes infinite merits and acknowledgement of thine euerlasting loue and those inestimable benefits which by him and for him and with him thou conferredst vpon me and all thine Elect in him How deare are the thoughts of thy mercies vnto me how great is the â—umme of them Who can value the precious Pearle of thy Word and treasure of thy grace Who can raise his thoughts and desires to the high price of our â—aling an incorruptâ—ble crowne of glory layd vp for vs in heauen Lord fit me with thy grace that I may abound in thanksgiuing and praises for it Enlarge my heart with thy loue that I may in some sort comprehend with al Saints the measure of thine infinite â—oue mâ—nifested to me in the faith of Iesus Christ and abundantly testified by writing my name in the booke of life before I was and engrauing me as a signet with thine owne image at my creation and when I had defaced and in a manner quite raced it out by renuing it in me againe and redeeming mee that had sold my selfe as a bondslaue vnder sinne and death not with corruptible things as gold siluer or pretious stones but with the inualuable and incorruptible blood of thine onely begotten son who gaue his life for my ransome and by his suffering and death hath purchased for me a crowne of life To whom therefore with thee and thy spirit which sealeth all thy mercies vnto me and me vnto the day of redemption bee ascribed the whole glory of my creation redemption sanctification and saluation For vnto me nothing belongeth but shame and confusion who insteede of embracing any mercy and answering thy loue prouoke thy iustice and incense thy wrath and grieue thy spirit and despight thy grace and as much as in me lyeth crucifie againe to my selfe the Lord of life and trample the blood of the New Testament vnder foot Such is my peruerse nature and vngratious disposition that the better thou art to me the worse I proue to thee What couldest thou haue done vnto mee that thou hast not done Thou hast planted me in a fruitfull country thou hast fenced mee with thy prouidence watered me with the former and latter raine of thy Word pruned me with milde and seasonable afflictions and thou castest continually the hot and bright beames of thy fauour vpon me and thou lookest for grapes but behold nothing but wilde grapes What remaineth therefore but that thou shouldest roote mee out of thy vineard and plant another in my
in the heart onely or sinnes brought forth into act Sinnes in my beliefe or sinnes in my life Sinnes once committed or often repeated Sinnes before or after my calling Sinnes of impiety against thee or sinnes of iniquity against my neighbour or sins of impurity against mine owne flesh for of all these I haue a great loade They are more in number then the haires of my head they are a burden too heauy for me to beare They lie vpon my conscience like so many Talents of lead and would presse mee downe to hell did not thy mercy take hold of the hand of my faith to support me in hope euen aboue hope How should I hope if I thinke vpon thy greatnesse How should I not hope if I think vpon thy goodnesse How should I hope if I weigh my sinnes How should I not hope if I weigh thy merits How should I hope if I consider my actions How should I not hope if I consider thy passions How should I hope if I number my transgressions How should I not hope if I number thy blessings and fauours towards mee How should I hope if I remember how oft I haue refused grace after it hath bin offered to mee How can I but hope if I remember how oft grace hath bin offered mee after I refused it And still hope I wil as long as thou reteinest thy name Iesu which this day thou receiuedst when thou offeredst the first fruits of thy blood for my sin without which thou couldest not haue bin my Iesus For so fowle and festered were my soares that nothing could heale them but a bloody knife But why should this bloody instrument be applyed to thy purest tenderest immaculate flesh made all of Virgins blood There was no superfluity to be pared off in thee no ranke blood to bee let out The superfluous skinne was on me yet the knife is on thee The festered sores were in my body yet the Launce is in thy flesh Thou hast the paine I the ease thou the smart I the cure O wonderfull cure O more wonderfull loue Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings as thou hast ordained so maist thou iustly chalenge praise who in thy infancy madest such an assay of my redemption and tendered the earnest of thy blood for me Not nine dayes old thou sheddest dropps of blood for me farre more precious then so many drops of the richest balsamom to cure my wounds Let all flesh praise thee who healedst it by thy wounds Eternall thankes be giuen to thee for thy circumcision whereby thou hast abolished circumcision it selfe and prouided mee an easier remedy of originall sinne the sacred lauer of regeneration Water now serueth insteede of blood and a gentle rubbing of the flesh for cutting and wounding it By the circumcision of thy flesh thou hast also merited for me the fulfilling of thy fathers promise and condition of his couenant to circumcise the foreskinne of our hearts By this thy razor thou hast fitted the tables of my heart now write thy lawes loue in them By receiuing this seale of the couenant in thy flesh thou hast sealed to me thy care of mee in thy nonage First ô Lord I am euerlastingly to praise thee for taking my flesh vp on thee and next for leauing part of it with mee as a pledg of thy loue thou bearedst for me from thy mothers wombe In thy infancy thou bleddest for me in thy twelfth yere thou arguedst for me in thy youth thou obeyedst for me and in thy ripe perfect age thou sufferedst and dyedst for me To thee therefore as it is my bounden duty I offer the budds of my childe-hood the blossoms of my youth and the fruits of my age As thou betimes didst set to the worke of my redemption and and on those termes acceptedst the name Iesus so let me betimes giue my name to thee and enter into thy seruice Let mee beare thy yoke euen from my youth Lord who this day wert circumcised in the flesh circumcise me in the heart that I may in purity sincerity and vprightnesse of heart walke before thee all the dayes of my life Neither circumcise my heart onely but my eares eyes hands heart and feete that no superfluity of maliciousnesse nor impurity remaine in me Now thou hast renewed the face of the earth renew this day and repaire thy decaied Image in me Thou hast begunne a new yeere beginne in me a new reformation Make me I beseech thee a cleane heart and renew a right spirit within me The yeere like the serpent hath cast off his old skinne and put on a new let mee also cast off my old man and put on the new man and from this day to my old age and death walke in newnesse of life that I may be a fit guest to be admitted into the new heauen where dwelleth righteousnesse and to be entertained at thy table and drinke new wine with thee in thy heauenly Kingdome for euermore Amen THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY OR TWELFE-DAYE'S DEVOTION The ground of this feast Prophecie in the old History in the new Testament of our Lords manifestation to the gentiles PARALELL Prophecie There shall come a starre out of Iacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel Num. 24. 17. History Lo the starre which they saw in the east went before them till it came to the place where the childe was Mat. 2. 9. When they saw the starre they were exceeding glad and went into the house and found the childe with Mary his mother verse 10. The daughter of Tyre shall bee there with a gift like as the rich also among the people shall doe homage before thy face with presents Psal. 45. 12. They fel down and worshipped him Mat. 2. 11. Kings shall bring presents vnto thee Psal. 68 29. The kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts Psal. 72. 10. And opened their treasures and presented to him c. Mat. 2. 11. All thy garments smel of Mirrh Aloes and Cassia Psal. 45. 9. To him shall be giuen of the gould of Arabia c. Psal. 72. 15. Gold and incense Mirrh Mat. 2. 11. For thy instruction meditate on the Prophecy Historie of Christ's manifestatiō For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefits thereof For thy correction reprooue thy backwardnesse in comming to Christ and honouring him with thy substance Quicken Thy Charitie by the admonition Thy FAITH by the Psalme Thy Zeale and deuotion by the prayer THE ADMONITION for Twelfe-day THE ANALYSIS We ought freely and liberally to offer to God and his Church because we haue in Scriptures Commandements for it Examples of it Promises vnto it Threats to the cōtrary THE TEXTS TAke from among you an offering to the Lord Whosoeuer is of a willing heart let him bring it an offering of the Lord c. Exod. 35. 5. Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase Prou. 3. 9. Be reconciled to thy brother and then
our Lord Rom. 8. 39. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Iesus nor of mee his prisoner but bee partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 8. As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation abounds through Christ 1 Cor. 1. 5. Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Whom he fore-knew he predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne Rom. 8. 29. I was hungry and ye gaue me no meate I was thirsty and yee gaue me no drinke c. Mat. 25. 43. In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not vnto me ver 45. He that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Ioseph said Feare not for am not I vnder God Gen. 50. 19. Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither againe the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the Name of the Lord Iob. 1. 21. Shall wee receiue good at the hands of the Lord and shall wee not receiue euill In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips Iob 2. 10. But I was a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes Psal. 38. 14. For thy sake are we killed all the day long c. Psal. 44. 22. It is good for a man that hee beare the yoke in his youth Ier. 3. 27. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because hee hath borne it vpon him ver 28. He putteth his mouth to the dust if so bee there may be hope ver 29. Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him he is filled full with reproach Others were tortured and would not bee deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection Heb. 11. 35. And others haue beene tryed by mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bands and imprisonment ver 36. They were stoned they were hewen in sunder they were tempted c. verse 37 38. And they departed from the presence of the Councell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Act. 5. 41. Then Paul answered What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart for I am ready not onely to be bound but to dye also at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21. 13. In labours more abundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more frequent in death often 2. Cor. 11 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 verses Remembring without ceasing your worke of faith and labour of loue and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thes. 13. God hath set forth vs the last Apostles as it were approued to death for wee are made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10. 32. Partly while ye were made a gazing stocke both by reproches and afflictions and partly while ye became companions of them that were so vsed ver 33. I know thy workes and thy labour and thy patience Reue. 2. 2. I know thy faith and thy patience and thy workes ver 19. My bonds in Christ are manifest in that place and all other places Phil. 1. 13. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are made more bold to speake the Word without feare Phil. 1. 14. And they cast Stephen out of the City and stoned him and the Witnesses laid downe their clothes at the young mans feet whose name was Saul Act. 1. 58. And they stoned Stephen calling vpon God and saying Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit ver 59. And he kneeled downe and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sinne to their charge and when hee had said this hee fell asleepe ver 60. Sauls conuersion Act. 9. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you deliuering you vp to their Synagogues and into prison being brought before Kings and Rulers for my Names sake Luk. 21. 12. And this shall turn to you for a testimony against them ver 13. And you shall be brought before Gouernors and Kings for my Names sake for a testimony against them and against the Gentiles Mat. 10. 18. Others had tryalls of cruell mockings and scourges yea moreouer of bonds and imprisonment Heb. 11. 36. The trying of your faith worketh patience Iam. 1. 3. Ye are in heauinesse through manifold tentations 1 Pet. 1. 6. That the triall of your faith being much more precious then Gold though it bee tryed with fire might be found vnto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ ver 7. Brethren account it exceeding great ioy when ye fall into diuers tentations Iam. 1. 2. I reioyce in my sufferings Col. 1. 24. Your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy 10. 16. 20. As many as I loue I rebuke and châ—sten Reu. 3. 19. Whom the Lord loueth he chasteueth and hee scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Heb. 12. 6. No chastening for the time seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous Neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby ver 11. He chasteneth vs for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse ver 10. Let patience haue her perfect worke that ye may be perfect and entire lacking nothing Iames. 1. 4. By patience ye shall inherite the promises Heb. 6. 12. By your patience possesse your soules Luke 21. 19. Because thou hast kept the world of my patience I will keepe thee from the houre of tentation Reu. 3. 10. Whosoeuer confesseth me before men I will confesse him before my Father which is in heâ—uen Luke 12. 8. Verily I say vnto you that no man that hath forsaken house or lands for my sake but he shall receiue an hundred fold and in the world to come life euerlasting Mark 10. 29. If ye suffer for righteousnesse sake blessed are ye yea feare not their feare neither be troubled 1. Pet. 3. 14. But sanctifie the Lord in your hearts ver 5. If we suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him Rom. 8. 17. The afflictions of this present life are not worthy the glory that shall be reuealed ver 18. Blessed are they that suffer for righteousnesse sake for their is the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 5. 10. THE PRAYER FOR Thursday euening consisting of Petitions sutable to the workes of redemption on this day Motiues to patience agreeable to the precedent exhortation GRacious Lord and Sauiour who this day didst eate the Passeouer and went eating in thy Supper Suppe with me in the Euening of this life and grant that I may Dine with thee in thy day of eternitie Gracious Redeemer who this day gauest thy selfe to me in the Sacrament first instituted by thee and
forget her but wilt giue her a man-childe I will giue him to the Lord all the dayes of his life 1 Sam. ◠11. Loe children and the fruit of the wombe are an heritage and gift that commeth of the Lord Psal. 127. 4. Like as arrowes in the hand of a gyant euen so are young children v. 5. Happie is the man that hath his quiuer full of them they shall not be ashamed when they speake with their enemies in the gate v. 6. Thou fillest their belly with thy hid treasure Psal. 17. 14. Elizabeth said Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the daies wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men Luke 1. 25. Vnto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrowe and thy conception In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children Gen. 3. 16. Adam was not deceiued but the woman being deceiued was in the transgression 1 Tim. 2. 14. A woman when she is in traueile hath sorrow because her howre is come but as soone as shee is deliuered of a childe shee remembreth no more her anguish for ioy that a man is borne into the world Ioh. 16. 21. Be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth Gen. 1. 28. Be ye fruitfull and multiply and bring forth abundantly on the earth Gen. 9. 7. Notwithstanding she shall be saued in childe bearing if they continue in faith and charity holines sobriety 1 Tim ◠15. A Psalme for women in their trauaile IN thee ô Lord doe I put my trust let me neuer be put to confusion Psal. 71. 1. Deliuer mee in thy righteousnes and cause me to escape incline thine eare vnto me and saue me v. 2. Lord strengthen mee vpon the bed of languishing make all my bed in my sicknesse Psal. 41. 3. Lord be mercifull vnto me heale my soule for I haue sinned against thee v. 4. Make haste ô God to deliuer me make haste ô Lord to helpe me Psal. 70. 1. For thou art my hope ô Lord God thou art my trust from my youth Psal. 71. 5. By thee haue I bin holden vp euer since I was borne thou art hee that tooke mee out of my mothers wombe my praise shall be continually of thee v. 6. I am feeble and sore broken I haue roared by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart Psal. 38. 8. Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee v. 9. My soule is bowed downe to the dust my belly cleaueth to the earth Psal. 44. 21. Make haste to helpe mee ô Lord my saluation Psal. 38. 22. Lord heare me in this day of my trouble thy name ô God of Iacob defend me Psal. 20. 1. Send mee helpe from the Sanctuary and strengthen me out of Sion v. 2. Blesse me Lord and blesse the fruit of my wombe A Prayer for a woman in time of her trauaile O Most righteous and mercifull God who hast iustly inflicted the sorrowes vpon me which I now endure for the transgressions of Eue the Mother of the liuing and yet in iudgement remembring mercie hast sanctified them to the propagation of thy Church and doest graciously and wonderfully strengthen and help thy seruants in them both to ouercome the paines and escape the danger Haue pitty vpon the feeble estate of thy poore Hand maid vnable without thy speciall assistance to goe through this great worke of patience and labour My first parent did eate the sowre grapes and my teeth are set on edge and I now taste the bitternesse of that forbidden fruit and from my heart loathe and detest it I confesse gracious Lord that both my selfe my childe yet vnborne haue deserued to perish in our sin originall or actuall and I humbly submit it and my selfe to thy gracious will and pleasure yet my hope is in that blessed seede of the woman that brake the Serpent's head that thou hast a blessing in store for me and that I beare in my wombe of which I am as much in trauaile in my soule to bring it forth to thee and make it thine as I am in labour in my body to bring it forth to me and make it mine Blesse me deare Father in both workes that of nature and this of grace Lord punish not the childe for the parents sake but preserue the parent for the child's sake that both may liue and praise thy Name Sanctifie vnto mee these paines and throwes that they may serue not onely as a corasiue for sinnes past but also as a preseruatiue against sinne to come Blesse me in the vse of all ordinarie meanes for my sake bearing and bringing forth my childe Comfort my fainting heart and strengthen my weake body and asswage my bitter pangs and sorrowes and sweeten them with an assured hope of a happie and speedy exchange of them into comfort and ioy that a childe is borne into the world Lord who wert present with me at my conception be present with me in the safe deliuery of that I haue conceiued Let thy hand which formed and fashioned my babe in my wombe keepe all the parts and members of it in due shape substance proportion that the notes of the parent's sin bee not seene in the markes maimes and defects of the childe It is my labour but it is thy work ô Lord to make it a liuing instrument of thy glory Perfect I beseech thee the worke thou hast begunne and wrought in mee thine vnworthy worke-house Make it like all the works of the creation to which thine own mouth gaue testimony that they were perfect good Deale not with me according to my wickednes but according to thy gracious goodnesse Carrie such a hand ouer me in al time of my labour grieuous paines and after my deliuery also that I may euer praise and magnifie thee for the effects of thy grace in my patience of thy power in my strength of thy prouidence in my timely deliuery and thy great mercy in my safety and the preseruation of my fruit for which I humbly beg a blessing from thee and both dedicate it and my selfe to thee Receiue both in and for thy holy childe Iesus's sake to whom with thee and the blessed Spirit be all honour praise and thanksgiuing now and for euer Amen The Child-bearing womans Deuotion after her Deliuerie The Admonition to confidence in God THE ANALYSIS For confidence in God in greatest and imminent dangers we haue in Scripture 1 Precepts 2 Presidents in ABRAHAM SARAH DAVID MOSES ELIAH HESTER IOB SHADRACH MESECH and ABEDNEGO IONAH PETER 3 Reasons drawn frō God his Names of Faithfull Creatour Preseruer of men Mighty deliuerer Sauiour Attributes Omnipotencie Goodnesse Promises Works or performances THE TEXTS OFFER the Sacrifice of righteousnesse and put your trust in the Lord Psal. 4. 5. Put thou thy trust in the Lord and be doing good Psal. 37. 3. Commit thy way vnto the Lord and put thy trust in him v. 5. Charge the rich that they
the Lord ô my soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Psal. 103. 1. Praise the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits v. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sin and healeth all thine infirmities v. 3. Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnes v. 4. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle v. 5. The Lord is full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse v. 8. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Psal. 34. 8. The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my saluation Psal. 118. 14. The voice of ioy and health is in my dwellings the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe v. 15. The right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe v. 16. I will not dye but liue and declare the workes of the Lord v. 17. The Lord hath chastened and corrected me but hee hath not giuen me ouer vnto death v. 18. Open me the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe in and giue thankes to the Lord v. 19 A Thanksgiuing for recouery O Lord God of my health saluation who hast knowne my soule in trouble and diddest make my bed in my painefull dangerous sicknes and hast now raised me out of it to stand before thee I offer now vnto thee the calues of my lippes and the sacrifice of my body and soule which thou first gauest and now hast restored vnto me Because I employed not the faculties of my soule and members of my body as I should haue done thou bereauedst mee of the strength and vigour and vse of them for a season But now because thy compassioÌ„ failes not thou hast returned them to me againe Wherefore I consecrate and deuote them perpetually to thy seruice no longer desiring the vse of them then they may bee seruants vnto me of righteousnesse vnto holinesse What I vowed in my sicknesse by the helpe I will carefully performe in my health As I am in the state of my body so by the power of thy renewing grace I will become in the estate of my soule a new man My broken heart which thou hast healed shall now entirely loue thee my feeble knees and loose bones which thou hast setled shall day and night bowe vnto thee My enthralld meÌ„bers which thou hast set free shall cheerefully serue thee My weake hands which thou hast streÌ„gthened shal continually be lifted vp vnto thee My tyed tongue which thou hast loosened shall vnfold thy mercies My deafe eares which thou hast opened shall heare thy voice My harsh and hoarse and faint voice which thou hast cleared shall sing alowde a song of mercy and iudgement For in thy former mercies thou forgottest not iudgement to make mee know mine euil and in the latter iudgement thou remembredst mercy to make me know thy goodnes By thy iudgement thou hast taught me to know my self and by thy mercies to know thee Before I was troubled I went wrong but now sith thou hast set me right I will run the way of thy Commandements I will perpetually renew and refresh the memory of this singular benefit whereby thou hast renewed and restored me and by the smart of my paine made mee vnderstand wisedome secretly Thy rod and thy staffe as they haue comforted and supported mee so they haue beate many profitable instructions into me By thy scourge which peirceth the flesh and entereth into the heart and bowells I learne that thou requirest truth in the inward parts and searchest the reines and the heart By thy rod which at once striketh all the parts of my body though it fall heauiest vpon one particular I learne that though sinne reigneth and rageth in one kinde more then another yet that my whole soule is diseased The whole head is sicke and the whole heart is faint My fits were many because my sins were multiplyed My paine increased because my sins were aggrauated My wounds stanke and were corrupt through my foolishnesse the insufferable anguish whereof as it gaue me a quicke touch of my sin so also a liuely sence of the benefit of health By my confining to my chamber thou taughtest me what is the benefit of liberty by the weakenesse of my limmes what is the benefit of strength by my want of appetite what the benefit of a stomacke is by the missing my friends what the benefit of society is by my continuall watching what the benefit of rest and repose is by the stupidity and deadnesse of al my parts what the benefit of the senses is Alas what is a crowne beset with rubies to a man that hath a carbuncle in his head What is a chaine of pearles to one that hath a squinsie in his neck Or a collar of Esss to him that hath an impostume on his brest Or a diamond ring to him that hath the gowte in his finger Or the golden garter to him that hath the crampe in his leg What are melodious songs to the deafeâ—â— Beautifull pictures to a blinde man Dainty dishes to a man that hath lost his taste What are large reuenewes to him that possesseth nothing but his bed What are all to him that is tormented in body with the pangs of death or troubled in minde with the horror of hell I confesse vnto thee ô Lord that in my health I often read in the Scriptures and heard this note from the sweete singers of Israel that worldly delights and comforts were vaine and much like flaggs and bulrushes which men in danger of drowning catch to beare them vp but they sinke downe vnder water with them I cannot denie but the golden bells of Aaron in thy Sanctuarie haue often rung this lesson in mine eares that the true Heart's ease groweth onely in thy Paradise that the contents of the large volume of this world is nothing but vanitie that one little fit of an ague can dispossesse the happiest man aliue of his temporall felicitie Yet till I learned by that which I suffered till thy rod had imprinted it euen in my flesh I neuer deepely thought of it nor so throughly assented thereunto but I held the world though not in admiration yet in too great esteeme I secretly repined at the wealth of the couetous and honour of the ambitious and pleasure of the voluptuous and accounted the liues of thy Saints miserable in comparison of them so foolish was I and ignorant and euen as it were a beast before thee But in this schoole of my sicknesse I haue perfectly gotten by heart that which I did but slubber ouer before and learned by rote In my fearefull visitation finding by mine owne experience that all earthly delights and comforts leaue vs in our extremities and cannot steed vs when we most neede nay they rather increase then asswage our
my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in
the blood of the euerlasting Couenant 21. Make you perfect in all good workes to doe his will working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be praise for euer and euer Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS Pretiosissimum de locis sanctâ—â— monile perâ—â—idiâ—â—â— Fascinant laudando S. Cyprian lib. de exhortatione Martyrij Cant. 4. 16. Of deuotion Math. 6. 6. Greg. in Cant. Lachrimae sanguie animae August Plin. lib. 21. c. 16. Flos nascâ—tur non euidens sed in occulto intùs germinatus Plin. 37. c. 7. Garamantitis summa commendatio est quod velut in translucido stillantes intus fulgent aurâ—ae guâ—â—ae semper in câ—â—te non in corpore Cypr. epist. l 2 Sentitur priusquam discitur Val. Max. Lâ—u 2. Cor. 5. 13. Epist. tom 1. Marâ—an inuit Ieron Tâ—stor deum poâ—t heudomid◠〈◊〉 c. vâ—suâ— sum mihi versari inter agmina angelor Math. 6. 6. Math. 14. 27. Math. 26. 36. Maâ—ke 1. 35. Luke 6. 12. Luke 9. 8. 28 Luke 11. 1. Luke 22. 45. Iohn 17. Dan. 6. 10. Psal. 6. 6. Psal. 77. 6. Acts 10. 30. Reuel 1. 10. 2. Cor. 7. 11. Commodius ista inter transiguntur Ex. Luke 22. 44. Math 26. 36. Math. 17. 2. Exod. 34. 29. Purgation Exod. 3. 5. Acts 7. 53. Psal. 26. 6. Math. 12. 44. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esay 5. 6. 2. Sequestration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Math 5. 8. Bern. de nat dom Tergat speculum mundet spiritum suum qui scitit videre deum 3. Preconsideration Eccles. 5. 1. Woâ—erus de polymathiâ sacris religiosae debetur Suspenso gradu Psal. 26. 6. Heb. 12. 29. Nesciâ—bam me tibi eam familiarem esse Eras. Apoth Tremenda mysteria Psal. 45. 1. 2. Psal. 39 3. Eccles. 6. 5. 2. Senec. Epist. Pers. introrsum obmurmurat ôsi ebullet patruij preclarii sumis ôsi c. Sancte magis quam scite Macies illis pro sanitate est iudâ—cij loco infirmitas cedit Quiâ—â— instit orator Exod. 30. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 23. 14. Prayer must bee SHORT Conformable to the patterne consisting of three parts Humble coÌ„fession Wherein must be coÌ„sidered God his terrible Name Glorious Maiesty His al-seeing eye Infinite purity and holinesse Strict iustice Fierce wâ—ath against sinne and sinners Man his viâ—enesse Wretchednessâ— Sinfulnesse Wants and Vâ—abilitie Consident inuocatâ—on wherein to be considered God his Loue. Mercy and long-suffering Gratious promises Omnipotent goodnesse Christ his perfect obedience Full satisfaction Perpetuall intercession Harty thanksgiuing Whereinto be numbred God his benifits spirituall Election Creation RedemptioÌ„ Vocation Iustification Sanctification Hope of glorificaetion Temporall as Health Strength Wealth Libertie Good name Friends Safetie Bern. serm 2. de Penth. vt eadem vâ—a intraret antidotus qâ—a vâ— nenum intra uerat Heb. 10. 5. Psal 40. 6. Acts 2. 41. Plut de tranquill auima Lactan. instit diuin lib. 1. c. 1. Potentius inanimos influit visuâ instructa luce orationis ornata Sen Epist. 1. ad LucsliuÌ„ Pungst non penetrat Heb. 4. 12. Peircing to the deuiding c. â— We are commanded by the Father The Sonne The holy Ghost to beare heedfully the Word of the Preacher Not as the Word of Man but as the Word of God Which will proue the meanes of our saluation Or damnation 2. Wee must pray for the Preacher For our selues that we may Attend. Vnderstand Discerne Belieue Remember Practice Ber. Serm. de purificatione Hodie dominus Templi ingressus est Templum Domini Caluin instit par 2. sacram 1 Cor. 11. 29. He that worthily receiueth must 1. Examine 2. Desire 3. Know 4. Belieue 5. Repent 6. Loue. Vse also this forme Or this Or this Or this Quint instit Orat. Tumor licet grandis contrarius est sanitati Ierom. ad Rusticum Luxuriantes flagellis vineas falcibus reprimebant vt eloquentâ—â— torcularia non verboriâ— pampinis sed sensuâ—â— quasi vuarum expressionibus redumdarent Origen in Cant. Aug. Epist. ad Ianuarium Bern. Serm. de Pent. 1 Grounds in the Law Precepts Promises 2 Grounds in the Gospell Christs resurrection on this day The spirits comming downe on this day The Apostles iniunction Practise In heauen no sinne No tempter No thraldome No labour No sorrow No paine No night No death No curse No feare Indesiezable estate of inheritance Royall honours and dignities Inualuable wealth and riches Inspeakable loyes and plâ—asures In the light and fruitioÌ„ of God Here thou mayest insert the principale Doctrine which thou hast heard from thy Pastors mouth * * Non est ad Deum toâ—o corde redite nisiscisso corde * * Dolet de dolore gaudet By regeneration we obtaine 1 Entrance into the kingdome of God 2 Knowledg 3 Liberty from our corruption From our reigning sin 5 The preheminencie of the first borne 6 Spirit of supplication 〈…〉 The Prophet speaketh in his own person 2 In the person of Christ. 3 In the person of God the Father 4 Of the Church God desireth the circumcisioÌ„ of the heart Commandeth it Loueth Obserueth Praiseth Rewardeth Brandeth the contrary Precepts in the old In the new Examples Abraham Iacob Dauid Israelites Pharisee Promises Threats curses to the contrary The Prophet speaketh in the person of Christ. In heauen is 1 The source of our soules created according to God's Image 2 Our heads 3 The nobler parts of the Church 4 Our country 5 Our mansion house 6 Hope and inheritance VictoriaÌ„ vicisti Precepts of God 2 Practice of Saints Reasons a a Holinesse b b Life c c Liberty d d Grace e e Prayer f f Wisedome g g Glory h h Truth Benefits of obeying the Spirit Danger of resisting Qui Deum per escas colit propè est vt Deum ventrem habeat Ver sacrum facere Obiect Hom. 49. in Mat. Answ. 1 Videl exercitat in Ignat Pro modulo nostro Hom. 1. in gen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Precepts for Fasting 2 Examples of it It expelleth Diuels Benefits It tameth the flesh It auerteth Iudgements It obtaineth temporall blessings and spirituall 1 The antecedents wherein 1 Christs Agony 2 Herod's Pilâ—ts and the Rulers of the Iewes conspiracy against him 3 Iudas betraying him 4 The Disciples forsaking him 5 The Iewes false accusing him 6 His mecks silence 7 The Souldiers and people blaspheming deriding him 2 The Passion it self wherein 1 The enduring Gods wrath 2 The racking of his ioints 3 The piercing his flesh 4 His thirst His drinke 5 His last cry 6 His giuâ—ng vp the ghost 3 The consequents 1 Water gushing out of his strength 2 Casting Lots 3 His buriall Diuine precepts Holy examples Christ Abraham Gedcon Dauid Salomon Ezekiah Iob. Daniel Iohn Baptist The Centurian Peter The Publicane Paul Promises to the humble of the fauour with God Wisedome Sanctifying grace Preferment Blessedness God commandeth meekenesse
thee the fruite of my lippes Now I haue felt thy strength in my greatest weakenesse I haue tasted thy goodnesse in my bitter pangs I will therfore cal vpon thee in my troubles and will praise thee in my deliuerances and depend vpon thee as well in want as in plentie in sicknesse as in health in death as in life Thou mightest most iustly haue depriued me of the benefit and my infant of the hope of life Thou mightest deseruedly haue cut off the roote and the branch in the same moment for both were at thy mercie and liable to a curse But thy mercie is ouer all thy workes thou art good to them that are bad gracious to them that are vngracious mercifull to them that are most sinfull Thou desirest not the death of a sinner but of sin Thou wouldest that all should liue and here sowe the seedes and in heauen reape the fruite of immortality For to this end thou breathedst into vs the life of nature to make vs capable of the life of grace that thereby we may attaine the life of glory Therefore doest thou bring vs into the light of this world and set vs in the way that walking the paths of thy Commandements we might in the end ariue at our country in heauen This life of nature thou hast now giuen to my childe and continued to me adde now I beseech thee grace to nature and glory to grace hereafter that as we now liue in thee by nature so wee may liue to thee by grace and hereafter for euer liue with thee in glory Thou hâ—st ordained strength out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings and iustly maist expect praise from them Gracious Lord first giue my infant strength and then receiue praises from it The hidden treasure which for many moneths thou layedst vp in me is now safely taken out of me and deliuered me therefore I now offer it to thee in thy holy Temple Accept that from mee which thou hast giuen to me Receiue that into thy hands which thou hast put into mine armes Wash it in the Font of Baptisme regenerate it by thy holy Spirit feede it with the sincere milke of thy Word till it haue knowledge to choose the good and refuse the euill As it groweth in yeeres and stature strength so grant that it may grow in thy grace and fauour and increase in wisedome and in the knowledge of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it Amen The close out of Scripture NOw vnto the King immortal euerlasting inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen 1 Tim. 1. 17. The Sicke-mans Deuotion when there is yet hope of recouerie In his Sicknes After his Recouery When thou art smitten with sicknesse ô deuout Christian 1 ENter into thy priuate Chamber and commune with thine owne heart and search out diligently the cause of thy Fathers displeasure Psal. 4. â— 2 Confesse the particular sin or sinnes for which thy heart smiteth thee most with sighs and teares Psal. 32. 5 6. 3 Promise and fully purpose amendment through the assistance of grace Psal. 39. 1. 4 Aduise with the Physitian of thy soule and follow his godly direction and desire him to pray for thee and minister a word of comfort vnto thee and if thou find thy selfe fit for it in the beginning of thy sicknesse when thou art in perfect sence and memorie participate of the blessed Sacrament rather then when thy faculties are more enfeebled Iob. 33. 23. Iam. 5. 14. 5 Vse carefully all good meanes of Physicke and dyet for thy recouerie yet rely not vpon the meanes or instrument but vpon God Eccl. 38. 1. 2. Chr. 16. 12. 6 Pray to God instantly continually First absolutely for the health and saluation of thy soule Secondly conditionally for the health of thy bodie 7 Settle thine estate and make thy Will that thou mayest bee more free for holy and heauenly meditations Isa. 38. 1. 8 Submit thy self wholly and absolutely to God's good wil and pleasure concerning thee whether for life or death 1. Pet. 4. 19 9 Reade if thou be able or appoint to be read vnto thee at seasonable times select Chapters of Scripture and deuout Sermons and Prayers Rom. 8. Philippians 1. 1. Corinth 15. 1. Thes. 4. 2. Cor. 5. Ioh. 5. 6. 17. Hâ—b 12. Iob. 19. Reu. 2. 3. 21. 22. Iob 14. Isa. 38. 40. Among other helpes in this kind Open thy sorrow and griefe by the Hymne Strengthen thy faith patience by the exhortation Quicken thy Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing A PSALME FOR the sicke wherein The deuout Soule Expresseth her Maladie affection Hope in God Experience remembrance of his former goodnes Meek patience Prayeth for Ease Helpe Recouerie Quickning grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome to make good vse of sicknesse THE TEXTS HAue mercy vpon mee ô Lord for I am weake O Lord heale mee for my bones are vexed Psal. 6. 2. My soule also is sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish mee v. 3 My Spirit vexeth within me and my heart within mee is desolate Psal. 143. 4. Yet I doe remember the time past I muse vpon all thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the worke of thy hands verse â—5 I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land v. 6. Heare me O Lord and that soone for my Spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from mee â—est I bee like vnto them that go downe into the pit v. 7. Thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brest Psal. 22. 9. I haue bin left vnto thee euer since I was borne Thou art my God euen from my mothers womb v. 10. Though I walke in the shadow of death I will feare no euill thy rod and thy staffe comfort me Psal. 23. 4. Lord what is my hope Truly my hope is euen in thee Psal. 39. 5. I became dumbe and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing v. 10. I will patiently abide alway and praise thy name more and more Psal. 71. 12. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger nor chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure Psal. 6. 1. The sorrowes of my heart are enlarged O bring me out of my trouble Psal. 25. 16. Heare ô Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lord bee thou my helper Psal. 30. 11. Turne thee ô Lord and deliuer my soule ô saue mee for thy mercies sake Psal. 6. 4. For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thankes in the pit v. 5. What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to the pit Psal. 30. 9. Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee Or shall it declare thy truth v. 10. Take thy Plague away from me I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal. 39. 11. Quicken mee ô Lord for thy names
sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble Psal. 143. 11. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified v. 2. O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke vpon me ô Lord for thy goodnesse Psal. 25. 6. Deliuer me from all mine offences and make me not a rebuke to the foolish Psal. 39. 9. O teach mee to number my daies that I may apply my heart vnto wisedome Psal. 90. 12. An Admonition to the Sicke THE ANALYSIS Euery good Christian ought to struggle with his infirmities labour to compass his minde to meet patience in sicknesse especially considering that sicknes is 1 His heauenly Fathers visitation whose 1 Power cannot bee resisted 2 Will must be obeyed 3 Goodnesse must bee acknowledged in sending vs good as well as euill 2 A deserued scourge for his sinne 3 Seat in loue to him for his good 1 To weane him from the loue of the world 2 To strengthen the spirit in him and tame the flesh 3 To breed in him a loathing and detestation of sin in generall the cause of all afflictions 4 To call him home and bring him to a sence acknowledgement of his particular sinne 5 To proue the truth and sincerity of his faith and loue 6 To saue him from eternall punishment for his sinne 7 To make him seeke more earnestly to God who will be found of him and if his appointed time bee not come manifest his glory in deliuering him frō the very iawes of death THE TEXTS VVEe haue had Fathers of our flesh which corrected vs and wee gaue them reuerence shall wee not much rather be in subiection to the Father of Spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Who hath euer resisted his wil Rom. 9. 19. He is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3. 21. Hee draweth the mighty with his power he riseth vp and no man is sure of life Iob 24. 21. Will hee pleade against mee with his great power Iob 23. 6. God is greater then man Iob 33. 12. Why doest thou striue against him for hee giueth not account of any of his matters v. 13. Thy will be done c. Mat. 6. 10. Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me Mat 26. 39. Yet not as I will but as thou wilt v. 16. I held my peace because it was thy doing Psal. 39. 10. Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts c. 1 Pet. 3. 11. Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their soules to him in well doing as vnto a faithfull creator 1 Pet. 3. 19. Wee haue receiued good at the hands of God and shall wee not receiue euill Iob 2. 10. Affliction commeth not forth of the dust neither doth trauaile come forth of the ground Iob 5. 6. I will make thee sicke in smiting thee because of thy sinne Micha 6. 13. Man suffereth for his sinne Lam. 3. 39. Wee know that all things worke together for good to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. The heate beate vpon the head of IONAS that he fainted and wished in himselfe to dye and said It is better for me to die then to liue Ionah 4. 8. And ELIAH requested that he might die It is enough Lord take away my life I am no better then my Fathers 1 Kings 19. 4. We that are in this Tabernacle doe groane being burdened 2 Cor. 5. 4. That I should not bee exalted aboue measure there was giuen me a Thorne in the flesh 2 Cor. 12. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for when I am weake then am I strong v. 10 Though our outward man decay our inward man is renewed c. 2 Cor. 4. 16. My wounds stinke and are corrupt through my foolishnesse Psal. 38. 5. vid. Psal. 38. 4. Let vs search and trie our waies and turne againe to the Lord Lam. 3. 40. I truly am set in the Plague and my heauinesse is euer in my sight Psal. 38. 17. I will confesse my wickednesse and be sorrie for my sinne verse 18. The people turneth not to him that smiteth them Isa 9. 13. see Ezra 9. 13. The thing that I so greatly feared is fallen vpon me Iob 3. 25. We haue transgressed and rebelled and thou hast not pardoned Lam. 3. 42. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Iob 13. 15. He shall also be my saluation for an hypocrite shall not stand before him v. 16. And though all this be come vpon vs yet doe we not forget thee nor behaue our selues frowardly in thy couenant Psal. 44. 18. Our heart is not turned backe neither our steps gon out of the way v. 19. No not when thou hast smitten vs into the place of dragons and couered vs with the shadow of death v. 20. We are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. I will bee vnto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a roaring Lyon to the house of Iudah I will teare and goe away Hosea 5. 14. I will goe and returne to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seeke my face In their affliction they will seeke me early v. 15. Hee would haue filled his bellie with the huskes that the swine did eate and no man gaue vnto him Luke 15. 16. And when he came to himself he said How many hired seruants in my Father's house haue meate enough and I perish with hunger v. 17. I will arise and goe to my Father c. v. 18. When in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel and sought him hee was found of them 2 Chron. 15. 4. In wrath or in the middest of iudgement thou remembrest mercy Abak 3. 2. Ikill and make aliue I wound and I heale Deut. 32. 39. The Lord bringeth downe to the graue and bringeth vp 1 Sam. 2. 6. This man was borne blinde that the worke of God might bee shewed in him Ioh. 9. 8. This sicknesse is not vnto death but for the glory of God that the Son of God might bee glorified thereby Ioh. 11. 4. For wee had the Sentence of death in our selues that wee should not trust in our selues but in God that raiseth the dead 2. Cor. 1. 9 10. Who hath deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer in whom wee trust that he will yet deliuer vs ver 11. A Prayer for the Sicke FAithfull Creator and preseruer of all men especially of thine Elect whom thou smitest in mercie and chastenest in loue and correctest in tender compassion and wounding and healing againe killing and reuiuing bringing downe to the gates of hell and raising vp from thence againe Look downe I beseech thee vpon thy poore prostrated seruant grieuously punished and afflicted in body with the smart