made vs when wee were not moulded vs from the dust of the earth an element so base and contemptible to so excellent a perfection to a creature so glorious and admirable as man is not onely the worke of thine owne hands but the Image of thine owne Person from the very iawes of Death and damnation deliuered vs if we wilfully runne not into it againe that in continuing thy blessings day by day vpon vs hast shewed thy selfe to bee our most gratious mercifull and louing Lord and hast hitherto preserued vs by thy powerfull prouidence that we haue drawne out yâ— thrid of our life vnto this time these are thy mercies our God and not our merits giuen vs freely without any desert of ours for the rayment of our backes for the foode of our bellies for the ayre that wee sucke in and breath out for the fashion of our bodyes for the motion of the members thereof for our capability reason the creation of all thy creatures in the world to the vse and subiection of man and so many thy benefites that whatsouer wee expresse the more wee remember yet for all these thou requirest nothing else of vs but that we know and acknowledge thée to be the Lord and giuer thereof what couldest thou require lesse of vs then to acknowledge thee to obey thee to feare thee loue thee and to keepe thy commandements and yâ—t doe wee scant thee of that moitye of thy due that easie taske but the sound of our lippes and yâ— consent of our hearts that so wee might become thy faithfull children and bee made true heires and partakers of thine euerlasting kingdome and reigne with thée for euer Guilty therefore O Lord in this grosse offence wee stand forth to accuse our selues of wonderfull folly and ingratitude hauing stroue as much as in vs lyeth to stoppe the streame of thy mercies that land-comfort to our soules in all our extremities yâ— they should not come néere vs we haue bene carelesse of thy word neither haue wee taken any delight to fulfill thy lawes and Commandements and therefore if thou hadst long agoe as a flower before a Sithe-man mowed vs downe as many more worthy of these blessings then we haue beene and brought vs to the Barre of thy Iudgement and from thence cast vs who are before thy face but as chaffe before the winde or as stubble before the fire into the laks of perdition who is he that could accuse thee of iniustice nay our owne consciences would acquit thee and condemne vs for seeing thou hast sought vs and wee would not bee found it is good reason we should cry vnto thee and finde no mercy But O Lord thy mercies are aboue our iniquities so thou hast spared vs many yeares and past ouer our manifold transgressions as one that were ignorant of them in silence and sorrow in witnesse wherof the heauens with their apparitions siâ—ke of disasters and euents haue bene portenders vnto vs that we might be forewarned the earth vpon her bases proppes and foundations so firmely layed hath of late bene shaken at the aspecte of thine anger and tottered to and fro like a drunken-man thy waters and the whole courses thereof that rowle with indignation vp and downe there channelles beeing tyed within boundes and limittes as the lions in there dens dash themselues with indignation against there dammes there shores stoppes to there fury fixed there by thy word Hetherto shalt thou passe and no further haue of late by thy sufferance borne downe there keepers many yeares and sweld higher then there brinkes and in there mercilesse furies prey'd vpon whole countries leauing nothing but desolation behind them and all for our sins and forwarnings besides thy threatning vs by drought famine and pestilence the fearfull denuntiation of thy word applied vnto our guilty consciences that so perceyuing thine anger we might feare and be saued euen so I Lord as thou hast bene gratious in forewarning vs by these so giue vs grace that we may be forewarned by them that in time we may repent and turne from our wicked wayes and no longer abuse thy patience but run vnto thee in repentance and humility that so we may be saued in the day of thy appearance which so worke in vs that ouercome at length with thy goodnesse patience we may no longer delaye to aske councell of thee and thy holy word what we ought to forbeare and what we ought to follow that we be not pufâ— vp with prosperity nor to much deiected in sickenesse and aduersity that we may despaire of our selues the helpe of our owne haÌ„des but may expect all things from thy goodnesse that we put not our confidence in transitory things but wholy relye vpon thee thy promises Blesse this famely O Lord and euery member thereof blesse also our parentes and frendes according to the flesh and nature and continue thy blessed word vnto vs and to our posterities after vs euen vnto the ends of the world for thy dearly beloued sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiours sake into whose handes and protection we commend our soules and our bodies this euening and the rest of our liues the were bought and redeemed with his most deare pretious bloud whose acceptance he graunt for his owne deare sake Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme ô Lord be stil our defence thy mercy and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towardes vs and this night and euermore vouchsafe to send vs thy euerlasting peace Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with vs all euermore Amen A prayer to God for the forgiuenes of sins MOst holy most iust most mercifull and omnipotent God thou alone doest punish and no man can releiue thou alone doest chastice and no man can controwle thou alone doest saue and no man can condemne thou bringest to the graue and bringest backe againe pardon I beseech thee my sins more in number then the drops in the sea then the starres in the firmament and purge my corruption beyond bound without measure looke not vpon my merits for they are none at all for the purity of mankind is defiled in sinne wherefore to mee O Lord to me thy poore seruant belongeth nothing but shame and confusion but to thee is mercy and iudgement and glory inherent destroy not I humbly intreat good father of mercy the creation and frame and composition of thine owne haÌ„ds deâ—ace not the image wherein thou thy selfe art so liuely portrayed but haste to comfort me make thy corrections my instructions that in patience awhile I may heare possesse my soule and
inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
conscience shal not disquiet and the deuill driue thee to despaire in so that thou canst not truly repent and late repentance is seldome true repentance and besides it stands not with the Lords honour to be so often shaken off when he would lodge with vs and how many in these thoughtes haue perished suddainly preuented by death of their expectation preparation proposed if notwithstaÌ„ding all this that neither consideration nor perswasion can moue vs to be early wise for our owne good the good of our soules let vs know if we deferre our repentance to the last iudgement shall but iustly requite vs if eyther death do strangle vs before we speake or the wrath of God rebound vpon vs when we haue gone out and wept betterly wept our fill therfore I say againe preuent it lest thou be preuented by it and frustrated of they expectation cast from the fauour of God thou be condemned for euer to that lake that burnes with fire brimstone the terror and torture thereof as inexplicable as vnsufferable which cannot be indured and yet must be induâ—ed without ceasing or determinatioÌ„ By this we are now resolued we must die either in youth or in age at one seasoÌ„ or at another the cannoÌ„ decree so direct to all that no one shall euer find an euasion the sonne of God himselfe hauing taken our nature vpon him was not exempted but died was layed in the bowels of the earth to sweeten it to all mankind we know in regard of our time we haue but a short time to liue and that short not sweet but full of mysery we know that as we liue so we shal die according to that ancient true sentence Qualis vita finis ita vt cecideris itâ— eris and as we die so shall we rise to iudgement we know that our sins of Omission and Commission of desire consent our thoughtes and our deedes shall be brought vnto iudgement with vs we must render an account of our idle wordes if so no maruell that the scripture telleth vs when these all in vs and all in all of vs are let loose at liberty without any restaint or reckoning That many are called but few are chosen And wee know that wee haue broken all thy Commandements and the breach of the least is eternall damnation These things considered and daily and seriously layd to heart which concernes the well-fare of euery Christian what cause haue wee but to mourne and sorrow For what will it profite a man to winne all the world to enioy all the riches and pleasures thereof and to loose his owne Soule And if wee stand vpon pleasure what pleasure is like vnto this To lay vp Treasure in Heauen which the moath shall not corrupt nor theeues breake through and steale to walke in the paths of the Lord all the dayes of our life to liue in his feare that we may dye in his fauour that at the last day wee may stand with confidence vnshaken when the wicked shall tremble at his presence like Popler in the Forrest What are all the pleasures of this world but Vanity but vanity and vexation of the minde and there is no true content vnder the Sunne And in their passage which is very sudden they leaue a kinde of sting behinde them and there besides is more griefe in a little sorrow then content in a great deale of pleasure And this is the sowre reckoning that euer killes the sweete welcome of all earthly pleasure And therfore once againe if wee stand vpon pleasure what pleasure is like vnto this and the more pleasant because the more secure to thinke how sweete that breath that flowes from the lippes of our Sauiour shall bee vnto vs aboue Myrrh and Cassia Come you blessed I was hungry and you fed mee I was naked and you câ—oathed mee inherâ—te the Kingdome of my Father prepared for you from the beginning On the other side the thought of that heauy Sentence the thought imagination whereof like the vpper and the neather Mill-stone is able to câ—ush and grinde in peeces all the pleasures of the world and the sensuall appetites thereof and to throw them into the ayre like Chaffe against the winde that indanger or bring vs within the compasse thereof The tenor whereof shall be more grieuous against whom it is pronounced that day then all the pleasures of the world in the fullest sayle were euer contentiue Ite Maledicti Goe you cursed descend to the lake of perdition you that haue had your portion in this world Purple and fine Linnen and fared dilitiousoy euery day that haue neglected me in my members in charity and pitty and in deedes of mercy that beeing hungry gaue mee no foode and beeing naked gaue mee no rayment Will this bee the answere of Christ at that day to those that to him in his persecuted and afflicted members denyed their releefe when they therewith plainly euicted excuses shall craue mercy at his handes and shall not obtaine it Si in igne ardebit qui non dedit propria sua vbi ardebit qui surripiat aliena Si sterilitas in ignem mittitur rapacitas quid merebitur All the sonnes and daughters of men in the world from Adam the first man of the race to the last that shall stand vpon the earth shall to their ioy or griefe receiue one of these two sentences Then If Let vs all therfore labour to be partakers of the best of the blest and that wee may let vs serue him in loue For Seruire eo regnare est his seruice is perfect freedome Let vs obey him in feare for The feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome Let vs be acquainted with him in this world that wee may not bee as strangers and aliants to him in the world to come Let vs heare him when hee speakes vnto vs and not with our eares stopped passe by him like the deafe Adder not regarding the Voyce of the Charmer charme hee neuer so wisely lest the Prophets and Preachers of the Word the Law and the Gospell our Parents and Tutors our owne Consciences consenting and witnessing thereunto send vs vnto the Iudgement seat of GOD with this Inscription written on our Fore-heads Noâ—â—erunt iâ—cantari they would not be charmed they would not bee acquainted Let vs not waste our time and weigh â—t not heape vp sinne and feare it not awake GODS wrath and sorrow not lye fettered in death and struggle not slippe into the Graue and see it not least wee perish and preuent it not And let vs not haue lesse regard of our time then wee haue of our treasure which we somtimes reckon by graine and weight that wee reserue with heede and care imploy with diligence and fore-cast and let that passe a thousand times more pretious without Arithmetike and Ballance thought or regard Let not the slashes of vaine-glory that flye through the world like lightening and the subtile plots and
before we vtter them going vnto him that calles come vnto me all you that trauell and are heauen loaden and I will refresh you To him therefore let vs goe to him let vs send vp these trusty embassadours our Prayers Prayer the sweet cesterne and conduite of grace by the which all the benefits and guiftes in that heauenly treasure-house are cōtinued reserued and renued vnto vs. Prayer the keye that opens where no man shuts and shuttes where no man can open that enters where no man hath passage and returnes where no man can hinder Prayer the life of the soule when being perplexed with such griefe of hart as neyther Wine nor strong drinke according to the aduise of Salomon can comfort her misery hauing no word to speake nor comfort to apply when it is day wishing for nightes approach and when it is night saying to her selfe when shall it be morning how euer the season no comfort succeeding neither by light nor darkenesse nor in any worldly felicitye wishing as often as shee openeth her lips and draweth in breath into her nostrils if God were as hasty to fulfill as she to desire O that thou wouldest hide me in the graue and keepe mee secret vntill thy wrath were past Iob. 14. yet then euen then she assumeth the winges of a doue the motion and agility of the spirit of God she flyeth by the strength of her Prayers into the bosome of Gods mercy and there like the arke vpon the mountaines of Armenia is at rest Therefore if any be afflicted let him pray let vs not presume in the height of our prosperity with Dauid to say as hee did I shall neuer be remoued thou Lord of thy goodnesse hast made my hill so strong least with him we suddainly shall see a change Thou diddest but hide thy face and I was sore troubled then cryed I vnto the Lord and prayed vnto my God saying what profit is there in my blood Psal 20. therefore let him that standes take good heed that he doe not fall let vs put our confidence in the Lord our God and pray vnto him and to none other neither let vs presume vpon our selues nor any earthly meanes beside for her was neuer contemplation exercise or any kinde study in the world so acceptable to the maiestie of God so gratious in his sight so linked and true a friend to him that makes vse of it as prayer is It waketh in the night season it restes not in the day it forsaketh vs not by land nor by sea in health nor in sicknesse in prosperity nor in aduersity in weale nor in woe liuing nor dying it is our last friend and most indissoluble companion Let vs therefore loue it and therefore let vs vse it There was neuer name in heauen or earth so worthy to bee called vpon so mighty for deliuerance so puissant for protection so gainfull for successe so compendious to abridge vnnecessary labours as the name of IEHOVAH our most mercifull Father and the image of his countenance Iesus Christ Therefore to the Lord there was neuer Sanctuary so free for Transgessors in the strongest priuiledge neuer such safety neuer holes in the rocke so open for the doues of the field the armes of any mother so open to her childe as the bowels of Gods compassion to all faithfull beleeuers Therefore to him and therefore faithfully and in that method fitnesse and propriety as Thomas hauing the obiect of his prayer before his eyes euen Christ Iesus my Lord and my God There was neuer creature liuing vnder the line of the Sun that saw not affliction in his dayes neuer was there any to whom affliction was not grieuous and irke-some yet neuer was there affliction so great but it hath beene vnder the correction of the Lord whose hand hath beene able to maister it Therefore to euery affliction as they come in seuerall kindes for our seuerall sins and transgressions so our prayers must bee seuerall and framed and fitted thereunto and powred forth both with wisedome and zeale that they come not harshly vndigested to those eares that can both sift and try the one and the other the delicasie and tendernesse whereof must bee wisely intreated and the fauour of his countenance carefully sought after the example of him that knew in his soule that a faint and dissembled prayer would returne empty into the bosome of him that sent it vp But a broken and contrite spirit the Lord would not despise neuer sent vp his petitions but with the deepest affection and zeale of his minde with the most sincere integrity and meditated zeale that might be for Euery night washt he his bed and watered his Couch with teares the bloud of the soule and the wine of Angels the pretious and significant pearles of contrition that preuaile without words and effect where words faile And therefore feruently after his example that thou mayst haue the force of two tongues in thy suit the better to speed And to auoyd the malediction which thou mayst else receiue in stead of a blessing for cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently And as we may learn precepts and draw many excellent examples from the lines of the heathē Philosophers writers so here to this wee may learne a zeale in our prayers euen of those wodden Priests K. 1. 18. of whom it is written that they called vpon the name of Baal frō morning to noone and when they had no answere they cryed aloud nay they cut themselues with kniues till the bloud flowed so they prayed not onely in teares but in bloud and shall not wee the children of the light bee as zealous in our generation And frō the agony zeale of the son of Righteousnesse that in the daies of his flesh offered vp prayers supplications with strong cryes teares to him that was able to helpe him learne to adresse our selues in our necessities of whom the Gospel further declares not only that he kneeled at the naming of whose name all knees haue bowed both in heauen earth and vnder the earth but that he fell vpon the ground the footstoole of his owne maiesty and lay vpon that face that neuer Angell beheld without reuerence and when he had prayed before hee prayed more earnestly as the Scriptures record hee once prayed and departed and a second time and yet a third time departed and departed euermore vsing the same petitions his prayer ascending by degrees like incense and perfume and not onely his lippes went but his agony and contention within was so great that an Angell was sent from heauen to comfort him and with the trouble of his soule sweat like droppes of bloud trickling downe to the ground Let vs not therefore offer vp this sacrifice but remēber this blessed example of this our blessed sauiour in our imitation that they may be blessed in their speed and we in their successe and not to vtter them remisse and carelesse as if our spirites
Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
finger of thy good spirit I am bold to speake beeing but dust ashes prostrated before the throne of thy maiesty hartely to beseech and humbly intreate thee that thou wilt not deale with mee according to my deserts for then O Lord where should I stand to plead my case fire and brimstone should bee my portion to drinke that haue drunke downe sinnne as Behemoth drinketh downe water but thou art gracious compassionate therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I seeke for refuge desiring thee to naile all my sinnes to thy crosse that through thy sufferings I may obtaine remission thereof I am a sinner yet redeemed by thy pretious bloud a sinner I am remember thou camest into the world to saue sinners wherof I am chiefe lost in a wildernesse of errours wandring from thy presence helpe me O Lord or else who can deliuer me saue mee O Lord or else I perish for there is no redemption no saluation without thee heare him O Lord that coÌ„demneth himselfe caleth vpon thee O Sauiour whom wilt thou saue if yâ— sinner shall descend to perdition that dispaireth of himselfe and trusteth in thee O blessed Sauiour and Redeemer of the world aswage my griefe heale my diseases thou hast called me when I like the deafe Adder would not heare thy voyce wilt thou then turne away thy face when my cryes come vnto thee wilt thou suffer that to bee lost which thou purchasest at so deere a prise No Lord for thy mercies sake for thine owne sake sweet Iesus Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it MErciful God and most louing father what may I render vnto thee for all thy benefits more in number then the moaths in the sunne or the sands by the sea-shore that hast made to be when I was not predestinated mee from yâ— beginning of the world to be in due time and season protected me in my mothers wombe carefully taken me out from thence euer since been my guardian to these years of my youth for all these thou requirest nought but thankfulnesse towards thee and remembrance of thee in my yonger yeares capacities and shall I neglect and deferre then to giue thee the gifts of thine owne giuing shall I giue the first of my life and best of mine yeares the strength and marrow of my dayes to the seruice of Sathan and think that thou wilt receiue me in my hoary age when sinne leaues me and I not it Good Lord wipe all such ingratitude out of my mind that I may with a present ioy felicity in thee imbrace thee in due time in some measure which hast done suffered so many things for my soule and body put farre from me O Lord the thoughts and imaginations of wicked men that vpon thy long suffering patience passe ouer their daies in mirth and iollity and thinke their latest yeares or last gaspes sufficient satisfaction for a lewd and long mis-spended life Thy father thy mother in the dayes of thy humanity loosing thee in the temple went but one dayes Iourney without thee but sought thee 3. dayes sorrowing before they found thee Hee yâ— hath lost thee many years must haue many yeares to finde thee againe and late and constrained repentance is seldome true repentance our time is not when wee our selues will but when God doth call heare wee must when he speaketh open we must when he knocketh else wee shall powre out our petitioÌ„s in vaine for when wee pray hee will not heare vs the first and best is his due more then we can giue or he expects and the last worst is not sufficient and hee iustly may and will reiect it Grant therefore mercifull Father that thy word may worke in vs so free and voluntary obedience to thy will that thou mayst accept it which in vs is willing subiection not by thy iudgements which is constrained obedience for feare of distruction which thou litle regardest O Lord take from me that common and dangerous sin of presumption presumption of thy mercies that thou desirest not the damnation of sinners that our yeares youth obseruation of diet curiosity of our health will carry vs to the lâ—st yeares of our expectation and when we draw neere to our end that then safely enough we may begin to thinke vpon thee all in due season And thus make presumption the rocke whereupon we shipwracke our soules and by the which many millions haue perished it drowned the old world it threw the rich glutton into hell Lord make my sence vnderstanding as a bulwark to beat back all the policies and assaults that Sathan can deuise to beat against with that engine that to day I may heare thy voice lest thou harden my heart And if I will deferre vpon hope and example make me that I rather feare the portion of the bad Thiefe then the successe of the good and let me not reâ—use thy grace in my health wheÌ„ thou offerest it lest when I shall craue it in my sicknesse thou refuse to giue it mee Touch mee O Lord with a consideration of the danger thereof that in time I may haue grace to call for thy grace to preuent it that I may now amend and not deferre till hereafter to the end to my death when there is no remedy but either I must to heauen or to hell to God or to the deuill and when that comfort is seldome found which presumptuously was imagined when the memory presentes fantasies and dreames the harte akes the handes tremblâ— the tongue faltereth the eyes wax dim checkes pale lips blacke feet weake and the whole body and soule possessed with anguish and griefe and terrour what repentance shall we then make when our sinnes are so great they ouer-presse vs our comfort so small that we haue noe feeling of it our time so short that we cannot thinke of them our friends weeping that they put vs out of them amasement distraction peeping wildly throughout all our sences miserable is that man in this case whose end and repentance comes so neare together-therefore Lord whatsoeuer at the time of my death I would wish to haue done grant that in this time of my health I may doe it and Lord make me vnderstaÌ„ding capable so wise in my generation so gratious in thy grace that foreknowing these things I may preuent them that with the wise virgines I may euer haue the oyle in my lampe that is bee in readinesse to goe with thee whensoeuer it please thee that now I heare thy voice when thou speakest vnto me be acquainted with thee that thou bee no stranger vnto me but a friend and a friend indeed as at all times so especially at this exigent last extremity which how long it may be I will not presume nor how short it may be dispaire but prepare my selfe against it my readinesse being my resolution that whensoeuer it
the feild and we â—eed not only our selues but our oxen in our meadowes and stalles to feed our vnprofitable carcasses our horses in the stable to beare our vnprofitable carkasses when the poore in our streetes at our gates feed vpoÌ„ empty aire for lacke of sustenance we remeÌ„ber not theÌ„ not Christ in them the hungereth and Christ the must feed vs which is the aduocate for the poore yâ— iudge of the rich in this obliuion and height of our sins what is become of humility of repentance we are all begotten in sin and to misery are we brought forth coÌ„cupiscence hath bene the nurse whose milke wee haue sucked from time to time as we haue growne in yeares so hath corruptioÌ„ growne vp with vs as part of our owne nature what remayneth theÌ„ O Lord for vs but humility repeÌ„taÌ„ce to prostrate our selues vpon the knees of our harts and say Lord haue mercy vpoÌ„ sinners with the poore publican not with yâ— proud Pharise to say I am not like this maÌ„ or other my brethren for I doe thus and so let vs not be so mad as to forget nature so much all our imperfections the substance and mettall whereof wee are made and that we must suddenly turne to the earth vpon which now we trample with such contempt and scorne and must become chamberers and fellowes with wormes and rotlennesse and what cause haue wee then to be proud Nay what cause haue wee not to bee humble when of all the large possessions and inheritances wee possesse wee haue no more truely our own then the length and bredth of our Carkasses And againe let vs humble our selues that Christ may exalt vs and not exalt our selues lest hee throw vs downe as hee scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts Let vs learne of him to bee humble and meeke which although the King of heauen and earth hauing all power and preheminence and proud in subiection vnder his feet yet was not touched with this vice himselfe that chose poore Fisher-men to bee his Disciples payd tribute to his inferiours rode vpon an asse praied for his Persecutors imbraced yong children cured the halt and the lame and the blinde and regarded the low estate of his Handmaid and will regard vs if wee regard this vertue which hee so regarded if wee be imitators of his steps and examples which hee grant that hath thus led the way the God the King the Prince of humility for his own deere sake Amen The liuing words in effect of a dying man closed vp in this vertue I Vnto thy hands O Lord I commend my soule and body prostrate in all humility and obedience to thy good will and pleasure Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon thy humble and prostrate seruant The summe of the Prayer of the Lady G. at the time of her execution VVIllingly and ioyfully O Lord come I hither into thy hands to resigne my soule and body in whose protection I trust they shall bee safer and better then in this life although in the best measure they euer were giue vnto me my God thy poore and weake seruant and vessell patience constancy and strength to vndergo this my sentence of death strengthen the frailty of my sex in the act of this my suffering and though I dye for that I neuer of my selfe desired yet howsoeuer lest any sinne in the least consent or thought hath defiled my purity therein for it pardon me my God and blot it out of the booke of thy remembrance and not onely that but the whole course thereof throughout my whole life that my soule with the wings of faith in thy mercy may cheerefully ascend to thy blessed kingdome And so preparing her selfe to dye with these words rendred her life Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit A generall Thankesgiuing to God for all his benefites and mercies to man O Eternall God in Christ Iesus most gracious and mercifull for all thy blessings both temporall and spirituall bestowed vpon me the least of thy seruants and most vnworthy to cast vp mine eyes to thy heauenly Tabernacle where thou reignest in glory doe I yeild all possible hearty thanks vnto thy diuine Maiesty for all thy blessings and mercies bestowed vpon me especially for the singular benefite of my Iustification and the admirable gift of eternall saluation purchased by the righteousnesse and deerest life of thy beloued Son Christ Iesus my Sauiour My lot is fallen in a pleasant place well is me and yet woe is mee because it is and I vnderstand it not hast thou beene fauourable vnto all thy creatures in the world or hast thou neglected others and beene mindfull of me Good Lord why shouldest thou bestow thy health thy wealth thy rest and liberty aduancements friends possessions Children like the Oliue Oliue branches and their trees for me them to repose securely vnder Why shouldest thou I say bestow these blessings vpon me more then vpon others I can giue no reason for it but stand wondring and admiring thy mercy which is the cause of it and if thou shouldest take a suruey of my worthinesse to enioy all these at thy hands and finding mee so vnworthy as I am of the least shouldest withdraw them all backe againe what could I say but commend thy iustice Haue I deserued liberty and Ioseph thy seruant deserued bonds Haue I deserued rest and thy Dauid to bee tost to and fro vpon his watery couch day and night to haue the sonne of his owne loynes and the loynes of his owne body rebelling against him Hath thy Lazarus deserued to lye at the gates afflicted in body minde crauing but crums wherewithall to be refreshed and I like the rich man whose dogges more merciful theÌ„ their maister came and licked his sores sitting at my table furnished with abundance like his Haue I deserued health and thy Iob to lye full of botches and biles vpon the dung-hill Are these thy blessed seruants tried in the furnace of affliction layd in the throat of hell and am I wrapt vp into Abrahams bosome haue I their portion and do they stand at reward or sent empty Why my soule is it so well with thee mercy aboundance of mercy and why art thou so ill my soule O mercy yet most wretched sinner that I am haue I not in a Christian loue and godly nature beene moued to serue thee in a larger measure considering these thy benefites vpon mee so largely multiplyed then the poore and persecuted Children that neuer tasted thy mercy but in imitation of their misery Continue O Lord this thy goodnesse vnto me and the more to perswade thee thereunto lift my heart and spirit out of this dull and earthly Center wherein it moueth to the meditation of thée and these thy mercies with a thankfull retribution of all my thoughts and affections to thée from whence they come that I may euer serue thee from this hower with those dutyes which the world the flesh and
the Diuell would haue me deser vntill the point of death and good father grant that I may loue righteousnesse and pitty with as great good will as euer I loued wickednesse and vanity and that I may go before other in thankfulnesse towards thee as farre as thou goest in mercy to mee before them O teach mee to seeke thee in all things and all things in thee euen for thy name sake for thy promise sake for thy Sonnes sake our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus A Thankesgiuing before meate TO thee O Lord the giuer of al good gifts vpon whose bounty and mercy depend all the creatures in the world which openest thy hand and fillest vs with thy blessings or wee goe empty away and perish Thy bounty and goodnesse it is O Lord that furnisheth our backs and feedeth our bellyes and spreadeth our tables blesseth preserueth and vpholdeth all that we haue our basket and our store the oyle in our cruses prouision in our presses the sheep in our foldes in our stables the children in the wombe at our tables the corne in our fields in our floores and garners and all that wee haue or is in the ayre in the earth in the sea or wheresoeuer else the least of which thy good gifts and blessings let vs not at this time nor no time else presume to touch make vse or enioy without an awfull reuerence and respect to thee the author and owner thereof Sanctifie therefore we beséech thée at this time them vnto vs and vs in them so that thy name may bee glorified and our bodies comforted through Iesus Christ Amen Thanksgiuing after meate DEere Father wee render mâ—st humble and hearty thankes vnto thee as is most meet requisite for all thy former benefits good creatures ordained giuen to our vse sacrificed ready to be sacrificed euery day for our pleasures so now at this time for the large competent satisfaction thou hast bestowed vpon vs to the refreshing of our weake fainting bodyes So good Lord as thou hast beene gracious vnto vs in breaking this thy corporall and materiall bread vnto vs at this time to the food of our bodies so likewise giue thy Spirituall bread vnto our soules in that abundant measure that the more they eate and drinke thereof the more they may hunger thirst after thee to fulfill thy precepts to walke in thy commandements and to do the workes of charity and mercy towards others to whom thy bounty hath in some measure bene restrained which grant most mercifull Father for thy mercies sake Amen Before Meate TO thee the Author of our beeing Before the world our time fore-seeing The time approach't thou hadst decreed That thought did cease effect succced Into the world poore naked bare We were brought forth nurst by thy care Of whom ere since we begge and craue For food for rayment all we haue Blesse these thy gifts wee shall receiue Shall feed shall taste of by thy leaue And all things else what ere it bee That thou shalt send that come from thee Blesse soule and body basket store Our health our wealth our rich poore What ere we doe so blesse the same That stil our mouths may praise thy name Thy Church king God saue blesse And grace from heauen so send That we may liue a happy life And make a godâ—y end After Meate OVr bodyes thus refresh't and fed Whom thou do'st daily fill So let our liues be spent and led According to thy will And as thou break'st thy earthly bread Vnto our mortall hands So breake that bread vnto our soules Whereon our well-fare stands For as the body doth decay Doth languish and complaine From food and nourishment debar'd That doth her state maintaine So will the soule and all her powers Dry wither parch and perâ—sh If that thy grace which is her life Refresh not feed and chorish Lord therefore stretch thy mighty hand And let thy loue appeare In feeding this in filling that In holding both so deare That when we leaue this wicked world Whose pleasure is but paine In peace and rest in heauen with thee We euermore may raigne Amen Certaine Rules and Precepts for the good ordering and gouernment of a mans life 1 IN the morning wheÌ„ thou first awakest blesse God giue him thankes for his carefull protection and watching ouer thee for the quyet rest and sleepe hee hath bestowed vpon thee to the refreshing of thy body and the renuing of thy minde but be sure that he haue the first place in thy heart 2 Call to minde all thy businesse for the day following and to thy selfe propose to the effecting thereof a good order method euer thinke of the end before thou vndertake any thing and to all thy honest intents indeuours craue the direction of God and his assistance otherwise thou toylest in vaine and thy labours will not prosper 3 As for the successe and effecting of thy businesse so before thou setst thy foot out of doores put God againe in minde of thy person implore his assistance protection ouer thee knowing that many a one hath gone out of his house neuer come in againe and that so it may befall thee if he preuent it not 4 At the euening when thou retirest thy selfe call to minde what thou hast effected what thou hast neglected what euill thou hast healed that day what vice thou hast stood against in what part thou art bettered and as thou went iâ— out in his feare so returne in his fauour giuing him thankes for the ability and motion of thy body in the accomplishment of thy affaires for of our selues we are not able to lift our hands to head food to our mouths therfore by his goodnesse sufferance we haue all and enioy all that we haue 5 If thou hast neglected any duty wherein thou mayst haue pleasured thy brother not indaÌ„gered thy selfe any coÌ„mon curtesie that by the law of nature one man is bound vnto another Cor. 11. 13. If thou hast offended any man by deed or by word by instigation or procurment call them to mind condemne thy selfe therein be sorry therfore and before thou seek to giue thy body any rest rest not till thou hast sought a pardon at the hands of God which will neuer be granted but vpon this condition That thou be hartely sorry for the same and purpose in thine heart neuer to offend in that kinde againe 6 When thou preparest thy selfe to bed likewise prepare thy selfe as for thy graue remembring that many go to bed neuer rise againe till they be raised w e the sound of the last trumâ—et and for ought thou knowest the thing so often resembled therby may now be ready for thée For vt somnus mortis sic lectus Imago sepulcri the number of thy dayes expired thou must passe from the land of the liuing in yâ— moment or howsouer there is one of thy number spent and yâ— art
restraine vs from it if the sonnes of men shall take the deuill at his word as the Son of God did not and for the glory of the world which hee shall shew and cannot giue shall fall downe and worship him if hee shew honour preferment pleasure riches saying all these will I giue thee though the Minions and Louers of the world that seeke for their heauen vpon earth shall be ready to betray their soules as Iudas betrayed Christ with their hayle Maister shall bee ready to embrace him to serue him to serue themselues yet with the Sonne of God Math. 16. 20. after his fasting bee thou so strong in thy strength as hee was in his weaknesse to bid him depart and to say him nay For it is but a bitter recompence to buy the pleasures at so deere a rate as at the prise of thy soule in thy euerlasting confusion for a short and fading life and but the length of a spanne if thou thinke it more take the counters into thy hand and see what reckoning thou canst make of it what is past grieueth thee with the remembrance thereof because so much of thy time is spent what is present burtheneth thee with the waight therof because in sweate and sorrow study and trauel thou dost wast thy time what is to come troubleth thee with the vncertainety of it least the graue do swallow thee before thou see it yea make thy account as as thou oughtest and thou shalt finde it swifter then the Weauers shuttle Iob. 7. 6. and speedier then a post on the wings of the winde Iob. 9. 25. Then in consideration of this and whatsoeuer hath bene spoken to the vncloathing of our nakednes and humbling vs before God to the pulling off of our roabes of leuity and lightnesse and the preparing our bodies to the graue and our soules to this insuing exercise whether to the daunting of all flesh all must come and the houre may bee neere but it cannot bee farre off and howsoeuer wee forget it it will bee sure to remember vs and therefore let vs know that here as Pilgrimes and strangers wee wander hauing no abiding Citty but wee seeke for one to come but wee must not seek to find it here nor suffer the vaine applause of the world and the vainer conceit of our selues to make vs forget where we liue what we are of our selues being but as a tree turned vpwards hauing no sap from the earth but refreshed and moistened with the dew of heauen let vs so husband our iourney that wee misse not the Citty we seek for let vs so runne our race that we obtaine the victory and reward we runne for and therefore if thou expect in thy labour blessing in thy peace continuance in affliction comfort in thy death triumph in thy iudgement ioy respect in thy life sobriety in thy calling honesty in thy pleasures iudgement in thy sorrowes mercy in thy life religion For if God bee not with thee to direct thee that thou stray not to correct thee that thou presume not to sustaine thee that thou famish not to pardon thee that thou despaire not to support thee that thou stumble not to strengthen thee that thou fall not and to sanctifie thee that thou sinne not and to glorifie thee that thou perish not If the Lord throughout the whole course of thy life and in thy death bee not present and powerfull to thee thou faintest in the one and failest in the other and desperation inuironeth thee on euery side for where the Lord keepeth not watch or turneth away his face all the miseries in the world lay their siedge therefore to him let vs day and night send vp our supplications and prayers without ceasing like incense into the aire to continue what we haue and giue vs what wee want to support vs by his grace to direct vs by his Spirit and so lead vs through this exemplary world of sinne and wickednes with our eys so looking forward fixed on him that wee let not temptations in at their windowes so captiuating our desires vnto his will that with Lot wee may bee righteous in a Citty in a world of vncleanesse that so wee may saue our soules at the last though wee loose all the pleasures in the world besides the losse whereof would more reioyce Sathan then hee sorroweth for the damnation of his owne which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Of the Force the vse and necessity of Prayer SInce all the dayes and howers of the life of man the consumers of the world the measurers of time it selfe are the subiects succeeders of the Lords owne handes and by him only lent to thy vse be not thou then so vnnaturall against the Lord the owner thereof and against thine owne good as not sometimes to lend him some of his owne howers to his seruice for thine owne good Amongst the many perturbations and troubles of this life as sickenes imprisonment losse of frendes vexation of spirit wrought by the bretheren with vs of the same inheritance in the portion of the same infirmitie from the loynes of our first parent Adam The world in Rebellion offering diuers assaultes against the peace and tranquility of her children and nothing to be found vnder the sunne but Vanity and vexation of Spirit The vnrulye passions and affections of our owne nature and the head-strong lustes of the flesh and the concupiscence thereof euer at enmity with the spirit euer readye to intangle vs in the snares of sinne and death our pronenes vnto euill and our backwardnesse vnto good The Many that are called and the few that are chosen the certainty of our death the vncertainty of the time when or the manner how the fearfull account that must be rendered vnto thee at the day of thy appearing in Maiestie and power to iudge both the liuing and those that are departed the consideration whereof in the hart of a Christian toucht with the least finger of his grace that can heale all our infirmities will call him aside into his retired clofset or chamber where he may not only find ease for his body but ease also for his soule and spirit within him by calling to mind the promises of God the largenesse of his loue the extention of his fauour the inheritance layed vp the kingdome prepared from the beginning the peace and rest euerlasting which no distraction tumult nor vexation shall annoye which by the ouer-eager pursuit of our affections and loue to this world which is but a sea subiect to all passions and Mare amarum a bitter sea with all kind of myserie we may lose if we take not heed And being so with-drawne with most prostrat humylitie and obedience we may sacrifice the good thoughts of the spirit and send vp prayers like the smoke of incense into the ayre laying our mouthes to the eares of that wisedome that knoweth our wantes better then we vnderstand them our selues be we new so afflicted
and tongues were strangers ignorant of eithers purpose the lippes babling without the heart no compunction within honouring God with our mouthes but our spirits farre from him our hearts not bleeding whose droppes should be heard and pittied our Altar without fire prayer without heat words without intention suppliancy of the body without the harmony and consent of the inward man And as they must bee zealous so directed to him alone for neither to Angels nor Saints Mediators or Friends one or other greater or lesser in heauen or in earth they are not due are not to be offered but to the eares of him and his annoynted after the example of so many both ancient righteous Patriarks Prophets Iudges Kings recorded in the booke of God and in an hundred and fifty Psalmes a hundred whereof at the least are prayers and supplications and in all the deuout requests that the Apostles of Christ and other his Disciples sent into heauen to him alone and his blessed Sonne our Sauiour without intercession or request to any other And by the example of that Kingly Prophet in the 86. Psalme Bow downe thine eare vnto mee I am poore and needy my distresse requireth thy helpe Bee mercifull vnto mee O Lord I cry vnto thee continually Reioyce the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee O Lord doe I lift my Soule VVhom haue I in Heauen but thee and in earth that I desire in comparison of thee But it is good for mee to hold mee fast by God to put my trust in the Lord God c. Psalm 73. And to whom wee must not onely pray with zeale and desire but with fitnesse and congruity and application vnto our seuerall necessities as for the generall blessings and benefites of God there must bee generall thankesgiuings for sins in generall generall confessions ancient and vsuall formes of prayer for ancient and vsuall occurrences we may take vnto vs words as the Prophet Hosea speaketh and say vnto the Lord at all times Take away all iniquity and receiue vs graciously so will we render the calues of our lippes But as the diuersity of our sinnes our newnesse and strangenesse and abhominations therin shall pull from the Iudgement seate of God new and varyed and diuâ—rsâ—â—y of punishments and iudgements therefore so wee must accordingly vary our prayers and speake in the language of their necessity In time of plague or infection sicknesse and mortality our prayers must bee to God that hee would stay and sheath vp the sword in the hand of his deuouring Angell that on euery side strikes downe to the graue emptying houses and streetes to fill vp Church-yardes and vaults making them a meâ—hridate or preseruatiue against the Contagion and danger thereof which indeed is the souerainest restoratiue vnder heauen to make sound againe what sinne hath hurt and wounded acknowledging with a sorrow from our hearts that our sinnes haue procuâ—ed â—t and the hand of GOD most iustly inflicteth it therefore acknowledging the original cause thereof to proceede more ouâ— of our owne corruption and nature then the aire or any other secundary cause beseeching his maiestie as Phinees did that the plague may cease and that hee will visite no longer with that kinde of iudgement If a barrennesse possesse the land leanenesse and scarsity and famine dwell vpon her borders so that the Children thereof cry for bread and swoone as they go in the streetes for food we must pray in another stile that the Lord will vouchsafe to heare the Heauens againe that the Heauens may heare the Earth the Earth the Corne and VVine and Oyle And these Israell and all other his distressed people Hosea 2 and that hee will visite no longer with this kinde of iudgement If the enemy shall threaten our Land to inuade our Territories to make a deuastation spoyle and hauocke of all that wee haue that may fall in his way saying Come wee will deuoure wee will deuoure the name of Syon shall bee no more had in remembrance Ioel. 2. Wee must addresse our petitions to the Lord in another key and forme of Supplication Spare thy people O Lord and giue not thy heritage to reproach that the Heathen shall rule ouer them VVherefore should they say amongst thy people VVhere is now their GOD O cease to visite thy seruant with this kinde of iudgement If the cloudes yeeld not their moisture vpon our fruites vpon earth so that the labour of our handes and the fat of our fieldes perish through sterility and drought Still as the Plagues are new so let vs come before him with new Complaints new Songs new Intercessions and Obsecrations meekly Kneeling before the Lord our maker lowly prostrate at the footstoole of his mercy that these iudgements may bee diuerted and turned away from vs. Thus did that great patterne of wisedome and experience Salomon whose foote-steppes are worthy our imitation beseeching the Lord that when the people should pray vnto him according to their seuerall necessities whether afflicted with the assault of their eneâ—y or with want or superfluity of raine with pestilence famine or mill-dew captiuity or any other affliction either in body or in minde he would then in heauen heare their complaints vpon earth and bee mercifull vnto them And as our prayers will not ascend vnlesse faith and deuotion beare them vp nor will speede vnlesse they yssue from a heart that vowes an vnfeined repentance which that wee may the more effectually doe wee must call to minde our sinnes and transgressions that haue procured those iudgements that wee may repent and wash them from vs that God may heare vs and haue mercy vpon vs. But this Repentance that here is meant is more bitter then many imagine For as concerning Repentance euery sorrow is not repentance for then should worldlings repent Some thinke euery confession to bee repentance then had Pharaoh and Saul repented Others imagine euery weeping repentance which is not for then had Esau repented Others take euery little humiliation repentance but mistaking for then had Achab repented Others that euery good word promise is repeÌ„tance if that were so theÌ„ should sicke men repent Some thinke to cry God mercy is repeÌ„tance then should euery foole repent But true repentance indeede and such as is here meant is more then the hanging downe the head like a Bull-rush or to wring out a teare to sob out a sigh to weare sackecloth or haire-cloth or onely with a verball sound and pronuntiation of the lippes without the priuity of the heart within to cry Lord haue mercy on mee and so cease but it is the scourging renting wracking and launcing of the very soule and a downe right showre of teares from a broken and bleeding heart and a filling of the raiâ—es wiâ—h exceeding bitternesse of sorrow and anguish for sinne committed And to this schoole of sharpenesse but sweetnesse of paine but of pleasure let no man thinke it too earely to go too earely to beginne ô go to it
in thy youth and let Salomon bee thy Tutor Remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth let it be often recited that it may be once remembred Nor no man thinke it to late least he omit and loose that which he might otherwise haue gained For at what time soeuer a sinner shall repent him of his wickednesse from the bottome of his heart the Lord will forgiue and forget it and his sins shall vanish from his sight and presence as the dew before the Sun O heauen before heauen o heauen vpon earth and the contrary perswasions on the other part o hell before hell ô hell vpon earth and damnation before the time I say againe if hee repent of his wickednesse it is not the misery of this wretched life nor terror of conscience nor malice of foes let them be men or deuils let them bee seuen in one a legion in another all the Principalities and Powers of darkenesse in the third that shall hinder the ascension and blessing of his prayer that shall â—inder the forgiuenesse of his sinne for neuer was the shadow more faithfull to the body then a blessed forgiuenesse to a faithfull repentance on the one side then good successe hath bene to a feruent prayer on the other side zealously conceiued in the brest and powerfully vttered by the voyce of the tongue and the spirit I crâ—â—d â—n â—â— afflictio◠〈…〉 to â—he Lord and hee heard mee but this successe as formerly instructed must not bee looked for if it want these necessary adiunctes these vndenayed vndelayed assistantes that blesse the company wherein they come and speed the suite wherin they are Sollicitors and Plaintiffes that beate not the aire with sounds that arise from the hollow and emptinesse of them like brookes that roare and make a noyse but shew their empty bottomes that containe nothing but grauell and filthines within them like the dissolute and fashionable prayers of vs and our times both at home and abroad in chamber Church who like hipocrites or Gentiles vtter a forme of words rather of custome then of zeale as the Parrat of Ascaniae recited the Creed flattering God with our tongues but dissembling with him in our hearts withall so full of toyes and fansies for want of faith and reuerence that when wee haue prayed wee had need to pray againe that hee would forgiue our sinnes in our prayers because we thinke least of him when we pray vnto him Neuer remembrng the Maiesty of his Person to whom wee speake nor the excellency of the worke wee take in hand neuer rowsing vp our spirits with the thoughts therof or if we stirre theÌ„ vp then to pray leauing theÌ„ againe as Christ his Disciples before we haue throughly awaked theÌ„ as if the offering of the halt and the lame body without soule or soule without deuotioÌ„ sound of our lips without the thought of our heart one part of our selues without the other or the whole without a whole intention without clamor crying aloud could please him The prayers of Dauid we may reade were not thus cast off at randome in the 55 Psalme saith he I mourne in my prayers and make a noyse euening and morning and noone will I pray and make a noyse and in the 38 Psalme before I rore for the very griefe of mine heart Lord my whole desire is befâ—re thee and my sighing is not hid from thee Cor meum palpitat my â—eâ—rt is in trauell runneth to and fro I haue no rest no quietnesse within mee Such were the pangues and prickings of Iobs heart Iâ—b chapter 3. My gronings commeth forth before I eate effundâ—ntur velut aqua rugitus mei And my roarings are powred forth and waue like waters not groning nor crying but plaine roarings with a continuall in-undation Velut vnda impellitur vnda as one waue dasheth forth another now when the soule is thus prepared to speake the eares of the Lord are euer open to heare these are wonderfull passions the hungry Lyon in the desert opprest with extremity of suffering and want neuer rored so much for his prey nor the hart braying after thâ— wâ—ter-brookes as the goodnesse of the Lord in the soule of the faithfull after him The mighty Lord of heauen and earth blessed and hallowed bee whose name for euer in earth as it is in heauen and blessed are those that are in loue with his goodnesse and trace nearest vnto his steppes to giue vs heere another example hath beene feruent and euen roared in his supplications as wee reade for Lazarus and Martha and others whom hee loued and afterwards in his owne cause when his soule was hedged in and inuironed round about with vexation euen vnto death and anguish and sorrow incompast him on euery side as also then in his greatest agony when hee cryed with a great voyce not for perticular persons as before hee wept but vndergoing the burthen and punishment of all the sinnes and sinners in the world My God my God why hast thou forsaken me ' and crying againe with a great voyce graue vp the ghost therefore that blessed Apostles mentioning the dayes of his humanity and the exercise of his sacred life and fruit of his lips and the passions of his spirit thought it not enough to giue notice to the world that he prayed to his father that he prayed with teares which distilled downe his blessed cheekes and watered the ground nor of a crye alone weakely sent out but of a vehement and strong crye which if heauen were brasse were able to pearse through it and find way into the sanctuary into the eares of the almighty such a prayer as it asceÌ„ds lightly vp borne vpoÌ„ the wings of faith so it euer comes laden heauily downe with a blessing on the head of him that first gaue it flight thus then this lanthorne of our direction and composition of humility and goodnesse this glorious neuer enough admired Lord of life who prest and opprest with the waight and buâ—then thereof groned vnder the affliction of our sins in a most perfect forme of exact obedience with his bleeding teares for them for vs shewed vs the right forme of saithfull supplications for our selues biddeth vs be importunate and feruent in our prayers that they may wrestle with God and ouercome him Was he thus greued for vs and shall not we greiue for our selues groned hee vnder the waight of our deseruings of no infirmity in himselfe but in compassion and pitty towards vs whom we continually greue and no way so much as in committing of sinne and drinking it downe the throte with gredinesse and appetite as Behemoth drinketh downe Iordan without sence or sorrow or greife for the same the consideration whereof and what it may procure vs hereafter biddeth vs be importunate and feruent in our prayers to preuent it before the dreadfull Maiesty of the omnipotent Lord of heauen and earth whom we stand before the royalty of his nature sublâ—mitie of his
comfort fill thou our hartes with such a desire and longing after thee that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the flesh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long take hold on vs that see me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the stomacke that say peace peace and all is well when destruction and death is bayted ore with them but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exercise our selues both day and night our whoole felicity Let that treasure be our pleasure that is layd vp in heauen all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitternesse but in this there is neyther bitternesse nor end blesse good Lord the seed of thy word that shall this day be sowen in our harts and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the same that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the saluation of our soules in that great day of ioy and sorrow and for the better furtherance thereof good father inlarge and reforme our vnderstanding keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in such sort that no ill word be vttered by or through the same and so rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not our hands that they touch not our feet that they go not too our eyes that they see not our eares that they heare not our sences that they tast not our harts that they consent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good that thereby thy loue may be confirmed in vs and we in it that so we may walke cherfully in our vocations wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all such as perseuer in thy wayes without wearinesse to the end which graunt and whatsoeuer besides in thy wisedome thou knowest needfull and necessary for vs good father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we further intreat thy mercy and goodnesse towards vs in that forme of prayer which he himselfe hath both commanded and taught vs saying our father c. An euening Prayer for the Sabaoth day O eternall God and most mercifull father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light darkenesse day and night in whose handes is contained that ouerflow of goodnesse that filleth all the empty and indigent creatures in the world in the ayre in the earth in the sea and on the land who ordaynest times and seasons successions and discentes ould age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and a labour an increase and a decrease and a perpetuall motion and change ouer all the sublunary things in this world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many howers since broke out of darkenesse and cheard the world with her light and the sunne arose and came forth as a bridegrome out of his chamber and reioysing as a Gyant to runne his course and his beames are now steeped in night darkenes the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitory pleasures and delights which haue there increase there height and there suddaine decrease againe and there is no continuance or stability in any thing vnder the sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast apointed for rest which Lord so blesse vnto vs that as this day thou hast gratiously ministred strength vnto vs to walke in our vocations blesse our good indeauours studies and labours our hearing meditating on thy word to the comfort of our bodies and soules so we may be thankefull therefore hauing alwayes thy hand to sustayne vs to effect and finish those councels and labours which we vndertake for thy glory so good Lord blesse this night vnto vs that we may now receiue that comfort and strength which thou hast graunted to our weake nature by the which we are sustayned and daily renued and refreshed to our labours and further we beseeche thee as the night shadoweth darkeneth all things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake hide our sins from thy sight that they neuer stand vp to accuse vs vnto thee beeing buried in eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe this night so our minds by the hope of thy mercy may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer that so beeing wholy refreshed both in body and in mind we may arise with alacrity chearfulnesse vnto thy seruice this day insuing and all the dayes of our life after succeding that when death which is the end of all flesh shall remoue vs from thence into the graue of corruption where our bodies shall dissolue to the matter they are though now they seme not from the which it is as easy for thee to rayse them vp from the smallest graine of dessolution as from our naturall sléepe for I beleeue that the time shall come when all that are in the graue shal heare the voyce of the sonne of God when he shall speake vnto the earth giue and to the sea restore my sonnes and daughters and to all the creatures in the world keepe not backe mine inheritance and to the prisoners of hope lodging a while in the chambers of the ground stand forth and shew your selues and the earth shall disclose her bloud and shal no longer hide her slain and the sea shall find no rest till her drowned be brought forth nor any creature in the world be able to steale one bone that it hath receiued but all kinds of death shall be swallowed vp in generall victory and in his name that hath wonne the feild for vs we shall ioyfully sing thanks be to God that hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ whence our bodies being awaked to that euerlasting day of light which shall neuer be obscured with darkenesse more where we shall be made pertakers of that vnspeakable inheritance that thy saints and holy ones enioy which is honour glory and peace a garland of righteousnesse an incorruptible crowne fruite of the tree of life sight of the face of God following the lamb fellowship with Angels and Saints and the congregation of the first borne new names white garments pleasures at the right hand of God and fulnesse of ioy in his presence for euermore whither he bring vs that hath made vs that must raise vs from both these sleepes for the glory of his blessed name Amen A further Description of this heauenly Ierusalem and blessed happinesse therein taken out of the Man Cathol of W. C. IN Syon lodge me Lord for pitty Syon Dauids Kingly Citty Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keyes are Christs vndoubted word VVhose dwellers feare none but the Lord VVhose walles are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease
sinne my reputation name to perish vpon earth as salt that hath lost his sauour my temporal estate to be ruind by casualties and losse For why should any thing prosper that I take in hand being thus ouergrowne in wickednesse and wherefore shouldst thou giue good successe to that which I attribute not vnto thee how euer it fall out buâ— to the worke of mine owne hands and the pollicy of my contriuing robbing thee of thy honour and due to whom it belongs O Lord as thy mercy hath thus long preserued me sound in all these so let it worke in me that at last I may â—ee my errour and amend it see my wound and labour to cure it my finnes and repent mee of them from the bottome of my heart that thou mayst forgiue me them Turne me O Lord and I shall be turned wash me cleane with water and I shall be cleansed renue me as the Eagle her dayes and I shall bee renued gather thy thosen Flocke from thâ— mountains and desarts wherein they stray to fulfill thy fold I shall be gathered sweep thy house and find thy greate and I shall be found be gratious vnto me heareafter as thou hast bene good vnto me heretofore let not my vnworthynesse weary out thy goodnesse but continue it vnto me to the end now O Lord I giue thee harty thankes and praise for that thou hast this day preserued mée from all harmes and perilles notwithstanding all my sins and ill deserts so I beseech thee likewayes defend mee this night from all the dangers and assaults that may accompany this vncomfortable season and to this end I commend into thine hands my selfe my soule and body beseching thee my Lord and God not to suffer sathan nor any of his ministers to haue power to doe me any hurt or violence this night graunt good Lord that whether I sleep or wake liue or dye it may be vnto thee the saluation of my soule which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Thy grace o Lord Iesus Christ thy loue o heauenly father thy comfort and consolation o holy and blessed spirit be with me and dwell in mee both in hart and mind in soule and body this night and all the nights and dayes of my life Amen Another mornings Prayer Eyther priuate or publicke changing but the number MOst gratious God in the name of Christ Iesus our most mercifull Sauiour and redeemer we giue thee most humble and harty thankes for the quiet rest and repose this night thou hast bestowed vpon our weary and tyred bodies to the refreshing and norishing of the same and for thy gratious prouidence and vigilancy ouer vs all the dayes and nights past euer since we were borne and came into the world for our creation redemption for thy most sacred word a lanshorue to our feet and a light vnto our steppes for thy long and vnwearied patience so long expecting our repentance and turning vnto thee that day by day haue put thee off till we haue heaped vp many yeares of iniquity by greiuous sins in tedious times ouer and vpon our owne heads able and waightie enough to pull vs downe to the pit of perdition where long since we haue deserued to haue layne in endlesse wo and mysery but that thy mercy and louing kindnesse hath preuented vs o Lord giue vs grace to be mindfull of these mercies that our tongues may speake and harts may meditate theron in exultation and ioy and Lord giue vs grace to consider and make vse thereof that as the night is past wherein our spirit and vigor is renued which brought vs into sleepe the true image of death and layd vs in our beds the representation of our graues for vt somnus mortis sic lectus imago sepulcri and that the day hath taken vs vp againe to begin our toyle with his which suddainly finds a period and conclusion and sets it selfe againe in darkenesse which afterwards must giue place to the light and that these two consumers of the world the day and night which with there easy lenghts there spannes and fadomes since the commandement was first giuen let there be day and night haue brought age and maturity the sithes and sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruestes of flesh and layd the groth of nature in the dust teach vs o Lord with this remembrance to way the instability transmutation of time and nature the incertainty of all worldly things our vnwarranted liues that hange vpon a brittle third a dials point that with the sun in the morne with strength and splendor addresse our selues like giantes to runne our course when many times we are taken vp within few minuts after and caried into the bowels of the earth in the begining of our race becomming wormes and not men guestes for the solitary tabernacles of silence and forgetfulnesse and to frame our liues and actions thereafter that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to take vs out of this world of misery to bind vp our bones in peace and rest we may yeild vp our soules and bodiâ—s into thy hands with full confidence and assurance that our sins and offences are washt away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate lambe Christ Iesus and shall not condemne vs prosper vs o Lord in all our actions giue good successe to our true indeauors and graunt that this day and all the dayes of our life may be so spent by thy councell fauour and direction that we may so beare our selues through this dale of mysery that at the last we may raigne with thee in eternity and glory Amen An euening Prayer to the same MOst gratious God and mercifull father in Christ Iesus we doe heare how downe the knees of our soules and bodies in thy presence offering vp our prayer and prayse vnto thee with all possible thankes for all thy fauours towards vs namely for electing vs vnto eternall life for creating vs vnto thine owne image for redeeming vs by the bloud of thy sonne for sanctifying â—s by thy holy spirit for our health peace and liberty and all thy blessings that we reioyce in for the which we can giue no reasoÌ„ for but thy mercy and if thou shouldest withdraw them all backe againe we cannot accuse thee of iniustice not deseruing the least of them by reason of our sins which are so greuous and infinite that we cannot reckon them able to make a perpetual seperation betweene thee and vs but that thou art a mercifull patient long suffering God thou desirest not the confusion of sinners but that they should turne from there wickednesse liue and to that end thou hast forborne vs hetherto with a heauye and greeued aspect and hast not raigned downe thy punishments vpon vs therefore now o Lord giue vs a time of grace as thou hast giuen vs time of mercy that we may take a suruaye of our estate that perceiuing the danger we are in from the which none
can deliuer vs but thy out-stretched arme we rely not vpon our selues nor continuing therein forsake thee so long till at last thou forsake vs and we perish vtterly but Lord preuenting it so rend our harts that they may bleed in sorrow for the same that thou maist forgiue vs our great vnthankefullness end all the rest â—â— our sins our ignorances willfullnesse necligences presumptions and all other our transgressions and rebellions o Lord forgiue them all vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake wash them all away in his bloud nayle them fast vnto his Crosse and bury them in his graue where let them consume to nothing hauing not that resurrection that our bodies shall haue from thence least thy should come to iudgement with vs cloath vs we pray thee with his robes and honour vs with his spirit worke in vs godly sorrow and remorsfull minds mortifie our sinful lusts and adorne vs withall thy graces open our eyes that we may see thy will and incline our harts to follow it direct vs in thy wayes and keepe vs from declining from thee teach vs so to frame our liues before thee in this world that we may liue for euer with thee in the world to come and to that end we besech thee be mercifull vnto vs at this time and receiue vs into thy fatherly protection pardon the weakenesse of our prayers watch thou ouer vs to our good and giue vs such rest and sleepe that we may be fitter inabled to serue thée the next day in our exercises studyes and callings heare holy father from heauen and graunt vs all these our requests and whatsoeuer else thou knowest may be for our good for Iesus Christ his sake thine only sonne and our only sauious to whom with thee and thine holy spirit one most wise glorious and eternall God be rendered all power praise and glory this night and for euermore Amen A morning Prayer for a priuate famely It is in vaine to rise early and to lye downe late except the Lord be with vs so vaine a thing is man therefore we will not attempt any thing before we haue taken counsell and strength from the Lord that he may deliuer vs from euery euill worke if we aske that thing which is euill deny our ignorance if we aske that thing which is good Remember thy promise IN peace and safety we layed vs downe and rose againe for thy gratious eye watched ouer vs that we might take our rest The heauens declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy goodnesse yet thou hast not so respected all nations and thou hast loued Syon thy little hill a nooke and corner of the world far seperated from the serpent and fenced from the wild beast yet who considereth the euill we haue deserued is gone into other landes because their Gods be not like vnto our God we haue had much experience of thy goodnesse yet we trye thee still we proue thee still and yet we see thy workes thou hast seperated vs from schisme heresy that we should be ioyned vnto thee euen a new creature come out of darkenesse to light according to the working of knowledge in vs. O bind our harts with thy feare that we part not from thy loue for our selues and for our brethren we here prostrate our soules before thee O Prince most excellent for the name of thy onely Sonne one drop of mercy to coole this â—ire of sinne nothing good Lord â—o change thy mercy yet the whelâ—es doe eate the crummes that fall from their maisters Table first wee yeeld thee harty thankes for all at once next wee humbly beseech thee for the generall quittance which thy Sonne hath sealed for our sinnes then for all graces we pray thee let vs not want the thing without which wee cannot serue thee plant in our hearts true feare of thy name obedience â—oâ— our Prince and loue to our neighbour giue power good Father to our prayers that they may be effectual sollicitors for thy grace and fauour in all occasions and seasons grant vs true humility in prosperity perfect patience in aduersity peace in Christ and ioy in the holy Ghost This is our desire to liue godly righteously and soberly so blesse vs and keepe vs good Father to the end of our liues Turne vs O God of our saluation grant that we may grow froÌ„ strength to strength that thy Church militant may be like thy triumphant in heauenly charity and al communion of Saints write thy Lawes on the Table of our hearts with the finger of thy good Spirit that by vs they may be often euidently read practised in our liues and conuersations Blesse them which blesse vs looke vpon this realme in thy mercy preserue our King let not the eye of Great Brittaine become dim or loose his sight be gratious and mercifull vnto our friends and parents according to the flesh comfort thy afflicted Saints and members confound the power of Antichrist send thy feare amongst them make their time short and defend thine owne cause and as thou art sanctified in vs before them so bee thou magnified in them before vs yâ— all the world may conuert say En Deus Christianorum Great art thou O God of the Christians and there is none omnipotent besides thee iust and mercifull recompensing righteousnesse and reuenging iniquitie transgressions yesterday and to day and the same for euer and euery where Grant these things O heauenly Father with thy blessing vpon this family O Lord leade them out and bring them in bee at the beginning the middle and end of all their businesses that thou maiest see them accomplished to their best aduantage and for because the world is a forrest of briers many dangers therein that may intangle vs so that when wee part and go out wee are not sure to méet and come in againe vnlesse thou guide vs by thy hand and protect vs vnder the wings of thy safe-guard Therefore bee present and assistant vnto vs and euery one of vs then happy shall wee be and all things shall prosper that wee take in hand which Lord fulfill vnto vs and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure shall better foresee for our good euen for his sake who died for sinne and sinned not in whose name we further pray vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our Father c. God the Father which hath made vs blesse vs God the Sonne which hath redeemed vs preserue vs God the Holy-ghost which hath sanctified vs confirme our faith to the end and in the end Oh God Father Sonne and holy Ghost saue vs. AMEN An Euening prayer for a priuate Family Our transgressions are more in number then the hairs of our head wee repent vs of them all from the bottome of our hearts O Father be mercifull vnto vs and forgiue vs them O Lord God our most mercifull Father vnto thy diuine Maiesty what might wee render as an Oblation acceptable vnto thee which hast
in thy promise haue an assured hope to liue with thee for euer in the life to come through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A prayer to be said before the vndertaking of any iourney O Eternall wise and glorious God that foreseest the end of all things before they come to passe and blessest the indeuours of those that go forth in thy feare and direction bee present therefore O Lord and protecting in this my trauell guide thou my course and shorten thou my way by the blessed communication of thy spirit within mee giue thine holy Angels charge ouer me to keepe me in all my wayes to guide mee to and fro in this my iourney as thou diddest to Toby the yonger who by thy Angell Raphael was guyded vnto Gabaell a Citty of the Medes our whole life O Lord is as a pilgrimage and the dayes thereof are few and euill by thy appointment we soiorne vpon the face of the earth for a time and our spirit also within vs it commeth and returneth as a traueller vpon the way or bourdeth with vs as an inmate or guest or tenant at will whom we hold by no lease nor condition but thy pleasure which art the owner thereof a quarter a yeare or perhaps many yeares till thy messinger from heauen to earth knocke at our doores with a Ilinc migrate coloni slit hence my tenant and then exit de terra nostra it departeth from vs and our bodies fall downe to the earth and our pilgrimage is at an end teach mee to vse this world as in my trauayle I shall vse mine inne taking vp my rest for a night and preparing for my passage in the morning knowing there I am but a straÌ„ger and haue no abiding place for so the world is but mine inne and because it is fayre and beutious full of many goodly roomes and spatious walkes beutified with the firmament and the greater and the lesser lights thereof the Sunne the Moone and the starres yet that I seeke not to make it my habitation for euer but giue me grace to vse it as if I vsed it not prouiding me with such necessaries as may sustayne me in my trauayle not ouerburdening my conscience to clogge mee in my way euer looking vp to thee the starre of my direction whither my course is bound as the hauen from this impatient and troublesome sea where at the last I shall anker at rest whither Lord conduct me with thy right hand as in this my temporall and present iourney defended from all perils and dangers of the day I may happely accomplish my desire with thy will and all the dayes of my trauayle labour assigned ended I may there arriue where all teares shall be wipt from myne eyes and drops from my browes wearynesse from my bones sighes sobbes from my soule all dryed vp in the presence and ioy of thee and thy saintes and Angels for euermore which graunt good father for thy mercies sake Amen Another Prayer or med to be vsed before the vndertaking of any iourney or businesse eyther by sea or land GOod father the mysery and blindnesse of our nature is such and our ingratitude so great that we steale thy benifites and take them absolutely to our selues and inioy them freely to our owne vse as if they were originally the worke and labour our of our owne handes and we had them without thy knowledge and assistance that riches are the succeeders pollicy that health is eyther recouered or kept by obseruation or diet lost by disorder or abuse that successe or defect in any our proceedings sute according to our wisedome or industry in contriuing the same and so in a setled perswasion resolution hearin we goe forward in this blindfould course asking councell nor crauing successe of any but our selues or creatures of the same fâ—aylty and beeing that wee ourselues are of whereby oftentimes we faile of our purpose and know not the reason thereof Lord giue vs grace to correct this errour and giue vs light in this our blindnesse teach vs to know that we are ashamed wee are ignorant of that Except thou build the house they labour in vaine that build it For it is thou that must coÌ„mand thy blessings to be with vs in our store-houses in all that wee set our hands vnto or our labour dieth betweene our fingers like an vntimely fruit And as a sparrow falleth not to the ground without thy sufferance so there is nothing that commeth to passe without thy appoyntment and direction therefore what businesse soeuer we haue what regard soeuer we haue thereunto let vs haue so much regard thereto as to regard thee that must regard it or else all will fall to the ground let vs go out in thy name with thy assistance implored on our knees let vs loose so much time to gaine so great aduantage for it abridges the way and cuts off many tedious imperfections in whatsoeuer in thy protection let vs enter againe let vs not take our bread our daily food our sustenance without thankfulnesse to thee let vs not couch our selues in the bed of our rest but close our eyes in thy fauour and blessing for it is that that must bee vpon the building of our houses opening of our Shops and warehouses watching of our Citties tilling of our ground in feeding of our bodies in the education of our children or whatsoeuer paine industry or labour in the securest course we can deuise for without this ayd and assistance all falleth into emptinesse and vastity Lord giue vs grace to consider it and blesse this our out-going and our comming in the fruit of our bodies and the fruit of our hands our intents and purposes Bee regardfull vnto our labours whatsoeuer wee take in hand walke by vs on the land on the water as thou diddest by thy Disciples saue vs or we perish for neither the land the safer nor the sea the more dangerous can protect vs nor destroy vs till thou hast sealed thereunto thy consent nor any creature nor casualty in the world offer either violence or iniury where thy hand but takes our part and where that is opposed though all the creatures in the world the whole host of heauen and earth should ioyne with vs we goe to racke and ruine Giue vs therefore grace to be mindefull hereof and throughly perswaded herein to make our preparation therafter that we may aske and thou mayst giue thy successe and blessing vpon all that wee take in hand or enioy which grant vs Lord in this present occasion and in all occasions and times hereafter for thine owne deere sake Amen A prayer for true peace which is the peace of God in the peace of conscience and for the external peace of the body disquieted often with reuenge debate contentious going to law O Lord my God which art the author of peace and louer of concord and the hater of all those yâ— are not louers
breed in vs humility and godlinesse as a happy preparation thereunto let vs resolue patiently and resolutely to vnder-goe that taske assigned by thee the dissolution of nature for the corruption of nature the sting is gone and wee neede not feare it beeing but that which all the seuerall ages and generations of the world that are past haue accomplished and in theâ—r times and seasons descended to corruption and others haue taken their places and all that are to come must drinke of the same portion Mathusalem though he liue 969 yeares yet must he not liue euer the portion neuer so long the person neuer so eminent his preseruation neuer so great to this at last hee must surely come and all mankinde besides although not all by one meanes yet all brings to one end though some by water some by fire some by famine some by pestilence some by the iawes of wilde beasts some by the hand of an enemy some in the bed others in the field Haman by the gallowes Iesabel by dogges Herod by wormes the Sonnes and daughters of Iob by the fall of an house the Mothers and Infants of Ierusalem by famine One cryeth my head my head as the Shunamites sonne another my bowels another my feet feet as Asa the Stone the Gout the Feuer and a thousand other punishments not yet equall to our sinnes thy iust Executioners of that sentence Thou shalt dye the death pronounced against our first Parents and in them to the whole race of mankinde Remember thy end saith the wise man thou shalt not do amisse Teach vs O Lord to remember it and make vse thereafter that will in time remember vs if we gorget it Though we escape the pit we shall be taken in the snare we shall fly from a Lyon and a beare shall meet with vs or leane our hand vpon a wall and a serpent shal bite vs we may be deliuered from six troubles and the seauenth shall dispatch vs for neyther councel nor art nor meanes can preserue vs euer for it is the will of God and the cannon of his own lippes against the which there is no euasion no conuenant to be made with death the graue let this meditation be vnto vs as the starre that lead the wisemen vnto Bethleem where Christ then lay in a maÌ„ger in aâ—inne that now sittes at the right haÌ„d of his father in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead that it may lead vs to the throne of his maiesty where now he raigneth in glory for euermore sweeten O Lord this remembrance of death and the graue vnto vs with this cogitation that it was thy bed that in our strength and youth our veynes full of bloud and our bones of marrow in our liuelihood and iollity we may thinke of our dissolution with a quiet mind and with S. Paul desire to be dissolued to be with Christ whose presence in such full and ample measure as we shall there inioy it far exceedeth all the pleasure and delight that this transitory world afford thee giue vs more wisedome O Lord then to esteeme the ruinous and rotten cottages and houses we liue in fortresses and castles of euerlasting refuge not built vpon rockes for continuance but vpon tottering heapes of sand ashes shaken about our eares with the windes and stormes of infinit casualties and afflictions gaping still for ruine and confusion teach vs to know that heare wee haue no abiding Citty but we look for one to come that we passe not our time in this vale of misery day night youth and age in pleasure and delight that so we make our end the remembrance thereof bitter vnto vs neyther let vs thinke that because we haue fatnesse in our bones and health in our ioynts that therefore we shall liue many yeares and se the succession of our sons and nephewes if we doe what will become of this if we flatter our selues soule take thy rest and vpon the suddaine are snacht to hell once more let vs speake like Abraham one thing and one thing more we will beg at thy handes that since thy decree is set downe and thy word is past the accomplishment whereof neuer fayles in the least title that all shall dye confermed by so many millions of creatures since the beginning of the world to this present which shall not cease to runne on whilst there are creatures breathing vpon the circle of the earth to the end of the world dessolution of all things since we must all wax ould as doth a garment and from one defect to another drawe thereunto since the sonne of God himselfe vpon the earth was not priuiledge that now in this time of preparation we make swéet and hony our passage by a due and godly preparation thereunto that when our friends and our children forsake vs with griefe and sorrow on both sides the Phisition giues vs ouer wisheth vs well but can doe vs no good that then when no comfort is left vnto vs besides we haue coÌ„fort in our souls through the forgiuenesse of our sins and though we haue a graue before our eyes greedy inexorable vnsatisfied opening her mouh to receiue vs and hauing receiued vs closing hereuerlasting iaiawes vpoÌ„ vs neuer to returne vs backe againe till the wormes and vermine of the earth haue deuoured vs we despaire not though the strongest man liuing a hart of marble iron shall find terror enough in the thought accoÌ„plishment of these things yea Aristippus feareth death as well as the common people but if the wrath of God which consumes like a riuer of brimstone for our former transgressions shal accompany them thrise wo vnto vs our dull and heauy cogitations will then exclude all thought of mercy and our soules shall sleepe in death clogged with a burthen of sinnes which were neuer repented of therefore O Lord teach vs true and timely repentance for our sins that the extremity which then outragiously wil assault vs may be lessened and the sting thereof pulled away before hand that now we may liue the life of the righteous that then we may die the death of the Godly that we now gird on our armour before the battayle begine that we now thinke of repentance and doe it before it be to late before this wellcome or vnwellcome guest as we our selues make him commeth which brings in his hand either tydings of great ioy or a message of euerlasting sorrow giuing w e all such grace vnto vs to possesse these transitory things that they possesse not vs that we may so vse this world as if we vsed it not to passe through this vale of misery our few and euill dayes with such regard to our life such loue to thy law such obedience to thy precepts that wee may inioy the first and avoyde the later which graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Sir Thomas Moore Fleres si scires vnum tua tempora mensem
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
shall come it shall the lesse affright mee in that before I haue set my house in order and disposed my selfe thereto which preparation that I may make and successe that I may find graunt me Lord though so many neclect it for thy mercies sake AmeÌ„ A prayer and meditation for a strong faith and against that dangerous sinne of desperation THough our sinnes were as red as scarlet thy bloud O Lord will wash them as white as snow though in sin we haue bene borne and in iniquity our mothers haue conceyued vs yet will we trust in thy louing kindnesse all the dayes of our life if wee should trust in our owne merits desperatioÌ„ would inuiron vs on euery side yet Lord when we consider the multitude of our sinnes and that euery day of our life we adde to there number so that all the water in the Ocean-sea cannot rince vs from them for the least of which in thy iustice thou mâ—yst throw vs downe to the bottomlesse pit of hell our faith faultereth and we begin to dispayre but that we trust in the merits of his suffering who in the bundle of his afliction hath gert vp ours and will eyther nayle them to his crosse or cast them into the bottome of the sea and hang millstones about there neckes yâ— they shal neuer rise vp in iudgement to condemne vs yâ— else would neuer suffer vs to rise vp to be saued Lord giue vs grace to be wary to our steps vigilant to our pathes to haue an eye to our soules for Sathan compasseth the earth watcheth and roreth and walketh transformeth himselfe into all shapes that he may win vs in all sins into an Angell of light being but a fiend of darkenesse to sift and winnowe vs as wheat graine after graine that if it were possible he might surprise vs good God what need haue we of thy assistance and grace to beare vâ— out that haue such enemies without such enemies within the weakest whereof is stronger then we so that we need the prayers of our owne spirits and the spirit of God that groâ—eth with gronings not to be expressed and of the sonne of God himselfe who sitteth at his fathers right hand and maketh intercession for vs that our faith fayle not and that we fall not into desperation for alasse what ability haue we of our selues or what strength haue wee in our sinnâ—wes who are not as pillers of brasse or the deafe rockes of the sea against the which there waues dash themselues and they are not shaken being substances so firme vâ—alterable that cannot be remoued but dust and ashes crackt with euery flaw and blast of affliction and vnlesse thou support vs we are not able to stand and there is no safty but vnder the winges of thy mercy we haue sinned against heauen and against thee the father of our spirits the father of our flesh against him yâ— gaue vs his law and he that gaue our nature birth and being by our misdeedes and abominations both the tables haue we broken and done very wickedly in thy sight all the creatures in the world haue in there kind and degree bene more dutifull and seruiceable vnto thee then man so much beloued of thee made according to thine owne image indued with reason directed by thy law and thy preceptes auering thus offended men and bretheren what shall we doe all the creatures in heauen earth accusing and condemning vs the Lord himselfe complayning against vs I haue norished and brought forth children and they haue rebelled against mee what shall wee say that our sins are greater then can be forgiuen no let vs with Dauid though our faith haue almost failed and our feet slided with his yet let vs with him recouer out-selues againe by laying hold vpon thy promises support vs O Lord where thy Angels fell Caine Iudas Achitophell for they dispayred in thy mercies and there fall was iâ— recouerable euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell from whence there is no deliuery but we will trust in thy mercies and louing kindnes all the days we liue in and kisse the son least he be angry and o turne away the fauour light of his countenance from vs and least his wrath be kindled against vs his fierce and furious wrath which O Lord who is able to abide the extent and copiousnesse whereof is as his mercies are vnexplicable and therein sueth an abundance of misery with a traine and coniunction of all plagues and punishments out of the ready stâ—re-house of the restrayned inundations of his wrath that let at liberty range in an open feild and there is none to resist them we are all by nature the children of wrath borne to the inheritance thereof as to our fathers landes for nothing remayneth so hereditary to vs as sinne and confusion but yâ— the bloud of Christ hath purchased fauour for vs Lord giue vs grace to continue it in keeping a wary conscience to offend and walking carefully in thy feare but for such O Lord that are allready condemned that runne on in an endlesse labyrâ—nth of sinne the race to distruction without turning vnto thee drawing the vnhappy breath which if it had neuer ben breathed into there nostrills whereby they were made liuing creatures it had bene wel with them without repenting heaping vp anger against the day of wrath not caring to blunt the edge thereof there end is the end of the sentence and they are sure to perish not in the life of the body alone but in the life and eternity of there soules not for an age and a period of time but whilst God raigneth in heauen able to doe iustice to auoid which greuious plagues and punishments giue vs grace O Lord suddainly to turne vnto the whilst the time of grace remayneth least the graue open her mouth and shâ—t it againe vpon vs and close vs vp in our sinnes and deliuer vs guilty into the hands of perdition from the which wee shall neuer bee freed Let vs quench this wrath in time with the bloud of the Lambe staine from the beginning of the world and through the streame of his mercy and the riches of his merits seeke acceptance acquaintance and friendship with our God that wee perish not let vs not despaire in our sins nor presume on his merits too much but lay hold theron by faith so applying the benefite of thy passion and merites to our selues and our soules that wee may finde fauour and bee acceptable in thy sight Thy mercy O Lord is the crowne of all thy workes and my sinnes though they were more then I can commit are not more then thou canst forgiue the assurance of this promise and the probation of thy goodnes euermore shall be the rocke whereupon my faith shall anker I will sayle my brittle barke throughout this sea of vncertainty temptation and danger thou being the starre of my direction throughout yâ— waues and surges thereof that sometimes lift mee vp
neerer thy end by one day Therfore euery night be so wise as to know yâ— which the foole neglected that that night thy soule may be taken away which came to passe vpon him when hee thought of the inlargement of his barnes but thought not of that at all Therefore omne crede diem tibi deluxisse supremum 7 Health is aboue gold and a sound body aboue infinite riches therefore keepe thy selfe from surfetings from drunkennesse from whooredome for besides that they waste thy substance and distemper thy body they expend thy time more pretious theÌ„ the gold of Ophir which is not lent thee but for other ends vses If sicknesse come but seeke it not bee carefull to passe it ouer to redeeme thy health but put not thy trust in the Phisition for he may apply but vnlesse God perfect his help and thy hope is in vaine Asa may complaine of his gout Ezekias of his vlcer the Shunamites childe of his head but no helpe can bee had where the Lord doth deny it 8 Vnus introitus innumeri exitus There is but one manner of entring into the world but many wayes of going out Mille modis morimur vno bene we dye a thousand wayes and but one way well In the middest of our life we are in danger of death in the middest of our pleasures many times it is present it followes the body of all flesh as the shadow that waits thereupon and at one opportunity or another will be sure to strike home Set therefore sometimes before thy eyes that which alwayes stanâ—s behind thy backe Remember thy end and thou shalt feare to do amisse 9 Keep the wandring thoughts of thy heart the suggestions of the fresh which are euer rebellious to the will of God within bounds and limits suffer them not to kindle and burne vp the good motions of the spirit but extinguish the least spark that shall arise whilst it is a sparke by the wholsome precepts of Gods reuealed will be carefull to vse the time well which thou hast for thou knowest not what time will bee allotted thée more from thy worldly affaires the mart trafficke of thy businesses wherewith the multitude that looke no further then the example of the world and the eyes of nature giue them sight are carried away and draw thy selfe sometimes aside to the exercise of prayer and thankesgiuing for how earnest soeuer â—hy businesse be it shall speede the better for this what haste soeuer this hinders not the speed 9 Whatsoeuer thou takest in hand though thou haue beaten thy braines and wearied thy spirits and it hath succeeded well yet thinke not that it brought to passe with thine owne indeuours but by the sufferance assistance of God without whose helpe it is in vaine to rise early and to goe to bed late and eate the bread of carefulnesse For except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that goe about to build it Except the Lord keep the Citty the keepers watch in vaine And therefore without this aid and assistance implored his direction and protection craued indeauour not any thing â—â—t it lead thee forth bring thée in let it bee the beginning the middle the end in whatsoeuer thou vndertakest vt bene sit tibi yâ— it may go well with thee 10 For food rayment the fruits of the body yâ— fruits of the feild for health wealth friends for all yâ— mercies and benefits thou receyuest from God whether out wardly or inwardly in body or inwardly in mind receiue them not vse them not touch them not without prayer and praise thankesgiuing to him the creator and giuer of all good things whose ouer-flowing goodnesse mercy sufficeth the wantes and necessities of thee and all his creatures and clientes in the world besides and as Christ himselfe and his Apostle vpon earth gaue thankes for the benefittes both of soule and body to God the father so learne thou by there example to do likewise 11 Consider often seriously of the wisdome power omnipoteÌ„cy maiesty of that dreadful Lord of heauen earth that created gouerneth the whole frame of the world all the creatures therein that hath made thee a creature of such excellence capability giuen thee rule dominion ouer all his creatures in the world done so many bleeding wonders miracles for confirmation of his loue to thee defended thee by his gracious prouidence and protection euerfince thou wast borne as the apple of his owne eye the explication of whose loue the height of heauen aboue the earth the distance of the east froÌ„ the west the loue of fathers towards their sons of mothers towards the latest fruit of their wombes hennes towards their chickins haue beene but dull shewes in a poore measure to expresse it towards thee so amply testified in recompence wherof striue to giue him thy heart thy soule and best affections which is all hee desires though much more he deserues 12 Be euer careful to lay hold vpon the fore-top of time deferre not any thing that must be done for whatsoeuer is good is much bettered by the speedy performance of it and one delay is the mother of many according to the old prouerbe qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit hee that is not fit to day will be lesse fit to morrow Wilt thou obserue yâ— time the season for the tilling of thy ground for yâ— sowing of thy séed for the gathering of thy fruits for the setting of thy tree for the lopping of her branches and wilt thou not obserue thy owne time obseruing so in these transitory and triuiall things which if thou let carelesty passe may neuer be graunted vnto thée againe and for that neclect thou perish 13 Thinke with thy selfe thou hast deferred many yeares thy repentance thinke how gratious the Lord hath bene vnto thée the he hath not cut thée of in the middest of thine iniquity and resolue with thy selfe no longer to delay in yâ— kind but make this thy present day vpon paine of thy perill least in the bitternesse and anguish of thy soule thou hereafter be inforced to cry out then was the kingdome of grace but that I haue neclected and now is the kingdom of iustice by which I am coÌ„demned theÌ„ was the sauing of soules now the time of condemning them the meanes then deliuered by the tongs of men mildly perswaciuely the account now in the trumpet of the Archangel fierce and terrible wo is mee therfore that I haue thus deferred 14 Then came it with tydings of great ioy to yâ— world but now with terrour amasement to yâ— who le humanity therof to all yâ— kindred generatioÌ„s therin theÌ„ with Laus Deo in exelsis glory to God on high peace vpoÌ„ earth but now with a changed still ve ve habitatoribus terrae woe to the inhabitants of the earth then together the lost sheep of Israell into the fould now
to seuer the goates from the sheepe then to imbrace both Iew the gentle now to deuide betweene seruant and seruant at the same mil betweene man and wife in the same bed betweene Iacob and Esaw in the same womb to giue a blessing to the one and a curse vnto the other know therfore the danger of deferring thy repentance and eschew that common sinne least it one day fall thus heauy vpon thee 15 Often and euer thinke vpon the loue of Christ neuer enough to be thought vpon the gratious and admired worke of thy redemption by the bloud of that immaculate and vnspotted Lambe Christ Iesus at the very name whereof shall be bowed all the knees in heauen and in earth but at the thought thereof shall be rent all the hartes of both a mistery so great that the host of heauen admire and the Angels desire to prye into whom in thy poore measure imitate in admiration of his mercy and iustice how they meet imbrace and kisse each other and be thankefull to him that hath so gratiously dealt with thee and all mankind 16 Periculosum existimo quod bonorum virorum non comprobatur exemplo e contrario There was neuer that goodnesse or vertue in the world that might be imitated eyther with ease or difficulty by life or death in whose steps some haue not imitated to tread the end of whose dayes hath bene peace vpon earth and glory with the saints in heauen so on the other side there was neuer vice that set foot vpon earth from yâ— least sence that infects to that which waighes downe to the pit of hell that hath not had imitatours whose reward hath bene misery and contempt vpon earth and a continuance augmentation thereof in the lake of perdition in the world to come therefore let the reward of the on and the punishment of the other be euer set before thy eyes that thou maist follow the better and eschue the worse 17 Do not that iniure to any other that thou wouldest not another should doe vnto thee though thou canst oppresse not yâ— poore by thy might be not quarellsome a company keeper nor gamster nor surety but for a tried friend a good occasioÌ„ because for besides the iosse of time which these expend they draw oâ— oaths quarels surfets sicknes and for the most part end in bloud he the hath any of these cannot rightly intitle his owne goods to himselfe nor anything that he doth possest 18 Againe I say haunt not tauernes alehouses brothels but beware of the danger of the expence the bane both of body and soule and take heed yâ— thou take not delight in any vnlawful thing for there is no one vice that hauing wholly possest a man that is not accompanied with a whole traine of wickednesse at the heeles thereof able to eat vp and deuoure the very root and substance of goodnesse it selfe therâ—ore take heed that thou fal not into the snars therof 19 Keepe not company with any notorious or detected person by whom though not otherwayes thy reputation and credit may be called in question in the opinion of the world for by the company be it good or euill that thou kepest such shalt thou be censured to bée for similis similem querit and in what company soeuer thou come haue a care that the company may be rather bettered by thy presence then any way impeached therby kéepe a straight watch ouer the words thoughts deeds of thy heart restraining the liberty thereof where it would extend further then conuenient and honest 20 Bee fearefull to commit sinne especially any examplar sinne to shew the way as it were to others least they perish therein vnrepentant and it be one day layd to thy charge euery one shall haue enough to answer for himselfe woe to him that shall bee prest with the weight of his owne and others euery sin as a milstone to presse him downe to the pit of Hell Certaine sentences or Rules of good life and pertitinent to the Precepts going before Seruire Deo regnare est 1 THE seruice of God is perfect freedome 2 Where ignorance finds no mercy contempt shall sure find misery 3 There is no man borne without sinne happy is he that increaseth it least 4 Till death there is no man happy then happy is he that dies in the Lord. 5 Make vse of time for it passeth with a swift foot and that which followes most commonly is not so good as that which goes before 6 Hee that vngodlily dies rich shall haue many mourners to his graue but few comforters at his iudgement 7 Expect that loue from thy children that thou thy selfe hast tendered to thy parents 8 So dispose thy time as if thou shouldest liue long and yet as if thou shouldest dye suddainly 9 Doe well to thine enemies that they may become thy friends 10 It is the part of a wiseman to preueÌ„t iniuries ere they happen of a valiant maÌ„ to withstand them ere they come 11 Out of other mens faults iudge how odious thyne owne are 12 There is more trust in vertue then in oathes 13 Hee that wil speake what he would shall heare that he would not 14 Delight not to speake ill of the dead 15 Striue to be rich in that that when thy shippe shall perish suffers no shipwrack 16 Learne that being a child that will adorne thee being a man 17 The wast of time is a deare expence 18 It is better to fall amongst the Rauens of the ayre then the flatterers of the earth for the one strikes the dead but the other wounds the liuing 19 He liues in vaine that hath no care to liue well 20 Greatnesse is not the cause of goodnes but goodnes is the cause of greatnesse 21 So loue that thou maist hate so hate that thou maist loue 22 If by thy labour thou accoÌ„plish any thing that is good the labour passeth but the good remayneth to thy coÌ„fort if for thy pleasure thou shalt do any thing that is ill the pleasure passeth but the euill remayneth to thy sorrow 23 The goodman will not â—in for the loue hee beares to God and goodnesse it selfe But the euill man for feare of punishment 24 Be thou neuer so ould thou maist euery day learne therefore neuer be ashamed to learne that thou knowest not 25 Dispise not ould age but greiue to see it miserable 26 Sweare not often but performe what thou swearest beeing honest though to thy losse 27 T is tiranny to do what may be done and not regard what ought to be done 28 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body forbeare it being any way preiuditiall to thy soule 29 So loue thy best friend that thou be not thine owne worst enemy 30 Desire in any thing rather to be in substance without shew then in shew without substance 31 Forbeare to speake much for he that doeth shall not often speake well and it is better to be lame in