art thou that sufferest for righteousnesse sake then feare not the wickeds feare neither bee troubled but count it exceeding ioy when thou fal into diuerse temptations that the tryall of thy faith bringeth forth patience let patience haue her perfect worke that thou may bee perfect and intire wanting nothing that thou may say O Lord thou knowest remember me and visit mee reuenge me of my persecutors take mee not away in the continuance of thine anger for thy sake I haue suffered rebuke to such belongs the kingdome of heauen for it is better if it be the will of God that thou suffer for well doing then for ill doing Thou maiest know and discerne hereof by the sicknesse of thy heart arising of the guiltinesse of sinne which maketh thee suspect all thy waies for the wicked man is continually as one that trauelleth with childe and the number of yeares is hid from the tyrant a sound of feare is in his eares and in his prosperity the destroyer shall come vpon him for thus the wicked may say the thing that I feared is come vpon mee and the thing that I was affraid of is come vnto mee I haue no peace neither had I quietnesse neithr had I rest yet trouble is come thus the sinners feare commeth like sudden desolation and their destruction like a whirlewinde for ease slayeth the foolish and the prosperity of fooles destroieth them impatient they are in aduersity and proud in prosperitie yet that they haue is as a bird in captiuitie which beeing let loose will returne to her owne liberty againe the righteous are escaped out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his steed yea the godly account that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed when as the wicked man dieth his hopes perisheth all afflictions end in death and can pursue the Saints no further but I will bring an euerlasting reproach vpon the wicked and a perpetuall shame which shall neuer bee forgotten for sinne not beeing cured in this world endeth not in death for what was in hope recurable finite measurable here becommeth in hell incurable infinite vnmeasurable which makes the godly say how excellent is thy mercie O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings they shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the riuer of thy pleasures for with thee it is the well of life and in my sight shall they see light and yet neuerthelesse for their manisolde good and because I loue them I chastise them but the wicked are not in trouble as other men are neither are they plagued as other men and when they are raised vp I will despise their image but the godly are alwaies with me I will holde them by my right hand I will guide them by my counsaile and and afterwardes receiue them to glorie Soule Now I clearely perceiue Lord my misery from that corrupt fountaine in mee O what a blessed estate haue I fallen from what a woefull and miserable condition hath the transgression of Adam brought vpon mee a generall infection and corruption of all the powers and faculties of my soule and body my soule alas spiritually 〈◊〉 my minde through ignorance vaine in all the discourses and imaginations thereof the vnderstanding blinde not sauouring the things of God my conscience wounded and neuer soundly peaceable my memorie fit to reckon euill and forget good my will altogether gaine-standing either to chuse or doe good and my affection led by it my conuersation loathsome to God and man my thoughts both infinite and insatiable to euill my members weapons of vnrighteousnesse my best actions the greatest abhominations that minde can thinke or tongue expresse All the mischances of that hereditary pollution and actuall transgression which I am so propense and naturally willing vnto as is the foule to flie or the stone to goe downewarde thou art I know a iust and righteous God who will not iustifie sinners Lord. Be of good comfort sin is transgression of the law I haue decreed a remedy from all eternity promised immediately after the fall and exhibited in the fulnesse of time my Son Iesus Christ to performe a full redemption for thee and all the elect which hee performed in obedience to mee the Father in comming to redeeme and take thy nature vpon him made obedient to the lawe in fulfilling it perfectly which thou hadst broken and in vndergoing the punishment due vnto thee in obedience I say in humility at his natiuity and whole life suffering all the miseries that sin had drawne vpon thee in his body hunger colde pouerty c. in soule ignorance temptation faintnes and then his death the paines wee had deserued but specially in his soule griefe for the sinnes of the worlde when hee pleadeth himselfe before my iudgement seate as guilty for thee who had neede of his owne creatures the Angels to comfort him withdrawing of the Diety for the present my curse vpon him for sinne the power of Sathan preuailing for a time the horror of beeing ouerwhelmed with my heauy wrath for thee his detaining vnder the power sorrowes of death these and much more done in his humaine nature accompanied with the merit and efficacie of the diuine nature made them meritorious for thy saluation beleeue in him and thou shalt passe from death to life Soule O well is mee that the curse of the lawe is deriued from mee vnto Christ that my nature beeing crusifyed with him corruption in it may bee abolished not to serue sinne hereafter that hand writing of my sinne is cancelled and shall not come to remembrance before thee the spots of my soule purged by his blood by the which the eternall testimony of grace is ratefied vnto mee now sin and death and the diuell that hath the rule of death is destroyed thou hast deere Iesus not onely not beene holden by the sorrowes of death but also hath obtained a glorious conquest by thy resurrection ouer all thy enemies Satan power of hell and sinne in taking away his sting and guiltinesse thereof the rage and fury of the same in weakening the force and eating out the corruption thereof death it selfe also and the dominion thereof by the same meanes are subdued and in the place of these there is recouered vnto vs the fauour of our GOD whose children we are become in Iesus Christ who giueth faith peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost vnto them whereby they become fruitfull to all good works and in the end ceasing from all sinne by him do attaine eternall glorie in the heauens Lord. Yea and in heauen thou shalt be deliuered from all sorrow haue perfect knowledge with me perfect righteousnesse and holinesse neuer to be changed
euill soeuer the way be and whersoeuer it lyeth euery mans way is right in his owne eyes and will defend or excuse whatsoeuer they doe But I the searcher of the hearts do say your wayes are not my waies nor your thoughts my thoughts because they are wrong waies let euery man turne from his owne wayes their thoughts are the Diuelles souldiers which war against the soule they followe their Captaine and thou followest them thou may easily know whither thou goest the heart of man is to mee as clay to the Potter clay I say to mee but waxe to the diuell for it will haue much tempering and great adoe to bring it to mee but very plyable to any worke that Satan shall put it to for albeit thou shalt see neuer any euill example nor bee tempted by multitude neither outwardly assaulted at all yet thine owne heart will teach thee wickednesse aboundantly what auaileth it thee to forsake companies and retaine thine olde heart still For it is I that can restraine the issue of thy corruptions conforme therefore thy wil to mine hee that toucheth pitch will be defiled by it hee is blessed that doth not walke in the counsell of the wicked nor stand in the way of sinners nor sitte in the seat of the scornefull for the wicked are strangers from the wombe they goe astray assoone as they bee borne they are put out of the booke of life blessed is hee whom I choose and cause come to mee but saluation is farre from the wicked because they seeke not my Statutes hate them therefore that giue themselues to doe willfull vanities for they shall be consumed like the fat of lambs euen with the smoake shall they consume away Thou must not then imitate them but hate them with a perfect hatred that hate mee and bee companion to all such as feare mee There is no path wherein there is not a snake either to sting or impoyson thou canst see thy selfe sooner infected they spy how thou art infected it is my mercy to be good with the communion of Saints so it is my iust iudgement to poure vengeance on the company of the vngodly haue no fellowship with them in their sinne neither draw in their yoak with them take forth the pretious from the toile let them returne to thee but returne not thou vnto them rouse vp thy heart and reioyce in the fellowshippe which is aboue for because of vncleanesse inordinate affection and euil concupiscence my wrath commeth on the children of disobedience Soule Now doe I beginne to feele the heauy burthen of sinne more and more with the which I am truely grieued but I haue not duely alas repented me of them I resolue to suppresse them with all my indeauour but I feare my secret corruptions will breake forth so aboundant is that roote of bitternesse in mee remember not against mee my former iniquities but make haste and let thy tender mercies preuent mee for I am in great miserie helpe me O God of my saluation for the glory of thy name and deliuer mee and bee mercifull to my sinnes for thy names sake I will acknowledge my sinne vnto thee neither will I hide mine iniquity for I thought I would confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgaue the punishment of my sinne O that I might take heed vnto my selfe keepe my soule diligently and thy seruant from euill that the peace of thee O Lord that passeth all vnderstanding may preserue my heart and minde in Christ Iesus and now O Lord who can vndestand his faults keepe mee thy seruant also from presumtuous sinnes let them not raigne ouer mee so shall I be vpright made cleane from much wickednesse Lord. First of all beware beloued soule of Sathans flieghts and condemning thee by presumption say not the mercy of God is great hee will forgiue my manifolde sinne for mercie and wrath come from mee and my indignation commeth downe vpon sinners an obstinate heart shal bee laden with sorrowes and the wicked man shall heape sinne vpon sin make thou no tarrying to turne vnto the Lord and put not off from day to day for suddenly shall the wrath of thē Lord breake forth in thy security thou shalt bee destroyed and thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance binde not two sinnes together for in one thou shalt not bee vnpunished neither iustifie thy selfe before the Lord for he knoweth thy heart thou must not learne of Satans temptations to bee bolde vpon sinne neither vse pretenses for it as to say I am not an Angell that my nature is corrupt c. The preacher is but a man as an other c. and on the other part beware of desperation in mocking the ouer-fearefull and superstitious for Sathan will make of a Fly an Elephant but saile with an euen course and labour for measure to bee sought in the word of God which will teach not to decline neither to the right nor left hand but to keep the narrow way for wisedome will be iustifled of her children Soule Remember O Lord thy tender mercies and thy louing kindenesse for they haue been for euer remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy kindnesse remember thou mee for thy goodnesse sake O Lord gracious and righteous art thou therefore thou wilt teach sinners in the way O God thou hast taught mee euen from my youth vntill now therefore will I declare thy wonderous workes make mee flie from the lusts of youth sollow after righteousnes faith loue peace with them that call on thee with pure hearts neither write thou bitter things against mee make me possesse the iniquities of my youth Lord. There are sins in youth middle and old age negligence in making conscience of sinnes done long agoe maketh falling in great terror of minde when violent remembrance of them surchargeth the mind therefore betimes learne to accuse them that Sathan henceforth haue no place to doe it for if thou iudge thy selfe thou shalt not bee iudged humble thy selfe therefore vnder the mighty hand of God that he may exalt thee in due time cast downe thy selfe before the Lord and hee will lift the vp I will surely gather him that humbleth and I will gather him that is cast out and him that I haue afflicted Soule Willingly desire I Lord to make that fruit of my falles but alas when I looke backe to my mispent time which is vnrecouerable and which I cannot redeeme then great feare and torment assaults mee and pinches so hard that I am at my wits end Lord. Comfort thy selfe poor soule for in my best children there is first youthfull loosenesse and vnstayednesse of affections the way to lewdnesse so Dauid O God thou knowest my foolishnesse and my faults are not hid from thee seest thou not
election before thou wast created his gifts before thou camest to knowledge and his preseruation of thee vntill now from deserued plagues of of pestilence sworde famine fire and water in place whereof hee prolongeth thy life giueth thee food rayment and health of body giueth his presence in his word and Sacraments for thy soule his spirit to thy effectuall calling to grace benefites publicke and priuate generall and particular which are so infinitely and vndeseruedly poured on thee while thou refusest thy loyalty to thy soueraigne reuolts confederates with his greatest enemies 5 Meditate the paines of Christ in his whole life what hee was before his incarnation and what he became after looke vnto his crosse passion and bitter death and for whom he did vndergoe the same and how wee rewarde him with despighfull vnthankefulnesse distrusting his goodnes altogether or else too much presumptuously re-lying thereon in continuation of our sinnes and postponing of repentance 6 Consider that without hearty and zealous remorse neuer any shall attaine to life euerlasting that it is not a gift may bee had at all times yea it is often refused because the pretious time of visitation was neglected than it is seldome true liuely when it is to late that very often impenitency is tyed to sin with the wages thereof 7. That death is a faithfull doore-keeper which will not suffer thee to haue more with thee out of this world of the goods thereof but so much as thou bringest in with thee which is nakednesse crying and griefe the goods of faith hope repentance and charity shall onely accompanie and follow the conscience after death which shall neuer be seuered from the soule either in well or euill doing but supplies in wickednesse all the offices of a Court cites arrests presents iudgeth beareth witnesse condemneth or iustifieth executeth tormenteth eternally for it is that worme that dyeth not 8 Death as our shadow attendeth vs in euery place which as it is most certaine so the day and houre is most vncertaine to vs for who knoweth the time houre or place thereof 9 Looke that the longest liuer hath beene gathered to his fathers and hath gone the way of all flesh our life being but a sleepe or shadowe of longer or shorter continuance 10 Pause vpon the inesteemable good we lose by sinning hardly recoueraable the infinite and vnspeakeable euill wee incurre thereby how short pleasure is requited with vnmeasurable torment 11 Remember the companions which euer attend vpon sinne Gods high displeasure the losse of the right which we haue to his creatures the grieuing of his spirit the banishing of his good Angells from vs confusion storme and torture of minde a fearfull expectation of Gods insupportable wrath the sparkes whereof doe beginne but to be kindled here beside the loath somenesse wearisomenesse and anxiety wee haue in the sweetest fits of sinne 12 Consider the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyres and all the godly how wisely they haue daunted and bridled their vitious willes and affections and couragiously ouer-throwne the strong holde of sinne within them for the crown of glory that was set before them died in Gods fauour and liued all their time in his feare left testimony and cōmendation behind them to the end of the world of their strong and inuincible faith but the memory of the wicked doth rot and his posterity is plagued FINIS Psa. 30. 6. 7 Cant. 3. 4 Hos. 14 4 Hos. 5. 2. 7 Luk. 22. 13 1. Pet. 2. 11 Psal. 22. 51. 77 Act. 1. 6 Cal. 2 2. Sam. 11 1. Tim. 4. 3 Psal. 19. Psal. 44. Psa. 49. 12 Psa. 7. 3 Eph. 2. 3. 7 Iob. 42. 6 Rom. 3. 5 1. Cor. 10 Heb. 13. 18 Eph. 1. 17 18. 19 Gen. 4. 6 7 Iam. 5. 9 Psa. 32 9 Ier. 38. 26 Eph. 4. 17 Tit. 1. 16 Ier. 28. 12 Ro. 2. 4. 5 Iam. 5. 5 Iob 11. 20 Iob 18. 7 Iob 20. 5 Iob 38. 15 Psa. 9. 16 Ps. 11. 5. 7 Psa. 32. 10 Ier. 33 3 Ier. 13. 23 Hag. 1. 2 Iam. 6. 3 Psa. 68. 2 Psa. 15. 8 Pro. 4. 19 Pro. 5. 22 Eccl. 4. 1 8. 9. 10 Ezek. 18 Psa. 14 19 Ier. 17. 1 Hos. 5. 4 Ier. 13. 27 Zach. 13. Can. 2. 10 11. 12 Ier. 18. 5 Ier. 33. 11 2. Pet 3. 9. Heb. 6. 17 18. Na. 2. 10 Eccl. 1. 15 Esay 3. 9 Ier. 50. 15 Deut. 4. 24 Ier. 23. 19 20 Hos 10. 7 15. Ioh. 8. 34 Rom. 8 13 Psa. 32. 1. 2 1. Iohn 18 Gen. 3 Gen. 9 Gen. 12 Gen. 20 Gen. 27 Gen. 34 Gen. 37 Exod. 2 Num. 20 2. Sam. 11 1. Kin. 11 Mat. 20 Luk. 19 Ioh. 18 Act. 9 Ioh. 3. 8 Eccl. 7. 22 Pro. 29 Esa. 53. 7. 8. 9 Mark 10 Luk. 17. xo Rom. 3. 23 24 Iob. 20. 27 Psa. 31. 19 Esa. 33. 12 13. Eecl 8. 8 Wis. 5. 17 20. Ier. 37. 4 Iob. 9. 4 Psa. 76. 7 Hos. 5. 15 Esa. 54. 5 6 7 8 9 10 ver 17. Esa. 55. 3 12 13 Esa. 51. 6 Psa. 31. 22 Rom. 4. 21 Pro. 28. 13 Psa. 32. 5 Psa. 51 Neh. 9. 33 34. Dan. 9. 5. Luk. 15 Gen. 3 2. Sa. 2. 25 2. Cor. 2. 7 Exod. 32 Num. 10 Num. 12 Num. 16 Num. 20 Num. 25. Iud. 19. 20 1. Sam. 15 2. Kin. 11 2. Sam. 24 1. Kin. 13 1. King 2 2. Chro. 26 Act. 12 Ezek. 11. 21 Ioh. 4. 8 Pro. 28. 1 Psa. 32. 4 Rom. 8. 39 Rom 5. 1 Ier. 23. 29 Luk. 24 32 Rom. 4. 17 Luk. 24. 25 Gen. 6 Mic. 2 Ier 17. 9 Pro. 4 15 16 Psa. 51. 3. 5 Ps. 119. 80 Ioh. 13 Pro. 14 2. Kin. 20 18 Ier. 42. 6 Reuel 3. 15 12 22 Ger. 42. 14 15 Heb. 12. 6 1. Cor. 11 32 Iob. 31. 1. 7 Ps 42. 11. 9 Iam. 1. 13 2. Pet. 3 Pro. 14. 9 Rom. 2. 4. 5 Pro. 15. 15 Iud. 17 Mat. 51 Dan. 5. 27 Psa. 101. 8 Ps 119. 133 Psa. 19 13 Heb. 3 Psa. 95. 8 Iam. 4. 8. 9 Mar. 10. 24 Act. 5 Iam. 2. 10. Rom. 7. 23 Ephe. 2. 2 Pro. 4. 16 2. Cor. 3. 18 1. Ioh. 3. 3 Luk. 9. 21 Heb. 11. 25 Rom. 6. 2 Luk. 1 Rom. 5. 5 Psa. 89. 13 Psa. 32 Psa. 119. 1 Ps. 119. 161 Es. 8. 12 Iob 31 Ps. 119. 120 Pro. 28. 14 Heb. 11. 7 Hab. 3. 16 Pro. 3. 5. 6 Ro. 12. 16 Ps. 105. 3. 4 Psa. 33. 21 Psa. 2. 11 Psa. 33. 6 Ps. 9711 Hab. 1 11 Zeph. 1. 12 Iob. 21. 9 Ier. 12. 2. 3 Mal. 3. 15 Psa. 31. 17 Eccl. 21. 7 Pro. 15. 15 Pro. 14 10 Pro. 15. 3 Eccl. 30. 21 Eccl. 3. 27 Eccl. 37. 12 Lam. 1. 20 Iob. 20. 11 11. 12 2. Pet. 3. 9 Eccl. 25. 13 Ps. 119. 23 Eccl. 7. 8 Eccl. 5. 5. 6 Mar. 13. 19 Mat. 15. 8 Luk. 1. 66 Pro. 4. 23 Pro. 2. 8 Eccl. 8. 5 Mat. 26 Gen. 3. 6 Pro. 14 15 Pro. 33. 17 Ephe. 5. 11 Psa. 15. 4 Gal. 6. 10 Phil. 1. 27 2. Pet. 2.
I will answere and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe and I will guide thee with my eye Soule Can the blacke Moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may I also doe good that is accustomed to doe euill I did say alas it was not yet time that the Lords house should be builded in mee but did put farre away the euill day and approached to the seate of iniquity as the smoake vanisheth so driuest thou sinners away as waxe melteth before the fire so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God how shold I then lift vp my horne on high or speake with a stifnecke for thou art iudge and in thy hand is a cuppe and the wine is red it is full of fury mixed and thou pourest out of the same surely all the wicked of the earth shall wring out and drinke the dregges thereof thus the way of the wicked is as the darknesse they knowe not wherein they shall fall their owne iniquities shall take the wicked themselues and they shall be holden with the cords of their owne sinne woe be vnto the vngodly therefore which haue forsaken the lawe of the most high for though they increase yet shall they perish if they be borne they shall be borne to cursing and if they die the curse shall be their portion so shall they goe from the curse to destruction for the soule that sinneth it shal die the death Lord. I will not giue the soule of my turtle doue vnto the beast what is thy sin written with a pen of iron and with the poynt of a Diamond and so grauen vpon the table of thy heart wilt thou not giue thy minde to turne vnto mee thy God is the spirit of fornication in the middle of thee and wilt thou not knowe mee thy Lord wilt thou not poore soule be made cleane when shall it once be I will answer thee with good words and comfortable wordes arise my loue my faire one and come thy way for beholde the winter is past the raine is ouer and gone the flowers appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds is com and the noyse of the turtle is heard in our land arise my loue my faire one and come away withdrawe not thy heart from mee let me be thy hope in the day of aduersity I create the fruite of thy lips to be peace as well to him that is farre off as to him that is neere As I liue I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue turne thee turne from thy euill waies why wilt thou die silly soule I am patient towards thee and would that all men should bee saued and none perish but would all men should come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth yea and more aboundantly to shew the stablenesse of my counsell I haue thus bound my selfe by an oath that by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that I should lie thou mightest haue a strong consolation who hast fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before ihee Soule I am empty void and waste the heart melteth and the knees smite together and sorrowe is in my loynes and my face gathers blacknesse for that which is crooked can none make straight and that which is wanting cannot bee numbred woe vnto me miserable soule for I haue rewarded euill vnto my selfe It is the vengeance of the Lord thou wilt take vengeance vpon mee as I haue done thou wilt doe vnto mee thou art a consuming fire a iealous God can my heart endure or can my hands be strong in the day that thou shalt haue ro doe with mee thy tempest goeth forth in thy wrath and a violent whirle-wind shall fall down vpon the head of rhe wicked thy anger shall not reaurne vntill thou hast exeted and untill thou hast performed the thought of thy heart in the latter dayes I will vnderstand it plainely I am but as foame vpon the water I haue plowed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie and eaten the fruits of lies I haue trusted in mine owne waies in seruing sinne and liuing according to the flesh and must die for I cannot please thee Lord. Blessed is he whose wickednesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whom I impute no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile If any man say he hath no sinne he deceiueth himselfe and there is no truth in him If thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am iust and faithfull to forgiue thee thy sinnes and cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse If thou say thou hast no sinne thou makest mee a lyer thou maiest see Adams fall and feele it in thee Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest Abrahams double deniall of his wife Rebecca her lie and deceit Iacobs lie Simeon and Leuie's murder Rachels theft the whole Patriarches bloody deuise against their brother Moses slaughter Moses Aarons murmuring Dauids murther and adultery Salomons idolatry and finally Mathew a publican all the Apostles ambitious Magdalen a notorious sinner Zacheus an oppressor extortioner the Theefe on the Crosse a notorious malefactor Peter a denier Thomas a doubter Paul a persecuter of Christ. But to this purpose appeared the Sonne of God that he might loose the workes of the diuell for surely there is none iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not for who can say I haue made my heart cleare I am cleane from my sinne all like sheep haue gone astray euery one hath turned to his owne way yet I haue laide vpon my Sonne the iniquity of you all For the trangression of my people was hee plagued though hee had done no wickednesse neither was any deceit in his mouth hee was counted with the trespassers and he bare the sinne of many and prayed for the trangressors there is none good but I when thou hast done all is commanded thee yet art thou an vnprofitable seruant thou hast but done that which was thy duty to doe now then there is no difference betwixt thee and others for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God and are iustified freely by grace thorough the redemption that is in Christ Iesus my Son whom I haue set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of thy sins that are passed through the patience of God hast thou laid vp these things in thy poore soule Soule The heauen alas doth declare my wickednesse the earth doth rise vppe against mee great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laide vp for them that feare
thee and done to them that trust in thee but sinners are affraid a feare doth come vpon hypocrites who can dwell with the deuouring fire Who shall dwell with euerlasting burningss wee conceiue chaffe and bring forth stubble our breath as fire shall deuoure vs and we shall be as the burnings of lime as thornes cut vp shall they bee burnt in the fire for wickednesse shall not deliuer the possessor thereof thou armest thy creatures to be reuenged of thy enemies and the world shall fight with thee against the vniust which haue kindled a fire in thy wrath which shall burne for euer thou art wise in heart O Lord mighty in strength who hath beene fierce against thee and prospered who shall stand in thy sight when thou art angry alas my silthinesse shall bee discouered and my shame shal bee seene Lord. I will goe and returne to my place till thou acknowledge thy offences and seek my face in thy affliction if thou wilt seeke mee earely feare not thou shalt not be ashamed neither shalt thou be confounded for thy maker is thy husband the Lord of hoasts is his name and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth am I called for I haue called thee being as a woman forsaken and grieued in spirit and a wife of youth when thou wast refused saith thy God for a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face frō thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For this is as the waters of Noah vnto mee for as I haue sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more goe ouer the earth so haue I sworne that I would not bee wroth with thee nor rebuke thee for the mountaines shall depart and the hills be remooued but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace be remoued saith the Lord that hath mercy vpon thee this is the heritage of my seruants and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord nowe then encline thine eares and come vnto mee heare thy soule shall liue and I will make an euerlasting couenant with thee euen the sure mercies of Dauid behold I haue giuen him for a witnesse to the people and for a leader and commander to them therefore goe thou out with ioy and be lead forth with peace the mountaines and hills shall breake forth before thee in singing and all the trees of the fielde shall clap their hands it shall bee to mee for a name and for an euerlasting signe that shall not be cut off Soule I confesse thy saluation shall bee for euer and thy righteounesse shall not bee abolished though I saide in my haste I am cast out of thy sight yet thou heardest the noyse of my prayer whē I cryed vnto thee and am fully assured that thou which hast promised art also able to doe it Lord. Thou doest well beloued soule to acknowledge thy sin to deale with them as thou hast done and as a iudge doth with malefactors to apprehend raigne and condemne them for he that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but hee that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy for as thou hast declamed against thy sinnes so haue the Saints before thee for they acknowledged their sinne vnto mee neither did hide their iniquity for they thought they would confesse against thēselues their sinnes vnto mee and I forgaue the punishment of their sinnes and so also my seruant said vnto mee surely thou art iust in all that is come vpon vs for thou hast dealt truely but wee haue dealt wickedly So did another protest against himselfe and his people wee sinned and haue committed iniquity haue done wickedly yea haue rebelled haue departed from thy precepts and from thy iudgements Vncouer thou thy sinne and I will couer it declare thou it and I will heare thee in the worlde confession is confusion but with mee it is farre otherwise for if thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am faithfull and iust to forgiue thee all thy finnes and to cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse and truly deare soule it is of my grace begun in thee that thou breakest out in confession of them willingly opening them and stripping them naked before my Maiesty for he that is penitent before mee and my Angels with whom there is greater ioy in heauen for one that repenteth then for ninty and nine that need not repentance I will not sticke to confesse before the face of men It is not of nature for Adam whilst I pushed his conscience couered himselfe with figge leaues I send a noyse and voyce hee betooke him to the thicke wood and last I vrged him with questions yet hee shifted off his sinne to Euah and this confession that the sight of misery and feare of punishment haue taken out of thee is a heauenly preparatiue to a greater measure of my grace to be wrought in thee Soule If one man sinne against another the Iudge shall iudge it but if a man sinne against thee O Lord who will pleade for him yea he must be swallowed vp with heauinesse If wee say wee haue a couenant with death or with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe through it shall not come at vs for wee haue made falshoode our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid O but how innumerable haue beene punished for their trespasses euen here in this worlde Adam cast out of paradise the world destroyed by water Sodome and Gomorrah by fire Pharaoh by the Sea Amaleck rooted out 3 thousand killed for the worship of the golden Calfe Nadab and Abihu burnt with fire Myriam stricken with leaprosie for incredulity three hundred thousand beside young ones and seruants that came out of Egypt except Ioshuah and Caleb fell in the wildernesse Corath Dathan swallowed quick into the earth Moses and Aaron excluded the Land for murmuring the Princes of the people hanged Achan stoned the tribe of Beniamim ouerthrowen for the Leuites wife Eli for not correcting his children Saul for sacrificing and after him all his house punished What shall I say of those that died of the pestilence in Dauids dayes the disobedient Prophet rent by the Lion the forty children by the bores for mocking Elizeus of Geetze or Hosiah the King willing to burne incense with many more as Ananias and Saphyra Elimas the sorcerer Iudas and Theudas and some of them for very meane sinnes to the iudgement of men yea and the Galileans whose sacrifice Pilate mixed with their blood and the builders of the Tower of Shiloh which fell vpon them which were not the greatest sinners and vnlesse I repent I
then defence or excuse then boasting of it and this is the wickeds chayre and steps to hell then be ashamed to thinke that thou art ashamed to speake for I see thy heart and thoughts know what thou art striue against them and if they yet remaine haue indignation of them feare and cry to mee that thou art troubled with them and I will ease thee for iustly doe I challenge thy heart who gaue my Sonnes heart to be pierced for thee thus thou must obey against thine inclination and naturall reason For what is faith but a contrariety to reason and hope to experience and lay not downe thine owne conclusions I am wel pleased with thy intents which prepare thy heart to seeke mee the seeds of all sinnes are in euery mans heart which would appeare if I suppressed them not the tongue is a worlde of wickednesse what is the heart then out of whose aboundance the mouth speaketh Soule I know that in mee that is in this flesh there dwelleth no goodnesse but euery good and perfect gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights open my eyes I beseech thee that I may see the maruellous things in thy law I cannot leaue alas my sinne I haue vsed it so often and so long it is so plyable to my nature that I would rather lose my life hauing long accustomed it then now cease from it and yet I am now and then tormented with the memory of it my conscience is a snare to mee yea an assize a bench a iudge a iaylour yea a hangman it selfe to me and whither shall I flie poor wretch Lord. It is good to learne thy inward corruptions by thy outward senses thy sense leades thee to sinne because thy heart leadeth thy sense thy corruption hath stolen away thy heart for outward senses bewray thy inward affections therefore Christ will neuer bee sweet vntill thou see yea and feele in experience thy naturall corruption for none can hunger for righteousnesse except hee feele himselfe empty and wanting thereof and where there is an exceeding hunger there must bee an exceeding feeling as a feeble and small hunger had the like feeling comforte then thy selfe in that thou feelest the impurenesse of thy heart and want of vprightnesse and deadnesse to all goodnesse for the feeling of their wants is quicknesse and liuing and this quicknesse and life is by my spirit in thee and where my spirit is there is life euerliuing which is regeneration or life euerlasting the more thou doest feele the one the more deepely doest thou weigh the feeling of thy confused estate by which thou findest comfort in sorrow great light in darknesse and in this that thou both sighest and groanest for the hardnes of thy heart it is a testimony that thy hart is not altogether hardned for if thou feelest this in thy selfe that thou desirest to loue mee and to bee better being wearied and toyled with sinne comfort thy selfe for it is in earnest of regeneration for difference betwixt a motion to euill and consent to it for the body of sinne wicked motions and affecons shall neuer bee out of thee while thou liue thou must not onely striue to presse out the breath of sin and close vp the eyes of it at the death of it but to follow it to the graue and couer it that it neuer rise for this is to ouercome and receiue the crowne not that the life of sinne can be here destroyed but may well be weakened as the mangled part of a Serpent cut in peeces haue not that power to hurt as when it was whole so corruptiō hath not siercenesse to preuayle against thee how-soeuer the reliques thereof remaine but like a mighty Prince which is become a poore prisoner Soule I by reason of my olde custome in sinne doe often yeelde to tentations I doe not abound more and more in wisedome and goodnes but rather perseuere in sinne and rebellion Lord thou knowest and I feare vnlesse thy mercy be the greater the sentence of my conscience which is thy register and my remembrancer the wicked may bee secure but neuer in safety Lord. Custome is worse a hundred folde then nature and doth greatly preuaile with my dearest children Ioseph a good man beeing among prophane men had some smell of their wordes and lied The Sodomites by their vniust conuersation vexed Lots righteous soule yet hee could haue found in his heart to liue still amongst them therefore there is nothing more fit then to auoid all occasions of sinne and to procure honest things both in the sight of God man and then in all actions to auoide euill thou must learne to keepe that which is good and abstaine from all appearance of euill bee sure it be good thou doest but if it haue but a shew of euill auoide it and if it be an ill fauoured thing to see to flie it If thou heare threatnings and tremble heare promises and beleeue pray in wants be thankfull for mercies and with reuerence receiue Sacraments they keep thee from falling and recouer thee when thou art fallen it goeth wel with thee to prosper and thriue in sinne is a signe of my wrath as the childe that the father hateth is giuen ouer to be ruled by his owne pleasure but I chastise my children whom I loue that they should not be condemned with the world again thou wilt neuer leaue sinne vntill thou knowe sinne to be sinne and be truely sorrowfull for it presse to resist the first motions of sin for one breedeth many it is hard to get out of the clawes of the diuell thou canst without great danger touch the young thorne dallie with the young bore and carry a young Serpent but if these bee olde thou knowest the danger cut the thorne in the roote mussle the boare bruise the head of the Serpent yea destroy it in the very egge before it be hatcht by the fall of others in sinne thou maist be taught to stand and rise if thou be fallen and as cōcerning the accusation of thy conscience thou speakest of thou shalt neuer labour to leaue sinne so long as thou art quiet in minde vntill thou be stricken with feare or cast downe with iudgements then if thou looke to my highest maiesty offended by sinne the benefits which bound thee to doe my will how neare thy sinnes pierce mee the purpose and ende thou tendest to in sinne the time and place of transgression last if thou see the loathsomenesse and deformity of sinne for that a stinching carrion is more tolerable to the sent then a sinfull soule vnto me if thou narrowly consider how huge and detestable thy sins will seeme for by them thou art made like vnto the diuell himself I haue imprinted naturally in all a condemnation of sinne that euen committing it thou shouldest condemne it in thy selfe and be ashamed of it before others wo vnto them that are depriued
of this naturall remorse to them that account that vertue which I condemne for a crime though it seem little to thee in committing sinne it was very great in my Sonne in suffering for it if sinnes were not so vsuall they would seeme more palpeable and prodigious and therefore the senses which are oceasions of sinne ought to be well ordered to make a couenant with thy eyes with thy mouth and eares that thy heart walke not after them that thy step turne not out of the way and any blot cleaue to thy hands he that seeth his corruptions truely will bee affraid of the least shew of euill the oftner sin is to haue the more griefe is a note of my children search then the bottome of thy thoughts feele thy grief where it lyeth finde out the cause seek for remedy least it proue incurable if thou take it not in time it will fester more and more and infect all Soule O how truely is my body called a body of death thou shouldest take vp and haue to thy glory all my cogitations but idle thoughts imaginations and discourses come in my ninde to the which alas I yeeld my affection and doe not strike at my conscience in the first motion while reason is on my side and wound it before it receiue a perfect shape O that I might cherish and intertaine good motions and change them into prayer not to smother them by other rouing cogitations making them either die presently or quikly fall away and thus alas I make a mocke of sinne yea I make a God of sinne and serue it in thy steed neglecting thy bountifulnesse which leadeth me to repentance if thou shouldest Lord suffer my conscience checke me and Satan burden mee with the least sinne it would bee so heauy and grieuous that a thousand worlds could not abide it how could I then endure the greatest Adam for eating of an apple was throwne out of Paradise Moses for speaking of an angry worde died in the wildernesse and was not suffered to goe into Canaan Ezekiah did but shew his treasures and for that he all were carried to Babell Iosiah did war against thine and his enemies yet because hee asked not counsel of thee was slaine in battell these for what sinnes are lesse hast thou punished in thy deare children O what shall become of mee in my great sinnes if the iust shal scarcely bee saued where shall the wicked appeare if this shall bee done vnto the greene tree what shall bee done to the dry the least offence commeth not alone but brings a legion of transgressions with it yea the least made thy Son smart and accursed and to say my God my God ctc. and O that no sinne could escape mee without true godly sorrow for the lesse I fauour sinne the nearer I am to thy fauour small meanes doe prouoke me to it but great meanes cannot reuoke me from it the spirit is quickly quenched the tender conscience is soone bruised olde sinnes doe retire new sinnes easily assault and doe depriue mee of the company of a good conscience Lord. Thou must deare soule beware of all sinne generally and must looke narrowly vnto some speciall sinnes whereunto thy nature is most inclinable and subiect for one dead slye will corrupt a whole boxe of oyntment Oftentimes meditate of thy secret sins which are hidden as it were in the darke corners of thy heart which I can reueale when I will in making my creatures bring vnto light thy friends to open them thy owne mouth to testifie them thy dreames to make them knowne in sicknesse to raue on them or in frensie to vomit them out the sharpe torment of conscience make thee cōfesse one priuie sinne vnrepented for if the Israelites made the Beniaminites fewer in number and maintaining an euill cause twice to preuaile It is not light that is heauier then all the world I esteem one iot of my lawe more then heauen and earth secret corruptions be light as Baltasar was in Daniels interpretation which is the losse not of an earthly kingdome such as his was but of the kingdome of heauen the maladies of the soule are contrarie to those of the body for these the greater they be the more we seele them the other the lesse while thy sinne is as a more and may bee as it were blowen out make thee free of it when it shall bee a beame it shall scarce be haled out with horses it shold be thy earely and morning worke to cast out sinnes tarry not while thy sinne be great but pray with feeling of wants and sorrowe for sinne else sinne will deceiue thee and deceiuing thee will harme thee make fatte thy heart thou shalt not perceiue it blinde thy minde thou shalt not see it for when wickednesse is at the ripest then destruction is nearest at hand wherefore while sinne is yet in the sprout and hauing but a little course is vnable to make any great breach keepe it vnder and stay it is is hard to get vnto the way of goodnesse harder to continue in it but hardest of all when thou art out of the way to come in again when sinne breaketh out without controulement and beareth the sway with delight to the breaking of the peace with the conscience it is very dangerous thou oughtest of ten to say direct my steps in thy worde and let no iniquity haue dominion ouer mee keepe mee from presumtuous sins let them not raigne ouer mee tarrie not I say vntill the dead blow commeth but resist the first stroakes of sinne for then thou maiest be easily hardened thorough the deceitfulnesse of sinne to day if thou heare my voyce harden not thy heart the violence of sinne is so impetuous that thou mayest soone slip but hardly rise blessed therefore is the man that feareth alway but hee that hardeneth his heart shall fall into euill without sinne thou shalt not be but pray it may be forgiuen neither voyd of tentations for of all tentations not to bee tempted is the greatest but that thou bee not ouercome of them Soule I perceiue sweet Lord there is difference betwixt slumbering and dead sleeping betweene slippes and falles betwixt infirmities and running headlong to vngodlinesse betwixt error with griefe and desire to be freed from it and ignorance wherein the wicked lie still gladly and haue no care to be rid of it I will with my whole minde leaue my sins from hence forth suspect the corruptions and motions of my heart Lord. It is not sufficient poor soule for thee to learne thy sinne for thou maiest fall into it againe and into worse if it bee possible but thou must weep mourne vntil thou com to som grief and such as is answerable to the measure of thy sinnes as it is saide cleanse your hands you sinners and pufie your hearts you double minded bee afflicted and mourne and weep let your
laughter be turned to mourning and your ioy into heauinesse grieuous sins must be repented of with great griefe a sore disease must be cured with sharpe medicines for men must mourne for their sins as one mourneth for his only sonne and and be sorrowfull for them as one is sorrowfull for the death of his first born there must bee in them a great mourning as the mourning of Hadradimmon in the valley of Megiddan for the death of the good King Iosiah euen so must thou mourne because thou hast pierced my Sonne thorough with thy sinnes and wounded him with thy by-past abhominations and thus thou must rent thy heart for a sa man that looks vpon the Sunne if hee turne his face away remaineth turned vntill he turne himselfe againe so hee that turneth himselfe away by sinne maketh himselfe a sinner and so remaineth vntill he turne himselfe againe by hearty repentance and therefore thou must diligently examine thy sinnes not onely in acknowledging of them but also in sense and feeling of them for that will make thee not to change one sin for another but forsake all not as Herod who was contented to relinquish some but not to seperate from his incestuous whore and the young man would rather depart from me albeit that I loued him then from his riches So did Ananias and Saphyra it must then bee a totall not partiall forsaking for whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guiltie of all for the keeping of sinne in part is the losing of grace in whole ye must not forsake sinne for a moment or short time but for euer and not returne with the dogge to the vomit and with the sow to the wallowing in the mire least hauing escaped the filthinesse of this world thou bee yet again intangled in the same for sinnes not truely repented of are meanes to fall vnto them againe thou must not harbour secret sinnes in thy heart and breast but rather desire to be religious then to seeme to be for be assured there is nothing so secret but shal be reuealed whether it bee good or bad thou must not then begin in the spirit and end in the flesh and not only art thou thus to deale with thy grosse sinnes but also with the inwarde corruption of thy nature and the fruits thereof which although thou canst not altogether blot out yet beat it downe and keepe it short for while the tree remayneth in the earth there wil alwaies spring foorth some buds rest neuer from emptying this fountaine from which these mudde springs are deriued Soule By reason of my inward corruption good God I am impoysoned for I see another lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe af my minde bringing me vnto captiuity the lawe of sinne which is in my members oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death for if Satan who neuer ceaseth should do nothing to me yet this would pull and drawe mee from thee vnlesse it be suppressed oh that bondage of sin to bee at the commandement of euery vile wretched lust oh the master the seruice and reward of sinfull persons Satan that God of this world and Prince that ruleth in the children of disobedience hee putteth his vassailes to carry heauier burthens and to toile themselues in baser workes then the cruell taske-masters of Egypt imposed on the poore Israelites impenitent sinners are enthraled to euery bruitish lust they must defile their bodies corrupt their soules consciences and pollute all their works and wayes when and in what manner soeuer the diuell will haue them runne vp and downe like dregges to followe euery vaine delight neuer peaceable by day nor quiet by night euermore labouring to work out their owne ouerthrow possessed with a spirituall phrensie and led by the suggestion of Satan and then the wages of sinne it death to endure endlesse torments in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death now Lord free mee from this slauery of sinne that beeing translated from glory to glory and hauing thy image renued in mee daily more and more I may purifie my selfe euen as thou art pure oh that I might be fenced armed against all enticements it is a blessed thing to worke no iniquity what should it profit a man to win the whole worlde and lose his owne soule it is better to suffer affliction with thy people then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season it is a ioy to liue a holy life euen the life of thee the Lord God the life of Christ the life of Angels to bee zealous of good workes to feele spirituall ioyes in the inward man to looke for a crowne of glory after I haue died the death of the righteous Lord. And so it is true therefore I say search thy corruptions whether thou grow in grace or art consumed in some I giue grace in measure sometime more and some time lesse but they that liue in ignorance and sinne are deade for they sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death for the life of sinne is the death of the man when they sinne with pleasure and delight the best flesh is most tender and where it is most corrupt there it is most hard and where the flesh is nearest to healing there it will more speedily and more freshly bleed the more neare thou art to me the more fearefull thou wilt bee the more pretious thy conscience is the more tender it is for it is a quickning grace of my spirit whē thou feelest peace in conscience and ioy in the holy spirit when thou hast accesse vnto me and reioycest vnder the hope of my glory for blessed is that people which can reioyce in mee they shall walke in the peace of my countenance vnto this peace of minde sincerity must bee linked for blessed is the man to whom I impute no iniquity and in whose heart there is no guile yea blessed are those that are vpright in the way thou must make knowne thy faith by fruits and feeling by sweete effects for loue is carefull to please mee and fearfull to displease and blessed is that man that feareth mee and walketh in my wayes this feare will breed a care of obedience of the word and therefore blessed is hee that heareth the word of God and keepeth that thy heart may stand in awe of mee let mee bee thy feare and dread where my feare is wanting there is no tentation nor sin so great but thou wilt fall in it but remember I beholde all thy wayes and tell all thy steps hee that feareth not me shal feare the least of my creacreatures liue in feare and feare in loue for tasting how gracious I am in all my Saints feare least thou lose so good a Lord this feare will make thee search thy owne corruption the godly
tabernacles we may receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules now the very God of peace sanctifie vs throughout and wee beseech God that our whole spirit soule and body may be kept blamelesse both this day and vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Spirite three persons in one Godhead we ascribe all honour maiesty dominion power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Euening LOrd God heauenly Father wee are come here to worshippe and fall downe and kneele before thee our Maker doe heere acknowledge with quaking and trembling soules our wickednesse to be very great and all the imaginatiōs of the thoughts of our hearts are not only euill continually but also wee doe commit sinne in transgressing thy holy law yea the least sinne breaketh the whole law and maketh vs guilty of the wages therof which is eternall death endlesse condemnation O how filthy and loath some is sinne in the greatest pleasure and most ioyful actions thereof by birth wee are altogether tainted defiled and polluted with corruption and vncleanesse who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse we are prone and desperately set to commit sinne with greedinesse wee reioyce in doing euill alas we delight and repose our chiefe contentment therein although all the day long thou O deare Lord stretchest forth thy hand vnto vs disobedient and gaine-saying people who hate to bee reformed and pluckt out of sin yea our best actions are but beautifull sinnes wee are all vncleane things and all our righteousnesse is as filthie clouts and wee all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde haue carried vs away and we know good Lord that hee that committeth sinne is of the Diuell for the Diuell sinned from the beginning but for this purpose appeared thy Son O God that hee might loose the workes of the Diuell who was to that effect decreed from all eternity promised immediately after our fall in Adam but when the fulnesse of time was come thou O most mercifull father sent forth thy Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe that he might redeeme vs that were vnder the lawe that wee might receiue the adoption of thy sonnes who for vs hath obtained a glorious and meritorious conquest his humaine nature being accompanied with the efficacy of that his diuine ouer the curse dominion and rigour of the lawe chaining vppe Satan and destroying for euer the power of hell sin death and condemnation O Lord our God what can wee render vnto thee for so great graces and benefites wee will take the cuppe of thanksgiuing and call vpon thy name O Lord for thy mercies sake grant vs a full assurance of our acceptation into thy fauour through Iesus Christ a constant desire of the promised happinesse that wee may hunger and thirst after righteousnesse a cheerfull expectation and wayting for all these ioyes spirituall blessings thou hast blessed vs with in heauenly places that wee may willingly resigne our selues vnto thy holy obedience embracing those meanes which thou hast offered for our saluation that wee may trust in the and doe good commit our way vnto thee and cast our selues vpon thee when all meanes shall faile and rest in thee yea euen hope in death reuerently depend vpon the truth of thy promises although wee cannot see them as yet accomplished albeit they seem against all sence and reason that this following night wee may not onely meditate of the true life of God day of resurrection and our arising to iudgement to render account for the workes done in our flesh whether they bee good or bad but also may rest in the sweete bosome of thy portection desiring at all times to bee loosed and to bee with Christ euer thinking the time of our departure to be at hand and therefore to fight a good fight to finish our course and keepe the faith that henceforth there may be laid vppe for vs the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteuos iudge shall giue vs at that day and not vnto vs onely but to all them also that loue his appearing which shall bee cloathed in white array and whose names are written in the booke of life purchased by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ who treadeth for vs the vine presse alone to whom with thee and the holy Spirit our comforter be all praise power honor and glory Amen A Prayer for Thursday Morning O Eternall God and euerlasting Father we from the bottome of our hearts do thanke thee for thy blessings spirituall and temperall common particular that thou hast predestinated vs before the world begā elected vs to be in thy Christ adopted sons called vs by thy spirit to this light of thy Gospell and giuen vs assurance in faith of thy vnchangeable fauour renewing in some measure this corrupt nature and framing thy image in true righteousnes and holinesse in our inwarde man not making vs not onely capable of grace in the soule of wisedome and spirituall knowledge but also making some conformity in vs to thy will in life and conuersation these blessings wee haue receiued of thee freely beside thy continuall prouidence and ouer-sight ouer vs this night by-past and all the daies of our life Lord enlighten our mindes that wee may know all things in thee and nothing any otherwise then as it commeth from thee and as it hath relation to thee for thou art all things in all all things do exist in thee therefore euery thing may be knowne in thee thou most merciful father known yea seene and felt in euery thing euen in the least and basest creature grant therefore that we doe neuer rest in any thing till wee come to thee and now beholde wee approach to renew that soundnes wherewith wee laide downe that no roote of bitternesse breake out at the first of this day and to prouide for holy and setled courses in our callings all the day after and so begin a-new to liue the daily life of grace that thy kindnesse and mercy may follow vs all the dayes of our life and now haue we laid our selues downe in peace which was thy gift doe awake with the comfort there of thy mercies are renewed euery morning if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake we are still with thee good Lord assist vs that wee may daily weaken the olde man in vs with the vitious lusts and sinneful concupiscences thereof giue vs comfortable experience of this our corruption that wee may be the more and more humbled in our selues euer hungring and thirsting for that righteousnesse which is in Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour weane vs from the loue of this world and distrustfull cares for temporall things cōfirm our faith stedfastly in the prouidence of
thee our God for outward benefites giue vs confidence and boldnesse euen to sue to thy presence that wee may finde our life and powers quickned in holy duties especially in prayer zeale of thy glory humility patience feare loue that hauing liuely experience of the power of Christ raigning in our mortall bodies wee may haue strength to perseuere vnto the end for this cause quicken our desires and purposes for well-doing that wee may be humbled for our outwarde faylings and sinnes and inwarde vnreasonable lusts labouring more and more to discerne the deceitfulnesse of the heart and vnsearchablenes thereof that wee may bee euer enflamed to redresse the same grant O heauenly Father that in our calling this day aboue all wee may desire to glorifie thee ayme onely at thy loue that wee may be stirred vp cheerefully to prosecute heauenly things and euer renew our estate in Christ by constant repentance that beleeuing thy promises and applying thē to our selues wee may follow hard after the accomplishment of them by our obedience to thy commandements root out of vs incredulity and couetousnes that setting bonds to these earthly desires by true contentation we may haue our eyes fixed continually vpon heauenly purge out of vs hypocrisie spiritual pride keepe vs from the raigning sinnes of this our time that wee may follow constantly after the mark for the high price of our calling in Iesus Christ knit our hearts vnto thee that we may fear thy name giue vs a hatred of all euill and loue of righteousnesse preuent in vs presumption that wee may worke out our owne saluation with feare and trembling that henceforth wee doe not liue to our selues but to him that died for vs and rose againe and therefore resigning our selues bodies and soules into thy hands O God wayting for thy blessings vpon vs in all humility and lowlinesse not sacrificing to our selues but giuing all glory to thee our God for we are not worthie of the least of all thy mercies and all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto vs thy seruants vpon thee is our fruit found who is like vnto thee that taketh away iniquities and pas-by the transgression of thy heritage thou retaynest not thy wrath for euer because mercy pleaseth thee thou wilt turne againe and haue compassion vpon vs thou wilt subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes in the bottome of the Sea that onely for the merits of thy dearly beloued Sonne Iesus Christ on whom thou hast laid the chastisements of our peace and doest giue thy selfe in him who is thy loue and in whom thou art well pleased to whom with thee and the holy Spirit one very God immortall inuisible infinite and mercifull wee render praise and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer for Thursday Euening O Eternall God and euerliuing Father wee here abase our selues before thee in regarde of our vilenesse and also of the vnworthinesse of the seruice wee doe performe for wee haue not subdued euery imagination in vs that exalteth it selfe against thee neither cut off the power and cords of sinne our zeale is full of ignorance and self-loue our religion replenished with hypocrisie our profession with vaine-glorie our well-doing accompanied with weariesomnes our faith with carnalnesse and our afflictions with impatiency how sluggish remisse are wee in our callings how haue wee been withdrawne in our vntamable lusts wee haue not brought our thoughts in captiuity to thy obedience wee receiue thy blessings with vnthankful hearts neuer returning vnto thee praise how haue wee wasted and neglected this so gracious a time of visitation wherein we might haue builded vppe our selues in thee and practised good vnto others how carelesly haue wee kept our hearts giuing occasion to Satan thereby against vs how much lycence haue we yeelded to the tyrany of the flesh in not liuing soberly and righteously and godly in this present worlde how weakely and feebly haue wee wrastled against our corruptions and which is most miserable custome hath made vs so senslesse past feeling that wee cannot bee moued to beleeue that thy anger is so great or our iniquities so hainous or condition so wretched as truely it is and therefore wee are not affraid of thy Maiesty who is a consuming fire wee doe not tremble at thy iustice who will rewarde euery man according to his workes for tribulation and anguish shal be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill neither doe wee weigh and regard thy plentifull mercies in knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth vs to repentance wherefore we humbly beseech thee to create a cleane heart in vs and to renew a right spirit within vs that we may more sensibly apprehend how wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked we are and now good God according to the measure of that spirituall feeling wee haue obtayned of thee wee most entirely entreate thee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake to forgiue all our sinnes whatsoeuer whensoeuer and wheresoeuer committed against thee for by faith in his obedience are we made righteous who is the end of the lawe for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beleeueth Lord we beleeue help our vnbeliefe hee suffered for vs such miseries as sin had drawne vpon vs that hee might sanctifie them vnto vs both in the humility of his natiuity his whole life and his ignominious and cursed death O what grief was it to him that he came to his owne and his owne receiued him not but was betrayed by them and placed before thy iudgement seate O deare Father as one guilty for vs let our olde man O deare Father be crucified with thy Sonne that the body of sinne may bee destroyed that henceforth wee doe not serue sin any more abolish for his sake that hand-writing that was against vs that our sinnes may neuer come to remembrance before thee who by his death hath ratefied the eternall testament of his grace vnto vs for he was deliuered to death for vs and is risen againe for our iustification for thine owne annoynted sake O Lord let the ioyfull light of thy fauour and countenance shine vpon vs and be reconciled vnto vs grant vs true faith in thy Sonne that beeing iustified thereby before thee wee may haue peace of conscience with thee and our neighbours thereby that wee reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorie in the holy Ghost and become fruitefull in all good works and so by thee our God be made meete to be partakers of thee inheritance of the Saints in light who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs to the kingdom of thy deare Son in whom wee haue redemption thorough his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes now the same Iesus Christ our Lord and our God euen the father which loued vs hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace comforte
our hearts this night and euermore and stablish vs in euery worde and good worke in whose name we call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Friday Morning NOt trusting in our owne worthinesse for there is none but in thy great mercies doe we present our selues before thee this morning O Lord in great weakenesse to shew our thankefulnesse for thy vnspeakeable goodnesse so plentifully bestowed vpon vs most vndeseruedly for what are wee but wormes and what is man that thou art mindefull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him wonderfully hast thon made him in his mothers wombe hee is the image and glory of thee O God thou mightest haue equalled him him with the vgliest and basest creatures it hath pleased thee to spread forth the shadow of the wings of thy protection ouer vs this night wee meditate in the dead of sleepe to haue our soules taken away in thy anger for the offences committed the day before and all the daies of our life and suddenly to haue beene arrainged at thy tribunall seate yet thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and turne vnto thee and now thou hast spared vs vnto this day grant O gracious Father that wee may euer meditate of the true life of thee our God of the day of the resurrection of these our bodies when corruption shall put on incorruption and of our rising to that solemne and dreadfull iudgement O Lord as thou hast banished this nights dardnesse away wherein wee had a sweete repose and sound rest that compassed vs so grant we humbly beseech thee that inward light in minde by the rising vnto vs of that Sunne of righteousnes thy Son the Lord Iesus Christ that wee may mourne for the ignorance and blindenesse that yet resteth in vs and others also the night is past and the day is at hand vouchsafe wee may cast away the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that wee may walke honestly as in the day not in gluttory or drunkennesse nor in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and enuying but that wee may put on the Lord Iesus Christ praising his mercy and patience that yet wee liue to praise him and are continued in life to make our election more sure such is the constancy of thy loue towardes vs O Lord God Father euerlasting for whom thou louest to the ende day vnto day vttereth the same and night vnto night teacheth knowledge thou hast O Lord sealed vs to theday of redemption and hast giuen vs earnest of the spirit of promise in our hearts by the which spirit also wee beholde as in a mirror thy glory O Lord with open face and are changed vnto the same image from glory to glory O when shall we fully enioy the same in that life to come when shall wee cease from all sinne haue perfect knowledge of thee perfect righteousnes and holinesse neuer to bee changed fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition and coniunction with thee our God when thou shalt bee all in all and triumph ouer all thine and our enemies in that inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not reserued in heauen for vs O Lord giue vs the grace that we may keepe our selues in a holy temper and peace of mind by a constant course in all occurrents and so prepare our selues vnto that crowne of glory loking stedfastly vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith to breede constant affiance thereof for this cause O Lord let the glorious light of thy great Maiesty neuer departe from the inwarde eyes of our soules that we may bee seriously affected with the sense of our wants benefits purchased by thy Son our Sauiour and perpetually assisted by thy spirit to consider the great and manifolde blessings which wee haue receiued from thee to prouoke vs to thankefulnesse without which all our prayers are vneffectuall grant good Lord we may seriously bewaile our neglect of prayer and condemne our selues for our lip-labour and customarie deuotions our wearisomensse in well-doing and our contentment with small little feelings and finally we may rest vpon the continual mediation of our blessed aduocate Iesus Christ who continually maketh intercession for vs and is now both praying for vs and ready to present our prayers to the throne of grace and to couer all the infirmities and faylings of them with the mantle of his euerlasting mercies innocency and holinesse to him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost wee render all glory praise dominion thanksgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Euening O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ thy beloued Son our onely Sauiour wee thee from our very hearts for the least of all thy blessings which are infinitely greater then wee can deserue as well as for the greatest and do as readily praise thee for thy mercies receiued as wee were earnest to sue for the obtaining of them and now we offer vnyo thee sacrifice of praise for the preseruation of vs in our callings which are thy ordinances imposed on euery Christian Lord forgiue vs for strayning our conscience in the least euill this day giue vs thy mercifull assistance that wee may cleaue to reioyce in the good testimony thereof that in simplicity and godly purenesse with singlenesse and contentment by thy grace wee haue had our conuersation in the worlde conuincing the hollownesse and hypocrisie of the same which is the moath of well-doing keehe vs good Lord from vncertaintie and dulnesse in good things preserue vs from corruption in iudgement and Apostacy in life Inable vs to holde to the ende and so obtaine the crowne for this cause O Lord giue vs an inclination and resolution of the heart to all goodnesse that wee may iustifie and beautifie therby our professiō giuing diligence to make our calling and election sure that in doing these things wee may neuer fall and so bee deliuered from many inwarde pangs and outward troubles deare Father grant wee may may euer haue righteousnesse in most precious account prosecuting it with all zeale and courage and rest with delight and contentation in it and practise the same not onely as our knowledge informeth but euen desire beyond our knowledge perfection therein Lord make vs renounce Nature and holde on thy Sonne Iesus Christ by a liuely faith and bring foorth the fruits of true righteousnesse in him giue vs good God a holy and settled purpose to serue thee a plaine and sound dealing in our callings daily repentance and coueuenanting with thee for recouery of our decaies make our hearts daily to be informed out of thy word that wee may worke continually as in thy presence with a full and strong perswasion of thy loue and plentifull experience of the same and preferre it aboue all things whatsoeuer more and more be
we shall see light and now heauenly Father wee renew this night the memory of the by-past dayes blessings bestowed vpon vs most vnprofitable seruants begging yea more and more recounting that wee haue receiued beseeching thee to giue vs grace that wee doe not doate or rest vpon temporary things but rather forget them in regard of the the things of the life to come Lord grant vs true wisedome to thinke not so much what thou canst giue vs but what is fit for vs to receiue neither so much on what wee want as what wee haue aboue many of thy most dear children neither yet what we haue but how we haue vsed it and yet not so much what wee haue as what we may haue if we doe beleeue be thankefull and obedient vnto thee how deare therfore are thy thoughts vnto vs O Lord how great is the summe of them if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake wee are still with the for when we called then thou heardest vs and hast increased strength in our soules thou art our God heare O lord the noyse of our prayers O Lord God the strength of our saluation thou art our hope and our portion in the land of the liuing let vs heare therefore thy louing kindnesse in the morning for in thee is our trust shew vs the way that wee should walke in for we lift vp our soules vnto thee deliuer vs O Lord from all danger of body and soule this night and euermore for we hide vs with thee and blessed is hee that hath thee the God of Iacob for his helpe whose hope is in the Lord his God who is neare vnto all that call vpon yea vnto all that call vpon him in truth thou wilt fulfil the desire of them that feare thee thou wilt also heare their cry and thou wilt saue them thou preseruest all them that loue thee all flesh shall blesse thy holy name for euer and euer what a prerogatiue is this thou grantest vnto vs O heauenly Father to attaine vnto by thanksgiuing in that thou O God art the receiuer and we the giuers vnto thee and how much better it is to giue then to receiue and how small a tributerequirest thou for al thy benefits teach vs remember what wee haue receiued heard to hold it fast and repent least thou come on vs as a theefe in the night and it may bee this same night for we doe not know what houre thou wilt come but Lord faithfull art thou which hast called vs to the fellowship of Iesus Christ our Lord who will also do it for thy gifts are without repentance yea and wee haue thy Christ interceding for vs at this time that our faith faile not and thy holy Spirit whereby we doe call Abba deare Father doth abide with vs and shall continue vnto the worlds end deare father whome thou once louest thou louest to the ende and wee are married vnno thee in holinesse and righteousnesse because it is thy pleasure and will we are vnited vnto thy Son our head and giuen to him of thee and therefore wee are sure none shall take vs out of his hands grant vs therefore euerlasting Father according to the riches of thy glory that wee may be strengthened by thy spirit in the inward man that thy Sonne Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith and we being rooted and grounded in loue may be able to cōprehend with all thy Saints what is the bredth and length and depth height and to know the loue of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ which passeth knowledge that wee may be filled with all fulnesse of thee our God vnto thee therefore that is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that aske or thinke according to thy power which worketh in vs be praise in the Church of Iesus Christ thoroughout all generations for euer Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord our God wee this day returne vnto thee who haue fallen by our owne iniquity now againe doe wee take hold of thee will not leaue thee wee feele in this our recouery the vndoubted grace of thee our God in the experience of these sensible combates within vs of the flesh and the spirite which are constant testimonies sure sealings of our begun regeneration now are wee mercifull Father ashamed of our faults and do here this day promise to bee more fearefull of our selues and not so venturous vpon the occasions which are the borders of sin which haue also lessened thy grace oftentimes in vs but O Lord our God hide thy face from our sinnes and put away all our iniquiries cast vs not away from thy presence take not thy holy spirit from vs restore vs to the ioy of thy saluation and stablish vs with thy free spirit whō wee haue alas so often grieued especially on the solemne day of thy Sabbath wee haue polluted and prophaned the same making vp thereby our transgression of the whole lawe wee haue hypocritically professed without any benefite heard thy word so that iustly thou maiest deny vs the good occasion of this daies rest for the which we haue deserued to bee henceforth secluded from so seasonable opportunity and visitation thou hast offered vnto vs that by hearing wee should heare and not vnderstand and by seeing wee should see and not perceiue yea our hearts doe waxe fatte and our eares dull of hearing least we should vnderstand with our hearts and return that thou maist heale vs giue vs therefore thy grace to rightly esteeme of this so great a mercy and strengthen vs this day to sanctifie and appropriate it to the right end to a speciall manner of hearing thee according to thy lawe that wee shake off all impediments whatsoeuer which may with holde from the publique and priuate duties of vnfained godlinesse in keeping our hands from doing euill and choosing the thing that pleaseth thee taking holde of thy couenant that thou mayst make vs ioyfull in the house of prayer and accept of our sacrifices of prayer thankfulnesse vpon that thy holy altar euen Iesus Christ our Sauiour that we may turne away our feete from doing our will on thy holy day call thy Sabbath a delight to consecrate it as glorious to thee O Lord honoring thee not doing our owne wills nor speaking a vaine word and albeit we shall be assaulted O heauenly father with many lets and incumberances to perform this obedience yet giue vs thy holy spirit that we may preferre it to whatsouer motions sinne Sathan the flesh or the world shal suggest to the contrary euer directing our minde to the contemplation of that euerlasting Sabbath when from moneth to moneth and Sabbath to Sabbath al flesh shall come to worship before thee giue vs therefore O heauenly Father thy grace to sequester our selues from
THE ANATOMIE of a distressed Soule Wherein The faults of the elect are discerned from the sinnes of the wicked spirituall defections cured confused consciences resolued all meanes of presumption and desperation remoued the sicknesse dulnesse and deadnesse of the spirit releeued crosses and temptations inward and afflictions outward remedied for the benefite of all that groane vnder the burthen of sinne and feeling of Gods anger thirsting for the sense of reconciliation in the blood of the Lambe ROM 8. 38. 39. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue c. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1619. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sir Robert Nanton Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of his Royall Priuie Councell grace and peace in Iesus Christ. GOd leaues his own children oft to themselues to driue them from the weake holde of their owne strength to relie on himselfe yet doth he heale their backeslidings and loues them freely notwithstanding their reuolting and treacherous dealing against him There is Satan also sifting them and fleshly lusts warring against their soules They may fall in their faith by doubtting of Gods fauour and assurance of their saluation erre in som maine points of religion yea dwell in that ignorance for a season and maintain the same They may fall also in their life in some grosse sins yea sleepe in them vntill they be roused vp and then fall into them againe and so commit rebellion against God and yet remaine in the state of grace For they are not senslesse nor doe continue in their fals hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron without resistance feare or griefe nor becomes in the ende a very beast as doth the hypocrite who falls as the Dromedary that cannot rise againe but their corruption and temptation ouer-ruling them doth mislead them cōming to themselues condemnes thēselues for it and cleares the Lord iustifies him in his iudgements and magnifies the riches of his mercy who neuer forsakes his children but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that they may be able to beare it Of the which both inward and outward temptations and afflictions for keeping of the conscience tender and sensible of the least sinne wilfull fechting againe the light therof of the checkes feares distractions anguishes horrible terrours and swoundings with remedies to the same according to the measure of the Lords grace bestowed vpon mee I haue written here I say which I most humbly dedicate to bee sheltered vnder the protection of your Worshippes fauour And I beseech the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory to establish your heart in his holy feare rectifie your iudgement sanctifie your conscience and giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may knowe what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saincts and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward who belieue according to the working of his mighty power To whose euerlasting blessing I leaue you and rests Yours Worships in all Christian duties Barthol Robertson To the Christian Reader SInce it hath pleased God of his mercy to giue so good a passage vnto my former trauailes I haue made bolde in confidence of thy fauour to let this also see the light I haue been moued thereunto by sundry of my friends and truely I detest and abhorre idlenesse with all my heart yet a brother who was in great confusion of conscience to whom I resorted daily looking if God would put his minde at greater libertie from the thraldome pangs of conscience his case I say spurred mee to vndertake this taske In the method I haue not beene curious for the answere is paralelled to the interrogation so proportionably as I could to the which I haue added prayers for euery day of the weeke to season thy reading which strike most vpon the the cord of thy conscience and because the two extreamities presumption and despaire doe most of all misleade men I haue seasonably subioyned a short meditation of the infinit mercy and iustice of God that to the perfecting of thy saluation thou maiest sayle with an euen and plaine course swaying neither to the left nor right hand and I beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to sanctifie these to thy vse and thee to his glory Amen Thine B. R. The Anatomy of a distressed conscience Containing the discouery of spirituall assaults with the particular remedies thereof in Dialogue-wise betwixt the Lord and the Soule Lord. WHy art thou angry thy countenance cast downe if thou doest wel shalt thou not be accepted and if thou doest euill sin lyeth at the doore and the Iudge standeth before the dore Soule I haue been like a Horse or like a Mule alas which vnderstandeth not and am made like vnto beasts that perish I haue wallowed in my owne vomit in the vanity of my mind haue I euer walked hauing my cogitations darkned being a stranger from the life of God through the ignorance that is in me because of the hardnesse of my heart yet somtime I doe professe I did knowe God but by my workes I deny him and am abnominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke a reprobate I haue walked after my owne imaginations and after the stubbornesse of my wicked heart I haue despised the riches of thy bountifulnsse and patience and long suffering not knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth mee to repentance but after my hardnesse of heart that cannot repent haue heaped vppe vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God thus haue I liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantonnes and haue nourished my heart as in a day of slaughter and what shall now become of mee Lord. Thou hast cause poore soule to bemoane thy selfe for the eyes of the wicked shall faile and their refuge shall perish and their hope shall be sorrowe of minde his owne counsell shall cast him downe his reioycing is but short and the ioy of an hypocrite is but a moment for the wickeds light shall be taken away they are snared in the worke of their owne hands thus I will try the righteous but the wicked and him that loueth iniquity doth my soule hate for I the righteous Lord loue righteousnesse and my countenance beholdeth the iust man many sorrowes shall come to the wicked but thou wretched soule call vnto mee and