good CCXCII Upon the sight of a stone cast into a pool of water AT the first casting in of this stone I see but a few and those little circles too which did arise upon the face of the water into which it was cast but staying a while and that no long time neither behold the circles were multiplied and grew bigger and bigger till they came home to the very bankes of the pool And so Lord will it be with me in the willing admission of any one known sin For though at first it be but one and may seem but a small sin unto me yet being willingly admitted and entertained will soon cause more and greater sins in me till I become beyond measure sinfull unless the grace of God prevent it Lord therefore evermore by thy grace keep me that I may not wittingly or willingly admit of any sin CCXCIII Upon the sight of one lighting a great fire with a match of brimstone put to a little cole on the hearth LOrd I see in this mine own case for when I have by thy grace and the dayly exercise of the work of mortification almost subdued my sins yet if I be not still careful to avoid the occasions of sin they will by meanes of them soon break out again and come to as great an height of impiety as before Lord therefore give me thy grace that I may with all care and diligence avoid all such occasions as may lead me into any sin CCXCIV. Upon the sight of one drawing water out of a well LOrd give me the grace to draw waters out of the wells of salvation CCXCV. Upon my sitting down at a well-furnished table LOrd give me the grace soberly and thankfully to make use of these thy good blessings that this table may not become a snare unto me here nor I for my intemperance and other sins whereby I have so often offended thee in my eating and drinking heretofore I am likely still to do so again except I have thy fear before mine eies be shut out and not suffered to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob at thy table in the kingdom of heaven hereafter CCXCVI. Upon the fight of dogs eating of the crumbes that fell from their Masters table LOrd I confess that 't is not fit that the childrens bread should be given to whelps yet seeing the dogs may eat of the crumbes that fall from their masters table and I in mine own eies am such a Dog and in thine eies far worse if thou shouldst look upon me as I am in my self Lord suffer me though every way thus unworthy yet to gather up some crumbes of comfort from under thy holy table whensoever I shall approch thereunto CCXCVII. Upon my lying down in my bed after a wearisome journey LOrd I have long wearied my self in the waies of wickednesse and now would fain be at rest from them Oh do thou then which callest all such wearied souls unto thee and hast promised rest unto them grant that I being thus wearie of my sins here may rest with thee hereafter in those eternall beds which thou hast prepared for thine in Heaven CCXCVIII Upon the hearing of one that directed a man in his way SHew me likewise thy waies O Lord and teach me thy paths that I may not erre from the waies of thy commandements CCXCIX Upon the hearing of one that was delivered out of prison OH bring my soul also out of this prison of my body when thy will and pleasure is that I with the rest of thy Saints may glorifie thee and be glorified by thee eternally in heaven CCC Upon the hearing of a blind man bemoning his case LOrd if it be so heavy a case to want our bodily eies and to be but bodily blind what is it to want the eies of our soul and to be spiritually blind Lord then whatsoever becometh of the eies of my body let me never I beseech thee be deprived of the eies of my soul nor let the God of this world so blinde my mind that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ may not shine unto me The end Published by this Author The Saints Hony-comb full of Divine Truths touching both Christian belief and a Christians life In two Centuries The Communicants Guide directing the younger sort which have never yet Received and the Elder and ignorant sort which have hitherto Received unworthily how they may Receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper to their souls comfort Both sold by R. Royston at the Angel in Ivy-lane A Catalogue of some Books printed for Richard Royston at the Angel in Ivy-lane London Books written by Mr. Tho. Pierce Rector of Brington THe Sinner impleaded in his own Court wherein are represented the great discouragements from sinning which the Sinner receiveth from Sin it self 2. Correct Copy of some notes concerning Gods Decrees especially of Reprobation The 3 Edition with some Additionals in 4. new 3. The Divine Philanthropie defended in answer to Mr. Barlce in 4. new 4. The Self-revenger to which is added an Appendage touching the judgement of the late L. Primate of Armagh in 4. new 5. A Vindication of Grotius from Mr. Baxter of Mr. Baxter from Mr. Barlce of Episcopal Divines from Both together To which is added an Appendage Touching the judgement of the right Honourable and right Reverend Father in God James Lord Primate of Armagh and Metropolitan of Ireland irrefiagably attested by the Certificates of Dr. Walton Mr. Thorndike and Mr. Gunning sent in a Letter to Doctor Bernard By Tho. Pierce in 4. new 6. The Divine Purity defended in answer to Dr. Reynolds in 4. new Ro. 1. 11. Eph. 5. 14. 1 Cor. 15. 34. Eph. 4. 22 24. Eph. 5. 14. Iob 12. 6. Isa. 61. 10. Ro. 13. 14. Gal. 3. 27. Eph. 4 24. Mat. 10 30 Act. 27. 34 Luk. 21. 18 Luk. 12. 7. Psa. 51. 2. 1 Joh. 1. 7 Rev. 1. 5. 1 Cor. 6. 11. ecel. 5. 1. Rev. 12. 2. Joh. 13. 5. Gal. 5 24. Cant. 5. 3. Deut. 21. 12. 2 Cor. 11. 21 * {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} propriè est sordes quae in summis manuum ac digitorum unguibus colligitur Scapul Jam. 1. 21. Jam. 1. 24 25. Psal. 119. 9. Psal. 19 12. 51. 2 2 Cor. 5. 2. 4. Rom. 13. 14. Gal. 3. 27. Pambo mentioned in Socrat. hist. Eccles. li 4 c. 18. hath the like pious thought upon the like occasion Gal. 4. 4. Rom. 8. 15. Rom. 12. 9. Job 42. 6. Psal. 119. 101. 418. Ezck. 11. 19. 36. 26. Mat. 3. 9. Mal. 4. 2. Acts 26. 18. Col. 1. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rom. 14. 12. Matth. 25. 19. Luk. 12. 46. Mark 13 35. Ps. 90. 12. Gen. 7. 16. Psal. 4. 8. Rev. 3. 7. Ps. 51. 15. 40. 6. Acts. 16. 14. Matth. 23. 37. Psal. 57. 1. 6. 4. 2 Sam. 11. Mat 26. 70. 1 Cor. 10. 12. Rom. 1.
PIOUS THOUGHTS VENTED In pithy Ejaculations OR THE WAY TO MAKE A RELIGIOUS USE OF ordinary offered occasions By RICHARD GOVE 2 Thess. 5. 17. Pray continually LONDON Printed by J. G. for R. ROYSTON at the Angel in Ivie-lane 1658. TO ALL THOSE that are desirous to make a Religious use of ordinary offered occasions R. G. VVho desires to further the glory of God and the everlasting good of his peoples soules Dedicateth this ensuing TREATISE Zacharias cum loqui non potuit scripsit Luk. 1. 20. 63. Ambros. A WORD OF Advise to the Reader READER ALl ordinary offered occasions should be to a Christian as are Spectacles to a weak or dim sight which not onely looketh on them but through them too and by their help seeth that that without them was hardly discernable These Spectacles I have made use of in this ensuing Treatise and by the help of them have discovered what Religious use may be made of such ordinary offered occasions If this like thee which I have done thou mayst make use of the same and if not let me see a better forme of thine and I shall gladly make use of that and be thy Debtor for it Howsoever let us pray one for another which for his part he shall not cease to doe who is Thine hearty well-wisher in what may be for thy Souls good Richard Gove PIOUS THOUGHTS VENTED In pithy Ejaculations OR The way to make a Religious use of ordinary offered occasions I. Upon a mans first awaking in the morning LORD grant me thy grace to awake out of the sleep of sin that I may live righteously in thy sight II. Upon the putting off of a foule shirt and the putting on of a clean LOrd grant me thy grace that I may every day be more and more enabled to put off the old man and to put on the new III. Upon a mans arising out of his bed LOrd grant me thy grace that I may arise out of the bed of my carnall security whereon I have so long layn IV. Upon a mans putting on of his clothes LOrd clothe thou me with the robes of thy Sons righteousnesse and let thy blessed Spirit every day more and more put on upon my soul that new Man which after thee is created in holinesse and true righteousnesse V. Upon a mans kembing of his head LOrd thy Word doth assure me that all the hairs of my head are numbred and that not one of them doth fall to the ground or perish without thine especiall Providence Oh grant me therefore thy grace that I may still remember this and learn thereby more and more to depend upon thy fatherly care and gracious providence over me for greater matters seeing thou art so providentially carefull for me in these least things VI Upon the washing of a mans face and hands LOrd wash thou me with the bloud of thy Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ from the guilt of all my sins past and let thy blessed Spirit by his grace wash and clense my soul every day more and more from the power and pollution of them for the time to come VII Upon a mans washing of his feet LOrd my affections are the feet of my soule and doe carry that as these other doe my body and passing through the foule and filthy wayes of sin cannot but be much more defiled in thy sight then these are in mine O wash them therefore every day more and more by the powerfull work of thy grace from all former pollutions and being thus washed keep me from defiling them again VIII Upon a mans paring of his Nailes THe captive Damosell under the Law before she could be the wife of him that tooke her in warre must first have her Nailes pared And therefore how shall I ever hope to be espoused to my Saviour Jesus Christ and be presented unto him as a pure Virgin except I doe cut off those excrements of * naughtinesse which are so lothsome to thee my God and to all good men which that I may the better doe Lord give me thy grace to doe it and it shall be done IX Upon a mans looking his face in a Glasse LOrd give me the grace that as by looking in this Glasse I doe see the spots and other deformities of my body so by looking into thy word I may see the spots and other deformities of my Soul and may learne to amend them X. Upon a mans brushing of his Clothes OH that I were as carefull to clense my Soul from my sins as I am to clense my clothes from the spots and dust which are on them XI Upon a mans putting on of some Upper-garment LOrd my desire is not to be unclothed but to be clothed upon and that with that house which is from Heaven And that I may not faile of this my desire Lord give me the grace to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and that both by believing in his merits and by living according to his manners whilest I am here XII Upon the sight of a womans spending much time in her neat and curious dressing of her selfe OH that I were as carefull to adorn and trim my soul to make it pleasant in the sight of God as this woman is to adorn and trim her body to make that pleasing in the sight of men XIII Upon the hearing of a child crying after his father LOrd send forth the spirit of thy Son into my heart that I may in all my distresses cry Abba Father unto thee as thy child should doe XIV Upon the sight of one abhorring a filthy and nasty thing O Lord that I might have thy grace thus to abhorre evill both in my self and others XV Upon the sight of a Carvers cutting and framing of a curious Image out of stone LOrd my heart is stony yet canst thou out of this stony disposition of mine with infinitely more ease make it an heart of flesh and me a child of Abraham which my hearty desire and prayer unto thee is that thou wilt doe for me XVI Upon the sight of the Sunne-rising LOrd grant that Jesus Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse may also arise in my heart and with his beames of saving knowledge dispell more and more the darknesse of ignorance in me XVII Upon the sight of one giving an account of monies received LOrd this will be one day my case and I know not how soon nor how suddenly I shall be called to make this my account before thee O give me thy grace therefore that I may live in a continuall expectation of it and may accordingly provide for it XVIII Upon the sight of one teaching to cast account LOrd teach me to number my dayes that I may apply my heart unto wisdome XIX Upon the locking and bolting of a door LOrd shut thou me in with the bolts of thy fatherly providence and
sight of a traveller wearing a sword OH that I were as carefull in my journey to Heaven-wards to put on the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to defend me from my spirituall enemies as I see this traveller is careful to put on his materiall sword ro defend him from his bodily enemies LXXXVIII Upon the sight of a Sparrow lighting on the ground LOrd thy word doth assure me that this sparrow doth not light or fall on the ground without thy providence Oh give me the grace therefore that I may not fear to fall from an higher to a lower estate if thy will be to have it so seeing I am more worth then many sparrowes LXXXIX Vpon the hearing of one that was gone to sojourn at another mans house LOrd this mans estate and mine are much alike he is a sojourner with man but I with thee my God for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my fathers were Oh give me the grace therefore that I may passe the time of this my sojourning here in fear XC Upon the sight of a snare baited LOrd I cannot passe through any place in this world where the Devil hath not his snares laid and baited for me with some pleasure or profit pretended Oh give me the grace therefore to be alwaies vigilant and watchfull over him and his designes and enterprises that for any worldly respect I may not fall into any of his snares XCI Vpon the sight of one smitten for his faults LOrd let the righreous smite me and and it shall be a kindnesse and let him reprove me and it shall be an excellent Oyle which shall not break mine head XCII Vpon the sight of a Blackmoore LOrd this Blackmoore cannot change his skin no more can he do good that is accustomed to do evil Oh keep me therefore by thy grace that I may not get any evil custom or delight in the practise of any known sin XCIII Vpon the sight of a waiting Gentlewoman BEhold as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistresse so Lord grant that mine eyes may wait upon thee untill thou have mercy on me XCIV Upon the sight of a grain of mustard-seed LOrd this seed is the least of all seeds yet when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a tree so that the birds of the aire come and lodge in the branches of it So Lord grant that that little measure of grace which is yet to be seen in me may in thy good time increase and by thy blessing and gracious assistance become so great that thou thereby maist be glorified others edified and my own soul more and more comforted XCV Upon the sight of the Sea roaring and beating with his waves against the shore in a great storm LOrd Isee in this the truth of thy word which tels me that thou hast set bars and doors to the Sea and hast said unto it hitherto shalt thou come but no further and here shall thy proud waves be stayed Lord deal so with the rage and fury of thine and mine enemies and suffer it not to proceed any further then it may make for thy glory and for the good both of my self and others XCVI Upon the sight of a most loving fathers correction of his child I Know that there cannot be a more loving and tender-hearted father towards a child then this father is and yet for the amendment of something that he knoweth to be amiss in him see how severely he doth correct him Lord therefore keep me from doubting of the love towards me when thou shalt be pleased in never so grievous a manner at any time to afflict me XCVII Upon the sight of footmen running a Race LOrd enlarge my heart that I may run the way of thy commandement and that with that patience confidence and perseverance that I may in the end obtain the incorruptible crown of glory XCVIII Upon the sight of water running out of a rock LOrd strike my hard and stony heart with due remorse for my sinnes that my head may be as waters and mine eyes as a fountain of tears to weep mourn and lament for them as thy child should do XCIX Upon the sight of a Snakes or Adders skin LOrd I see that nature hath taught this Serpent to renew his age by casting his old skin Oh that grace might teach me in like manner to put off the old man that I might be renewed in the spirit of my mind and become a new man in thy sight C. Upon the sight of one starting back at the sudden sight of a Serpent OH that I might have the grace to flee from sin as I see this man to flee from this Serpent CI. Upon the sight of an old weak man leaning on and going by a staff THis staff I see is this old mans stay without which he can neither stand nor go Lord I am as weak in spirituall strength as this old man is in bodily Oh be thou therefore my stay that I fall not and keep thou me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on thee CII Vpon the sight of the Day-star LOrd this Star assures me that it is not far to day and that ere long the Sun will arise Oh that the day of Salvation would dawn unto me and that the day-star of saving knowledge would arise in my heart to assure me that the day-spring from on high will shortly visit me and that the Sun of righteousness Jesus Christ will arise unto me CIII Vpon the sight of one sowing his ground when it rained LOrd give me the grace to sow to the Spirit though it be in tears that I may one day reap in joy CIV. Vpon the sight of one slinging a stone out of a sling LOrd do thou thus sling the souls of thine enemies as out of the middle of a sling but do thou bind up the souls of thy servants in the bundle of life with thee the Lord their God CV Vpon the hearing of a master calling up his servants LOrd it is as high time for me to awake out of the sleep of my sins as it is for these servants to awake out of their bodily sleep Oh therefore call me by thy Word blessed Spirit that I which have so long slept in sin may at last awake and arise out of the bed of my carnall security CVI. Upon the hearing of a Countrey-mans joy for his good crop of corn I Confesse Lord that the Husbandmans joy in harvest for his good crop of corn is great but Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me and then shall I have more gladnesse in my heart then such men have when their corn and wine and oyl encreaseth CVII Vpon the sight of one running
to a tree for shelter in a storm IN like manner Lord do I desire to run unto thee Lord be thou my shelter from the storm of my potent adversaries that the blast of these terrible ones may be as a storm against the wall CVIII Upon the sight of April showers OH let thy word drop down into my heart as these showers doe descend upon the earth that like good ground it may bring forth the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God CIX Upon the sight of a quiver of Arrowes LOrd make me as a polished shaft and do thou hide me in thy Quiver from the face and fury of thine enemies and mine CX Upon the sight of one quenching out of fire LOrd thy Spirit within me is as fire and my sins are as water Oh strengthen me therefore with thy grace that these sins of mine may never be so prevalent in me as to have the power to quench any good motion of thy blessed Spirit within me CXI Vpon the sight of a great load of Corn LOrd keep me from pressing thee down with my sins as I see this cart is pressed down with sheaves CXII Vpon the sight of one making preserves OH thou which art the preserver of men do thou preserve me in Jesus Christ unto thy heavenly Kingdome CXIII Vpon the sight of one overjoyed for having gotten into the presence of an earthly Prince LOrd let me come into thy presence in heaven who art the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and then shall I have infinitely more joy then this world can afford even joy unspeakable and glorious and such pleasures as never shall have end CXIV Vpon the sight of one that endeavoured to save his child by pulling of him out of the fire into which he was faln LOrd I am thine Oh save me for thy mercies sake from the fire of hell CXV Upon the sight of one striving to take something out of anothers hand LOrd I am one of thy sheep and therefore never suffer any of thine and mine enemies to pluck me out of thy hands CXVI Upon the sight of a great preparation made for the entertainment of a great personage LOrd who is greater then thou art Oh that I could with as much care and with as great preparation seek to entertain thee in my soul as this man doth this great personage into his house CXVII Vpon the sight of one that was at plough LOrd thou hast said that no man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdome of God Oh that I might therefore have thy grace to persist and to go on in that Christian course that I have begun that I may not in the end be bereaved of thy heavenly Kingdome CXVIII Vpon the hearing of a Counsellour or Advocate pleading for his Client LOrd Jesus be thou my Advocate with thy Father and do thou appear in his presence for me and plead thou my cause before him against all the enemies of my salvation when they shall seek to lay any thing to my charge CXIX Vpon the sight of a Gardener watering his garden LOrd this Gardener may water his garden to make it fruitfull and the things in it to grow but when he hath done all that he can there will be neither fruit nor growth without thy blessing for Paul may plant and Apollos may water but 't is thou onely must give the increase Lord therefore let thy blessing second my endeavours in all that I shall undertake in thy fear CXX Vpon the sight of a Physitian giving physick to his patient LOrd heal my soul for I have sinned against thee and heal all mine other infirmities for thou Lord onely canst do it and without thee all other are Physitians of no value CXXI Vpon the hearing of one that was cut and cured of the stone THe stone whereof this man complained and wherewith he was so grievously vexed was onely in his body but I Lord have a stony heart within me Oh do thou therefore according to thine own gracious promise made unto me in thy Word take this stony heart out of my flesh and give instead thereof an heart of flesh CXXII Vpon the sight of a pattern to work by LOrd give me the grace to shew my self a pattern of good works to all those with whom I live that thou maist be glorified thereby CXXIII Vpon the sight of one slipping and taking a fall LOrd it is thy charge that he that thinketh he standeth should take heed lest he fall Oh do thou therefore hold up my goings in thy paths that my feet slip not CXXIV Vpon the hearing of Partridges to call THese Partridges being severed do by this their call come together but commonly for their hurt because hereby they discover to the Partridge-taker where they are and so make themselves his prey Lord give me grace to avoid the company and not to hearken to the call of wicked men lest being in their company and being made partaker of their sins I doe also partake of their punishments CXXV Upon the sight of money tied up in a napkin LOrd keep me from being like that unprofitable servant in the Gospel who laid up his masters talent in a napkin lest that be taken from thee and I for not imploying it to thine advantage be cast into utter darkhess where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever CXXVI Vpon the sight of a naked Infant LOrd thus naked came I out of my mothers womb and thus naked shall I return thither again O give me grace therefore to seek for that true clothing the robes of thy Sons righteousness that howsoever it fareth with my body yet my soul may not appear naked in thy sight CXXVII Upon the sight of a Carpenter driving a nail into a piece of timber LOrd do thou fasten me in thy favour as a nail in a sure place and let thy soul-saving word be fastened in my heart by the Masters of the Assemblies the Ministers of thy Word as a naile never to be pulled out from thence CXXVIII Upon the sight of one ear-marking his sheep LOrd grant me the true ear-mark of thy sheep which is to hear thy voice speaking unto me in thy Word as thy child should do CXXIX Upon the sight of a Master beating his Servant LOrd give me the grace that seeing I know the will of thee my Master so much as Ido I may endeavour to do it by leading my life accordingly lest for my carelesness and neglect of my duty therein I be also beaten with many stripes in hel-fire hereafter CXXX Vpon the sight of a cholerick person that was apt to take notice of and to be very angry for the least offence offered him LOrd if thou shouldst be thus extreme to mark every thing that I have
done amiss and wherein I have offended thee I could not answer thee one thing of a thousand neither should I be able to stand in thy sight Lord therefore enter not into judgement with me neither repay me according to my deserts but deal with me according to thy wonted mercies CXXXI Vpon the sight of a great house wherein were many rooms LOrd this puts me in mind of heaven which is an house wherein are many mansions Oh sweet Jesus do thou prepare me a place there and howsoever I am in this world I shall be sure to be happy then CXXXII Vpon the hearing of one caught with a lie LOrd thy Word doth tell me that every one by nature is a liar and I do find that I am as apt and prone to that as to any other sin O therefore remove from me I beseech thee vanity and lies and take from me the way of lying CXXXIII Vpon the hearing of a woman that did long for something LOrd make me to long also for thy salvation and do thou in thy good time satisfie my longing soul CXXXIV Vpon the sight of a weak stomach lothing meat OH that I could O Lord so lothe my self for my sins committed against thee as this weak stomach doth meat CXXXV Vpon the sight of a woman laying leaven THis leaven shewth the nature both of sin and grace for a little of either will leaven the whole lump Lord give me the grace therefore to take heed of the leaven of sin that I may not be sowred therewith and give me such a measure of the leaven of grace that I may not be puffed up and grow proud therewith CXXXVI Upon the sight of two blind men one leading the other I Find in the Gospel that if the blind do lead the blind both will fall into the ditch Lord my body without my soul is blind and so is my soul too without thy grace Oh therefore give me thy grace to enlighten the eyes of my soul lest it lead my body where it should not and so at last both body and soul fall into the irrecoverable ditch of hell fire CXXXVII Upon the sight of two kissing SWeet Jesus my Lord and Saviour kiss thou me with the kisses of thy mouth and bestow on me such comfortable testimonies of thy love here that I may be sure to be beloved of thee for ever hereafter CXXXVIII Upon the hearing of one upbraided with his former faults LOrd remember not against me my former iniquities but blot them all out of the book of thy remembrance CXXXIX Vpon the sight of the keeper of the lions in the Tower of London carying the keyes of the grates in his hand LOrd Jesus do thou which hast the keys of hell and of death never suffer the Devil that roaring Lion of hell to come forth to hurt me CXL Vpon the sight of one searing with an hot Iron LOrd keep me by thy grace that my conscience may never be seared as it were with an hot iron CXLI Upon the sight of a joyner glewing boards together LOrd give us the grace that we may joyn our selves unto thee in a perpetuall covenant never to be forgotten and that we may be joyned one to another in love never to be dissolved CXLII Upon the sight of one giving earnest upon a bargain LOrd grant me the earnest of thy Spirit that I may thereby have an assurance of my right and title to thy heavenly Kingdome purchased for me by the bloud of thy Son CXLIII Upon the sight of incense burned OH that my prayer might be set forth before thee as incense CXLIV Vpon the sight of a precious Jewel LOrd when thou makest up thy Jewels let me be one of them CXLV Upon the sight of a Turtle-Dove flying from a Kite OH give not the soul of thy Turtle-Dove unto the beast and forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever CXLVI Vpon the sight of one that endeavoured to maintain his right ARise O God maintain thine own cause remember thy dayly reproch by the foolish man CXLVII Upon the sight of an hireling at work LOrd thy word tells me that my daies are as the daies of an hireling Oh give me grace therefore to accomplish the work which thou hast set me about as the hireling doth his day and when that is ended I may with him look for that reward of my work which thou in thy mercy hast promised me CXLVIII Upon the sight of one running to hide himself from his persecutors LOrd there be many which seek after my soul to destroy it but Lord be thou my hiding-place to which I may alwaies resort CXLIX Upon the sight of a souldier putting on his helmet LOrd give me the grace to put on for an helmet the hope of salvation CL Upon the sight of one girding on his coat O Lord that I might have thy grace thus to grid up the loines of my mind with the girdle of sincerity and truth CLI Upon the sight of one washing at a fountain LOrd open unto me that fountain which shall be for sin and for uncleannesse even the bloud of my crucified Saviour Jesus Christ and let thy blessed spirit so wash me therein that I may be clensed from my sins and appear righteous again in thy sight CLII. Upon the sight of a filthy cloth taken off from a running sore LOrd give me the grace to hate even the garment spotted with the flesh CLIII Upon the sight of a natural fool LOrd this man is a fool by nature Oh that I might have thy grace to become such a one by grace as he is by nature that so I might be truly and spiritually wise CLIV. Upon the sight of one made clean that had fallen into the mire LOrd make me as carefull to clense my self from all filthinesse both of the flesh and Spirit as this man is desirous to be made clean from this his outward pollution CLV Upon the sight of two fighting LOrd give me the grace to fight the good fight of faith against all thine and mine enemies CLVI Upon the sight of one anointed with eye-salve that had sore eyes LOrd the eyes of my understanding are every way as unable to behold things spirituall as the sore eyes of this man are to behold things corporall Oh do thou therefore sweet Jesus anoint them with thy heavenly eye-salve that I may be better enabled to see them as I should doe CLVII Vpon the sight of a tree that was deeply rooted LOrd grant that I may be rooted and grounded in love in faith and all other saving graces as thy child should be CLVIII Vpon the sight of a Well LOrd grant that thy grace may be in me a well of water springing up to eternall life CLIX. Upon the sight of one planting trees LOrd give me
field LOrd let not the fire of thy wrath and fierce indignation devoure me as this fire doth the stubble that is cast into it but in wrath remember mercy CCLXV. Upon the sight of Rookes in a corn-field newly sown LOrd these fowls are not more desirous to eat up and devour this newly sown corn then is the Devil that master-fowl of the aire to catch away that precious seed of thy word sown in my heart by the ministers and preachers thereof Lord give the grace therefore that I may not be like the ground by the high-way side on which whatsoever seed was sown the fowles presently devoured it because it was not covered with earth but that I may rather be like the good ground wherein the seed sown was so hid and covered that it brought forth fruit in abundance CCLXVI. Vpon the hearing of a strong castle or fort taken by force LOrd my heart the Devil hath for a long time fortified hoping to keep it for himself for ever But Lord thou art stronger then he oh do thou therefore overcome him for me and take me out of his possession that I may live to glorifie thee for this thy wonderfull deliverance of me and for all thy other mercies which thou hast shewed towards me in Jesus Christ CCLXVII Vpon the sight of one that trode in the steps of another that went before him LOrd Jesus thou hast suffered for me and in thy sufferings hast left me an example that I should follow thy steps Oh that I might have thy grace so to do it that following thee here in this world I may in the next attain to that happinesse in Heaven which thou hast promised to all those that follow thee in sincerity and truth CCLXVIII Vpon the sight of one that was sent to reconcile two that were at variance LOrd thou and I have been long at variance by reason of my many and manifold sins committed against thee yet thou art willing I see to have me reconciled unto thee again and for that end hast sent the ministers of thy word as thy Ambassadours to pray me in Christs stead to be reconciled unto thee Lord let not their paines taken herein be fruitlesse and to none effect but give me the grace to accept of the conditions offered and to blesse thy name for the mercy vouchsafed me therein CCLXIX Vpon the sight of chaffe driven away with the wind when one was winnowing LOrd let thine and thy Churches enemies be as chaffe before the wind and let thine Angel scatter them CCLXX. Vpon the sight of one dipping a sop in wine and eating it LOrd grant that after the taking of thy holy Sacrament I may not be like Judas into whom after the taking of the sop Sathan entred lest being filled with iniquity I be brought to destruction both of body and soul as he was CCLXXI. Upon the hearing of some that had suffered shipwrack LOrd keep me from making shipwrack of faith and a good conscience CCLXXII Upon the hearing of a shepherd that watcht his flock by night LOrd be thou my shepherd and do thou which never slumbrest nor sleepest watch over me with the eye of thy fatherly providence that neither the Devil which goeth up and down like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour nor any of his wicked instruments may be able to hurt me CCLXXIII Vpon the sight of a mastive lying before a door LOrd here I see in this mastive lying before this door what I must expect if I shall boldly enter into any known sin for as this mastive lying before the door of this house is ready to fly upon those that shall enter therein so will my conscience fly upon me if I shall enter into the waies of sinne Oh help me therefore with thy grace and keep me by thy power from all such courses that I may neither offend thee my God nor draw upon my self any such sad inconvenience CCLXXIV Upon the sight of a crab-stock grafted with good fruit which yet sent forth many shoots of his own kind LOrd here I see what I am and what I must expect to be as long as I live in this world I may have thy word engrafted in me and may seem thereby to grow in grace and goodnesse but yet still do what I can there will some shoots of my naturall corruption be sprouting forth savouring of the old stock Adams sinfull loines from whence we all came Oh do thou therefore so assist me with thy grace that though such sins may be in me yet they may not reign in me but do thou like a good husband cut and prune them off so as that they may not hinder the growth of thy word in me nor make me unfruitfull in the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ CCLXXV Upon the sight of one that sheltred himself under a tree in the time of a storm LOrd the times wherein we live are stormy times and we know not whether to run for shelter in these sad times but onely unto thee who hast promised to be a place of refuge and a covert from the storm to all those that be thine Oh be thou then such a shelter for us and we will glorifie thy name for this thy mercifull deliverance of us CCLXXVI Upon the sight of divers mens sheep put into one and the same sheep-fold LOrd Jesus thou hast other sheep which are not yet of this thy fold wherein we are Oh do thou then which art the good sheph erd in thy good time bring these also into this thy fold that so there may be one sheep-fold and one shepherd CCLXXVII Vpon the washing of mine own hands LOrd give me the grace that I may be as carefull to wash my hands in innocency before I do approch unto thine Altar there to receive the body and bloud of my Saviour Jesus Christ CCLXXVIII Upon the sight of a cart laden with corn LOrd I have by my many and manifold sins often pressed thee as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves Oh be mercifull unto me for what is past and give me thy grace that I may never do so again hereafter CCLXXIX Vpon the sight of one taking larks in a field HEre I see nets spread here I see larks flittering up and down with their wings though tied by their legs here I see a turning glasse against the Sun with the radiant and shining brightnesse whereof those silly birds are so taken that without fear they hasten to the place here I also see the bird-catcher himself sitting a good way off watching to cast his net over them when he thinks they are within the reach of them And Lord what is this but a lively representation of the Devils that grand fowlers dealing with me For where can I go in this wide field of the world where he hath