out of his reckoning booke Why then should I hang downe my head as though confusion were the portion of mine inheritance To them that loue God all things turne to good This his visitation is but a preparatiue to further felicitie which in due time he will reueale to me his seruant when he hath taken sufficient proofe and experience of my patience which I beséech him to establish and confirme that the possession of eternitie may be the reward of my sufferance Wherefore O most mercifull father if it be thine appointment as thy determinations are secret and hidden from the heart of man that this my sicknes and trouble be vnto death O then gratiouslie heare my supplication and let the voice of my crie enter into thine cares Giue me not ouer in my distresse and weakenesse when Sathan is most busie to spoile me but stand thou like an inuincible Giant on my right hand let the wings of thine almightines ouershadowe me euen vntill my last gaspe Moreouer graunt most mercifull father that at the separation and dissolution of my soule and bodie I may still continue thine my bodie turning into dust whence it tooke first substance and my soule possessing heauen whence it receiued bring O Lord send me a toifull resurrection at the date of iudgement and let me be numbred among the lambes whome thou hast chosen to be ioint-heires with thée of thine owne happines in heauenlie ioies O Lord heare my praier and let my crie come vnto thee Lord haue mercie vpon me Christ haue mercie vpon me O holie Ghost be my comforter O blessed Trinitie receiue my soule into the place of glorie Amen The twelfe Blossome conteining A petition to be said at the houre of death ouer the partie visited and lieng speechlesse O Eternall God the welspring of life and the treasure of true and euerlasting riches thou God of the quicke and the dead thou which hast appointed euerie man a mansion in this earthlie pilgrimage and placed vs here as tenants at thy pleasure to remoue and depart when it is thy will to call vs. thou euen thou which ridest vpon the wings of the winde whose seate is the heauen of heauens whose footstoole is the earth whose messengers are the Angels and celestiall hoast O bow downe thine cies of pitie looke vpon vs. O thou glorie of Sion thou beautie of Hierusalem thou Alpha and Omega thou which art incomprehensible the first person of the holie Trinitie open thy gratious eares and heare the petitions of vs thy seruants O heare vs and that betimes thou sauer of soules whiles breath is in the nostrels of this thy diseased and sicke creature for after this life it is too late to make intercession Thou hast chastened him O Lord inwardlie and outwardlie his strength is turned into weakenes his health into sicknes his flesh consumeth his limines are lame his eiesight waxeth dimme his spéech is stopped all his senses are numined his hart panteth life and death struggle within him and wrestle for superioritie He lieth in pangs he is past hope of recouerie to our iudgement he refuseth sustenance he can take no rest O looke vpon him thou comfort of Israell and deliuer Ioseph out of this prison O Lord haue mercie vpon him O God make him strong to endure this sharpe and bitter conflict Let not the terrour of death the torinent of his sicknes the losse of life or departing from anie transitorie pleasure withdrawe his heart from thée but as thou didst create it and powredst it into his bodie so vouchsafe to reserue it for thy selfe that thou maist be glorifiedin it both now and héereafter when it shall please thee to raise it vp with the rest of the bodie in the last resurrection Behold Lord he is not able to praie for himselfe thy hand is so heauie vpon him at this present he can not so much as lift vp a limme thou hast whipped him so sore he is past hope of health in the eies of man thou hast made such déepe furrowes vpon his backe he is spéechlesse because thou hast taken awaie the vse of his tongue lo Lord he lifteth vp his eies vnto heauen notwithstanding all these infirmities weakenesses O remember him forgiue him his sins remit and blot out of thy reckoning booke the ten thousand talents which he oweth thée He is not able to testifie the inward sorowe of his heart conceiued for sinne so sharpe and seueare is thy present visitation which iustlie and deseruedlie thou hast laid vpon him and surelie though thou didst punish him more rigorouslie yet thou art not accusable of iniustice For iust art thou O Lord in all thy workes and righteous in all thy iudgements But yet Lord we beséech thée to asswage the heate of thy wrath which if it burne still and continue vnquenched alas who shall be able to abide it Behold Lord how lowe he is brought all his bones are out of course which waie so euer he is turned he féeleth nothing but anguish no rest no ease no quietnes can he take such is the weight of thine anger against him for the instruction of vs that are aliue and here present at his visitation that we may learne thereby to detest sinne which is the cause of thy displeasure and to amend least a worse thing happen vnto vs. O Lord we beséech thée to consider our supplications and to accept the praiers which we powre out in thy presence in the behalfe of this our diseased brother And louing Lord if it be thy will to take him hence O then we beséech thee to shorten his time to end his lingering sicknes and so to deliuer him from all earthlie trouble But if it be thy pleasure to raise him vp being thus cast downe and to quicken strengthen him whome thy hand hath driuen almost to deathes dore then at the intercession of vs thy seruants hasten his time of recouerie and restore him vnto health and soundnes We praie for him O Lord not knowing the secrets of thy counsell which is vnchangeable deale with him as it pleaseth thée thine he is to order and dispose For thou art the potter and he but a lumpe of claie vnto thée we commit his soule and bodie thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen for thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen The thirteenth Blossome conteining 1 Gods vniuersall gouernement 2 That he annointeth Kings and Queenes and why 3 A petition vnto him in the behalfe of our gratious Queene Elizabeth 4 His mercie in preseruing her in time of tribulation 5 A praier for the continuance of her good estate 6 Against the enimies of the truth either to be conuerted or confounded 7 The Church of God and the Commonwealth two sisters 8 The death of Christ a full ransome for all our sinnes 9 Requestes to be dailie made of euerie true Christian. 1 O Gratious Lord and most mercifull father we acknowledge
starres in the skies yet I beleéue that thy mercie which is aboue all thy workes is able to dispense with the multitude of my sinnes and throughlie to cleanse and wash me from the blots and spots of mine iniquities And therfore O gratious God with vnfeined repentance I prostrate my selfe before theé crieng and calling vnto theé to deale with me in the measure of thy mercie and not in the weight of thy furie though my transgressions exceede number For if thou shouldest reckon with me in rigour I should be found more light than vanitie it would fare with me as with chaffe before the winde or as with bauen in a scorching fornace mine end would be death my reward confusion O heare me therefore O louing Lord faithfullie calling vpon thee with him that said O sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon me and with her that said If I might but touch the hemme of his garment I shall be whole and with him that said Lord I beleéue oh helpe mine vnbeleéfe and with him that said Father I haue sinned against heauen and against theé and with him that said O Lord be mercifull vnto me a sinner Cast downe thy louing lookes vpon me lamenting Lazarus lieng in wofull case visited by thy hand and groning vnder the rod of thy correction spare me O God spare me O good Lord and be not angrie with me for euer I take it for an vndoubted truth that all manner of punishments proceéde from theé as accustomed meanes and wonted waies which thou vfest to call thy best children home and therfore I am in so much the more comfort that this thy visitation and chastisement is no signe of thine endles anger against me though sicknes and all kind of annoiances sprang and issued from sinne but a token and argument of thy fauour and louing kindnes Yea Lord though it tend to temporall death whereby my bodie is wounded yet I am reposed in this hope and affiance that my soule shall not seé corruption but shall be receiued into heauen to rest in the bosome of faithfull Abraham till the time be come of the generall iudgment glorious resurrection I knowe and it is the duetie of all true Christians to confesse no lesse that from the beginning thou visitedst thy children yea on them whome thou most tenderlie louedst thou diddest laie some portion of thy correction partlie to trie them in tribulation and to confirme their faith by patience in aduersitie but speciallie to assure their spirit that they are thy children and thou their father they thy shéepe and thou their shepheard they thy people and thou their gouernour they thy souldiours and thou their captaine they thy chosen and thou their glorie Thou calledst to the inheritance of thy kingdome after the daies of his pilgrimage were spent Abraham the father of the faithfull Thou calledst vnto the ioies of heauen Iacob and Ioseph when they had runne their appointed race Thou calledst vnto endlesse blessednesse that mild minded man the mirrour of méekenes Moses I meane thy righteous seruant when he had fulfilled his course Thou calledst vnto the place of eternitie Iosua and Caleb and other gratious Iudges of thy people when the houreglasse of their life was run out Thou calledst vnto the fort of felicitie Samuell and Dauid prophets of thine owne appointment when their full yeares were expired Thou calledst vnto the Paradise of perfect pleasure Ezechias Iosias other vertuous Kings when their earthlie tabernacle was torne and rent in sunder Thou calledst vnto euerlasting happinesse Esaie Ieremie and the rest of thy seruants the Prophets when they had liued their full time in this world Thou calledst vnto thy kingdome Iames Iohn Paule Peter and other thine Apostles when they had discharged their dutie in fulfilling their commission And to conclude thou calledst vnto the throne of triumph and victorie Iesus Christ thy son that immaculate and vnblemished lambe that innocent shéepe that swéete Samaritan and surgion of our soules when he had finished the spirituall building whereof he himselfe was the foundation and chéefe corner stone when I saie he had accomplished thy will and vanquished sinne Sathan death and hell In bringing which things about thou didest vse ordinarie meanes euen death the waie of all flesh that by their example thy seruants might be comforted in sicknes that as thy kindnes was plentifullie declared vnto them in deliuering them out of this wildernes and translating them to eternall happinesse so to me no lesse than vnto them though for a time thou laiest thy hand vpon me and scour gest me with thy rod thy fatherlie loue and affection is manifest For whome thou louest him thou chastenest and whippest euerie child thou adoptest and choosest that the consolation of their spirit may be the more increased Wo were I if thou shouldst not visit me O Lord wretched were my state and condition it thou shouldest not trie me with the fire of afflictions Sicknes is thy messenger pouertie is thy messenger yea death is thy messenger whome thou incessantlie sendest vnto thy seruants to call them vnto thée and thy kingdome In consideration whereof I thy child as I faithfullie beléeue adopted in Christ visited at this present by thy hand and patientlie abiding the sharpenesse of thy scourge am erected and incouraged with a certaine and infallible hope that at thy good pleasure thou wilt worke all in me for the best to my soule saluation and to thy selfe glorification Why should I murmur against thée though I am griped with anguish Why should I mistrust thy mercie though my paines be somewhat extreame Why should I despaire as though thou wert not mercifull No no so long Lord as there remaineth breath in my nostrels and so long as mine eies are open and so long as my tong hath the power of speach thy spirit being present with me and comforting me I will thus thinke with my selfe The Lords will be fulfilled when he séeth best time he will make an end of my tribulation He doth not punish me as a reprobate to my condemnation but he correcteth me as a child to my saluation I am the worke of his hands he created me and made me of nothing to the honour of himselfe did he make me and therefore I hope he will not destroie his owne workemanship though it resteth in his will and pleasure to dispose all things as séemeth best to his diuine Maiestie His child I am adopted in the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ inheritour of the kingdome of heauen through the spirit of sanctification a member of his mysticall bodie a grape of his vine a sheafe of his haruest a shéepe of his flocke and therefore I trust he will be my gratious God This is my comfort that thus thou doest chastise me not in iudgement to desperation but in mercie to consolation and this is my ioie that hereby I am assured that my name is written in his register and as for my faults he hath raced them
most bountifull and gratious God thou hast giuen vs the vse of all these things and made vs possessours of the same we hartilie beséech thée to instill and let drop into the furrowes of our hearts the acceptable deaw of thankefulnes wherewith our entrailes being throughlie moistened and made souple we may remember and thinke vpon thy tender loue and more than fatherlie kindnesse and in thy gifts giue thée glorie and magnifie thy name with the sound of our tongues and the consent of our hearts 9 For alas what are we miserable and beggerlie wretches that haue nothing by inheritance but sinne and wickednes What are we able to giue considering that we haue nothing but that which we haue receiued in respect wherof our owne wretchednes bewraieth it selfe and our continuall neede and nakednes is manifest Onelie this thou requirest euen the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing which is the thing that we are commanded to paie vnto thée For recompense thou requirest none since that whatsoeuer thou giuest thou giuest fréelie without looking for reward 10 Wherfore most mercifull father and déere God make vs thankefull receiuers of thy benefites and that we may giue a testimonie of our thankefulnes loose and vntwist the strings of our tongues and open the pipes of our hearts that they both may sound foorth thy most magnificent maiestie and praise thée to whome perpetuall praise belongeth Graunt this necessarie petition most bountifull God for the merits of thy sonne Christ Iesus our onlie mediatour and aduocate Amen The second Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefit of our creation WE praise and magnifie thée O eternall GOD for thy great mercie in that it hath pleased thée among all the workes of thine hands to make vs the most excellent and noblest examples of thy iustice wisedome and goodnes We glorifie thée also for that immortall essence the principall part of our nature euen our reasonable soule which although it be not properlie comprehended in place yet is it resident in cur bodies and there dwelleth as in a mansion house not onelie to minister life to all the members and parts of our bodies and to make the instruments thereof méete and fitlie seruing for the actions wherevnto they are apointed but also to beare the chiefe office in the gouernement of our life and that not onlie about the duties incident and belonging to this earthlie and transitorie life but also to stir and quicken vs vp to the seruice and worship of thée our most mercifull Creator And as we praise thée for creating vs like to thine owne image not onlie in the outward frame of our bodies wherin thy glorie doth appeare but also in the inward shape of the soule which is the proper seate of thy likenesse so do we magnifie thée for all the graces and blessings wherewith it hath pleased thée to beautifie adorne and enrich the one and the other Beséeching thée to voutsafe vs the direction of thy spirit that we may during the time of our iournie in the wildernesse of this world emploie and vse them to that principall end whereto they were bestowed vpon vs namelie to the benefite of our brethren and the setting foorth of thine eternall glorie through Iesus Christ our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen The third Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefite of our election GLorie and praise be giuen to thée O Lord in that thou hast vouchsafed to call and elect vs a peculiar and chosen people vnto thy selfe and to reckon vs in the lot of thine inheritance being ordeined to saluation whereas contrariwise a great number are appointed to condemnation Which gratious gift of thine eternall election we referre not to anie worthines in vs or to anie merits of workes that we are able to do but onlie to the méere mercy and bountifull liberalitie of thée our maker who adoptest some into the hope of euerlasting life and iudgest othersome to eternall death which mysterie is laid vp in the height of thy heauenlie wisedome far aboue the reach of our reason and vnderstanding that according to thy will and pleasure thou mightest be honoured Like thankes be giuen vnto thée O most mercifull Father for that thou hast not onlie called vs vnto this glorious estate of grace but hast so assigned the same vnto vs that the certaintie of the effect thereof is not in suspense or doubtfull For it hath pleased thée of thine incomprehensible goodnes to binde vs together one with another in Christ our head we being his mysticall members and to knit vs vnto thy selfe with a knot vnpossible to be loosed For this thine vnspeakeable mercie we praise and magnifie thée and thy sonne Iesus Christ our tender mediatour and aduocate Amen The fourth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefite of our redemption WE giue thée most hartie thanks for all thy good gifts O eternall GOD of thy great goodnesse testified vnto vs euen from the beginning of the world to this present houre and speciallie for the performance of thy promise made vnto our forefathers the Patriarches and their generations but accomplished to vs vpon whome the ends of the world approch knowing that the noblenes and excellencie of our creation would so little profit vs considering our fall in the person of Adam that it would rather turne to our greater shame such is thy iustice who deniest vs when we be defiled and corrupted with sinne to be thy handieworke And therefore we cannot sufficientlie extoll thy bottomles bountie in tendering our decaied state that when we were danmed dead and lost in our selues didst send downe from heauen thy déerelie and onlie begotten sonne to take our nature vpon him and to die for our redemption that in him we might séeke for righteousnes deliuerance life and saluation according to the testimonie of thy seruant Peter teaching vs that there is none other name vnder heauen giuen vnto men wherein they must be saued By which name of Iesus he was not vnaduisedlie called or by chance and aduenture nor yet by the will of men but brought euen from heauen by an Angell the publisher of thy decrée with a reason also giuen because he was sent to saue the people from their sins Unto thée therefore O God the father our Creator and O Christ the sonne our redéemer be all honor and praise for euer and euer Amen The fift Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing vnto Christ for the benefite of our reconciliation MOst hartie thankes be giuen vnto thée O tender sauiour of our soules who being the immaculate and vnspotted Lambe of God the father wast well content to be charged with our offences that we might taste the sweete fruites of thine innocencie and didst most willinglie offer vp thy bodie an oblation vnto thy father after that definitiue sentence pronounced in the Consistorie had passed against thée in iudgement that we the children of wrath out-casts from the Common wealth of Israell strangers from the couenant enimies vnto
abhominations How farre these swine are from the footepath to felicitie anie man may iudge 5 It is not to be spoken for the truth trieth it selfe that these men sit in the shadowe of death and though they séeme to haue their heauen in this life yet doubtles both their féete are in hell mouth and their bodies and soules are like to followe one daie except the wonderfull grace of God and his vnspeakeable mercie worke in them a strange and vnthought vpon alteration For no man of himselfe can streighten his crookednes plaine his roughnes soften his hardnes swéeten his sowrenes tame his wildnes refourme his wickednes cleanse his filthines supplie his vnperfectnes this is the worke of Gods spirit the aide and assistance whereof we must séeke by praier and inuocation before we can treade the footepath to felicitie 6 Now séeing that we are subiect vnto falling and not able to stand vnlesse the Lord staie vs moreouer for that the waie of the King and the begger in respect of this life is all one Againe séeing we haue a daie of resurrection when we all shall receiue as we haue deserued paine in hell or ioie in heauen were it not madnes naie were it not desperatenes in vs the cogitation of these things with a number more neglected to runne on still with full raine in wickednes to become slaues to sinne to serue Sathan to fight against God to adnihilate or make of none effect the merits of Christs passion to minister occasion to the Angels of mourning to gréeue the holie Ghost to buffet and wound thine owne soule to throwe thy selfe wilfullie into destruction I thinke yes what is thine opinion 7 Well fare the prodigall childe for he wandering in this wrong waie and being touched in conscience and taught that he was not right retired and came home with a sorrowfull song and lamentable outcrie Father I haue sinned Well fare Marie Magdalene for she trauelling in this bypath of perdition and inwardlie called to a reformation of her filthie life for she was a gréeuous sinner submitted her selfe fell on the ground stooped knéeled vpon her knées washed the féete of Iesus with her teares and wiped them with the heares of her head Well fare the poore and contemned Publicane for he in the heauines of his hart lamented that euer he ranne at randon in this crooked waie he thumped his breast with his fistes and from the verie bottome of his heart cried out for mercie saieng O Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Well fare the Niniuites for they hauing gone astraie like lost shéepe and walking in the waie of sinners which is the waie of death heard the Prophet Ionas ringing vnto them the alarum bell of repentance and being reuoked from their wickednes escaped threatened destruction Well fare Ioseph that paterne of integritie and vprightnes for he would not in anie wise walke with the wife of Potiphar in the waie of wantonnes her alluring lookes her flattering enticements her proffered violence her instant and importunate temptations notwithstanding These with millians more may teach and instruct such as tender the saluation of their owne soules that it is better to treade the streight and narrowe path of vertue and innocencie which leadeth vnto life though it séeme vnpleasant and troublesome than to wander in the wide waie of wickednes which tendeth vnto eternall death though it be most delectable and fragrant for this is no footepath to felicitie 8 But wo worth that cruell cutthrote whose maister hauing forgiuen him a great debt euen the summe of ten thousand talents arrested his fellowseruant for a debt of an hundred pence cruellie cast him in prison and would not release him till he had discharged the whole summe which was but fiue and twentie shillings This fellowe walked in the waie of wickednes and therefore he is condemned vnto death eternall Wo vnto that graceles and dissembling sonne who being commanded of his father to go and worke in his Uineyard answered that he would and yet went not but spent the time otherwise vnthriftilie this man walked in the waie of disobedience which is sinne and therefore is in danger of eternall death Wo vnto those merciles husbandmen vnto whome the trauelling housholder hauing let out his Uineyard and requiring the increase of the fame by his seruants whome he had sent to that purpose was not onlie withstoode in his message but had not onelie his seruants but also his onelie sonne the heire of all his lands kéeping possession abused beaten and killed These husbandmen for their crueltie and vniust dealing shall abie at the daie of iudgement and as they walked in the waie of death so death euen euerlasting death shall be their portion Wo vnto those vnthankefull and careles worldlings who being solemnelie inuited and bidden to that great supper in the Gospell excused themselues by the necessitie of their weightie affaires and refused to come for they in so doing neglected their owne soules health therby most wilfullie ran in danger of eternall death Wo vnto him that being vngarnished with a wedding garment durst notwithstanding sit downe at the banket for he in so doing did highlie offend the maister of the feast and by his presumption ranne in danger of death and damnation Wo vnto that yong man whom Christ by his owne mouth taught how to become perfect namelie by selling all that he had and giuing it vnto the poore which doctrine séeming bitter vnto him and too sharp for his digestion he departed too too heauie and sorrowfull as very loth to pay so deare for heauenlie treasure This rich Gentleman would not pay so hie a price for the discipline of Christ and therefore was so much the further off from life and saluation by how much he was nearer vnto death and condemnation Wo vnto that couetous foole who hauing his hart set vpon his halfepenie inlarged his barnes to receiue his plentifull crop singing swéetelie to his soule Be merrie and take thine ease thou hast wealth enough for manie yeares not mistrusting or doubting anie thing that the diuels were agréed that same night to fetch his soule away And thus he wretched worldling walked in the way of death and destruction Wo vnto the vncleane beastlie Gergesens among whom Christ working manie miracles was so farre from any curteous intertainment that he was desired for the safetie of their swine to depart from their coasts thus preferring their hogs before their souls health they wilfullie walked the way of death and vtter desolation not passing a point for the footepath to felicitie 9 The Scripture abounding with such examples teacheth vs the danger of walking in darkenesse and sitting in the shadowe of death And therefore néeding no better schoolemaister vnto Christ let vs be content to learne in them the wholsome lessons of life which if we print in the tables of our hart kéepe grauen in memorie as in a marble stone to imitate and followe them to be ruled
deliuered before at large A Listning eare that loues to learne how to amend that is amisse By grace diuine shall haue the choice of that which good healthfull is Resist the force and strength of sinne with spirituall artillerie Absteine froÌ„ noisome lusts This is the footepath to felicitie Haue alwaies in rememberance Christ Iesus crucifide to death And let the same thy comfort be till vtter gaspe of life and breath Meeke minded be all pride detest and learne of Christ humilitie Forbeare thy furious foe This is the footepath to felicitie Lament the lacke of faith and truth which lies forsaken and forlorne Exhort to peace where it doth want and of the needie thinke no scorne Make much of such as pleasure take in fostring loue and charitie In such is hope of grace This is the footepath to felicitie Nothing so much doth like the Lord as louing of his heauenlie lawe Giue eare therto and from the same let no alurement thee withdrawe An vpright life delight to leade thy lust keepe in captiuitie By vertue honour seeke This is the footepath to felicitie Reuolt not from the word of truth but euen to death the same professe And make account that thy reward will be eternall happinesse Hell is the hire of euerie one that is to truth an enimie A true beleeuer die This is the footepath to felicitie Marke what reposed is in heauen for such as do their maisters will Free libertie from thraldoms yoke and blessed Angels food their fill Lord lighten thou our mistie eâ—â—s that we may loue the veritie Extend to vs thy spirit This is the footepath to felicitie Make vs to ioie in nothing more than in thy word procuring peace I meane thy Gospell full of grace the loue whereof O Lord increase New harts new minds create in vs and make vs like thy maiestie Good like thy selfe so shall we finde the footepath to felicitie Amen FINIS A Guide to Godlinesse diuided into three speciall branches namelie Confession Petition Thanksgiuing and their seuerall blossomes A Christian treatise and no lesse sweete and comfortable than necessarie and profitable to be read both for common and priuate vse c. BY ABRAHAM FLEMING 1. Timoth. 4 8. Godlines is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that which is to come ¶ Printed at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the Starre 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader AMong all the meanes which God hath ordeined to bring man to the state of blessednes I finde praier to be pretious profitable and necessarie Pretious because it is the incense which we are commanded to burne vnto the Lord in the sanctuarie of our harts pretious I saie because thereby we obteine at the hands of God whatsoeuer tendeth to the good estate of the soule and yet once againe pretious because the Lord God at the ascending thereof vp into heauen stretcheth foorth his bountifull hand and largelie bestoweth vpon vs whatsoeuer is beneficiall for our mortall bodies Profitable because it procureth vnto vs the ministration of all maner commodities behoofull for this life For it is the onlie instrument which we are commanded by Christ in the Gospell to vse if we stand in neede of anie thing either temporall or spirituall during our pilgrimage in this life as the verie words of our sauiour seeme to import in this sense saieng Whatsoeuer ye aske of the father in my name it shall be giuen you Againe Aske and ye shal haue as if he said If ye aske not ye are worthie to want because you neglect the vse of the precept Now who is so ignorant but knoweth that the asking which Christ meaneth is praier For to aske of God is not to aske after the maner of men with a kind of carnal and corruptible affection the end where of is to staie the force of concupiscence or desire and the obteining of that which is required but it is an inward secret heauenlie by we are so farre from profiting that of our selues we should waxe worse and worse 3 For the more light of knowledge is shewed the blinder would we remaine the greater obedience is taught the frowarder and stubberner would we become if thou by the mightie working of thy holie spirit shouldest not cause it to be fruitefull And although we haue this naturall corruption in common with the whole rotten race of Adam yet we confesse that in vs it hath budded and shot forth so much more than in others as we haue had mo meanes to kill it and to cause it to wither than others haue had 4 Where first of all the gratious offer of the treasure of thy holie Gospell vnto vs maketh vs guiltie manie waies For where passing by manie other nations thou hast trusted our nation withall yet with a number of vs it hath found as small entertainment and felt as great resistance as amongst them at whose gates it neuer knocked For a great portion of the land partlie neuer yéelding themselues to the obedience thereof and partlie falling from it after they had once yéelded stand proudelie as it were at the staues end with thée The rest which make profession of their submission vnto it do it not accordinglie For first there bée heapes of our people which either through a déepe rooted affection and loue to Popish religion or through a wicked opinion which they nourish of embracing the truth set foorth are so nousled blinded and misled as that they still abide in an vtter ignorance of the truth it selfe in such fort that although there be no want of preaching yet they are as rawe in the knowledge of the true seruice of thée as they were expert before in the seruice of the diuell 5 And where knowledge is to anie such sufficiencie as is requisite for the inheritors of the kingdome of heauen there is it for a great part ioined with such hypocrisie as maketh them more detestable before thée which searchest the verie reines than if they had still continued in their ignorance Now for the remnant of vs which through grace haue trulie and faithfullie beleeued it is with so great weakenes of faith and so small reformation of manners that our glorious profession of the Gospell supported and borne out with so small shewe of good fruites which the excellencie therof doth require maketh not onelie the enimies to condemne vs but our selues to suspect one another whether we belong vnto thée or no. 6 Wherein O Lord we acknowledge that to be our great and horrible sinne that being put in trust with this vnspeakeable treasure of thy holie Gospell and preferred before our neighbors professors about vs yet we are in thankefull obedience vnto thee behinde them all first in knowledge last in zeale before them in the doctrine of thy holie Gospell behinde them in the discipline of the same 7 The yoke of the slauerie of our bodies which the Popish religion
that we feéling our selues inwardlie before thy iudgement seate discharged and our consciences towards theé released may be swallowed vp with an vnfeined loue toward thy heauenlie Maiestie and towards our brethren for thy sake 5 Make sinne to die in vs dailie more and more that we may hate detest and vtterlie abhorre all sinne and wickednes in all men but especiallie in our selues that we may stronglie through thy holie spirit set our selues in open warre and defiance against all sin and wickednes that we please not our selues in our sinnes but streightlie examining sinne by the iust rule of thy holie lawes we may vtterlie from the bottome of our hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues hauing our whole ioie comfort and consolation vpon those things which be agreéable to thy blessed will 6 Giue vs grace alwaies to be afraide to do anie thing contrarie to thy good pleasure and from the bottome of our hearts to examine and trie our thoughts before thy presence that they be vpright and vnfeined not hypocriticall in outward shew onlie and appearance but that euen all corners of our hearts being opened and disclosed before theé we may euen as though it were openlie before the face of the whole world bring them in shewe knowing that a double hart is detestable in thy sight 7 O Lord direct and guide our feéte that we may walke alwaies as before thine eies not onelie before the eies of man being more carefull to walke circumspectlie in this respect that we haue theé to be a viewer of our doings a thousand fold more than the eies of man that thus we may walke as becommeth thy children not onlie in outward shew but also in sinceritie of hart abhorring euen the least sinne in our selues striuing resisting and fighting against sinne not delighting our selues in sinne nor nourishing the same in our breast but earnestlie embracing and studiouslie seéking after those things which be pleasant in thine eies 8 O good Lord make vs constant and firme harted that neither the feare of man nor losse of goods life lands possessions or friendes drawe vs awaie from theé to do anie the least thing contrarie to thy will and pleasure neither the fauour or friendship of man nor yet the flattering enticements of this world nor the vaine promotions of the same do moue vs anie whit from the true and endles ioie delight pleasure which we ought to haue in those things which be agreéable to thy will and the constant performance of the same but that alwaies to the end of our life we may continue in thy pathes growing and increasing from faith to faith from strength to strength till at the length we shall come to thy euerlasting rest Amen T. C. The second Branch of Petition The first Blossome conteining A praier to God at our vprising in the morning O Bountifull GOD which among all other thine aboundant blessings hast giuen vs the bright daie and Sunne shine to be the guide and gouernour of all our doings we beseéch theé that as thou art the father of light and hast sent light among vs not onlie the light of the cleére daie but also the light of thy glorious Gospell so thou wouldest direct all that we go about in light that we may shew our selues children of light in applieng our labour and occupieng both our minds and bodies in the workes of light that when the daie of retribution shall come when thou wilt reward euerie one according to the measure of their merits we maie enter into that light whose brightnes shall neuer be darkened there to liue with him who is the light of the world Iesus Christ the righteous to whome with theé and the holie Ghost be all laud praise honour and glorie for euermore Amen The second blossome conteining A petition to be said at the putting on of our clothes O Eternall and most mercifull Father we beseéch theé as thou hast giuen vs clothes to couer our bodies to hide our nakednes to preserue our corporall health so to decke and beautifie our soules with the riches of thy true knowledge which is the summe and substance of all perfect happines through Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The third Blossome conteining A petition to be said at the washing of our hands GRant O mercifull sauiour that as with this water the filth and vncleannes of our bodilie members are washed and scowred so our inward soules may by the dailie remembrance and vertue of thy bloudie death and passion be purged from all sinne and iniquitie that both bodie and soule being voide of blemish we maie come the neérer vnto theé in perfection Amen The fourth Blossome conteining A petition to God at our going abroade about our worldlie businesse O Gratious God which sanctifiest the hearts of thy chosen seruants and circumcisest their thoughts in so much that they become wholie acceptable vnto theé and are altogether cleansed from carnalitie and corruption we beseéch theé so to pitch the tents of thy protection and prouidence about vs this present daie that all things whatsoeuer we purpose may by thy gratious guiding be so disposed and prospered that our hearts be not carried awaie with the cares of this world as hauing little hope in thine all sufficiencie and bountifulnes O Lord so season vs with the salt not of vnsauourinesse least we be throwne out vpon the dunghill of reprobation and so troden vnder foote as out-casts of none account but with the salt of sinceritie and righteousnes so powder our spirits that whatsoeuer we take in hand this present daie may be so furthered helped forward and prospered by thy goodnes that we thereby may reape sufficient commoditie none offended or discontented either with vs or our labour nor thou by anie meanes dishonoured but highlie praised and glorified both in vs and in our doings according to the saieng of thy sonne in the holie Gospell Let your light so shine before men that they seéing your good workes may glorifie your father which is in heauen This O Lord and all other graces necessarie grant vnto vs for thy sonnes sake our onlie mediatour and aduocate Amen The fift Blossome conteining A petition to be said when we are at worke and about our businesse PRosper O Lord by the presence assistance of thy grace the businesse which we haue in hand Put into our minds to do it faithfullie and rather for conscience sake than couetousnes Further our affaires we beséech thée of thine infinite goodnes giue our labours prosperous happie successe and graunt vs grace to glorifie thée in thy blessings Amen The sixt Blossome conteining A petition vnto God at the leauing off from our labour whether it be of bodie or minde ALmightie God and most mercifull father which cloathest the lillies of the field with such roialtie as Salomon when he sat vpon the throne of his maiestie neuer possessed which feedest the birds of the aire the beasts of the land and the fish
of the sea with sustenance conuenient and agréeing with their nature we beséech thée to accept at our hands this sacrifice of thankesgiuing offered vp vnto thée for thy manifold benefits and among all other for that thou hast hitherto prospered vs in our busines and labour which thou hast not made frustrate and vnfruitefull but with due measure and weight of profit aduantage hast let it passe out of our hands And we beséech thée O father that as thou hast hitherto bene the ouerséer of all our studies and trauels making them fruitefull and beneficiall vnto vs so it would please thée to continue still thine accustomed bountifulnes and to giue vs grace that for the same we may offer vnto thée not onlie the calues of our lips but also of our hearts through Christ Iesus our onlie sauiour and redéemer Amen The seuenth Blossome conteining A petition to be said at the putting off of our apparell GRant O gratious God thou giuer and preseruer of all creatures that as we put off this our apparell and cast it from vs so we may also thy grace helping and assisting vs put off the old man euen the man of sinne that clogged with the lesse vice and clothed with the more vertue we may be found fit for thée whensoeuer it shall please thée to call vs out of this world thorough Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The eight Blossome conteining A petition vnto God at our going to take naturall rest HEauenlie God which art so prouident and watchfull for the health and preseruation of thy children that they want nothing necessarie for the supportation and maintenance of this their transitorie life not houses to harbour in not garments to put on not foode wherewith to be nourished finallie nothing whatsoeuer it is that they stand in neede of whiles they leade their liues in this transitorie tabernacle we beseech thée that as thou hast let this daie passe luckilie ouer our heads safelie defending vs from all dangers and giuing vs the fruits of our labours least our working should be waste so it would please thée in like measure of mercie and peize of compassion to be our watchman this present night and euerie night so long as our bodies and soules remaine coupled in this vale of vilenes and miserie Also O father we heartilie beséech thée that although darkenes dimme the eies of our bodie wherby the vse of our externall and outward sight is made frustrate and voide yet the eies of our mind may still be broade waking and open continuallie looking for that comfortable comming of thy Christ in glorie that we may be in a readinesse when the trumpet soundeth Arise ye dead and come to iudgement which whether it be in the euening at midnight at the cock-crowing or at the dawning of the daie none can tell no not the Angels But whensoeuer it is O Lord so kéepe vs waking that when thou cōmest our lamps may be found burning Graunt this most mercifull father for thy sons sake Iesus Christ the righteous to whome with thée and the holie Ghost thrée persons and one omnipotent almightie euerlasting and onlie wise God be all laud praise honour dominion and glorie now and for euer Amen The ninth Blossome conteining A petition for a godlie life OPen our cies O Lord that we may behold the woonderfull secrets of thy lawe and therin as in a steele glasse discerne and sée our owne weakenes and by our weakenes our wickednes and by them both our accursednes O procure thou the pleasant comforts and consolations conteined in thy Gospell to sound the verie deapth and bottome of our soules by the plummet of a true and liuelie faith in Christ Iesus Graunt also we beséech thee that our drie and stonie harts by the swéete dewes and showres of thy heauenlie grace dropping downe and soking therinto may be so moistened and softened that like good ground they may euer be yéelding forth plentifull and pleasant fruits to the glorifieng of thy most holie name the supplanting of sin and the aduancement of vertue through the death and bloudshead of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen The tenth Blossome conteining A petition to be said in time of health being a thankesgiuing vnto God for that good blessing WE knowe O mercifull father that a rotten trée can not fructifie no more can the bodie of man diseased take anie pleasure in the vse of thy creatures at leastwise verie little if anie at all For as the morning deaw or waterie clouds falling vpon the field moisteneth the ground and maketh it fruitefull and pleasant euen so health and soundnes possessing euerie limme maketh the whole bodie and all the members of the same apt and able for anie exercise By the benefit whereof we purueie for our selues all such necessaries as are requisite for this our fraile life Knowing this most mercifull father we referre it vnto thy goodnes praising and magnifieng thée for the same and humblie beséeching thee to continue it in vs and to giue vs grace that we abuse it not anie manner of waie Graunt this O bountifull God for Iesus sake Amen The eleuenth Blossome conteining A petition in forme of a confession to be said in the time of sicknesse or otherwise when the partie diseased seemeth to be in danger ALmightie and most mercifull father the punisher of sinne and the iust rewarder of iniquitie I confesse vnto thée that the multitude of my transgressions and the lothsomnes of my life cannot but déepelie displease thy diuine Maiestie and deseruedlie crie out for vengeance against me yea vengeance to death for my misdéedes craue no better reward I knowe that sinne is such a filthie and ouglie thing in thy sight that who soeuer are stained and defiled therwith are euen an abhomination vnto thee for thou being the God of righteousnes delightest not in wickednes neither canst take anie pleasure in iniquitie I confesse that for sinne thou hast sent manie strange and terrible punishments vpon diuers people The olde world in the fulnes of their offences were ouerwhelmed with water from heauen to their vtter destruction The Sodomites were burned and their neighbours about them euen with fire and brimstone for the filthines of their offences The Aegyptians a people obstinate and rebellious and alwaies setting shoulder against the Prophets were rewarded for their misdeédes with most horrible plagues in the heate of thine indignation Yea the Israelits a people peculiarlie chosen to serue theé at what time they sinned greéuouslie and displesed thy diuine Maiestie turning by the manifoldnesse of their transgressions thy mercie into furie thy clemencie into anger thy long suffering into reuengement they felt the smart of thy rod not wrathfullie confounding them as castawaies but louinglie correcting them like children So most mercifull father hoping that in the bloud of Christ Iesus I am adopted into the number of thy children albeit my misdeédes are so manie that they far passe the sands in the seas or the
God might by the diuine vertue of thy death and passion be reconciled and escape the penaltie of the lawe to the curse whereof sinne had made vs subiect but thou by thy sufferings hast set vs at libertie and deliuered vs from danger of damnation We cannot imagine how to extoll thy mercie sufficientlie in taking vpon thée a worke of such difficultie euen the appeasing of thy fathers wrath kindled against vs in whome the glorious image of our Creator was shamefullie defaced Thy bowels of compassion and tender loue excéede all comparison For the manifold torments which thou in thy mortall bodie didst suffer in the presence of most vniust Iudges are assured warrants of thy tendernes ouer vs whome to set frée from punishment thou gauest thine owne déere and most swéete soule to be a satisfactorie oblation vpon the which all our filth of sinne might be cast and so cease as not imputable vnto vs anie more thereby reconciling vs vnto thy father and sealing the same attonement with thy pretious heart bloud To thée therefore be honour and praise for euermore Amen The sixt Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the benefite of our iustification LAude and praise be giuen vnto thée O eternall God who hast vouchsafed to adopt vs into the number of thy chosen children not for anie of our merits but for thy mercie sake the curse of the lawe taking force by sinne notwithstanding And we extoll thy goodnes O most bountifull father for that thou hast of thy frée grace for Iesus sake in whome thou art delighted staied the execution of thy wrath and vengeance against vs who haue prouoked thée to indignation by our manifold sinnes and wickednes which had vtterlie excluded and shut vs out of the gates of thy good will did it not please thée at the intercession of thy beloued sonne to receiue vs into fauour and to reckon vs for righteous by the remission of our sinnes and the imputation of thy sonnes righteousnes We haue so lead our life since the first time that thy hand planted vs in this world as that the whole race which we haue runne hath bene a kind of continuall kindling of thy furie to consume vs and yet O vnmeasurable mercie thou hast so pitied our weakenesses that thou hast and doest iustifie vs that is to saie acquite vs that were accused from all filthines and that by the mediation of thy sonne Iesus Christ not by allowance of our innocencie but by imputation of his righteousnes that in him we which in our selues are iudged vnrighteous might be counted righteous To thée therefore O most louing father and to Iesus Christ thy sonne be all honour and glorie Amen The seuenth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the gift of our sanctification ALmightie God which from time to time hast sanctified thy people and purged their harts from the prophane imaginations of idolatrous and heathenish vnbeléeuers that they might be a holie heritage a peculiar people vnto thee zealous of good workes and addicted vnto the deuout seruice of thée we praise and magnifie thy goodnes in that it hath pleased thée to sequester vs from the number of the pagan people who are altogether ignorant of thée and thy diuine worship and hast opened the eies of our vnderstandings and sanctified them by the visitation and presence of thy holie spirit whereby we haue atteined to the knowledge of thy truth and the mysteries reuealed in the same Which sanctification as thou hast vouchsafed to begin in vs so we most humblie beséech thée to continue euen to the end tearme of our life that the old leauen of maliciousnes being quite cleanfed awaie we may be changed into new dowe to serue thée in holines and righteousnes which is the end of our election O holie Ghost which didst descend in the similitude of a doue and in the likenes of clouen tongues ouershadowe vs we beséech thée and take vp thy dwelling in our harts that whatsoeuer we saie thinke or do may lauour and tast of sanctification so shall we for this and all other thy good graces as we are bound by dutie praise and glorifie thée for euer and euer Amen The eight Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for our preseruation OMnipotent God most mightie in word and déede which hatest nothing that thy holie hands haue created we praise and magnifie thée for all thy benefites bestowed vpon vs from our infancie vntill this our present age for caring and prouiding for vs all necessaries conuenient and agréeable to this our mortall life we thanke thée for our health wealth and libertie our peace quietnes tranquillitie our children offspring and affinitie all which are thy blessings not due to vs by desert but bestowed vpon vs of thy goodnes and frée will And as we glorifie thee for these thy temporall benefits so we magnifie thee and extoll thy most holie name for the rich treasure of thy word and Gospell for thy holie sacraments and other gifts powred vpon thy Church and congregation of whome we confesse our selues to be members and thy son Christ Iesus the principall and supreme head in whome béeing knit together like liuelie stones we make one spirituall building erected to the honour of thy most blessed name We giue thée thankes also O mercifull father for thy patience thy long sufferance and forbearing to punish vs dailie offending against thy diuine maiestie for the preaching of thy word to call vs home vnto thée by repentance and to a reformed life for defending vs from bodilie dangers at home and abroade by water and land in companie and alone whereas manie a one doth miscarrie as we sée and by due proofe are able to testifie For some are drowned some hanged some burned some boiled some dismembred some murthered one this waie another that waie destroied in strange forme and fashion by fire by water by weapon by famine by sicknesse and other casualties some suddenlie some lingeringlie some infamouslie and diuers diuerslie as they are eating as they are drinking as they are dansing as they are cursing as they are forswearing as they are sleeping as they are waking some betraied of their counterfet friends some insnard of their malicious enimies some falling into the hands of théeues on land some assaulted of pirats on sea and manie by manifold meanes ouertaken with diuers dangers oftentimes denouncing extremitie of death From the which perils for that it hath pleased thée of thine infinite clemencie to preserue and saue vs from our verie cradle wherewith we might haue bene ouerthrowne and so spéedilie dispatched had not thy holie hand ouershadowed vs and compassed vs round about being wrapped in our swathling cloutes we giue thée most hartie thankes and praise thy blessed name with pure vndefiled lips Accept our seruice receiue our sacrifice euen the eleuation and lifting vp of our hands and harts vnto thée the oblation of thanksgiuing presented vnto thy diuine Maiestie for thine innumerable graces and blessings
plentifullie powred vpon vs from generation to generation Glorie be to thée O Father glorie be to thée O Son glorie be to thée O holie Ghost from age to age from posteritie to posteritie and let all people saie Amen Amen The ninth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the gratious gift of the Gospell O Almightie God which in thy due and appointed time didst abrogate the lawe of Moses by planting in the place thereof the Gospell of thy Sonne Christ whome when the fulnes of yeares was come thou didst send downe from heauen that he might for our safetie accomplish the summe of thy diuine pleasure and will We giue thée most hartie thankes for that it hath pleased thée of thine especiall goodnes to admit vs among the number of Gentiles vnto whome the same Gospell which he brought from the bosome of thée his heauenlie father is preached and the mysteries of the same reuealed We magnifie thy most excellent and right glorious Name for that thou hast called vs to this state of godlie life lightening the dimme eies and opening the dull eares of our vnderstandings by the finger of thy grace whereby we are put in possession of the iewell of true Christian ioie euen thy sacred and holie word the key of knowledge conducting vs therevnto Giue vs we beséech thée O mercifull father such measure of thy spirit that we may highlie estéeme of this most pretious pearle and shew our selues not vnthankefull with the Gadarens vnto whome thy sonne did disclose the vertue of his diuinitie but thankefull with the Samaritane whome he cured of the leprosie In the meane time we praise thée and as we haue hitherto magnified thée though not as we should yet as we could so will we extoll thy goodnesse which is praiseworthie world without end Amen The tenth Blossome conteining A thankesgiuing for the safetie of the Church O Eternall God who from the beginning didst so tenderlie loue thy little flocke that as the henne couereth her chickens so thou ouerspreadest thy people with the wings of thy prouidence Example we haue of Noah and his familie of Lot and his kindred and of diuers other whome thou preseruedst from imminent perill when the contrarie part euen the wicked thine enimies were vtterlie confounded We giue thée the glorie due vnto thy most blessed Name for sauing the ship of thy Church shaken with the tempests of tyrannous tempestuous seas for protecting it from the malice of spitefull pirats who with the gunshot of their bloudthirstines séeke to sinke this thy little vessell and to ouerwhelme it in the waues that the remnant of thy beloued may be rooted out and vtterlie destroied Praise and thankes be ascribed vnto thée for rescuing thy sellie shéepe from the chops of rauening wolues whome it hath pleased thée whiles they haue attempted the ruine and vndoing of thy little houshold to ouerthrowe and to cast the shame of their owne enuious deuises in their owne faces confounding thy foes who bragged of triumph by making flesh their arme and crowning thy souldiers with garlands of victorie contrarie to hope and expectation Beséeching thée to continue this thy care and kindnes to thy congregation cooped vp in narrowe and streight corners of the world and trenched about with thousands of enimies who watch a due time to mingle our bloud with our owne sacrifices From the which vnhappie hour deliuer vs encreasing our number strengthening our power and fighting for vs thy people For vnto thée onlie we appeale who art able to preuent all the policies of Sathan and euerie member of his ministerie So shall we sing songs of thankesgiuing in thy sanctuarie and lift vp our voices of praise both euening and morning vnto thée the holie one of Israell Hosanna in the highest Amen FINIS THE Schoole of Skill OR The rule of a reformed life Digested into three sententious sequences of the A B C. Wherein the weake haue their full measure of pure milke and the strong their iust weight of sound meate BY ABRAHAM FLEMING Matth. 7 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should do to you euen so do ye to them for this is the Lawe and the Prophets ¶ Printed at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster rowe at the signe of the Starre 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader IT is the custome of parents disposed to traine vp their children in learning and knowledge of tongs artes and sciences first in their infancie to commit them to some honest schoolemaister vnder whome they might be taught the principles of their owne naturall tongue and afterwards in tract of time as their capacitie increased the 〈…〉 of foraigne speeches For he that determineth to erect and build a dwelling house beginneth not at the roofe but at the foundation otherwise as it were a preposterous kinde of attempt so all the world would iudge it fond ridiculous Againe we see and experience teacheth no lesse that the expertst and valiantst Captaine that euer fought in field was not a perfect warriour borne though peraduenture there was in him some vehement inclination to martiall policie and prowesse but first he had his slender beginnings and simple trainings vp fit and conuenient for the nature of his age which trainings vp in militarie knowledge warlike actiuitie continued the learner becommeth more skilfull and couragious and at last by frequenting the field and envring himselfe to trials of valiantnes proueth a passing souldier Euen so we whome nature indeede hath adorned with a goodlie likenes with amiablenes of countenance and with apt proportion of bodie but yet thrust out into the world with polluted soules if we be desirous to please God and not to offend man we must endeuour our selues to leade a life agreeable to the written word of the Lord. The waies and meanes to atteine herevnto do stand vpon certaine principles or positions whereof some being affirmatiue and some negatiue dooe iointlie teach vs what we ought to followe and what to eschue These principles or rules leading vs to the knowledge and practise of a godlie and vpright life I haue thought good to call The Schoole of skill For as to neglect the due obseruation of such precepts and vtterlie to contemne the vse of so wholesome counsels is a manifest reason and argument of follie so to esteeme of them as of acceptable treasures and to order the course of life according to their prescription and platforme is an euident signe and token of good skill Now the Schoolemaister whose Schoole I entitle this to be is such a one indeede as being taught by the holie Ghost from aboue hath had the vse and practise of a godlie and blamelesse life the commoditie whereof and incomparable sweetnesse issuing from thence when he had tasted and sawe that the end of the same was the reward of eternall life he pitied the miserable state of men walking in blindnesse ignorance and destruction and to reuoke them or rather instruct and teach them knowledge
least thou hating thy sonne be an occasion that he cursse thée another daie 64 Be not scornefull least in séeking for wisedome thou find it not though thou wouldest giue gold for it 65 Be not familiar with a foolish man when thou perceiuest not in him the lips of knowledge and vnderstanding 66 Be not iniurious and wrongfull to the poore for therein thou blasphemest thy maker and dishonourest his maiestie 67 Be not proud and haughtie of heart for such doth the Lord abhorre and he hateth them euen to hell 68 Be not froward in thy waies if thou wilt please the Lord but followe the path of peace and equitie 69 Be not a deuiser of vanities which please thine owne heart for with such toies is the Lords wrath kindled 70 Be not a wicked dooer for such as exercise themselues in naughtinesse are an abhomination vnto him 71 Be not carelesse at the Kings displeasure for the wrath and anger of the Prince is the messenger of death 72 Be not rash in thine enterprises for of rashnesse and hardinesse commeth repentance and sorrowe 73 Be not a controller of thy betters for in so doing thou doest run among thorns and thistles 74 Be not offensiue to thy brother in anie thing least he being gréeued complaine against thée bitterlie 75 Be not a prouoker of the angrie least by heaping fire vpon fire thou thy selfe féele the flaming heate 76 Be not acquainted with a sorcerer and with an inchanter or soothsaier kéepe not companie 77 Be not curious in vanities least thou become a scorne among the wise and a mocking-stocke among the sober 78 Be not ouercome with wine and strong drinke for thereby manie a wise man hath shewed him selfe a foole 79 Be not fauourable to the malefactour and seucare against the innocent for that is to peruert iustice 80 Be not a shifter to liue by other mens sweate but let thine owne labour minister vnto thée allowance The tenth Honicombe yeelding most whoalsome dehortations from vice and vitious life 81 BE not wanton nor light in thy behauiour least thy maners being marked thou reape shame and rebuke 82 Be not a couerer of an offence where the offender falleth wilfullie but open his fault that he may be reproued 83 Be not seditious and giuen to discord and strife least thou be counted a mainteiner of mischiefe 84 Be not vainglorious and confident in thy foolishnesse for such a one is like a shee Beare robbed of her whelps 85 Be not a rewarder of euill for good for if thou so do euill shall not depart from thy house 86 Be not a iustifier of the vngodlie nor a condemner of the innocent for both these doth the Lord abhorre 87 Be not delighted in sinne and wickednesse for that is to bring destruction euerlasting death to thine owne soule 88 Be not froward of heart least thou thereby obteine no good neither beare thou a double tong in thy mouth 89 Be not wilfull in thine owne opinion neither defend thou obstinatelie that which is not right 90 Be not wise in thine own conceipte least in so doing thou be counted a foole among the discréete 91 Be not married to thine owne fansie and like not so well of thy selfe as to haue other in contempt 92 Be not hastie to be reuenged vpon thine enimie but bridle thy raging lust for a time with reason 93 Be not stubborne and revellious against a magistrate least thou heape coles of fire vpon thine head 94 Be not presumptuous and of an haughtie heart for the end of pride is shame and confusion 95 Be not a listener after newes nor a raiser vp of reports least thou become a common scorne 96 Be not a laughter at other mens miseries for thine estate is subiect to the like wretchednesse and calamitie 97 Be not a grudger against God if he afflict thée but patientlie beare all tribulations and sorowes 98 Be not suspicious where there is no appearance and though there be yet be not too rash in thy iudgement 99 Be not liberall of another mans least thereby thou growe out of credit with thy friends 100 Be not a deceiuer of the simple nor guilefull in thy dealings for that is the waie to lose loue and fauour The Conclusion Taste of the honie heere in this hiue If thou wilt learne to liue well and thriue FINIS A Referendarie to the Premisses NO cookerie is so exquisite No dish so deintie dressed But ouercommes the appetite By gluttonie oppressed And therefore wise King Salomon Commendeth moderation No kind of sweete restoritie Though curiouslie compounded No instrumentall melodie In time and measure sounded But by degrees superlatiue Offends the vertue sensitiue Such store of honie is gathered Heere in this swarming Beehiue As being often swallowed So whets the power digestiue That more and more it coueteth And neuer faints or surfeteth Who would not then most hungerlie Eate plentie of this honie Which tastes so sweete and sauourlie And costs so little monie The vse thereof is generall God graunt it proue effectuall A Plant of Pleasure Bearing fourteene seuerall flowres called by the names of Holie Hymnes and Spirituall Songs Wherein such godlie exercises are presented to the hands of euerie particular person as may conuenientlie be applied to their priuate vse not onlie in the pleasant Spring of prosperitie but also in the hard Winter of aduersitie BY ABRAHAM FLEMING Ephes. 5. verse 18 19. ¶ Be ye fulfilled with the spirit speaking vnto your selues in Psalmes and Hymnes and Spirituall Songs singing and making melodie in your hearts AT LONDON Printed by Henrie Denham Anno Dom. 1581. A Preface to the true Christian Reader IT is a naturall inclination of man for the delighting and solacing of himselfe after some labour or exercise to seeke such recreations as dooe best agree with his disposition Herevpon some couet this game othersome that and euerie man indeede what maketh most for his contentment Which kind of recreations and refreshings men are not forbidden in Gods word to vse so that the feare of his diuine maiestie preuent them in all their actions and that they abuse not those benefites of recreation to a licentious and wanton libertie Verie necessarie it is that consideration be had of the state of the bodie which cannot alwaies endure labour but that now and then it must be refreshed not onlie with some intermission ceassing from trauell but also with some kind of exercise coupled with delectation and pleasure whereby not onelie the bodie and euerie member thereof is comforted but the mind also and the faculties or powers of the same iollilie quickened Such care taken for the bodie which is earthlie and corruptible should teach vs I thinke a point of wit which we want touching the regard wherewith we ought to be moued for the good estate of the mind or soule which is heauenlie and immortall For how much the minde is more pretious than the bodie so much the more wisedome would it should be
esteemed otherwise we shall seeme to preferre the shell before the kernell the barke before the pith the shadowe before the substance yea most absurdlie we shall refuse wheate for chaffe pure gold for drosse cleere wine for dregs and in conclusion repent our want of grace It were behoofull therefore for vs first and principallie to see to our mind which is chiefest part of our essence and being that the same after some serious studie and contemplation desiring to be refreshed be not fed with fond fansies fables dotages imaginations dreames I cannot tell what idle and vnfruitefull discourses which kindle the affections and set the flesh a gogge but rather with holie exercises and godlie meditations such as are and may be prouided for the purpose to reuiue the spirit and quicken the new man if the partie be gratiouslie affected Thou hast heere therefore presented vnto thine hand good Reader a plant of pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall flowers called by the name of holie Hymnes and spirituall Songs to reade at thy leasure for thy recreation and not so much for thy recreation as for thy profit which I haue put partlie in rythme and partlie in prose for the satisfaction of sundrie Readers desires some beeing addicted to this and some delighted in that kind of writing I would to God it were in me to frame my wit to the will of the well disposed in all points I haue done what I could the Lord knoweth what I would his name be praised for all whose glorie to seeke and set foorth I beseech him giue vs all grace so shall the faithfull reioice and clap their hands but shame shall fall vpon the reprobat force them to hang downe their heads Abraham Fleming A Plant of Pleasure bearing fourteene seuerall Flowres ¶ The first Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A petition vnto God for the remission of sinnes 2 A description of Gods greatnesse 3 Of his habitation and that he seeth all things A. 1 AS the Sunne is the soule and life of the world so is thy word O God the comfort of my heart Be gratious fauourable vnto me thy seruant that I may be freé from the malice of mine enimies Reward me not according to my deseruings O Lord for I am full of sinne and in me there is no righteousnesse According to thy louing kindnesse therefore O mercifull father blot mine offences out of thy register and pardon me Haue mercie on me O founteine of all mercie cleanse me from the corruption of sinne and wash me with the water of thy word Am not I a reasonable creature indued with knowledge and vnderstanding O Lord to whom should I then come but to theé 2 Men beasts fishes and foules they are the works of thine hands by the vertue of thy word they were created and made From the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same I will continue in the contemplation and view of thy greatnes Lighten the eies of my hart O Lord that they may seé the mightines of thy maiestie in thy creatures Endlesse is thy glorie and thy power is incomprehensible wonderfull art thou in thy iudgments Maruellous things are wrought by thine omnipotent hand day by day the eies of all people are witnesses of thy power 3 In heauen is thy dwelling place from whence thou beholdest the commings in and the goings out of all men Nothing is hidden from thine eies O Lord the brightnesse of thy maiestie can not be absent Giue me grace O God to leade my life in the loue of thy lawe so shall I not miscarrie The second Flowre called a spirituall Song conteining 1 A commemoration or remembrance of the benefites of Christes death and passion 2 A petition for thankefulnesse 3 A confession of Gods greatnesse and almightinesse B. 1 AL people praise the Lord with faithfull heart and voice Be bold to magnifie his name and therein to reioice Remember well the worke which he for vs hath wrought And laud his name accordinglie in word in deed and thought Hell gates he hath shut vp in spite of Sathans power And saued the soules of sinfull men from torments sharpe and sower Most mightie is his arme his greatnesse hath none end From force of foes that vs assault all his he doth defend 2 Lord lighten thou our hearts that we may praise thy power Eternallie which flourisheth and worketh euerie hower 3 Most mightie is thy word thy maiestie surmounts In glorie none so excellent as scriptures cast accounts No Prince nor Potentate may once with thee compare Giue vs thy grace no lesse to learne O Lord with Christian care The third Flowre called a holie Hymne conteining 1 A request for assistance against our aduersaries 2 A confession of our vilenesse by reason of sinne 3 A petition for true mortification and regeneration 4 Of the pretiousnesse of mans soule R. 1 ACcording to thine vnmeasurable mercies O God heare my praier and let thine eares be open to the crie of my complaint Be my sauiour and deliuerer from danger and distresse bridle thou the desperatenesse of mine aduersarie that he do me no mischefe Rebuke them O Lord that go about to raise reproches against me chastise them that they may seé wherein they haue offended As for me I will withstand them in their maliciousnesse for I hope thou wilt arme me with the spirit of fortitude and patience Holie one of Israell heare the supplication of me thy seruant and in the time of necessitie assist me 2 A worme and no man I confesse my selfe to be yea more vile and contemptible than anie vnreasonable creature for sinne hath sâ—oong my soule My heart is defiled with a thousand corrupt cogitations yea the thoughts which are hidden in my heart are not so infinite as they are wicked From mine infancie and cradle I haue bene blemished with sinne and as for righteousnes or iustice there is none in mine entrailes Lord I am so ouerwhelmed in sinne and iniquitie that I stand in continuall feare of thy punishment Oh giue me grace to repent Euening and morning I call my sinnes to memorie and they are more in number than the haires of my head yet O Lord be mercifull 3 Make me a new creature by the inspiration of thy sanctifieng spirit and let mine inward man be circumcised with the razour of mortification Increase in me godlie desires and let all carnall concupiscences be quite quenched in me that I may long after nothing but the loue of thy lawe 4 Nothing is more pretious in thy sight O Lord than the soule of man O let not sinne preuaile against it Grant me thy grace euen to the last houre of my life that I may haue in heauen mine inheritance purchased by Christ his death and passion Amen The fourth Flowre called a Spirituall Song conteining 1 A glorifieng of God 2 An exhortation to praise him 3 A repetition of certaine properties in him 4 A protestation or vow of Christian
Christ our Lord Amen The 3. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper REason requireth and dutie demandeth that in partaking of these good creatures of God we vse a Christian reuerence haue before our eies the feare of his diuine Maiestie which we beséech thée O God to vouchsafe vs for his sake in whome thou art best pleased Iesus Christ our sauiour Amen The 4. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper A Thankefull hart which is the sacrifice that thou requirest O Lord graunt vnto vs thy seruants nourished and fed at this present by thy prouidence Open our mouthes that we may sound foorth thy praise and also with one consent glorifie thy diuine Maiestie saieng Blessed be thou O eternall God in all thy gifts and extolled in all thy workes All glorie honour power and dominion be ascribed vnto thée world without end Amen The 5. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner HEre we sée most manifest and apparant signes of Gods loue and fatherlie care ouer vs who dailie féedeth our mortall bodies with nourishment conuenient and agréeable to our nature Let vs therefore soberlie receiue them as preseruatiues against hunger and forget not to magnifie his goodnes which so mercifullie and fauourablie tendereth our weakenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen The 6. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner ALl praise and thankes be giuen vnto thée O God omnipotent which hast fed vs not onlie this daie but the whole tearme of our life We bring vnto thée the bullocks of our lips beséeching thée to accept our oblation of thankefulnesse offered and presented vnto thée for thine vnmeasurable and vndeserued bountifulnesse This we do O Lord in his name who for our sakes became accursed Iesus the righteous who with thée and the holie Ghost be euermore glorified Amen The 7. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner MOst gratious God the giuer of all good giftes without whome nothing is nourishable be it neuer so delicate we beséech thée that these thy creatures procéeding from thine almightie prouidence and set vpon this table for our sustenance may turne into wholesome substance of flesh and bloud in our bodies And because manie times euen thy good creatures through our intemperance turne into poison and by our owne abuse bréede sundrie diseases graunt we beséech thée that we may moderatelie eate and drinke that which is dailie ministred vnto vs for our reléefe and giue thée continuall thankes for these and all other thy benefits through Christ our Lord Amen The 8. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner FAther euerlasting continuall thankes and praise be ascribed vnto thée which from our creation and first comming into the world euen till this present daie houre hast giuen vs all things necessarie for our bodies grant we beséech thée that as we haue receiued corporall food and sustenance from thy hands so we may be faithfull and true partakers of the spirituall Manna whereby our soules are susteined to euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen The 9. Plant. ¶ Grace before Dinner LOrd God whose dailie hand deth feed the beast the foule and fish Vouchsafe to blesse and sanctifie this boord and euerie dish That as we touch taste the things proceeding from thy grace Our bodies to susteine and feed our flesh in euerie place So we may yeeld thee thanks therfore and giue thy name the praise Which doth deserue of all the world extold to be alwaies Amen The 10. Plant. ¶ Grace after Dinner ETernall God thy name be blest which doest vs dailie feed And soule and bodie satisfiest when as they stand in need The bodie by the staffe of bread which giueth strength and power The soule with sweetnesse of thy word and gospell euerie hower Thy holie name perpetuallie be magnified therefore As hath ben since the world began and shal be euermore Amen The 11. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper MOst gratious God which cloathest the Lillies of the field with beautie far aboue the roialtie of Salomon and féedest the little Sparrowes which fall not to the ground without thy prouidence be present we beséech thee at this table and season with the salt of thy blessing these thy creatures that in receiuing them as becommeth Christians we may also be sanctified and in all our eatings drinkings euermore remember to confesse and acknowledge thée in thy benefites from whome all good things procéede for the succour of thy seruants and receiue them according to the rule of true Christianitie through Christ our Lord onlie Sauiour So be it The 12. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper IN so much as it hath pleased thée O mercifull father to call vs to the communicating and partaking of thy creatures and by them hast refreshed vs at this present we giue thée hartie thankes for this thy bountifull liberalitie beséeching thée to kindle in vs a Christian care and compassion of them that are in necessitie that we considering their poore and succourlesse estate may with pitifull eies tender their pouertie and with charitable hands reléeue them in miserie alwaies remembring that whatsoeuer is done to thy néedie and naked members thou doest accompt it done to thine owne bodie Graunt this O gratious God for Iesus Christes sake thy sonne our sauiour Amen The 13. Plant. ¶ Grace before Supper NO grace the gluton nor his gests amid their deintie fare Vouchsaft to shew to Lazarus a begger poore and bare Their seruice was superfluous their meate was ouermutch Poore Lazarus who scarse could go or stand without a crutch Lay begging at the gluttons gatâ— some crumbes for his releefe But none there was that of his case were toucht with anie greefe His dog laie licking of his limmes the botches biles and blaines And with his tong did seeke a meane and waie t' asswage his paines This deede of pitie in the dog condemneth such as saue All for themselues and for the poore and needie nothing haue God grant that we may not be such as this rich glutton was Least we with him in pit of Hell crie out wo and alas From thence the Lord deliuer vs and guide vs by his grace That when we die in earth in heuen we may possesse a place The 14. Plant. ¶ Grace after Supper GOod Zache enterteining Christ became a ioifull man His soule to feede on foode of life with faith and hope began Then called he to streight account his thoughts his words deeds His conscience and his life misseled and thus in speech proceeds â—ord if I haue done anie man 〈◊〉 turne or offred wrong Or causd the poore to make coÌ„plaint with sobs and sighings strong Lo restitution I will make and fourfold them reward With readie purpose so to do â—o 〈◊〉 and hart prepard 〈◊〉 Zaches speech ponder it