Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	body_n	part_n	whole_a	26,351	5	6.3148	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15496	The anchor of faith Vpon which, a Christian may repose in all manner of temptations. Especially in that great and dangerous gulfe of desperation. Wherein so many ouer-whelmed with the weight and burthen of their sinne, and not resisting themselues by the hand of faith, vpon the promises and inuitations of Christ, haue with Caine and Judas most fearefully fallen and shipwrackt themselues, to the vtter confusion both of body and soule for euer.; Physicke, to cure the most dangerous disease of desperation	Willymat, William, d. 1615.	1628 (1628)	STC 25763.5; ESTC S102508	45,869	112

but if we wil weigh them cōsider them throughly to make good vse of them they may turne to our great profit and benefit and not to our hurt For like as a naturall Father mother doe so doth God loue vs when he smiteth vs he fauoureth vs whē he seemeth to be most against vs when hee seemeth to be most angry hee aimeth most at our good for as S. August saith Melius nouit medicus quid expediat quam aegrotus The sicke man the patient neuer knoweth so well what is good for him as doth the Phisition God dealeth with his ch●ldren as Phisitions and Surgions doe with their Patients And therfore the Physitions Surgions whē they sée no other remedy for the recouery curing amending of their sick corrupted infected patients vse to minister vnto them tart bitter harsh and vnpleasant things to feare burne and cut away corrupted rotten dead flesh with sawes yron and other such like instruments and all to saue cherish the sound and whole parts Ne par● sincera trahatur least that which is whole should by the other be corrupted infected and poysoned euen so doth God sometimes when he sees t is best for vs plague our bodies sharply and grieuously that our soule may be preferued and saued The Phisition in compounding of his best Triacle vseth Serpents Adders and other poysoned thinges that with the same he may driue out one poyson with an other How God vseth somtimes the seruice of Diuells wicked men Euen so God as by Histories plentifully in Gods Booke it appeares vseth the ministery helpe and seruice of Diuels and of most diuelish wicked men by them to afflict and chastice vs and yet to doe vs good withall afterwards burneth the roddes when he hath corrected and beaten his children with them a while It is not giuē to euery mā I must needes confesse to vnderstand this and to make this good vse of afflictions crosses and troubles laid vpon them for their sins sake for then should Pharaoh and many of his wicked courtiers like himselfe then should Cain The wicked are not bettered by ●heir troubles afflictions Saul Iudas Iscariot many other vile leaud and desperate persons beside in their manifold crosses troubles and aduersities haue turned vnto the Lord and beene saued But we must learne and know that aduersities Whence it commeth that afflictions and crosses profit Gods children troubles afflictions of themselues and of their owne proper nature cannot worke and bring such profits so much good vnto men But it is the spirit of God which resting in Gods faithfull children purgeth reformeth comforteth and strengtheneth them by these outward meanes worketh all these good thinges in vs And so whatsoeuer goodnes hath bene spoken of heretofore to befall men by meanes of aduersities crosses and troubles is to be vnderstood onely of the faithfull and godly which are taught and led by the spirit of God to consider rightly of them to make such vse of them that according as in the beginning of this Chapter it is truely said to thē that loue God all thinges worke togither for the best Rom. 8.28 Whereas on the other side in the vnfaithfull The conceites and opinions of the wicked in thie● aduersities and toubles vnrepentant and wicked ones they worke after another fashion are of cleane contrary operation whiles that they ascribe their aduersities and troubles either to blind Fortune and Chance as though Fortune had a certaine power to worke without the working and prouidence of God or els vnto them that are not of their own sect faith and religion as did wicked Ahab to godly Elias or to the Magistrates 4. Kin. 18 or to the Ministers of Gods word or to Faith and religion it selfe or to the Planets Starres influences of the Elements yea and some wil I blame God himselfe as though they themselues were so innocent and blamelesse that God deales not well with them to lay vpon them such crosses punishments and so very busie they make themselues to shift off all blame euer to others faults And although their sinnes be multiplied to exceeding multitudes of offences yet they will not sée nor confesse any such thinges in themselues nor any thing consider nor regard the punishments of God laied vpon them and cleauing vnto them for the same But through their hardnesse of heart and want of faith which is the mother of all blasphemy and abhomination they can not spy whose hand it is that is against them nor wherefore or els beeing euen as it were violently forced to know it that it is the working of the Lord against them and his vengeance in heauy displeasure vpon them yet they will not be mooued thereby nor any thing at all stirred vp to amend their liues but like vnto King Pharaoh the more God correcteth them the more obstinate they swarue decline and flie away from him being like vnto gracelesse children with whom neither words threatninges nor beating can preuaile Like vnto them that will neither daunce with the piper nor lament with the mourner Mat. 11.17 Luk. 7.31.32 and so farre off are they from being recouered won and reformed by meanes of any crosses afflictions and troubles lighting on thē an● following them euer as the shadow doth the body that they will sooner burst out into al maner of impatientnes bitternes and spightfull poysonful rayling and blaspheming words against the righteousnes of God saying That their punishment is greater then their sinnes and heauier then they can brooke or beare and that they are wronged and are not indifferently dealt with so at the length after heaping one sinne in the necke of an other the Diuel brings them on The ends that the diuell brings the wicked vnto by their afflictions troubles and crossss and by little and little winds them into that he gapes for namely into a reprobate mind and deadly Desperation in so much that at the last they fall too and yeelde to murthering hanging drowning o by other such meanes most miserably to dispatch themselues with their own hands like vnto Saul Achitophel Iudas so giuing thēmselues ouer to the Diuell and as they liued for a while most wretchedly so they depart out of the world as diuelishly forgeting vtterly and al-together inconsiderate retchlesse carlesse what shall become of them afterwards for euer By whose liues Two commodities to be reaped by the liues and manner of the deaths of the wicked and manner of deaths the children of God may yet reap two commodities first they shal be eased of the great troubles disturbance and discommodities of the leaud and euill examples which they gaue to others whiles they liued And secondly they which remaine a liue after them may learn and take warning by their shamfull falls and by their terrible examples desperate deaths lay hould on repentance and amendment of their

THE ANCHOR of FAITH Vpon which A Christian may Repose in all manner of Temptations Especially in that Great and Dangerous Gulfe of DESPERATION Wherein so many ouer-whelmed with the weight and Burthen of their Sinne and not resting themselues by the Hand of Faith vpon the Promises and Inuitations of CHRIST haue with Caine and Judas most fearefully fallen and shipwrackt themselues to the vtter Confusion both of Body and Soule for euer PROV 18.14 The Body will beare his infirmitie but a Broken and wounded Spirit who can beare St. August in lib. de Vtilitate poenitentiae agendae Least wee should increase our sinnes by despayring the gate of Repentance is set open vnto vs. Least by presuming the day of our Death is concealed from vs. LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson and are to bee sold at his Shop at Grayes-Inne new Gate in Holborne 1628. A PREFACE TO THE Christian Reader IT is a Wonder of the World a wonder to bee seriously marked and diligently considered of and a wonder being seriously marked and diligently considered of worthy to bee deepely wayed and inwardly to bee laid vp in m●n● hearts as a thing most necessary profitable and auaileable to Christian piety and euerlasting felicity both of soule and body The thing 〈◊〉 bee ●dred 〈◊〉 seriou● to be ●sidere● to see and to thinke of it how carefull watchfull diligent earnest and painfull almost all the world euery where is to auoyde to preuent to cure and to remedy all such troubles crosses griefes maladies infirmities and sicknesses as do or may befall the body And on the other side to see or finde so few watchfull carefull and painefull to auoid preuent cure or expel the most dangerous wounds of the Spirit the troubles of the conscience or desperation a mischiefe of all other mischiefes most needfull to be looked into 〈◊〉 se● thing 〈◊〉 bee ●dred ●nd se●sly to 〈◊〉 ●d of It is a wonder to see and consider how many there are in the World which either loath and are aff●aide of bodily sicknes or loue like health will send for and seeke run and ride after bodily Phisitions and enquire after the best the most expert most skilfull of them to learne by their direction and to bee aduised by their counsaile though it cost their purse full deare how to purge and auoide such corrupt humours as may breede though not presently bring forth noysome diseases and sicknesses how carefull and how scrupulous they are to keepe a temperate order and a dyet in eating and drinking and how moderate they will be in sleepe and all other bodily exercises And on the other side how few there bee in the World that will either abate their sleepe forgoe their pleasures abridge their dyets or seeke after the spirituall Phisition or prepare Phisicke to purge and expell those dangerous peccant humors of notorious and hainous sinnes which in time will both breede bring forth the most deadly disease of Desperation the very Peste of soule and body for euer It is a wonder to see The 〈◊〉 thing bee ●dred how many abhorre and are affraid of worldly pouerty and for the auoiding thereof and for the loue and liking of transitory riches will with great carke and care rise vp early and late take their rest they will fare hardly and go clad full barely they will hazard both bodies and soules they will toyle and teare their flesh in vnmeasurable labours by land and sea bee the weather faire bee it foule per mare pauperiem fugientes per saxa per ignes And yet on the other side how few can abide any costes charges or paines to escape and remedie spirituall decayes to auoyde pouerty of conscience or in time before it be too late to beware that they be not plunged ere they be aware into the most deadly and diuelish gulph of Desperation as though saluation and peace of a godly conscience were a matter not worthy the talking of or labouring for It is a lamentable thing to behold how many in the world will vndertake and attempt any thing ●ing to ●men● bee it neuer so chargeable troublesome not sluggish nor sleepie not carelesse and slothfull but most earnest and watchfull most careful and painefull at euery assay by Prudence and prowesse by witte and by warinesse by counsaile and by cunning by learning and by labouring ambitiously to hunt gaine and gape after honor and vnfatigably seeke to attaine fame and highly account of it to be gazed on talked of with the eyes and tongues of all men And againe how few take any care at all or once endeauour themselues to auoyd shame confusion in the presence of the Almighty to become glorious in the sight of GOD and his Angels and to vse and exercise any of those good meanes and instruments ordained and appointed of God for the increase of Faith Hope and Charity and for the weakening and abandoning of all desperation and diffidence in Gods infinite mercies and infallible promises It is a lamentable thing to marke and consider how vigilant careful The secōd th● to bee ●mented and heedfull many of the wiser and circumspecter sort of men of this world will bee to escape and auoyd all the penalties paines and punishments prouided and set downe for offenders of mortall mens lawes how painefull they will be in Penall Statutes how skilfull in euery branch of the Ciuill Lawes least they should ignorantly incurre the dangers of imprisonment of losse of landes forfeytures of their goods or death it selfe Many haue greater care of mortal mens laws then of Gods lawes But the mighty God the only highest Law-giuer that Lord of Lordes and King of all Kings Let him ordeyne publish and proclaime his Lawes Statutes and Ordinances to be hearkned vnto obserued and kept and that vnder neuer so rigorous and Seuere conditions punishments and penalties How few men will search his Booke of Statutes and Lawes How few are affraid of his not temporary but euerlasting threatninges and punishments contained in his Lawes and how few men regard esteeme and thankfully embrace his couenant of reconciliation set forth in his most ioyfull and comfortable Gospell And yet most certaine it is that all these aforesaid things so much to bee wondred at and so greatly to bee lamented for so lightly looked on so smally regarded and so little thought on many such other of the like fraternity and order of disorders sins being delighted in and securely continued in without all care or indeauour to forsake them in time by repentance true returning to the Lord doe first breed or in gender and afterwards bring forth Desperation then the which all the Furies and Diuells in hell cannot lightly excogitate nor find out a greater torment or a more intolerable paine and that because that all other torments penalties and paines are but temporall and pursue men no further then bodily death but this endeth not with

Desperation is the great seruitude or bondage or sinne with which whosoeuer is clogged hee becommeth thereby the seruant of sinne Iohn 8.34 And the wofull and hurtfull effects of sinnes are the procurements of Gods curses and plagues vpon bodyes The woful ●urtfull effects of sinne soules lands children stocke croppe and euery thing else that a man hath or goeth about at home or abroade in town or in field in Citty or in Contry by land or by water Deu. 28. Leu. 26. Sin hardeneth the heart Heb. 3.13 It fighteth against the soule 1. Pet. 2.11 It gnaweth tormenteth the conscience 1. Sa. 25.31 And bringeth men into the most damnable gulfe of Desperation wherein multitudes of Worldlinges Matcheuillians Epicures impious Atheists are dayly implunged and irreuocably drowned for euer CHAP. 6 THe Fourth cause of Desperation do many gather to themselues vpon the wordes of Christ in Mat. 7.13 The fourth cause of Desperation Strait is the gate narrow is the way that leadeth vnto life few there be that find it And againe out of Mat. 20.16 Many are called but few are chosen And againe out of Luk. 13.24 Striue to enter in at the straite gate for many I say vnto you will seeke to enter in shal not be able All which places doe plainly teach that few shall be saued for in bidding to striue to enter in Christ giueth vs to vnderstand that it is no easie matter but a matter that requireth great strife paines and earnest diligence against the World the Flesh and the Diuell Vpon these considerations The feare and doubt of many many begin to feare and to tremble to stagger and no doubt whether they may thinke themselues to be in the number of those few that shall be saued yea or no and so are drawne into dispayre whiles that they finde this present euil world against them with all the baytes snares nettes and lets pleasures and profits thereof to catch them The great and manifold aduersa●es of mans saluation all which the diuel vseth as meanes to Desperation fetter them and intangle them whiles they finde their own flesh their owne corrupted nature against them their reason poysoned their wils and affections blinded their naturall wisdome concupiscences and lusts ministring strength to Satans temptations taking part against them daily and howerly ready to betray them into his hands whiles that they see and perceiue euen legions of Diuells euen all the Diuells in hell against them with all their crafty heades maruailous strength infinite wiles cunning deuises déep slights and tryed temptations lying in ambush against their poore soules who séeth not the thousands are caried headlong to destuction through the temptations of either the world the flesh or the diuell And thus are we poore wretches in a most pittiful case assaulted and betraied on euery side CHAP. 7 THe fift cause of Desperation ariseth from the manifold crosses afflictions of this present life The fifth cause of desperation for from hence it is that some men being daily feretted followed on euen almost pressed down with temporall afflictions and troubles Sundry kinds of crosses and afflictions as penury pouerty hunger nakednes sicknes of body troubles of mind vnquiet suggestions of the flesh temptations of the Diuel persecutiōs imprisonments losse of friends losse of goods losse of good name and fame a wicked crooked froward mate in matrimony disobedient vntoward children vnkind vnthankfull friends vnderserued malice enuy hatred of froward neighbours many other such like crosses as daily in one sort or other befal men When they once feele themselues touched and tryed herewith Ier. 20. anon they take occasion hereby to cry out and lementably to houle and curse the day wherein they were borne Ier. 15. to call that an vnhappy houre wherein their mothers brought them forth Iob. 3. to wish they had dyed in their birth that they had perished so soone as they came out of their mothers wombe that some hill might fall vpon them ouerwhelme them that so they might shortly bee rid out of their paines Yea they will not be perswaded that these thinges are sent of God for the most part to such as he loueth but rather to such as he hateth and that neuer a louing father wil handle his children so as they are handled Now the Diuell most subtilly lying in wayte for his aduantoge taketh hold on this their weakenesse and striueth by little little by such occasiōs as these to worke vtter desperation in them and by these meanes oftentimes forceth some to sodaine wretched and desperate ends CHAP. 8 THe sixt cause of Desperation is long custome of sin The sixt cause of Desperation whereby a man yeeldeth and submitteth himselfe as an obedient ready bon●-slaue to the Diuell little respecting if not vtterly contemning both God and his word whose dull conscience through giuing himselfe ouer to impurity filthines of life is waxed hard in iniquity and corrupt waies and as it were burned with a hot iron so that he is now past all sense féeling of sinn Long custome groweth into a second nature this long costome groweth as it were into a second nature in processe of time which to expell is a matter of great difficulty This is it which the Prophet Ierim meant where he affirmed that it is as hard a thing for such to doe any good that haue bin continually inured with doeing of euil as it is to wash a Blackamoore or Aethiopian skinne white or to chang the spots of a Leopard And therefore according to our English adage as that which is bred in the bone will neuer lightly out of the flesh so an old wont or custome of any vice be it of lying swearing gaming drinking whooring or any other such like will seldome or neuer be remedied whereby it oftentimes commeth to passe that in the end the Diuel by this meanes hauing laid a foundation so fitting his purpose to worke on bringeth his old customers to dispaire CHAP. 1. The first Chapter concerning the Remedies against the temptations assaults of Satan being the first speciall cause of Desperation before intreated of in Ch. 3 TO méete with the dangerous and manifould temptations of Satan that great enemy of mankind wherewith hee continually after other sinnes first committed laboureth to bring vs into the deepe gulph of desperation It shall not be amisse nay rather it shall be our best course and remedie to learne practise that most sure safe and excellent counsaile which the holy ghost giueth by those two worthy Apostles of our Sauiour Christ Eph 6. Iam. 4. Saint Paul S. Iam s their counsel against the temptat●●ns ass●ults of Sath n. S. Paul and S. Iames wherof S. Paul saith Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stād against the assaults of the Diuel S. Iam. saith Resist

rest of the Apostles saying Men brethren Act. 2. what shall we do Euen thus I say let vs come vnto Gods Ministers Counsell f●r the ignorant very necessary and confesse acknowledge our great blindnes and ignorance and say vnto them Help vs instruct vs teach vs set vs in the way guid vs in the paths of the knowledge of God and of our saluation What the true Ministers of gods word are for surely they are the Phisitions and Surgions of our soules so that if w● repayre vnto them they shall giue vs t● drinke of the holesome waters of knowledge to quench our thirst of Ignorance they are the dispencers of the manifolde graces of God the Lords Stewards to giue each one of vs our portions in due time We haue not Christ alwaies amongst vs as appertayning to his bodely presence but as himselfe saith we haue the Poore alwaies amongst vs euen so also we haue not Christ himselfe that body I meane which sitteth at the right hand of God the father alwaies with vs but yet our Lord Christ ascending vp on high gaue vnto men among other giftes this gift also if we could rightly cōsider of it of no smal value euē Pastors Doctors that is the Ministers of the Gospell of Christ that might instruct informe and teach vs in the way of life that might declare vnto vs the secret counsailes hiden misteries of God How the true ministers of Gods word are to be accounted of thet might arme vs with the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to encounter resist our deadly enemy the Diuel therwith Let vs ioyfully receiue them for who so receiueth them as they ought to be receiueth also with thē him that sent them whose Messengers they are Let vs heare them for they bring vnto vs the word of life Let vs giue credit vnto the Lords Ministers Glory vnto the Lord himselfe that hath giuen in his great loue this blessing vnto vs to haue his messengers and Ambassadours abiding among vs to declare and make known vnto vs by them what his own good will and pleasure is in all thinges to the auoiding of this blind ignorance the very mother of Desperation and so consequently of eternall Damnation with the Author thereof and his cursed Angels for euer CHAP. 3 Of the great seruitude bondage of sins and of the remedies thereof COncerning the great seruitude and bondage of sin being the third before noted cause of Desperation for the helpes and remedies thereof this haue I briefly to say that what though we haue bin seruants vnto sinne and haue bene pressed and surpressed with the bondage thereof so that we must néedes confesse vnlesse we should proue our selues lyars and thrt there were no truth in vs that we through our often doing of those thinges which we should not haue done on the other side through our leauing off those things vndon which we should haue done haue most iustly deserued Gods threatned curses and plagues to light on our bodies our soules our children our stockes our croppes euery thing else we goe about put our hands vnto What though our sinnes fight against our soules and gnaw our consciences and be ready euen out of hand to lead vs into the most dangerous state of Desperation Examples tending to the strengthning of our faith hope and patience against desperation What though wee haue contended fallen out with our brethrā as did Paul and Barnabas who were so hot in contententiō one against another that they forsooke one an others company in high displeasure and heat of their stomacks the one taking with him Luke the other Iohn What though wee haue yeelded vnto practised and followed Oppression Extortion polling pilling and wresting that wee can by hooke or crooke from our brethren Luke 19 2 So did Zaoheus yet notwithstanding after his repentance his forsaking ceasing from bad getting his restitution and almes giuing receaued that most chearefull and comfortable saying of Chiist This day is saluation entred into thine house Luk. 19 9 What though we haue bin théeues robbers stealers of our neighbours goods so was the théefe that was crucified with Christ and yet vpon eis humble contrite and sorrowfull confession of his sinnes he heard this most sweete word from Christ This day shalt thou be with mee in Paradise What though we haue murthered and sh●d the blood or caused the bloud to be shed of some of our brethren so did Dauid to Vrias and yet vpon his zealous inward true vnfained sorrowfulnes repentance hee was not taken away in his sinne but found pardon And so did the Iewes which put to death the Lord of life 〈◊〉 Manasses was an Idolater he def●●● th● Temple of God hee with stood 〈◊〉 beat downe the truth 2 K●●● hee set vp Ido●●●ry he was a coniurer a Southsa●●● 〈◊〉 shed aboundance of Innocent 〈◊〉 so that the streets flowed therewith he committed more abhominations thē the Cananites or Amorites whō for their filthines the Lord cut off out of the land of the liuing he sacrificed his sonnes and daughters to Diuells and yet vpon his true returning to the Lord from the bottom of his heart he found fauour and mercy If our sinnes then 2. Chr. 33. or the sins of any one of vs were as grieuous as euer were the sins of Manasses yet vpon our true and vnfained returne to the Lord shall we despayre of his mercy shall we or may we or daie we thinke that the mercy and power of the Lord is shortened or that God is not the s●●●e God he was Is he not as ready to pardon forgiue sinnes the sinnes of a m●● repenting returning faithfully c●●ling vpon him as euer he was the sinnes of Manasses All these examples and many more are written for our learning comfort strengthning of our faith hope and patience that we should in no wise despayre vpon our true repentance neither for the multitude nor grieuousnesse of our sinnes And likewise also it is written for the brusing as it were euen for the breaking of the backe of all damnable Desperation and to hold the hearts and to restore the fainting and dull spirites of all such as the seruitude and bondage of sinne this our third cause of Desperation doth vexe and presse downe It is I say written that the Sonne of man is come to saue mens liues Luk. 9.56 And he himselfe hath said I am come to call not the iust but sinners Math. 10. Math. 20 Ioh. 3. Wherfore Christ came into this world And againe Iesus Christ is come to giue his life a redemptiō for many Also God the father hath not sent his Son to iudge the World but to the end the world may be saued by him Now what is it to saue not to iudge but to deliuer from death and damnation wherein we lay in

liues before it be too late CHAP. 6. The Sixt Chapter concerning the remedies against Desperation arising and growing by long custome of sin by delaying putting off the forsaking of sinne from day to day The great danger of custome of sinn● of delaying of amendment of life IT is written that the continuall and long cu to●e of sinne and the delaying and putting off from time to time of the amendment of life is one of the greatest and most dangerous deceites cunning stratagems and pollicies which the enemy of mankind doth vse towards the children of Adam for hee is not ignorant how that like as links in a chaine one catcheth hold and hangeth by another and one draweth another Euen so by continuance long custome and secure sleeping in sinne one sinne draweth on another and so euery day sinne is added to sinne so that by toleration and procrastination sin so mightily increaseth and by this meanes waxeth so headstrong that in the end the saying of the Poet proueth very true to wit Qui non est hod●e A comparison shewing the d●nger f ●ong ●ustome and w●ltring in ●inns cras minus aptus erit He that is not ready to day to forgoe forsake sinne to morrow-day shall he be more vnfit The Diuell knoweth wel enough how that like as old festred and long growne sores and diseases of the body are farre more dangerous more troublesome and harder to be healed require a longer time by much to be cured then if they had beene looked to at the first Euen so the diseases of the soule as swearing theeuing whoring drunkennesse such like being once long accustomed setled and hauing gotten an habit are either neuer or seldome and that with greater difficulty afterwardes rooted out then at the first beginning they might haue bene And so by these diseases of the soule the habit thereof hauing once taken root in man and the Diuell by them hauing gotten the surer hold and possession he endeauoureth and most diligently by all w●ies and meanes applieth to keep men still on in vre and practise w●th old and long accustomed sinnes vntill at the length in extreamity of sicknes towards the hower of death if not before he may by such causes and occasions plant and worke in the heart of man deep despaire to his vtter confusion for euer To resist therefore to remedy and helpe this canker-like creeping infectious euill let vs to day while it is yet to day study to turn againe vnto God cast out the Diuell and with him this great cause and occasion of desperation euen long custome of sinne and delay of amendment of our liues the thing that so hangeth on and presseth vs downe let vs in time while we haue time take a better course looking vp vnto Iesus Christ and set him before the eyes of our fayth as the onely marke to shoote at And for as much as we can not turne again to the Lord forsake our former wallowing in our former long accustomed sins except the Lord our God reach vs his helping hand to turne vs vnto him and that repentance is not in our own power to take it vp lay it downe at our owne pleasure Whence repentance amendment of life are to be had how they are to be come by 〈◊〉 and that of our selues wée can not put it into our hearts when we list exceept it first come from aboue for that it is an excellent and a rare gift of God Let vs earnestly and heartily with our humble feruent praiers beg the same at Gods hands Let vs practise much often hearing reading meditating the word of God and with care vse all ordinary meanes for the better and speedy attaining of it for it is not so easie a matter to come by as the world thinketh it It is not an howers worke when we lie on our death-beds that will serue the turne It is not Many are may be deceaued in the māner time of their repentance Cry God mercy a little for fashion sake that will doe it It is not a coursing or mumbling vp of a few praiers at a mans last farewel the wil auaile And yet if we were sure that that would serue yet we are very vn-sure whether we shall haue time leasure and remembrance at our last gaspe to do that yea or no to trust to doe it at our last houre is but a broken staffe to be trusted vnto And yet it is not so vncertaine but on the other side it is as certaine that then we shall haue many byasses Note this you that deferre repentance vntill your last end many rubs and stoppes many impediments to lie in our waies and to hinder our course in going foreward at that time with last gasping repentance which many fond and foolish men relye so much vppon 〈…〉 ●●st so much vnto passing away their dayes carelesly neglecting good opportunity when time serueth like vnto those fiue foolish Virgins that made no preparation aforehand to be in a readines to enter in with the Bridegroom till it was too late this is I say a very broken staffe to trust vnto a thing very doubtfull and vncertaine to depend vpon or to make any reconing of for a man to repent and cry God mercy and make himselfe fit and ready for God at his last houre because that very many in all ages and in all places haue been and are taken away oftentimes with a suddaine death haue neither that houres nor halfe houres leasure that they before spake of and trusted so much vnto Lu. 17.27 examples shewing that it is dangerous trusting to the last hower Gen. 19.23 When the World was eating drinking planting and building when they were most secure and carelesse then suddenly came the flood and ouerwhelmed them al. Though it were a faire morning at Lo●s going out of Sodome yet by and by when they least thought of any such matter they were all suddainly destroyed When Nabuchadnezzar was most brag and thought himselfe most safe and sure Dan. 4.12 suddenly neuer dreaming nor once suspecting any such things was he pulled on his knées The Rich man thought himselfe neuer more like to haue liued Luk. 12.20 Acts 5 are two notable examples of suddaine and vnprouided death in Anania● and his wife then when he so busily made such great prouision and laid vp store for many yeares yet was his soule sodainly taken from him the very same night And what knowest thou O man that trustest so much and puttest off till the last day houre whether that day and houre may not come as suddainely on thee and as vnlooked for as it did on any of these Augustine and Ambrose did write one of them to the other what his opinion was concerning the state of an old Adulterer which in their time as hee was going in the night time to his Whore passing ouer