Comfort Peace Security Joy keep away I will I have none of you except you bring a pardon with you As to many that are sick all things seem bitter so all your pleasures are distasteful unto me I account you my deceitful and flattering Enemies Disquiet shall be my Rest Mourning my Mirth sowre Sorrow my Comfort Alas how shall I present my self before the Majesty of the most righteous and upright Judge how shall my fearful Face behold him how terrible will he cast his Countenance upon me his Eyes far brighter than the Sun have narrowly observed all my Actions he hath weigh'd my Words he hath examin'd my Thoughts he hatâ— fealed up all my Sins he hath hitherto been silent hither patient but alas he wilâ— one day cry out and call me to a reckonâ—ing for all O my heart O poor heart a heart fuâ— of miseries never able to sustain these Firâ— brands of Conscience alas Wretch that â— am comfortless and forsaken Wretch whither shall I go to whom shall I seeâ— for succour who shall have pity and compassion upon me If I behold the Heaveâ— I am justly excluded because I have griâ—vously sinned against them If I look upoâ— the Earth it is weary of me because I haâ—â— been noisome unto it on the one side I sâ— the Good I have declin'd on the other siâ— the Evil which I have pursued before â—â— is Death ready to arrest me behind me my wicked Life ready to accuse me aboâ— me thy Justice ready to condemn me bâ—neath me Hell fire ready to devour me â— am altogether unworthy that the Eaâ—â— should bear me that the Light and Aâ— should refresh we that any Creature shouâ— serve me my eyes are not worthy to loâ— towards thee yea they are most wortâ— to be extinguished with Tears If then I â— ashamed to be seen how shall I be assur'â— to be received I have no Heart to ask what hope can I have that I shall obtain Go to then O sinful Soul enter again into the Closet of thy Conscience turn over the Books of thy Accompts cast up thy Reckoning set down thy Sum see what thou hast done and what thou hast deserved O Lord I must confess I have been guilty of abusing many Creatures in desiâ—ing seeking and embracing them above and before thee I have been guilty of Blasphemy guilty of Swearing guilty of Lying guilty of vain and foolish Talking guilty of Covetousness guilty of Cruelty guilty of Pride guilty of Ambition guilty of Riot guilty of Gluttony guilty of Drunkenness guilty of Lightness guilty of Looseness guilty of Lust guilty of Envy guilty of Hatred guilty of Anger guilty of Unquietness guilty of Frowardness guilty of Obstinacy guilty of Rashness guilty of Violence guilty of Idleness guilty of Sloth guilty of Hypocrisie guilty of Flattery guilty of Curiosity guilty of Detraction guilty of Oppression guilty of Slander and to sum up all guilty of breaking of all thy Commandments The penalty is eternal Banishment from thy presence and intolerable and endless Pains in Hell-fire Out upon me Wretch alas what shall become of me O my Lord I know not what to do I cannot tell what answer to make and being now in Extremity both of danger and fear my Cogitations trouble me my Conscience tormenteth me every Thought is a Thorn unto me insomuch as that I may conclude of my self with that of Judas It had been good for me that I had never been born Nay go on then a little further look down into Hell before thou leap into it observe there who expects thy coming what shall be thy entertainment look down into Hell I say over which thou now hangest by the slender twined thread of Life which if it should happen suddenly to break thou art in danger therein to be devoured if it doth noâ— break yet the turning of the Heaven is instead of a Wheel which continually windeth some part towards thee A short View of the Horrors and Terrors the Damned in Hell O Good God! what do I behold in thâ— Infernal Lake nothing but Horroâ— Tumultuous and Eternal Horror Fieâ— Chains Flaming Whips Scorching Darness tormenting Devils and burning Souls howling roaring and lamenting Woe and alas with a mad Rage blaspheming God in despair for ever to be received into his Favour and for despite in being fetter'd by him in those Eternal Flames with a desperate Impenitency cursing all Creatures and especially themselves tearing in a manner their own Substance and inviting the furious Fiends to torment them All the Pains of this Life are singular vexing some one sense or member of the Body or if many be affected at once yet never all but here every Pore and Part of the condemned Prisoner as well inward as outward hath both a full and fit charge of Punishment without either intermission or change for as he hath offended God with every part of his Soul and part of his Body so must every one of them receive his peculiar Punishment the Memory is tormented with Pleasures that are past the Apprehension with Pains that are present the Understanding with Joys that are lost and Miseries that are to come the Will with a malicious and envious Disposition at the Glory of God and his Elect and above all the Conscience is griped with a bitter despite and raging fruitless Repentance for every particular Offence the Sinner hath committed which once seem'd â—oft and sweet but then like Serpents cruâ—lly and restlesly gnaw upon him never â—â—asing to rub into his remembrance how â—â—ase were the Causes of his Calamity what Warning was given what Means was preâ—ented for the avoiding of it how effectuâ—lly he had been persuaded how earnestly â—ntreated to change his choice and accept â—he offer of eternal Happiness how easily â—e might and many times how nearly he â—ad apprehended the occasion and yet â—ow negligently how foolishly how madâ—â—â—he continued in his careless course Further the Sight is affected with fearâ—ul Darkness and ugly Devils the Hearing with terrible and hideous Cries the Smell with poisonous Stink the taste with bitâ—erness far exceeding Gall the Feeling â—ith intolerable Fire A Fire which as nothing does feed it so â—t consumeth nothing that it doth burn a Fire which hath no Light to comfort but Heat to torment no Light but to shew â—hem their own Miseries and the Miseries â—f those they did inordinately affect A 〈◊〉 whose force shall never be spent or â—â—â—inguished or yet abated but so long as â—d is God so long it shall torment the â—cked and that with such vehement rage at one drop of Water to be applied to â—â— scorched Tongue will be of greater â—luation than a Thousand Worlds O unhappy Bodies which are to be baâ—ed in this burning Lake speaking nothing â—t Curses seeing nothing but Miseries â—aring nothing but mourning and gnashâ— of Teeth O silly Souls which passed â—ay the time of this Life either in Idleness in Evil what an endless Chain of Calaty have your
and if not for a small time much less for Eternity and if not for the Torment of one part much less of the whole And as one that floateth half choaked and wearied in the Sea ceaseth noâ— to wrestle with the Waves to cast forth his Hands every way altho' he graspeth nothing but thin and weak Water which continually deceiveth his pains so they that both swim and sink in this depth of Death shall always strive and struggle therewith altho' they neither find nor hope for any help O deadly Life O immortal Death what shall I term thee Life wherefore then dost thou kill Death and wherefore dost thou then endure There is neither Life nor Death but there is some good in it for in Life there is some Ease and in Death an End but thou hast neither Ease nor End What then shall I term thee Even the bitterness of both for of Death thou hast the Torment without any End of Life thou hast the Continuance without any Ease God hath taken away both from Life and Death all that which is Good the rest he hath mixed together and therewith tempered the Torments of Hell O unsavoury Composition of the Cup of God's wrath a death always living and an end ever in beginning a Death which shall not devour but tear and eat but not consume And as this Death can never die so shall it never be satisfied or weary in gnawing upon every part of his most miserable Prey O Intolerable Vengeance and equal with Eternity which no means can moderate no patience can endure no time can end but so long as God shall live so long shall the damned die and when he shall cease to be happy which can never be then shall they cease to be miserable A Star which is far greater than the Earth appeareth to be a small Spot in comparison of the Heavens much less shall the Age of Man seem much less the Age and Continuance of the World in regard of these eternal Pains The least Moment of Time if compared with Ten-Millions of Years because both terms are definite and the one a part of the other beareth althâ— a very small yet some Proportion but this or any number of Years in respect to Eternity is nothing less than just nothing All things that are finite I may be compared together but between that which is finite and that which is infinite there is no comparison Neither is it any piece of Injustice to inflict Eternal Punishment for sins that were done but for a time because the just and severe Judge doth not weigh the Actions only but the Hearts of Men For therefore do the wicked sin for a time because they have but a time to live but they are desirous to live for ever because they are desirous to offend for ever being more desirous to sin than to live and not regarding life but only to enjoy the Pleasures of sin and therefore it is just that they shou'd never want punishment who ever had a will to offend that they should never find an end of Revenge who would never have made an end of sin Again as God is infinite both in Majesty and Mercy it followeth that every Offence against that Majesty is also infinite and therefore worthy infinitely to be punish'd And surely if a Man that is sharply pinch'd with some one particular Pain be it but the a king of one of his Teeth doth think one Night exceeding long tho' he lieth in a soft Bed well applied and cared for for if he tur'neth often and telleth the hours and thinketh every one long till it be Day how tedious can we think Eternity will seem to those that shall be continually perplexed and torn with those Eternal torments not only the Body but primarily the Soul in a dark Babylonian Furnace foaming forth most horrible Heat And if Forty Days Rain driven with the Tempest of God's Wrath was sufficient to destroy the whole World what shall we conclude of the full Storm and Stream of his Rage wherein the fiery Darts of his Fury shall never cease to beat upon his Enemies O dreadful Fire kindled by the breath of God's Eternal Wrath more exceeding the fire of this World than can be imagined O ugly Darkness cursed by the Mouth of God O Eternal Night both inward of the Soul and outward of the Body in regard whereof the palpable Darkness of Aegypt was scarce a Day which light Clouds over cast O long and loathsome Night wherein the Morning will never appear wherein the hope of Light is no less desperate than the desire violent Is this O Lord the wages of Sin is this the punishment of wicked Doers of whom I am one in so deep a degree that it is no wonder if my Conscience tremble and my Soul cleave with Sighs and my Eyes drowned with Tears The Penitent Sinner's Holy Resolutions to a thorough Reformation IS it so is my Case so deplorable and desperate must my sinful Life end in the entring into those eternal Flames must my Frolicks die into everlasting Burnings must my jolly Hours be turn'd into bitter Weepings and Wailings must my breaking of God's Holy Commandments cause me to be fetter'd in Chains and that forever in utter Darkness where there is nothing but hideous and fearful cryings and groanings Is it so Hath God told me that cannot lye and shall I not have the Faith to believe him Yes I will If this be the Exit of a sinful Life tell me no more of those Dalilah's of those Pleasures I have formerly taken a delight in There is no playing with Sin I will get clear of it whatever it cost me I will give ear to its bewitching Enchantments no more I will not for a few merry hours hazard my eternal Safety Heaven is not a thing to be lightly esteem'd it is of more value than a thousand Worlds and I believe it to be so and why should I be so foolish and careless as not to take any care to fit my self for an Admittance into it I know not how soon my Change may come and if it should come and I not prepar'd I am undone and that for ever therefore I will bid my old Friends farewel farewel fine Clothes and farewel all delicious Living farewel Carding and Dicing Hunting and all manner of Revelling whatsoever that I have taken any delight in for my Delight shall be for the future in fearing and serving of God and in keeping of his Commandments which was the chief End of my being made a rational Creature therefore away with your Enâ—icements your Traps and Snares whereby you would delude and deceive me till you drag me into Hâ—ll's Everlasting Flames for I see what all Lewdness will come to which is dreadful to me therefore molest and trouble me not I will run the pleasanâ— ways of God's holy Commandments I wilâ— ascend God's holy Hill I will make haste to Mount Sion I will be kept in the Tents of
this Celestial City for assuredly if there be much Joy in Heaven at the conversion of Sinners much greater will the Joy be when they come to be glorified O how sweet will then be the Fruit of Vertue whose Root in this World is esteem'd so bitter how pleasant will that Peace be after this troublesome Warfare after great variety of Perils that eternal Security after this Weariness that sweet Rest The Children of Israel went up armed out of Egypt Exod. 13. 13. but when they came into the Land of Promise they laid down their Weapons they forgot their Fears 1. Kings 4. 25. Every Man sate securely under his own Vine and under his own Fig-tree Here we are set in the State of Strife there our War shall be at an end there shall they sit secure from so much as the Fear of the fiery Dart of the Enemy There they shall not dread his Stratagems or his Strength thither the Sighs do not pierce there the hissing is not heard of the poysonous Basilisk but the Glory of God doth enlighten that Region and the soft and sweet Breath of the Holy Spirit doth refresh it O pleasant Peace O sweet Security what can be sufficiently said of thee Job 4. I acknowledge with the Woman of Samaria not only that this Well is very deep but that I want a Bucket to draw Thou canst not be understood of those that enjoy thee not thou canst not be prais'd enough of those that enjoy thee O ye Sons of Adam O blind and perverse Generation miserable lost Sheep if this be your Country whether do you range if this be your Pasture whither do you stray whither do you wander if this be your home What do you Wherefore stand ye looking about wherefore will ye lose these Joys the least whereof are greater and more lasting than any this World can afford Assuredly if we should endure the Torments of Hell for a long season to enjoy these Felicities but for a short time our Pains wou'd be abundantly satisfied with this exceeding weight of Glory And if thou enquirest O Man what thou must do to attain to the enjoyment of these Everlasting Joys give an attentive Ear to what thy blessed Saviour hath said Matt. 11. 11. The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force If thou canst violently break off with all thy beloved and darlings sins thy Dalilahs which would ruine thy immortal Soul and if thou canst but do justly love Mercy and walk humbly with thy God and thou canst set thy whole desires after this Kingdom thou shalt certainly enjoy it and that for evermore O weak Man wherefore art thou troubled Christ hath taken all the pains and he hath paid the Price and a dear one too no less than his own precious Blood hear what he saith unto thee Mat. 13. 41. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Treasure hid in a Field which when a Man hath found he goeth and sells all that he hath and buyeth that Field Lo here the Purchase â—s laid before thee it is worth all that thou â—ast it is valued to thee as thou valuest thy self therefore make away all thy desires in things of this Life and let all thy joy be fix'd upon that Kingdom and thoâ— shalt have it Christ hath given himself to purchase this Kingdom for thee thereforâ— let not sin reign in thy Body but give up thy self in Love to him and he will givâ— himself and his Father's Kingdom unto thee But alas O my Soul where arâ— thou what dost thou where is thy Joy â— where is thy Love wherewith thy thoughâ— shou'd be inflam'd how art thou chain'â— with the Inchantments on this ugly Earthâ— How art thou drown'd in drowsiness O my Soul that thou art so careless and senselesâ— of true Spiritual Pleasures and so fonâ— upon the vanities and vexations of thiâ— Life Tell me dost thou believe there is â— Kingdom of Heaven wherein thou art inroll'd a Citizen whereto thou art adopted an Heir and hast thou not a longing Love to be possess'd of the same Alas how faint is thy Faith how unbelieving 〈◊〉 thy belief Tell me I pray thee what Entertainment hath intangled thee into thâ— Love of this Life What dost thou finâ— therein but wanting and wishing froâ— whence ariseth two Tortures of the Mind Hope and Fear how art thou busied there in as the Spider that consumeth her owâ— Bowels in weaving curious Nets only to catch Flies O my Soul it is not any true contentment or satisfaction that thou findest in any of the Pleasures of this Life but â—t is thy own Heaviness that holdeth thee down it is thy own Dulness that doth undo thee There is no difference between doubting of this Happiness and not desiring of it If then thou hast any Sparkles of Faith shake off this sleepy Sloath away with this Unchearfulness away with this dead Dulness away with all the profane Earthly Pleasures those Lime twigs of the Devil which cleaving to the Feathers of thy Devotion make thee unable to â—â—ount upwards O my God! O that I could so free my Affection O that I cou'd so heave up my heavy Heart unto thee O that I were in desire as I am indeed a Sojourâ—er a Traveller a Stranger upon Earth O that I cou'd travail like a Woman in Childbirth to be delivered of this lumâ—ish Load of Sensuality and to solace my self only in Desire Hope and in Assuâ—ance of thee This do I desire O Lord or rather weakly wish for I am so fetter'd with Flesh and Blood that I am so far froâ— performing it that I cannot desire it iâ— such sort as I should It is Nature thaâ— drowneth me in this dead Sea of Worldliness I cannot endure to think upon much less desire a Dissolution If thâ—â— Nature be not O Lord over-rul'd and chain'd down by thy Grace I shall bâ— neither able to do nor desire but like Lot I shall be loath to depart out of Sodom therefore O Lord let me grow iâ— thy Grace and in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord that I may live to thy Praise here and be glorified with thee hereafter in those Glorious Mansions have had a short View of SOME HOLY PREPARATIONS To a Worthy Receiving of the BLESSED SACRAMENT OF THE LORD's SUPPER The Necessity of this Duty pressed from several Portions of Scripture FIrst by the Express Commands of our Blessed Lord and Saviour who is the Chief nay the Sum and Substance of what this blessed Ordinance representeth unto us as in Matt. 26. 26. 27. And as they were eating Jesus took Bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to the Disciples saying Take eat this is my Body And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave to them saying drinkye all of it And for this good and beneficial Reason to all Mankind as Ver. 28. This is my blood of the New Testament which was shed for man for the remission of their Sins
Licens'd and Enter'd according to Order Maâ—thew 25. ve 3â— Come ve Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdomâ— prepared for you c â—â—â—thew 25. ver 41 Depart from me ye Curse◠〈◊〉 Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devâ—â— HELL's Everlasting Flames AVOIDED AND Heaven's Eternal Felicities INJOYED The First Part. Containing the Penitent Sinner's Sad Lamentation for the Deplorableness of his impious Life With a short View of the Terrors of the Damned in Hell and his Holy Resolutions to a thorough Reformation with some Considerations upon the Glory of the Saints in Heaven Also holy Preparations to a Worthy Receiving of the Lord's Supper With Devout Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions with Graces before and after Meat To all which are Added Hymns and Spiritual Songs of Praises to Almighty God for our happy Deliverance from Popery and the horrid Cruelty and Barbarity of Blood-thirsty Men With an excellent Prayer for King William By that eminent Divine Mr. John Hayward The Tenth Edition London Printed for Robert Gifford and are to be sold at his Shop in Old-Bedlam without Bishopsgate 1696. Price bound 1s TO THE Christian READER AS you tender the Everlasting Welfare of your Precious and Immortal Souls cease from doing Evil learn to do well and with this humble Penitent take a view and look back upon what you havâ— been a doing ever since you came in to the World to this day and I doubâ— not but that you will find you havâ— been too much like him in doing thâ— which you ought not and leavinâ— that undone which you ought to do Therefore let him be your Pattern and take up with him in his Resolutions which is fully to leave hâ— old course of Life and to follow on hard after the Lord and to seek him while he may be found and to call upon him while he is near and to press forward towards the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord for which end this small Piece is Published And that you may reap this Benefit by it of finding Acceptance with the Lord Jesus and by his Merits be received into Glory is and shall be the Constant and Hearty Prayer of Your Soul 's Cordial Friend JOHN HAYWARD THE PENITENT SINNER Bemoaning and Bewailing the DEPLORABLENESS OF HIS IMPIOUS LIFE PART I. Psal xi 6. Upon the Wicked he shall rain Snares Firâ— and Brimstone and a horrible Tempeâ— This shall be the Portion of their Cup. O Christ the Son of the most Hâ—â— God the Saviour of most miâ—rable Men who for us Men aâ— for our Salvation left thy Glorious Haâ—tation in the highest Heavens whose Bâ—fed Body was buffetted with Fists to with Whips stretched upon the Cropierced with Nails and Spears and bath in the sweet Streams of thy own preciâ— Blood for the Redemption of all 〈◊〉 kind O Father O Restorer O Preserver of Life to thy Majesty to thy Mercy my sinful Soul full of fresh bleeding Wounds full of old corrupted Sores sick to the Death with the surfeit of Sin would willingly present it self and send a few faint Groans unto thy heavenly Ears But alas the greatness of my Disease haâ—â— almost taken away the sense thereof and so horrible is my corruption that I fear I shall offend thy pure Presence and altogether turn thee from regarding me thine Ear from attending me and thy Compassion from relieving me for I have a sharp Testimony within me which accuseth which condemneth that altho' in words I have profess'd thy Service yet my Actions have charged my Tongue with Untruth For I have never subdued my own Will and â—elinquisht the Prey whereon it hath fed which Conquest is a necessary part of Christian Duty to obey the Pleasure But I have remain'd Proud Ambitious Angry Cruel Rash Vain-glorious Envious Covetous Deceitful Delicate Sensual Idle Light a great lover of my self of my Flesh of my Estimation of all wordly both Advantages and Deâ—â—ghts I have added Folly unto Blindness Malice to Ignorance and Obstinacy to Offence I have sinned with a high hand against thee and more impudently should I have sinned if as I had ended with my Conscience I had ended also with my Shame In a word all my Passions have been so lively and strong that I cannot cast my trembling thoughts into any corner of thy Commandments but my Conscience giveth me a sharp conviction and crieth out guilty against me Adam did once taste of one forbidden Fruit but I have often tasted of all I have broken every Branch of the Tree of Good which thou hast commanded and of the Tree of Evil which thou hast forbidden I have taken delight in all sorts of sins not always for pleasure but either in meer Licentiousness or depraved Custom and many times not without great trouble and toil even as the Prophet said Jer. 9. 5. They have taken great pains to do evil Behold O gracious Lord the Guides which I have followed the Friends which I have affected the Counsellors which 〈◊〉 have credited and the Masters which I haâ— obeyed with these have I lovingly livâ— with these have I loyally kept my Faiâ— even wiâ—h the Appetites of my filthy Fleâ—â— with the Transitory Treasures of this World bathing my unhappy Soul in the soul and foolish Pleasures of this Life These have been my Gods these have been my Idols but now they are my Accusers now Witnesses against me now my Judges now my Tormentors I am far more wretched than I can possibly imagine and altho' I think that I am at the very bottom of my Misery yet do I find my self to sink daily more deep in the Mire I am one of the most poor and wretched Creatures in the World I am one that hath most abused thy benefits and if thou hadst wrought so much both by secret Inspiration and by outward means in them of Tyre and Sidon even in other great Sinners as thou hast wrought in me they would have converted unto thee in Sackcloth and Ashes I am unworthy of the service and use of any of thy Creatures I am unworthy to lift up mine Eyes towards Heaven and more unworthy to speak unto thee but most of all to â—eceive from thee those Comforts and Consolations wherewith thou usest to cherish thy Children O Sin the very Bane and Death of my Soul was it not enough for thâ—e to infect a heedless Creature with thy Poyson buâ— thou must make it so ugly and loathsomâ— that the Eye of Mercy should not enduâ—â— to behold Was it not enough for thee â—â— crush it in pieces with thy weight but thoâ— must also go to stop the Ear of Pity witâ— Horror and the Mouth of Praye◠〈◊〉 Shame Was it not enough for thee to draw me to destruction but thou must all so take from me both the sense of my Grief and the sight of my Danger anâ— consequently the Cure of the one and the Care of the other I was wounded and I felt it not
Wickedness no longer therefore lift up your Head O ye Gates and be ye lifted up ye Everlasting Doors I will force my way thro' I will enter and all that ever Men or Devils can do unto me shall not hinder shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness Peril or Sword these can but kill the Body but I have an immortal Soul that is of greater value if I save that I save all and shall I fear dangers in striving to be abundantly satisfy'd with the Fatness of God's House I see a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God I see a-far off a House made without Hands eternal in the Heavens farewel deceitful Heart I will give Ear to your false Suggestions no more I have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto I resolve to take heed how often hast thou taught me to hide my Sins and call them by wrong Names that I might excuse my self for departing from them But dare I presume to think to deceive the all-wise God No God will not be blinded he will not be mocked he is not asleep like Baal or gone a Hunting No Canst thou draw a Curtain before the Eyes of Infinite Wisdom No he sits and sees and observes all the Actions of Men therefore I am ashamed knowing what I have done I have called my Pride Decency my Covetousness Frugality my Drunkenness Good-Fellowship my Lasciviousness Impossibility of resisting the Dictates of Nature my slandering others but saying what I hear And thus I have deceived my self but I will for the future be deceived no more but I will hearken unto what the Lord will say unto me and not to my base and deceitful Heart's Lust I have seen enough of Impiety I will stay no longer in Sodom these flowery Meadows these pleasant Fields shall make me lie down no more I see there 's Death in the Pot and the great Day of God's eternal Wrath is hastening therefore I come Lord I will stand off no longer I have staid in the service of Sin and of the Devil too long already I will give ear to what thou shalt be pleased to say to me I will turn my back no more upon thee I will harden my heart no more It is the voice of my beloved that knocks I will arise and let him in Awake up my Glory Awake I have slumbered too much get up my drowsie Affections the Lord is at hand O my God! wilt thou spread forth thy blessed Arms to embrace and receive such a wretched Creature as I am filled with all manner of wickedness and Deceit and having known the Judgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of Death have not only done the same but have had pleasure in them that do them is there Mercy in store for such a Rebel then I heartily renounce the Devil and all his Works therefore arise O Lord and let thy Enemies be scatter'd and appear for me with thy Almighty Power and out stretch'd Arm and deliver me from this Slavery this hard Bondage that I am under Deliver me from these my Enemies that seek my utter Destruction Methinks I see them quaking and trembling before God's Tribunal that thought it below them while upon Earth to make Religion their business Methinks I see them how they are ashamed of their Madness and Folly and methinks I hear them caâ—l and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne Direct me O Lord and teach me by thy holy Spirit draw me and I will run after thee teach me to sing the Song of Sion guide me in the Path of Life Leave not my Soul in Hell pull it out I have made a solemn choice of God for my Portion leâ— me know how I must love him I will obey your Counsel I will act according to your Directions be not afraid of me I will not turn my back in the day of Battle I have done with these fading deceitful Pleasures I find no Comfort no enjoyment in them they may please for a while but they cannot satisfie for ever Nay they are destructive both to Soul and Body Solomon took a tryal of them all and found them so and so all Men are forc'd to confess at last and too often when it is too late I see most Men of another Mind when they come to die to what they are in the time of their strength and health and Liberty But O my Soul come not then into their Secret unto their Assembly my Honour be thou not united Take warning by these sad Examples There are many Snares laid I am beset with temptations but I will hug those Monsters no more but will resist and overcome them by thy Power Come my Soul ascend to higher Thoughts Hopes and Labours and away with thy soft Wishes and dull Endeavours are these fit for seeking Eternal Joys doth a slow pace become a Man that is resolv'd for Eternity The Voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the Lord is full of Majesty the Voice of the Lord breaks the Cedars and art thou the only Creature he cannot shake it's done I am sensible and I am resolved Resolution will go far as I may see by these Examples Resolution made David run thro' a Troop and leap over a Wall Psal 18. 29. It was his Resolution made him say thus Psal 119. 46 106. I have sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed and I will delight my self in thy Commandments My hands will I lift up unto thy Precepts which I have loved and I will meditate in thy Statutes It was Resolution made Shadrach Meshech and Abednego go voluntarily into the Fire It was Resolution made St. Paul ready not only to suffer but to die at Jerusalem for the Name of Jesus Resolution made David's Worthies draw Water out of the Well of Bethlehem Resolution made Ignatius despise Fire Sword and wild Beasts Resolution made Empedocles give himself to the Flames and Artalus to sit down as one unconcern'd in the fiery Chair his Enemies had prepared for him and Resolution made Job bear his great Losses Shall I be faint-hearted shall I be a Coward shall these and others resolve to part with anything so much as their very Lives for their Saviour's Sake Lord I am resolved with these Worthies to undergo any thing for the advancement of thy Honour and Glory My heart is ready to obey all thy Commands therefore Lord make me clean help me to put a way the evil of my doingâ— and learn me to do well that so I may siâ— no more against thee or grieve thy Holy Spirit I am convinced that thy service iâ— perfect freedom he that enters upon it is under the Government of a good and a lawful Prince he feels nothing that iâ— burthensome unto him
thou visitest him with Everlasting Loving kindness anâ— thou givest thy Angels charge over him and thou wilt not suffer any harm to come unto him thou aâ—t with him in his distress and when he weeps thou holdest a Bottle under to catch his Tears thou bindest up his Wounds and healest all his Sores thou watchest over him and thy Ears are open to his Prayers and his Groans are not hiâ— from thee his Peace is made with thee so here they that truly fear and serve thee are free from all slavish fears nothing but Love rules in their Hearts which makes their Yoak easie and their Burthen light and the Narrow way full of delight and satisfaction they have peace of Conscâ—ence a peace which passeth all understanding so that the Devil can make no War against them to do them any harm he may raise a Storm and lay a Siege but he cannot overthrow for he that is for them is stronger than he that is against them he may set their House on fire but he cannot consume them and rain Brimstone upon them but they have a Tower to flee to a Place of Refuge and Defence Who is a strong Towâ—r in the day of distress and the Righteous â—lee unto it and are safe Ah Lord these are great and glorious Priviledges that â—hy chosen ones are made Partakers of O Lord make me one of these and â—uide me by thy Counsel until thou shalt â—ing me unto Glory â—ome Considerations of the Glory of the Saints in Heaven THis Felicity is represented to us by many Names but most especially Two taken from Two things in this World which we affect most that is Life and a Kingdom First Life Luke 10. 15. Master who shall I do to inherit eternal Life And Secondly A Kingdom Matt. 22. 3â— Mark 12. 28. Luke 2. 32. Fear not littâ—â— Flock for it is your Father's pleasure to giâ—â— you a Kingdom The Nature of Life is so sweet to all Meâ— because naturally we desire to preserve oâ— Being even in this mortal Life which 〈◊〉 fast chained not only to infinite change oâ— Calamities but to many Dangers and fâ—nally to Death it self but that Life whicâ— is the blessed State of those who have a fuâ—fruition of God is a true lively and perfect Life a pure Life a holy Life a securâ—â— Life a Life free from Molestation frâ—â— from Change a most happy Life as weâ— for the Glory thereof as for the Eternity In this Glory there may be degrees 〈◊〉 there can â—e no defect altho' like Sâ—aâ—â— one Saint shall differ from another yet aâ—â—hall shine altho' like Vessels one sâ—aâ—â—â— hold more than another yet all shall 〈◊〉 full Neither shall this difference cause â—ny to complain First Because in theâ—selves they shall find no want And â—â—condly Because the Glory of others shaâ—â— be as their own And yet this Glory could not make Life â—appy if it were not also perpetual The â—ore glorious it is to be enjoyed the more â—â—ievous it would be to determine the â—ery Thoughts of Ending wou'd much â—bate the pleasures of Enjoying but Eterâ—ity addeth so much to Contentment in â—his Glorious Life as it addeth to contiâ—uance it maketh the Pleasures of this â—ife even like it self no less than infinite Likewise a Kingdom is of such Estimaâ—â—on among Men that for it they will venâ—ure their Estates their Lives their Souls â—ay they will surmount all difficulties and â—angers they will make their way thro' â—lood through Wounds through Death 〈◊〉 self to attain it altho' it be but a small Corner-Kingdom upon Earth incident to â—numerable Casualties and Care But his Kingdom is a Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 â—ternal Kingdom a most blessed Kingdâ—◠〈◊〉 Tim. 4. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Luke 〈…〉 â—at 23. 34. a Heavenly Kingdom 〈…〉 â—â—ove the tempestuous Troubles of this 〈◊〉 â—â—riour World an eternal Kingdom subâ—â—ct neither to declination nor change a â—lessed Kingdom furnished with all Feliâ—â—ties without any mixture of Misery or â—rief the Excellency whereof may be consider'd in two principal Points Largâ—ness and Magnificence which may not bâ— obscurely conjectured For if it be true which all Authors aâ—firm That many Stars do far exceed thâ— whole Body of the Earth in greatness seeing these Stars bear so small a Proportion in regard of that Heaven whereoâ— they are fixed the Face whereof is opeâ— to our View how little is the compass â— all the Kingdoms upon the Earth in coâ—parison to the Celestial Kingdom which 〈◊〉 above the Starry Heaven and in unknowâ— dimensions exceedeth that Sphear Be astonish'd O my Soul and altogether wrap from thy bodily Senses upon consideration both of the Greatness of this Kingdom and the unspeakable Goodness â—â— the King thereof who hath said unto the â—â—ncerning the same as once he said unt◠〈◊〉 of the Land of Canaan Lift ◠〈…〉 â—yes now and look from the Place whâ—◠〈◊〉 art for all the Land which thou seest â—â—â—â—â—ve unto thee for ever Gen. 13. 14 15. Proceed also to consider the Beauty anâ— Majesty of that Kingdom even by thâ— Rule which the Apostle hath taught Roâ— 1. 20. In esteeming the invisible Works â— God by those that are visible If then God hath provided for these our base Bodies and sinful Souls such excellent such abundant Pleasures from the Service of all Creatures in this World â—ow excellent how innumerable are those Pleasures which are prepared for those glorified Bodies and Souls which shall behold him Face to Face If the Delights â—e so great and various which he imparteth to the Evil as well as the Good to his Enemies as to his Friends what hath he reserved for his good best and choicest Friends If our Prison yield such fair contentments what will he do for us in his Royal Court If we find such Comfort in this stormy time of Tears what may we expect in the sweet Sun shine of Joy If this corruptible World which he set up for a small time as a Cottage or Out-house be so gorgeous so magnificent that many desire no other Heaven what Estimation shall we make of his principâ—l and Princely Palace His Eternal Habitation prepar'd before all Worlds to set forth his Majesty and Glory and for the uttermost declaration both of his Wisdom and Power It is very like that the Palace of Babylon was exceeding fair whereof Nebuâ—hadnezzar so much gloried Is not this great Babel which I have built for the Houâ— of the Kingdom for the Honour of my Majâ—sty But assuredly all this World of ouâ— which holdeth a middle state between Heâ—ven and Hell and in some sort participateâ— of both surpasseth and it surpasseth nâ— Hell so far in Beauty and Glory as it surpassed by the Royal Court of Heaveâ— which being framed fit for the Majesty greeable to the Estate of Almighty God no less gorgeous and great than his Wiâ—dom could contrive and his Power pâ—â—form and that is above all compass of coâ—parison Infinite Ps 84. 11. O! how
amialâ— are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Hosts â—â— Soul longeth and panteth even to enter iâ— thy Courts even thy great City Holy aâ— Heavenly Jerusalem Rev. 21. and 22. 1â— which shineth with thy Glory as clear â— Chrystal whose Buildings are of puâ— Gold like glittering Glass whose Waâ— and Foundations are of precious Stones whose Gates are so many entire Pearls whose Streets are pav'd with pure Gold glittering as Glass where is no need â—â— any Sun because the Lamb is the Lamâ— that giveth it a large a glorious Light from whose Seat streams a River of Watâ— of Life clear as Crystal and upon thâ— Brooks is planted the Tree of Life which continually yieldeth both Physick and Food where is no Curse no Night no unclean thing but the Throne of God and of the Lamb and his Servants shall see his Face and serve him and Reign for evermore Matthew 8. 8. When thou wert upon the Earth O my Saviour in thy humbled State the Centurion professed himself unworthy and so he was that thou shouldst come under his Roof altho' in probability neither framed nor furnished in the meanest fashion on the other side how unworthy am I base wretched Worm to enter into this thy Heavenly Habitation prepared â—or thy glorious estate Psal 84. 1 4. O! how amiable are thy dwellings thou Lord of â—osts Blessed are they that thou shalt make worthy to dwell in thy House they shall â—lways be praising of thee But there is no place can afford true Feâ—icity if the Society be not suitable to the â—ame A Country is much esteemed accorâ—ing to the Nature and Quality of the Inâ—abitants if they be many if of Noble Nature if of a generous Disposition if â—ll aiming at one common End who then â—re the Inhabitants of this Celestial City here is the full assembly of Angels oâ— whom in this World we have the serviceâ— but not in sight in Number answerablâ— to the large Capacity of that Place moâ—â— amiable most admirable Câ—eatuâ—es iâ— Beauty disposed in most excellent Oâ—deâ— here are the ancient Woâ—thies or ratheâ— Wonders of this World the Patriarchâ— the Prophets the Apostles the Evangâ—lists the Martyâ—s the Confessors and gâ—nerally all the company of Saints in suâ— multitude that they cannot be numbreâ— for Nobility all the Children of Goâ— holding such Order for their Places aâ— Proportions for their Glory as it pleaseâ— the Divine Wisdom to dispose And aboâ— all here is the holy Humanity of our Saâ—our Christ seated in the height of Majesâ— at the right Hand of the Father being tâ— Head of that blessed Body of Saints O sweet Society what shall I say 〈◊〉 thee it seemeth a Presumption to desiâ— thee and yet without desire of thee I caâ—not live Habakkuk 2. 4. For the righâ—ous Man doth live by Faith if then have the Faith to believe thee I cannâ—â— but have a desire to enjoy thee Heb. â— 38. Gal. 3. 11. Rom. 1. 17. 19. The true Life of a Christian is Faith our Senses may be deceived and thereby possess our Opinion with Erâ—or I cannot have this Life of Christianiâ—y if my Faith is not more assured than â—ny Sense Well this is the Seat this is the Socâ—eâ—y which God out of his infinite Goodness and Mercy hath appointed for those â—hat love him and long for his appearing â—nd that make it their chiefest business in his World to serve him and glorifie his Name those full and transcendent Feliâ—ities they shall enjoy endeavour not to â—xpress O my Soul thou art nothing near â—ble to understand them thou art so far â—om understand 〈…〉 them as thou art â—om enjoying 〈…〉 more do underâ—â—and them but 〈…〉 do enjoy them â—nly thou mayest aâ—ar off look towards â—em and so clear as the Cloudiness of â—lesh and Blood will permit in distinct â—arts take a view of them as they are â—iefly applicable either to the Body or the â—ul For this filthy Flesh which is now â— cumbersome and offensive to the Soul â—d subject to so many mutations shall in â—e general Resurrection be changed and â—ade most glorious it shall cast off aâ—l Corruption and therewith also all the Deformities and Calamities which proceeded from the same Isa 35. 6. There shall not be one feeble The Lame shall leap as an Haâ—â— and the Dumb shall sing for if the Blind and Lame were not permitted to enter into David's House much less shall any Deformity or Defect either enter or approach unto the House of God and as the Soâ— by conforming it self to the Will of God so the Body by conforming it self contrary to the Nature thereof to the Will oâ— the Soul shall be made partaker of the Perfection and Glory of the Soul and be seated in a most flourishing and never-fading State of high Perfections it shall be adorned with most 〈◊〉 Beauty even the wise Man saith 〈◊〉 â—7 In the time 〈◊〉 their visitation they shall shine Moses saw God but imperfectly and while and his Face did shine how theâ— shall they shine who shall perfectly see 〈◊〉 Face for ever Our Saviour did in soâ— measure describe this glorious Beautâ— when he said Mat. 13. The Just Mâ—n sâ—â—shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Fâ—ther It shall be delivered from the luâ—pish Heaviness wherewith it is clogged aâ— incumbred in this Life and be in Agilâ— equal with Angels for as they enjoy equal Glory so shall there be no difference in their Gifts The thought of Man is not more swift when the Sun riseth in the East the Beams thereof are not more speedily darted into the West than that shall be both swift and sudden in performing motion Isaiah 40. 31. They shall mount up with Wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Hereto shall be added a most large Liberty no Limits to include no stop to restrain it from passing freely whereit pleaseth and also their strength shall be as the strength of Angels nothing shall resist it eveâ—â— thing shall give it way it shall strive with no greater strain in effecting any thing than we do in the motion of our Eyes Further it shall be delivered from all Diseases and Pains of this Life and shall â—njoy a strong and perfect Constitution of Health no Sickness shall seize upon it no â—nfirmity no Debility shall approach it grow upon it prevail against it because as â—he Psalmist saith Psal 37. 39. The Health â—â— the Righteous is from the Lord. Above all it shall be wholly filled with â—nspeakable Delight and Satisfaction â—hat do I say it shall be filled it shall be inebriated not having the sence of any other thing what do I say wholly every part every faculty and every sense shall be satiated with delight in its own proper Object not like the corruptible and sorrowful Pleasures of this Life which are aâ— smoak in cold weather whereof the Smoak is more noisom and offensive than the heaâ— is comfortable but exceeding them
as faâ— in Excellency as they do in Cause and iâ— Continuance and so far in Plenty as theâ— do in Place Psal 36. 8. It shall be satisfied with the abundance of God's House anâ— he shall give you drink of his Pleasures as oâ— of a River Lastly It shall be crown'd with Immoâ—tality whereby it shall be assured never tâ— dissolve never to decline but to endure â— long in the same perfect and blessed Estaâ— as the Almighty and Everlasting God shaâ— endure for he that causeth the Heaveâ— to continue without change after so man thousand years since they were created â— by the same Almighty Power and Ouâ— stretch'd Arm shall also cause the glorifiâ— Bodies of the Saints always to flourish â— ven as the Bay-Tree or as the wise Mâ— saith The just shall live for ever and tâ— shall be the accomplishment of all the re for if the Prophet David thought one Day in God's earthly House better than a thousand in another Place the highest thoughts and greatest Imaginations we can conceive is infinitely short of the Blessedness and Gloriousness of this Heavenly House not made with Hands the unspeakable delightful habitation of Almighty God O! be astonished O my Soul at the wonderful Loving-kindness of Almighty God O thou lover of Man O thou that lovest Man in sin altho' thou lov'st not sin in Man what hath our filthy flesh worthy of this Honour it should according to its Deserts be tyed rather in a Stable with Beasts for feeding following and satisfying of its most beastly Appetites than sit in thy Sanctuary among thy Angels Dust should by Nature remain with Dust and not be advanc'd above the Heavens but as thou didst honour Ishmael the Son of a Bond woman because he belonged to Abraham so thou art pleas'd likewise to afford such Favour to this base and wretched brood of Corruption for the dependency thereof upon thy only Son the Parts shall participate with the Head and belike unto it as he had communicated with that in Nature so shall that communicate with him in Glory But how much the Soul is more noble than the Body so much more capable it is of greater Felicities it shall be filled with perfect Wisdom and behold it Face to Face 1 Cor. 13. 12. Now I see in part saith the Apostle but then shall I know even as I am known Then shall it behold and know the invisible Nature of the Blessed Trinity the Power of the Father the Wisdom of the Son the Goodness of the Holy Ghost the bottomless Depths of God's Judgments now unsearchable and past finding out shall then be seen even as the Prophet â—â—id Psal 36. 9. In thy Light we shall see Light And in beholding God it shall behold the Causes Natures and Ends of all things which God hath made of Nature to be known because they are more clear and conspicuous in God than in themselves Then shall all Men be known of all neither shall any either Quality or Action be secret to any and this is the end of all ouâ— Endeavouâ—s John 17. 3. This is Everlasting Life saith our Saviour to know thee the true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Also it shall be ravished with perfect Love both towards God for the infinite Causes of Love which in him shall appear and towards the Saints for that it shall perceive them to love and to be belov'd of God Both so much as it self and for the same cause it shall love God more than it self because it shall be sensible that God loveth it more than it is able to love it self the Saints it shall love equal with it self as being Members of one Body whereof Christ is Head for if the Spirit of Man hath Power to cause so great Unity as we see between the Members of one Body the Spirit of God which is the Soul of that Body of Saints shall cause so much more perfect Union by how much it is a more noble and powerful Form and giveth a more noble and durable Being Hereupon it followeth First That it shall conceive so many particular Joys as it shall see causes of Love in God which are infinite Secondly That it shall equally rejoice at the Felicity of every one as at that which is proper to it self whereby all the Saints shall partake of one another's Excellencies for in this Union Love shall be in its full Perfection the Nature of which Vertue is to make all things common It shall also enjoy a most sweet Peace and Concord in it self for the Body and Soul of every just Man which in this Life are always in Combat by reason of the Contraries between them the one being Spiritual the other Carnal shall then enjoy a compleat Peace by consent there shall not be any Distraction or Strife any more but they shall be carried one Way and be guided by one Will and that is the Will of God The Will of God shall be the Will of the Saints as they shall give a full and free Consent to the Will of God so shall God in all things consent unto their Will for how can the Head disagree from the Members how can one perfect Spirit be contrary to it selâ— Herewith it shall be advanc'd to a most high and happy degree of Honour for that which here was drown'd in the Putrefaction of the Flesh constantly in Miseries destitute both of Comfort and of Help entangled with Infirmities loaden with loathsome Sins in a word doing nothing but Sin finding nothing but Miseries which are the Reward of Sin God only and alone mov'd by his tender Mercy will take it to himself he will cleanse it he will cure it he will cloath it with perfect Righteousness he will adopt it for one of his Sons and make it a fellow heir of his most glorious Kingdom he will incorporate it with his only Son who is in all things equal with himself In respect thereof that of the Prophet David may be very fitly applied to those Saints Psal 82. 6. I have said that ye are Gods and that ye are all the Children of the most High To these shall be added great Ability for whatsoever they shall have a will to do they shall have Power to perform because he that is Omnipotent shall in all things consent to the Will thereof To these also Security shall be added for as it shall enjoy all things it can desire so shall it not fear to lose any thing it shall enjoy because neither it shall be willing to lose them or God deprive them of them against their Wills neither can any Power take that away which God wills they shall retain Lastly it shall be filled with perfect and unspeakable Pleasure and Joy which no Understanding is able to apprehend and this shall proceed from the clear Vision of Almighty God in beholding of him Face to Face 1 Cor. 13. in beholding of him as he is wherein consisteth the Essential Glory of
all the Saints and which is also the last End and Centre of their desires For the Soul of Man cannot find any peace or rest in any thing short of this blessed Vision even as neither the hearing of God nor conversing with him could satisfie the Mind of Moses but rather edg'd and sharpen'd his Desire to behold God's Face The reason is for that all the Pleasures and Contentments of this World being Beams of that Sun Sparkles of that Fire are most purely and perfectly contain'd in God The Perfection of all the Creation and whatsoever deserveth Love or Admiration are more full and compleat in God than in themselves whence it follows that whosoever enjoyeth the Presence of God enjoyeth the Perfections of all Creatures which are able abundantly to delight both Body and Soul And as the Sea receiveth all Streams and yet hath proper Waters in far greater abundance so in God there is a Confluence of all the Perfections of all Creatures yet his own Perfection doth infinitely exceed them with the Presence whereof all the Powers of the Mind shall be filled all the Senses of the Body satiated insomuch as they shall neither in desire seek nor in hope aspire nor in imagination create any greater Pleasure For therefore hath God made Man that Man should receive by him internal happiness of the Soul by contemplation of his Divinity and external of the Body by view of his Humanity The understanding shall rest in that Light of Knowledge the Will shall rest in Love of that Goodness the Desire shall rest in the Fruition of that Delight Every Power of the Soul shall be always hungry and always satisfied hungry without wanting satisfied without loathing the more it hath the more it shall desire the more it desires the more it shall have and the more it hath and desireth the more it shall see to be desired and had The three Disciples saw but a Glimpse of this Glory upon Mount Tabor and were ravish'd with such contentment that they cried out with one consent it is good for us to be here St. Paul being wrapt up in the third Heaven 2 Cor. 12. 4. and Rom. 8. 18. faw that which was not possible to be spoken of yet thus much he spake I account that the Afflictions of this time are not worthy of the Glory that shall be showed unto us This also did that Kingly Prophet David say Ps 16. 11. In thy Presence is the fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are Pleasures for evermore This did our Saviour himself express in pronouncing Happiness to the pure in Heart Matth. 5. 8. because they shall see God and therefore he form'd this Request for those that his Father had given unto him Joh. 17. 24. â—ather I will that they be with me even 〈◊〉 I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me Assuredly 1 Kings 10 if the Queen of Sheba esteemed them happy who stood in the presence of Sclomon and heard his Wisdom Behold a greater than Solomon is here Hereupon it followeth that all the Faculties of the Soul and Body shall always praise God without either intermission or End The Saints shall never be weary of singing Praises to the most High God and sing that Song which St. John Rev. 14. 3. call'd a New Song for that altho' it be one common Praise answerable to one common Glory which all the Society of Saints enjoy yet with respect to that Delight and Joy of Heart which will arise from the Glory and Praise of it it will be always fresh and new unto them this Heavenly Harmony shall never be old as the Glory so the Praise of the Saints shall never cease but shall ever be new and yet never alter or change Psal 81. 1 4. O how amiable are thy Dwellings thou Lord of Hosts blessed are they that dwell in thy House they shall always be praising of thee Psal 87. 3. Very Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God O Glorious City when shall I enter into thee when shall I possess and enjoy thee to see my God to converse with that blessed Society which dwelleth in thee in perfect Peace and Felicity passing all Understanding O Eternal Kingdom O Eternal Light O Eternal Life not so much to be spoken as to be desired and as by all Endeavours to be approach'd O blessed State not to be express'd even by those who only enjoy thee O only Purchase worthy of the precious Blood of Jesus Christ how can I believe thee and not admire thee how can I hope for thee and not extol thee how can I think of thee and not long for thee O that this present state of Strife and Contention were at an end O that the time of my Travel or rather my Banishment from thy heavenly Kingdom were expir'd who can be in love with this Life full of misery that hath any hope faith and confidence in thy Mercy Tell me O my Soul what a happy hour will that be when Death shall knock at thy Gates and put thee in the way to life Call thee from Prison to Liberty from troublesome Travel to joyful Rest from a living Death to an Immortal Life When others shall fear thou shalt look up Luk. 21. 28. because thy Redemption draweth near Then shall the glorious Company of Saints and Angels come to meet thee with Congratulations of unspeakable Joy for thy delivery out of the great Oppressions of Aegypt Then shall the Spouse meet thee and say Cant. 2. 10. Arise my Love my fair one and come away for behold the Winter is past and the Shower is over the Flowers have appeared in our Land and the singing of Birds is come Then shall the Angels-marvel and say Cant. 8. 5. Who is this coming out of the Wilderness leaning upon her Well beloved What Honour will it be unto thee when they shall present thee before the Throne of the most Blessed and Glorious Trinity with a joyful Memorial of the Good which thou hast done and of the Evil which thou hast suffered for the Love of God when thy blessed Saviour shall step forth unto thee and say Well done good and faithful Servant welcome into thy Master's Joy What Joy and Satisfaction shall be renâ—red unto thee for all the tryals and afflictions of this Life Of what dignity of what value shall Vertue then be adjudged How delightful will it be after safe Arrival to lift up thy Eyes and view the dangerous Voyage thou hast made when thou shalt see the Tempest wherewith thou hast been tossed the Streights which thou hast passed the Dangers which thou hast avoided how many Millions do daily perish and with how few thou didst escape then shalt thou sing with the princely Prophet Psal 94. 17. If the Lord had not helped it had not failed but my Soul should have been put to silence What Joy is daily made when new Inhabitants do arrive to furnish the void places of
Pious Godâ—y and Charitable Action Grant this O Lord and whatever more thou seest I stand in need of for thy dear Son's sake To whom with thee O Father and the Holy Ghost be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for one that is going to Sea O Lord God Eternal who made the Seas and the Fountains of Waters at whose Commands the Winds are I beg of thee to go along with me and preserve me by thy Power and Outstreched Arm from the Perils of the â—reat Deep and carry me safe to my desired Haven and Lord forgive me all â—y Sins heal all my Back-slidings and â—e me freely grant me thy Grace â—hat I may live in thy Fear and walk â—â—rightly before thee with singleness of â—eart that so I may live to the Praise â—â—d Glory of thy Great Name and the â—verlasting Salvation of my precious and â—â—mortal Soul And Lord as I have â—gged of thee to carry me safe to my â—â—sired Haven so bring me home again â—at so I may have an occasion and opâ—ortunity with my Friends and Relatiâ—ns to sing Praises to thy great and glorious Name for all thy Mercies but more especially that thou hast kept me from the merciless Waters and the Raging of the great Deep So begging thy Protection for my Preservation I resign up my self to thee who art the God of all Power and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer in distress of Weather at Sea either by Storm or Tempest O Lord God Eternal maker of Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is We miserable Offenders who have justly pull'd down thy Vengeance upon our Heads by the greatness of our Sins we have provoked thy Wrath we have deserved to be swallowed up quick by these raging Waves O Lord the Floods come over us and even enter into our very Souls O Lord the Sea rages and rises up against us Here we see thy woundrous Judgments in the greaâ— Deep which unless thou preserve us wilâ— swallow us up in a Moment Lord wâ— cannot but confess we have sinned againâ— thee with a high hand and therefore justlâ— is thyfierce Anger kindled upon us aâ—â— thy intolerable Judgments come up again us there is none to help us Therefore O Lord for thy tender Mercy sake appear for us and save us Cease these Storms and Tempest Cease we beseech thee these swelling raging Billows Command these blustering Winds and they shall obey thee for we are at the pit of Destruction just ready to be swallowed up Save us Master or we perish Lord increase out faith Merciful Father we beseech thee to take us into thy Protection and if thou hast appointed Death for us O Lord be thou present we beseech thee to receive our Souls into thy Bosom till the general Resurrection of our Bodies and then receive our Souls and Bodies into thy Kingdom If thou dost design us for Life grant that these Afflictions may be so sanctified unto us as to cause us for the future to live a Godly Righteous and Sober Life all our Days Grant this O God for thy dear Son's sake Amen A Thanksgiving for a safe Return from Sea FAther of all Mercies and God of all Consolations I cannot but must confess that I am obliged to return thee hearty thanks for all thy Mercies But more especially at this time I am and do return thee my humble and hearty Thanks for thy great Mercy in bringing me safe over the great Waters tâ— roughâ— many Perils and Dangers to my own Habitation and to the Enjoyment of all my Friends and Relations for which singular Mercy O Lord do thou give me a Heart to live answerable to it that thou may est have the Praise and I reap the Everlasting Comfort of it and I will sing Praises to thy Great Name for thou art my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence and Praises wait for thee O God in Sion for thou art worthy to be praised both now henceforth and for evermore A Prayer for one that is going a long Journey O Lord God lead me in the Paths oâ— Righteâ—â—sness and direct my Goings in thâ—â—ay of Truth We are boâ—â— to Travel and many have no certaiâ— place of abode our Days are like a Spaâ— and our Laves pass away swifter than Post O what is Man that thou art 〈◊〉 ful of him or the Son of Man that tâ—â— hast any regard for him We are like to Bubble a Blast we go hence and are seen no more Teach me Lord to number my days that I may apply my heart unto Wisdom Direct myâ—steps in the way of truth and guide and govern me in my Travel that I may go on with Comfort in this my Journey Be thou my God my Help and Guide to direct me in my way and Business Keep me from all danger of Thieves or other Mischief and Trouble that I may have no disturbances in my Journey no lets or hindrances nor sorrow nor heaviness bâ—â— for my Sins O Lord keep and bless all my Friends and Relations at home and abroad in Health and Peace O Lord let me have the comfortable enjoyment of thy holy Spirit upon the way that so it may assist me that I may think discourse and act nothing but what is well pleasing to thee And all this I bâ—g for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for a sick Person O God of all Comforts who art a present help in time of Trouble to them that faithfully rely upon thee for thy help and assistance in their Troubles Lord 〈◊〉 hast laid me upon a Bed of Languishing and upon a rowling pillow where I cannot find relief or ease or comfort for my Body Lord do thou sanctifie this sore affliction unto me I cannot but confess I have sinned and done wickedly and grieved thy holy Spirit from time to time yet merciful Saviour return unto me that I may have a feeling of thy good Spirit Let not the sins of my Youth nor the iniquity of that time be upon me But Lord as thou hast laid thy afflicting Hand upon me arm me with â—â—atience that I may endure this Visitation patiently If thou art pleased to dispose of me for another life then make me fit for thy Kingdom Arm me and strengthen me to bear the But then without mourning against thee but make me to undergo this Affliction willingly and to fight it out manfully What am Iâ— a poor worthlesâ— Worm â— I have noâ— Comfort but from thee Restore me â—â— Health and amendment of Life or else take me into thy Kingdom of Glory Lord cease my Pain ease my Grief Lord I intreat thee to grant that neither the Devil nor the World may ever have power over me any more to make me disobey thee Send thy good Angels both to keep me in Sickness and in Health and grant that I may be always fitted and prepared for death that I may not be afraid of it if it
of this Sacrifice of Thanks giving for thy great Mercy in appearing so wonderfully for me to my great Ease and Comfort in that dreadful and painful Hour of Child-bearing that thou hast been pleased safely to deliver me from the Perils of it and to lengthen out my Days in the Land of the Living and to see the Fruit of my hard Labour and Travail Lord grant that it may prosper and grow up in thy Fear to thy Glory and both our Comforts And grant Lord that I may live worthy of this Mercy and make thee some grateful Returns for all thy Mercies Pardon and forgive me all my Sins and preserve me from sining against thee any more And all I beg upon the account of thy dear Son To whom with the O Father and with the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Christian Vertues as Love Faith Hope and Charity c. O Lord Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations bless me with all thy Spiritual Blessings and Heavenly Graces make me rich in Love strong in Faith full in Assurance of Hope and abound in all Charitable Actions according to that Sufficiency thou hast been pleâ—sed to bless and entrust me with that I may have nothing to answer for at that great and terrible Day wherein the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened and every one rewarded according to their Doings Lord grant that thy Graces may all flourish in me as the Bay-Tree that so by my good Example others may return to thee their Lord and Saviour and so have cause to sing Praises to thy Great Name for all thy Wondrous Works Lord keep me from Insolence and Pride and grant me true Humility and Zealousness of Mind and give me a true Consideration of my own Vileness that so I may tremble and stand in Awe before thee as a sinful Man having always a better esteem of others than my self Gracious Lord when the Devil shall accuse my own Conscience bear Witness against me and the whole World forsake me for my Sins do thou be my Strength my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence against these potent Enemies of my Soul Enflame my Dead Heart with the Heavenly Affection of an unseign'd Love that I may love and adore thee above all and my Neighbour as my self Grant me a good Mind to help and succour all to my Ability to forbear and forgive all that ever any did against me Let not the least Spark of Envy or Wrath lodge within my Breast nor never let the Sun go down upon my Anger but let me be satisfied that Vengeance is thine and that thou art so just that thou wilt send it upon the Heads of those that fear thee not and call not upon thee but that live in Envy and Malice and Implacableness of Spirit against thy Children Give me Grace O Lord to follow the Example of all good Men and keep me from that hateful Sin of Sloath and Iâ—leness which is the High-way to Want and Beggary Grant me a contented mind and moderate my Desâ—res towards the Things of this World and Lord be with me at the Hour of Death and when I go hence and be no more seen I may be admitted into thy Kingdom of Glory that I may eternally sing Hallelujah's to thy great Name Grant this O God and whatever else I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Earthly Blessings O Lord God Eternal which causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Unjust satisfie the Desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we cannot but must humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of thy Favours but that it is of thy Eternal Goodness we are living Monuments of thy mercy all this Day Lord do thou supply our daily Necessities and give us this Day and every Day our daily Bread Bless the manuring of our Ground prosper 〈◊〉 Corn and bless the Seed-time with the Former and Latter Rain in their due Seasons Keep our Fruits while they be upon the Earth from Haâ—l and Thunder from excessive Droughts over much Raâ—o and Mildews and send us a joyful Harvest O Lord bless and increase our Cattle and keep them from those Casualties they are obnoxious to amd bless our â—â—skeâ— and our Store and keep our Granaries Barns and Store Houses from Fire and boisterous Winds Thieves aâ—d sudden Inundations Prosper all our Undertakiâ—gs whether by Sea or Land Be thou a present Hâ—lp in time of Trouble and turn our Dearâ—â—s into Cheapness and Scarcity into Pleâ—ty And Lord open the Hearts of those to whom thou hast dealt liberally that as thou hast been to them they may be to their poor Fellow-Creatures that are in Want Help us O Lord in all our Straits and oppress us not with too much Poverty neither let us be puffed up in the Day of Prosperity but keep us in Evenness of Temper in either extreme that we may live in thy Fear and die in thy Favour And all this we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Graces before and after Meat Grace before Meat O Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who hast created â—ll things for the use and service of Men Bless these thy Creatures which thou hast provided for us and set before us at this time that they may strengthen our Bodies so that thereby we may be the better able to live to thy Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat ALmighty God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite Goodness hast most plentifully fed us for which and all other Mercies we return thee hearty Thanks begging of thee so to direct and guide us as that we may in some measure live answerable to thy Goodness to us All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be Praise Honour and Glory henceforth and for evermore Grace before Meat MOst Gracious Father we crave thy Blessing upon these good Creatures that thou by thy good hand of Providence hast bestowed upon us grant that they may give Nourishment to these our mortal Bodies and sanctifie them so unto us as that we may live to thy Praise to thy Honour and to thy Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Grace after Meat MOst Bountiful and Gracious Lord God whose Goodness is extended to the uttermost Parts of the Earth what cause have we to praise and magnifie thy holy Name for this great and singular mercy of daily taking care for us and plentifully feeding of us with the best and choicest of thy Creatures As thou hast filled our Bodies with them so fill
our Souls with the Graces of thy holy Spirit And all we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son To whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory for ever and ever Grace before Meat O Lord it is by thy Goodness and Mercy that we are here before thee this Day to partake of thy great Mercy in providing such a plentiful Table for us Grant Lord that what we eat at this time may so refresh and strengthen us as thereby we may not only be able but obliged by thy great Goodness towards us to serve thee with all our might with all our strength and with all our Soul unto our Live's End Grace after Meat GOD of all Blessings and Gonsolations we return thee our humble and hearty Thanks for thy satisfying our Bodies at this time when Thousands of our Fellow-Creatures are in great want Lord grant that we may live up to this and all other Mercies for Jesus Christ his sake our Lord. Grace before Meat THou King of Kings and Lord of Lords Bless these thy Creatures that thou hast filled our Table with at this time Bless the King upon thâ— Throne and all the Royal Family with the choice of thy Blessings Bless the Christian Churches iâ— this Land of our Nativiâ—y And all we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Fatheâ— and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour anâ— Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat THou Prince of Peace and everlasting Father who hast filled our Bodies in a most plentiful manner at this time so fill the Souls of the â—ing and all the Royal Family and ours with the â—est of thy Servants every where with the Graces of thy most holy Spirit whereby we may be conâ—ucted to thy Everlasting Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen HYMNS and Spiritual SONGS of Praise to Almighty GOD for our happy Deliverance from Popery and the horrid Cruelty and Barbarity of Blood-thirsty Men. A HYMN O Lord thou hast been merciful To thy beloved Land â—or England thou hast saved By thy Almighty Hand From the Barbarous Cruelty Of all those that have sought With all their Power to destroy Their Plots are come to nought The Cruelty they did design O Lord was very great Thy People all for to destroy This Land to ruinate But these our Enemies O Lord Thou hast caused to fall And from that Ruine they design'd O Lord thou hast sav'd us all A SONG of Praise THerefore thy praises Lord we 'll sing To the Honour of thy Name For this Salvation thou hast wrought We 'll magnifie the same When thou appeard'st our Foes they fell And perish'd at thy Sight For thou didst maintain our Cause And do the Thing that 's right Our Enemies thou hast cast down Their Counsels overthrown Thou hast put out their Names that they May never more be known O Lord thou wast our Refuge then When we were sore opprest A Refuge will he be in time Of Trouble and Distress SONG II. LEt 's praise the Lord with all our Hearts Let 's praise God while we live While we have Beings to our God Let 's Songs of praises give Trust not in great Men not at all In whom there is no stay Their Breath departs to Earth they turn That Day their Thoughts decay O! happy are all those and blest Whom Israel's God doth aid Whose hopes upon the Lord do rest And on that God are staid Who made the Earth and Heavens high Who made the Swellings deep And all that is within the same Who Truth doth ever keep Who righteous Judgment executes For those oppress'd that be Who to the Hungry giveth Food And sets the Captive free Who giveth to the Blind their Sight The bowed down doth raise The Lord doth dearly love all those That walk in upright ways A Song of Praise TO render Thanks unto the Lord It is a comely thing And to thy Name O thou most High Due Praise aloud to sing Thy Mercies great for to shew forth When shines the Morning-Light And to declare thy Faithfulness With Pleasure every Night How great Lord are thy Works each Thought Of thine O deep it is A wicked Man he knoweth not Fools understand not this When those that lewd and brutish are Spring quickly up like Grass And Workers of Iniquity Do flourish all apace It is that they for ever may Destroyed be and slain But thou O Lord art the most high For ever to remain For all thine Enemies O Lord Thine Enemies perish shall The workers of Iniquity Shall be dispersed all A Song of Praise O England all with joyful Sounds Up high your Voices raise Sing to the Honour of God's Name And Glorious make his Praise Say unto God how terrible In all thy Works art thou Thro' thy great Power thy Foes to thee Shall all be forc'd to bow All on the Earth shall worship thee They shall thy praise proclaim Songs they shall sing most cheerfully To thy most glorious Name For this great mercy thou hast wrought By thy Almighty power Poor England to redeem and save From those that would devour Just at the Pit of Destruction O Lord we all did stand And nothing could us save from it But thy Almighty Hand O blessed be thy Glorious Name To all Eternity The whole Earth let thy Glory fill Amen so let it be O Come let us sing to the Lord Come let us every one â— joyful noise make to the Rock Of our Salvation Let us before his gresence come With praise and thankful Voice Let us sing psalms to him with Grace and make a cheerful noise For God a great God and great King Above all Gods he is â—epths of the Earth are in his Hands The strength of Hills are his To him the raging Sea belongs For he the same did make The dry Land also from his Hands Its Form at first did take O come let 's worship him therefore Let us bow down withal And on our Knees before the Lord Our Maker let us fall For he 's our God the People we Of his own pasture are And of his Hand the Sheep to day If ye his Voice will hear A Prayer for King William MOst Glorious and ever-blessed Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who dost from thy Throne behold all the Inhabitants of this lower World we humbly pray and beseech thee for â—esus Christ thy dear Son's sake to bless with the â—hoicest of thy Blessings our Gracious Sovereign â—ing William who by thy great and wonderful Pro 〈◊〉 under thee and thy Christ is come 〈◊〉 supream Head and Governour of â—â—is Land and â—â—tion wherein we live Lord do thou endow hiâ— with all thy heavenly Graces and bless all his Uâ—dertakings against his and our implacable Enemieâ— whether by Sea or Land Lord let his and our Enemies fall before him and carry him through this great Work thou hast brought him hither to manage that he may settle this Nation in Peace that every one of â—â— may live and enjoy in Trâ—nquility of mind all thoâ—e Earthly blessings thou hast our of thine Infinite Goodness and Mercy bestowed upon us Lord let thy Gospel flourish once more in thiâ— Nation that thy Name may be glorified to 〈◊〉 Ends of the Earth O Lord be our King's Defender and Keeper in all His Battles And Lord do thou fight them for him and then he will be crown'd with Success and let him see the End of all his Enemies and finally after this Life he may inheriâ— those Eternal Joys thou hast in store for those thaâ— love thee and long for thy appearance All this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now henceforth and for evermore FINIS