maketh vs delicate in feeding or to desire variety of dishes and daintie fare but quezie stomackes or a custome in nice feeding want of appetite or weaknesse in digestion so nothing but daintinesse and an appetite to varietie weake spirits yet withall full of proud conceits fleshly apprehēsions itching eares want of good stomackkes and hearts vnhumbled doe cause the fine and delicate cooking of Gods word and saucing it with the froth of mens wits to make it fleshly sweet and pleasant to vaine persons 4. Consider how thou canst lay aside thy worldly businesses thy pleasures and profits to take thy bodily repast either at home or as occasion serues abroad where thou mayest haue it euen so shouldest thou lay aside thy pleasures and profits at times fitting for to get food for thy soule either at home or abroad for as food is necessarie for the bodie so is the word of God preached for thy soule 5. As thou knowest that food preserues not life without Gods blessing and that the least crum may bereaue thee of thy life if it go wrong and therefore doest thou pray to God before euen so know also that hearing and preaching of the word doth not giue not preserue the life of the soule except God blesse the same yea the least mistaking in the chiefest points if God preuent it not may cause thee to erre euen vnto death And therefore before we come to the word let vs pray heartily to God for a blessing 6. As thou wilt not sit downe to receiue food but with cleane hands so come not to Gods word or the Lords Table without a cleane heart and as thou wilt sit downe if thou hast a good stomack when meate is prepared for thee laying aside thy businesse for a while so indeed if our hearts bee good whē the Lord hath prepared by his Ministers food for vs let vs as wee ought lay aside worldly businesses a while to heare his doctrine words of instruction for our strength and edification And being set downe Meditations being set at the table at a feast then let the house in which thou art put thee in remembrance of Gods Church the Master of the house of Christ Iesus the head of his Church and Lord of the feast the table of the Lords Table thy sitting downe the spirituall rest at the heauenly banquet the faire linnens of puritie the furnishing of the Table the variety with plentie of all things of the things prepared for vs by Christ Let the cleanly decent seruice put thee in mind of the pure worship of God the wholesome food of sound doctrine the orderly placing of dishes the orderly administration of holy things The seruitours let them remember thee of Gods Ministers the bread of the word of God and Christs body in the Sacrament the drinke and wine of the water of life and blood of Christ milke of the principles of religion and catechizing strong meate of harder points of doctrine salt of the ministery of the word sauce of afflictiōs mingled with Gods mercies to make them taste the better The cunning caruing and cutting vp of the food of the right diuiding of Gods word the reaching of it cut of the giuing to euery man his part and portion thy hand of thy faith thy chewing in thy mouth of thy meditation in heart thy digestion of thy true receiuing of the word Remember by thy companie the communion of Saints by their talke together the holy conference by their idle speech the nature of vaine and iangling spirits and by their graue and sober speaking the wisdome of their words which are wise in heart By the musicke if any be consider of the sweet melody in concord of louing hearts liuing in vnity and of the ioies in heauen and mirth vnspeakable by the chearing of the heart with meate and drinke causing thee to bee merrie weigh the sweet comforts of the word refreshing thy soule making thee glad in the peace of a good conscience which is a continual feast When thou offerest of that thou hast vnto any let it put thee in mind of the cōmunicating of thy graces and gifts of heauenly things vnto others When thou receiuest willingly with thankes what other offer to thee thinke how willingly and thankfully thou shouldest receiue the food meanes of saluation from other when any shall offer the same vnto thee Being at length well refreshed Being refreshed and readie to arise frō the table and ready to arise thinke what a blessing of God it is to haue food to refresh the body and so in like manner to haue meanes of instruction to thy soule Let him that giueth thankes in the end call to thy remembrance how the Minister giueth thankes at the end of the time of the publike worship which thou art to stay for them as at the Table for saying of grace To conclude this as thou feelest strength of body by taking corporall food so labour to feele strength of grace by receiuing the food of the soule And as thou perceiuest that the body will famish without nourishing of it daily so the soule wil perish where there is no vision And as thou canst find in thy hart to bee at cost for the bodily food and canst labour and go farre for it so such a loue and hunger shouldest thou haue for the foode of the soule that thou shouldest willingly bee at cost for it to labour for it to seeke it as siluer and to search for it as treasurie that thou mayest come to the feare of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Gaius Alas my heart is heauie my soule is perplexed within me Oh how wanting hitherto haue I been of these duties and ignorant of these meditations I confesse I haue risen without any true reuerent remembrance of God a few prayers perhaps I haue made more in sound of words then with sighes and grones from an earnest affection of the heart But now haue I better vnderstood how euery morning I am to demeane my selfe the Lord giue mee grace what now I know and thou good man of God hast so largely instructed mee in hereafter neuer to neglect Iohn Comfort thy selfe my bowels thou hast a large portion in the Lords inheritance I wish chiefely that thou mayest prosper as well as thy soule prospereth thy beginnings in goodnes thy desire to encrease in grace thy faithfull endeauour to attaine thereunto by Gods blessing shall bring thee to perfection and to thy desired wish in the end Gaius Thou hast spoken I thanke thee comfortably vnto thy seruant but if that I haue now obtained thy grace and that I bee acceptable in thine eyes before thou proceedest any further I beseech thee to frame me a form of prayer for euery morning as may fitly agree with my former meditations Iohn Faithfull Gaius I very willingly condiscend to this thy holy desire if therefore it please thee in this or the like maner thou mayest frame thy prayer
A WEEKES WORKE AND A WORKE FOR EVERY weeke By R. B. The third Edition LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston and are to be sold by Nathanael Newbery 1616. TO THE VERTVOVS AND RELIgious Ladies the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Bruton the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Yearlington and the Ladie Anne Horner that wisdome which is from aboue that true peace which is from within and the manifestation of both in the fruits of the spirit to their perfect ioy AS I consider with my selfe how Mary did make choice of the better part I cannot but blesse God for the worke of grace So Right Worshipfull on the contrary marking the mad choyce of others I follow the counsell of the Prophet Esaiah I stay wonder Eue had free-will the choyce of an apple and Paradise was before her God said eate not and liue but eate said the Serpent thou shalt not die The diuell was credited God not beleeued the apple was eaten Paradise lost a miserable choice But led she the way in this point of follie and hath shee had no followers What none of her posterity to walk in her steps Behold the sonnes of God chose the daughters of men and forsooke the generation of the righteous Lot left Abraham and made choyce to dwell in Sodome Esau loueth his bellie and for a present messe of pottage selleth away his birth-right The mixt people among the Israelites rather desire garlicke and onyons and to sit by the flesh-pots of Egypt then to eat that sweet Manna frō heauē Yea so mad are men in their choyce as the Iewes from the highest to the lowest cry out to haue a rebell a theefe a murtherer euen a Barrabas instead of that iust one and innocent Christ the righteous As I haue stayed in my thoughts vpon these so now should I wonder but that among our selues I finde many as foolish and as vnreasonable in their chusing They esteeme more of pleasure then of peace wiih God they will sell godlines for earthly gain they preferre profit before piety worldly goods they like of better then heauenly graces they chuse rather to rest vpon an idle conceit in themselues of saluation then vpon the witnesse of Gods word a truly informed conscience they wil plead rather custom then diuine precepts mens examples now for liberty in sinn e rather then the holy liues of the godly recorded in Scripture most in a word chuse rather to be reputed religious then so to be indeed But perhaps you Ladies will say what of all this to you Surely that you beholding nature corrupted and your selues through Gods mercy sanctified by grace may in your more happie choyce giue due praises heartily vnto God who affoordeth you from aboue so much power and strength that you may in some measure with holy Elizabeth walke in the Commandemēts of the Lord with religious Mary sit down at Christs feet heare his word with that blessed Virgin Christs mother ponder the words and lay them vp in your hearts with afflicted Hannah poure out in your necessities your soules by prayer vnto God and with that deuout Anna serue God in fasting and prayers day and night For this end and purpose to further euery well disposed Christian in the path that leadeth vnto life and glory I haue now this third time published this Weeks work worke for euery weeke I haue presumed to send it forth vnder your names not in any merit of the worke but in my true esteeme of your godlinesse and certaine perswasion of your good desires to please God which the Lord encrease in you more more with such inward comfort of spirit as you may perseuere in euery good worke of grace to goe boldly to the throne of grace in euery state and condition to the end of your daies euen so Amen Your Ladyships in all Christian duties RIC. BERNARD Batcombe Iuly 14. A DIALOGVE BETWEENE IOHN the beloued Apostle and his beloued Gaius Epist. 3. vers 1. Iohn GRace be with thee Noble Gaius mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Father with truth and loue Gaius Reuerend Father let this thy prayer this day preuaile with God for Grace Peace Mercy Truth in Loue I much long after Iohn Well may wee wish for these things friend Gaius as the foundation of all good fauours with God and all good men Gaius Oh my Lord I thanke God these things with me are of greater price then any thing which may seeme most pretious with the world For Grace maketh me acceptable to God Peace comforteth mee within my selfe Mercy from God affordeth me remission of sins and Mercy from me shewed towards others maketh them both to pray and praise God for me The Truth of God warranteth my course and way and truth obserued of me iustifieth my words and workes Loue in God to me procureth peace bringeth forth mercy and confirmeth truth loue in our selues maintaineth peace vrgeth to mercy and bindeth one to another and all vnto the truth Therefore Sir doe I in soule desire earnestly after the same but I cannot attain vnto that measure which I would I hunger after the perfection of all true holinesse but alas I cannot bee satisfied I thirst after righteousnesse but ah miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death which so much doth hinder mee in my heauenly progresse Iohn I reioyce greatly worthie Gaius that I find thee thus well prepared for further instructions blessed art thou for so hungring and thirsting after the best things for thou shalt be satisfied Gaius My Lord I am not ignorant blessed be God for this knowledge of my selfe that I am heere indeed in this present world but not of this world one as a pilgrime and stranger without any certaine mansion hither sent of the Lord for a time to bee employed in his seruice and so to stay till hee call mee hence which houre I waite for looking for death daily and the Lords comming to iudgement And therefore I desire to bee ready prepared and to learn whatsoeuer may be needfull both for continuance and encrease of grace in the way of life Especially seeing how the world groweth so on to worse and worse and this our present age declining so fast vnto wickednesse lest I bee intrapped and become guiltie of the common sinnes and so perish in the deserued plagues Iohn Indeed good Christian heart wel mayest thou so tearme these Euill daies our present times Is not pietie turned by many into policie sincerity by others into schisme true zeale is decayed conscience is now but a customarie fashion graced with conformitie faith is altogether a formal seruice without fasting without true feare of God and feruencie of spirit without gratious words tending to edification or good workes assuring vs of saluation godly gouerment is grosly abused by couetous persons and made a base course for filthie gaine true deuotion is not
before God and his Church 4. Think also that thou shalt arise out of thy graue as thou doest arise out of thy bed and so indeed appeare in iudgement Seuenthly being vp Meditations in putting on of our clothes putting thy rayment vpon thee meditate of these things That as thou lookest for raiment for thy body so must thou looke for clothing to thy soule which is Christs righteousnesse 2. That as without a hand thou canst not aray thy selfe so without faith thou canst not put on Christ 3. That as bodily raiment is to couer our shame and not therefore to bee proud of it so is Christs righteousnesse for to couer our sinnes 4. That as a rayment fitted vnto thee then doth thee good affordeth thee comfort maketh thee comely preserueth thy body from dangers which by walking naked it might be annoyed with and thy selfe brought to destruction thereby euen so Christ his righteousnesse applied vnto thee doth thee then good affordeth thee cōfort maketh thee comly before God and is thy preseruation to saue thee from the burning wrath of God for sin and other perils of destructiō which all that walke naked without it fall into and perish vtterly 5. That as when thy rayment is on thou darest then boldly bee seene and go before men so hauing on this robe of Christ thou mayest come boldly to the throne of grace before God 6. As thou doest prouide a couering for euery part of thy body being able doest beautifie thy clothes with other ornamēts so labour for spirituall graces to euery part of the soule and beautifie thy profession with the comly ornamēts of good words and good workes adorne thy eare with the earing of attention to the word thy necke with the golden chaine of Peters Euangelicall vertues thy hands with the bracelets of Almes deeds to the poore let thy white linnen put thee in mind of inward puritie thy other outward rayment of common honesty thy well shapt apparell of decent behauiour thy clenly going of auoiding spirituall vncleannesse the maske to one of that sexe of modesty the long garments of chastitie the mufler of womanly silence the fan of Christs ran with which hee will win now the wicked chaffe frō his Church to consume it with fire Let thy old garment put thee in minde of thy old habite in sinne cast away and thy new rayment of thy better estate and regeneration Gaius Surely I doe perceiue well hereby that a wise and godly minded man may make good vse to himselfe of many things which wee doe lightly regard either through ignorance or want of grace Iohn True it is Gaius that holy and sanctified meditations afford as it were food to the soule euen in those things which all men can vse by nature and reason for the benefit and beautie of the body but few can make good vse of for the soule with which yet the godly mans mind is delighted and thereof reapeth no small profit Gaius But Sir when I am vp and thus apparelled what other good meditations may be made vpon the rest of my actions Iohn As thou goest to Meditations in washing wash consider 1. that as thy body needeth washing so doth thy soule of cleansing 2. That as water washeth away the filthines of the flesh so doth Christs blood sinne from thy soule 3. that as therfore thou doest wash because thou wouldest bee cleane and hatest filthinesse euen so in hatred of sinne and loue of puritie must we haue recourse to the blood of Christ that we may be cleansed of all vncleannesse 4. As thou hast washed to goe to thy meat so be washed in innocencie to goe to the Lords Table In brushing and making Meditations in brushing washing of clothes cleane thy garments thinke that as thy rayment is subiect to dust and other vncleannesse in the vse or to mothes in lying still euen so art thou thy selfe subiect to corruptions both in trauell and rest 2. That as thou canst not endure to haue thy garments dustie or vncleane but will brush them to haue off the dust and filth so shouldest thou not endure to haue the dirtie filth or any dustinesse of sinne to cleaue vnto thee 3. That as some spots and for incklings wil not off with light brushing but need more forcible meanes and therefore thou wilt vse rubbing yea and washing too if otherwise the dirt will not out euen so some sinnes will not off with easie meanes but wee must vse rubbing washing that is ardent prayer and much fasting wash them with abundant teares of a penitent heart yea and bring our selues vnto the fountaine of grace desire of God to rinse vs throughly in the blood of Christ that throughout wee may bee purged and made cleane 4. That as washed clothes need wringing and also the warme Sunne to drie them againe so needeth the penitent spirit sory for sinne and wrung with contrition the comfortable promises of the warm Sun beames of the Gospell to drie vp his deepe sorrow and to refresh the heauinesse and sadnesse of his soule 5. That as when thou hast bespotted thy clothes or els others haue besprinkled them thou yet doest not cast them away desperately but vsest the best meanes to make them cleane to vse them againe euen so though thou through thy owne frailty or Satan and the wicked by tentations haue bespotted thy profession good name yet despaire not neither vtterly cast of thy profession and care of a good name but vse good meanes to recouer again these things by well doing In looking into a glasse Meditations in looking into a glasse consider that as this is a meanes for thee to see thy selfe bodily so there is a meanes euen Gods word by which as in a glasse thou maiest behold thy selfe spiritually 2. That as without a glasse thou canst not see thy selfe no more canst thou know thy selfe without Gods word 3. That as a glasse sheweth a man his deformities to himselfe yet the man which wanteth eyes cannot see how the glasse doth set him forth so albeit Gods word shew to euery man his estate yee for want of the eyes of the soule knowledge and diuine wisdome men doe not see their corruptions 4. That as a glasse is true or false so doth it represent the person looking into it if a true glasse truly if naughty and false falsely and corruptly euen so there is a true glasse Gods word shewing vs truly our selues also a false and corrupt glasse which if we doe looke into it doth deale corruptly with vs not shewing our selues truly vnto our selues such a glasse is mans corrupt reason mens praises of vs the traditions and doctrines of men in wil-worship the wittie discourses of meere moralists in their Naturals and such like these bee all corrupt and false glasses which we must not looke into to see our selues but into the only true glasse the word of God For as a true glasse 1. sheweth thy selfe
to thy selfe as thou art foule or faire without flatterie or deceit so doth Gods word shew either thy faire graces or foule vices without partialitie 2. As thou delightest to see thy comely parts and so more to grace them and as thou doest see thy spots and lookest after them that thou mayest wash them off euen so behold thy graces in Gods word to delight therein and seeke to beautifie them the more as also thy deformities spots of sinne to wash them away 3. As thou approuest of a glasse and delightest to looke into it because it is a true glasse though it shew thy spots so should wee allow of delight in Gods word albeit it discouer vnto vs our iniquities and sinnes After these meditations 3. Dutie betake thy selfe to In the morning is prayer prayer and cast downe thy selfe before the Lord craue pardon for euery sinne nights pollution naturall corruption dayes transgression desire the spirits illumination the direction of the word the graces of the spirit the protection of Angels the helpe of his holy hand to beare thee vp in all thy waies whatsoeuer thou puttest thy hand vnto in the day following according to thy vocation and course of thy lawfull calling Hauing thus called vpon 4. Dutie is to read the Scriptures God take some time to looke into Gods word to reade some portion of Scriptures As thou canst looke into a glasse euery morning so haue a care to looke into the law of God to see the state of thy soule behold what thou art by nature what by grace what here now and what thou mayest bee in the life to come Also consider of thy place and standing thy course of life calling what thy dutie is therein either to God or to man what charge thou hast vpon thee whether of a child a parent a married person a ruler of a family a master or of a seruant a publke or priuate person a pastor or one of the flocke a labourer or trades man and so forth and according to the seuerall respects consider of thy dutie By this glasse looke into the order of thy family thy conuersation with men and thy dealings in the world by it set modestly thy countenance frame reuerently thy gesture guide thy vnruly tongue set thy hands on worke and order thy footsteps so reforme whatsoeuer is amisse If thou doest looke into it for thy attire consider by this glasse of truth not only how thy raiment doth Consideration of apparell become thee but also how lawfull to be worne how conuenient for thee in respect of thy place degree age sexe and habilitie thereby to preuent iust occasion of giuing offence and if yet thou wilt needs excell in brauerie and goe with the best for outward garments see that thou also be as readie to imitate the most holy in heauenly graces else thou art but the diuels ensigne-bearer lifting vp the standard of pride to thy owne confusion After all these things 5. Dutie weigh seriously with thy selfe before thou goest Godly considerations in going abroad forth 1. What businesse thou hast abroad 2. What warrant thou hast for thy intendments therin from God his word 3. How lawfull thy proceeding and act it selfe is in it selfe 4. How lawfull vnto thee what calling thou hast thereunto 5. What means to effect it what hope of a blessing what honour may bee thereby to God what good to others what profit to thy selfe Do nothing rashly nor any thing at any time against religion charity publike peace equitie or common honestie lest thou sinne against God against men and against thy owne soule To conclude consider that thy preparation to thy businesse in thy Christian calling is a preparation to goe forth vnto the battell with thy spirituall enemies and therfore forget not to keep euer within the Citie the new Ierusalem The Christian Garison the true Church of God vnder thy Generall Iesus Christ guided by his Vice-gerent his holy spirit following his Ensigne the preaching of his word hauing vpon thee the whole Armour of God the girdle of veritie the brest-plate of righteousnesse the helmet of saluation the shield of faith on thy feet the preparation of the Gospell of peace in thy hand or rather in thy heart the sword of the spirit the word of God and vse all these with feruent praier attend the Ensigne-bearers the true Preachers of Gods word displaying their colours openly and liuely teaching the truth Keepe with the court of Guard the fellowship of the faithfull vnder the Castle of Gods gracious protectiō being to watch stand firme in thy holy profession and abide in thy particular calling Let the Captaine religion command thee the Lieutenant soundnesse of iudgement in the truth settle thee the Sergeant prudence order thee let thy Corporall apprehension set thy attention Sentinell when thou shalt heare the Gentlemen of the Round comming godly discourses and holy motions keepe the watch-word the witnes of Gods Spirit diligently if thou shalt perceiue any secret conspirators inward corruptions outward tentations make an alarme let flie from thy heart spirituall eiaculations vnto Iesus Christ for aide against them If the common souldiers corrupt reason and loose affections begin to be disorderly and to mutinie through vaine pleasures against Captaine religion complaine presently to the Generall the Lord Iesus that by his Spirit he may suppresse them and by the power of conscience keepe them in obedience lest the terrible shot of thundering iudgements bring an vtter destruction In all assaults fight valiantly resist thy enemies with courage and bee perswaded in the end of victorie howsoeuer for thy bodily life care not neuer yeeld to thine enemies but fight it out as a souldier of Iesus Christ to the death rather then to bee taken and led captiue for that is worse then a thousand bodily deathes Lastly going forth thus 6. Dutie In being abroad well resolued set God before thee hide his commandements within thee cleaue to the rule of his word purpose wholly to do well and endeauour it take heede of ill intendments Auoid ill companie beware of ill counsell fauour not thy owne corruptions seeke not thine owne will aime principally at Gods glory and thus goe forth in the name of the Lord bee confident that thou doest goe vnder Gods protection and expect a safe returne For blessed is such a one in his going forth and blessed shall he be in his returning in againe But if before thou goest Meditations in going to meate out or afterward whē thou wilt thou shall receiue any bodily nourishment consider these things 1. That as thy body stands in need of food so doth thy soule also 2. That as hunger maketh meate pleasant and forceth thee to looke for food and to receiue it thankfully euen so a soule hungering after grace maketh the word pleasant causeth vs to seeke it and hauing it to thanke God heartily for it 3. As nothing
my minde in heauenly meditations from vncleane vnquiet and foolish dreames and so refresh me by the quiet benefit of sweet sleepe that I may arise more chearfully comfortably in the morning to the labours of my particular calling While I doe sleepe watch I beseech thee ouer me cause thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about me that so I may rest and also arise in safety and therby be moued to laud and praise thee still renewing my thankes as thou doest renew thy mercies daily And now Lord going to my bed I commend my selfe my soule and body into the hands of thy fatherey protection for thou art awake when I sleepe and thou onely art able to preserue mee If it so please thee now this night to take my life from me and to remoue me out of this vale of miserie this doe O Lord of thy great mercy pardon me all my sins wilfull transgressions negligences and ignorances euils committed and duties omitted in any measure manner or any way displeasing to thy Maiesty and that for the death and passion the righteousnesse the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our blessed Sauiour I humbly beseech thee and for his sake take vp my soule to thy heauenly habitation there to rest vntill I come wholly body and soule vnto thee in that great day of the resurrection But if it yet please thee stil further to prolong my life then I hartily pray thee good God of thy tender mercy herein to heare mee that as dayes be added to the time of life so graces may bee encreased that as I grow in yeeres so may I also bee fruitfull in good workes encreasing in grace to thy praise my better preparednesse to death and to my eternall comfort at the last day the time of my perfect redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and that blessed Spirit bee giuen all honour glory and praise of me and all thy people as is most due for all thy louing mercies past and present for the future hope of eternall blisse this night and for euermore Amen Gaius Now if it please thee my Father proceed to the next point and shew vnto me what meditatiōs I should haue in the night season if it happen that then I should awake Iohn Let it 1. put thee Meditations vpon our awaking in the night in mind of awaking from sinne as thou hast awaked frō sleep that thou perish not by death 2. Thinke also how God can make men which are dead in the graue to liue againe as easily as hee hath made thee to awake out of thy sleepe 3. By thy sudden awaking to consider how suddenly thou mayest bee raised vp and summoned to iudgement Secondly by the darknes Of darknesse of the night first thinke of the spirituall darknesse in which natural men sinfully and desperately doe sleepe to pray that God would open their eyes to see the wonders of his law then of the vtter darknesse into which all such impenitent sleepers shall bee cast to moue thee to mourne for them aliue that they may not bee damned when they bee dead further by this darknesse so comfortlesse behold also their comfortles estate for as they cannot which are in darknes see either themselues or others or their way or house or friends or enemies no more can men in spirituall darknesse know thēselues nor the Church of God nor discerne the godly from the vngodly nor the way of life from the way of death nor foresee perils or the pit prepared for them no more then men which remaine in darknesse can see to auoide the dangers which they may fall into vntill the light doe againe shine vpon them Thirdly if thou canst Of dreames cal thy dreames to remembrance by their vanitie iudge of thy leuity by their vncleannesse thy filthinesse by their idlenes thy foolishnesse by the furie in them thy madnes by their much vncertainty thy wauering and inconstancie the delight in their deceits thy easinesse to bee led by delusions the fearfulnesse in them thy timorous heart the seldome thoughts of goodnes thy much delight in wickednesse and little care of godlinesse Fourthly in the silent night vpon thy bed it is good to fall into an examination of thine owne heart it is the time freest from disturbance in respect of outward impediments thou mayest haue with thy soule free and peaceable conference By a true and serious search thou mayest finde out thy selfe and so bee better knowne to thy selfe and the more thou art acquainted with thy owne corruption the more wilt thou bewaile thy wants and seeke after the grace of sanctification Fifthly in thine inclination to sleepe againe note thereby how a man may awake from sin through Gods mercy and yet bee readie to sleepe againe in sinne by his owne infirmitie Sixthly before thou sleepe againe commend thy selfe in some short prayer to God according to the former meditations and so asleepe for refreshment taking so much as may suffice nature for more strength of labour but not to satisfie the flesh to grow thereby lazie and lustfull Gaius Oh what conceited Laodiceans are we wee out of an ordinarie profession in any measure aboue our brethren hold our selues full of deuotion wee iudge our selues goodly Christians rich in graces flowing in goodnesse lacking little to perfection but alas now I see by the neglect of these things that we are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked I confesse that the Lord hath cause to rebuke and chasten vs except wee speedily grow more zealous and amend Iohn Indeed Gaius men are too wickedly carelesse of a holy conuersation and how to keepe a good cōscience towards God man Men seeme to hate so very much popish superstition as they neglect altogether Christian deuotiō it is iudged enough to bee no Papist though otherwise a man bee little better then a very Atheist in all his courses Gaius Right so my father such as see it may lament it but not remedie it I pray for better vnto him that can reforme it But leauing this proceed on I beseech thee with mee as thou hast begun and come to the last particular how I may make my selfe readie for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Iohn I perceiue that thy heart thirsteth after grace the Lord more and more perfect the same so happily begun in thee First besides these things Directions for a preparation to the Sabbath before mentioned carefully haue in remēbrance euery day the Lords day to keepe it holy when it commeth therefore foresee thy businesse neglect no ordinarie labour order thy worldly affaires so as that day bee set apart for the speciall and publike worship of God that so thy deuotion bee not hindered nor the day prophaned hee hath vtterly lost the power of religion that is carelesse of the Sabbaths sanctification Secondly in the end of the weeke iudge by this holy course of thy growth in religion of