hope beyond hope to beleeve beyond sense to comfort my selfe in thee and in the word of thy truth unto me to be quiet and silent to lay my mouth in the dust because thou Lord doest it and as becomes one of thine to await thy leasure and good pleasure who assuredly at the oppointed time and in due season wilt come and not carry all that it may appeare thy hand hath done it oh vouchsafe thy help herein leave my profession of thee prayeâ— to thee confidence in thee 〈◊〉 reproached least my heart aâ—â— the hearts of thine be discouraged by thy not helping me dâ— this that it may appeare 〈◊〉 right way is the best way thâ—â— it is not in vaine to seeke seâ—â— and trust in thee that the moâ—â— of iniquity may be stoppâ—â— others of thine encouraged aâ— my poore soule more and 〈◊〉 confirmed O my most gracious Lord reconciled God 〈◊〉 most mercifull Father and 〈◊〉 helper at all assaies in whoâ—â— have all without whom I hâ—â—â— nothing accept the meditation of my heart and words of 〈◊〉 mouth look favourably upâ—â— me stretch out thy hand to 〈◊〉 leeve me according to all 〈◊〉 great name notwithstanding all hinderances onely through the al-sufficient merits 〈◊〉 continuall mediation of thy Christ my alone most blessed Redeemer and most gracious Intercessor the Lord Jesus Amen Amen Being thus instructed resolved and strengthened by my God ought I not to comfort â—nd settle my heart in him may I not fully perswade my selfe that by one meanes or other it will please him to afford his help unto me and so with Hannah to be quiet in heart â—nd chearfull in countenance â—nd to await his most gracious powerfull promised reliefe according to his owne blessed will in Christ Jesus Amen See further yet more largely concerning this matter in his prayer made in his great extremity which prayer is among â—he rest in his daily devotions The right way to go to work extracted out of S. B. his Sermon on Prov. 16.3 1. The parts FIrst an Advice Secondly a Promise of â—â—â—nesse 2. The meaning Commit the choyce ordering and successe of all thy intenâ—â—ons words actions to Jehovâ—â— Doct. 1. Every one ought â—â— commit their wayes unto 〈◊〉 Lord. Proofs of this Doctrinâ— Psal 37.5 55.22 1 Pet. 5. â—â— Three things in this committiâ—â— First a sense and acknowledgement of self-insufficient for the worke Secondly a faithfull dependency on God for the appointing and effecting of it Thirdly an actuall recommending of it unto God by prayer 3. The explanation of the severals First we must feele our selves unable to under goe the burden and acknowledg our weaknesse 〈◊〉 respect first of our judgement secondly of our wisdom thirdly of our power First in our judgement to choose Pro. 21.2.25 Eccl. 11.9 10. Gen 11.4 Secondly for wisdome in managing a thing resolved on 1 Chron. 15.13 Isa 36.6 Job 5.13 14. Pro. 5.5 Jer. 10.23 Thirdly for power to accomplish any work though never so well conceived though means are never so well ordered Lam. 3.37 Joh. 15.5 Deut. 8.17 Psal 44.3 2 Cor 3.5 1 Cor. 3.7 Psal 127.1 2 Chron. 20.12 Of the second act of Faith in dependency on God and his efficiency 1. On his will and allowance 2. On his help and blessing For the first see Judges 1.11 20 18.23.28 1 Sam. 23.12 30.8 Numb 27.21 We have no Oracle but Gods Word therefore we must goe 〈◊〉 that onely for warrant Isa â— 20 Therefore examine 〈◊〉 what warrant we have hereâ—â— in every thing Reas 1. Gods will is the ruâ—â— and patterne of holinesse and justice Rom. 7.12 12.2 Pâ— 119.9 Isa 8.20 2. We owe him that respeâ—â— and obedience as our Lord Gâ—vernour Commander Mal. â— 6 Isa 55.4 Amos 6.11 For the second the act of dâ—pendency viz. a resting on God for the ordering of our courses as for provision of meanes and for disposing and blessing of them Mat. 6.25 10.19 Obiect If I must roule my work on God then need I not stirre Answ The best meanes must be used or we commit not our wayes to God aright as the word thy works thy thoughts doe prove Further then the second act of our dependency 1. In respect of our selves 2. Of other meanes For both our eyes must be towards him that he may guide us with his eye Psal 32.8 Ezra 5.5 If our businesse be in speech as Moses Exod. 4.11 12. If in action as Gideon Judg. 6.16 2 Sam. 15.31 Gen. 24.13 14. Reas 1. Gods wisdome is most exact and infinite that where he will not worke he knoweth to hinder prevent or frustrate all meanes and where he will to make all secondary causes to concurre in an admirable harmony which we out selves cannot doe Rom. 8.28 Gen. 45 5 7 8. 50.20 Reas 2. Gods providence is in every thing that falleth out Prov. 20.24 16.2 Joâ— 14.16 The third act of dependency is a resting and waiting oâ— God for the successe of our businesse and endeavours Psal 37.5 Acts 14.23 Isa 49.4 2 Sam. 10.12 Neh. 1.11 Est 4.16 Gen. 22.8 Reas 1. Because of Gods absolute power that he is omnipotent and solipotent Eccl. 9.11 Dan. 3.17 2 Chron. 14.11 Reas 2. Because of his decree all our times are in his hands yea all the actions and motions of those times Psal 31.15 Pro. 19.21 Isa 26.12 Signes of confidence in God 1. It casteth out feare Isa 12.2 Rom. 4.18 19 20. 2. And care Dan. 3.16 3. And causeth cheerfulnesse 1 Sam. 30.6 Psal 37.4 5. The last thing in committing our wayes unto the Lord is an actuall recommending of the same to him by prayer Isa 37.14 Reas 1. It is Gods will as in the Text c. 2. His wisdome invites us hereto 3. Also his power Pro. 18.10 4. His love 1 Pet. 5.7 Psal 113.13 57.2 Phil. 4 6. 5. His faithfulnesse he hath promised to give good successe as in the Text. The first Use Exhortation hereunto 1. For our owne affaires 2. For the distressed Churches 3. For others The second Use Reproofe 1. Of such as relie on their owne sufficiency 2. Of such as doe without warrant Jer. 42.20 3. Of such as dare not depend on God for meanes or sufficiency as Moses Exod. 4.10.13 4. Of such as distrust if such meanes take not or not at such time Psal 78.41.3 5. Of them that rely on theiâ— owne procurement of meanes Isa 31 1 2. 6. Of such as use ill meanes 7. Of such as trust not God with the successe Ex. 4.1.1 San 27.1 Lord I desire cause me rightly to acknowledge seeke and trust thee and as thou hast assured heare direct and help me Amen Before solemne setling himselfe to pray in private O Lord God whose work it onely is which thou knowest and I acknowledge to be exceedingly wanting in me be intreated in mercy as thou art wont and hast promised be I never so unworthy unthankfull and indisposed to poure out upon me the spirit of
grace and supplication that I may at this present poure out my heart in prayer before thee so that thou mayest be pleased to heare and help from Heaven seasonably and effectually thy great name shall have all the glory Or Thus O Lord prepare my miserable unprepared heart to pray heare me graciously though I be most unworthy as thou hast promised whatsoever opposeth thy great name shall have all the glory Or Thus O Lord help my heart to pray heare my prayers thy name shall have the praises If he comes into Gods House before the beginning of publike worship O Most holy Lord God prepare every one of our unprepared hearts in most holy manner to seek thy face in every one of thy most holy Ordinances work effectually with thy most holy spirit upon every one of our hearts that the meanes of grace may prove effectuall to every one of our most sinfull soules to the building of them up in all grace to our present comfort and eternall happinesse in Christ Jesus Amen When Amen is pronounced at the end of the publike prayers Amen Lord Amen of thy infinite mercy according to thy immutable truth by thy unresistable working notwithstanding our unworthinesse insufficiency and all other impediments thy great name shall have all the glory to which alone the same is due wholy When he gives Almes Good Lord accept the will for the deed forgive and reforme what is amisse vouchsafe a plentifull blessing in due season according to thy wonted goodnesse and faithfull promises in Christ Jesus When the blessing is pronounced O Lord our God most mighty mercifull and true vouchsafe graciously seasonably and effectually to leave thy promised blessing of mercy grace and peace behind thee Amen When he awakes in the morning O Lord my God it is of thine owne and onely wonted undeserved infinite never failing mercies that I have not in this night past been smothered in my sleep and sinnes that I may behold the light of this day in peace awaken my heart with all holy affections towards thee cause me to cast off all works of darknesse and to walk in the light before thee renew remission unto me for my sins of the night renewed against thee throughout this day governe me by thy Word and spirit in all I goe about and let thy blessing be upon me in all that any way concernes me my soule through Jesus Christ shall more and more magnifie thee Amen When he layes him downe at night to take his rest O Lord my God by thy especiall providence assistance I lay me downe in peace at this present and blesse thy name unfainedly that all things throughout this day hath gone so well with me whereas else I had been every way most unhappy Oh multiply pardon to me for my fauls multiplyed against thee even this day past I beseech thee and watch over me the rest of this night to preserve me from sinning against thee though never so secretly and to keep off whatsoever would any way harme me for all grace and good my soule shall more and more through Jesus Christ glorifie thee Amen Before his going to heare Gods Word preached O Lord my God whose word I goe to heare grant me thy grace to heare it as thy word with all due reverence earnest attention and holy affection oh help me against all dead heartednesse distractednes and wearinesse make my heart as the good ground rightly to receive this heavenly seed water the same with the dew of thy grace that it may bring forth fruit abundantly in my knowledge resolution and practice in faith and godlinesse with all patience and constancy thus work in and for me mercifully powerfully faithfully notwithstanding my unprepared insensible unprofitable hearing therof whereof alas I am most hainously continually guilty for which I beg pardon and amendment yea in spite of all that the flesh the world the devill labour to the contrary Amen Amen my Father in Christ herein help me I most humbly and earnestly beg pray and beseech thee Amen at this time and upon the like occasions continually When be comes from hearing Gods Word Now my good and gracious God having by thy especiall providence goodnesse and grace injoyed the gracious meanes happy opportunity and thy help to heare thy most holy word for which exceeding great favours make me truâ—â— thankfull and of which crave the continuance unto my lives end bring the same to my remembrance affect me with each part thereof throughly cause me to mix it with faith rightly and to put each part thereof in practice Christianly as the necessities of my poore soule require especially heare and blesse in mercy as thou hast promised though I have sinned and whatsoever opposeth Amen Before his reading Gods Word in private O my heavenly Father be intreated mercifully powerfully faithfully now and at all other times be I never so unworthy indisposed and whatsoever opposeth to strengthen and blesse me in the reading understanding remembring applying and practising of thy most holy word as may be most to thy great glory and my eternall good through Christ Jesus Amen After his reading Gods Word in private O my God I most heartily thank thee for this most inestimable Jewell of thy most holy Word for this great freedome and thy especiall help to be exercised therein and for all the good that by thy blessing my poore soul hath received thereby Oh forgive my unthankfulnesse therefore and abusing thereof reforme these foule offences in me and notwithstanding the same and whatsoever else would hinder continue these great mercies unto me and make each part of thy most holy word my guide and comfort in life and death through Jesus Christ Amen I beg of thee Before his meditating in private Good Lord it is my most humble earnest suit unto thy most sacred Majesty that thou wilt not lay to my charge my long wilfull neglect of miserable aversnesse from and extream indisposition to this so much required and exceeding needfull dutie of divine Meditation but notwithstanding these and though I neither know how nor have any abilitie to discharge the same as I ought I pray and beseech thee to learne me the right way thereto and to dispose me in some good measure to the performance thereof help me to begin goe on and end in respect of the present matter thereof with sound judgement moved affection powerfull application and unfained purpose to put all to conscionable practice to the encrease of all grace and godlinesse through thy alone deare Sonne my alone sweet Saviour Christ Jesus Amen After his meditating in private My deare God my soule magnifieth thee for this opportunitie and assistance thou hast vouchsafed me most weak and unworthie in the performance of this holy dutie oh pardon pittie and reforme my ignorance insensiblenesse and manifold distempers herein oh helpe me more and more better hereunto and doe me this exceeding great favour that I may constantly beare
Vow and said O Lord of hosts if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine hand-maid and remember and not forget me but wilt give unto me c. then I will give unto thee c. shee spake in her heart onely her lips moved but her voyce was not heard I am of a sorrowfull spirit and have poured out my soule before the Lord out of the abundance of my complaint and griefe have I spoken The Lord God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him so the woman went her way and did eat and her countenance was no more sad and the Lord remembred her and she said The Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed 1 Sam. 1.6 7 10 11 13 15 16 17 18 19 27. 2.3 If the Lord were pleased to kill us he would not have received a burnt Offering and a meat Offering at our hands neither would he have shewed us all these things nor would as at this time have told us such things as these Judges 13.23 Lord grant me the spirit of understanding and application of every one of these and according to my most urgent occasions thou that art the same for ever unto thine let me find the comfort and profit of these for thy mercy and thy truth unto me my soule my God in Christ shall alwayes and in all things magnifie thee Amen Who knoweth the work of the Lord who worketh all Eccl. 11.5 My God I wait the issue from thee I beseech thee make it good for me I unfainedly promise unto thee To observe diligently To remember constantly To regard carefully To acknowledge thankfully Thy gracious dealing towards me In this and every extremity Which so much overchargeth me That I can see no remedy Lord I depend upon thee Do thy good pleasure with me Oh heare forgive accept and help me Amen Amen my God in Christ I pray thee Some more though briefe yet sound Meditations for his further assurance of support and succour in his present exceeding great or any future though never so hopelesse and helplesse misery O Lord my God thou art throughly acquainted with my condition which threatneth extreame misery thou knowest what is best for me and dispofest all things according to thine owne will for my good in the end assuredly whatsoever doth or may oppose me behold I looke round about me and can see no hope of help left me but I looke up to thee in the highest Heavens from whom alone all my help commeth who knoweth thy worke that worketh all thou hast innumerable waies to help when al else faileth thou hast oftentimes heretofore seasonably unexpectedly amply wonderfully wrought for my reliefe and deliverance when I was most helplesse and whatsoever opposed and that of thine owne meere goodnesse notwithstanding my unmeasurable great sinfulnesse I know and beleeve thy hand is not shortned that thou art the same for ever unto me for good as thou art gracious work for my reliefe and deliverance notwithstanding my exceeding great unworthines all other impossibilities the earth is thine and the fulnesse thereof all things obey thy voyce speak but one word and it is done command and it shall stand fast all the world cannot hinder it thou hast provided thou doest canst hast promised must and wilt provide in the Mount in greatest extremity apparently it shall be Lord let it be seen Why then should I faint feare or doubt thou art my help in greatest need I give over all unto thee I call upon thee I depend alone on thee I await alwaies for thee thou hast never failed me never Oh never faile forsake or forget me I remember thy wonted goodnesse I fly to thy undeserved mercies I trust in thy almighty power I found my prayers on thy most faithfull promises I submit to thy most wise disposing now I beseech and urge thee most humbly and instantly in mercy as thou art wont and hast promised be pleased most powerfully as seemeth good unto thee to consider my condition to remember my estate to pitty my distresse to behold my trouble to regard my sighes to heare my prayers to relieve my wants to prevent feared calamities and to deliver me out of this great misery Oh if it be thy will let me find by experience thy fatherly love care and providence so manifested and magnified towards me that I may be freed from this in mans judgement irrecoverable misery with which and with all its circumstances thou art acquainted fully Oh let no man lose by me or have just cause to complaine of me Oh work for me that I may live of mine owne commendably without being chargeable to any that I provide for mine honestly and so remove and prevent much trouble in my selfe and sorrow shame and misery to mine that I may put all my things in good order before I depart hence that in this respect I may be the more willing to leave this world and the more desirous of a better life that in all these I may acknowledge thy goodnesse and praise thy name who hast dealt so graciously and wonderfully with me by thy grace if it please thee to doe it I will never forget it but will alwayes confesse that thy hand onely hath wrought it and shall ever endeavour to testifie true thankfulnesse for it yet O Lord my God in all these not as I will but as thou wilt who knowest what is most needfull for me yea rather deny in mercy then give me in displeasure what I conceive I so much want and doe so earnestly crave if it be thy will this burthen shall grow so heavy and lye so long upon me that I be brought unto the uttermost extremity doe buâ— encrease inward strength within me that I may come the nearer home unto thee and 〈◊〉 is enough for me I crave 〈◊〉 more of thee all shall goe well with me whatsoever betideâ— me doe not oh doe not suffeâ— me to use any unlawfull or unbeseeming means to help mâ—selfe thereby let no by-respect prevaile with me herein but direct and inable me conscionable and worthily to do my duty and so to leave the successe unâ—â— thee who wilt cause the samâ— to fall out well for me never oh never suffer me to be impatient discontented over doubtfull over carefull or discouraged or to murmure against to dispute with to complaint of or to limit thee but enable oh enable me to possesse mâ— soule in patience to rest heartly well contented with all thou sendest as that which thou in wisdome love and faithfulnesse seest best for me and wilt remarkably turne to good unto me help me to acknowledge thee aright in all my wayes oh direct my pathes cause me with an holy carelesnesse to cast my care upon thee oh take care for me make me to roule my burthen on thee oh nourish thou me raise up my heart to
that this way have suffered in their persons and reputation better fall into yea perish by an honourable enemy then to be called to account and censured by your owne party your businesse being well done and over be then at rest and let another take his turne if I might advise others as I doe my selfe let this be our constant course Lord my God govern and watch for and over me Feare and backwardnesse secures not from the perils that cause them but often layes more open to them howsoever they disable exceedingly and procure shame and harme inevitably Selfe Meditations and seasonable Exhortations being ready to goe upon dangerous services viz. with our soules let us now seek and trust God promise and performe sincere obedience to him if he please to grant help and deliverance be of good courage in the strength of the Lord let us doe worthily follow my example let the Lord doe what seemeth good unto him we fight for the Cause of God for our lives safety honour and victory Lord sight thou for us encourage strengithen preserve and prosper us of thy mercy as thou hast promised Psal 46.1 2. through Christ Jesus be we never so unworthy and whatsoever opposeth us Amen Observe this Lord let such as shame scorne or wilfully neglect to seek help of thee or that trust to their own wisdome worth or sufficiency or to any other meanes of help besides thee never have help from thee but as for me who am most sinfull weak and unworthy who deny my selfe and all other meanes of help without thee utterly who by thy grace doe seek for depend upon and await for thy help only afford thy wonted needfull most gracious mighty seasonable and faithfully promised help unto me (a) Prov. 2 6 Isa 40 13 14. Acknowledge and direction (b) Psal 59 10. Prov. 3 9. prevention and government (c) Isa 28 5. Isa 40.29 31 courage and sufficiency (d) 2 Cor. 3 5. 1 Sam. 8 6 14. strength and safety (e) Ps 18.2 Jos 1 8. deliverance and prosperity (f) 1 Chron. 29.10 11 12. Ps 121.2 come from thee O Lord onely (g) Jer. 21.33 Ephes 1.5 Therefore my God in Christ (h) Psa 120.1 1. Psal 136. all I beseech thee in mercy (i) Psal 71 20. Psal 119.49 as thou hast done and promised (k) Isa 41 14. Ezek. 36 22. be I never so weak and unworthy (l) Psal 9 9. Psa 46 1 2 3. in due season and greatest extremity (m) Psal 32 8 Prov. 3 6 to instruct and direct (n) Psal 79.8 Exod. 4 15. to prevent and governe (o) Isa 51 12. Is 41.10 to encourage and strengthen (p) Neb. 6.9 1 Tim. 1.12 every way to enable (q) Psal 68.12 Psal 68.35 to doe well and worthily (r) Job 15 20 2 Sam. 22.2 preserve and deliver (s) Deut. 31.8 Deut. 28.8.11 be with and prosper me (t) Psal 71.16 Ephes 6.20 I will goe forward â—n thy strength onely (u) Numb 24.18 Psal 108 13 through thee I shall doe valiantly (x) Psal 18.2 Psal 140 7 In the day of battle thou hast covered me (y) Pro. 3 6 Psal 37.5 I referre all alwayes to thee (z) 2 Sam. 15 26 Mat. 6.10 as thou pleasest deale thou with me (a) 2 Chron. 14.11 2 Chr. 20.12 help thou and all shall goe well (b) Psal 33.16 17 Ps 128 1 2. else nothing can avail me (c) Exod. 22 27 Ps 69.30 31. oh hear me graciously (d) Psal 34.1 Psal 103.1 2 my soul for all help blesseth thee (e) Mic. 7.7 Psal 72 12. and looks for all good onely from thee (f) Psal 62.1 Hos 13.9 for any help thou shalt vouchsafe me (g) Isa 63 7 Ps 56.12 my soule shall alwayes praise thee (h) Ps 41.18 Psal 31.9 Amen Amen I beg of thee Love is an honest faithfull thiefe stealing from us and yet letting us keep the graces God hath given us a most strange yet most certaine manner of curing the diseased when the Physician drinks the potion and the Patient is thereby cured so deales our Saviour by us The Jewes say there are 72 Members in a mans body and understand the curse Deutre 27. ult to be 72 plagues denounced thereunto Let all endeavours be done out of conscience or the best are bootlesse Things done in greatest shew of sanctity and not to Gods glory chiefly deceives us miserably and is but painted iniquity Better a good work laden with weaknesse if done in sincerity then glorious shewes from a false heart let thy heart be right with God approve it to him and care not what others speak or think of thee This I find and expect when his offend him the Lord will visit their transgressions with the rods of men and this I know and beleeve his everlasting mercies he will never take from me Better want the good we have had and would have to humble us then to abound and forget our Maker Oh most miserable and accursed prosperity where wickednesse gets wealth Oh rich and happy poverty that hath a good conscience though with never so little Afflictions of body or mind must turne to our good if they move us to seek God Feare not God for feare of a punishment onely yea feare him least he should punish thee for not fearing him Love not meerly in hope of good yet love him in hope he will doe thee good Sorrow for sinne not for feare of wrath simply yet sorrow for sinne least wrath over-whelme thee Practice as thou prayest or they prevaile not We pray rightly when we practice conscionably Sathan seeks to hinder one good work by moving to another lesse seasonable at the same time therefore divide the times aright and preferre the best first He that would meditate well must give his mind but to one good point at one time and beat that out throughly with prayer and application Better to have troubles in the flesh with a quiet conscience then the pleasures of sinne with horrour of heart Better to live in misery then sinne The worst of suffering is to be chosen before the best of sisning Soule lost all lost soule well all well Some while they think to free themselves from sorrowes by living in sinne thereby bring the same evils upon themselves and so are doubly wretched That which thou thinkst shall be thy comfort shall prove thy crosse yea thy curse except thou lookest chiefly to God in seeking it and he please to sanctifie it In reading labour for knowledge but chiefly for affection Miraculous help is not ordinary yet may and must we build upon the power of God for help be our distresse never so great and meanes of reliefe never so small By encrease of inward and outward troubles finding encrease of comfort and help why should I not willingly suffer Though we often strive against an evill without prevailing let us not
making them subscribe all is paid when they never received the fifth part by detaining all or most part of their due for their passes by compelling them to runne away through extream hard and most unjust usage Oh consider this yee that forget God least I teare you in pieces and there be none to deliver you saith the Lord Psal 50.22 Will you dare you by your unlawfull courses and unrighteous gaines to serve your covetousnesse lust pride and excesse highly displease and dishonour God grievously wound by sinning against the light of your consciences betray the cause for which you serve and wrong the State in which you serve and he that doth not so will you abhor deride and harme him the Lord sees it and it displeaseth him Isa 59.15 Will you dare you doe all these and many more like unto these which to hide your shame I shame to reveale for I say little of your most detestable most accursed false attestations whereby all parties are grievously guilty of horrible perjury of your men of loose mearies of those you make use of only for a muster of your passavotants of your false billets and mustering some or whom you give no meanes bâ—â— a present reward for that base service and then turn them oâ—â—â— of your mustering others in the names of those long dead or away or in false names or passing Souldiers of other Companies in yours c. Oh Mystery of iniquity and yet flatter your selves that all is well and shall be well Or doe you think that God esteems or will spare you for your pride of heart bravery in apparell courtly behaviour high looks big words height in place greatnesse of power No or will he accept of your childish foolish wicked vaine excuses pretences extenuations neither â— for there be no circumstance can make an unlawfull thing lawfull Rom. 3.8 neither regardeth he any mans person Rom. 2.11 doe not deceive your selves is God God and will he be mocked Gal. 6.7 is Gods Word truth which declareth the hainousnesse and danger of these things and dare you live in and plead for them let Baal plead for himselfe Judg. 6.31 I plead for my God who hath a controversie with you Hos 4.1 Oh how farre are all these courses from Saint Iohns doctrine to Souldiers doe violence to no man neither accuse any falsly and be content with your wages Luke 3.14 Away away then with this dung and filth this worse and lesse then nothing if you at all esteem that inestimable Jewell of Gods Word if you know beleeve in love feare and serve and trust in God as you would be thought let not these more then base most shamefull and harmefull courses which he hates forbids threatens hath plagued and will plague Mal. 1.6 Ier. 2.19 4.18 for a little bitter sweet short pleasure for a little paltry pelfe Iam. 5.1 2 3. rusty riches or the like trash which the very Heathens in respect of vertue abhorred rejected so farre hood-wink befool mislead you that for the love of them Rom. 6.23 you should run the hazard of losing of damning your poore soules your precious soules 1 Cor. 6.9 10. and shut your selves out of Heaven Oh what shall it profit a man if he gained the whole World and should lose his soule Oh let Gods glory his Churches good your soules welfare be preferred before your unlawfull gaines for soul lost and all lost and these are the high-wayes to hell Rev. 22.15 or are you yet so ignorant and so obstinate that you wil not Beleeve this Behold ye trust in lying words that cannot profit Jer. 7.8 take Gods owne word for it which will not flatter which cannot deceive you your condition is and shall be most miserable He that getteth riches and not by right shall leave them in the middest of his dayes and at his end shall be a fool Jer. 17.11 and though you doe evill with both hands earnestly so that the Prince asketh and the Iudg. asketh for a reward and the great man he uttereth his mischievous desire and so ye wrap it up Mic. 7.3 yet wo unto you that devise iniquity and work evill upon your beds when the morning is light ye practise it because it is in the power of your hand Mic. 2.1 yea though hand joyne in hand the wicked shall not be unpunished Prov. 11.21 Apply among many more these following most plaine and powerfull places to this purpose then if you dare goe on devise by your selves consult with others abuse your wit and power to doe evill what then woe and punishment shall be your portion for further proof of this I beseech and admonish you read lay to heart and jest not with what followeth out of Gods owne Word expresly Woe to the wicked be they who they will be their wickednesse what it will it shall be evill with him evill of sorrow of shame of fearfull plagues here of horrible destruction for evermore shall be upon him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Isa 3.11 Loe it is a day of trouble and of ruine and of perplexity by the Lord God of Hosts Isa 22.5 23.9 Behold the Day of the Lord commeth cruell with wrath and fierce anger and he shall destroy the sinners out of the earth Isa 13.9 This day you say is not come it may be you conceit it will not come or not upon you and so put that day farre from you but you see God saith you see it commeth it shall surely come and what will you doe now in the day of visitation and destruction to whom will you flee for help and where will yee leave your glory the priviledges you presumed on will not secure you or whatsoever you gloried in shall nothing availe you Isa 10.3 for if you refuse and be rebellious though you thus long have escaped you shall be devoured with the sword a bullet shall meet with your head or heart when you little think of it and then it will be too late beleeve it goe the right way to work to prevent it for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 1.20 infinite wayes hath God to find out thy iniquities feare and the pit and the snare are upon thee Isa 24.17 see Jer. 35.2 5 6. 16.4 6. 19.15 Deut. 18.16 destruction upon destruction is cryed for my people is foolish they have not known me they are foolish children and have none understanding they are wise to doe evill but to doe good they have no knowledge Jer. 4.20 22. the time will come that thy wayes and thine inventions shall procure these things unto thee such is thy wickednesse therefore it shall be bitter though it now seem sweet therefore it shall pierce to thine heart which thou now makest so much of Jer. 4.18 neither will it help that you have sought deep by plotting and councelling to hide your councells from the Lord although they were in darknesse never so secretly contrived and practised that
matter seem it never so much precisenesse especially of such duties to which thou art most indisposed or in which thou hast been most carelesse or the which stesh and blood thinketh least necessary for the Lord will have sincere and seasonable obedience in every particular 4 Think it not enough to doe one good thing and then to follow some other evill as to make conscience of sanctifying the Sabath and yet to take leave to take Gods Name in vaine or to apply thy selfe diligently to Gods publike worship yet not to stick to lye sweare deceive forsweare extort in thy particular calling or to be strict in thy outward conversation and yet dare to harbour discontent envy hatred malice discord revenge or to seeme friendly abroad or yet be currish at home or to be temperate in some places and companies and yet to tipple drink healths and be drunk in some other or to be modest in behaviour and yet abound in filthy conceits or to seem religious and yet want government of the tongue or to be just in outward dealings and yet be uncharitable and the like as also on the contrary for every sinne as well as any sinne must be conscionably avoided or none is sincerely eschewed 5 Neither rest contented in straining at a Gnat if thou darest to swallow a Camell or though thou escapest grosse and open sinnes if thou allowest thy selfe in some lesser and secret evils these are most deceitfull dangerous devillish and without repentance damnable conceits and are sure signes of an huge hypocrite and must unsound soule But O my soule who is sufficient for these things well endeavour uprightly watchfully constantly in every particular that the Lord hath revealed to thee and it is in Gods estimation perfect obedience onely give not thy selfe the least freedome in the least matter against conscience to transgresse then beleeve and thou mayest be assured the Lord Jesus Christ his alsufficient satisfaction both in his absolute obedience and infinite sufferings is imputed unto thee and thou in him hast fully obeyed and suffered all that the Lord can in his exactest justice require of thee we may keep all though we cannot fulfill any one of Gods Commandements we may often break and yet not forsake his holy Covenant Thus farre of this His Verses on the Bible P leasure and profit piety and peace H ealth for the soule all happinesse encrease I n each estate within this golden Mine L yes couched close yet of pe to all mens eyne L ets then delves search and curiously pry I nto the same and mark what we can spy P repare good instruments the ground is hard P romise is made we shall find rich reward S oare first in faith with prayer above the Sunne K eep constant courses carelesnesse still shunne I oyne with your reading reverence be attent P ractice with knowledge from on high are sent P ray more and more such graces to attaine O n Sacred Writ to meditate take paine N eglect not application of the same N o doubt so striving we shall win the Game His Verses on his Hour-Glasse AS this Glasse runs so runs thy Glasse of life Each houre one houre neerer thy lives end Ere sand be out Death with his fatall knife Cats short thy dayes perhaps repent amend Delay no time see how away he hyes Once past past calling backe with loudest cryes Behold this Glasse and then take heedfull view What 's thy estate more brittle then the same Soon broke as sand in wind in hast oh rue Thy sinnes forepast with sorrow and with shame Henceforth aye runne of godlinesse the race While thy Glasse runs and daies fleet hence apace Let thy oft turning of this running Glasse Cause in thy mind to run that thou still turne To great Jehovah let no houre passe While God vouchsafe thou in this world sojourne Without some worke of grace oh spend no time In plotting following any sinfull crime So though this Glasse and life at once run out Time past mispent bewaild to come redeemd Of dying well thou needst not stand in doubt Ill having hated done what best beseemd Were every houre the latest of thy breath The happiest houre shall be the houre of death Morning Thoughts BEthink performe each morning thou survivest Thy duty to thy God while here thou livest Arake with him in humble chearfull wise Open thine heart as early as thine eyes Who holy thoughts his Majesty salute Of a true godly life what is the fruit Of rising from thy sinnes to wayes of grace The resurrection set before thy face Eke unto judgement thy most sure arising By light of day be with thy self devising Of that most glorious armour of pure light And of thy naturall darknesse take in sight And works of darknesse labour off to cast Bidding thy God good morrow thus make hast Upon his holy Name to invocate Confessing and bewailing thine estate By nature actuall offendings too Labour for feeling though with much adoe Weigh to thy sinnes all judgement are most due Thy just desert whereof take paines to rue With deprecation then will fervency To thy good God in Christ for pardon cry Resolving by his grace which beg henceforth In heart word deed to esteem of highest worth His holy feare and service every way Beleeve for these in faith will reeling pray In and from danger preservation Strength to resist Satans temptation Comfort in griefe help in adversity Reliefe in any kind of misery For deaths preparing dying to the world That it's and flesh his lusts may be controld Heaven hungred after in each thing content To please the Lord in all that heart be bent To walke uprightly in thy lawfull calling In others matters not thy selfe inthralling For companies and privaties right use Against thoughts words deeds behaviours abuse Concerning all in each alwaies to watch That thou nor others harme thereby to catch Briefly to thy most blessed God commend Whatsoever any way thou dost intend That better and not worse they still mayest grow By all thou hearest seest or else doest know Labouring to keep sweet peace with thy sweet God Which being even no maner what is odde In every thing submitting to his will Then from thy heart thy mouth with praises fill For all his blessings great and manifold Past present and to come both new and old In speciall for protection in the night Judgements prevented now with morning light Sweet motions grant every gift firme fading For this or better life thy selfe perswading Thy Gods rich mercy is the ground of all Thou didst before doest now or ever shall Enjoy and entire thanks to manifest Let soule and body all thou hast be prest To doe his will in all his Word requireth That thou mayest be such as his heart desireth To live and dye in happy state of grace And so in mercy aye behold his face Thus as thine owne thinke on the Churches peace To attend thy prayers with practice doe not cease And thou wilt
of Christ Jesus Resolve TO doe nothing without the warrant of Gods Word To order all affaires by judgement To speak the best of all men and all things To resist all manner of evill thoughts motions purposes affections passions to use only wise few true acceptable words To be grave affable circumspect all to the Lord shunning all by-respects No sufficiency in our selves all sufficiency in the Lord. Beg grace and labour to understand remember affect beleeve and practice In company avoid lightnesse and lumplishnesse in behaviour in talk filthinesse falshood jesting rashnesse superfluous words in action gluttony drunkenesse drinking healths Tobacco drinking Tobacco taking Endeavour stayednesse and and cheerfulnesse in behaviour gracious honest harmlesse discourses in action temperance speedy breaking up gratefulnesse In generall labour to hinder swearing obicene talk excesse contention and to further good discourse to bewaile what we cannot help to give no offence to take all in good part that concernes our selves More Resolutions OBey lawfull commands willingly Take reproofes gently And advice thankfully Doe duty diligently Sweare not rashly Speak soberly Examine complaints conscionably Understand both Parties throughly Deale directly Hate partiality Punish vice strictly Avoid words of superfluity Beare thy selfe humbly To each degree respectively Drink not immoderately Use not familiarity Be carelesse of others envy Worship God religiously In season and with constancy Strive to walk wisely Doe all in faith sincerely To the Lords glory Learne to make Conscience of mourning for the abom nations abounding among us BEcause God requires it Jer. 22.30 complaines of the negtect of it Isa 52.16 63. â—â— markes those for his and preserves them in times of generall judgements that doe it Ezek. 9.4 6. and will be intreated by them as by Moses c. therefore let us seriously ponder them and the judgements due unto them and acknowledge them craving an heart to be touched with godly sorrow and awfull feare bceause of them eschewing them in our selves suppressing them in others ill we can begging pardon for and reformation of them vexing our soules seeing or hearing of them desiring the Lord to keep his judgements from us that are due for them so sighing to the Lord sensibly because of them His acknowledgement of God THe Lord God (a) Psal 71.16 whom I alone (b) 1 Sam. 7.3 and alwayes (c) Deut. 14.23 desire to serve (d) Neh. 1.11 Jos 24.15 and trust (e) 2 Sam. 22.3 and in whose name (f) Psal 124 8. fear (g) Isa 8.13 presence (h) 2 Cor. 2. â—â— and assistance (i) Psal 121.2 I desire to order all my wayes (k) Psal 16. â—â— and from whom onely I look for all grace (l) 1 John 1.16 and good (m) Jam. 1. â— is God the Father (n) 2 Thes 1.1 God the Son (o) John 10. â—â— and God the holy Ghost (p) Acts. 5.3 4. three Persons (q) Mat. 3.16 â—â— but one (r) 1 John 5.7 onely (s) Deut. 6.4 true (t) Jer. 10.10 and most wonderfull (v) Isa 9.6 Lord God (w) 1 Chron. 11.16 who by his Word alone (x) Psal 33.6 9. most wisely (y) Prov. â—â— powerfully (z) Jer. 13.10 graciously (a) Psal 111. â— hath created all things of nothing (b) Gen. 1. who in like manner preserved doeth and will preserve (c) Heb. 1.3 and dispose all the vvorks of his hands (d) Mat. 10.29 30. for his owne glory (e) Pro. 16.4 and his childrens vvelfare (f) Rom. 8. â—â— vvhatsoever opposeth (g) Isa 14.24 27. vvho is the eternall (h) Dut. 33.27 everliving (i) Heb. 7.25 everlasting (k) Isa 40.28 most glorious (l) Dâ—â— 28.58 great (m) 2 Sam. 7.22 tearful (n) Exâ—â— 15.11 invisible (o) 1 Tim. 1.17 invincible (p) 2 Chrâ—â— 29.11 unconceivable (q) Rom. 11.33 34. un-utterable (r) Jâ—â— 21.31 incomprehensible (s) 1 King 8.27 inaccessible (t) 1 Tâ—â— 6.16 incorruptible (v) Rom. 1.23 infinitely vvise (w) Rom. â—â— 27 most holy (x) Isa 6.3 just (y) Job 34.19 jealous (z) Ex. 34.14 righteous (a) Dan. 9.14 Almighty (b) Jâ—â— 42.2 al-sufficient (c) Gen. 17.1 every where present (d) Jer. 23 2â— 24. alknowing (e) Heb. 4.13 most blessed (f) Rom. 9. â— and onely Potentate (g) 1 Tim. 6.15 most gracious (h) Psal 145. â— good (i) Mat. 19.17 free (k) Ezek. 36 2â— bountifull (l) Ps 116.7 most patient (m) Rom. 15.5 long-suftering (n) Eâ— 34.6 compassionate (o) Psal 78.38 pittifull (p) Jam. 5.11 most loving q Hos 14.4 faire r Psal 50.2 pure s Hab. 1.13 comely t Cant. 2.14 beautifull v Isa 4.2 most mercifull w 2 Cor. 1.3 faithfull x Deut. 7.9 immutable y Mal. â— â— and never enough to be admired Majesty z 2 Thes 1.12 my Lord a Isa 49.14 my God b John 20.28 my Father c John 20.17.28 my Redeemer d Job 19.25 my Intercessor e 1 Joh. 2.1 my Sanctifier f Rom. 15.16 my Comforter g John 14.26 my Guide h Psal 48 14. my Sufficiency i 2 Cor. 3.5 my safety k Prov. 31.21 my Deliverer l Ps 40.17 my good successe m Psal 37.5 my life n Acts 17.28 my health o Psal 43.5 my strength p Psal 28.7 my succour q Heb 2.18 my chiefe good r Psal 119.68 my all in all for good s Psal 73.25 my onely helper at all assayes t Heb. 13.5 6. in greatest extremities most remarkably v Ps 72.12 in whom I have all w 1 Cor. 3 22 23. without whom I have nothing x Hos 13.9 nor can doe nothing y Joh. 15.5 of whom alone I have received z 1 Cor. 4.7 by whom alone I doe enjoy a Acts 17.28 from whom alone I crave b Psal 5.2 and expect c Psal 62.5 all good d Psal 62.5 for this and a better life e Ps â—4 11 yea whom I desire above all things f Psal 73.25 and to whom onely in all above all alwayes be glory g Rom. 11.36 Amen g Rom. 11.36 How to endeavour to walk with God in the Leaguer FIrst to walk circumspectly and that 1 In dividing the times aright for the duties of Religion the works of my calling and other lawfull imployments that them be no confusion that the lesser be not hinderances but help to the greater 2 By serious consideration that I have warrant out of the Word of God for all my proceedings Secondly what religious duties be performed daily with Christian conveniency 1 Prayer for my selfe minâ— Gods people 2 Reading the Scripture and somewhat in a good books 3 Meditation