to spend nor giue and when her louers haue as they thinke been much beholden to her for her bounty in fulfilling their corrupt desires then she begins to shew herselfe in her likenesse picking their pockets and rifles them of al that she gaue them dispossessing theÌ„ of their great reuenewes disrobes them and deplumes them of their peacocks attire and brings not a few of them to pouerty and shame and casts them off as the harlots did the prodigall sonne And if she be so kind to some as to suffer them to be seene to ruffle and florish long dandling them in her lap of lasciuiousnesse yet at last she sends them to their graues stript of all and turnes them away as poore men naked as they came to her only with a silly sheet to couer their nakednesse vnseemely to be seene of men O shut thine eyes therefore make scorne to bestow the time of casting one looke with delight vpon the best things she offers thee necessaries excepted being so vncertaine and so certainly dangerous How to imploy our inward sight BEtter it is for thee and to thy more solide comfort and true content through faith to be assured to see thy Redeemer in his glory hereafter for euer than to be here as it were bewitched with the inchantments of the deceiuing things thine eyes doe here see which doe so fasten carnall affections to earthly things that thou canst haue no time to looke vp from whence thy redemption if thou be one chosen of God comes and where are hid the vnspeakable treasures that the Lord reserueth purchased by Christ for them that haue their eyes fixed on him by faith The carnall eye a hinderance to the spirituall CLose vp then thy greedy eye that is so pragmaticke a promotor of all deceiuable obiects to the heart that ingrosseth all that is offered vnto it that delighteth it And commonly shutteth out the most excellent inuisible things because the naturall eye sees only things visible in the world and hinders the spirituall eye from beholding the things of heauen Mischiefes proceeding from the carnall eye THis carnall eye makes the heart an Idolater by coueting a murtherer by enuying a theefe by desiring an adulterer by lusting a glutton by longing And this by the abuse of the eye and consent of the heart abusing and disordering the whole body the house of the soule and the soule it selfe Aboue all seeke the illumination of the inward eye LEaue then the fulfilling of the lusts of thy corporall eye which only seeth by the light of nature and seeke by faithfull prayer the illumination of thine inward eye whereby thou maist apprehend spirituall and heauenly things The sight of the spirituall eye THis internall eye is inlightened through the spirit by the word preached and vnderstood whereby we see God our Creatour as we see his works by our naturall eye we see Christ Jesus his Sonne proceeded froÌ„ God the Father we see him suffering not onely many grieuous abuses iniuries lying in his humanity among the Iewes but his bitter ignominious death vpon the Crosse But also our Redemption and Saluation in and by him By the same eye of a liuely faith we see and apprehend his merits we see him stand a mediator for vs at the right hand of his Father interceding betweene vs sinners and our offended God and in whom we are imputed righteous Things only seene by a spirituall eye through faith LAbor to see and apprehend this great mystery of our Redemption and Saluation which none can see by his quickest eye of naturall wisedome no it is foolishnesse to the naturall man to thinke that God could haue a Sonne made flesh to be conceiued in the wombe of a Virgin without man to bee borne into the world according to the course of men to dye and within three dayes to rise againe by his owne power being God and immediately after to appeare in the same humane shape and to eate bread and in the same body to ascend into the heauens and there to remaine a glorified body and that in the same body hee shall come againe accompanied with Millions of Angels to iudge aswell them that remaine aliue at his comming as them that are already turned into dust in their graues burned to ashes perished in the seas and deuoured by beasts And that their bodies that haue dyed fiue thousand yeeres since euen Abel and all that haue dyed since being vtterly consumed that euen their bodies now dust shall rise againe and be re-united to the soules of the righteous to be eternally glorified with Christ and his Elect And of the wicked to be eternally tormented with the Diuell and his angels The cause why men couet not that spirituall illumination THese things are hid from the eye of nature and naturall reason and apprehension and that is the cause that many wanting that spirituall eye of heauenly illumination doe apply their carnall eyes to the things here below that doe not onely not profit them but grieuously endanger him They haue neither the will nor the knowledge how to seeke as they are commanded The Kingdome of Christ and the righteousnesse thereof wherein consisteth the assurance of all them that shall be partakers of that Heauenly Kingdome with Christ found of them that seeke it in the word of truth and apprehended by the eye of a liuely faith which is 〈…〉 of the same Ieâ—us Christ. Hearing of the Word the meanes of spirituall illumination VSe therefore the meanes to attaine vnto this celestiall illumination heare the Word attentiuely pray feruently lifting vp thine eyes to heauen seeke holinesse and purity for the pure in heart haue onely the promise to see God here by the eye of faith and hereafter euen with these eies by which we now behold his creatures Striue with a continuall holy violence to bee enlightned from heauen Then shalt thou see to set not onely this outward sense of seeing in order and thy domestick family and goods but the rest of thy senses thy whole body and soule in order perfectly and religiously before thou dye Touching the examination and ordering of thine eares HAuing considered briefly the reformation and ordering of thy tongue eyes it behoueth thee likewise to examine how thou hast formerly vsed or abused thine eares Organs and instruments of hearing likewise placed neere the intellectiue part of thy head the chiefe outward part of thy body The eare is not so apt to heare as the eye to see ANd although the eare be not so actiue in motion to heare as the eye is to see that can in a moment turne it selfe to many and seuerall obiects nor so fluent as the tongue that moues it selfe in what and in what diuers discourses the minde moues it vnto yet the eares through their passiue and penetrable quality are apt to entertaine things which may moue the heart to conceiue and stirre vp the will to affect as euill things as the eye or tongue The eare
as are thine as feare thy name walking before thee and labouring to be vpright Lord send comfort vnto them and lift vp the light of thy gracious countenance vpon them And Lord receiue them and me and all that belong vnto me this night and euer vnto thy gracious protection through the mediation of Iesus Christ In whose name and words I finish these my imperfect prayers and meditations saying as he himselfe hath taught mee in the Gospell c. Our Father which art c. Saturday A Morning Prayer O Lord most great and gracious louing Father in Iesus Christ sanctifie I humbly beseech thee this day vnto me and my selfe now and euer vnto thy seruice And here O Lord I giue thee thanks for that thou hast kept me this night past vnto this present houre and moment and hast brought mee vnto the last day of the weeke grant that I may spend the same soberly righteously and holily Bring me to the knowledge of thy righteous will in all things that knowing it I may endeauour to doe the same to thy glory the peace of mine owne conscience and the safety of my soule Purge my soule from sinfull lusts and affections and cleanse my conscience from all pollutions and defilements thereof that I may euer with boldnesse of Spirit and affiance in thy mercy behold thy face and grace in Iesus Christ. Roote out of my minde all couetous malitious and lustfull thoughts keepe me from sinne and from vncleanenesse bee thou my guide in all my wayes my stay and succour in all my necessities Put an end and period vnto the motions of the flesh enlarge mine heart for all holy duties and habituall graces of thy Spirit that I may nourish them as my life In these my prayers I am not mindfull of my selfe alone but of thy whole Church howsoeuer distressed or wheresoeuer dispersed ouer the face of the earth I pray vnto thee likewise for thy seruant and our dread soueraigne Charles our king and gouernour O Lord as thou hast graced him with a crowne so crowne him with thy grace and as thou hast giuen him a glorious kingdome here so giue him heareafter part of thy kingdome of glory Be mercifull vnto our most gracious Queene Mary the young Prince Charles the Lady Mary the Lady Elizabeth her royall issue Blesse preserue and prosper all those that trauaile in an honest way whether by sea or land and likewise all women in trauaile with child and sicke persons troubled both in body or minde or howsoeuer diseased O Lord speake peace vnto their consciences and as thou hast laide them down with the one hand so raise them vp with the other if not to this life to life eternall and that not for any merits of mine Lord I disclaime them all but for the precious merits of thy Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Saturday An Euening Prayer O Lord God Almighty mercifull Father maker and preseruer of all things looke downe I beseech thee with the eye of pitty and compassion vpon me miserable and sinfull wretch prostrating my selfe soule and body vpon my benknees before thy diuine maiesty humbly beseeching thee to looke vpon me in much mercy pardon my sins enrich me with thy graces sanctifie mee with thy grace and bring mee to thy glory and there refresh my soule with such things as eye hath not seene eare hath not heard neither hath entred into the heart of man to conceiue Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing be iustified Examine not my wayes this weeke past by the strict rule of thy Law neither reward me in the rigour of thy iustice but for Iesus Christ his sake haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner that haue deserued the seuerest of thy punishments As the heauens are higher then the earth so extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Satisfie my soule with thy mercy and that right soone so shall I reioyce and bee glad in thee and learne to praise thee euermore And now O Lord as this weeke is at an end so let my sins haue end and neuer bee reiterated or done any more Lord call me not to an exact account for them for Lord I confesse I am worthy of death and eternall damnation yet seeing there is mercy with thee that thou mightest bee feared and loued for euermore spare mee I humbly beseech and haue mercy vpon me according to the multitude of thy mercies And being graciously reconciled vnto thee be thou pleased to be my mercifull protector and preseruer from all perils and dangers this night blesse me with quiet rest that being refreshed in my body I may bee cheered vp in my minde and made the more fit to serue thee in the duties of my calling and sanctifie thy Sabbath and keepe it as a glorious day vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer before Sermon VOuchsafe O most mercifull God to open the closet of my dark vnderstanding that thy word may enter thereinto and be so receiued of me as that Ignorance the mother of disobedience being excluded heauenly knowledge may enter in and that growing daily in knowledge I may bee more and more renued in the spirit of my minde and doe all such good works as thou commandest and commendest vnto me in thy word Giue me grace that the seed of thy word being sowen in my heart it may take deepe roote downeward and bring forth fruit vpward to the credit of the Gospell the comfort of my poore soule and aboue all to the glory of thy most holy name So let thy Spirit rule and guide the lips of thy seruant and minister as that he vtter nothing but the word of Truth with such boldnesse that neither feare nor affection stop not the passage of the same Make mee to attend and waite vpon thine ordinance desiring to be satisfied with the crums that fall from this thy table And because the haruest is great the faithfull labourers but a few I pray thee who art Lord of the haruest to send forth such as may be industrious And conscionable in the discharge of their ministeriall duties Let thy Vrim and Thummim bee vpon them as vpon thine holy ones that sincerity of doctrine and integrity of conuersation may adorne their persons and beautifie their function and calling Banish from this sacred work al such as are not sent from thee let them haue no exhibition from thy church running without commission from thee Lord guide the heart and tongue of him whom I shall heare this day that he may speake home vnto my conscience and leaue no corruption vnbowelled but that his words may separate all sinfull affections from me and stir me vp to bee a follower of it in all holy vertues and gracious acts Blesse all the hearers of thy word make them doers of the same not deceiuing of their owne soules Grant that thy messengers diuiding the word aright and thy people keeping it carefully and
difference betweene a filthy tongue and an eare attentiue with delight to heare it It is no indifferent thing to heare or not to heare the Word of God AND thinke it not indifferent whether thou desire to heare or not to heare the Word of God for if thou turne away thine eare from hearing the Law of the Lord euen thine owne prayers shall bee abominable If thou therefore hast eares to heare hearken to the voyce of the Lord who daily openeth his mouth to teach them that lend their eares to heare him And if thine eare be as ready to heare as he is to speake happy then art thou in hearing for practice cannot but follow Therefore saith Dauid I will hearken what the Lord will say Hee opened his eares and spiritually heard the counsell of the Lord namely what the Spirit of the Lord spake vnto the eares of his soule for if the Spirit of God dwell in thee hee speaketh in thee and thou hearest him euen in silence yea though thy corporall eares were deafe yet thine inward eares being sanctified to the hearing of the spirit within Thou art clean faith Christ through the word that he hath spoken vnto thee The inward eares of the soule are opened by hearing with the outward THerefore art thou not to withdraw thy corporall eares from the outward hearing of the Word preached for as the sound of the voyce pierceth the outward So by vertue and operation of that Word the inward eares of the soule are opened to apprehend and apply the same word to the spirituall working of righteousnesse faith and obedience in the enabling thee to speake vnto thy selfe as it were in secret in Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melody to the LORD in thine heart giuing him thankes for all things worshipping him in spirit and truth for as God is a Spirit so they that worship him are to worship him in spirit and truth So that by the eare commeth hearing of the Word preached And by the Word commeth faith and by faith wee apprehend all the mercies and blessings of God in Iesus Christ. Many lend more diligent eare to heare of earthly than the heauenly purchase THou art required to set thy house in order before thou dye consider with thy selfe whether it concerneth more thine owne good or the benefit of them that shall enioy the Lands and goods thou shalt leaue behinde thee This consideratiō may befit such as have in their life time shewed a greater care to make their posterity great than themselues good as hath appeared in many by lending their eares more eagerly to heare of purchases bargaines and worldly profits than by hearing the promises of that heauenly inheritance by applying the promises of GOD by faith vnto themselues And therefore the setting of their houses in order as touching giuing and disposing of their Lands and goods benefits themselues little for whether they dispose them or not they must leaue them and others will haue them the ordering of them indeed is necessary for the continuance of peace betweene them that may pretend any succeeding interest in their goods when they are dead While thou art then liuing and in health apply thine eare to that purchase that may make thee a Free-man of heauen Hearken what thy conscience will tell thee IN setting of thy house in order begin at thy selfe at home in thine owne conscience examine it and hearken what that wil tell thee for that is the witnesse that must excuse or accuse thee iustify thee or condemne thee If it approue that thou hast beene attentiue to heare and to follow the counsell of God declared in his Word and hast walked before him as he hath commanded if thou hast vsed no sinister meanes vnlawfull or forbidden practices for the getting of that which thou meanest to dispose and set in order before thou dye then in happy case art thou and happy shalt thou bee in setting thy house in order before thou dye If thou haue neglected these holy duties make speedy reformation make conscience thy friend by thy new obedience and a more sanctified conuersation and bee not so friendly to thy children as to proue foe vnto thy selfe Apply not thine eare to heare their forged flatteries onely to gaine what thou hast when thou art dead but heare the counsell of thine heauenly Father who willeth thee aboue all things to addresse thine eares to heare his promises to make thee great in his Kingdome if thou wilt heare his voyce and follow it Let it bee to day delay not the time to seeke that Kingdome of Heauen and the righteousnesse of it which being obtained then giue bequeath dispose in the feare of GOD and make thy will for if thou thy selfe be in order it is easie for thee rightly to dispose of the rest It followeth to speake of the Taste another of the senses The examination of the TASTE THE Taste is conceiued commonly little offensiue and neither much to abuse nor easily to be abused to the offence of any needing not any great businesse to keepe it in order The Taste hath deuoured many BVt take heed thou pleasest not thy taste too much for if thou giue way vnto it it will ouermaster thee and exact from thee that will make thee a poore man bee thy to feed it neuer so great Be what thou art rich or poore if thou flatter it and giue it what it will require thou shalt finde it in the end like a fawning Lion which thou hast long fed from a whelpe without danger but at length it will grow strong and ouermatch thee and make thee seruile and slauish vnto it and in the end deuoure thee Great disorder in eating and drinking IF thou please thy taste or satisfie thy vnruly appetite and giue way to thine insatiable desire of eating and drinking thou canst not but fall into all disorder as is daily obserued not onely in the rich and men of greatest meanes but in many yea meanest Mechaniks Trades-men and very Rusticks that according and beyond their abilities rise vp early to drink Wine and strong drinke exceeding in surfeiting and drunkennesse like the Glutton in the Gospell two vices of equall intemperance and equally imbraced of poore and rich and so excessiuely common as the stincke euen of their vomits doe infect the very ayre not onely of the principall Cities and Townes but in manner euery Village and many priuate houses in the Kingdome The lawfull and necessary vse of eating and drinking often turned into sinne by excesse TO eate and to drinke is lawful especially with thankesgiuing for without the good creatures of God the body cannot subsist The vse of the Taste is also to distinguish good from vnsauoury food And the pallat for drinkes yet both for nourishment not for gluttony and drunkennesse But to the common shame of men it is obserued that there bee more that eate for gluttony and drink for delight than doe moderatly eate to sustaine the
Sobriety He nourishâ—â—h his soule by Faith and Obedience to the Word of God he â—â—â—deth on the sincere milke thereof and becommeth strong thereby and at last a Perfect man in Christ Iesus The difference betweene the Corporall and Spirituall taste Corporall food bee it never so sweete and pleasing to the Taste yet it loatheth at length euen that which a little before it delighted in with greedinesse But this food the sweet milke of the Word hath the vertue to season the inward taste and to prepare the spirituall Appetite to feed the soule vnto saluation and the more hee tasteth of it the more his appetite through Faith inflamed is to hunger for more hee cannot be satisfied with little for the more hee tasteth the sweeter he findes it and the more he hungers for it The seuerall operations of corporall and spirituall food O Taste how sweete this food of thy soule this heauenly Manna is It is a food of a contrary nature to the food of thy body bodily nourishment entreth into the mouth this by the eare the first descendeth into the belley and is euacuated turnes to dust the second descends into a prepared heart by the word preached and nourisheth thy soule and retaines it onely to worke thereby righteousnesse shewing it selfe in godly meditations and faithfull prayers And the more thou feedest on this Celestiall food the more wilt thou seeke as it were by violence to have it Thou maist surfeit by the deceit of thy corporall taste by feeding too much but on this that commeth from heaven the more thou feedest the more hungry wilt thou be to feed How to increase spirituall Appetite OMit not the continuall use of it increase it by hearing and confirme it by receiving the Sacraments by faithfull prayer and continuall practise of a godly life So shalt thou bee alwayes fit and well prepared to dye And be alwayes able and ready to set thine house in order before thou dye And being departed out of this mortall life thou shalt taste and be satisfied with the food of Angels in that heavenly city New Ierusalem where God shall giue thee to drinke of the riuers of his pleasures and shalt euermorâ— taste and find how gracious the Lord 〈◊〉 The Examimation of the sence of Smelling Want of smelling hinders the tasting THe sense of smelling may be conceiued to be of least vse of all the bodily fiue senses and may be better wanting than any of the rest The greatest impediment that the want of smelling brings is to the taste for he that hath lost his smelling hath much impaired his tasting Hee that smels not well cannot taste well So that for want of the perfection of these two senses tasting and smelling the body may receiue vnwholesome food in stead of good and salutary Sweet ordours in garments vsed to moue to sinne euilly MAny yet abuse this sense of smelling hauing it in perfection especially in the superfluous desire and custome of odoriferous fumes commonly bestowed in and vpon mens and womens garments most offensiue to God when they are vsed to allure to sinne Sweet odors necessarie and of sundry vses YEt are sweet odours a great blessing of God and of holy vse wherewith the bodies of the dead Patriarcks and Christ were imbalmed and Kings annoynted odors infused as well into simples herbs flowers gums very excrements of some creatures as compounded by Art as Incense c. are of necessarie use with moderation for the comfort of the braine and other salutary ends as in time of any common contagion or infectious disease Physicall smels wholsome perfumes are necessarily to be used to fil up the pores penetrable parts of the head by which coÌ„monly al infectious diseases enter as do also all offensiue and hurtfull corrupt and vnsavourie vapours and stinkes which putrifie the braine and bloud and consequently the whole body which physicall fumes and odours by Gods blessing may prevent How sweet odours are abused and how to be used BVt if these necessaries for health be vsed to stirre vp lust or allure to sinne then is this sense made an occasion to bring other parts of the house of thy soule thy body out of order The vse of them for health and to preuent sickenesse is lawfull and preuailing by faithfull prayer to God for a blessing But delight not too much in pleasing this sense with sweet odours to the offence of God for the excesse in satisfying any of thy senses is sinne beware therefore that thou make not that an instrument of euill which God hath giuen thee to bee vsed to his glory and thine owne comfort Many beasts excell man in the perfection of many of the senses GOD to shew as in all other his workes his omnipotent Power Wisedome and Goodnesse hath created in man and beast fiue senses wherein as touching the perfection of some of them divers other creatures excell man as the Eagle in seeing the Hart in hearing the Spaniell and Heund in smelling the Spider in touching and the Bee in Tasting onely hath he giuen man reason aboue all the rest yet many creatures come neere vnto reasonable vnderstanding and exceed man in exquisite Art As what man is hee that can contriue the manner and compose the matter of the Spiders net or forme the Hony combe Who can gather hony and waxe out of flowers herbes and stinking weedes Nay who can make the nest of a silly Wren If then man comes short in the performance of many things that silly creatures can doe why should hee boast of any rare qualitie of his members or senses when in euery outward facultie silly bruit creatures eâ—cell him Vnreasonable creatures vse their senses lesse offensiue to God than reasonable men ANd sith God hath endued man as well with reason as with his senses and giuen the inferiour creatures like senses without reason what shame is it for man more to abuse his senses thaâ— vnreasonable creatures for euery creature but man vseth it's senses to serue for necessitie when man turnes them through carnall delight into wantonnesse and sinne All creatures man onely excepted glorifie God in their kinds not exceeding their bounds first limited and appointed unto them in their senses or qualities and man keepes no measure in any of hem The necessitie of the sense of Smelling THis seeming silly organ of smelling placed in the head by the nosthrils doth conuey vnto the braine wholesome odours and the ayre whereby wee aspire and respire the breath of life And by it we can iudge betweene good and healthfull euill and vnsauoury sents And without this sense of smelling a man might receiue into his body and braines noysome vapours and mortall stinkes and not perceiue them Sweet odours to bee vsed moderately APply not yet this necessary instrument of thy body to bring the rest out of order as by delighting too much in the superfluous vse of sweete and ouer-pleasing odours and perfumes for as a little Wine
in flaxe soone inkindled and soone extinct soone hot and as soone cold And no other foundation haue those affections that are set vpon carnall and vanishing things A man may as is often obserued affect and hate as it were in one breath things variable and interchangeable for as all naturall things are inconstant so is mans heart Saul seemed so highly to affect Dauid as he was content to giue him his daughter in marriage yet how soone was his loue turned to deadly hatred It was not grounded vpon that loue that proceeds from the Spirit of God But Ionathans loue and affection to Dauid was grounded vpon a more diuine and setled opinion hee saw that God was with Dauid And vpon this ground whosoeuer foundeth his affection towards any man namely as hee findes him to be a man beloued of God his affection is approued of God O that wee could rectifie our loue in this point and learne to affect the best things and not to set our affections on things of the world which when wee haue them they steed vs nothing beyond necessity how superfluous soeuer they bee And when wee seeme to haue them in best assurance either they leaue us before the time or wee must leaue them in time Let us make choice therefore as Mary did of the better part namely to affect things permanent which are aboue and they most excellent Then need wee not to feare bee wee poore or rich high or low noble or base wee shall be able to set our houses both domestick of our soules in such compleate order as shall witnesse our godly care in our liues when wee are dead A preparatiue to Prayer LEt the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be now and alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Let my prayer come before thee as Incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be as an Euening sacrifice like a morning obligation a sweet smelling sauour in thy nostrils Heare my prayers and answer me graciously for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord God Almighty euer-liuing and euer-louing Father in thy well-beloued sonne Iesus Christ who art father of all and rich vnto all that call vpon thy name in truth and sincerity to thee I call and cry together with thy forme and holy spirit three distinct persons in the vnity of essence who hauing made all things of nothing sustainest them in thy good prouidence by the word of thy power that thy name by all men and by all meanes might bee glorified Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine as consecrated and set a part for thy worship and service and to be obserued not only as a holy day but a glorious day vnto thee wherein I ought to pay my vowes vnto thee present my person and my prayers before thee heare thy word and meditate vpon the same to thy glory and mine owne good To this end remoue farre from me all wandring thoughts and worldly affections and worke in me a desire of studying thy Law and of walking in the truth that thy word may not bee vnto mee the sauour of death vnto death but of life vnto life I present not these my supplications trusting to my owne righteousnesse but in thy manifold mercies grant me therefore I beseech thee gratious audience and mercifull acceptaâ—ce euen for my redeemers and sanctifiers sake And as duty obligeth mee principally and aboue all other things and primarily in the first place and before all other things I extoll thine infinite goodnesse together with thine eternall wisdome and truth that thou hast protected mee all this night past and made me to rest and sleepe so quietly vnder the shadow of thy wings And I beseech thee from the bottome of mine heart to protect me this day with thy mighty hand from all dangers both of body and soule giue thine holy Angels charge ouer mee to guide me in all my waies to keepe mee from euils both bodily and ghostly that keeping my faith and a good conscience I may haue thy witnesse and testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordained me to wrath but to obtain eternall life and saluation To this end remoue farre from me the offences of this present euill world mortify and kill in me the concupiscense of the flesh crucifie all carnall lusts and affections that vice being supplanted vertue and grace may bee established liue and grow in mee Let not since haue dominion ouer mee reigne and beare rule in my mortall body to ouer-sway my soule and incline it unto euills but let thy loue possesse my soule that grace may incite and stirre vp the same vnto all holy duties which may be soe pleasing vnto thy maiesty as may procure thy fauourable kindnesse blessing and protection Giue mee a contrite heart to bewayle my former life and let mee finde comfort in thy mercy for the remission of my sinnes Sanctifie me O blessed and holy trinity this holy day with thine especiall grace that I may honour thee as a Creator loue thee as a redeemer and expect thee as a Sauiour that I may haue a modest carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in my prayers and reuerent attention in thy presence to heare thy word Vnlocke the cares of my body that I may heare those things which thou shalt teach me that hearing I may vnderstand them vnderstanding I may remember them remembring I may practice them to adorne that profession which I haue made in thy name and confirme mee in the faith of thy sonne Iesus Christ whereto I was baptized Raise mee O Father by the power of my sauiours resurrection from sinne and iniquity and giue me spirituall rest peace of conscience ioy in the holy ghost and fellowship in the communion of Saints that when I shall leaue this world I may keepe an euerlasting Sabbath with thee in the kingdome of heauen Behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy withall the power of my soule and strength of my minde for all these graces and fauours beseeching thee to continue vnto mee the right vse of the same that thy spirit may witnesse vnto my spirit that I am thy sonne and shall bee heire of thy kingdome of glory and that I may be partaker of the inheritance with thy Saints in light where are pleasures that last for euermore Grant this O Father for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Noone O Lord my God great in maiesty and infinite in mercy wonderfull in thy goodnesse vnto thy Church and children who hast commanded mee to make prayers and supplications for those that shall enter into the ministery and stand before thee to waite at thine Altar the harâ—est being great and the painefull and conscionable labourers but few I beseech thee that thou wouldest bee pleased to send able ministers into thy Church and set such ouer particular congregatiâ—ns as like Iohn the Baptist may
graces of thy Spirit that appearing in thine Image thou mayst know mee and acknowledge me for thine owne-Lord heare my prayers and let my praises be acceptable in thine eyes For vnto thee O Lord vpon the altar of mine heart doe I offer vp all possible praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings both spirituall and temporall heauenly and earthly in great abundance coÌ„ferâ—ed vpon mee and aboue all for Iesus Christ the fountaine of them all by whom I haue redemption through his bloud and accesse through his life I thanke thee likewise for the sweet influence of thy gracious well guiding holy Spirit for the manifestation of thy selfe and sacred will by thy word read and preached for the confirmation and strengthening of my faith by those sacred signes and pledges of thy loue which thou exhibitest and giuest to mee and vnto euery beleeuing soule in the Sacraments I thanke thee for my life liberty food and rayment health wealth peace and plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded vnto me from time to time for keeping mee now and euer from sudden death and sundry dangers whereinto I might haue fallen by reason of my manifold sinnes And I beseech thee to continue this thy prouidence ouer me and mine and thy whole church as thou hast hitherto beene a Sâ—nne to comfort me so bee thou now a shield to protect me keepe me in soule and body goods and good name vouchsafe mee this night peace vnto my soule rest and quietnesse to my body that therein being refreshed I may bee cheared vp in my minde and made the more prompt and ready to doe thee laudable seruice the day following and all the dayes of my life and that for Christ Iesus sake the Sonne of thy loue Amen Tuesday A Morning Prayer MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holinesse I thy poore and miserable creature being but dust and ashes doe here humbly present my selfe soule and body before the throne of thy maiesty confessing and acknowledging from the bottome of my heart that I am a most vile sinner conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity and am by nature backward vnto that which is good and prone vnto all manner of euill By meanes of this originaâ—l corruption drawne from the loynes of my first parents mine vnderstanding is full of all blindnesse and darkenesse my memory of forgetfulnesse my will of perversnesse mine affections of disorderlinesse my heart of hardnesse yea there is within mee a distemperature of all parts so that from the crowne of the head vnto the soule of the foote there is no soundnesse within mee wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinnes enrich my barren heart with the sanctifying graces of thy spirit that growing in knowledge fructifying in faith loue charity and abounding with all other holy vertues and heauenly qualities I may be washed iustified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of my God and haue the witnes and euidence within my selfe that there remaineth no condemnation to me being in Christ Iesus walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Lord I confesse I am vtterly lost and haue no hope of saluation left vnto me having walked after the vanity of my mind and liued in al lust lewdnes riot reuelling vncleannes sinfulnes so that if thou shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not therefore into Iudgement with 〈◊〉 seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing bee iustistified Though my sinnes haue magnified themselues in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy mercy which passeth all vnderstanding farre exceed them And howsoeuer by reason of my sinnes I haue iustly deserued to be not only depriued of thy blessings but for euer deserted forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by holinesse bring me to happinesse Behold O Lord how I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand-maid O grant mee grace that I may liue with thee for euer Thou hast redeemed me oh let me not fall into captiuity and bondage vnto sin and Satan because I weare thy cognizance liuery but so confirme and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine that I may neuer draw back vnto perdition or forsake thee the euer-liuing God or renounce my Christ who hath the words of eternall life yea who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in prosperity and aduersity abiding by thee I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and raigne with thee in thy glory Amen Tuesday An Euening Prayer O Lord God euerlasting and full of pitty I am a sinner yet thy seruant not hauing transgressed through wickednes but much weaknesse and infirmity spare me therefore good Lord according to thy usuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thee and according to thine old vnchangeable nature of thy kindnesse and long suffering Thou mightest haue taken me away in my sinnes but thou hast giuen me space of amendment and grace to returne vnto thee to seeke thee whilst thou maist be found and call vpon thee whilst thou art neare O Lord be not farre from me but draw neere vnto my soule make haste to deliuer me and helpe me Nay Lord thou art euer with and neuer failest those who seeke after thee and call vpon thee with words of deuotion and contrition to such thou art a present helpe in trouble their shield and buckler their rocke and strong hold their castle and fortresse the horne also of their saluation Instantly doe I knocke at the gate of thy mercy Lord open vnto me and receiue me to thy protection this night as thou hast safe-garded and guided me this day past so keepe me now and euer because I trust in thee Lord preserue mee in health wealth and godlinesse if it be thy gracious pleasure voâ—chsafe mee peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost guide me here by thy counsell and after that receiue me to glory And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon mee wherein thou hast ordained man to take his rest keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye saue and defend mee from all annoyances fond dreames strong fantasies and delusions Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee and keepe watch ouer my soule and body that I may not if it bee possible sinne in either word or deede but may persist and goe forward in mine innocency and integrity vntill the appearing of my Lord and Sauiour vnto iudgement Good Lord deliuer mee from suddaine death feares and affrightments casualties by fire water or tempestuous weather disturbance by theeues or any other danger whatsoeuer Let my lying downe
come vnto thee in my need giue me a will to worke truely and daily in my vocation and to order my skill by the rule of thy wisdome that I be not vnfruitfull Blesse my body and soule that no euill or harme come vnto them and keepe my memory and senses that they passe not the limits of reason and vnderstanding wherewith thou hast endewed me O Lord lighten my minde to looke vpon good things only inflame my heart with the loue of them and conduct mee with thy grace that as thou hast awaked my body from sleepe so my soule may daily be raised from sinne and soule and body and spirit may be renued in righteousnes to serue thee the liuing God to the praise and glory of thy great Name the credit of the Gospell of grace and finally to the saluation of my poore soule in the day of the glorious appearing of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen Thursday An Euening Prayer O Lord God my most louing and mercifull Father great in mercie and constant in truth I doe acknowledge my bounden duty of thankefullnes vnto thee for thy manifold graces and benefits imparted vnto mee and although I bee vnable to recount them and farre more vnworthy to be partaker of them neuertheles in full assurance and confidence of thy loue to mee in Iesus Christ I presume to come vnto thee and now againe commit into thy hands this night my soule and body withall my senses and faculties thoughts and affections words and deeds my heart and soule and all that is within mee and without mee my Faith and the continuance of the same beseeching thee to keepe me and them day and night blameles and vndefiled against the day of thy comming O Lord pardon and forgiue me all the sins which I haue either wretchedly effected oâ— wickedly imagined against thine honour and the good of my neighbour Lay not the faults and frailties of my younger yeares vnto my charge forget them Lord and forgiue them and for the better confirmation of thy gracious pardon I humbly intreat thee O Lord to annex vnto thy grant the power of thy grace to attend vpon me that I may not doe mine owne will but thine and eschewing euill and doing good strike mine heart with thy feare O Lord that in fearing thee I may labour to escape those things which thou threatnest and giue me the comfort of thy saluatition that in louing thee I may bee thought worthy to obtaine those things which thou promisest Be fauourable vnto me O Lord that I may this night quietly take my rest vnder the shadow of thy wings voide of all feare spirituall darkenesse dangers bodily or ghostly finall despaire and the like and when the darke end of this mortall life like the shutting in of this day shall come grant mee O Lord a watchfull heart willingly disposed and thereby inabled with thy grace to abandon these transitory nights and dayes and depart hence in the peace of a good conscience into thine euerlasting rest through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour In whose name and words I conclude these my imperfect prayers saying as he himselfe hath taught me in the Lords prayer Our Father c. Fryday A Morning Prayer O Holy Lord God maker and gouernour of all things both in heauen aboue and the earth beneath vnto thee doe I come with a broken and contrite heart sorrowing for my sinnes seeking to find comfort at thy hands Thou O Lord my God knowest my griefe mine anxiety and care oh let me feele and finde thy comforts to refresh my soule and reioyce my heart Bee with me this day in all my worldly businesse and affaires and let thy grace and holy Spirit euermore defend me and preserue my innocency and integrity that I may bee knowne and acknowledged for thine owne at the last day I thanke thee gracious Father for keeping me this night past and for that thou hast safely brought me to see the glistering light of the day O Lord stirre me vp that I may expresse my thankfulnesse by my serviceable obedience preserue and keepe me from sinne and all annoyances of both soule and body Make mee this day as abstinent from flesh prohibited and forbidden by the Church so from all filthinesse of both soule and Spirit that perfecting my beginnings of holinesse in the feare of God I may bee assured of an inheritance with the Saints in light Strengthen me against the vanityes of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life and renue whatsoeuer is decayed in mee through the malice of Satan or mine owne corruptions and that approuing what is thy good and acceptable will I may endeauour to doe the same and so worke out my owne saluation with feare and trembling Giue me grace to spend this day and the remainder of my dayes in all peace and purity sanctity and sobriety to thy glory the good example of others and finally the salvation of my owne soule for Iesus Christ his sake the Son of thy loue to whom with thee O Father and thy holy Spirit one God in vnity and three persons in trinity be ascribed of me and thy whole Church all honour and glory world without end Amen Fryday An Euening Prayer MErcifull Lord God and my gracious Father in Iesus Christ I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaid O leaue me not nor forsake mee but euer bee thou my God and my guide leade me into all truth and in the end let me see thy saluation Wash away all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne sanctifie my nature abolish my corruptions guide mee here by thy councell and after that receiue mee to glory Keepe mee now and euer send mee this night quiet rest and grant that lying downe to sleepe I may rise againe in thy peace walke in thy feare the day following and for euer glorifie thee Infuse into mee O Lord the Spirit of sweet consolation and although my sleepe be a death and my bed as the graue yet suffer me not to perish suddenly or vnprepared but watch ouer me for good guide me now and euermore let no affrightments fall vpon me keepe me from fire storms tempests theeues sudden death and danger and be vnto me a gracious protector and director Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about me my house and habitation Remember thy Church and euery member thereof to preserue and keepe it especially the poore afflicted protestants in all parts beyond the seas and at home in our owne land send them helpe from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend them Be vnto them a sun and a shield a sun to comfort and a shield to safeguard and protect them in all assaults dangers and difficulties trialls temptations and tribulations Put an end and period vnto all their griefes and afflictions and in thy good time vouchsafe them a happy deliuerance out of all their troubles for thou neuer failest in thy compassions towards such
in this one thing that I may count it all ioy when I fall into diuers temptations Let not my heart bee hardned by them as were the Israelites prouoking thee in the wildernesse but sanctifie all thy visitations vnto me that I may be bettered and reformed by them that my faith being tryed patience may bee wrought in mee and that patience hauing her perfect worke I may be perfect and intire lacking nothing Lord I know that in all thy temptations thou euer hast one end and Satan another thou triest me to the end that I being found faithfull thou mightest giue vnto mee the Crowne of Life Satan searcheth to seduce and sifteth to dispoyle and bereaue me of that which is vertuous and good in me Wherefore O Holy Ghost thou preseruer of men keepe mee by thy grace and strengthen mee by thy mighty power and out-stretched arme O blessed Iesu bee not farre from me but present with me and president in mee as thy sufferings abound in me so let thy consolation much more abound In the middest of all mine agonies and terrors of minde let thy comforts reioyce my soule that I being made glad by thee I may bee confirmed vnto the end and alwayes in all dangers of life or death in all tribulations and temptations abide by thee that thou mayest appoynt vnto mee a kingdome as thy Father hath appointed unto thee Grant this not for any worth of mine but thine owne merit and goodnesse sake Amen O Lord let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme bee now and alwaies my defence thy mercy and louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne my saluation thy true and holy word my instruction thy grace and holy Spirit my comfort and consolation Amen The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding keepe my heart and minde in the Loue of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and the blessing of God almighty the Father Sonne and holy Ghost be with me and remaine with mee and mine and with the whole church of God from this time forth and for euermore Amen God bee mercifull vnto me and blesse me The Lord lift vp the light of his gracious countenance vpon mee bee mercifull vnto mee and grant mee his euerlasting peace Amen A Prayer for the troubled in minde afflicted in conscience groaning vnder the insupportable burden of a wounded Spirit O Father of mercy and God of all consolation vouchsafe I beseech thee succour and reliefe vnto me that am troubled in mind and afflicted in conscience for feare of thy Iudgements and the terrible things which thou writest against mee by reason of my sinnes Lord breake not the bruised reede nor quench the smoaking flax wound not mine humble and contrite heart but reuiue the spirit of mee that goe mourning all the day long Though Satan presume that thou hast smitten and forsaken mee yet frustrate his hopes and expectations leaue mee not destitute of thy grace as a prey vnto him the enemy of my soule but mightily preserue and defend mee that I may neuer bee lost but that in life and death I may bee alwayes thine And albeit my conscience accuse mee my memory giues euidence against mee my reason condemne me though I bee deepely plunged in discomfort and haue lost the voice of ioy and gladnes and haue neither worth to appease thy wrath nor patience to endure thy tryall yet send me deare Father the comfort of thine holy Spirit againe into my heart that I may not be swallowed vp of ouermuch heauinesse but may reioyce in thee with ioy glorious and vnspeakeable Open and set open the gate of thy mercy to the greatnesse of my misery for my deiected countenance witnesseth my distressed and distracted minde my minde is sorrowfull mine heart heauy my Spirit is oppressed my words are stopt with sighes and my complaints watered with teares In execution of thy iudgements Lord remember mercy try not the Law with mee lest I come into iudgement and bee condemned weigh not my merits but pardon mine offences Sanctifie vnto me all these good meanes wherein I seeke reliefe as prayer conference meditation reading and hearing of thy word receiuing the Sacrament of the body and bloud of thy Sonne and my most blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ. Mittigate mine extremities abate my feares moderate miâ—e afflictions and remoue farre from me the vexatious of the night dreames and fantasies let not the visions of mine head like Nebuchadnezzars make mee afraid when I awake stay me with flagons and comfort mee with apples thy most sweet and delightsome promises which are pleasing to the pallate of my soule Rectifie my iudgement and vnderstanding as in the daies of old and drinke no longer vnto me in the Cuppe of affliction but in the chalice of refreshing that I may pledge thee a sauing health pay my vowes vnto thee and call vpon thy name with thanksgiuing in the sight of all thy congregation If it bee thy good pleasure to try me and not take away this Cuppe from me confirme my faith continuing unto me that hope of glory which is to be reuealed To this end cause mee with the eye of faith to looke vp vnto thee who smitest me and waite for the appointed time of my recouery and deliuery out of all my troubles Lord suffer mee not to bee swallowed vp of fearefâ—ll despaire but vouchsafe mee a full perswasion of thy mercy that thou wilt neuer leaue me nor forsake me but wilt be in life my God in death my deliuerer after death mine eternall rewarder Lord hearken and incline thine eare vnto these my requests and grant mee not my deserts but my desires and that for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Our Father which art in heauen c. The grace of our Lord Iâ—sus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost be with mee blesse preserue and keepe mee both in soule and body in goods and good name in life health wealth peace and godlinesse together with thâ— whole church and all that pertaine vnto me now and for euermore Amen A prayer to be said by the sicke O God my creator and preseruer thou madest me in thine owne image in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse but deare Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am no more worthy to bee called thy childe for I haue defaced this Image and superscription of thine in me and hereby mine vnderstanding is filled with ignorance my will with stubbornenesse mine affections with peruersnesse mine heart with sinnefullnesse and my whole life with disobedience and disorderlinesse euer since I drew in my breath I haue drunke in iniquity like water so that I can looke for nothing but death which raigneth ouer all to arraigne me at the barre of thy Iustice to receiue an irreuocable doome I haue no worth to appease thy wrath yet for thy Sons sake doe away all my sinne and be thou pleased to be reconciled vnto me And now
deare Father I confesse my weakenesse is such that I want patience to endure thy tryall take from me thy heauy hand or lay no more vpon mee then I can beare giue an issue vnto all temptations and make a way for mee to escape and in the end grant me a finall deliuerance As thou madest me of dust so thou canst take from me my breath againe and cause me soone to returne vnto my originall earth againe yet spare mee a little that I may recouer my health and strength before I goe hence and be no more seene There is I confesse no soundnesse in my flesh because of thine anger nor rest in my bones because of my sinnes my heart panteth my strength faileth my beauty and liuely-hood consumeth like a moth-eater-garment O Lord if it be thy will remoue thy stroake away from mee and consume mee not by the blow of thy hand Ease mine agonies mittigate mine extremities be mindfull of my sorrowes and mercifull vnto my sinnes redeeme my life from destruction strengthen my weakenes heale my disease and cause mee againe to walke before thee in the land of the liuing But if thou hast otherwise determined of me to translate mee hence thy will be done grant me patience vnder thy correcting hand and a liuely faith in the all sufficient and efficacious merit of Christ my Sauiour If thou wilt not heale my disease yet forgiue me mine iniquity seale vnto mee a free pardon of all my sinnes in the bloud of thy Sonne say vnto my soule that thou wilt be my saluation In affiance of thy mercifull absolution cause me to declare mine iniquities and be filled with godly sorrow which may worke repentance vnto saluation neuer to be repented of Sprinkle mee with the bloud of Christ and puriâ—â—e me from my dayly pollutions that being washed iustified and sanctified I may be presented vnto thee without spot or wrinkle Let nothing separate mee from thy loue but giue me perseveing grâ—ce to hold out vnto the end that dying thine Angels may conuey my soule into Abrahams bosome there to raigne with thee world without end Amen A Prayer to bee vsed by the friends of the sicke c. O Lord our God and most gracious Creator thou madest vs immortall creatures but by sinne we haue brought death and destruction vpon our selues for we haue profaned thy Sabbaths contemned thine ordinances cast thy word behinde our backs liued in all sinne and sensuality spirituall slumber and security so that thou mightest iustly cut vs off from the land of the liuing and giue vs our portion which hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth But Lord for thy mercy sake and for the merits of thy Sonne spare vs a little and giue vs space of amendment before we goe hence and bee no more seene and grace whereby we may draw neare vnto thee to seeke thy fauour in Iesus Christ. Correct vs in thy mercy and not in thy Iustice lest wee should be consumed and brought to nothing If thou giue ouer our bodies vnto sickenesse let it be to the destruction of the body of sin that being aliue vnto God through Iesus Christ we may grow in grace and bee more fruitfull in all good workes And whilest wee liue teach vs to dye dayly mortifying the deeds of the flesh contemning the world with the vanities thereof Weane vs from inordinate selfe-loue that wee may not endeare our selues too much to these transitory liues of ours but may bee ready to depart when it shall please thee to call for vs knowing that we cannot liue euer with thee vnlesse we be willing to dye and be with thee Wherefore we pray thee take away the bitternesse of death and sweeten by the wood of Christs Crosse these waters of Marah that we may sigh and groane in our selues desiring to be deliue-from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Worke in vs a willingnesse to depart but yet we humbly intreat thee let our liues and the life of this thy sicke seruant bee now and euer precious in thy sight looke mercifully vpon him that is grieued with sicknesse Lord if thou wilt thou canst make him whole Send him therefore helpe and health from thy holy place and euermore mightily defend him Let the enemy haue no aduantage against him nor the wicked approach to hurt him but bee thou present with him and strengthen his faith increase his patience vnder thy correcting hand Lift vp by the hand of thy mercy and Fatherly indulgence this thy seruant from the bedde of his sorrowes If thou wilt longer exercise him lend him strength to endure thy tryall and in the end bee bettered by it If thou hast determined to take him hence certify him how long he hath to liue make him to know his end and the measure of his daies that by prayer and repentance of faith hee may prouide wisely for his last end and bee found of thee in peace and inioy euerlasting happinesse dispose his â—editations aright for death and in the howre of death and alwayes make him to deny himselfe in renouncing iustification by any inherent worth or righteousnesse In all sorrowes and sufferings let thy comforts reioyce his soule To this end mortifie in him the corruption of nature quicken him with the soule of new life and establish him with thy free Spirit purge his heart from worldly thoughts and his minde from carnall desires motions and affections Wash his soule and body with the blood of Christ and sanctifie him throughout both in Spirit soule and body with the grace of thy Holy Spirit that departing in the true faith not casting away his confidence nor hope of reioycing in full assurance of a blessed resurrection he may haue boldnesse in the day of Christ and passe from death to life and bee euer with thee to behold thy glory grant this for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Another Prayer to be vsed by those that are about the sicke O Lord our God great and glorious thou that art the Iudge of all the earth we dust and ashes vile and miserable sinners doe here most humbly cast downe our selues before thee for our sinnes which are the causers of all the euils of punishment which thou inflictest on the sonnes and daughters of men Deare Father heare vs and forgiue whatsoeuer is past and grant that wee may euer hereafter serue and please thee through newnesse of life walking before thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all our dayes And because the dayes are evill giue vs grace to redeeme the time and numbring our dayes aright apply our hearts vnto wisdome Cause vs constantly to eschew euill and doe good to seeke peace and ensue it Looke mercifully on this thy seruant grieued with sickenesse and sanctifie this visitation vnto him that those graces which thou hast begun to worke in him may be strengthened increased and by degrees perfected Restore vnto him the voice of ioy and health that the
that my father left me Sayes another I haue possessions indeed which I haue purchased as mine owne proper inheritance wherin who can pretend interest but my selfe Should I forgot that which I haue dearely paid for to them that I know not Men ought not to be prodigall in giuing away their goods IT is not meant that any man should be prodigall and consume the inheritance of a Father though many haue wantonly consumed honorable and inferior estats to their dishonour and shame without doing that which God requireth of all men to be done to his glory and their owne future assured comfort Neither is it vnlawfull for any man to purchace so it be by his mony lawfully gotten But neither he that hath it by descent nor he that doth purchace possessions but is bound both to lend and to giue especially to the needie members of Christ. But thou wilt say who are they how shall I know them Surely they that beare but the outward image of Christs humanity must be supposed to be of the number of them to whom thou oughtest to doe good for if thou giue to any poore man whose heart thou knowest not if thou doe it in the name of one of the members of Christ though he be not thy worke is accepted of God as done to himselfe And thou shalt not thereby diminish but procure a blessing vpon the rest of thy lands and goods for God hath promis'd it Euery man is but a steward vnder God of his lands and goods ANd deceiue not thy selfe but know that though thy possessioÌ„s came by descent or purchace and thy goods by gift or by thine owne industrie thou art but steward of them vnder God to feed the hungry to clothe the naked to lend vnto and to releeue the poore And not to conuert them totally as most men doe to thine owne priuate pleasures or worldly profits Say not with Nabal what is Dauid or who is the Sonne of Ishai who are the children of God that I should giue or lend them my siluer and gold my bread or my victualls that J haue prouided for mine own children my seruants and friends Shall I giue it to beggers or lend my monie to poore snakes that will neuer pay me againe Some rich men seeme to loath the Poore IT grieueth such Nabals indeed to look vpon the poore but with disdaine much lesse to giue or lend vnto them wherewith to releeue and comfort them And yet they thinke God loueth them dearely because he heapes vpon them daily more and more this worlds Mammon yet care not for the poore like Iudas that bare the bag Therefore cry the poore vnto the Lord against such hard stonie and couetous hearted miserable rich men And the Lord heareth in heauen and will reward them as they reward the poore for as the poore cry and the rich will not heare them so shall the rich cry and the Lord will not answere them and hence it comes that Christ himselfe affirmes it to be as hard a thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen as for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle this is no skarre-crow Why there are poore and rich in the world HOw can these men set their houses in order before they dye when their hearts are hardened and out of order while they liue nothing regarding Christ in his members There shal be euer some poore in the land saith Moses And Christ saith the poore shall you alwayes haue with you And why only to try the charity of the rich If you releeue them you releeue Christ in them If you afflict them Christ is afflicted by you in them What reward they shall haue that helpe the poore members of Christ. GOd will repay whatsoeuer man giueth or lendeth vnto his distressed members Giue therefore to him that asketh and from him that would borrow turne not away And your reward shal be great And ye shal be called the children of the most high Yet notwithstanding this assured reward and this most glorious title What say the rich to the poore that begge or would borrow This is no giuing age and worse of lending The time indeed is in euery string out of tune harpe where a man will or can he shall find a most harsh discord and all out of order in poore and rich the poore will not worke and the rich will not giue And now begins the Lord to see whether it wil be brought into better order by his fauourable chastisements the body is sicke and the members droope and drop away and yet are men slacke to set their houses much lesse their soules in order before they dye Men seeke to runne from death but carry the infection of sinne with them MEn that are affraid to stand the aduenture of the dissolution or their bodies at home are fled to hide themselues from Gods correcting rod. Let them bewaâ—e that they carry not with them a more pestilent infection in their soules than they seeke to escape in their bodies Some aduenture their soules where they dare not aduenture their bodies IT is strange that many men that are valorous and aduenturous that for the getting of a little mucâ— of the world will aduenture their soules and yet of so faithlesse fearefull and cowardly hearts as they will not aduenture their bodies in the place where they haue laid their soules already to pawne Death finds men euery where DIscretion indeed it is to auoid infection of the body But he that seekes to saue his life may lose it and he that flies farthest off may find death as neere him as at his owne house when he returns for he that flyes in a desperate distrust of Gods power prouidence and protection may preuent the danger but assuredly as great a danger attends him yet if he seek to auoid it in the faith and feare of God in hearty prayer referring himselfe to the will of God for his dissolution or preseruation whether he liue or die he is safe and more happy in his death being the Lords than ten thousand that remaine out of order aliue abroad or at home The loue of this world make men feare death BVt what makes men chiefely to flye death only the loue of the world and the glory and riches thereof because these in the vaine conceit of themselues are most happy of all men and so they are reputed but only of the worldly minded because God suffers them to grow great and rich and glorious and full of the meanes to make them to thinke themselues the deare children of God blessing themselues in the increase of their riches and therfore is the very name of death bitter vnto them Who then dares say vnto such a great man in these dayes as Esay did to Hezekiah Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye would he not spew such a plaine dealing friend for euer out of his good conceit Riches make the better man TAke heede whosoeuer
impious and vngodly vses while they liue setting neither house nor heart nor soule nor body in order before they dye Many neuer thinke of Death till they be sicke AND when the summons of death beginne to seize vpon them then they beginne to bestirre them saying as some haue done and must I dye making an vnwilling will giuing and bequeathing what they could no longer keepe Yet when a mans will is made and all things disposed if he can get but a little breathing time a yeare or two ten or more they to whom he hath assigned his lands and bequeathed his goods shal be neuer the better for his gifts vntill he die and that were it possible not till doomes day And they that would haue seemed to haue mourned at his funerall for the losse of so good a benefactor will turne their mourning which should haue been for his death into sorrow and sadnesse for the recouery of his health and will be euen sick to thinke they shal be longer preuented by his recouery of that they were in hope presently to haue enioyed Jf men could see the fruits of their gifts in their posterities in their graues they would repent that euer they were rich HE that flatters not himselfe in the greatnesse of his means to 〈◊〉 what fame will flie of him when he is dead for his bounty distributed not to the needy members of Christ when he was aliue if he could but looke out of his graue and see the gallants that he hath made to ruffle in their riot and lasciuiously commonly to consume what he so long and laboriously scraped together he would wish himselfe rather to haue been a man of farre inferior meanes than to haue been the meanes to increase the sinne of them whom he seemed to loue and would no doubt haue been more carefull in setting his house his soule his body conscience and affections in better order than he had done by giuing it rather to the poore Delay not to set thy life lands and goods in order BE wise therfore thou that hast houses lands possessions and much goods to dispose Set them in order in time and obserue well how and to whom and to what vses thou meanest to dispose them and delay not till thou be sick For thou knowest not when nor where nor how thou shalt end thy life and thinke not that the abrupt making of thy will can bring a disordered house suddainly into such order as God requireth while thou art therfore in thy perfect health set thy house in order against the time of thine vncertaine death and see thou haue well gotten that which thou hast heaped together and if thy conscience strictly examined tell thee that thou hast gotten any part of it by wrong shew thy selfe a good Zacheus restore it fourefold before thou dye that thou maist dye in the fauour of God in Christ otherwise it had been better for thee to haue dyed a begger Fit euery man to make their wills IT is a very religious and Christian duty in euery man possessing any lands or goods in the world to make his will and to settle his estate in good order be it neuer so meane before he dye which is in part meant by Gods command to set thy house in order namely thy houshold lands and goods but that is not all the orderly setling of thy house before thou dye Whereof a family consisteth A Houshold or family consisteth of husband and wife parents and children master and seruants among whom if a godly order be not set continued and kept before thou be constrained through sicknesse to make thy will thou wilt hardly set it in order before thou dye How a family ought to be ordered IF loue and amity haue not been and maintained in the feare of God between man and wife If parents haue not instructed their children in the knowledge of exercised them in the true seruice of God if children haue not obeyed their parents if masters haue not wisely gouerned their seruants giuing them their salaries and necessaries if seruants haue not done their duties faithfully to their masters and all mutually together and sometimes man and wife in priuate serued the Lord in faithfull prayer during their perfect healths that house is out of order head and members and cannot in a moment by a will written in an houre or two be brought into order Therefore deceiue not thy selfe by delaying to set thy house in order and euery part and person thereof and thinke it not sufficient to settle thy worldly goods and lands by thy last will as thou dost imagine thou hast made thy will for whether thou dispose thy lands or giue thy goods while thou art aliue neither shall thy lands nor goods want owners when thou art dead Parents ought to prouide for their children the chiefe hope of children IT is a duty also ioyned with a care in parents to lay vp and prouide for their children and a fatherly dutie it is and a duty that children for the most part take greater hold of than of care to performe their duties to their parents And therefore it is hard to iudge whether he that layes vp little and giues only education vnto his children to liue futurely by some lawfull calling or he that is solicitous and ouer-carefull to prouide for the present maintenance of his children in idlenesse before and in wantonesse through the hope of great portions after his death be most to be condemned if the 〈◊〉 be not more blameable he is more superstitious than the former too much care argues least faith He that cares not for his family i◠an infidel and he that is too solicitous for them is no lesse HE shewes not himselfe a Christian in deed that cares not for his family but spends his time in idlenesse and his meanes in vnthriftinesse but rather an infidel But he that exceeds in coueting which in it selfe is sinne and striues against the streame of Gods direction getting by right or wrong spending superfluously vpon his family or hoording and laying vp for his posterity as is said before hauing little or no regard to help releeue and comfort the poore that haue an interest in the superfluity of his abundance as if the Lord could not prouide for his children if they feare and serue God aswell as he hath done for himselfe this man shewes himselfe as neere an infidel as the former Parents should leaue behind them good examples for their children to imitate THE best portion thou canst leaue behind thee is a manifest example and paterne of a godly life for thy children and friends to imitate and to giue them if conueniently nothing else some necessary manuall trade or lawfull profession to liue by when thou art dead Great patrimonies oftentimes soone spent IF thou haue lands and possessions and great stocks of money to leaue to thy children thou thinkest them richly prouided for and thy house in good order and yet we see
shall thy tongue sauour of the same and if thou wilt auoid the slanderous tongue of another walke innocently if yet it follow thee sit downe by it and take it as a crosse sent of God for thy patience How to vse the tongue to profit SPeake therefore at all times and in all companies as in the presence and hearing of the great God of heauen and earth speake as becommeth a sober man a ciuill man as a religious and faithfull Christian man that thy words being seasoned with the salt of grace may be profitable also to others for by thy words thou maist disorder and by thy words thou maist well order thy house The example of an euill tongue iâ— parents dangerous for their children and seruants IF thou leaue an euill and contagious sent behind thee by breathing out vngodlinesse cursing and bitternesse wherby thine owne house thy wife children and family may be infected and retaine thy filthy disease when thou art dead doe what otherwise thou canst doe in setling thy lands and disposing thy goods they may profit them to whom thou leauest them as touching their temporall estate but as touching their well ordering in godlinesse it shall hinder preiudice them more than their patrimonies can aduance them An euill tongue is infectious AN euill tongue infecteth all that are neere it if it haue its naâ—â— all course of talking wherefore auoid such as delight their tongues in scurâ—ility and filthy communicaâ—ion and exhort thy children seruants and familiars to vse their tongues in praises of and prayers to God for to this end hath God giuen thee and them tongues to speake and be not like them that honour God with their lipps and dishonour him with their conuersatioâ—s It were better thou hadst no tongue at all than to vse it to Gods dishonor and to the hurt and â—â—ander of his innocent children Froward language breeds strife BEware that thou stirre not vp quarrells and contentions among thy neighbours by a peruerse tongue froward language breeds strife in a family betweene husband and wife parents and children c. And especially griefe and sorrow many timeâ— punishments and sometimes death for capitall slanders to them that offend in their tongues Slander and flattery two vices of the tongue AS slander is an abuse of the tongue so is flattery and of the two flattery is the most dangerous If thou flatter thou vsest thy tongue to deceiue if thou delight to be flattered thou longest to be deceiued Therefore neither flatter nor hearken vnto flatterers for if they come vnder colour of friendship to see thee they will speake faire when yet their hearts are full of malice 〈◊〉 deceit As the disciples of the Pharisies and the Herodians came in flattery to entangle Christ flattery makes some men proud as the people showting at Herods oratioÌ„ crying the voice of God and not of man Absalom stale the hearts of the people from Dauid by flattery Flattery is deceitfull and dangerous SO deeply doth the tongue of a flatterer pierce that his words goe downe as it were into the bottome of the belly of the flattered for he will so subtilly insinuate by protestations of loue and coloured zeale of true affection as vnlesse a man be the better armed with diuine discretion he cannot auoid the snare A flatterer may be suspected by too glorious and ouer-painted words for he that meanes plainly seeketh no such glosing far-fetch termes Aâ— plaine meaning man is soonest deceiued by flattery and therefore better are bitter reproofes of a friend than the fawnes of a secret enemy Abandon flattery and take heed to the faire words of a flatterer How to vse the tongue to Gods glory VSE thy tongue in the setting forth of Gods glory in prayer vnto and praising of him exhorting thy houshold and family in the knowledge feare and obedience to God And when thou speakest vnto God vse not many words noâ— much babling for few words proceeding from a feeling and faithfull heart are more acceptable to God than many words without inward zeale and zeale can continue no longer than the heart is feruent through the spirit of God And when it waxeth cold and dull it seemeth the heart becomes faint and the hands feeble as appeared euen by faithfull Moses who at the first was feruent yet at length became feeble Exod. 17. Fit to meditate before we speake especially to God in prayer BE not therefore rash to offer the sacrifice of prayer in a faint and vnfeeling heart but meditate before thou open thy mouth and vtter not vnaduisedly whatsoeuer comes into thy mouth Let not thy tongue go before thine vnderstaÌ„ding especially in thy prayers to God speak not to nor of God but with highest humility and reuerence and take not his name into thy mouth in vaine speake well or speake nothing for euen a foole when he holdeth his peace is accompted a wise man among men The tongue well gouerned is aâ— necessary instrument IF then thou gouerne this member aright vnto the end it shall proue a necessary instrument towards the setling of all the rest of thy house in order before thou dye If it continue contaminate and polluted it well be such a blemish vnto thy Christian profession and such a hindrance to the establishing of the house of thy soule and consequently of thy soule it selfe in order as thou canst not but die suspected either of Atheisme or Infidelity Fit to try thy senses HAuing thus examined thy tongue it behoueth likewise to make tryall of thy fiue senses which haue their imperfections also And first of the eyes The examination of the Eyes the first of the fiue senses IF thou canst now temper thy tongue and so discreetly order thy speech as becommeth a man of vnderstanding fearing God thou shalt the better learne how to carry thine eyes which are the organs and instruments of seeing and by which doe enter into the heart many obiects and motiues tending more commonly to the disorder than to the well-ordering of the affections By the eye enter diuers dangerous motiues to the heart THe eye moues the heart to many vaâ—ities as to the lust of flesh to the pride of life and to the delights and pleasures of the world All which fight against the Soule By this organ entred Eues desire to taste of that beautifull forbidden fruite that purchased her owne her husbands and the death of all their posterity The Eye indeed is the light of the body but many times and by many means brings darkenes vnto the soule which being deluded and betrayed by the inticements of the eye and the rest of the outward senses cannot but be much oppressed and euen groane vnder the burden of the infirmities and sinnes of the body which although it be mortall and shall perish yet for as much as it shall rise againe and become immortall with the soule The soule grieues at the sinnes of the body THe Soule cannot but grieue to feele the
corruption of that part that must futurely together with it either suffer torment or receiue glory And therfore caÌ„not but mislike the misleading eye which moueth the corrupt heart to couet only carnall and perishing things when the soule it selfe thirsteth for spirituall tending to the saluation of both The bodily members senses bring the soule most out of order Nothing brings the soule out of order so much as the disorder of the body the house wherein it dwelleth the vnruly eye and the other vntamed senses and the inordinate members of the body seduced through the peruersenesse of the vnstable will carry the senses and all the parts of the body into forbidden things And therfore Dauid prayed Turne away mine eyes from regarding vanity Endeauour therfore to subiect thy corrupted will to thy regenerate will that being guided by the prescribed will of God the eye and euery part of thy soule body may together worke to the well setting and setling of thy whole house in order The vnruly eye is to be restrained LOoke well to thine eyes for they are vnruly lest they draw thee to transgresse Christs commands to plucke out the eye that offends at least make a couenant with them as Iob did neuer to suffer them to wander after their lusts nor to be seduced or allured by the beauty of any whatsoeuer forbidden fruit The eye the originall instrument of our woe REmember what Sathan presented to the eye of our mother Eue and she to our father Adam the first mortall fruit that euer the eye saw or the mouth tasted since which time we haue been forbidden to behold with carnall delight the beauty of infinite fruits which before were good but since become likewise mortall by the tasting of the first for as the first had not been mortall if not forbidden so nothing makes things vnlawfull but forbidding Not to delight our eyes with worldly things BE not therefore delighted with the beholding of the glittering and forbidden things of the world lest thou be snared as Dauid was with the nakednesse of Bersheba And as Ahab was with Naboths vineyard for such was the force of their concupiscences as to obtaine their lusts they made way by bloud Let not therefore thine heart walke after thine eye nor thine eye after the things delightfull forbidden As vpon a woman to lust after her as Dauid did nor after thy neighbours lands as Ahab did nor after the wedge of gold as Achan did nor after goodly garments as Gehezi did who all receiued their seuerall punishments The nature of the eye IT is the nature of the eye to prie here and there like a priuy theefe after delightfull pleasing and profitable things though forbidden neuer satisfyed with seeing being rauisht with so many pleasing obiects that peruert the heart as the heart being brought out of order by the senses bringeth all the house of the soule the body out of order with it Pray for spirituall sight SEt not then thine affection with delight vpon all the things thy carnall eye seeth but pray that thine inward and spirituall eye may be once so inlightened that thou maist take thy true pleasure in the contemplation of that most glorious inheritance which God hath prepared for his elect in heauen which is eternall and bring thy carnall eye in subiection to thy spirituall And pray as Paul teacheth for the illumination of thine inward eyes Sathan worketh more euill by the eye than by all other the senses THe things thou here beholdest be they neuer so beautifull and pleasing to thy carnall sense they are but vanishing and betraying shadowes wherewith Sathan practiseth to tempt thee as he did Eue Dauid Ahab c. For he worketh more mischiefe by alluring the eye than by working vpon all other of the senses of the body he maketh the eye enuious and scornefull to looke vpon the poore and needy And therefore hadst thou need to haue a most speciall care to keep it single from wandring after wickednesse for if thou didst well consider what thou losest by the greedy desires which thine insatiable eye doth administer vnto thy corrupt and couetous heart thou wouldest turne thine affections cleane from this flattering worlds vanities and shun the allurements of Sathan and only cast thy spirituall eye vpon and seeke after the things that are aboue where Christ our Redeemer is gone before to draw the eyes of all true beleeuers after him and them vnto him to be partakers of the ioyes that are with him vnspeakable and glorious which thou canst neuer see nor truly couet to see vnlesse thou cast off thy superfluous delight in beholding these inferiour deceitfull and flattering things below and be fed euen here with a feruent desire to cleere thy spirituall eyes daily with that precious eye-salue the word and spirit of God which setteth before the eyes of thy soule though but as in a glasse obscurely al the glory that the children of God only and none other after this life shall fully and cleerely see and that euen with these our eyes kept here cleane and vndefiled as becoÌ„meth saints We must looke vpon worldly things as if we saw them not TAke heed therefore loue not the world nor the things in the world so as to set thine eyes vpon them as things worthy to be loued but vse them as if thou vsedst them not Looke vpon them as if thou sawest them not without any carnal affection or delight For as Sathan promised to our parents to make them as Gods Earthly Gods dye like other men SO doth he couet to make thee beleeue that if thou wilt imbrace the world thou shalt become rich and glorious in the world euen to be numbred and reputed among such as are called Gods in the world And when thou shalt be thus falsely deified thou shalt goe to thy graue and consume like other men The world a harlot and Sathan her pandor THe world as a harlot flatâ—â—rs men with a beautifull and strumpetlike forehead alluring theÌ„ through the broakage of her pandor Sathan to cast their eyes vpon her to wooe her And she as the Deuill did to Christ sheweth them her great possessions promising to make them great and rich in siluer and gold and some she perswades not to go like drudges and base fellowes in the world for then they are no fit Cor-riualls for her entertainment if the peasant become not in the habit of a gentleman the gentleman to equalize a Knight and the Knight to exceed a Lord she will not looke vpon them nay if men and women imbrace not euery new fashion garments that they see that she either frames at home in her shop of pride or brings from forraigne phantastikes she will cast the eye of disdaine at them and hold them bastards and none of her legitimate children When men thinke themselues most beholden to the world then she rifles them and sends them to their home naked SOme againe she persuades to goâ— basely and neither
a doore whereat many euils enter BY the eare of our first Parents as at a doore entred the first 〈…〉 allurements and deceitfull promises that moued them to rebell against their Maker and therefore thou maist not think that Satan will be lesse industrious in vsing like flattering and falsely obsequious ministers to sound like delightfull deceiuing songs in thine eares both of pleasure and profit as may seduce thee and poyson thy affections and so infect the whole house of thy soule as will bring all that appertaines vnto thee out of order The eare a necessary member to conuey words to the vnderstanding YEt is thine eare an excellent and necessary Organ it tryeth words as thy taste tryeth meat and thy palat Wine whether good or euill and distinguisheth the voyces it heareth conveying also the matter to the vnderstanding As when Iosiah the King heard the Booke of the Law read his eare conuey'd the words to his intellectiue sense which his heart conceiuing wrought such compunction in him as hee rent his clothes for that hee thereby found that the Lord was angry because the people had not obey'd the words of the Booke The godly Jewes likewise were pricked in their hearts when their sinnes were reproued by Peter So we being reproued of our sinnes by the Word preached if wee haue eares to heare may bee moued to amendment of life The words of the mouth of no vse without the eare WIthout the eare the tongue were of no vse but as the tongue of a brute beast onely for feeding not for speaking for what auaileth speech to a man that heares not at all no more than to shew colours to a blind man Without the eare the minde of one man cannot be conuey'd ordinarily to the vnderstanding of another neither could man be partaker of the Word of GOD by preaching neither were the most excellent Art of Musicke of any vse Seeing therefore it hath pleased God to giue thee this so vsefull an Organ apply it to the hearing his voyce As Mary did sitting at Christs feet to heare him preach Apply not thine eares to flatterers nor vngodly discourses TAke heed that this instrument of hearing bee not abused and deceiued by the frailty of the mind in hearkning vnto flatterers that onely vse their tongues to deceiue And open not thine eare nor listen thou to vngodly and prophane relations and vnseemely discourses they breed but wickednesse in thy minde and corrupt thy heart with vanities and forbidden thoughts neither spend thou pretious time in hearing or reading fabulous and lasciuious bookes rimes of ribawdry foolish and offensiue libels hearken not to vngodly songs nor to old wiues tales whereby many times the holy Name of GOD is not onely taken in vaine but blasphemed which vngodly men heare with a kinde or diuellish delight and thinke they sinne not Auoid the listning to things mouing to sinne BVt know thou that whoso lendeth his eare to heare things tending to moue vnto sinne delighteth in the meanes to make him more sinnefull and sheweth himselfe willing to adde fewell to the fire of his carnall concupiscence as if corrupt nature it selfe were not prone and ready enough to offend GOD but it must haue Sathanicall prompters and outward motiues to make it more guilty Prophane eares listen to vnholy things THese men haue eares to heare but apply them to that which is euill vncircumcised eares such as Ieremy the Prophet reproueth saying They are not ashamed to open their eares and listen with attention to whatsoeuer may tend to Gods dishonour And such eares haue they that in their wanton feasts and banquetings euen while they are partaking of the good blessings of God euen among their superfluous cups and cates which were sin enough cannot be godly merry in receiuing Gods creatures with thankfulnes prayer for a blessing vpō that they receiue to refresh their bodies which for formes sakes as appeareth peraduenture one in the company well disposed may seeme to performe forget yet all holy reuerence to God and desire to haue their eares filled with variety of musicall instruments which may bee vsed without offence Wanton songs at feasts wicked ANd which is most wicked their meates and wines must be sawced and seasoned with lasciuious wanton and most hellish songs of ribawdry and filthinesse the more to stirre them vp to lust and reioyce and laugh at their own shame and will not sticke to controule any that shall reproue it ready to abandon him out of their societies as a Precise Puritan for interrupting their vngodly mirth with some godly communication which they hold motiues to melancholy There is no sweet or pleasing feast to some but where the Diuell is one of the Musitinsa or Foole in the Play and they to dance after his Pipe If an Infidell should heare some of their delightfull songs he would surely thinke they were either of none or of some Ethnike religion Why not Psalmes rather than wanton songs at Banquets AShame it is to Magistrates especially to such as will admit of such infernall melody who ought to suppresse it if they will be merry why can they not aswell recreate themselues with instruments of musicke if they desire it and Psalmes to the praise of God as to please the Diuell with songs of iniquity Fit it is to abandon the songs or banish the singers for the very breath of them infecteth not onely the Tauernes where they are commonly receiued but the very streets where they are permitted to seeke company to corrupt Stop thine eares from filthy songs THou therefore that intendest godly order in thine owne house and wishest the welfare of thine owne soule stop thine eares from hearing such vile and vicious forbidden vanities To what to apply thine eares LEarne and accustome thine eares to heare wisdome and hearken to vnderstanding delight thine eare onely to hearken and to attend vnto the Words of GOD preached whereby God speaketh vnto thee and calleth thee from these vngodly vanities To make thee holy as he is holy And hearken not vnto the voyce of Sathan that speaketh by his infernall Ministers to make thee more and more sinnefull God hath giuen and opened vnto thee eares to heare him and wilt thou apply them to heare his holy Name prophaned and blasphemed to please the Diuell Wherefore God hath giuen men eares HEE hath giuen thee eares to hearken vnto and to learne vnderstanding in heauenly things and to discerne his voyce from the voyce of strangers namely of Satan and of such as delight to speak but not as becometh perfect Christians their word tendings to offend God and good men Jt is a like euill to talke or to delight to heare euill talke EVill words corrupt good manners and therefore thinke not that it is no sinne to heare prophane and vngodly discourses though thou thy selfe discourse not for to lend an eare with delight vnto vngodly talke is as euill as if thou didst vse thy tongue therein for there is no
vnpleasant and so at length refuseth necessary nourishment to sustaine and maintaine the body as is seen in sicke folkes when their Appetite decayes the Taste is out of order best meates and drinkes seeme vnto them of vnsauoury relish And this distemperature commonly proceeds by ouermuch oppressing the body by pleasing the Taste and ouer-charging the Appetite with surfeiting and drunkennesse whence doe spring all the infirmities and diseases of the body numberlesse as a punishment inflicted vpon such as abuse the good creatures of GOD to please their inordinate Tastes and Appetites Gods good creatures are abused by surfeiting and drunkennesse MANY are the varieties of Gods good creatures of both kindes both of meates and drinkes which he hath prouided for our vse not to bee abused but to bee receiued with thankesgiuing as wee are commanded that whether wee eate or drinke if wee receiue but a morsell of bread to sustaine vs or a cup of cold water to refresh vs we ought to receiue it and vse it to the honour and glory of God that giues it But how can hee eate to GODS glory or his owne good that eates to surfeit And how can he drinke to the praise of God that drinkes himselfe or others drunke Hee eates and drinkes to his owne shame beyond the measure of beasts which cannot be compelled to eate or drinke more than is sufficient vnlesse it be the Dogge the Wolfe and such vncleane creatures as eate to vomit and presently returne to their feeding and the swine that will drink drunke and wallow in the vncleane puddle To which Beasts Gluttons and Drunkards are fitly resembled Not to oppresse thy heart with ouer-eating and drinking TAke heed therefore lest at any time thy heart which is the principall part and life of thy body be ouercome with surfeiting and drunkennesse and so death seize vpon thee through thine excesse and thou dye suddenly as many haue done before thou canst either set thy domesticke estate thy soule or thy body againe in order and so be reputed author of thine owne death and descend suddenly to the pit of eternall perdition a fearefull farewell froÌ„ thy friends and family Eat not the bread of oppression BEware also thou eate not the bread of oppression nor drinke the wine of extortion rather let thy poore oppressed brother and sister be partakers with thee of thy bread and other the good creatures that God hath plentifully lent thee for to eate and drink alone of thine abundance when Lazarus lyeth lyeth crying at thy gates for meate is dangerous as appeareth by the example of the rich Glutton in the Gospell being in hell cryed for but could not get the drop of a finger of water to refresh him It is not ouer-feeding preserues life but brings diseases and shortens life THinke not that it is the fulnesse of delicate meates and most delitious wines and strongest drinks that continues thy life or maketh thee lusty and strong for the fattest and fullest fed bodies neyther liue longest nor proue strongest but are more subiect to sicknesses and infirmities and to many kindes of Maladies than are they that feed sparingly and temperately euen of meanest food and weakest drinkes receiued with thankefulnesse As Daniel who refused the daintiest fare that came from the Kings Table and chose rather in faith and the feare of God to feed on pulse or pease and became of better liking more fat and faire than his fellowes that fared and fed on the Kings dainties dilitiously euery day Thankefulnesse to God the sauce that seasons our meates and drinkes THe sweetest sauce that sauours and seasons all sorts of our meates and drinkes is thankfulnesse to GOD for giuing them faithfull prayer for a blessing vpon them And then let them bee neuer so meane bee it pulse pease roots or hearbs instead of daintiest foule or fish and a dish of cold water instead of wine shall sustaine poore men women and children and make them as fat faire and strong as such as fare farre more daintily as appeareth by many that haue very meane fare and yet liue by the blessing of God but if God send his creatures in a more ample manner they may not be abused nor the meanest contemned Meane fare through prayer sustaines the poore aswell as dainty faire the rich THey that eate and drink more for delight than they doe for their necessity of hunger and thirst may liue and looke as leane and meagre as the poorest and the poorest that eate and drinke with prayer and thankes shall bee sufficiently satisfied The rich many times turne the good gifts of God into wantonnesse through excesse and the poore doe often turne their penury and want of corporall food into the fulnesse of spirituall satiety and are sufficiently releiued their bodies well ordered and their health preserued Daintiest and meanest fare turne to like excrement THere is great difference indeed of the furniture of Tables all but for nutriment and did such as feed of the fairest and finest cates consider whether their delicate food turne not to like lothsome excremeÌ„t as doth meanest fare they might rather seeme to bee ashamed to thinke vpon the matter whereon they so much delight to feed that so soone turneth to that which lotheth them to looke vpon when it comes from them againe Then in regard of their dainties to despise meaner fare and such as feed on it Euery creature hath its proper food and appetite TASTE is common to man and beasts as are hearing seeing and the rest but are diuerse in appetite euery creature hath it's proper food and can by it's taste distinguish the proper from the improper nourishment and seldome exceeds in the vse so the temperate man the man knowing and fearing God findeth in himselfe a taste of another and of a more high nature a spirituall appetite and hungreth and thristeth as much for heauenly and permanent as doth the corporall appetite for vanishing and perishing food Spirituall taste and appetite BY this spirituall Taste he sauoureth the sweetnesse of the Lord how comfortable his mercies are and how operatiue his graces working in him an heauenly appetite Longing as Salomon did for Wisedom and Knowledge to governe his kingdome for spirituall and heauenly vnderstanding to gouerne his house the house of his soule and aboue all his soule it selfe which being out of order none of the rest can be in good order But when hee hath by this inward and spirituall taste discerned the bitternesse of Sinne and the sweetnesse of Sanctitie and brought his Affectionâ— his Minde and Will to effect minde and desire heavenly things then his Appetite begins to hunger and thirst for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof distasting all such Carnall Corporall and Worldly things as sauour not his renewed taste Then is faithfull prayer his onely exercise and the Word of Truth his onely delight What food pleaseth the spirituall taste His food is holy Meditation his practice Hâ—militie Meekenesse Temperance and
harlots to allure thee to follow them and the multitude to the pit of perdition Follow not the multitude though they scorne thee BEware thou bee not seduced and drawne backe by them let not thy feete follow their steps though they flourish waxe rich and great glorious and thou be scorned derided and scoffed at for being so austere and earnest in the good way regard it not for it will not be long ere thou shalt come to thy iournies end the citie of the liuing God new Jerusalem where after thy tedious iourney thou shalt haue rest glory and peace for euer more Nothing ought to moue us out of the narrow way IN the meane time bee of good comfort ponder all thy paths and order thy wayes aright and let not the prosperitie of them that walke the broad way there pleasures or delights any whit moue thee to turne thy feet out of the way of righteousnesse truth and obedience The right guiding of the feet REsort often to the temple of God bee a diligent and an attentiue hearer of the word of God it shall bee a Lanterne to thy feet and a light vnto thy pathes so that thou shalt not slide The lord will keepe thy feet from falling and guide thee in the way of peace and happinesse to the workes of mercy to goe to the sicke to visite them to the prisoners to releeue and comfort them hee will make thee to bee as it were feet to the lame and eyes to the blinde as was holy Iob. Seeing wee are of our selues corrupt wee must seeke to bee guided by the Spirit of God TO this end hath God especially giuen thee thy feete to carry thy body not to places of iniquity but where thou mayst either doe good or receiue good But trust not thine owne wit or thine owne will for the direction of thy feet aright for they are corrupt and will misguide thee But â—raue daily the assistance of the holy Ghost to leade thee for as a blind man though hee haue legs and feet to beare him can he auoyd danger in his going without a guide And what is euery man but blind And therefore without that spirituall guide cannot man but goe in danger pray therefore the Father in his Sonne to send that holy Spirit which proceedeth from them both all three persons but one God to teach thee how to guide thy feet in the way of a godly and holy conuersation that thou mayst say with holy Iob My feet haue followed the steps of the Lord and not declined And lincke not thy selfe with those prophane and lewd wretches that doe not only not refrain but apply their feet to euery euill and licentious way whom God in the end will binde hand and foote and cast into vtter darnesse for euer The feete of the wicked are fettered with sinne PRay therefore continually vnto the Lord that hee will keepe thy feete from the snares of Satan and sinne the common high way that such men walke in as feare not the Lord. Their feete are fettered they can goe no further than the chaine of their naturall inclination will permit them and that is onely to euill euermore running as it were with greedinesse to their owne ruine and fall at length head and foot into the pit of eternall darkenesse whereunto they were led in the broad way from whence no counsell could reclaime by the Prince of that infernall kingdome with whom shall bee onely and euermore tormented all such as have abused their bodies their senses and members the house of their soules in all vngodlinesse without repentance or care to set keepe them in order as becommeth the elect of God here in this life He that gouerneth his senses and members of his body rightly is well prepared to dye COntrariwise if thou canst now so order thy senses thy hands and feet and all the members of thy body as thou art bound to doe and abuse them not to the hinderance of a godly life thou needst not to feare but that thou art well prepared to set thy house in order before thou dye for the outward good gouernment of the body is a good argument that thy heart within thee is in good order thy will and affections not much out of order and therefore not amisse in few words to examine the inward estate of thy soule as thou hast done thine outward body namely how thy heart standeth An examination of the heart No man knowes truely his owne heart WHen a man goes about to examine euen his owne heart hee enters into a Laberinth of difficulties into a bottomlesse deepe of subtilties deceites and frauds It is indeed vnsearchable and no man can truely finde what is in his owne heart although a man may thinke hee knowes the thoughts purposes and desires which hee concealeth in his heart and may determine in himselfe to put them in execution And yet when it comes euen to the very doing of what he intended another conceit crosseth it and turnes the first determination out of doores and so one thought thrusts out another infinitely for the heart is a store house of variable imaginations and vnstable purposes for when a man is most priuie to the thoughts of his owne heart as hee thinketh hee is commonly deceiued hee may purpose this or that and deliberate vpon the manner of the performance and as it were assure himselfe of a happy and wished end and yet succeed cleane contrary to his intention The heart is a closet full of deceitfulnesse THe heart is as a secret closset lockt vp as it were and euery man thinkes hee hath his owne true key to vnlocke it and so no doubt euery man seemeth to doe when hee deliuers his minde to another by word or writing But such is the deceitfulnesse of the heart that either it ouer-ruleth the tongue that speaketh or the pen that writeth from the meaning of the heart that he vttereth and writeth false-hood for truth or some truth mixed with deceit The dore of his heart are the lips and so subtile is the heart that it cannot open it selfe by nature but to euill for the heart of it self is corrupt aboue all things and corrupts euery action both of the body and mind and whatsoeuer proceeds from it is either euill or mixed with euill And therefore is the wisest naturall man ignorant of the euils of his owne heart The heart pondereth all kinds of wickednesses IF a man duely and throughly examine the wickednesse of his owne heart and be not partiall hee shall finde it inclinable to the most egregious euils that the most wicked reprobate that euer liued committed yea hee shall finde among infinite other greeuous sinnes motions tending euen to murther nay to reason as it were within himselfe against the very essence of God and against the deity of Christ. There is no thing so wicked and impious but mans heart by nature is or one time or other hath beene inclined to perpetrate
there is more euill lurcking in the same for the tast of one cup of wine sheweth what the whole vessell is And although thou know not throughly what is in thy heart yet by thy thoughts purposes and desires thou shalt finde whether it bee ouer-ruled by nature or seasoned with grace for if thy heart bee inclined to doe thine own corrupt will it will appeare if thou goe on in thy purposes and determinations without any stop or reluctation thou mayst iustly suspect thy heart to bee totally euill But if thy purposes be good and holy then they will be crost for though the heart be or ought to bee the seat of the Spirit of God yet there is a spirituall infernall power that will couet to possesse a part And hee will oppose euery good thought and inclination either to ouerthrow it altogether or to peruert it Desire of the heart to keepe Gods Lawes is an argument of a heart something well prepared BVt if thy heart doe earnestly desire to keepe and obserue the Law and Commandements of God thou mayst take it as an assured signe that thy heart though it harbour some wandering thoughts is not altogether so corrupt as that no good desires are in it But thinke that Christ hath begunne to circumcise thiâ—â— heart to purifie and renew it It is he that mollifieth our vnrepenting and hard hearts by his Spirit if thy heart bee sicke and heauy through sinne hee will ease and comfort it Moses commands vs to circumcise the foreskinne of our hearts namely to cut off all euill thoughts concupiscences fleshly and vngodly desires Jt is God that circumciseth our hearts BVt alas can nature suppresse nature can corruption subdue corruption How then can wee circumcise our owne hearts Here is thy comfort the Lord thy God will doe it for thee so thou with his grace adde thine endeauor Hee will circumcise thine heart that thou mayst loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule that thou mayst liue Christ worketh after a better and a more sure manner in purifying and cleansing thine heart than thy selfe canst do Thou canst not make an haire blacke that is white much lesse make thine heart cleane that is filthy It is hee onely that can change thine heart from euill to good which when hee hath once cleansed there followeth holinesse integritie of heart and outward godly couersation by godly endeauour The heart emptied of sinne as we thinke to day becomes full againe to morrow vnlesse God purifie it BVt if thou without the helpe of this blessed Spirit goe about as it were to euacuate and cast out thy knowne concupiscences and desires of thine owne heart as many prophane men many times endeauour to doe Thou canst not but obserue that what thou doest cast out to day begins againe to defile thee to morrow for such is the nature of the heart vnregenerate that like a spring of water now emptied forthwith filleth againe The heart a spring of corruption and sinne THe heart is a continuall spring of corruption whereout wee draw sinne and if wee repent it to day and seeme to feele a kind of release and pardon of it if we continue not constant in keeping it out of our affections and desires by faithfull prayer which by nature wee cannot doe It will bee as full of impieties to morrow as yesterday it was Sinne once entertained into the heart hardly cast out againe IF thou giue thine heart but a little to sinne and giue sinne but the head in one seeming small desire It well afterward make way for it selfe and then when thou wouldst thou shalt not bee able to withstand it for thy heart by nature without grace though it be neuer so much admonished and instructed by the Word of God to entertaine godlinesse and vertue though neuer so much moued and pricked forward vnto piety and obedience towards God it will bee like Lots wife looke backe againe to her wonted desires vntill it bee turned as it were into a stone that no feare of punishments nor threats of torments shall at last be able to peirce it to the right reformation of it for as the heart is totally corrupt by nature so euery motion of the heart in it selfe tendeth to corruption Take heede therefore lest at any time there bee in you an euill heart and vnfaithfull to depart from the liuing God and hardned through the desâ—itfulnesse of sinne The best heart hath some feelings of euill motions SInne proceedeth from a subtile prompter and deceiueth the heart not well instructed the heart not regenerate But the heart whom the Spirit of God hath sanctified feeles in it selfe a meere dislike of sundry motions which intrude themselues as it were by stealth into it striuing to haue the mastry against which the regenerate part sets it selfe as the Bees against the droanes to hurle them out of the hyue of the heart Nature and Grace can no more mutually agree and embrace one the other than Fire and Water and that is the reason that the vnregenerate is at more peace than the regenerate heart for as the heart by nature ingrosseth all carnall things that may delight it and is at peace in it selfe hauing no crosse motion to trouble it So a spirituall and sanctified heart harbours or at least indeauours to entertaine euery good and godly motion And therefore as the best heart is in part spirituall and in part carnall there ariseth a spirituall warre as it were in a truely regenerate heart between the Flesh and the Spirit which argues the heart to be indeed more spirituall than carnall for if it were totally carnall there would bee no striuing But in that heart wherin the holy Spirit of God hath place there â—hrough the malice of Satan and through naturall corruption will fleshly and carnall motions often intrude either of them striuing to bee chiefe Lord of the heart for either of them couets to haue all or none The spirit will admit no participation with the flesh But the Flesh yet will bee content like the falsely pretending mother of the child to haue the heart diuided so she may haue her share for her pleasurâ—s shee could affoord a share to the Spirit but it should be but a small share by the will of the flesh Nature and Grace striue in the best heart which of them should rule therein FOr let Grace bee neuer so strong in us yet will Nature show it selfe oftentimes yea and seeme to bee mistresse and commandresse in the heart Otherwise how could a righteous man bee said to sinnâ— seuen times a day in whom it cannot bee denied but there is Grace aboue Nature and that Grace keepes Nature in some measure vnder though with much striuing for sinne is of so imperious a condition being the daughter of Sathan the prince of pride that if it were possible would beare the whole rule and sway of the heart and so it doth where Grace is absent and though Grace
bee burning lights burning as being zealous in feruency and lights also as being conspicuous and eminent for charity sanctity and all holy graces of thy spirit Thy Vrim and Thummim being on them as vpon thy holy ones let them be sound for doctrine and holy for life and conuersation preaching let them practice and by practice let them preach and teach the things which concerne thy kingdome Open and let open vnto them the dore of vtterance that they may teach thy word freely and boldly Take away all differences contentions from amongst them make them examples to those that beleeue in soundnesse of doctrine and integrity of conuersation And because the rule of my life depends vpon thy word in their mouthes blesse them with all graces fit for their calling that I may giue thanks vnto thee for them finding thy blessing vpon mee through their labours and may praise thy name for euermore Amen A Prayer for Sunday Night O Euerlasting and euerlouing Father mercifull Lord God creator guider and preseruer of all men and all things who creating man after thâ—ne Image in wisdome knowledge and vnderstanding enriching him with all gracious abilities helpes and fâ—rtherances for the working out of his owne saluation with feare and trembling giue me a reuerence of thy maiesty and a feare of thy most holy name which is so dreadfull and terrible that being by thy grace forewarned I may fly from thy wrath to come and at this present come before thee in all confidence of thy goodnesse to implore thy grace and the manifestation of thy fauour Looke downe from heauen thine holy habitation and behold with the eye of thy loue and tender compassion mee poore soule that distrusting mine owne righteousnesse goe out of my selfe calling vpon thee in the words of the Publican and saying O God bee mercifull to me a sinner Write not bitter things against mee neither suffer me to possesse the sins of my youth Forgiue and forget all my transgressions and cast mine iniquities as farre from thy presence as is the east from the west And pardon good Lord I humbly beseech thee the faults and frailties which haue escaped this day in the sanctifying of thy Sabbath whether they bee sinnes of omission or commission wash them all away in the blood of thy Sonne sanctifie me by the Word thy word of truth that this day hath sounded in my eares grant that like good seed sowne in good ground it may take root downeward and bring forth fruite vpwards to the glory of thy great name the praise of thy grace and credit of the Gospell O let thy word be euer in my minde to meditate of it in my mouth to speake of it and in my life and conuersation to practice it By it worke in my heart Faith Hope Charity and al other supernaturall graces which accompany saluation open mine eyes that I may see thy Law and incline mine heart that I may loue the truth and louing the same may yeeld obeâ—ience vnto it doing thy will on earth or at least endeauouring to doe it as the Angels in heauen willingly without murmuring speedily without delaying constantly without ceasâ—ng and vniuersally without omitting what thou commandest and commendest in thy word So shall I not be distracted with foolish feares nor dispaire of thy mercy but euer hope and trust in thee and finde grace to helpe mee at a time of neede Grant this O Father for thy Christ my Iesus thy Sonne my Sauiours sake who euer liueth and raigneth with thee one true immortall euerlasting God to whom with thy blessed Spirit and thee O holy and heauenly Father be ascribed of me and all thine all honour and glory world without end Amen Monday A morning Prayer O God my God and Father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ whom no man knoweth but by thine especiall gift grant that to the rest of thine exceeding benefits towards me this which is the greatest that can be bestowed vpon mankinde may be added also namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from sound and sweet sleepe the image of a corporall death so also thou wouldest deliuer my minde and affections from the sleep of sinne and from the darkenesse of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it from naturall sleepe And seeing thou hast brought mee to the beginning of this day which is the first day of the weeke bee thou as this night past and euer heretofore present with me and president in me Lèt thy holy Spirit be my counsellour and instructor my God and my guide to lead mee into all truth Helpe me by the assistance of the same Spirit to watch ouer my thoughts words and works that I may neither think speak nor do any thing which is not warranted by thy word but that setting thee and thy law before my eyes I may come to the knowledge of thy will in all reuerence and humility of soule submit my selfe thereunto that ordering my life and conuersation thereby and walking according to this rule peace may be upon me as vpon the Israel of God Let mee neither oppresse nor defraud my brother in bargaining buying and selling false weights and ballances or the like dishonest meanes but guide me so by thy grace that my conscience may euer cheere mee vp through a delightfull apprehension of thy blessefull fauour To this end order thou my paths and establish my goings in the way of peace grace and saluation Cause thou mee to walke before thee and be vpright make me to provide things honest before thee and men behaue my selfe as in thy sight and doe vnto others as I would bee dealt withall my selfe Let no sin inordinate lust or vnruly passion haue dominion ouer me but helpe thou mee to leade captiuity captiue to kill and crucifie my lusts and sinfull affections and wage warre with my corruptions vntill through Christ which strengtheneth mee I shall proue more then conqueror Grant this vnto mee for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Monday night O Lord my God and gracious Father in Iesus Christ I doe here in all humility prostrate and cast downe my selfe before the foot-stoole of thy throne of grace to offer vnto thee this mine euening sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the crosse to be a propitiation and meritorious sacrifice for the sinnes of the world Lord heare me and helpe me and be mercifull unto mee my sinnes are great but thy mercies are greater my trespasses finite but thy compassions infinite neuer faile though I faile of my duty towards thee yet thou art good and gracious vnto such as seeke thy face and fauour humbling themselues and powring out their soules before thee Wherefore I humbly beseech thee that as the heavens are higher then the earth so thou wouldest extend thy mercy beyond my deserts Indue me with faith sanctify me with all other
bones which thou hast broken may reioyce and seeing we haue neede of patience send this our brother or sister such competency of patience and constancy that he may continue thy faithfull souldier and seruant vnto his liues end worke in him a sense and feeling of sinne and true sorrow for the same which may cause repentance vnto saluation neuer to bee repented of If it be not thy good pleasure to raise him from his bed of languishing and set him vpon his feet againe prepare his heart for death and his soule for heauen washing away his sinnes in the bloud of Christ and imputing vnto him the righteousnesse of Christ that he appearing before thee without either spot or wrinkle may haue confidence of seeing his euer-liuing and euer-louing redeemer not with other but with â—hese his eyes weane his affections from the loue of this world and set them on those things which are aboue that being absent from the body hee may inioy thy presence of glory for euer Repaire in this thy seruant thine owne Image and renue it in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse that thou maiest know and acknowledge him for thine owne and raise him vp from the graue vnto the resurrection of life and for euer satisfie him with thine Image and change him into the same from glory to glory Amen A thanksgiuing for recouery from sicknesse OMnipotent Lord God the author of life who bringest downe vnto the graue and raisest vp againe I doe here confesse to the glory of thine infinite mercy that if thou haddest not blessâ—d and sustained mee in my sickenesse I should haue gone the way of all flesh but it was thy goodnesse to spare mee and deliuer mee from dangers thy name bee glorified for this thine vnualuable fauour and mercifull kindnesse And I humbly beseech thee to giue me grace to expresse my reall thankfullnesse by my sincere obedience and to serue thee more carefully and conscionably then heretofore I haue done and the shorter my dayes are the more â—o redeeme the time that by repenting me truely of my sinnes and calling on thee for grace by eschewing euill and doing good more especially vnto the household of faith I may haue the testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordayned mee vnto wrath but to obtaine eternall life and saluation through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A morning prayer for a family O Eternall and all-seeing God who art iust in thy iudgements true in thy promises wonderfull in thy maiesty and infinite in thy mercy who hast the heauens for thy throne and the earth for thy foot-stoole and the creatures of both at thy becke The heauens are full of the maiesty of thy glory and cannot containe the same looke downe therefore from thence vpon vs thy seruants who now prostrate our selues before the footstoole of thy throne of grace humbly beseeching thee for Iesus Christ his sake to be mercifull vnto vs miserable sinners One deepe calleth vnto another the depth of misery vnto the depth of mercy haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away all our offences Wee confesse that we are not worthy to speake of thee much lesse to speake vnto thee wee being so vile and miserable thou so glorious and admirable yet being assured that in forgiuing sinnes and helping poore afflicted soules the neuer drawne dry fountaine of thy mercy doth appeare we thine vnprofitable seruants are emboldened to present our selues this morning before thee to offer vp vnto thee a liuely sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiuing who diddest offer vp thy Sonne vpon the Crosse to be a propitiation for our sinnes O let this lifting vp of our hearts and hands bee a morning sacrifice pure and acceptable in thy sight Let not the greatnesse of our sinnes with-hold thy implored mercy but wash vs from all vncleannesse and remoue thy iudgements due vnto vs for them as farre from thy presence as is the East from the West Bury them in the graue with Christ raise vs vp by the power of thy Spirit vnto newnesse of life that we may walke in all holy obedience before thee this day and that endeuouring to keepe our faith and a good conscience voide of offence wee may now and in the houre of death be and remaine alwaies thine Defend vs from all euill and sense vs against the assaults of Satan watch ouer vs by the eye of thy good prouidence and cause thy Angels to pitch their tents about vs for our safety and continuall preseruation Into thy hands we here commit our soules and bodies our cogitations and actions to be guided by thee forgetting thee at any time doe thou in mercy remember vs and forgiue our trespasses make vs to see our sinnes in the glasse of thy Law to mourne for them in the closets of our hearts and confesse them in the bitternesse of our soules Teach vs to cast off the ragges of iniquity and by faith to put on the robes of righteousnesse helpe vs to manage the sword of the Spirit the shield of faith the helmet of saluation that wee may bee able to fight against the wiles of the deuill the vanities of the world the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life Be fauourable to Sion build vp the walls of Ierusalem more particularly preserue and enlarge these Churches of great Britaine France and Ireland feed them as thy flocke foster them as thy family dresse them as thy vineyard and decke them as thy spouse Defend the Kings maiesty from all enemies preserue his body in health his soule in soundnesse his heart in truth his life in honour his honour from vnderminers Blesse our gracious Queene Mary and grant that with Mary shee may chuse the better part which can neuer be taken from her Let thy good Spirit be with our hopefull Prince Charles and the Lady Mary sanctifie and season them with grace and make them thy darlings and beloued ones Blesse the Lady Elizabeth and her children and for the daies wherein they haue suffered aduersity send them abundance of peace and prosperity Blesse the counsellors of state all schooles of good Learning all thy ministers and maiestrates with all our kindsfolke in the flesh and friends in the Spirit to whom thou hast any wayes made vs bounden O Lord enable vs to requite them or lay it on thine owne account to restore it vnto them and their posterities And here we yeeld thee from the Altar of our hearts all possible thanks for that thou hast created vs when we were nothing predestinated vs vnto the Adoption and chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world and hast called vs by the working of thy spirit in the preaching of the Gospel hast freely iustified vs by Faith in Christ we thanke thee likewise for our preseruation this night past and for bringing of vs this day to see the light Now Lord awake our soules from sinne and carnall security that we
names or of ought more neere and deare vnto vs if it may stand with thy good pleasure preserue vs euermore in thy faith and holy feare guide vs constantly by thy counsaile and after that receiue vs to glory A Collect for the Night O Lord our God which art the keeper of Israell which neuer slumbrest nor sleepest into thy hands O Father we commend our spirits for thou hast redeemed vs. O thou God of truth Into thy most mercifull tuition and gracious preseruation doe we commend our selues our soules and bodies our kinsfolkes in the flesh and friends in the spirit our goods our good names all ours and all that call vpon thy name from this time forth and foreuermore Amen Lord we pray thee be thou present with them and vs and about our beds vnto our liues end· Let not our fantasies bee troubled with vaine imaginations nor the dreames and visions of our heads like Nebuchadnezzars make vs afraid But giue vs quiet and comfortable rest that our soules being cheered vp our bodies refreshed 〈◊〉 may when we awake laud and â—â—aise thee and goe and pray vnto thee and ioyfully set our selves about the businesse of the next day and performe the duties of our particular callings Let our whole life be a seruing and glorifying of thee that we may liue in thy feare die in thy fauour and rest from all our labours and be blessed with thy glorious vision inioying the presence of our blessed Sauiour and the comfort of thy holy Spirit and the communion of thy most holy Saints and Angels that we together with them may ascribe vnto thee the glory of our redemption from sinne Satan hell and death and the Deuill world without end Amen A Grace before meaâ—â— O God who art the giuâ—r of euery good and perfect gift sanctifie wee beseech thee these thy Creatures now prepared for vs make them wholesome for our bodies and our soules and bodies seruiceable unto thee for them through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Grace after meate THe Lords most holy Name be now and euer blessed and praised for all his mercies and for his blessings at this time bestowed vpon vs Lord as thou hast fed our bodies with corporall food so feed our soules likewise with spirituall food vnto life eternall Saue thy Church the Kings maiesty Queene Princes and the Realmes prosper the word blesse thine ordinances vnto vs increase our faith send vs grace and truth prosperity peace with life euerlasting Amen A Grace before meat MErcifull Father which openest thy hands and fillest all things liuing with plenteousnesse we pray thee sanctifie these thy good creatures vnto vs that we may eat to liue and â—iuing serue thee our Lord God through thine only Son our Sauiour Iesus Christ. Amen A Grace after meat THe God of all grace and goodnesse who at this time hath fed and plenteously refreshed vs his most holy name be blessed and praised from this time forth and for euermore Amen A Grace before meat O Lord our God by whose prouidence it is that we liue moue and haue our being send thy blessing vpon vs and our meats and grant that whether we eat or drinke or whatsoeuer else we doe we may doe all to the glory of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Grace before meat WEE laud and praise thy Name for al thy blessings and fauours and for feeding vs so plentifully at this time desiring thee of thy grace that our thankefulnes may not be in word and in tongue but expressed by our carefull study to glorifie thee our God in al our words and works through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS