glory of God might shine in the face of Iesus Christ whose glory we sée in the preaching of his word wherein he declareth the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared vnto glory This glory the more the spirituall man beholdeth the more is he moued with desire to sée more and more and can neuer be sufficiently filled with that heauenly Contemplation Much were the Disciples moued at the sight of Christs transfigured glory in so much as they desired to haue enioyed the sight of it still so glorious it was that their minds were euen rauisht with the beauty thereof So Dauid desired to dwell in the Temple of the Lord not for a day but all the daies of his life to behold the beauty the goodnesse and mercies of God reuealed in his Word and to exercise himselfe in prayer Where God is duly and truly called vpon by a holy Congregation there appeareth the glory and beauty of Iehouah There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mighty God of Iacob whose glory filleth the Temple which the faithfull man séeth with a spirituall eye but the carnall man though bodily present in the same Temple apprehendeth it not As when Paul was conuerted he saw the glory of God shine vpon him but they that iournied with him though néere him saw nothing So that God is onely séene of them to whom hée pleaseth to reueale himselfe This beauty of the Lord shineth in the hearts of Gods elect children by the reuelation of the holy Ghost which none séeth but themselues And they take such sweet delight in the beholding of the face of God in Christ as they doe receiue in their soules the very Impression of the Image of the glory of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth euen as Moses receiued thorow the splendor of the glory of God vpon Mount Sinai in his countenance such an impression of that glory that the children of Israel could not endure to behold with their eies the glory of his countenance What remaineth then but that we neglect not the continuall visitation of the temple of God to accompany the Congregation in the hearing of that heauenly Word to pray vnto God for his blessings and to giue him praise for his benefits And the Lord open our spirituall eies that we may euen here behold his beautie and bee hereafter pertakers of his glory A Praier for spirituall knowledge and increase of our holy desires to visit the Temple of God to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him O Gracious Lord God most louing who reiectest none that come vnto thee with a perfect heart and none can come vnto thee vnlesse thou call him as well by thy inward Grace as by thy outward Word Vouchsafe according to the riches of thy Grace to grant that I may be strengthned by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and that my whole spirit soule and body may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus For thou knowest Lord what I am by nature a man vnworthy to enter vnder thy roofe or to presse into the place where thine honour dwelleth For thou art a God that louest righteousnesse and acceptest of such as are of cleane hearts and whose conuersations are vpright before thee but I am a sinner and corrupt as all my fathers were Cleanse me therefore O gracious Lord God in the bloud of Iesus Christ and make me fit to approach thine holy Temple that I may see thy beautie and behold thy glory Open mine eares that I may heare prepare my heart that I may vnderstand what thou teachest in thy word Enlighten mine inward eies the eies of my soule that I may see thee and take comfort in thy presence And open my lips that I may speake vnto thee in faith and answer mee againe in loue Teach mee that celestiall language that may moue thee to heare me For what booteth it me to come into thy house with deafe eares not to heare thee without attention to vnderstand thee mute and not be able to speake vnto thee Yet I know good Father that thou hearest them that cannot speake and thou teachest them that vnderstand not and thou openest the eies of them that see not such is thy loue towards vs as thou acceptest euen of the language of heartie sighes whither they be for sinne or for want of spirituall graces Thou knowest the inward desires of the heart tending to good or euill I am sorry good Father that any corruption lurketh in my defiled heart to keepe out that blessed guest thy Spirit I cannot of my selfe abandon corruption I cannot of my selfe so mortifie my sinne but that the dregges therefore will still remaine But cast me not out of thine holy Temple because I am a sinner but rather because I am a sinner admit to visit thy Temple to heare thy Word that I may learne to liue more and more obediently vnto thee Make thou my heart cleane and I shall bee all cleane so shall I visit thine house to honour thee and comfort my selfe by thy holy presence and shall take spirituall pleasure in thy beautie and be finally pertaker of thy glory Thou louest righteousnesse O make me righteous Thou hatest iniquity abandon my sinnes Knit my heart vnto thee that I may both feare and loue thy name Giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to serue thee both in the materiall Temple with thy people and in all places at all times for thou art euery where to be found And where thou art there is thy house for thou dwellest not in Temples made with hands but in the heauens and in the hearts of them whom thou hast sanctified Turne thy face vnto me O Lord for thy face I seeke Shew me thy beauty and glory of thy countenance and change mee into thine owne Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit admit me continually to visit thy holy Temple Make my heart stable and vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure heart and conscience vndefiled That I come not into thine house onely to seeme religious but in true faith and due reuerence and giue thou a blessing vnto my godly desires Amen VERSE 5. In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide mee and set me vpon a Rocke THe very name of Trouble is fearefull to a worldly man for he loues pleasure ease and when trouble commeth he is cast downe and is as it were at deaths doore but the true childe of God being fore-warned that if he will liue godly he must looke for and prepare himselfe to suffer trouble and affliction in this life Trouble therefore doth little or nothing moue him when it commeth because when he first entred into the schoole of christianity he learned that
world if I say Satan inticed me and I did sinne thou hast commanded me to resist Satan and his tentations so that though I plead with Adam that my Heuah my carnall part that thou gauest me did moue me and I did sinne it will be no excuse for mee if I say the world allured or Satan tempted me it booteth me not and therefore Father I cannot but freely confesse against my selfe that I euen I haue sinned and done all these euills against thee against thee O Lord I haue sinned against my selfe and haue deseruedly stirred vp thy displeasure against me and in thy displeasure is death This this O Lord is the gaine that my sinnes haue gotten not onely a dissolution of the soule and body due to all flesh but the death of body and soule due onely to impenitent sinners among whom I euen I acknowledge my selfe worthy to bee numbred without thy mercy For who hath power Lord by his owne corrupt nature to repent By nature Lord I sinne How can I by the same sinfull part repent of that wherein nature it selfe delighteth A fountaine bringeth not forth bitter water and sweet How then Lord can I bring forth true repentance out of a corrupt heart as it is corrupt Yet Lord though my heart bee corrupt by nature being made in part sincere and holy by thy grace it shall so farre forth worke repentance as is thy grace powerfull and effectuall in me So that though sinne by nature dwell in me by thy grace may sanctity also as Esau and Iaakob in Rebeccahs wombe striuing for superiority Therefore good Father as Esau the elder gaue place and became seruant to Iaakob So let sinne which is in me the first borne giue place in mee vnto sanctity And let sanctity haue the sole dominion in my heart then shall my heart bring forth the good fruits of a godly life though while I liue here the weeds of corruption will also grow but Lord let them not ouergrow the good seed of thy spirit but let them wither and die before they grow vp to beare any fruit vnto death But feed me now at the last with the most wholesome fruits of thy spirit and giue me grace to expresse my sorrow for my sins that I haue done with an inward relenting heart grieued that euer I contriued sin in my inward thoughts that euer I acted it or consented vnto it Lord see and behold my sorrow for my sins if it bring not forth sincere repentance water it so with thy mollifying spirit that it may worke in mee that which may testifie that I repent indeed so that sinne may become loathsome vnto me and sanctitie sweet And although while I carrie about me this vnholy lump of earth my best exercises cannot but sauour of the fountaine from whence they flow if of corruption corruptly if of thy spirit heauenly O season therefore my heart O Lord my soule and whole man with thy spirit that whatsoeuer I thinke speake or doe may sauour from aboue that I may feele in my heart and soule a true and liuely detestation of whatsoeuer sauoureth of the loue of this world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life Giue me strength to performe all perfect obedience in all righteousnesse euen to the forgetting of sinne And yet to remember my sinnes past and to repent them that thou my louing Father before whose presence I presently stand maiest bee pleased to turne thy louing and fatherly countenance in mercy towards me in the merits and mediation of Christ my Reedeemer Let these mine humble petitions O Lord ascend vp vnto thee and let the infallible tokens of thy mercies appeare towards mee that my heart now cast downe for feare of thy iudgements may bee againe lifted vp feeling the inward testimonies of thy mercies in Christ. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour praise and glory A Praier for the morning with thankes for rest and safetie O Father mercifull and euermore louing in Iesus Christ who this night past hast beene a powerfull and prouident Watch-man ouer me euen when by the deadnesse of sleepe I was depriued euen of sense care or feare of any danger which yet without thy preseruation and prouidence might suddenly haue seized vpon me and that by infinite meanes For Lord thou knowest what a malicious and watchfull Aduersary we haue who is attended on by a troupe of infernall Ministers that hourely seeke by some meanes to surprize vs Besides the corruption of our owne nature that is alwaies working in vs sinfull thoughts vncleane desires and most vngodly affections mouing vs in our night-wakings in stead of holy meditation and godly praier to purpose the committing of infinite sorts of sinnes when we enter into the day hauing no meanes to preuent the execution of most sinfull actions but by thine owne most gracious working holy feare and godly obedience in our hearts Wherefore louing Father I come this morning into thy holy presence from which I cannot hide mee and vpon the knees of my heart I vnfainedly intreat thee that as it hath pleased thee this night to preserue me and giuing me comfortable rest and sleepe in safetie so thou wilt be pleased to watch ouer mee this day that no danger befall me either in body soule or any thing belonging vnto me But that I may be so led vnder the pauilion of thy protection guided by thy spirit that neither in thought word or deed I may offend thee endeuouring to performe all holy and heauenly duties vnto thee my God who for all thy mercies requirest onely pure and sincere obedience which is also thy gift for none by his owne power can thinke a good thought much lesse Lord worke any thing pleasing vnto thee but the contrary therefore disclaime I all mine owne merit and cleaue onely vnto thy mercy in Iesus Christ Humbly beseeching thee for his sake to take charge of me this day preuent the malicious intentions of Satan and his ministers mortifie mine owne sinfull affections and infuse into my heart all diuine graces that my waies this day may nothing sauour of sinne but of sanctitie And as I haue by thee safely passed this night so I may begin continue and end this day and all the daies of my life in thy faith feare and obedience And that in all mine actions whereunto I am bound by my place and calling I may so walke and so performe them as that thy blessingâ— may accompany whatsoeuer I endeuour Giue me Lord an vpright heart asking and let me euer receiue counsell from thee to be guided in whatsoeuer I purpose that so prospering the glory may bee thine to whom all power wisdome strength and glory belongeth Amen A Praier to be vsed before a man goes to his rest LOrd as it hath now pleased thee to bring mee in safetie to the end of this day and hast therein by many blessings testified thy fatherly care
and comfort in affliction 359 An effectuall Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes 370 A Prayer for the morning with thanks for rest and safety 382 A Prayer to be vsed before a man goes to his rest 387 A MOTIVE to the Reader touching Meditation and Prayer First of Meditation MEditation is an inward action of the soule wherin the faithfull exercise themselues especially vpon the Word and promise of God vpon Heauen and heauenly things arising by the attentiue hearing or serious reading of the same Word deliberate consideration of the truth and infallibility of Gods promises contained therein and the assured performance of them touching their future blessed and glorious being after this life whereof the faithfull heart being assured through the testimony of Gods holy Spirit it delights in nothing so much as continually to thinke and meditate of the same according to the words of Christ Where our treasure is there are our hearts and thereof wee continually thinke DAVID had his heart set vpon his treasure hid with Christ aboue which made him to meditate cheerefully to sing O how loue I the Law of the Lord It is my continuall meditation yea I will meditate in thy precepts and consider thy waies So did Salomon cry out Blessed bee the Lord God of Israel who spake with his mouth to Dauid my father and with his hand hath performed it 1 King 8. 15 16. All the promises of God in Scripture doe administer vnto the faithfull matter of continuall meditation and serious consideration and among many of his promises his promse of defence and deliuery of his in the time of danger trouble and affliction is to be often considered for that it concerneth especially the children of God that are most afflicted who considering the waies of God to be mercy and truth and that what he promiseth he will assuredly performe cannot but worke patience and patience hope and how can he bee without continuall holy Meditation whose heart is with God from whom he hopeth his helpe will come but in Gods owne time and therefore though wee hope we may not make haste though he promise to defend vs from danger deliuer vs in trouble he will not so answer our expectations as if wee knew the time when or the manner how to be releeued or defended better than he He will exercise his owne children awhile to proue their patience faith and obedience to cause vs to meditate and ponder his word and promise till hee haue sufficiently tried our constant assurance of his timely deliuery for it is his property to come to helpe his when they thinke hee hath most forgotten them How suffered he Dauid a man chosen after his owne heart to bee enuironed with infinite dangers in so much as he thought God had forsaken him altogether and forgotten him and therefore cries out How long wilt thou forget me Lord for euer and againe hee confessed that God had giuen him his hearts desire and that hee had not denied the request of his lips whereby appeareth that the sorce of liuely faith holy meditation and diuine prayer are able to make God offended God appeased suddenly to remoue sorrow and so bring ioy God hath promised to be a defence to the faithfull in whatsoeuer dangers yet if we wel weigh and consider the course of Gods dealing with his owne children and duly meditate of his power prouidence and wisdome wee shall finde that hee doth not alwaies come immediatly at the call of his dearest children DAVID was banished and persecuted long Ioseph was imprisoned long they both prayed for deliuery yet continued in a hard estate which was an argument in humane reason that God cared not for them and aboue them both was innocent Iob long and many waies afflicted God saw his miseries and heard his prayers but he left him yet to be an example to vs of like expectation of Gods timely releeuing vs and in his good time he made Dauid a King and Ioseph the chiefe vnder Pharaoh in Aegypt and restored Iob to his former yea to farre greater glory Thus doth God try his dearest children to occasion them to know and acknowledge that howsoeuer hee seeme to absent himselfe from them in their deepest dangers and to seeme deafe as it were vnto their prayers he yet hath an eie both on them and their enemies hee was a shelter vnto Dauid and curbed Saul he saw Ioseph in prison but with his liberty prepared his aduancement He saw Iobs afflictions but kept a hooke in Satans nosthrills that all that he did against Iob serued to his finall comfort Though therefore it happen the faithfull to be straited and enuironed with so many and mighty enemies and troopes of troubles that there appeareth no euasion no deliuery by any visible meanes yet there remaineth holy Meditation patient deliberation and serious consideration of Gods wonderfull deliuerances of his in all like dangers Consider Dauid and all his troubles and you shall finde hee fainted not but depended onely vpon the promises and prouidence of God with a godly resolution to wait the issue of his hope onely meditating on Gods promises and considering his waies and how he had before dealt with Abraham Izaak Iaacob Noah Lot Moses and other faithfull fathers before him the meditation and consideration of whose wonderfull deliueries cannot but work assurance in any beleeuing heart in like manner though by vnlike and hidden meanes in good time to be deliuered and therefore saith Dauid by way of meditation and confirmation of his and consequently our faith in God Our Fathers trusted in thee they called vpon thee and were heard they prayed vnto thee and thou deliueredst them out of all their troubles as if hee should say in himselfe by way of Meditation I finde by the Word of God that he hath deliuered many before my time that trusted in him called vpon him in greater dangers than I am in why then should I doubt or despaire of like deliuery I trust in him as these fathers trusted I call vpon and pray vnto him as they did therefore surely hee will heare me and helpe me in time conuenient thus did Dauid meditate in his troubles God commanded Iaacob to returne from Laban his Vncle into his countrie and Kindred from whom and whence he fled promising to doe him good Gen. 32. 9. Could Iaacob doe lesse than meditate and tâ—inke seriously of this command and promise of God considering hee was to returne to his desperatly malicious brother Esau who sought to murther him yet vpon due Meditation and consideration of Gods faithfull promise of defending him and doing him good hee ouercame feare by faithfull prayer and the Lord appeased his brothers malice towards him Examples of like nature are plentifull in holy Scriptures as of Mordecay and the Iewes Ester 7. of the Bethulians Iudith 7. and many others Holy meditation is most necessary and an especiall Motiue to faithfull prayer and prayer can neuer be so powerfull as vpon holy
other Therefore doth David ioyne light and saluation together because that without that light there is no saluation for light goeth with or before saluation for without the light of knowledge there can bee no faith and without faith no saluation Dauid through faith was bold to affirme that the Lord was his light and consequently his saluation and hee that would defend him from all his enemies and therefore resolueth not to feare what man could doe vnto him Our owne naturall light the light of our eyes is an especiall blessing of God yet for vnruiinesse it may bee compared to the tongue for as the tongue is an vnruly euill in setting as it were the whole world on fire so are the eyes extrauagant and set the heart on fire and therefore saith Dauid Turne away mine eies from regarding vanity for he found by wofull experience that the light of the eye doth administer vnto the minde diuers dangerous obiects as to himselfe the nakednesse of Bershaba with the sight of whom he was so enflamed with the fire of lust which first entred by the eie that he committed grieuous sinnes in the accomplishment thereof Yet was Dauid himselfe reputed as it were the light of Israel which hee assumed not vnto himselfe but attributed the true light that he had vnto the light of lights saying Surely thou art my light O Lord and the Lord will lighten my darknesse And againe the Lord is my light and my saluation By his owne naturall light hee could not sée his owne error of adultery and marther vntill hee was inwardly enlightned then hee could confesse it neither could he see and consider how the Lord had defended him but by that dim light which gaue him courage strength against the â—eare and the Lion the ouercomming of whom gaue him assurance of the victory against Goliah his experience of Gods fauour towards him grew daily more and more encouraging others also to depend on the power prouidence and loue of God by his example saying and assuring them that the Lord would be a sure refuge vnto them in their afflictions for hee faileth none that faithfully séeke him and how can we séeke him but by Prayer I will call vpon the Lord saith Dauid who is worthy to be praised so shall I bee safe from mine enemies though they haue many meanes to hurt yet God that is our light and our saluation hath many more meanes to helpe and to defend vs therefore saith Dauid whom should I feare the Lord is my rocke and my fortresse and hee that deliuereth mee my God and my strength in him will I trust my shield the horne also of my saluation and my refuge of whom shall I be afraid If I haue Iehouah on my side what can man doe vnto me If he be my light I shall liue in light and walke in light for in him is no darknesse at all he offereth light by his liuely Word and enlightneth our inward parts by the bright beames of his heauenly Spirit Being then inwardly armed howsoeuer outwardly endangered wée néed not feare but as Dauid did let vs cast our burthen vpon the Lord and hee shall defend vs and let vs commend our care vnto him for he careth for vs of whom or of what then need we to bee afraid Saluation commeth not of flesh nor by fleshly meanes as the true light is not of the world nor of worldly men Therefore séeke not thy light nor safety through the policy or strength of the flesh neither dreame of saluation by worldly meanes but breake through the walls of flesh and mount vp in true contemplation of that sauing light that shineth from aboue from thence commeth the strength against which no carnall force shall preuaile and beware of such as promise vnto themselues safety and saluation without this true light as the wise by their policies the rich by their wealth the mighty by their much strength and multitudes and as some by their owne workes All which are broken réeds vaine props and weake meanes to saue the outward man much lesse the inward soule How then can they say whom shall I feare of whom shall I bee afraid when indéed they cannot but bee afraid euen where no feare is Could Achitophels counsell Nebuchadnezzars greatnesse Pharaohs stoutnesse Goliahs strength Senacheribs mighty army Hasaels swiftnesse or the Pharisies workes saue them yet doth foolish flesh and bloud account this weake and feeble meanes their glory their life and their saluation But as Achitophel whose counsell was like the Oracle of God did hang himselfe as Nebuchadnezzar in his greatest pompe became as a beast of the field as Pharaoh in his hot pursuit was drowned and his army as Senacherib was slaine by his owne sons as Goliah for all his great strength was slaine with a small stone as Hazael for all his Roe-like swiftnesse was slaine in his running and as the Pharisies for all their workes were condemned by Christ the light So neither the wisest of the world the greatest and most glorious in the world the strongest in strength nor he that iustifieth himselfe most by his best workes worke not onely no saluation vnto themselues as of themselues but their owne destruction But the Lord of Hosts is my light my strength and my saluation therefore will I not bée afraid Consider well the benefit of thy light in the Lord embrace the Lord thy light and thy saluation embrace him in his Word for God is the Word the Word that light that light thy life and thy saluation Here then is the light that guideth the blinde and happy is the soule that hath this glorious light he needs not feare she secret practises of the wicked which this light discouereth nor the force of the mighty which this strength withstandeth for God is his saluation Feare not man then who killeth but the body feare not the fire that consumeth but the body feare not the Sea that drowneth but the body feare not sicknesse that toucheth but the body feare not the sword that pierceth but the body feare nothing that can preuaile but against the body for the Lord is thy light and thy saluation O feare this Lord and reuerence this light he séeth in darknesse feare him that can kill both body and soule and can cast both into vtter darknesse feare this great God feare none but him that can saue and kill that can cast downe and exalt that can with his Word worke what he will when he will and as he will feare him in loue and loue him in feare call vpon him despaire not in him he is thy saluation Feare not the world nor worldly things feare onely firme in the world and flie from euill which this true light hateth then feare not man for if a thousand assaile thee feare not but pray and beléeue and trust in the Lord thy saluation he will open the eyes of thy faith and thou shalt sée with Elisha millions of meanes to defend thée
after he was coÌ„stituted also anointed King by Samuel by the malice of Saul who sought his death and continued many yéeres in continual troubles wherin being exercised he betooke himselfe to prayer to God liuing in hope that the time would come wherein hee should be fréed from Sauls tyranny and as hée was anointed so should he bée at length eustalled King hauing in many yéeres little or no breathing time or freedome from afflictions yet was his faith strong and his confidence in God firme as appeareth by the first second and third verses of this 27. Psalme wherein hée declareth the fauour of God towards him that he was his light and his saluation and his strength so that he feared not Saul nor whatsoeuer wicked enemies being assured that if they came vpon him to take away his life God would make them to stumble and fall as by his owne hands and Gods prouidence Goliah fell and after Saul his enemy by his owne sword so that in the first Uerse hée tooke courage through faith in God and sang In the time of trouble God shall hide me in his Tabernacle in the secret place of his Pauilion shall he hide me and set me vpon a Rocke And in this verse Now shall hee lift vp mine head aboue mine enemies round about me When Saul was dead his mighty enemy he tooke the Gouernment of his Kingdome but was not yet frée from enemies whereby wée may see that the death of one enemy is the life of another and to teach vs not to be secure at any time but when one danger is past to looke for another yet not without Hope though cast downe in the end to be lifted vp and raised againe For as the Moone wareth full and decreaseth and the Sea ebbeth and floweth and as the sky cleareth and cloudeth so doe the estates of men high and low rise and fall and fall and rise What a fall had Ioseph being the darling of his Father to be sold as a slaue to be falsely accused and to be strictly imprisoned and yet in the end to bée so highly aduanced Now saith Dauid shall he lift vp my head as if hée could limit God the time to raise him No doubt it was not his meaning to tie God to a certaine time but when Saul his Predecessor was dead the Crowne open sor him he might well say Now that is now hath God appointed the time to bring that to passe which long before he had promised Indéed when he was made King he might well say that God had lifted vp his head aboue his enemies round about him for he had many as before is shewed and net a few euen of Sauls followers after who when they saw Dauid exalted might enuy his aduancement being lifted vp so farre aboue them and had then power to recompence their wickednesse against him But he had no reuengefull spirit if he had had hée would haue reuenged himselfe vpon Shemey that railed on him and cursed him and vpon Doeg that discouered his abode to Saul Neither of these did he touch but as touching Shemey though he swore vnto him that hée would not slay him yet hée commanded Salomon that he should cause his hoare head to goe to the graue with bloud which it séemeth hée spake by the spirit of prophesie fore-séeing that he should die by the sword Thus Dauid deliuered from his enemies and lifted vp aboue them sheweth the wonderfull power of God in preseruing him and his prouidence and loue in aduancing him yet continued hée not long without his troubles and enemies to exercise him though he were now established in his Kingdome for he hauing peace security a while we find into what sinnes he fell though he were aduanced aboue his corporall enemies his spirituall foes grew stronger than he therefore it is good that the children of God though neuer so great in the world haue afflictions and troubles lest they forget God as this godly King for a time did yet vpon repentance God raised him againe Which example of sinning we must auoid and imitate his repentance By his assured confidence in God he still withstood and preuailed against all that rose vp against him none could make him afraid but rested still assured that God would now namely whensoeuer he was beset with danger lift vp his head aboue all his enemies round about him His enemies in their policies became fooles in their strength weake and all their deuices brought to nought So that Dauid might well sing this ioyfull Song The Lord hath lifted vp my head aboue all mine enemies round about me Nothing preuaileth without or against God None can be lifted vp to sit safely without God therefore the man that is wise being aduanced will-imitate Dauid in faith and a holy resolution then shall he mount that rocke that shall neuer bee moued God shall maintaine his lot so that troubles shall not dismay him enemies shall not hurt him neither shall any thing make him afraid None must yet stand in conceit that Dauids infirmities and falls should bée a priuilege for them to commit sinne but rather let his fall be a-motiue to them to bée watchfull ouer their waies for the preuenting of like danger and to beware of security For easie it is for a man to fall of himselfe as Dauid did but without God not to rise againe and repent as Dauid did Though he fell and was lifted vp Saul fell and neuer rose Peter fell and rose againe but Iudas fell and that finally Dauid had an eie vnto his waies and respect vnto his walkings to preuent a second fall so as his enemies could not preuaile yet hée confessed that it was the Lord that supported him and made him to abide in safety It was not his owne power or wit or policy but the mercy of God that preserued him and that lifted vp his head aboue his enemies He was constant and waited the Lords leisure he made not haste as hée might haue done hauing Saul twice within his power though he were anointed King yet would he lay no violent hands vpon him that was pre-anointed and inuested but waited his time as Ioseph did whose head was lifted vp aboue his enuious brethrer Mordochay and the Jewes likewise with patience waited the time and were lifted vp aboue Hâ—man but otherwise higher by the gallowes than they Many are lifted vp aboue their enemies in conceit and yet themselues lifted vp as enemies against themselues for the more man insulteth in pride ouer other men the more the mighty triumph ouer the weake the rich ouer the poore the glorious ouer the base and the more that they in authority abuse and tyrannize ouer them they gouerne so much the further off are they from the true lifting vp how high soeuer they cary their heads and so much the more enemies they are vnto themselues There is no true lifting vp without loue for God is loue he lifteth vp the heart and soule
procure thine attention any thing at all Why then should I say vnto thee hearken Why did Dauid say vnto thee hearken He was assured to bee heard Therefore I pray thee hearken O my God Hearken vnto the voice of my cry haue mercy also vpon me and heare me Heare the voice of my renewed heart the voice of my soule that figheth for my sinnes haue mercy therefore vpon me O Lord and pardon me that I may so cry and it may please thee so to heare as I may heare thine answer within as I cry within Lord let thy holy Spirit both speake to thee and answer me for I cannot preuailingly cry vnto thee vnlesse thou cry in me by thine owne Spirit sanctifying my spirit and answering my spirit again by thy spirit Hearken euen vnto thy selfe speaking in me and let my spirit heare thy spirit speaking to me and in mee So shall my soule sound forth a glorious voice a sharpe and piercing voice a voice whose sound shall ascend aboue the clouds where I haue a most louing and preuailing Mediator with thee euen Iesus Christ the righteous in whose name and for whose sake thou wilt deny nothing vnto those that come and cry faithfully vnto thee Then I euen I shall heare a most sweet and comfortable Eccho of Grace resound in the eares of my soule that shall assure me of answer of euery my petitions When I cry Lord forgiue me my sinnes I shall heare Thy sinnes O man are forgiuen thee when I shall say Open thou my lips I shall heare Open thy mouth and I will fill it When I shall say Lord I beleeue I shall heare Thou beleeuedst therefore shalt thou be saued When I call for strength in my tentations I shall heare My grace is sufficient for thee When I shall call vnto thee in my necessities for helpe I shall heare I will neuer faile thee nor forsake thee This is thy goodnesse O Lord and thy mercy therefore will I euermore pray vnto thee O hearken vnto my voice when I cry vnto thee haue mercy also vpon me and heare me The ground of all my comforts in all my troubles to bee eased is thy mercy yea thy mercy onely In mee there is nothing worthy to bee regarded of thee it is thy mercy only that maketh me to dwell in safetie And had it not beene of thy free mercy I had bin confounded long agone therefore in thy mercy heare me when I call vpon thee and in thy mercy releeue mee in thy mercy helpe mee Then shall neither enemies preuaile against me pouertie and want shald not ouer-much oppresse me sicknesse shall not dismay me nor any outward or inward trouble sinne nor Satan preuaile against me For thou O God art the God of my saluation my glory the God of my strength in thee will I euer trust So be it VERSE 8. When thou saidst seeke yee my face mine heart answered vnto thee O Lord I will seeke thy face IN this verse there is as it were a familiar conference betwéene the Lord and Dauid God saies vnto Dauid and in the plurall number to all that are his Seeke yee my face And Dauid againe in the name of the faithfull replies Thy face O Lord will I seeke It séemeth to be a strange command that we weake Creatures that cannot looke with stedfast eies vpon the Sun that is but one of his inferior Creatures but shall be striken blinde with the radiant beames thereof should séeke and behold his face which none could euer sée and liue And it séemeth likewise to be as strange a promise in Dauid to say that hée would séeke the face of God To séeke the Lord is in many places of Scripture enioyned vs but to séeke and to sée his face is not so frequently commanded But these phrases of spéech differ not for both signifie the séeking of his helpe and are not literally to be vnderstood as if God had a visible face to be séene or that he had a corporall being to be felt God is a spirit and spiritually to be sought and spiritually to be discerned and is not otherwise to be séene but in the face of Iesus Christ who is also now glorified in the heauens not visibly to bee apprehended by vs vntill his second comming What is then meant by the séeking of the face of God onely his fauour and his protection in the time of our danger And to séeke God is to implore his power prouidence and helpe in our afflictions As Ieremiah comforting the captiue Israelites in Babylon You shall goe and pray vnto me saith God and I will heare you and if you seeke me yee shall finde me if you seeke me with all your hearts And againe Azariah said to Asa Iuda and Beniamin The Lord is with you while yee be with him And if yee seeke him he will be found of you but if yee forsake him hee will forsake you God is present with the faithfull by his continuall helping power as long as they hold him fast by their praiers and wrastle with him with their faithfull petitions as Iacob did with the Angell and cry vnto him till he answer and neuer leaue seeking of him till hee finde him If we séeke him in the Word wée shall finde him there as the spirit hath described him both a mercifull God and a consuming fire The faithfull finde him mercifull euen in this life the wicked shall finde him a seuere Judge hereafter The first shall sée his face and reioyce the second shall sée his face and tremble The first shall sée and behold the beauty of his countenance with great gladnesse for euer the second shall sée his face for a moment in his last sentence and that with horror God saies vnto all Seeke yee my face but few with their hearts doe séeke him And that is the reason that many call vpon him and are not heard they séeme to séeke him and finde him not but vnto the truly faithfull hée offereth himselfe as he did to Moses My presence shall goe with thee and I will giue thee rest This is the true beholding of the face of God to enioy his presence namely when he is ready in his power and prouidence to helpe vs in our afflictions and to deliuer vs in our dangers any other presence of his in this life we néede not séeke his glory is aboue the Heauens What is man then that he should séeke to sée his all-glorious face here in earth which Moses saw but in a bush obscurely in respect of his full and compleat glory and yet with that sight his face did shine so as the people could not abide the glory of his face How much lesse the glory of the most vnspeakable beauty of y e face of y e most high whose dwelling is in the heauens and whose power is ouer all his works in heauen and earth And therefore saith Dauid O Lord our God how excellent is thy name in all the world which hast
set thy glory aboue the heauens where he sitteth and séeth the troubles and afflictions of his and is néere them when they call vpon him he turneth his face and louing countenance towards them to cheare them and comfort them as for the wicked he beholdeth them a farre off I haue set the Lord saith Dauid alwaies before me for he is at my right hand therefore I shall not slide As if he had said I sée the face of God continually and hée it is that preserueth me from danger so that mine heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope The tongue of men or Angels cannot sufficiently expresse what God is onely the heauens doe shew vnto vs his glory the Sunne the Moone and Starres fixed in the Firmament the Earth the Sea and all that are therein all being the works of his hands This God did Dauid séeke to this God did Dauid pray and hée turned his face vnto him and deliuered him out of all his feare To him I will pray A Praier that God will neuer hide his face from vs. THY fauour O Lord which thou shewest vnto vs weake and vnworthy creatures is as an vnfathomable Sea of loue who becommest as it were a suter vnto vs to come to seeke and to see thy face Thou the most beloued seemest to make loue vnto vs Thou the most mighty creator callest vs vnto thee thy weake creatures And shall we hatefull deformed and vile wretches stand therefore in conceit that wee are louely and beautifull because thou great Iehouah absolute in all perfection doest thus intreat vs Thou saiest Seeke my face And what is it but as if thou saidst Come and see me come and receiue me come and dwell with me It seemeth to be rather the voice of a familiar friend than of the Creator of heauen and earth But when I consider thy greatnesse thy Maiesty and glory thy power and omnipotency I cannot but feare considering what I am and rather desire to hide me from thee as Adam did than to intrude my selfe into thy presence in my deformities and to couer my nakednesse of all goodnesse with the fig leaues of shamefull absence than to come into thy presence being naked of all spirituall vertues Should I come into thy presence O most powerfull and holy Lord God in the bespotted garments of mine owne corruptions Then maist thou well stand with the burning sword of thy fury to keepe me from the sweet Paradice of thy louing and amiable presence amiable in deed to them whom thou makest worthy but most fearefull vnto such as haue not on the wedding garment of the righteousnesse of IESVS CHRIST If thou obserue the selfe-deseruings of the best men and deale with them accordingly who can see thy face and liue Who dare to seeke thy face as of himselfe worthy But sith it pleaseth thee to call me though vnworthy and to accept me as worthy how can I but giue all diligence to attend thy call Should I stand consulting with flesh and bloud whether I should seeke thy face and liue or remaine out of thy fauour and perish eternally Thou saist Seeke my face O that my heart could truly answer and faithfully performe the seeking of thy face for I cannot say of my owne power I will seeke thy face Though my spirituall part bee willing my carnall part is weake I desire yet to seeke and to finde thee for with thee is the well of life Thine eies are vpon them that feare thee and thine eares open vnto their cry Shew me therefore the light of thy countenance and turne thy face towards me that I may see it in thy fauour and louing kindnesse Thy face is no way so liuely to be seene as in the Image of thy Sonne who although he were here in the earth in the forme of a seruant he had the inuisible forme of thine owne Essence and is now ascended and glorified in the heauens endowed with that absolute glory which hee had from the beginning with thee whose visible forme cannot bee seene with mortall eyes whose face yet shineth more gloriously than it did vpon the holy Mount which Peter Iames and Iohn to their vnspeakable comfort beheld with their eies that visible glory of his cannot bee here seene it is hid from vs vntill the time but he vouchsafeth vnto vs his Word wherein we see him through faith O seeke his face euermore my soule seeke his Word beleeue his promises obserue his Will Grant Lord that I may flie sinne and embrace righteousnesse that I may pray continually loue all men beare with the weake bee patient in troubles and thankfull vnto thee for all thy mercies and grant Lord that I may seeke thee while it is to day let mee omit no time in seeking thy face thou saist Seeke my face let me cast off all impediments and clogs of worldly occasions and cast my care vpon thee for thou hast promised to care for mee what thou hast said is true what thou hast promised is Yea and Amen as sure as if I were possessed of what I aske I am in danger I will seeke thy face as Dauid did who found it in the Wildernesse pursued by Saul I haue enemies I will seeke thy face as Eliah did being threatned by Iezabel If I bee in prison I will seeke thy face as Ioseph did who was deliuered and aduanced what misery or danger trouble or affliction soeuer it shall please thee to inflict vpon mee I will seeke thy face so shall I not bee confounded in the perilous time and in whatsoeuer calamity I am be thou neere vnto me and saue me VERSE 9. Hide not thy face from mee nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure thou hast beene my succour leaue me not neither forsake me O God of my saluation BY this prayer of Dauid it may appeare that God sometimes hideth his face from his dearest children and séemeth as if hée had cast them away in his anger which yet though it be fearefull it is not small for he continueth not long in his displeasure though the weaknesse of men bée they neuer so sanctified will many times shew it selfe and produce such corrupt fruits as may incense God to displeasure and inforce him to absent himselfe from them for a time in so much as he may seeme to haue left them quite to their owne corrupt wills as it séemeth holy Dauid felt some alteration as it were of Gods dealing towards him that he cried out hide not thy face from me wherby it séemeth Dauid had not that comfort of Gods presence as in times past he had especially when hée was afraid that God had cast him away in displeasure It may be the weaknesse of Dauids faith which is not at all times alike strong could not so well apprehend Gods mercies as before or that he felt his owne infirmities to grow stronger and his spirituall powers weaker so that in the combat betwéene the flesh and
spirit he found his inward part the weaker and so suspecting as it were the loue and presence of God to aid the one and to suppresse the other hee thought God had left him But it séemeth his outward enemies did more preuaile against him than before and being so oppressed by them or afraid of them he turned himselfe vnto God but he séemed to hide his face from him and therefore praied so instantly that God would not cast him away being his seruant in displeasure yet Dauid had the true feare of God in his heart although hée were a little shaken with doubting for the absence of Gods presence and necessary it is that wee should sometimes feele the want of Gods presence with vs that wee should not too much presume vpon our owne worthinesse power and strength to stand firme without him for if he leaue vs be it neuer so little such is our frailty that we begin to faint and our spirituall strength saileth vs which if we can apprehend it is an argument that we are not altogether destitute of the grace of God for if we be so carried away with our owne corruptions as we neuer féele our owne wants of spirituall graces we haue no grace at all The wicked and such as sinne without touch of conscience they neuer féele the want of that they neuer had the spirit of God therefore run on stil in their impieties following euery kinde of carnall destres with greedinesse It is not so with them that God hath chosen and enlightened for they finde in themselues the least of Gods absence if but for a moment for they are seldome idle in one kinde of holy duty or another they either meditate on the word and works of God they pray or offer the sacrifice of thankes to God and when they finde in them selues a dulnesse to pray or ignorance how to pray they presently suspect that they haue deserued by some meanes that God hath left them to themselues who of their owne power without the helpe of the Spirit of God cannot thinke a good thought much lesse faithfully and seruently pray vnto him and then féeling the griefe of their hearts that they cannot be comforted by the exercise of these holy duties finde the fault to bee in themselues and that God for some sinne committed or some good dutie omitted is angrie with them And therefore as Dauid doth here they crie out vnto God O hide not thy face from me nor cast thy seruant away in displeasure So fearefull are the children of God to lose the benefit of his presence as they thinke nothing so irksome vnto them as his absence and therefore haue alwaies a kinde of holy iealousie that the least sinne they doe coÌ„mit wil cause the Lord to hide himselfe from them Therefore when Dauid considered his infirmities hée could confesse and say Wicked deeds haue preuailed against me but thou wilt bee mercifull vnto my sinne God is mercifull to them that are sorry for their sinnes which sorrow and repentance is the gift of God and the children of God instantly and often call to God for it as a meane whereby they may redéeme his loue and obtaine his presence and the beauty of his face againe And therefore saith Dauid being as it were forsaken and had lost his chiefe comfort the louing countenanâ—â— of the Lord. Turne vs againe O Lord God of hosts saith he cause thy face to shine and we shall be safe Returne wee beseech thee O God of hosts looke downe from Heauen and visit vs againe with the brightnesse of thy louing countenance and hide not thy face from vs nor cast vs away in displeasure There is nothing more causeth the Spirit of God to leaue vs than our sinnes and neglect of the true seruice of God and nothing retaineth him more than the continuall meditation of heauenly things seruent prayer with a godly life he that thus exerciseth himselfe hath God alwaies with him he hideth not his face from such but in what misery trouble feare or affliction they are they are sure either to receiue outward deliuerance or inward comfort and to say with Dauid yet my soule keepeth silence vnto God of him commeth my saluation yet he is my strength my defence therefore shall I not much be moued not much we may haue some doubtings in our heauy afflictions and cry out with Dauid O God why hast thou forsaken me and though we be moued we shall neuer be remoued from the louing fauour of God we shall neuer fall finally into his displeasure though for a time he séeme to hide his face from vs which he neuer doth vntill we couet to hide our sins from him and to doe the things which we thinke hée séeth not we may not thinke that God hideth his all-séeing cies from our transgressions though he turne not his face towards vs to flatter vs as it were in our sinnes for he loueth righteousnesse and hateth iniquity righteousnesse and equity are the establishment of his throne therefore dealeth he iustly when he hideth his face from them that deale vniustly from them that obey him not from them that neglect to call vpon him in â—aith and omit those holy duties which he requireth How can hee looke vpon them in loue that leaue him How can he but hide his face and as it were cast them away in his displeasure that neuer séeke him or serue him Nay that séeke him not with a pure heart and that continually for it is not enough to sinne and serue him by turnes as if he allowed vs a time for our selues to take our carnall pleasures delights in and a time againe for him to haue our times wherein wée cannot sinne either being glutted with sinne or vnable to sinne How can hee but hide his face from such How can it be but he must cast away such in his displeasure Dauid that thus crieth out that God had hid his face from him neuer tooke such prophane liberty and yet through his humane frailty fell and that grieuously but he lay not in it as the reprobate doe he examined his heart and found it corrupt and falted it with the teares of repentance Thou hast fed mee with the bread of teares saith he and giuen mee teares to drinke This is the true medicine to cure the soule that hath sinned Faith and Repentance And who so applieth it truly to himselfe as Dauid did shall finde ease and although God séeme sometimes to hide his face it is but to cause vs the more to séeke it and though he séeme to cast vs off in displeasure it is but as a louing father that dissembleth extreme anger to his childe that hath offended him and maketh a shew as if he will vtterly cast him off determining yet nothing lesse So though God the most louing father to his children séeme often angry with vs as he séemed to bee with Dauid it was more in shew than in déed which we may not
Pauls hope and patience aimed to heauenly not to earthly accomplishments not looking for the euent of his hope in this life How then may his hope of heauenly glory and Dauids hope to be defended and reléeued here in the land of the liuing concurre They may well stand together Euen as Christ by healing of corporall diseases made men heauenly minded and cleane by forgiuing their sinnes so Dauid praied not so simply for corporall deliuerie but he praied also for the light of the truth that he might dwell in the Temple of God for mercy and the like And although Paul séemed by his words to hope onely for heauenly glory necessaries for this life were necessarily included He that duly and truly praies for heauenly cannot be frustrate of earthly and he that praies faithfully for earthly cannot but therewith ioyne heauenly blessings for true and sincere hope includes both He therefore that through faith in Christ doth hope in the Lord and becommeth strong in him Hee will comfort his heart with the supply both of heauenly and earthly blessings As it is lawfull for vs to pray vnto God for corporall necessaries so are wée bound to hope and wait for them Without hope of victory Dauid would neuer haue entred the combat with Goliah Wée must therefore hope in the Lord and bee strong trusting in God and our hearts shall bee comforted We may not looke backe or about vs for helpe our helpe commeth from heauen therefore must we not hope and hope a hope partly from aboue and partly from beneath but our hope must bée in God alone yet not to contemne or despise the inferior meanes that God vseth here below as his Instruments for our good in whom wée may haue a kinde of hope as Dauid had in Ionathan that he would deale faithfully with him in the matter of Saul his father so may wée hope in man but our confidence must be in God alone What God hath promised in his Word he will assuredly performe to them that truly beléeue And that did Dauid finde euen when the Crowne was like to bée taken from his head Hee fainted not but held fast by the accustomed loue and help of God and became strong in faith euen when his enemies were in their fiercest fury against him He waited still vsing little or no other resistance against his enemies than feruent praier to God and his counsell and his expectation in patience was not in vaine for the Lord subdued his enemies without the great force of Dauid and thereupon he tooke courage he hoped in the Lord he was strong in faith and the Lord did comfort his heart He sought not as the wicked doe sinister and forbidden meanes to be deliuered For when Saul his mortall enemy pursued him with deadly malice to take away his life yet when Saul fell into his hands and had him twice in his power and might haue ended the quarrell and fréed himselfe of danger he would not doe it no though he might haue made present way for himselfe to the kingdome whose it was after Saul yet neither his owne perill wherein hée daily stood through the malice and fury of Saul nor his owne future right to the Crowne could moue him to touch the Lords anointed contrary to the minds of many ambitious men both of former and latter ages who are loth to let slip any opportunitie offered be it neuer so vniust to aduance their greatnesse But Dauid staid himselfe vpon hope that God who had so often deliuered him would still doe it without any vnlawfull meanes of his owne and in his time appointed would aduance him as he had promised and therefore waited the time with patience comforting his heart in the middest of his dangers And long it was not before he came lawfully to that which before he might and would not because hée hoped in God whom he knew he should haue offended if he had taken the counsel of some that aduised him There is no hope to that hope whereunto Dauid encourageth himselfe others no strength to that strength and no mans heart can bée truly comforted but by the comfort wherewith he affirmeth his heart was comforted therefore chéereth he vp his owne soule with this holy resolution to hope in the Lord with this heauenly strength to be strong in the Lord and with that comfort wherewith he was comforted of the Lord. There is a hope that is vaine a strength that is weake and a comfort that is but counterfeit Let vs then take hold of that hope that strength and that comfort that is of God and trust in him So shall we not néed to be afraid of enemies to faint in afflictions but shall be sure to finde comfort in all our troubles Salomon saith that hope that is deferred is the fainting of the heart but that is but to the faint-hearted For if we wait not it is no hope but if we abide with patience Gods appointed time we shall enioy what we hope for And when the desire commeth it is a tree of life And Dauid hauing often gathered the fruit of this trée and fed thereon when he fainted he giues here of the same fruit to others Hope saith he in the Lord bee strong be not faint-hearted though hope be deferred for comming the thing we hope for will tarry no longer than a conuenient time and then it will comfort the heart Hope groweth strong by the effects of Gods goodnesse formerly hoped for and had which Saint Paul affirmeth encouraging the Corinthians as Dauid did himselfe and others To hope to be strong to trust in the Lord and to lay hold vpon the hope that is set before vs which hope we haue as an anker of the soule sure and stedfast And this is the comfort of the heart that Dauid meaneth euen our faith in God whereby wée take hold of the assured performance of his promises not onely of temporall and corporall but of spirituall and celestiall blessings And the patient waiting for them is our Hope How then can it bee that God who hath promised vnto the faithfull the life to come that with patience in hope wait for it vnder the crosse should not consider regard their dangers troubles afflictions euen in this life For if he haue giuen his Sonne to die for our sinnes how should he not with him giue vs all things to enioy Though wée must wait his time he is not slacke as some men count slacknesse but is alwaies ready and at hand he that hath promised hee is faithfull and true Though the vnfaithfull will not take his word not his hand not his oath the faithfull know and are assured that he will neuer faile them nor forsake them Therefore hope in the Lord be strong and he will comfort thine heart And trust in the Lord. A Prayer for strength patience and hope in troubles O Father possessor of Heauen and Earth and the disposer and preseruer of them and of all things
within the same the fountaine of all perfect hope the giuer of patience and maintainer of our strength thou knowest my troubles and beholdest mine afflictions and what and how many they are and how burthensome vnto mee thy weake creature in stead therefore of my weake ability giue mee thy preuailing strength giue me hope in thee let mee be strong in thee let my comfort be of thee and let me truly trust in thee then shall I with patience beare these and whatsoeuer troubles it shall please thee to lay vpon me Arme mee with faith O Lord that I trusting in thy defence may not sinke vnder the weight of my troubles importable to flesh and bloud thou hast promised to bee the God of my saluation so shall nothing hurt mee my glory so nothing shall disgrace me my rocke and my strength so nothing shall moue mee nor remoue mee from my trust in thee I am thine saue mee keepe me as the apple of thine eye hide me vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings then shall no enemy annoy mee no trouble dismay mee nor affliction or feare shall cast mee downe by thee I shall withstand or escape the fury force fraud of all my foes by thee I shall bee timely releeued in all my necessities and in thee shall I bee comforted in all mine afflictions I will not feare thou art my God I will not faint thou art the comfort of my heart Let mee still taste of thy goodnesse and behold thy saluation in hope let mee hold fast by thee in faith let me be strong in thee with comfort let mee reioyce and be glad in thee Continue thy mercies towards mee O Lord for my soule trusteth in thee knowing and confessing that I haue no other Comforter but thee no Defender but thee nor any Helper but thee Forsake me not therefore O my God in my greatest need send from Heauen and saue me for all power belongeth vnto thee therefore doth my soule cleaue vnto thee it longeth and thirsteth for thy saluation O let mee plentifully taste how sweet thy goodnesse is thy goodnesse appeared in my creation more in my redemption but most in mine election thou formedst me in the wombe thou broughtest me thence giuing me hope euen from my Mothers brest and I was euen then cast vpon thy prouidence therefore leaue me not nor be farre from mee now trouble is befalne mee but as thou hast taken charge of me from the beginning so continue still to defend me for I haue none besides thee to helpe me therefore cast I my burthen vpon thee for thou hast taken vpon thee to nourish me In thee O Lord I trust let mee neuer be ashamed nor confounded deliuer me according to thy promise for thou art my hope O Lord in thee haue I trusted from my youth Let my prayers O Lord enter into thy presence heare me and helpe me let nothing hinder the worke of thy mercies towards me not mine vnworthinesse O Lord but accept me worthy in thy most worthy then shall not the weaknesse of my faith diminish my hope nor extenuate my strength nor depriue me of my comfort in thee but my faith hope strength and comfort shall increase more and more and patience shalâ— haue it perfect working in me to wait vntill thine appointed time come for my deliuery out of some of my troubles for I endure many O Lord and the least of them of weight more than sufficient to presse mee downe vnlesse thou support mee yet I acknowledge them easie in comparison of my euill deseruings O pardon mine offences cleanse me of my sinnes and make mee vpright in thy waies then shall I with perfect patience beare my troubles and rest in hope vntill it shall please thee to ease me of my troubles or to bring them to an end which grant gracious Lord God in Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be honour power and praise for euermore Amen A Prayer for forgiuenesse of sinnes reformation of life and comfort in affliction O My God my God hide not thy face from mee stop not thine eares at my prayers and refuse not to heare the words of my complaint though I cannot but confesse O Lord against my selfe that by reason of my sins I haue deserued thy displeasure and that in so high a measure as if thou shouldest vtterly confound me yet were there no iniustice in thee for the euills that I haue committed and the good duties I haue omitted in thy seuere iustice deserue the same but Lord looke not so narrowly into my waies as to obserue and register against me euery sinne committed and euery duty omitted by me knowing that I am by nature corrupt and sinfull as all my fathers were Lord what were Abraham Izaak Iaacob Iob Noah Lot Moses Eliah or Dauid though a man chosen after thine owne heart Paul that elect vessell but men by nature carnall and euen sold vnder sinne vntill thou of thine owne free mercy vouchsafedst to infuse heauenly wisdome into their hearts and diuine graces into their soules vntill thou diddest fully season them aboue others by thy holy Spirit yet Lord thou knowest that euen these select vessels of thine were not without their owne naturall infirmities They stood not vprightly by their owne strength but by thee if they had had will and power of and in themselues to worke righteousnes they might haue had whereof to boast but not with thee but being only supported by thee they gaue the sole glory to thee Seeing then gracious Father that all our most godly fore-fathers had their defects by nature and their perfection through thy grace I being corrupt as they were by nature borne corrupt and brought forth the fruits of corruption vntill thou begattest them anew by thy Spirit what differ I from them by nature And therefore Lord as they became holy not of themselues but by thee so canst thou make me holy as they were holy by the same grace There is none O Lord that by his owne wisdome is capable of that wisdome whereby to know thee aright how much lesse able by his owne power to performe that obedience which may make him accepted of thee If then it be as indeed it is of thine owne free mercy and grace that any man becomes wise in thee and righteous before thee who hath cause to boast of his owne merit Or who needs despaire of his owne vnworthinesse seeing thou art equally mercifull to all whom thou hast called and accepted into the number of them that shall be saued O send downe send downe from Heauen that thy sanctifying Spirit into my heart that that liuely faith whereby our most godly fore-fathers were accepted of thee may be more and more inkindled and breake forth into a holy flame of godlinesse and zeale and my whole man be changed into the same image of sanctity which appeared in them in whom thou most delightest then thou my God now deseruedly offended with me for