mee in mind of thy rest from thy workes and assure me thereby of an euerlasting Sabbath in heauen from my works Into which rest that I may enter stirre vp my good desires in me raise my thoughts and affections to the things that are abâ—ue Renew mee according to the Image of thy Sonne and frame my life to a heauenly conuersation Enlighten my vnderstanding sanctifie my will moderate my desires gouerne my affections mortifie my fleshly members and destroy the man of sinne in me and deliuer me from this bodie of death Worke in me a feare of thy power and loue of thy goodnes and zeale of thy glorie and thirst of thy grace an earnest desire and constant resolution as much as in me lyeth to approue my selfe to thee in all things and frame all my actions to the rule of thy word Heare me I beseech thee for my selfe and for thy Church and thy Church for me and Christ for vs all c. saying Righteous Father keepe them from euill sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth The close out of Scripture The glorie which thou hast giuen me giue them that they may bee one as thou and I are one So bee it heauenly Father for thy Sonn's sake by the grace of thy holy Spirit To whom be all honour praise glorie and thanksgiuing from euerlasting to euerlasting Amen AN ADMONITION for the Sabbath Euening THE ANALYSIS The fittest subiect of contemplation on the Sabbath is the meditation on the eternall Sabbath in heauen of which the Sabbath on earth is a type Consider it two wayes Priuately there is No sinne No tempter or temptation No thraldome or seruitude No labour or toyle No sorrow or griefe No paine or torment No night or darkenesse No death No curse No feare Positiuely there are Euerlasting habitations Indefiezable estates of inheritance Royall honours and dignities Inualuable wealth and riches Vnspeakable ioyes and pleasures in the Sight and fruition of God Societie with Christ Companie with all Saints Angels Glorification of our bodies PerfectioÌ„ of our soules in Knowledge Righteousnesse Loue vnion with God THE TEXTS WE looke for a new heauen and a new earth according to his promises in which dwelleth righteousnes 2. Pet. 3. 13. The Dragon fought with his Angels Reu. 12. 7. But they preuitled not neither was their place found any more in heauen ver 8. And the Dragon that old Serpent called the Diuell and Satan was cast out c. ver 9. Reioyce yee heauens and yee that dwell in them The creature shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. 21. There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4 9. Bessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours Reu. 14. 13. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reu. 7. 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun-light on them nor any heate Reu. 7. 16. And there shall bee no night there and they shall neede no candle nor the light of the Sunne for the Lord God giueth them light c. Reu. 22. 5. There shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the first things are passed Reu. 21. 4. And there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it Reu. 22. 3. Your ioy shall no man take away from you Ioh. 16. 22. That they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations Luk. 16. 9. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle bee destroyed wee haue a building giuen of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. An inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet 1. 4. They striue for a corruptible but wee for an incorruptible crowne 1. Cor. 9. 25. When the chiefe Shepheard shall appeare ye shall receiue an incorruptible crowne of glorie 1. Pet. 5. 4. Take inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you Mat. 25. 34. It is your Fathers pleasure to giue you the kingdome Luk. 12. 32 They shall raigne for euermore Reu. 22. 5. And the building of the wall was of Iasper and the Citie was pure gold like to cleare glasse Reu. 21. 18. And the foundations of the walls were garnished with all manner of precious stones ver 19. And the gates were twelue pearles ver 21. The things which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard neither can enter into mans heart to conceiue are which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2. 9. In thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 12. They shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drink out of the riuer of thy pleasures Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life c. verse 9. I know that my redeemer liueth and I shall see God in my flesh Ioh. 19. 25. Now we see in a glasse darkly but then wee shall see face to face 1 Cor. 13. 12. And they shall see his face and his name shall bee in their foreheads Reu. 22. 4. As for me I will behold thy presence in righteousnesse and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I shall be satisfied with it Ps. 17. 16. Father I will that they which thou hast giuen may bee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast giuen me Ioh. 17. 24. These follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth Reuelation 14. 4. Wee are come to the Mount Sion and to the City of the liuing God and to the celestiall Ierusalem and to the company of innumerable Angels Heb. 12. 22. And to the Congregation of the first-borne which are written in heauen c. verse 23. This corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortall shall put on immortality 1 Cor. 15. 13. The glory of the earthly is one and the glory of the heauenly is another verse 40. There is one glory of the Sun and another of the Moone and another glory of the Starres for one starre differeth from another starre in glory verse 41. So also is the resurrection of the dead c. verse 42. He shall change our vile body and make it fashioned like vnto his glorious body Philippians 3. 21. They that be wise shall shine as the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starres for euer Daniel 12. 3. Now I know but in part but then I shall know as I am knowne 1 Cor. 13. 12. We are come to the congregation of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to God the Iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men Heb. 12. 23. When that which is perfect shall
the Lord ô my soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Psal. 103. 1. Praise the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits v. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sin and healeth all thine infirmities v. 3. Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnes v. 4. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle v. 5. The Lord is full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse v. 8. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Psal. 34. 8. The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my saluation Psal. 118. 14. The voice of ioy and health is in my dwellings the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe v. 15. The right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe v. 16. I will not dye but liue and declare the workes of the Lord v. 17. The Lord hath chastened and corrected me but hee hath not giuen me ouer vnto death v. 18. Open me the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe in and giue thankes to the Lord v. 19 A Thanksgiuing for recouery O Lord God of my health saluation who hast knowne my soule in trouble and diddest make my bed in my painefull dangerous sicknes and hast now raised me out of it to stand before thee I offer now vnto thee the calues of my lippes and the sacrifice of my body and soule which thou first gauest and now hast restored vnto me Because I employed not the faculties of my soule and members of my body as I should haue done thou bereauedst mee of the strength and vigour and vse of them for a season But now because thy compassioÌ„ failes not thou hast returned them to me againe Wherefore I consecrate and deuote them perpetually to thy seruice no longer desiring the vse of them then they may bee seruants vnto me of righteousnesse vnto holinesse What I vowed in my sicknesse by the helpe I will carefully performe in my health As I am in the state of my body so by the power of thy renewing grace I will become in the estate of my soule a new man My broken heart which thou hast healed shall now entirely loue thee my feeble knees and loose bones which thou hast setled shall day and night bowe vnto thee My enthralld meÌ„bers which thou hast set free shall cheerefully serue thee My weake hands which thou hast streÌ„gthened shal continually be lifted vp vnto thee My tyed tongue which thou hast loosened shall vnfold thy mercies My deafe eares which thou hast opened shall heare thy voice My harsh and hoarse and faint voice which thou hast cleared shall sing alowde a song of mercy and iudgement For in thy former mercies thou forgottest not iudgement to make mee know mine euil and in the latter iudgement thou remembredst mercy to make me know thy goodnes By thy iudgement thou hast taught me to know my self and by thy mercies to know thee Before I was troubled I went wrong but now sith thou hast set me right I will run the way of thy Commandements I will perpetually renew and refresh the memory of this singular benefit whereby thou hast renewed and restored me and by the smart of my paine made mee vnderstand wisedome secretly Thy rod and thy staffe as they haue comforted and supported mee so they haue beate many profitable instructions into me By thy scourge which peirceth the flesh and entereth into the heart and bowells I learne that thou requirest truth in the inward parts and searchest the reines and the heart By thy rod which at once striketh all the parts of my body though it fall heauiest vpon one particular I learne that though sinne reigneth and rageth in one kinde more then another yet that my whole soule is diseased The whole head is sicke and the whole heart is faint My fits were many because my sins were multiplyed My paine increased because my sins were aggrauated My wounds stanke and were corrupt through my foolishnesse the insufferable anguish whereof as it gaue me a quicke touch of my sin so also a liuely sence of the benefit of health By my confining to my chamber thou taughtest me what is the benefit of liberty by the weakenesse of my limmes what is the benefit of strength by my want of appetite what the benefit of a stomacke is by the missing my friends what the benefit of society is by my continuall watching what the benefit of rest and repose is by the stupidity and deadnesse of al my parts what the benefit of the senses is Alas what is a crowne beset with rubies to a man that hath a carbuncle in his head What is a chaine of pearles to one that hath a squinsie in his neck Or a collar of Esss to him that hath an impostume on his brest Or a diamond ring to him that hath the gowte in his finger Or the golden garter to him that hath the crampe in his leg What are melodious songs to the deafeâ—â— Beautifull pictures to a blinde man Dainty dishes to a man that hath lost his taste What are large reuenewes to him that possesseth nothing but his bed What are all to him that is tormented in body with the pangs of death or troubled in minde with the horror of hell I confesse vnto thee ô Lord that in my health I often read in the Scriptures and heard this note from the sweete singers of Israel that worldly delights and comforts were vaine and much like flaggs and bulrushes which men in danger of drowning catch to beare them vp but they sinke downe vnder water with them I cannot denie but the golden bells of Aaron in thy Sanctuarie haue often rung this lesson in mine eares that the true Heart's ease groweth onely in thy Paradise that the contents of the large volume of this world is nothing but vanitie that one little fit of an ague can dispossesse the happiest man aliue of his temporall felicitie Yet till I learned by that which I suffered till thy rod had imprinted it euen in my flesh I neuer deepely thought of it nor so throughly assented thereunto but I held the world though not in admiration yet in too great esteeme I secretly repined at the wealth of the couetous and honour of the ambitious and pleasure of the voluptuous and accounted the liues of thy Saints miserable in comparison of them so foolish was I and ignorant and euen as it were a beast before thee But in this schoole of my sicknesse I haue perfectly gotten by heart that which I did but slubber ouer before and learned by rote In my fearefull visitation finding by mine owne experience that all earthly delights and comforts leaue vs in our extremities and cannot steed vs when we most neede nay they rather increase then asswage our
Our condition requires it Examples of mecknes God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The Saints Moses Dauid Ieremiah The woman of Canaan Saint Paul Resemblances in the creatures Meekenesse bringeth peace Wealth Honour Wisedome The fruits of the spirit Blessednesse 1 Gods Commandement 2 The Saints practise Hezekiah Manasses Ezra Peter 3 A preparation to the Gospell 4 Acceptable to God 5 The effect of true conuersion 6 A cause of many diuine vertues 7 Bringeth ioy and comfort 8 The want of it fearefull Precepts for seeking the meanes of saluation Examples Dauid Mary The bearers of Iohn Baptist. Promises of life All things needfull Gods fauour Delight Peace Life Blessed content The kingdome of heauen Saluation by Mercy It is the most eminent attribute to God Precepts of mercy The last iudgement proceeds vpon works of mercy Mercy the fruit of the Spirit The Saints practise Iobs Tabithas Cornelius The good Samaritans Philippians Onesiphorus Philemons Workes of mercy a certaine note of pure Religion In assurance of saluation and meanes of obtaining mercy at Gods hand 1. Precepts for it 2. God takes notice of it 3. God highly esteemes it 4. Promises of 1. Life 2. Fauour of Kings 3. Sight of God 4. Gods fauours 5. Profiting by the Word 6. Abode in heauen Precepts God the Father God of peace The Sonne Prince of peace The holy Ghost the Spirit of peace Examples The Saints children of peace The fâ—uits of peace are Prosperity Honour Benediction Wisdome Righteousnesse The speciall presence of God Vnity Beatificall vision God his Will Power Ordinance Christ his loue Example Sympathy The Saints continuall practise Ioseph Iob. Daniel Ieremiah The Apostls and Saints of the Primitiue Church Paul The Thesa louians The Hebrewes Thyatyra Encouragements Couuersion of enemies Conuiction Triall Ioy. Assurance of Gods loue Fruit of righteousnesse Holinesse Perfection The promises Life Honour in in heauen Rewards in this life For holinesse 1. Precepts 2. Paterens so fit in God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The church Reasons drawne from the Creation Our Vocation Redemption Sanctification Glorification Fruites of holinesse Ioy. Peace Prosperitie Dignitie Faith commanded As necessarie to all religious duties as Prayer Hearing the word The Sacrament It is Pretious Holy Proper to the Elect. Grounded on God the Father his Word Oath The Sonne his promise Pray The Spirits earnest Seale Faith worketh miracles Ouercommeth the 〈◊〉 The world Maketh sonnes of God Purifieth the heart Keepeth from confusion Iustifieth Saueth Crowneth with euerlasting blessings Precepts for perseuerance Examples Abraham Dauid Daniel The blind man The Cananitsh woman Peters conuerts Paul Cornelius The beasts full of eyes The Corinthians CoÌ„tinuance is a note of Truth Hath certaine promises of reward Saluation Comfortable assurance A crowne of life Apostasie and backsliding vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Fearefully thrâ—aâ—ned with losse of reward Of Gods fauour With a reprobate sence Infamy Death Eternally punished Death is common to all men The time and houre is by God prefixed God is an omnipotent and faithfull Creator Christ himselfe died and by death entred into his glorie And destroyed death And changed it in Name Nature Of a losse it is made a gaine Of a curse a blessing and a dâ—scharge from Labour Sorrow Paine Sinne. Free from euill company Bondage Temptation Feare the Saints desire Death Are comforted in death by Faith By Loue. By Hope By a good conscience The bodie resteth in hope of a glorious resurrection The soule immediatly enioyeth blisse Body and sonle shall be crowned at the last day Fruitfulnes is a spirituall blessing The paines are deserued by the sin of Eue. Sweetened with hop of a childe And promises of blessings Temporall Spirituall Confidence in God comanded Practised by Abraham Saraah Moses Dauid Eliah Hester Iob. The three children Ionah Reasons drawne from God His Attributes Faithfulnesse Prouidence Omnipotencie Goodnesse Gracious promises Performances to men in distresse as Lot The children of Israel Eliah Citizens of Samaria The 3 children as they are called Daniel Ionah Peter The sicke soule expresseth her malady Remembrance and experience of Gods goodnesse Hope in God Meeke patience Prayeth for ease Helpe Recouery Quickening grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome Sicknesse is God's visitation who is the Father of our Spirits and cannot be resisted Must be obeyed From whoÌ„ we receiue good It is a scourge for our sins It is sent for our good To weane vs from the world To tame the flesh and strengthening the Spirit To make vs loath sin To bring vs to acknowledgement of our sins in speciall To proue sincerity of our faith and loue To keepe vs from euerlasting torments To make vs seeke more earnestly to God Who will be found of vs. And shew his glory in our recouery For thankfulnesse Examples of Christ. The Angels The Saints in heauen The Saints on earth Melchizedeck Iacob The people of Israel in Moses time Moses Deborah Barak Anna. Dauid Salomon Ezra Isaiah Ezekias Daniel Ionah Marie Zacharias The Shepheards The man taken with a Palsie The people The woman that had a Spirit of infirmity One of the Lepers The blinde man The 〈…〉 Paul Peter Iude. Iohn Precepts In thy extremest fit meditate vpon 1 The heinousnes of thy sin deseruing a sharper scourge 2 The vnsufferable torments of hel which by these teÌ„porall chastisements â—re preuenâ—ed 3 The vnconceiuable paines and sorrowes which Christ endured for thee 4 The afflictions of Gods Saints equalizing farre surpassing thine Iob. Dauid Ieremiah The Apostles and first Disciples Paul 5 The faithfulnesse goodnesse of God who will not tempt vs aboue our strength 6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes 7 The incoÌ„parable reward of our patience See the Admoniâ—ion for good-Fryday Pray instantly and feruently Desire others to pray ◠〈◊〉 open thy sins and griefe in particular Weepe abundantly Restore Reconcile Forgiue freely from the heart Giue as thou art able liberally Seeke to thy Pastor and desire comfort froÌ„ him and the Church absolution Medit at vpon by faith apply to thy selfe Gods infinite mercy The vertue of the Sacraments The vniuersality of promises to penitent sinners The example of Gods mercy in pardoning heinous and grieueus sinners Peter Mary Magdalen The prodigall The theefe on the Crosse. The Iewes that crucified or consented to the crucifying of IESVS Layeth opeÌ„ his afflictions in body and soule Confesseth Prayeth for audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sin 4 Acknowledgeth Gods mercies 5 Professeth trust Desire of death Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Assured hope of Eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God
Ancilla Pietatis OR THE HAND-MAID to Priuate DEVOTION Presenting a Manuell to furnish her with Necessary Principles of Faith Forcible Motiues to a holy life Vsefull Formes of Hymnes and Prayers fitted to The Christian Feasts and Fasts The Weeks of the yeere The daies of the Weeke Christus fide concipitur confessione nascitur deuotione tenetur S. Leo. By Daniel Featly D. Diuinity At London printed for Nicholas Bourne Anno Domini 1626 Then another Angel Re Watch yee in Faith and Hope and A the serpent was lif Io 3.14 Loo y 3 starre Matt 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk 2.11 There apeared 〈…〉 Why stand ye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts â—â—â—… 〈…〉 Mat 28. â—… Deuotion Handmaid 〈…〉 in Christo Patris 〈…〉 Coll. Emman Cantab. TO THE RIGHT Noble and Religious Lady the Dutchesse of Buckingam her GRACE May it please your Grace SAint Ierome in a Funerall Oration strewing flowers vppon the hearst of Fabiola said coÌ„cerning her VVee haue lost a most pretious iewell out of the Church But since your happy departure from the Romish Synagogue and repairing to our true reformed Church wee may say on the contrary in regard of you We haue gained a most pretious Iewell to the Church Such lowlinesse of minde in such height of fortunes such Deuotion in such distractions such constancy in such temptations wee blesse God for in you wee pray God for in others of your Sexe and ranke If to touch vpon your modesty were not to wound it and to relate your continuall practise of Deuotion were not to interrupt it I should speake much of it yet no more then they know to bee most true who are neerest to you when you draw neere to your Father in secret But because it is not the least of your praises that you cannot endure praise and there are many in England not onely in Africa who are bewitched by flattery I will drawe a veile before those eminent parts which my pensill cannot expresse And therfore ceasing farther to blazon your vertues I humblie craue leaue of you to preferre vnto you a seruant to attend you in your closet I meane THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION who vpon her knee tenders to your Grace some helpes to your Deuotion together with the Deuotion and prayers of the Author to God for you to crowne you with the blessings of this life and the blessednesse of the life to come Your Graces humbly deuoted DANIEL FEATLY THE PREFACE to the Reader CHRISTIAN READER IN the late dreadfull Visitation when the waies of Sion mourned because none passed by them and the gates of the Sanctuary lamented because almost none entred at them Religion her selfe for the most forbearing the Church and keeping her closet and there finding sufficient employment to complaine of bewaile the danger and desolation of her solemnest assemblies I fell into a serious consideration of the vse and most vrgent necessity of PRIVATE DEVOTION And to the end I might accord with my brethren in their groanes and cries being smitten my selfe with a dangerous though not infectious disease I gaue ouer those waters of strife wherein I had met with the Romish Fisher intangled in his owne Net and sought after the waters of Shiloah that runne softly which at that season farre better relished with me then the other Not that I altered my iudgement touching the studie of controuersies which without all controuersie is not onely most needefull but delightfull also to them that are therein exercised It is an easie taske and almost euery ones labour now a dayes to gather flowers of Paradice and make Posies or Garlands of them for Christ's Spouse But it is not for euery hand to meddle with those thornie difficulties which yet must be carefully handled by them who will make a strong hedge or sure fence for the Lord's Vineyard The more perplexed and intricate the difficulty is the greater is the contentment in beating out the truth in points of no lesse consequence then difference Children are not so much delighted with smiting flints one against the other to see the sparcles as meÌ„ of rational vnderstaÌ„ding discourse by collision of contrary arguments to strike out the fire of diuine Truth And this fire as well as that other which the naturall heate of Deuotion kindleth yeeldeth much warmth to the conscience euen of a dying man Witnesse Oecolampadius whose last words were these Now I goe cheerefully to the tribunall of Christ where it shall appeare that I haue not seduced God's people but haue sincerely taught the truth of God I might instance likewise in Doctor Whitaker's Cygnea Cantio his swanlike song before his death wherein hee warbleâ—h sweetely vpon those at this day most Vexed questions of vniuersall grace and freewill And his contemporary the eye of the other Vniuersity Doctor Reynolds when hee lay on his death bed called for Doctor Abbots after the Lord Bishop of Salisbury Reply to W. Bishop then newly come forth and heard much of it read vnto him with great contentment But being as I said euen now out of tune in my body I listed not nor in that shaking weakenes could hold fast the peggs to streine and tune the iarring strings of câ—ntrouersed opinions in point of Religion That which I then most desired was to settle my thoughts and affections and compose my soule to rest by listening to the sweete songs of Sion set to Dauids well-tuned harpe and runs vpon in exquisite diuision by some of our excellent Asaphs in their pious Treatises Soliloquies Prayers Meditations and Contemplations This heauenly musick so ranished my senses that I found by experience in the twylight betwixt the day of life and night of death that inlightened thoughts affoord nothing like comfort to en flamed affections Now the oyle which feedeth this sacred flame next to the inspired holy Scriptures floweth most abundantly in Treatises of Deuotion In which kinde of writings the Romanists for the most part exceede in bulke but our Diuines in weight The Church of Rome like Leah is more fruitfull but her Deuotions like Leah in this also are bleaâ—e-eyed with superstitioÌ„ But the mother of our faith like Rachel is not altogether so fruitful yet she is more comely and beautiful and I hope wil be also here after as fruitful Verily if euer Priuate Deuotions powring theÌ„selus forth in brinish teares were in season now they are Neuer losses so great to be bewailed neuer iudgements so fearefull to bee auerted neuer hearts so hard to be mollified neuer consciences so fowle to be rinsed by teares as now Nature hath prouided a soueraigne remedy against the sting of the Scorpion in the oyle of the Scorpion When thou feelest the sting it is but bruising the Serpent and rubbing it on the place and the moisture presently of the Serpent killed destroyeth the venome of that Serpent I would to God our soules were as deare to vs as our bodies and that we tooke as much care for remedies against sinne as salues
anew not of mortall seede but of immortall 1 Pet. 12. 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. New wine must bee put into new bottells Mat. 9. 17. d As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the father So also wee should walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. e We are deliuered from the Law being dead to it wherewith we were holden that wee should serue in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7. 6. Purge out the old leuen that ye may be a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7 If any man be in Christ let him bee a new creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 Cor. 5. 17. In Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. According to his mercy hee hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. f Returne and liue Eze. 19. Cease to doe euill learne to do well c. Isa. 1. 16. Though your sinnes were as crimson they shall bee made white as snow verse 18. g Vnlesse yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Luke 12. 3. h Repent and doe the first workes Reu. 2. 5. Repentance vnto life Acts 11. 18. i Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for the second death shall haue no power ouer him Reu. 10. 5. A Prayer for Easter-day GLorious Sonne of righteousnesse who this morning didst preuent the dawning of the day by sending forth the beames of thy glorified body out of the pitâ— of darknesse and A shadow of death shine vpon my soule by the light of thy grace Inlighten my darke apprehension of the misteries of thy resurrection Inflame my cold affections and reuiue my heart euen deaded with pensiue thoughts vpon thy bitter passion O how did the surest ground of faith shake the fastest Anker of hope loosen ' at the earthquake at thy death what smiting together of knees what wringing of hands what knocking of brests what fainting of hearts what hanging downe of heads were there at giuing vp of the Ghost when thy head hung downe on the Crosse with thee the faith with thee the hope with thee the ioy with thee the life of thy dearest Disciples expired What should or could the prisoners of death euer expect when they saw him whom they thought to haue bin their redeemer the Lord of life arrested by death and kept close prisoner in the graue so long O death how sharpe was then thy sting O graue how fearefull was thy seeming victory But blessed bee the angell which remoued the stone and thereby made way that the stone which the builders refused might be preferred to bee the head stone in the corner Blessed be the right hand of thy Father who in raising thee out of the graue raised our hope out of the dust For where is our hope Our hope is euen in thee ô Christ and thy resurrection Thou art the life and the resurrection of all that belieue in thee Death like a Hornet by stinging thee hath lost his sting and now may make a buzzing noise to affright me but can thrust out no sting to hurt mee The graue by thy lying in it is turned to a bedde and a withdrawing roome to retire my selfe a while to put off this ragged flesh and attire my selfe with robes of glory Now I dare insult ouer death and hell since thy triumph ouer them O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory O my soule where is all thy comfort If in this life thou art most miserable if thy life bee hid with Christ in God then when Christ which is thy life shall appeare thou shalt also appeare in glory What though I mourne here I shall be comforted What though I fast here I shall bee satisfied What though I am disgraced here I shall bee glorified What though I am here trampled vnder feete I shall there be crowned What though my flesh be eaten with wormes and these wormes turned into dust and that dust blowed by the winde ouer the face of the earth Yet after thou turnedst man to destruction againe thou sayest Come againe yee children of men I know thou my Redeemer liuest and shall stand vp at the last day and I shall see them in my flesh with these eyes and no other Lord establish this beliefe in me beate downe all the forts that naturall reason reareth against it Grant that I may euery day more and more feele as the power of thy birth in my regeneration and of thy death in my mortification so also of thy resurrection in my rising from the death of sinne to the life of Grace Lord thou restoredst life to three men to one in his bed to another on the beare to the third in the graue They who conceiue sinne in their hearts are like him that was dead in his bed they who bring it forth into action are like him that was brought forth dead on his beare but they that continue in sinne and all impurity and putrifie in the custome thereof are like him that was foure dayes dead and stanke in the graue Such a one or worse am I for I haue layen not foure dayes but scores of yeeres in this loathsome graue and am euen deuoured of the worme of conscience Yet Lord this day of thy glorious resurrection say vnto mee as thou didst to him Come forth awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and I will giue thee light Make this day of thy resurrection from the death of nature the day of my rising from the death of sinne and corruption first to the life of grace and after to the life of glory Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S ASCENSION OR Holy-Thurs-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old TestameÌ„t Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Sauiours going in triumph into Heauen PARALELL Prophecie Thou hast ascended vp on high thou hast ledde captiuity captiue Psalm 68. 18. Historie And when he had spokeÌ„ these things while they beheld him hee was taken vp Act. 1. 9. Hee rodde vpon the Cheâ—ubims did flye yea he did flye vpon the wings of the wind Psa. 18. 10. For a Clowd tooke him out of their sight Act. 1. 9. Sit thou on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. Hee was caried vp into heauen and he sate on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19. Type Eliah was taken vp with a fierie Charet 2. King 2. 11. Accomplishment While hee blessed them he was parted from them and caried vp into heauen Luke 24. 51. For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's Ascension For thy comfort apply the benefit thereof to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy desires and affections check thy earthlinesse and worldlinesse Thy faith and ioy by the Psalme Thy loue and hope by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion
of Martyrs since the worlds beginning were put in one skale and thine in the other thy Passion would beare them all down for thou barest the full weight of thy Father's heauiest hand Neuer were there sufferings like thy sufferings because neuer such a Sufferer the torments being infinitely improued by the Bearer Neuer sweat like thy sweat because neuer any had a burthen like to thine Neuer teares like thy teares because shed for them who thirsted for thy bloud Neuer torments like thy torments because neuer flesh so pure and tender as thy flesh Neuer horrour like to thy horrour being forsaken of thy Father because neuer loue like to thy loue of him Neuer sorrow like to thy sorrow because neuer sense and apprehension like to thy sense and apprehension of the infinite displeasure of God for the sinnes of mankinde O my most bountifull Redeemer who bestowedst largely and wast bestowed liberally for me it concerneth mee to know how much I stood thee in For how should I estimate thy loue if I cannot cast the totall of the Debt thou diddest discharge for mee But no heart can conceiue what sorrow thou conceiuedst no tongue can expresse what griefe thou diddest expresse by thy bloudy teares and those thy strong cries when thou complainedst that thy soule was heauy vnto death prayedst thy Father if it were possible to let this 〈◊〉 passe from thee I am appaled at thine agony I am astonished or thy feare I am amazed at thy patience I am rauished at thy loue My heart riseth my veines swell my bloud boiles within me against thy Persecuters If it were in my power I would put them all to millions of torments I would inflict a thousand deaths vpon Iudas that betrayed thee and Pilat that condemned thee and the enuious Scribes and Pharisees that layed snares for thee and the periured witnesses that gaue false euidence against thee and that execrable rout that preferred a murtherer before thee and the barbarous Souldiers that spit vpon thee and buffeted thee and the bloudy executioners of the Iewish malice and Romane cruelty that hanged and nayled and goared thee But when I diue deepe into thy bloudy passion I finde my selfe as deepe in the guilt of thy bloud-shedding as they They were in that but accessaries but I by my sinnes was a principall in the death of the Lord of Life My sinnes by their tongues and hands did all this villany outrage vpon thee Their nailes and speares pierced but the flesh but my sinnes pierced thy very soule My sinnes my sinnes O Lord by their hands crucified thee wherefore I condemne mine eyes to continuall teares my heart to perpetuall sighs and my thoughts to euerlasting pensiuenesse What shall I doe to wash away the guilt of thy bloud which alone can take away the guilt of my sinnes Verily I should bee vtterly swallowed vp in this gulfe but that the price of thy bloud hath satisfied as for all other sins so for the guilt of spilling it selfe And now my anger and feare and trouble anguish are all turned into ioy and comfort and loue admiration of the infinite wisdome of thy Father in prouiding such a remedy and his iustice in requiring such a satisfaction but most of all thy infinite loue making so full payment of the infinite debt of my sinnes What can I do what can I suffer enough for thee Gracious God to all the rest of thy blessings spirituall temporall conferred vpō me purchased by thy sufferings adde this one aboue the rest the special gift of the remembrance of these thy sufferings that wheresoeuer I am whatsoeuer I doe I may haue thy passion in my heart and thy wounds bleeding afresh in my mind with an infinite hatred of sinne that procured them and loue of thy goodnesse who induredst them for me Thy Church since thou leftest her is a widdow and I am as one of her dead children not as the Samaritan was halfe dead but whole dead in my sinnes and transgressions Thou Lord art the true Elias who raisedst and doest raise from death this Widdowes children to life by stretching thy body ouer them O my gracious Lord apply thy Body stretched this day on the Crosse to me Lay thy head to my head thy hands to my hands thy feet to my feet and thy heart to my heart that I may receiue warmth from thy bloud and ease from thy stripes and health from thy wounds and spirit from thy breath and strength from thy grace to stand vp from the dead and walke with thee from hence forth in newnesse of life So bee it Amen The weeke dayes Deuotions THe first day being the Christian Sabbath preceded the Festiualls whither I referre thee The others here follow in their order Munday's Deuotion being the second day from the Creation The Father worketh The worke of Creation on this day AGaine God said Let there be a Firmament in the middest of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters Gen. 1. 3. Then God made the Firmament and separated the waters that were vnder the Firmament from the waters that were aboue the Firmament and it was so and God called the Firmament Heauen ver 7. So the euening and the morning were the 2. day ver 8. And I worke THe worke of redemption this day prophesied of in the Epistle Isa. 50. 6. I gaue my backe vnto the smiters my cheeks to the nippers I hid not my face from shame spitting c. Related in the Gospell Mat. 27. 1 2. When the morning was come all the chiefe Priests and the Elders of the People tooke counsell against Iesus to put him to death For thine instruction meditate In the morning vpon the worke of Creation In the euening vpon the worke of Redemption For thy comfort apply the Vse of the one Benefit of the other For thy corrction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankes by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing THE HYMNE HAue I not remembred thee in my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking Psal 63. 7. Because thou hast beene my helper therefore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce ver 8. My soule hangeth vpon thee thy right hand hath vpholden me ver 9. Saue me O God for the waters are come in euen to my soule Psal. 69. 1. I stick fast in the deepe mire where no ground is I am come into deepe waters so that the flouds runne ouer me ver 2. My misdeeds preuaile against me O be thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Psal. 65. 3. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vnto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and shall bee satisfied with the pleasures of thine House euen of thy holy Temple ver 4. Thou shalt shew vs wonderfull things in thy righteousnesse O God of our saluation thou that art the hope of all the ends of
conscience and the cleare light of the Gospel to guide my feete into the way of peace This light conuinceth the errours of my vnderstanding the deprauation of my will the disorder of my affections the impurity of my thoghts the vanity of my desires the deceitfulnesse of my heart the wickednes of all my wayes This light sheweth mee what I was in my birth slime and filthinesse what in my life vanity and folly and what in my death stench rottennesse This light discouereth vnto me that I haue nothing which I haue not receiued that without Christ I can doe nothing that in me that is in my body dwelleth no good that I am not able of my selfe as of my self think a good thought that I cannot desire to thinke nor haue wil to desire nor grace to will any good My comforts are rare my crosses frequent my pleasures momentary my paines permanent my gifts small my wants and infirmities great my helpes weake my assaults strong my good deeds few and they tainted with imperfections my sinnes infinite Let these considerations O Lord humble me in my selfe that Christ may raise me wound mee in my selfe that Christ may heale me burden mee in my selfe that Christ may ease me kill mee in my owne conceits that Christ may quicken me make mee most vile in mine own eyes that I may bee most deare and precious in his O Lord which as vpon this day createdst the clouds to raine vpon the earth showre downe thy graces abundantly into my heart to mollifie it that the seede of the Word may take deepe root downeward in humility and spring vpward in hope and spread abroad by charity and fructifie in all kindes of good workes Lord who this day separatedst the waters from the waters separate I beseech thee and distinguish betweene the waters of teares which I shed for my sinnes and those others which I shed for worldly crosses and calamities Cast away the one and put the the other into thy bottle Lord who this day madest the heauens or ayre without which I cannot liue naturally no not for a moment infuse into my heart the Spirit of grace without which spiritually I cannot breathe in my prayers nor sigh nor so much as moue any facultie or part of soule or body vnto thee As oft as I take in or let out the aire which I breathe let mee receiue in grace from thee and breathe out praise vnto thee Amen The close out of Scripture The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with me 2. Cor. 13. vlt. The Euening's Deuotion for Munday THE HYMNE Heare me O Lord in the multitude of thy mercies euen in the truth of thy saluation Psal. 69. 14. Let not the water floods drowne mee nor the deepe swallow me vp and let not the pit shut her mouth vpon mee verse 16. Thou diddest diuide the sea through thy power and brakest the heads of the Dragons in the waters Psal. 74. 14. Thou smoest the heads of Leuiathan in pieces and gauest him to be meate for the people in the wildernesse verse 15. Thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard Rocks thou driedst vp mighty waters verse 16. Thou art the God that doth wonders and hast declared thy power among the people Psal. 77. 14. The waters saw thee O God the waters saw thee and were afraid the depths also were troubled verse 16. The clouds powred out water the aire thundered and thine arrowes went abroad verse 17. The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings shone vpon the ground the earth was moued verse 18. Thou bringest forth clouds from the ends of the world and sendest forth Lightnings with the raine bringing the windes out of his treasures Psal. 135. The springs of water were seene and the foundations of the round world were discouered at thy chiding O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure Psal. 18. 15. Thy way is in the Sea and thy pathes in the great waters and thy footsteps are not knowne Psal. 77. 19. THE ADMONITION for Munday's Euening being an exhortation to meeknes THE ANALYSIS The speciall Arguments to perswade meeknes set downe in Scripture are drawne from 1. The causes Impulsiue 1 Diuine precepts 2 humane frailty Exemplary God the Father Sonne H. Ghost The Saints The creatures in which nature hath patern'd this vertue 2 The effects 1 Peace With God With men 2 Wealth 3 Wisedome and spiritual vnderstanding 4 Sanctifying graces the fruits of the Spirit 5 Blessednesse THE TEXTS PVt them in minde c. Tit. 3. 1. That they be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meekenesse to all men verse 2. If any man bee ouertaken in a fault ye which are spirituall restore such a one in the spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6. 1. I beseech you that yee walke worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with lowlinesse and meeknesse with long suffering forbearing one another in loue Ephes. 4. 2. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloued the bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of minde meeknesse long-suffering Col. 3. 12. Forbearing one another forgiuing one another if any man haue a quarrell against any euen as Christ forgaue you so also doe ye verse 13. But thou O man of God flye these things and follow after righteousnesse godlinesse faith patience meekenesse 1. Tim. 6. 11. Dearely beloued auenge not your selues but rather giue place vnto wrath For it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12. 19. Wherefore my beloued Brethren let euery man bee swift to heare slow to speake and slow to wrath Iam. 1. 19. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God verse 20. Look diligently least any man faile of the grace of God least any root of bitternesse spring vp and trouble you and thereby many be defiled Heb 12. 15. Consider thy selfe least thou also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. Let him among you that is without sinne cast the first stone Ioh. 8. 7. Hee shall haue iudgement without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy reioyceth against iudgement Iam. 3. 13. And they heard the voice of the Lord in the coole of the day walking in the garden c. Gen. 3. 8. And after the earthquake there was a fire but God was not in the fire and after the fire a still small voice verse 12. in which voice God was And it was so when Eliah heard it c. verse 13. Neuerthelesse for thy great mercies sake thou diddest not vtterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and mercifull God Nehem. 9. 31. God said to Ionah Doest thou well to be angry for thy Gourd Ion. 4. 9. Thou hast pitie on the Gourd for which thou hast not laboured which came in a night and perished in a night verse 10. And should not I spare Nineueh that great
I belieue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Is it not as easy for thee to raise mee out of ashes as at the first to reare me out of the dust to send backe my Spirit into my body as at the first to breathe it in I see the seede in the ground the plants in the garden dye before they rise and spring vp I see wormes and flies and diuerse other creatures that spend the winter season in a kinde of death reuiue in the Spring I see my selfe dead euery night and aliue in the morning Why then should I call in question this Article of my beliefe of all most comfortable Lord who this euening dist cast Adam into a dead sleepe and thy selfe fellest asleepe on the bedde of thy Crosse and awakedst him againe and raisedst thy selfe out of thy sleepe of death sanctifie my rest and sleepe this night vnto me that I may by it not only be strengthened in my body and reuiued from my bed of slumber to rise to my labour and trauell the next morning but also more confirmed in my faith touching the resurrection of this my body out of the bedde of the graue at the last day So bee it Amen The close out of Scripture To him that loued vs and washed our sinnes in his blood and made vs Kings and Priests to God euen his Father bee glory and dominion for euermore Amen Reu. 1. 5 6. Saturdayes Deuotion The Father resteth from the workes of Creation IN the seauenth day God ended his worke which he had made and the seauenth day he rested from all his worke which he had made Gen. 2. 2. So God blessed the seauenth day and sanctified it because that in it hee had rested from all his worke which God had created and made verse 3. The Sonne resteth in the Sepulcher ANd when the euen was come there came a rich man of Arimathea named Ioseph who had also himselfe bin Iesus's Disciple Mat. 27. 57. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus And Pilate commanded the body to bee deliuered verse 58. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth verse 59. And put it in his new Tombe which he had hewen out in a Rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the Sepulcher and departed verse 60. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting ouer against the Sepulcher verse 61. Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the chiefe Priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate verse 62. Saying Sir we remember that that deceiuer sayed while hee was yet aliue After three dayes I will rise againe verse 63. Command therefore that the Sepulcher be made sure vntill the third day left his Disciples come by night and steale him away and say vnto the people He is risen from the dead so the last error will bee worse then the first verse 64. Pilate saide vnto them Yee haue a watch goe your way make it as sure as you can verse 65. So they went and made the Sepulcher sure sealing the stone and setting a watch verse 66. For thine instruction meditate In the morning on the Father's rest from works of Creation In the euening on the Sonn's works of Redemption For thy comfort apply the benefits of both to thy selfe which are A holy rest here and happy rest hereafter Euerlasting For thy correction reprooue thy prophaning God's holy Sabbath by First Worldly businesse Secondly Carnal pleasures Thirdly Omitting holy duties Fourthly Performing them Negligently Vnwillingly Quicken thy Preparation to holy duties by the Psalme Constancy in life and death by the Admonition Zeale Deuotion and resolution by the Prayer ensuing The Hymne for Saturday Morning I Haue remembred thy Name ô Lord in the night season and haue kept thy Law Psal. 119. 57. I thought on my waies and turned my feete to thy testimonies verse 59. I preuented the dawning of the morning and cryed I hoped in thy Word v. 147. Heare my voice according to thy louing kindnesse ô Lord quicken mee according to thy iudgements verse 149. Seauen times a day doe I praise thee according to thy righteous iudgement v. 164. Great peace haue they that loue thy Law and nothing shall offend them verse 165. I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord thy Law is my delight verse 174. Deliuer me ô Lord from the wicked which is a sword of thine Psal. 17. 13. From men which are thy hand ô Lord from men of the world which haue their portion in this life and whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasures verse 14. My heart is pained within me and the terrors of death are fallen vpon me Psal. 55. 4. Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon me and horror hath ouerwhelmed me v. 5. O that I had wings like a Doue for then would I fly away and be at rest v. 6. I would hasten my escape from the windy storme and tempest v. 8. An Admonition for Saturday Morning being an exhortation to perseuerance the twelfth BEATITVDE All that expect the reward of Pietie must striue and pray for perseuerance and abhorre and shunne falling away from grace because in Scripture The one is Commanded by God Commended in his Saints Encouraged vnto by promises of Certaine reward Saluation Assured cōfort An incorruptible Crowne of glorie The other is Vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Dreadfully threatned Eternally punished THE TEXTS VVAtch yee therefore and pray continually Luk. 21. 36. Continue yee in loue Ioh 15. 9. Take heede to thy selfe and to thy Doctrine continue in them 1 Tim 4. 16. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast bin assured of 2 Tim 3. 14. Let vs hold fast our profession Heb. 4. 14. Hold fast till I come Reu. 2. 25. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. Dearely beloued and longed for my ioy and crowne stand fast in the Lord Phil. 4. 1. Paul and Barnabas perswaded them to continue in the grace of God Acts 13. 43. Confirming the soules of the disciple◠and exhorting them to continue in aith Act. 14. 22. But ye brethren be not wearie in well doing 2. Thess. 3. 13. Let brotherly loue continue Heb. 13. 1. Stand fast in one spirit with one minde striuing together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 17. Therefore my brethren be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwayes aboūding in the worke of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 28. Watch ye stand fast in the faith acquit you like men 1. Cor. 16. 13. Stand fast therefore in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made vs free Gal. 5. 1. Wherefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all stand fast Eph. 6. 13. Brethren stand fast hold the traditions which ye haue beene taught 2. Thess. 2. 13. Whom resist steadfast in the faith 1. Pet. 5. 9. Ye therefore seeing ye know these things beware lest yee also
A good conscience is a continuall feast Prouerbes 15. 15. For our reioycing is this the testimonie of a good conscience 2. Cor. 1. 12. We trust we haue a good conscience in all things Heb. 13. 18. If our hearts condemne vs not we haue confidence towards God 1. Ioh. 3. 31. Who shall change our vile bodies and make them like vnto his glorious bodie Phil 3. 20. See 1. Cor. 15. Entire If we beleeue that Iesus Christ was dead and is risen euen so them which are asleepe in Iesus God shall bring with him 1. Thess. 4. 14. To the spirits of iust men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. The begger died and was carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16. 22. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luk. 23. 43. We know that if our earthly tabernacle be dissolued we haue a building not made with hands eternall in the heauens 2. Cor. 5. 1. We would not be vncloathed but cloathed vpon that mortalitie may be swallowed vp of life ver 4. While we are at home in the bodie we are absent from the Lord ver 6. We are confident that when we are absent from the bodie we are present with the Lord ver 8. vid. supra Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ. There is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to all that looke for his comming 2. Tim. 4. 8. Then we which are aliue and remaine shall be caught vp together with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the aire so shall we be alwayes with the Lord 1. Thess. 4. 17. Then the righteous shall shine as the Sunne in the Kingdome of my Father Mat. 13. 43. THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Euening composed of Petitions sutable to the rest of Christ in the graue Motiues to perseuerance agreeable to the precedent exhortation in the Morning I Blesse and magnifie thy glorious Maiestie wisdome and omnipotencie ô Lord high possessor of heauen and earth as for all thy wonderfull workes in the sixe dayes so also for thy holy rest on this day whereby thou assurest me of eternall rest in heauen And I beseech thee of thy goodnesse which answereth thy greatnesse to distill the dew of thy blessings as vpon my daily labours so vpon my rest in the night that it may recouer my spirits and refresh my faculties and repaire my strength and put me in minde of that comfortable rest which they enioy who lie in the bosome of Abraham and sleepe in Iesus who this day lay in his sepulchre yet saw there no corruption For thy promise thou madest good not to leaue his soule in hell nor to suffer thine holy one to see corruption O Lord I entirely desire thee to burie all my sins especially those which this day and weeke hath added to the totall summe in his graue and teach me by it to burie in the pit of eternall obliuion not onely my brethrens trespasses against me but also all those sinfull baites which haue heretofore allured me to any kinde of vicious leudnesse Grant that I may more and more feele the power as of Christs death in the mortification of my fleshly members and so of his burial in the coÌ„quering of the horror of the graue For as thou hast threatned death saying O death I will be thy death so thou hast threatned the graue also saying O graue or corruption I will be thy corruption or destruction And what though my flesh be all consumed to bones yet thy spirit blowing vpon dead bones can reuiue them and couple them againe with sinnewes and cloathe them with flesh What though these bones be resolued into dust yet thou which madest it of nothing canst as easily restore it and reare it out of that which is as lirtle or next neighbour to nothing Thou which raisedst thy Sonne from death shaâ—t raise and change my vile bodie and make it like vnto his glorious bodie by that power whereby thou art able to subdue all things vnto thy selfe Make my heart hewen out of a harder rocke them thy Sonnes sepulchre was a fit receptacle not for dead but for liuing Iesus As that sepulchre neuer receiued any but Iesus so let my heart entertaine nothing but thee Make me a pure and chaste soule that as thy Sonne was borne of a Virgins wombe and lay buried in a virgine tombe so he may abide in my virgin and vndefiled soule Remoue the heauie stone from my heart as thou diddest that great stone from his sepulchre As he neuer returned to his sepulchre after he came out of it so grant that when thou hast perfectly raised me out of the graue of sin I may neuer returne to it againe And as he kept Sabbath in his graue and obserued thy statutes in life and in death and fulfilled all righteousnesse so grant I may both in life and death accomplish thy holy will And as hee neuer rested till he had cried out All is finished so grant that I may not be wearie of well-doing nor giue ouer my heauenly race of godlinesse till I may say It is finished Endue me with power from aboue and gird about me thy whole armour that I may fight a good fight against the world the flesh and the diuell and finish my course in the full discharge of my calling and keepe the faith to the end and in the end receiue that incorruptible crowne of glory which thou the righteous Iudge wilt giue to all that loue the second comming of thy Sonne And behold thou commest with the cloudes and all eyes shall see euen they that nailed thee and all kindreds of the earth shall mourne before thâ—e yea and Amen So be it The close out of Scripture Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wills sake they are and haue beene created Reu. â— 11. Worthy is the Lambe that was killed to receiue power and riches and wisedome and strength and honour and glory praise Reu. 5. 12 The Childe-bearing Woman's Deuotion In her traueile After her traueile THE ADMONITION THE ANALYSIS Religious women ought patiently and comfortably to endure the paines of childe-birth considering 1. That fruitfulnesse is a speciall blessing and honour to a woman 2. That these paines were the punishments and are the memorials of Eue's transgression 3. That the hope of children who may be members of Christ heires of saluation asswageth the paines for the present and the ioy for them afterwards extinguisheth the memory of them 4. That they haue daily experiments of God's strange deliuerances especially in this kinde 5. That childe-bearing hath a promise annexed vnto it of a blessing Temporal Spiritual if the mothers bee faithfull and so continue THE TEXTS O Lord God of Hoasts if thou wilt indeede looke vpon the affliction of thine Hand-maid and wilt not
haue sinned against heauen and against thee c. v. 20. And he arose went to his Father but when he was yet a great way off his Father sawe him and had compassion came fell on his neck and kissed him v. 20. And he said to Iesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome Luk. 23. 41. And Iesus said vnto him Vetily I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise v. 43. Him ye haue taken and by wicked hands haue crucified and slaine Act. 2. 23. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee haue crucified both Lord and Christ v. 36. Now when they heard this they were pricked in heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall wee doe verse 37. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins v. 38. Then they that gladly receiued the Word were baptized and the same day were added vnto them about three thousand soules verse 41. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe 1 Tim. 1. 15. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in mee Iesus Christ might first shew forth all long suffering for a patterne to them which should hereafter belieue on him to eternall life v. 16. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death wherein The humble and faithfull Christian 1 Layeth open his affliction In body In minde 2 Confesseth his many and grieuous sins 3 Earnestly prayeth for Audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sinne 4 Acknowledgeth God's great mercies through his whole life 5 Professeth his Trust in God Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Desire of Death Assured hope of eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God O Lord God of my saluation I haue cryed day and night before thee ô let my prayer enter into thy presence Psal. 88. 1. For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto hell v. 2. I am weary of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. I am accounted as one that goeth downe to the pit I haue bin as a man that hath no strength Psal. 88. 3. Free among the dead like vnto them that bee wounded and that lie in the graue which be out of remembrance and cut away from thine hand v. 4. Thine indignation lyeth hard vpon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes v. 6. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart also in the middest of my bowells is like melted waxe Psal. 22. 14. My strength is dryed vp like a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my gummes and thou shalt bring mee into the dust of death v. 13. The sorrowes of death compasse me and the ouerflowings of vngodlines make me afraid Psal. 18. 3. The paines of hell come about me the Snares of death ouertake me v. 4. Thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth mee sore Psal. 38. 2. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sin v. 3. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare v. 4. If thou Lord wilt bee extreame to marke what is done amisse ô Lord who may abide it Psal. 130. 3. Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee ô Lord Lord heare my voice v. 1. O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint v. 2. Lord why abhorrest thou my soule and hidest thy face from me Psal. 88. 14. I am in misery and like to him that is at the point to dye from my youth vp thy terrors haue I suffered with a troubled minde v. 15. Thy wrathfull displeasure goeth ouer me and the feare of thee hath vndone me v. 16. Haue mercy vpon mee ô God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Psal. 51. 1. Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne v. 2. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me v. 11. O giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free Spirit v. 12. Neuerthelesse I am alwaies with thee for thou hast holden me vp by thy right hand Psal. 73. 23. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory v. 24. Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord and I desire none in earth in comparison of thee v. 23. Returne to thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee Psal. 116. 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then theirs whose corne and wine and oyle increaseth Psal. 4. 8. I will lay me downe and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest mee dwell in safety v. 9. I will behold thy presence and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I will bee satisfied with it Psal. 17. 16. I shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue mee drinke of thy pleasures as of the riuers Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall I see light v. 9. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore Psal. 16. 12. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal. 31. 6. A Prayer for the sicke lying at the mercy of God and ready to depart AETernall and omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my dayes My body now is resoluing into dust and my soule returning to thee that gauest it O Lord most holy ô God most mighty draw neere vnto me who make hast to come vnto thee Giue mee a cleerer sight of thee by how much the neerer I am out of the darke prison of my body Giue me also a quicker taste of the powers of the life to come that I may more comfortably passe ouer these last troubles of this present life O Lord my soule is heauy euen vnto death for the weight of al my sins aggrauated by the diuel is at once vpon me and I sink and faint vnder this burdon which is too heauy for me to beare Neither is there any meanes vnder heauen to ease mee of it but by laying it vpon him that hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sins or horror of thy iudgements or Sathans suggestions or the feare of death or terrors of hell driue me to desperation I confesse that for
my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in