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joseph_n brethren_n do_v we_o be_v very_o guilty_a concern_v our_o brother_n in_o that_o we_o see_v the_o anguish_n of_o his_o soul_n when_o he_o beseech_v we_o and_o we_o will_v not_o hear_v therefore_o be_v all_o this_o distress_n come_v upon_o we_o and_o that_o which_o i_o will_v desire_v thou_o to_o beg_v of_o god_n for_o i_o be_v that_o he_o will_v give_v i_o sincere_o to_o aim_v at_o his_o glory_n in_o all_o my_o action_n but_o especial_o those_o that_o belong_v to_o my_o ministry_n that_o i_o may_v not_o be_v as_o a_o break_a vessel_n and_o that_o he_o will_v give_v i_o great_a discovery_n of_o and_o love_n to_o himself_o and_o the_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n and_o that_o he_o will_v give_v i_o gift_n and_o strength_n and_o wisdom_n opportunity_n and_o a_o heart_n to_o serve_v he_o and_o mercy_n suitable_a to_o my_o want_n that_o my_o affliction_n may_v be_v sanctify_v my_o temptation_n conquer_v and_o my_o corruption_n mortify_v one_o thing_n more_o i_o be_o to_o request_v of_o 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or_o read_v it_o but_o that_o thou_o shall_v desire_v a_o blessing_n upon_o thyself_o in_o read_v of_o this_o book_n be_v not_o all_o i_o request_v of_o thou_o but_o that_o thou_o will_v also_o extend_v thy_o prayer_n further_o even_o for_o other_o that_o it_o may_v be_v also_o for_o their_o edification_n whosoever_o shall_v read_v it_o for_o as_o we_o be_v to_o pray_v that_o every_o sermon_n we_o hear_v may_v be_v for_o the_o spiritual_a advantage_n of_o other_o as_o well_o as_o of_o ourselves_o it_o hold_v also_o in_o read_v of_o treatise_n of_o devotion_n finis_fw-la
i_o stand_v in_o need_n of_o grant_v these_o thing_n which_o i_o have_v beg_v for_o the_o lord_n jesus_n sake_n amen_n this_o or_o a_o prayer_n to_o the_o like_a purpose_n thou_o be_v to_o put_v up_o unto_o god_n but_o it_o be_v to_o be_v do_v with_o thy_o whole_a heart_n for_o thou_o must_v know_v that_o it_o be_v by_o the_o strength_n which_o thou_o shall_v get_v from_o god_n by_o prayer_n whereby_o thou_o shall_v be_v enable_v to_o perform_v this_o or_o any_o other_o duty_n profitable_o for_o it_o be_v he_o that_o teach_v we_o to_o profit_v he_o that_o begin_v a_o holy_a duty_n without_o god_n will_v end_v it_o without_o god_n also_o it_o be_v a_o dangerous_a thing_n to_o think_v that_o we_o can_v by_o our_o natural_a part_n learning_n or_o by_o the_o strength_n of_o grace_n already_o receive_v without_o god_n further_a assistance_n perform_v any_o thing_n that_o can_v please_v god_n or_o edify_v our_o own_o sonl_n for_o though_o our_o mountain_n be_v make_v strong_a yet_o if_o he_o 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to_o give_v medicine_n to_o cure_v any_o disease_n in_o the_o bladder_n they_o give_v such_o as_o may_v soon_o come_v to_o the_o part_n affect_v for_o if_o they_o stay_v by_o the_o way_n they_o lose_v their_o virtue_n before_o they_o come_v to_o the_o part_n which_o they_o shall_v cure_v so_o if_o the_o understanding_n shall_v stay_v dally_v with_o the_o eloquence_n or_o search_v out_o the_o meaning_n or_o certainty_n of_o the_o truth_n it_o consider_v any_o long_a while_n the_o heart_n will_v lie_v cold_a and_o unaffected_a all_o that_o while_n it_o be_v somewhat_o like_o that_o story_n concern_v musician_n that_o be_v to_o play_v before_o the_o emperor_n of_o the_o turk_n who_o be_v so_o long_o tune_v their_o instrument_n which_o they_o shall_v have_v do_v before_o that_o he_o will_v not_o stay_v to_o hear_v their_o music_n therefore_o let_v the_o truth_n you_o consider_v of_o to_o raise_v affection_n be_v plain_a certain_a nourish_v 4._o the_o 4_o rule_n be_v that_o in_o case_n any_o doubt_n arise_v upon_o a_o plain_a know_a truth_n for_o satan_n will_v be_v subject_a to_o cast_v in_o doubt_n against_o the_o most_o evident_a truth_n then_o do_v as_o the_o archangel_n do_v with_o satan_n you_o may_v enter_v the_o list_n with_o satan_n and_o it_o may_v be_v when_o you_o have_v a_o little_a consider_v and_o dispute_v the_o matter_n the_o mist_n may_v vanish_v and_o the_o sun_n shine_v clear_a and_o satan_n be_v resist_v will_v present_o fly_v but_o if_o satan_n shall_v still_o wrangle_v and_o your_o blasphemous_a doubt_n shall_v not_o be_v remove_v then_o dispute_v no_o more_o but_o say_v as_o the_o archangel_n do_v the_o lord_n rebuke_v thou_o satan_n as_o a_o woman_n that_o be_v attempt_v to_o be_v ravish_v will_v strive_v and_o struggle_v a_o while_n and_o if_o she_o find_v that_o she_o can_v quick_o get_v loose_a she_o fly_v but_o otherwise_o she_o cry_v out_o for_o help_v the_o archangel_n first_o dispute_v but_o when_o that_o will_v not_o speedy_o prevail_v appeal_v unto_o god_n to_o this_o purpose_n it_o be_v good_a to_o be_v exceed_o well_o ground_v in_o truth_n from_o the_o word_n of_o god_n for_o that_o be_v the_o sword_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o that_o by_o which_o our_o saviour_n silence_v satan_n in_o all_o his_o temptation_n it_o be_v a_o dangerous_a thing_n to_o dispute_v with_o satan_n by_o humane_a reason_n we_o must_v put_v on_o the_o armour_n of_o god_n if_o we_o will_v be_v able_a to_o stand_v in_o the_o evil_a day_n of_o temptation_n and_o when_o all_o be_v do_v to_o stand_v 5._o the_o five_o rule_n be_v that_o we_o shall_v not_o over-multip_o our_o consideration_n but_o as_o soon_o as_o by_o consider_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o god_n we_o find_v our_o heart_n strong_o affect_v than_o we_o be_v to_o pass_v over_o that_o part_n but_o this_o caution_n must_v be_v observe_v that_o we_o must_v not_o as_o soon_o as_o we_o find_v our_o heart_n never_o so_o little_o affect_v leave_v off_o our_o consideration_n the_o bee_n will_v not_o go_v from_o the_o flower_n as_o long_o as_o any_o honey_n be_v easy_o draw_v out_o of_o it_o and_o indeed_o it_o be_v a_o temptation_n which_o the_o people_n of_o god_n ought_v to_o take_v notice_n of_o that_o satan_n be_v subject_a to_o make_v one_o pass_v over_o duty_n before_o we_o have_v draw_v half_a the_o strength_n of_o they_o as_o for_o example_n when_o we_o be_v confess_v of_o our_o sin_n as_o soon_o as_o ever_o our_o heart_n begin_v in_o the_o least_o measure_n to_o be_v humble_v he_o fill_v they_o with_o joy_n such_o joy_n may_v general_o be_v suspect_v to_o be_v from_o satan_n or_o our_o own_o naughty_a heart_n not_o from_o god_n corn_n when_o it_o spring_v up_o too_o fast_o and_o grow_v rank_a husbandman_n cut_v it_o down_o a_o corrasive_n that_o be_v lay_v on_o to_o eat_v dead_a flesh_n must_v not_o be_v take_v off_o as_o soon_o as_o it_o begin_v to_o smart_v the_o wheat_n in_o the_o stony_a ground_n do_v soon_o spring_v up_o we_o shall_v let_v our_o consideration_n take_v deep_a root_n and_o not_o pass_v over_o to_o affection_n and_o resolution_n as_o soon_o as_o ever_o they_o take_v hold_v of_o our_o heart_n but_o it_o be_v always_o to_o be_v remember_v that_o in_o case_n our_o affection_n be_v very_o much_o inflame_v as_o soon_o as_o ever_o we_o begin_v our_o consideration_n we_o be_v to_o yield_v to_o the_o inspiration_n of_o god_n and_o to_o follow_v the_o lead_n of_o the_o spirit_n for_o this_o method_n that_o be_v set_v down_o be_v not_o to_o bind_v up_o and_o limit_v the_o extraordinary_a work_n of_o the_o spirit_n of_o god_n but_o if_o our_o heart_n be_v only_o a_o little_a move_v we_o must_v do_v as_o i_o have_v say_v not_o leave_v blow_v the_o
for_o one_o that_o be_v very_o poor_a to_o give_v the_o next_o rule_n be_v let_v this_o penalty_n be_v always_o of_o something_o that_o be_v material_o good_a as_o give_v to_o the_o poor_a spend_v some_o time_n in_o read_v of_o scripture_n for_o as_o for_o popish_a penance_n as_o whip_v pilgrimage_n and_o such_o like_a they_o be_v unprofitable_a and_o ridiculous_a the_o next_o rule_n be_v let_v this_o penalty_n be_v always_o some_o holy_a duty_n that_o be_v most_o contrary_a to_o thy_o master_n sin_n as_o if_o thy_o master_n sin_n be_v covetousness_n let_v it_o be_v alm_n if_o it_o be_v voluptuousness_n let_v it_o be_v fast_v with_o prayer_n or_o abstain_v whole_o for_o a_o time_n from_o that_o wherein_o thou_o most_o delight_v etc._n etc._n the_o next_o rule_n be_v let_v your_o vow_n be_v rather_o against_o the_o outward_a than_o the_o inward_a act_n of_o sin_n rather_o against_o speak_v angry_o then_o be_v angry_a for_o though_o inward_a act_n of_o sin_n be_v worse_o yet_o they_o be_v not_o so_o much_o in_o our_o power_n the_o next_o rule_n be_v if_o your_o vow_n be_v concern_v do_v holy_a duty_n it_o be_v better_a to_o vow_v to_o spend_v so_o much_o time_n in_o read_v holy_a scripture_n or_o such_o like_a then_o to_o vow_v to_o read_v so_o many_o chapter_n for_o thou_o will_v be_v tempt_v to_o read_v they_o over_o too_o fast_o that_o thou_o may_v have_v end_v whereas_o if_o it_o be_v so_o much_o time_n that_o thou_o have_v resolve_v to_o spend_v thou_o will_v not_o be_v so_o subject_a to_o this_o temptation_n chap._n xi_o rule_n for_o the_o conclude_a of_o meditation_n 1._o thou_o be_v earnest_o to_o beg_v of_o god_n strength_n to_o perform_v whatever_o thou_o have_v resolve_v to_o do_v in_o his_o service_n this_o must_v be_v do_v fervent_o though_o brief_o and_o humble_o proceed_v from_o a_o earnest_a desire_n to_o do_v what_o thou_o have_v promise_v and_o resolve_v and_o also_o from_o a_o humble_a sense_n of_o thy_o inability_n to_o perform_v it_o 2._o the_o second_o duty_n be_v thanksgiving_n if_o thou_o shall_v perceive_v any_o heavenly_a warmth_n of_o love_n or_o spiritual_a hatred_n of_o sin_n or_o any_o other_o spiritual_a effect_n wrought_v in_o thy_o heart_n thou_o be_v to_o give_v god_n the_o glory_n and_o not_o to_o rejoice_v in_o thy_o self_n but_o in_o the_o lord_n but_o thou_o be_v to_o rejoice_v with_o tremble_a know_v that_o if_o thou_o be_v puff_v up_o though_o thou_o have_v the_o will_n to_o do_v good_a wrought_v in_o thou_o yet_o if_o thou_o provoke_v he_o he_o can_v stop_v it_o that_o thou_o shall_v never_o be_v able_a to_o do_v what_o thou_o resolve_v to_o do_v the_o first_o be_v a_o humble_a acknowledgement_n of_o our_o fail_n in_o the_o perform_n of_o this_o duty_n for_o if_o we_o be_v not_o geeen_n wood_n that_o love_n which_o be_v now_o but_o a_o spark_n will_v have_v be_v a_o flame_n god_n be_v not_o want_v unto_o we_o but_o we_o be_v want_v to_o ourselves_o and_o he_o after_o these_o be_v perform_v there_o remain_v three_o duty_n more_o 1._o we_o be_v to_o remember_v what_o vow_n and_o promise_v we_o have_v make_v and_o it_o be_v very_o useful_a to_o write_v down_o all_o thy_o vow_n as_o thou_o make_v they_o in_o a_o book_n because_o that_o we_o shall_v else_o be_v subject_a to_o forget_v the_o vow_n or_o the_o time_n or_o condition_n upon_o which_o we_o make_v it_o and_o it_o be_v good_a to_o have_v a_o book_n to_o keep_v a_o register_n of_o thing_n in_o it_o beside_o a_o diary_n which_o i_o have_v speak_v of_o and_o give_v rule_n for_o in_o a_o manual_a entitle_v a_o directory_n to_o christian_a perfection_n 1._o let_v one_o head_n be_v for_o which_o you_o be_v to_o leave_v some_o leaf_n for_o vow_n under_o which_o you_o must_v write_v all_o your_o vow_n or_o resolution_n as_o you_o make_v they_o or_o spiritual_a promise_n for_o christian_n and_o such_o like_a the_o second_o must_v be_v for_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n eminent_a deliverance_n and_o also_o answer_v of_o prayer_n these_o be_v to_o be_v set_v down_o with_o all_o pertinent_a circumstance_n that_o may_v any_o way_n increase_v the_o mercy_n the_o three_o head_n shall_v be_v for_o grosser_n fail_n which_o be_v good_a to_o be_v write_v down_o not_o in_o letter_n at_o length_n that_o every_o one_o may_v read_v they_o but_o in_o character_n know_v only_o to_o ourselves_o there_o be_v other_o thing_n which_o because_o i_o do_v not_o now_o speak_v purposely_o of_o that_o business_n i_o omit_v the_o second_o thing_n after_o meditation_n be_v end_v be_v to_o remember_v what_o passage_n in_o our_o meditation_n do_v most_o affect_v we_o and_o as_o it_o be_v to_o lay_v they_o up_o in_o our_o thought_n that_o frequent_o we_o may_v in_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o day_n think_v of_o they_o as_o when_o we_o walk_v in_o a_o garden_n we_o content_v not_o ourselves_o with_o enjoy_v the_o fragrancy_n of_o the_o flower_n while_o we_o be_v there_o but_o if_o we_o may_v have_v leave_n we_o often_o gather_v a_o nosegay_n to_o smell_v of_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o day_n in_o this_o business_n of_o meditation_n do_v thou_o likewise_o the_o three_o duty_n after_o meditation_n be_v by_o degree_n wary_o and_o unwilling_o to_o go_v out_o of_o the_o presence_n of_o god_n to_o worldly_a employment_n do_v not_o go_v from_o the_o presence_n of_o god_n as_o a_o bird_n out_o of_o the_o snare_n with_o joy_n and_o with_o speed_n and_o thou_o must_v go_v also_o watchful_o and_o wary_o from_o such_o employment_n as_o one_o that_o carry_v some_o precious_a liquor_n in_o a_o shallow_a broad_a brittle_a dish_n he_o look_v to_o his_o way_n to_o the_o dish_n and_o liquor_n that_o be_v in_o it_o lest_o by_o hold_v of_o it_o awry_o by_o fall_n or_o stumbling_n he_o shall_v spill_v the_o one_o or_o break_v the_o other_o so_o must_v thou_o be_v watchful_a over_o thy_o way_n else_o the_o grace_n that_o god_n have_v pour_v into_o thy_o heart_n in_o this_o duty_n will_v be_v spill_v to_o rush_v into_o holy_a duty_n or_o out_o of_o they_o argue_v too_o great_a undervalue_v of_o the_o thing_n of_o god_n instance_n of_o solemn_a occasional_a meditation_n meditation_n 1_o alas_o my_o god_n i_o be_o in_o a_o sad_a condition_n my_o affliction_n grow_v daily_o upon_o i_o and_o that_o which_o be_v my_o unsupportable_a misery_n my_o corruption_n grow_v fast_o upon_o i_o than_o my_o affliction_n what_o before_o make_v i_o weep_v will_v not_o now_o make_v i_o sigh_v the_o heavy_a burden_n of_o a_o great_a abomination_n do_v not_o lie_v upon_o i_o so_o much_o as_o before_o i_o be_v oppress_v with_o a_o vain_a thought_n in_o my_o prayer_n alas_o lord_n alas_o i_o be_o undo_v alas_o my_o corruption_n have_v almost_o make_v i_o love_v they_o and_o make_v i_o weary_a of_o duty_n and_o careless_a of_o grace_n my_o joy_n be_v go_v and_o my_o sorrow_n be_v go_v that_o be_v suitable_a to_o thy_o word_n and_o now_o my_o joy_n be_v but_o the_o laughter_n of_o fool_n and_o my_o sorrow_n be_v carnal_a sensual_a and_o more_o of_o hell_n in_o they_o then_o of_o heaven_n and_o as_o now_o i_o can_v scarce_o tell_v my_o sorrow_n so_o have_v i_o scarce_o any_o sorrow_n to_o tell_v i_o have_v sit_v down_o and_o weep_v to_o consider_v the_o great_a decay_n of_o holiness_n in_o i_o but_o now_o i_o can_v see_v my_o god_n go_v from_o i_o and_o whenas_o now_o he_o be_v even_o out_o of_o sight_n my_o eye_n be_v as_o dry_a as_o my_o heart_n be_v hard_a alas_o lord_n if_o thou_o will_v not_o return_v thou_o will_v lose_v a_o poor_a soul_n that_o have_v love_v thou_o and_o be_v somewhat_o trouble_v now_o poor_a sad_a soul_n that_o it_o be_v so_o wicked_a as_o it_o be_v meditat._n ii_o lord_n thou_o see_v the_o strange_a distemper_a temper_n of_o my_o heart_n and_o spirit_n ah_o bless_a god_n i_o shall_v take_v more_o comfort_n if_o i_o shall_v see_v my_o heartblood_n run_v forth_o before_o my_o eye_n then_o to_o see_v my_o eye_n so_o dry_a and_o my_o heart_n so_o hard_o i_o have_v wear_v out_o almost_o all_o motive_n to_o holiness_n they_o now_o take_v no_o impression_n in_o i_o which_o before_o be_v too_o strong_a for_o i_o to_o bear_v they_o ravish_v i_o which_o now_o do_v not_o move_v i_o i_o scarce_o ever_o go_v to_o prayer_n but_o i_o have_v enough_o and_o too_o many_o spiritual_a complaint_n to_o employ_v it_o to_o express_v if_o every_o day_n i_o have_v not_o just_a cause_n to_o bewail_v a_o continue_a decay_n of_o grace_n i_o may_v have_v some_o respite_n of_o my_o grief_n but_o what_o shall_v i_o now_o do_v when_o every_o day_n shall_v bear_v witness_n against_o i_o and_o every_o night_n my_o sin_n shall_v go_v to_o bed_n with_o