it as a great benefit and tooke it as an high blessing and said it was good for him Was it good for him and ill for vs was it profitable to him and hurtfull to vs No and therefore Paul was not ashamed of his crosses for crosses make vs the companions of the blessed Children of God nay they make vs the more like to our elder brother Christ Jesus who finished our Redemptions through the Crosse and made the way to the ioyes of heauen through afflictions and he that is ashamed to follow him that way he cannot come to him at all hée will not know him and therefore he shall neuer enter into that holy place hée shall neuer attaine vnto that rest that shall be endlesse and most ioyfull in the heauens How vnsauory therefore soeuer our troubles séeme wée must be patient and neuer giue ouer to cry vnto our helping Father nor to vse our best endeauours in our callings which God will blesse staying our selues in hope vpon his promises Let vs neuer dismay for God that maketh this little wound without doth it to cure a greater within and while hée séemeth to kill vs it is that wée may liue euer and while hée suffereth vs to be here ignominious it is that wée may become all glorious with him in heauen The poore man cryeth and the Lord heareth him and saueth him out of all his troubles Psal. 34. 6. The Angell of the Lord pitcheth round about them that feare him and deliuereth them Vers. 6. Taste ye and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Vers. 8. A Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man O Almighty and euerlasting God who although thou art still in thy iudgement yet art thou a mercifull God to the soule that séeketh théeth infinite in thy mercy and plenteous in redemption for though thou send sicknesse yet wilt thou shew pitty according to the multitude of thy compassions for thou dost not willingly chastice and afflict the children of men therefore I poore wretched sinner which am but dust earth and ashes vnworthy the least of thy fauours doe fréely confesse to thy glory and mine owne shame that I am conceiued and borne in sinne that originall corruption stayning and infecting my whole nature hath depriued mée of all holinesse and left in mee an inclination to all euill and that I haue by mine innumerable transgressions in thought word and déede broken all thy holy Commandements and therefore besides all other euils I haue iustly drawne this sickenesse and these diseases vpon me yet not withstand séeing that thou such is thy excéeding great mercy hast no pleasure in the miseries and destruction of thy Children but doest onely by affliction try correct humble and reforme them for there present and euerlasting good I doe therefore most dear and louing Father most humbly beséech thy heauenly Maiesty to pardon my sins the onely causes of my misery and affliction increase and perfect in me all graces that concerne saluation assist mée with the counsell and comfort of thy sacred Spirit and conuert this my visitation to mine amendment and saluation of my soule in Christ. If it be thy good pleasure and will O Lord restore me to my perfect and former health that I may not onely performe my good purposes and pay my vowes which my lips haue promised and my mouth hath spoken in my affliction but also henceforth grow vp in grace in obedience in holinesse vntill I come to the end of mine hope which is the saluation of my Soule But if it be thy will and decrée by this chastisement to finish my dayes I most humbly and earnestly intreat thée O my God as the outward man decaieth to renew in me the inner man and to grant that as the body dyeth so thy grace may liue and reuiue in me Shut not the eies of my mind but open them and make mee vnderstand what the hope of my heauenly calling is and what is the riches of the glorions inheritance that thou hast prepared for me that I may liue in thy faith and obedience and end my life in thy fauour and when this life endeth remaine and raigne with thée in glory for euer Uouchsafe to be a Father to my family kinsfolke and posterity plant thy feare in their hearts confirme them in thy grace and giue them all things competently necessary for the maintenance of this present life Harken O Lord to these my prayers and grant me all other things which thy heauenly wisdome séeth necessary for my soule or body for thy dearly beloued Sons sake To whom with thy Maiesty and God the holy Ghost be rendred and ascribed all honour and glory now and for euer Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Prayer for Patience in sicknesse and truely to expresse sorrow for sinne O My most louing and mercifull Father God omnipotent who art nigh vnto all those that call vpon thée in truth thou art a present helpe in time of trouble all powerfull full of wisdome and compassion wonderfully surpassing all earthly Parents I poore miserable wretch long troubled with grieuous sickenesse and so sore vexed with paine and torment that neither my body can take any sleepe or rest nor my Spirit feele any ease or comfort doe here in the onely merit and mediation of Jesus Christ present and humble my selfe before thée humbly begging and intreating for fauour and mercy at thy hands Worke in my heart by thy holy Spirit godly sorrow and repentance for all mine offences impute none of them vnto mée but let mée féele and be assured in my conscience that the guilt and punishment of them are remoued Be thou my Physition to cure and heale mée auert and turne this present sicknesse into a soueraigne medicine and this vehement and grieuous paine into a fatherly and gentle visitation let thy strength appeare in my weakenesse let thy power be perfected in mine infirmity and so arme mée in this my temptation with the gift of Patience and long-suffering that I be not with-drawne from the constant practice of holy dueties neither yéelde vnto mine owne passions and the suggestions of Sathan To this end powre downe thy blessed and sacred Spirit into mine heart â—each assist and direct mée that hée may open to the eyes of my minde the righteousnesse of thy Judgements that I may in all willingnesse aâ—… knowledge the equity of the same that he may bring to my remembrance the cruell and most bitter paines and torments of my mercifull Lord and Sauiour Jesus who by his death hath swallowed the very dregges of thy wrath and by the merit and vertue of it hath so tempered and swéetned the Cup of affliction vnto â— manifest vnto mée the glorious and heauenly happinesse and holinesse of thy Saints and Seruants in heauen that the certaine assurance hope and expectation thereof may abundantly excéede and take away all my present griâ—ie and torment I beséech thée O Lord according to
so to walke before thée in this present life as becommeth thy Saints O continue thy word of truth amongst vs euer to our comfort Let the séede thereof now sowne in our hearts take such déepe roote that neither the burning heate of persecntion cause it to wither nor the thorny cares of this world riches or voluptuous liuing choake it but as séede sowne in good ground it may bring forth fruit according to thy pleasure O Father giue vs grace that when we heare or â—â—nde by thy word any sinne that is in vs we may striue and study without delay willingly to reforme it Kéepe vs good God that wée neuer swarue for the feare of man from our owne true knowledge becomming seruers of time and deuiers of thée Kéepe vs from all hardnesse of heart contempt of thy word and from all dissembling of sinceritie Increase true loue amongst vs more and more Blesse thy whole Church O God with graces necessary this parcell of it our natiue Land and Country deare Father blesse it still with continuance of thy truth Iessen in it daily the number of blinde and ignorant Papists prophane Atheists and increase the number of thy true children Preserue vnto vs long aliue good Lord if it please thée our gracious King and Gouernour multiply thy Spirit vpon him and all his that still more and more he and they may séeke and set forth thy glory in maintaining Christian religion in all purity suppressing all vice superstition and Idolatry with all seuerity Giue vnto him an honourable Counsell giue them graces necessary for such a calling Blesse all other Nobles Magistrates and the whole body of this Realme with true hearts to thée and to this Countrey Increase in this our Israel the number of true Watchmen whose hearts may séeke thée and thy people and not their owne glory and commodity Bring to thy fold by them such wandring remnants as are thine And O Lord be gracious to our kindred and friends in the flesh lighten their hearts with the Sunne of vnderstanding that they and wée acknowledgeing one truth may glorifie thée in the true and constant profession of the same all the dayes of our life Comfort O Christ thy afflicted members wheresoeuer or howsoeuer troubled and grant vs peace in our dayes if it be thy pleasure Finally because the night is now vpon vs and we ready to take our rest let the bed O Lord strike into our hearts a consideration that the graue is almost ready for vs. Which of vs can tell whether these eies of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more againe or no Lord therefore receiue vs into thy hands we all here now commend our selues bodies soules vnto thy holy protection and prouidence kéepe vs this night and euermore ready for thée when thou shalt call vs. Heare vs O Lord O God and Father mercifull in these our petitions for thy Sonne Jesus Christ his sake our Sauiour in whose name we altogether begge these mercies saying as Christ our Sauiour hath taught vs Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be still our defence thy mercy louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs and make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauourable countenance towards vs this night and euermore Amen A Prayer to be vsed in priuate Families Morning and Euening Leuit. 26. 6. If yee truely serue God yee shall sleepe and none shall make you afraid Lord prepare our hearts open our lips sanctifie our prayers and increase our Faith O Most mighty Lord God and our most mercifull and louing Father in Jesus Christ we thy poore creatures and vnworthy children humbly present our selues in his name before thy glorious maiesty acknowledging that we be most vnworthy to appeare in thy presence by reason not onely of our originall but also of our continuall actuall sinnes and déepe disobedienee being originally borne the children of wrath and the least of our actuall transgressions is sufficient to cast vs into hell and vtter perdition if thou shouldest deale with vs according to the measure of our manifold iniquities We therefore doe humbly beséech thée O mercifull Father in the merits of Jesus Christ fréely to pardon and forgiue our manifold offences both in that wée haue committed and done those things thou hast forbidden and left vndone the things thou hast commanded Lord forgiue vs and remember our sinnes no more let them neuer good and gracious Father rise vp in Judgement to our condemnation Giue vs a full assurance of thy mercies and frée forgiuenesse in Jesus Christ and let thy holy Spirit from henceforth euermore so sanctifie our hearts minds and bodies that wée neuer hereafter giue consent to the corrupt motions of our fleshly affections and vnclean desires and let the liuely light of thy continuall presence so illuminate our dark vnderstandings that we may still search for thy will in thy word reuealed and giue vs will and power to practise and performe all godly seruice duties and obedience to thée giue vs féeling hearts that we may finde out our own weakenesse and confesse vnto thée our infirmities and that we may boldly in the Name of thy Sonne Christ Jesus fall downe before thée calling faithfully and sincerely vpon thy holy name for pardon for our former euils for grace to reforme so the rest of our wicked liues that thou maist be pleased to accept vs anew into thy fauour and fatherly protection Grant that we may continually féele in our hearts and consciences more and more the virtue and power of the death resurrection of our Lord and Sauior Jesus Christ that we may continually striue against and mortifie our grosse sins and foule corruptions and grow more strong against all euill motions and temptations in thought word and déede and be more and more renewed in the spirit of our mind and féele a continuall increase of ioy and comfort in the reading hearing and meditating of thy holy and heauenly word and a feruency of true zeale to séekethy glory by encreasing more and more in knowledge and in the hatred of sinne in our selues rebuking it in others especially in those of whom we haue charge and in a happy and faithfull going forward in all godly obedience vnto thy will all the dayes of our liues Direct and strengthen vs that we may with all faithfulnesse labour to
God and make him their enemy for he hath said Vengeance is mine Rom. 12. 19. And therefore we must take heede wee take not the office of God vpon vs in taking reuenge of our Enemies either by our owne sword or by any sinister meanes but to appeale vnto the Christian Magistrate who beareth the Sword to right the wrongs done vnto his children Wee must leaue the reuenge to whom it belongeth and seeke to be and to continue at peace with God without which no Creature can be at true peace with vs. And being reconciled to him in Christ we shall not need to feare our enemies for he will make our Enemies to feare vs as he made Esau to feare Iacob Genes 35. 5. 6. If we walke in his commandements and obserue his Lawes among many other blessings We shall chase our Enemies they shall fall before vs Leuit. 26. 7. 8. Deut. 11. 23. 25. 28. 1. 7. And hee will deliuer our Enemies into our hands if it be expedient or our cause being heard before the Magistrate hee will giue censure with vs and make vs to reioyce ouer them that would triumph ouer vs. And therefore in these crosses of Enemies we must flye vnto God by prayer as Dauid in many of his Psalmes sheweth himselfe to haue done and especially in the 35. Psalm If therefore thy cause be iust and thou be vniustly pursued feare not for God will not faile thee nor forsake thee A Prayer against the power and practices of Enemies who slander and pursue a man either without a cause or in a matter which he cannot reconcile INcline thine eare Lord vnto my prayer and harken mercifully vnto my complaints for thou séest how man intendeth mischiefe against mée many lay snares for mée to catch me that they may take mée and so deuoure mée but thou art my trust I will not feare what man can doe vnto mée yet good Father iudge and reuenge my cause let them not triumph ouer me that hate me without a cause say I without a cause yea Lord without cause coÌ„mitted against them vnlesse thou calling to minde my sins committed against thée doest stirre them vp to be instruments of thy wrath against me So am I indéede in excusable for I doe confesse that I haue transgressed thy Lawes I haue done euil in thy â—ight but to these men Lord what haue I done my conscience is cleare of all desire to offend them and therefore Lord let their malice come to an end if not Lord giue me Faith in thée and patience to indure them for thée whom indeede I haue offended They trauell in mischiefe thou art mercifull they conceiue wickednesse and bring forth lyes but thou art righteous the God of truth my defence is in thée and therefore though they digge pits for mee they shall fall in themselues and be taken in the same that they themselues haue laid Their mischiefe shall returne vpon their owne head and their cruelties vpon their owne pates although in their pride and malice they boast themselues as if they had already destroyed me Up Lord therefore and defend mee let them not preuaile against mee rather let them relent or perish They thinke in their hearts as it séemeth by their insolence they shall neuer be remooued and thou séest it thou beholdest their wrong done vnto thée take my cause therefore into thine owne hand for thou iudgest right and helpest such as suffer violence Oh breake the arme of the wicked and malicious who bend their bow and make ready their arrowes vpon the string that they may secretly shoote at them which are vpright in heart they shoote out their sharpe and malicious accusations bitter words and slenders against mée yet Lord of thy mercy it is that though they hit mee yet they wound mée not deadly their hatred and malice tendeth but to the hurt of my body not being able to touch my soule and therefore if they should preuaile their conquest were small but my ransome is their owne ruine curbe them good Father and bridle their wicked deuices set mée at liberty whom these wicked men would hold for euer snared I rest vpon thy prouidence to be defended I séeke not reuenge against them vengeance is thine thou wilt reward but were I inclinable to reuenge they are more mighty then I more carnally politicke then I more befriended of the world then I and yet as Elisha said vnto his Seruant there are more with mée then with them for thou pitchest an Hoast of Angels about such as are thine Therefore I will neuer feare what these men can doe vnto mee either by fraud or force openly or secretly for thou who iudgest rightly wilt turne all their malicious deuices to worke for my good and their owne confusion as thou didst end the malice of hatefull Haman against harmelesse Mordecai Wherein thy prouidence brought it to passe that he was snared that laid the grin and fell into the pit he made for another Therefore good Father I will rest me vpon thy prouidence and relye vpon thy mercies in Christ in whom all things shal worke together for my good as did the selling of Ioseph by his Brethren his Mistresses false accusation his wrongfull imprisonment all which together wrought to his high aduancement Euen so Lord let all things worke to my conformation and consolation in Christ heare mée oh heare me lest they reioyce ouer me for when my féet slip they reioyce and extoll themselues against me O Lord increase my Faith and weaken mine Enemies A Prayer of the Flocke for their diligent painfull and faithfull Pastor O Most bountifull and great God how gracious hast thou béen vnto vs in lending vs a good and godly Past or according to thine owne heart who is able and willing to instruct vs with knowledge and vnderstanding and to deliuer vnto vs faithfully thy holy Word one who is sufficient to resolue vs in our doubts and to comfort vs in our calamities to recall our wandrings to instruct our ignorances and to goe before vs as a guide in the way that leadeth to saluation O Lord thou hast not so dealt with all people neither is there any desert at all in vs for which thou shouldest bestow on vs such a fauour If thou hadst still left vs in our naturall darknesse and hadst suffered vs to be perpetually plunged into that region of the shadow of death in which we sate of our selues it had béene but iustice in thée euen vtterly to haue forsaken â—s O Lord make vs thankfull and quicken vs vp that we may euen fill our mouthes with the praises of thy name who hast caused the light of thy Gospell thus to shine amongst vs to our excéeding great comfort O make vs carefull and diligent to walk while we haue light that wée may be the children of light and to beware how we receiue thy word in vaine or neglect so great saluation let vs euer remember that to whom much is giuen of
them there will be much required and that our sinnes will be the greater and our iudgement the more heauy if we make not right vse of this thy mercy And concerning the Watch-man whom thou hast appointed ouer our soules wée beséech thée to inlarge his heart to increase his gifts and to replenish him yet with a fuller measure of thy Graces Giue him O Lord the true zeale and spirit of Paul that he may with all boldnesse of spéech giue vnto vs thy Gospell and publish euen the secrets thereof for the edifying and comfort of our soules Make him powerfull in the holy Scriptures like Apolloes that by the power thereof hée may both conuict our consciences and stoppe the mouthes of all gaine-sayers Powre into him thy holy Spirit the word of wisedome and knowledge that he may rightly iudge of our estates and vnderstand what things are most expedient and necessary for vs and so may speake to our consciences finding vs out in our speciall sinnes and directing vs in those holy courses from which wée haue chiefely strayed Let his words pricke our hearts forward that wée may not be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne Make him firme and constant in the best courses that he may not be as a Réede shaken with the winde but as a sure foundation that by his perseuerance in good workes our hearts may be the better established And wée beséech thée O Christ who commandest the Starres and holdest them in thy right hand to defend him from vnreasonable and euill men and from the wrongs and iniuries of the wicked enemies of thy truth for doubtlesse men of corrupt mindes will resist the Truth with all their power Therefore good Lord blesse his labour to the calling and conuerting of those which are elected vnto saluation Make our hearts flexible to yéelde true obedience to thy Word deliuered from his mouth that wée may receiue it not as the word of a man but as it is indéede thy Word and make it also effectuall in vs that wée may not onely be professors and hearers of thy holy will but also practisers and continuall performers of the same And teach vs to reuerence him wée beséech thée and to loue him for his profession and workes sake not sparing our goods to relieue him knowing it is a small thing for him to â—eape our earthly things who soweth amongst vs spiritual food for our soules In all our Supplications make vs mindefull of him without ceasing that his studies may be directed his endeauours guided and his labours in thy worke blessed to the glory of thy holy name and the saluation both of him and of vs which heare him All which we humbly and earnestly begge at thy fatherly hands for thy deare Sonnes sake who hath ordained Pastors and Teachers for the gathering together of his Saints and who is the supreme and soueraigne Bishop of all our soules to whom be all praise honour and glory now and for euermore Amen O Lord increase our Faith A Prayer for the true obseruation of the Commandements of the Lord. O Omnipotent and euerlasting God maker of heauen and earth who hast froÌ„ the very beginning promised to be our Lord and our God our fortresse our buckler and defence our castle refuge who hast brought vs with a mighty and strong hand with an out-stretched arme out of the land wherein we were strangers and liued in bondage vnder the yoake and tyranny of Antichrist and Satan into the land that floweth with milke and hony and of true Religion wherewith thou feédest the Soules of the faithfull ones to their vnspeakeable comfort grant that as through thy mercy and loue thou vouchsafest to bring vs into this world and to frame vs to thine owne image and likenesse so wée may account thée as our onely God worshipping none other besides thée making our selues none image of any likenesse either of things aboue or things beneath nor to séeke helpe at the hands of any as a God beside thée who as by thy mighty power thou broughtest the children of Israel out of Egypt by the hands of Moses and Aaron where they were in bondage and were continually oppressed with sundry kinds of vexations both of body and minde so thou hast vouchsafed to bring vs and deliuer vs from a greater bondage and slauery euenfrom the power of Sathan vnder whose tyranny wée rested and now escaped not by any other pollicie strength or power but by the bloud-shedding of thine only Sonne Jesus Christ who tooke vpon him the death of the Crosse for our sakes to bring vs from darkenesse wherein we walked according to the wil of the flesh vnto the true knowledge of thée againe and to redéeme vs out of the bondage of sin into the land of righteousnes from blind ignorance to the bright shining day-starre of thy heauenly will who art not onely a most louing and most gentle Father but also a most sharpe punisher and reuenger who art not onely desirous that we should come vnto thée but art also most iealous ouer vs lest wée should séeke or follow any other gods besides thée yea in all our afflictions and troubles thou wilt that wée séeke onely thée and being relieued to attribute the onely meane thereof vnto thy selfe whereby thou hast promised to be mercifull vnto thousands that â—oue thée feare thée séeke thée and truely take hold of thée as their onely God and againe threatnest vengeance on the third and fourth generation of them that hate thee and follow strange gods neglecting thy Commandements O God vouchsafe that wée neuer put our féete towards any strange gods appeare their helpe neuer so likely and plentifull but that it may both now and euer continue in our harts to confesse both in word conuersation that there is none other God besides thée who art a most gracious and louing Father Haue mercy vpon vs O Lord haue mercy vpon vs and so vouchsafe to direct vs in all our doings cogitations and words as we may alwayes and in all things fulfill thy will without taking thy most holy and most glorious Name in vaine by blasphemous spéeches dishonouring the same kéepe vs most louing Father not onely from the most detestable sinne of periurie whereby thy holy Name is often defaced and as it were trodden vnder-foote as in making it the author of abhominable falshoods and lyes but from all friuolous and vaine eathes which to the great griefe of thy Children and dishonour of thy Name are most vncomely in the mouthes of such as vnreuerently and rashly vse it euen in common spéeches without any vrgent cause whereby they fall into the most hainous sinne of taking thy most glorious Name in vaine O Lord forgiue vs and grant that we may vse such a reuerent manner and godly order in triall of matters in controuersie as we may be alwayes true hallowers and not abusers of thy Name therein And forasmuch as thou within sixe dayes didst finish all things in the
that couet to catch me in the snare and to 〈◊〉 ap me in the net of deserued reproofe Beare me vpon the wings of thy blessed protection and let mée not come within the reach of their malicious inuentions Let not such as lay wait for mée haue iust cause to desire or opportunity to worke any euill against mée rather let me so trend the pathes of that loue and performe that duety to all men that thou hast willed in thy word that my conscience bearing me witnes of mine innocency I may fréely say The Lord is my helper no euill shall happen vnto me I confesse that I cannot so carry my selfe in this life but offence wâ—ll be taken against mée and I shall deserue as I doe the iust reproofes of men yea against my will and consequently the carnally affected cannot but breake out into bitternesse against me for the same and the more by reason they sée me afflicted as it were by thy hand which they take as a strong argument that I am a sinner most notorious and that thou hast vtterly cast mée off foreuer I cannot indeede louing Father but confesse my sinnes and that I am worthy of sharper corrections theâ— I haue yet tasted or am able to beare yet consider that I haue not maliciously done what thou dislikest but in weaknesse and of naturall imbecility onely and much against my will rather as suffering Sathans oppressions then willingly or wilfully committing sin And therfore trust I in thy mercies O forgiue me I depend on thy power O saue me and deliuer me lest my miseries ouer-whelming me such as pretend euill against me take occasion to pursue me and so dâ—uoure me Consider my troubles O Lord behold my dangers and be vnto me a perpetuall rest and refuge Why standest thou aloose O Lord and séemest not to regard my tâ—oubles why turnest thou away thy face and considerest not my wants thy hidest thou thy selfe when my troubles so much abound Arise and let not the wicked take occasion through mine afflictions to say there is no helpe for me in thée or that thou regardest not the causes of thy distressed children Deliuer me rather and reléeue me that the righteous perceiuing thy readinesse to saue me may the more feare thée and trust in thee and not â—aint when they are likewise afflicted Thou willest the poore to commit himselfe vnto thée and promisest to relieue such as haue no helper Thou preparest the dull hearts to call vpon thée thou againe hearest their cries and comfortest them How long then O Lord how long wilt thou forget me how long shall I cry and not be heard how long shall I seeke counsell of thee and yet be ignorant what course to take I am wearied with my daily sighes and groanes which my heart fraught with griefe and heauines doth powre forth before thée continually O be vnto mee that liuely light that may lighten my sad and pensiue Soule Send that Comforter vnto me whom thou hast promised to send that hee may teach mee what to doe in this my miserie Thou hast threatned to increase the sorrowes of such as seeke vnto other gods why then should they continue still miserable and heauy and grieued that seeke thee onely and onely beleeue in thee how shall they be still ignorant that aske counsell and wisedome of thee who hast created all in the beginning and doest preserue all and maintaine all for euer being God onely powerfull prouident and louing To thée I only come on thee I onely call thee I onely seeke with thee is mercy and with thee is right Redemption and thou deliuerest all that trust in thee as a most sure Sauiour and mighty Protector And thy Word expresseth the liuely force of thy loue and power wherein thou keepest them that are thine as the apple of thine est and couerest them with the wings of thy sauour from the mercilesse and cruell men O be therefore my Rocke whereon I may safely rest be thou my strong Castle wherein I may be freed from the dangers prepared against mee for thou hast promised that all such as hope in thee shall be as Mount Sion that shall neuer be moued Breake thou my fetters Lord wherewith I am tyed and remoue my sorrowes wherewith I am brought euen to the doore of death that I walking in the liberty of a free spirit may grieue no more at my crosses but glorifie thee with a song of ioyfull deliuerance Let not sinne preuaile against mee any more which as a Lyon teareth in peeces the assurance of my soule Beare me vpon thy sauing wings through the miseries of this life and let not the Mire and Clay wherein I sticke fast detaine mee euer let not the Water-flouds which roare fearefully and fiercely swell against me vtterly swallow mevp But rather diuide and put backe the mercilesse Waues that so dangerously rage on all sides against me that I may passe on and finish this my mortal course as one that liueth and hath his being of thy meere loue and not as one that languisheth in thy displeasure O Lord increase my Faith The Motiue to the third Prayer VVHerein the poore Man disclaymeth his owne worthinesse and appealeth to the mercies of God yet grieued vnder the burthen of his miseries he instantly prayeth vnto God that he will not correct him ouer-sharpely lest he faint For by reason of his grieuous crosses not withstanding his continuall prayers he feareth as it were lest hee pray in vaine and be driuen to thinke that either God heareth him not or regardeth not his Petitions and therefore beseeching God to come now at the length either with deliuery or to giue him such inward spirituall strength as hee may constantly indure vnto the end For hee hauing tryed the helpe of mortall men findeth it to tend onely to words and not to relieuing workes assuring himselfe that God is not as Man that promiseth and performeth not but is absolute to worke by meanes against meanes and without meanes euen what hee will for his setting before the eye of his hope Gods former fauours and fatherly assistance shewed vnto our faithfull Fathers of old by whose example hee seemeth to challenge at the hands of God the like louing kindnesse and that God will not suffer him vtterly to perish putting his trust in him although the World gaze on him and deride him as if he were a Monster and no man expostulating as it were with God that forasmuch as hee was cast vpon him as soone as hee was borne he onely depending on his mercies he cannot leaue him in the deepe but rather for his owne glories sake lift him out of his calamities lest the Righteous faint also to see him still visited notwithstanding his continuall Prayers and that the wicked should thereby gather that there is not a God that regardeth the causes of poore Men. The third Prayer wherein he flyeth and wholly relyeth vpon God and trusteth not in the helpe nor
vngodly affections in me let me neither murmure nor grudge nor feare nor faint but with patience in well doing tarry till thou haue decréed to haue mercy vpon mée For is there not an appointed time for all things Iob was brought low by thée yet at thine appointed time lifted vp againe Ioseph was long afflicted in prison yet when thou sawest the time he was aduanced againe Thy deare Dauid was long and fiercely persecuted yet at length established in his desired dignitie When the poore â—iddow was euen at the end of her hope of further reliefe her cruze of Oyle being emptied and her vessell of Meale spent euen then diddest thou send her a relieuing guest by whom thou gauest her increase of necessary succour Therefore yet a little while and my appointed time will come wherein I shall be also deliuered out of all my miseries Yea thou art my strength and my portion and my defence and my saluation thou â—éest my miseries what they are and how many they be and how heauy they lye vpon me for thou that sendest them art not ignorant of them and thou that madest mee well knowest what is fittest to preserue mee I am brought to the very Pit of confusion as the naturall man déemeth but thou hast decréed the time of my deliuery to mée unknowne that when it commeth I may reioyce in thee and not attribute my recouery to the fleshly aide of mortall men which I haue sought in vaine yea while I caâ—â—ed instantly vpon ther that I might acknowledge all helpe to procéede from thée and all that the world affordeth to be but the effects of thy loue of thy power and of thy prouidence O blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to come vnto thée by afflictions for although he séemeth to be a companion of Death yet he liueth by the secret swéetnes of the pleasures of thy inward consolation and safely dwelleth in the Courts of thy protection fâ—â—ding on the liuely assurance of thy Prouidence and Loue and sainteth not at any frown of the mightâ—est on earth So am I assured O Lord that thou art my portion and thou tendrest mée as a sonne though thou visit me with thy Rod as a sinner and that thou wilt not suffer mee to fall vtterly though thou séeme to correct mee sharpely Although I séeme to be depriued of all hope of recouery of my wonted comfort because I sée no ready meane before my eyes nor present likelihood notwithstanding my long and instant cryes I will not shrinke knowing this that thy loue is infinite thy power wonderfull and thy prouidence past finding out For if the stony Rocke and the withered Jow-bone could yéeld water to refresh the thirsty if thou couldest send Manna from heauen and meate by a â—aâ—en and féede so many thousand people with little shew of bread if thou couldest send Quailes so plentifully in the Desert with infinite other things miraculously for thy distressed Children confirme my Faith euermore that I may constantly beléeue that thou both canst and will in thy good time relieue mée All power belongeth vnto thée who then will say or who can imagine that thou canst not helpe when most néede is who will say thou hast not loue sith thou so fréely hast done these many and mighty things for thy distressed Children that could not relieue themselues But loe Lord all things are thine the Heauens are thine and the Earth is thine the Cattle in the fields the Fowles on the Mountaines the Gold and Siluer and all that is aboue vs or beneath vs is thine who then can say thou canst not giue and bestow on whom thou wilt what thou wist when thou wilt Thou makest the Corne to grow and waterest the Earth with thy swéet showers from aboue so that euen the Beasts also of the field are fed as by the dew of Heauen Sith then that thou art Lord of all and sith thou commandest and forbiddest sith thou makest poore and enrichest sith thou throwest downe and aduancest sith thou triest and rewardest and sith thou doest what thou wilt in what manner thou wilt to whom thou wilt and when thou wilt and no man can command thée or forbid thée I yéeld me wholly to thy will and craue onely to will as thou willest and doe as thou directest in all things Be it thus deare Father for his merits that thou most dearely louest that died and rose againe for all and who sitteth with thée a Mediator for all for his sake O Father heare and helpe mee in time conuenient Amen O Lord increase my Faith A Motiue to thankefulnesse to GOD for Comfort and Reliefe receiued of him after long praying vnto him in the time of necessity and affliction PSAL. 28. 7. The Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusteth in him and I was holpen therefore my heart shall reioyce and with my tongue will I praise him AS no man knoweth how profitable a thing physicke is but he that hath béene sicke and hath béene eased by it nor of what value faithfull friends are but hée that hath béene brought to extreme néede and tasted of their help so none can sufficiently comprehend how great the goodnes of God is but such as haue béene tried by some affliction and felt grieuous calamity and haue béene deliuered by God out of their dangers and miseries or in some measure béene eased And if hée that in sicknesse hath receiued health by physick if he that in his great necessity and want hath bin relieued by friends doe not acknowledge the benefit receiued by either of them will not all men of ciuill carriage condemne them of ingratitude So and far more worthy is he to be condemned that being afflicted by whatsoeuer meanes and is deliuered by the prouidence and fauour of God if he stand silent and mute not endeauouring to giue God the praise and glory of his deliuery This I confesse is my case and no doubt there is no man exempted out of the number of them whom God hath deliuered out of one danger and affliction or another But some being blinde of that side sée no other meanes of their deliuery but their selfe-wit policie strength or carnall meanes neuer turning eye to the true helpe the power and prouidence of God and that is the cause why as there were of ten Lepers but one returned to giue thankes to Christ so few scarcely one of ten that receiue blessings and comforts at the hands of God returne thankes truely to God for the same and yet there is not one of what estate degrée or profession he be of but must if he be not an Atheist acknowledge himselfe a debter vnto God in this behalfe who requireth but onely thankfulnesse for al his benefits Some may say they were neuer afflicted neuer oppressed neuer distressed neuer in danger for they haue had continual prosperity and therefore could neuer obserue wherein God hath shewed them any such néedfull deliuerance some are
Mordecay deliuered Susanna cleared and the Iudges stoned Euery Kingdome is this great Gods and hée raigneth ouer all Nations hée controlleth and is not controlled he â—â—iteth and is not resisted thée aduanceth and none can throw them downe O my Soule feare and serue and loue and reuerence obey this great God this Lord high and terrible that approueth himselfe a King ouer all the earth being guarded with such inuincible power and maiesty that hée can strike Saul to the ground with his terrible voyce and againe raise Saul with a louing and kinde hand O Lord how terrible art thou in thy works Through the infinite greatnesse of thy power thou hast made all things and preseruest all men insomuch as all such as séeme to deny thée thy power and prouidence the fooles that say in their harts there is no God are made mute and put to silence and both their will and their practises made all subiect vnto thy will and pleasure What then shall I rest amazed at the friuolous inuentions of fleshly men that séeme by their owne power to build themselues Babels on earth working terrour to the poore by their pride and practice impiety without any remorse of conscience No I will kéepe silence and neither mine owne wants nor sorrowes nor dangers nor the worlds ignominious taunts at my base estate shall wrest me from this glorious God from this powerfull Iehouah from this so louing and kinde a father that feareth not the strength and forces of millions of Kings but shieldeth and defendeth his by his mighty hand and kéepeth them safe in the flaming fire in the raging seas and in the strength of the Lyons pawes Let this God I say arise and chase his enemies and cherish his little ones and pull downe the proud and set vp the simple and scatter the wicked that they dwel not beyond his time appointed to tyrannize ouer his chosen vpon the earth The Chariots of this God are twenty thousand Angels the Lord himselfe being among them the generall worker of all good for all his and of all iudgement against the vniust All the gods that are estéemed as Gods among men are but Idols but the Lord he is God that hath couered himselfe with light as with a garment whereby hée discouereth all darkenesse infidelity disobedience and sinne he findeth out the faithlesse howsoeuer they dissemble zeale and approueth them not most godly that are most glorious nor them reprobates that the world reiecteth but through the light of his most high wisdome and prouidence he yéeldeth to euery one his owne to him that doth well life and reliefe and succour and patience and rest and peace but vnto the wicked sorrow and anguish and tribulations and a worme euer deuouring in perpetuall horror in hell fire O my soule be therefore patient in these transitory troubles in these momentany afflictions stand fast faint not feare not flie not but féed on hope for a strong helpe commeth for this smal suffering thou shalt receiue a perpetuall and most admirable waight of glory O my soule now consider whom hast thou in heauen but this God or whom or what desirest thou in earth in comparison of him for hée is the portion of thine inheritance he filleth the cup of saluation vnto thée for euer therefore I feare not neither will I faint for this God hath promised neither to faile me nor forsake me There is none like vnto God Oh righteous people which rideth vpon the heauens for thy helpe and on the clouds in his glory The eternall God is thy refuge and vnder his arme thou art for euer he shall cast out the enemy before thee and will say Destroy them Deuteronomy 33. 26. 27. O the deepnesse of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his Iudgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11. 33. Of him and through him and for him are all things to him be glory for euer Amen Vers. 36. They inherited not the Land by their owne sword neither did their owne arme saue them but thy right hand and thine arme and the light of thy countenance because thou didst fauour them Psal. 44. 3. A sweet Meditation concerning the knowledge and prouidence of God whereby the soules of the distressed members of Christ are so quickened through faith in Christ that they rest assured that God hauing foreseene all things cannot but in mercy bring all their sorrowes to a ioyfull and wished end IT is in vaine I sée for me a wretched creature to striue with my powerfull Creator If I should séeme to bide me from him and to séeke to escape his rod and corrections he being alwayes solitary I doe but deceiue my selfe for he is in all places and with all persons and knoweth the wayes of men searcheth the hidden thoughts within and soeth mine actions without the workes of his children hée séeth and approueth the euill actions of the reprobates hée séeth and condemneth yea this righteous God tryeth the very hearts and reynes he findes out the hidden dissimulation of hypocrites pretend they neuer so great denotion and sanctity Should I therefore thinke to colour my sinnes with the painted shew of dissimulate holinesse could I performe it so farre as men might approue of all my sayings and allow all my doings and that I were held iust No no for if my inner parts be not perfect hée in his most absolute knowledge findeth me a deceiuer and so will make mine euils at the last breake out as the morning light O my soule therefore as thou tenderest thy saluation to come and my comfort here in this life leaue off to sinne in secret and flie al shewes of impiety and regard truth and imbrace iustice and follow good euen with thy most inward affection and let neither my hand nor mine eye nor mine eare nor my tongue be instruments of iniquity but rather of sincere piety and of a sanctified life The cause of misery is sin the way to obtaine mercy is repentance and a reformed conuersation How canst thou looke for loue that louest not to liue well and how canst thou liue and not lacke many yea all Gods blessings inward and outward vnlesse thou loue him and reforme thy selfe before him that séeth thy loose behauiour towards him Thou art in outward pouerty because thou art full of inward impiety thou hast many enemies because thou art enemy to God and thy dangers encrease daily because thou dwellest not in God nor Gods Spirit in thée Thou sayest thou art Gods and yet vngodly thou sayest thou fearest him and yet thou still offendest him thou thinkest thou shouldest receiue what good thou destrest and yet thou destrest amisse and deseruest euill God knoweth who are his and who are not his and none know they are Gods but who know God and serue him rightly The righteous onely he knoweth and their wants and the vnrighteous he despiseth because of their sins wherein they say Tush
rich in godly zeale And be not grieued though by this alteration you become poore for a messe of portage to one fearing God is better then all the riches of the wicked Hée is not poore who loueth God for God loueth him and in his loue is life and liberty and liuely reliese But who so feareth not God haue be neuer so great abundance is a begger a cast-away and a reprobate from the ioyes of heauen the least of which cannot be purchased with millions of kingdomes the least of them more worth then all your gold and siluer and lands and possessions and offices and honour and what else the whole world which deceiueth you can afford The Booke of God is full of terrible and sharpe threates against mercilesse rich men and many woes the Lord that loueth the lowly pronounceth against the proud And what a iudgement it is that their hearts are shut vp that they cannot consider their end to be as the Oxe that is fattened for the slaughter who delighteth in the déepe féedings while the Butcher determineth his death as the couetous and wanton and wicked ones take pleasure in their vanities while their death and destruction commeth without redemption But if these men will not heare nor conceiue nor consider the perill of their estate if they will not while the Lord may be found séeke to returne that they may be saued their iudgement and destruction and reprobation will be the more iust O Lord increase my Faith Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse O man of power Psalme 52. 1. The Lord shall destroy thee for euer he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle and roote thee out of the land of the liuing Verse 5. An exhortatiue Conclusion wherein the afflicted are stirred vp to patience and not to be ashamed of their miseries and base estate so long as they endeuour to doe their duties in their seuerall callings and stay themselues vpon Gods prouidence AS the man that is borne blinde cannot iudge of colours nor the dease man distinguish of sounds no more can a man that hath béene kept blinde and muffled with the mask of this worlds pleasures and become dumbe with his secure estate here discerne the things of God hée cannot distinguish betwéene Woe be vnto you rich because you haue your consolation here And Blessed are the poore for they shall receiue comfort These things are not so heard nor so regarded of Worldlings as might bring them to a true and liuely consideration that there is a woe and a blessing pronounced that there is fire and water set before them and life and death offered them But as Children that haue no more discretion then Moses being an Infant who refused a Crowne and tooke burning coales doe reiect the better things as drosse and imbrace the worst as most dâ—are and precious and therefore preferre their Oxen and their Farmes and their heapes of transitorie vanities before the swéete banquet of a contented estate And so farre they are from the true conceit of Gods purpose in punishing man that they censure crosses that light vpon other men as curses and the glory and riches and mucke and pelfe of their owne to be giuen them because they and none else are blessed whereby many times the deare Children of God are put to a déepe agony when they heare and perceiue the taunts and reproofes that the world and worldlings cast at them for their pouerty and base estates sake They stand before the worlds Gallant-ones as Dauids men that had the shirts of their garments cut to their buttocks as men derided and scoffed and as cast-awayes and men forlorne and forsaken of all men and cast downe and confounded by God himselfe in regard whereof many times the poore though indéede the very Children of God are so ashamed of their estate as they be forced not onely to auoide the familiarity of the wealthy but euen to be séene of them a farre off nay rather they hide themselues as men cast off or drosse from the gold where indéede the Word of Truth findeth them out and approueth them the refined gold and the worldly-minded straw and stubble prouided withall that hée that is cast downe must not so iustifie himselfe as to argue himselfe the childe of God because hée is cast downe because hée is made poore or because hée hath enemies or sicknesse or want or persecution for all these things may happen also vnto the reprobate for as sin is the ground of all our afflictions and our offences the cause of Gods displeasure and Gods displeasure powreth forth crosses and curses too vpon sinners So must euery man carefully consider how hee standeth in his troubles whether hee haue fallen into the same by his own riot or lasciuious and wanton life by his vngodly conuersation and neglect of the feare of God for which things sake the wrath of God commeth vpon the children of disobedience and he powreth out of the cup of his indignation vpon them either in iudgement because their condemnation shall here begin and so be perpetuall or else to reclaime them from their wicked waies that they may be saued And he that findeth himselfe in his conceit lest deseruing afflictions because he either féeleth not or findeth or will not acknowledge that he is such a sinner that deserueth so great punishment as many times lighteth vpon other men let him think that he in thus iustifying of his owne wayes is in a dangerous state It is the pride of the heart which God that searcheth it well séeth and considereth that such a one is in a perillous way if hée be not humbled And surely godly Dauid himselfe was gone a little that way and God saw that hée must pull downe this chosen vesell of his before hée would tread his steps as he should for as he confesseth himselfe Before I vvas corrected I vvent avvry So that our troubles and miseries and all the aduerse things that may befall vs are Gods corrections to his children to reforme them but his iudgements are messengers of his vtter renunciation to the obstinate who by his punishments waxe worse and worse and who murmure and grudge at the course that hée taketh with them to amend them as did the rebellious Israelites whom hée often visited in mercy before hée entred into iudgement against them So that none that standeth may say hée cannot fall none that are high may say they cannot be brought low for all haue sinned and all haue néede of correction all are sicke and all haue néede of Physicke all haue gone astray and therefore all haue néede to be reclaimed Who then will be ashamed of Gods visitation who will be impatient when afflictions come Surely none but the man that knoweth not God none but hée that loueth this world more then heauen and the pleasures of this life more then the ioyes of the life to come Dauid was not ashamed of Gods corrections for hée praised
not the flouds of these dangerous waters ouer-flow mée quite but when I am ready to sinke yéelde mée thy helping hand and saue me lift me out of the mire and clay of all my miseries and set mée on the relieuing pastures of thy continuall frée fauours let the chearefull dewe of thy blessings and blessed graces showre downe vpon me so shall my little store increase and my empty basket become full And forasmuch as I haue no frée portion in this earth not the breadth of a foote neither haue I of mine owne a house to hide my head in put mée therefore where thou wilt and let mine abode in earth be in what place and how long of short time thou wilt for of my selfe whither to turne mée or what to doe I know not Be thou therefore my guide and direct all my desires of earthly things by thy Word and let my will alwayes follow thy will lest my will led by the blinde affections of corrupt reason bring me mine owne preiudice and shame Thou euermore prouidest for them that aske of thée directest them that take counsell of thée therfore hauing thus weakly laid open my cause before thée consider it and giue me patience in all my trials and let me not so much mourne and hang down my head and be heauy for the want of outward necessaries as at the consideration and looking backe into the vgly gulfe of my former continuing sinnes Oh frée me Lord frée mée from my sinnes and sanctifie me anew that howsoeuer the outward man séeme to be discouraged yet the inward man may be still more and more filled with all spirituall knowledge and consolation and true contentment Thou hearest my reproofes thou knowest my sorrowes and my groanes are not hid from thée put my teares few and weake into thy bottle Remember thy promises and I shall neuer forget thy praises Oh faile me not forsake mée not my God and my Redéemer O Lord increase my Faith A Thankesgiuing and Prayer to be vsed of a sicke man when he is recouered oftentimes I Yéelde and giue vnto thée O mercifull and most deare Father all humble thankes honour glory and praise for thine infinite and excéeding great blessings hauing no way merited the least of them and namely for that it hath pleased thée of late to deliuer mée from the very point of death and as it were raised my féeble body from the graue and redéemed my soule from death that I should walke before thée in the land of the liuing that I might further glorifie thy name doe more good in my calling and be made méete for the inheritance of thy Kingdome This worke O Lord procéeded from thy mercy and no desert at all of mine and for thy grace and not of any goodnesse in mée not vnto mée not vnto mée but vnto thy blessed name be giuen all glory But séeing that I through my sinfull corruption am more ready to bury in the graue of obliuion then to kéepe in thankfull remembrance thy great mercy yea and rather to grow cold backward in all holy exercises and duties then to holinesse of life I therefore beséech thée with all earnestnesse to renew my nature and to ingraue the remembrance of this thy goodnesse in my heart by the illumination of thy holy Spirit and grant that for the residue of my temporall life I may in humility and truth be directed by thy most sacred Word and alwayes submit my selfe to the gouernment of thy blessed Spirit Make me good Father a light and example of vertue and godlinesse vnto others and to grow in grace as I increase in yéeres that so I may liue in thy feare and dye in true peace of conscience and assurance of eternall glory with all the Saints and Angels in heauen vouchsafe O my heauenly Father to grant me all other things conuenient for mée in this life for the onely merits obedience and mediation of Jesus Christ our Mediatour and Redéemer Amen In time of affliction pray thus yea often The Lord shall make the Pestilence cleaue vnto thee vntill hee hath consumed thee the Lord shall smite thee with a consumption and with the feuer and with a burning ague c. vntill thou repent Deut. 28. 21. O Lord most iust and Father most mercifull thou it is that renewest thy plagues against man when hée offendeth thée thy vengeance from heauen is both sudden and fearefull toward the rebellious and disobedient children thou for one sinne in King Dauid destroyedst with the loathsome disease of the Pestilence many thousands of his people cast thine eyes of mercy vpon vs O thou preseruer of men which languish now in this land and in this house with the like disease and sicknes Now deare God hath not Dauid onely offended thée in trusting to his strength and numbring of his people but euen each congregation and euery houshold hath one way or other prouoked thee to plague thy disobedient people now that wée sée thy plagues appearing to the piercing and piercing of our bodies and soules asunder Lord wee stand amazed in our mindes heartily sighing with groanes at the sight of our sinnes Now wee consider wée haue sinned grieuously wee haue done amisse wee haue dealt wickedly we haue liued vngodly we haue iwerued from the way of truth without any godly feare or remorse of conscience thy great benefit of peace and rare blessing of long prosperity vnder so good and gracious a Gouernour haue brought too too many of vs to such security and contempt of Religion that altogether forgetting to be thankefull wée haue abused thy benefits as fast as they came that with a churlish kinde of impiety the thoughts of our harts the words of our mouths and the workes of our hands are vaine carnall and diuellish yea our seruice to thee oftentimes but meere abomination so farre alas haue we erred from the path of thy Commandements As thou didst finde with the Israelites wickednesse in Gilgal sinne in Bethel and iniquity in Bâ—rsheba so in euery Church in euery Court nay in euery concourse or assembly amongst vs thou beholdest how the flesh hath ouer-growne the spirit and how reason is ouer-ruled with affections so many labour in these dayes vnder the displayed Ensigne of Sathan that very few deare Father are found setled in the dutifull forme of vpright and spirituall Obedience which thou requirest Wée confesse thou mightest iustly therefore forsake vs as we haue forsaken thée and not onely procéede to sting the head-Cities and whole body of this Land with sundry plagues and grieuous diseases but for our manifold sinnes and iniquities which we daily commit thou mightest iustly and worthily condemne vs man after man to eternall death all consciences being so guilty that they already condemne themselues Yet who is hée O mercifull Lord that can measure thy goodnesse who by thy word doest oftentimes bring sinners to beliefe repentance and saluation though it be not thy pleasure good Lord to make the