to weepe That nowe in griefe doth groane to see it selfe in torments deepe But then ten thousand times I had bene happie in my death Ten thousand times vnhappy now that I enioy my breath Wherefore prepare oh graue in hast to take thy share of mee And death doe thou thy duetie too I yeeld mee now to thee For all my pleasures now are gone my mirth to mourning cheere Is chaūged quite my ioyes are past now gryping griefes drawe neer That greeue my silly soule so sore my corps consume full fast Oh death deny mee not therefore but take mee hence in haste The God that sits in Christal skies hath cast mee cleane away No hope of helpe no hold I haue good death make no delay No pardon due for my desert my sinnes deserue to die I linger like a lothsome wretch in deepe dispaire I crie Come death end my doleful daies deferre it not make haste I loth to liue yet dread to die all hope of helpe is past Solace Oh wretched man what is y e cause thou mournest thus in woe Leaue of to crie and come to mee why doste thou sorrowe so The thrall is great that thou poore wretch doste seeme to sorrow in Shew me y e cause be of good cheare I sollace men in sinne The sinful-man Wo worth if thou be Solace who was yeasterday with mee He was the cause of this dispaire Yea none the cause but hee Solace SAiest thou so Thou art greatly deceiued in deede I am that Solace that for thy cōfort came vnto thee yesterday to call thee from thy foolishnes from thine error and censelesse securitie But thou art that scorner that the wise man meaneth that refuseth to bee reformed For a wise man when he is reprooued departeth from his euill but a foole when hee is rebuked of his error falleth into raging and as it were into a desperate madnes as may appeare by thy frowardnes that art not ashamed wrongfully and most vniustly to charge mee to be the cause of this sorrowe of thine of thy dispayre thou augmentest thy fault in thus rashly accusing mee But it is a Leasson learned long agoe many thousand yeeres put in practise namely the vngodly to finde out excuses according to their owne willes and peruerse conceites As Adam Eue thy great grandsieres did in the beginning when they had manifestly transgressed the Commaundement of their Creatour in eating the fruit forbidden when they were charged with the crime what did they did they vpon their reprehension confesse and say it is so Lord we haue eaten it contrarie to thy will noe but they sought another bye meane to cloake their disobedience Adam for his part sayd The woman whome thou gauest me made me to eate And Eue seeing the matter sayd to her charge sayd it to the Serpents charge thincking to make by circumstance God himself the author of their fall But this iugling could not auaile them their deceitfulnes deceiued themselues and they had al their reward Now to come to thine excuse who to discharge thine owne vnhappines layest the fault on mee that came not to vndoe thee but to reuoke thee from thy miserable blindnes from thine obstinate foolishnes ouerthwart opinion wherein thou were trudging as faste as thou couldest to vndoubted dampnation But I see that Satan hath set a vale before thine eyes that thou canst not see thy friend frō thy foe thou takest light for darkenesse and darkenesse to be light yea darkenesse hath so dimned thy censes that thou canst not comprehend the light For there is no familiaritie betweene light and darkenes But awake thou foolish man that sleepest in darkenes and God shall giue thee light yea I am the light of the worlde he that followeth mee shall not walke in darkenes but shall enioy the light of eternall life The sinfull-man Oh say no more I am vndone I crie but all in vaine In deede I am in darkenesse deepe thy words augment my paine Solace Thou art deceiued in deede I am the Solace that will ease This doleful plight of thine w t speed and wrath of God appease I am that lambe of God that came by God my fathers heste By death for true repenting soules to purchase lasting reste Although thy sinne the Scarlet doe in rednes farre surpasse My death shall make thy soule as white as whitnes euer was Wherefore returne to me in haste amend what is amisse I am the God that pardons him that true repentant is Therefore giue care attend vnto these comforts of my will Beleeue amend doe not dispayre conuert thy selfe from ill I Knowe oh sinfull man that riches and vainglorie had euen ouercome thee Thou were in a slumber with the sweete lullings as they seemed of that deceaueable Sathan the god of this worlde who hath in such sort blinded thy mind and bewitched thee with vaine and transitorie pleasures that the light of my glorious Gospell which is the power of God shoulde not shine vnto thee By reason whereof the examples of the Iustice of mine heauenly father extended against such as haue their heartes so seared with the hot iron of worldly carefulnes hath mooued thee to this kind of dispaire feeling thy conscience guiltie of the things whereof thou hast beene reprooued And therefore most wrongfully doest thou attribute the cause of thy griefe vnto mee But it is Sathan that thus bestirreth him now to retaine thee in the blind bye-path that he hath hitherto deceitfully drawen thée into beset with so many dilightsome deuises and daintie delicates of the flesh of the minde and of the eyes that he is loath to lose thee he thinkes that if thou once goe from him thou wilt come no more if thou forsake him thou wilt be reteyned into my seruice who wil giue thee better entertainemēt yea though my wages in this world be not gold and siluer though my Liuerie bee not so glorious to the eye and thy dyet so daintie yet I say thou shalt be sure of a good liuing in reuersion which is after this life rent free without any feare of forfeiture thy Lyuery shalbe here the libertie of a free minde and thy Dyet daily meditation of heauenly things Which liuing which Liuery and which dyet I knowe thine old master tels thee are al vaine al ful of seruitude watchings waytings and thraledome and he giues thee both great wages of Gold and Siluer and a great liuing in hand hee giues thee not borde wages but places thee most princelike at his owne Table hee feedes thee with his owne hands but he craues attendāce he is something nice in seruice you must wayte at an inch But then like the master of a good hound he pleaseth thee with many rewards which thou hast accounted a very sweete and pleasaunt seruice but thou hast heard before that it is vayne yea most vayne and very affliction of the spirit
recited but in bargayning buying selling and other affaires whatsoeuer wherein men of occupation whatsoeuer haue to looke vnto their doinges whether they proceed of y t loue or not or otherwise nay they may assure thēselues that their couetous desire of vnlawfull and vngodly gaine will heape vpon their heades the punishment pronounced against the transgressours of myne heauenly fathers will Thou seest then that all vngodly gaine is herein forbidden then cannot vnmeasurable Usurie excuse it selfe though vnder colour of tolleration of a reasonable gaine it be cloaked to y e ouerthrowe both of the giuer and taker although the taker can flatter himselfe a while with his vngodly enriching himselfe with the goodes of other men yet may he assure himselfe that he hath pawned for a little foolish and transitorie mucke of the worlde both body and soule into the handes of Sathan neuer to be redeemed without true repentaunce in mee Iesus Christ. So that it behoueth thee not onely to beware of open violence and robberies but of all such fraudulent and deceiptfull dealing as may bee an hinderaunce vnto thy neighbour The fifth Commaundement of the seconde Table forbiddeth thee to beare false witnesse against thy neighbour which is to iustifie and to maintaine an vntrueth in open place of Iustice and iudgement against him wherein also the tongue is enioyned to shunne through want of loue to speake not onely any thing to the losse or hinderaunce of thy neighbour in his goodes but also which may take away or depriue him of his good name and credite for a good name is chosen aboue great riches and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde And therefore art thou by this Commaundemēt prohibited to speake any thing which may rayse any slaunder or bring any blot vnto him by any meanes As it doth too often fall out in these daies that either of malice and ill will against the partie or for affection and loue to his aduersary or in hope of gaine many are lightly wanne to depose an vntroath before a Iudge or Magistrate which is a thing most haynous in the sight of myne heauenly father as may appeare by the punishment that he prouided for those that transgressed therein namely that the false witnesse bearer should bee rewarded with the self same punishment that the cryme whereof they accused another layd iustly vpon the offender And therefore let him that wrongfully chargeth and accuseth an other make his iust accompt that when all secretes shalbe reueiled God which is the aucthor of all trueth will finde him guiltie of sufficient matter euen in Iustice to cast him into vtter destruction where shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth This Commaundement ought to bee diligently regarded and had in continuall remembrance for that it is a good bridle to keepe backe the tongue which is an vnruly euil from ouer rash iudgements and more hastie then vpright verdictes not onely in causes of great waight and moment but in matters of small importance for as it forbiddeth all men to giue a false testimonie in any cause depending betweene partie and partie before the Iudge or Magistrate so doth it charge the Iudge not rashly or vnaduisedly to pronounce his sentēce of iudgement but with due deliberation and indifferencie to consider and way such circumstaunces as may best procure the equitie of the cause to come to light wherein there is to bee warely auoyded al those meanes and occasions of parcialitie namely respect of persons in iudgement malice affection and bribes which are the poysons that infect the hearts and blind y e eyes of those Iudges whō the loue of iustice nor feare of the highest Iudge can not direct to the punishment of the wicked and setting free of the poore oppressed and in whose eyes it seemeth no great matter to giue sentence to the bearing out of an euill matter But let such be assured that he that beareth the sworde of all Iustice hauing no respect of persons wil one day take accompt of these Iudges that haue giuen their sentence to the ouerthrowe of the right of any mans cause to iustifie that which in all equitie ought to be condemned and will with the sworde of his Iustice cut off such parciall ministers from the inheritaunce of his eternall blisse for can there be a more haynous or more execrable offence against mine heauenly father then to awarde him the crowne of a iust man that deserueth the reward of a wicked person And on the contrary to giue iudgemēt of execution against him whose cause deserueth the sentence of victorie A thing most odious in the sight of him whose eyes of Iustice doth not onely see such manifest and open iudgements but beholdeth their hearts wherein they wish and with circumstaunces endeuour to bolster out the euil causes of euil men as much as in them lyeth to the mayntenaunce of wickednesse and ouerthrow of Iustice. Wherfore oh Iudges consider whose places ye supplye whose aucthoritie you haue and how you execute your dueties in so high a calling haue no respect of persons say not to the wicked thou art righteous least the people curse and abhore you but rebuke the wicked and defende the righteous that the blessing of goodnesse may come vpon you And that in the great and fearfull day you may stande before him that shall giue iudgement according to euery mans desertes Further this Commaundement includeth within the compasse thereof as flatly against the same the wresting of the true sence and meaning of wordes or writinges contrary to the trueth of the meaning thereof and otherwise then it would be founde if it were decided by an indifferent Iudge which is a most pernicious practise put in vre when I was in this world tossed and tormented by the wicked Iewes where there were witnesses came in against mee affirming that I sayd I could destroye the Temple and builde it againe within three daies quite contrary to the meaning of my wordes who meant the Temple of my bodie and not their Temple of Ierusalem So is it now a common matter among men to construe y e words of their deedes as Obligations Leases and all other writinges to a sence by al cunning quillets that can be found by the skilfullest and cunningest Lawyers to frustrate their owne deede their owne manifest act clene contrary to the true meaning therof as though their cunning deuised lawe trickes as long as by circumstaunce of sophistical arguments the matter could bee cloaked with reason should without the breach of this Commaundement wipe away the apparant right due vnto one to lay it vpon an other who in Iustice hath none how can that man that thus seeketh to ouerthrowe his owne act or that Lawyer that worketh the meanes bee able before GOD to discharge themselues when their owne consciences shall accuse them that they haue swerued from the true intent and meaning of his owne
carrying thee as it were sleeping into the most horrible pit of all endles perdition And euen of meere loue being sent to cal those that were gone astray I was mooued to awaken thee of this sinfâ—ll slumber to warne thee out of the seruice of this wicked master of thine and therfore I knowe that thou condemnest mee to bee the cause of this thy sorrowe Alas art thou so sorrowfull and full of griefe to giue ouer that master of thine endlesse miserie the master I say of all mischiefe the ringleader to all euill rule the Captaine of all the hellish crue the crue that haue their cogitations commonly occupied in couetouse cares and vngodly desires of wordly pleasures the crue I say that are caried by his most wicked wiles into most cursed captiuitie neuer caring for God or godlines who esteeme my words as winde as thou doest who so reioycest in thine aboundance as one that laugheth in his dreame and when hee awaketh is driuen to howle in sorrowe yea as dead being yet liuing for thou canst not be but dead vnlesse thou be reconciled by mee who by my bloud shedding on the Crosse slewe all enmitie betweene God my heauenly father and thee And as I haue purchased this reconciliation for thee So I am come to thee to tell thee to warne thee and to reclayme thee from error to the trueth from the clawes of Sathan to the fauoure of mine heauenly father if thou wilt heare mee and embrace my sayings The sinfull man Art thou in deed that Christ so pure whome Iudas did betray And whom y e Iewes tormeÌ„ted sore as sacred scripture say Solace Ye I am he that hung on crosse fast nayled to the tree A sacrifice to pacifie my fathers wrath for thee The sinfull man Wo worth me then for thou art hee whome I offended soe That in dispaire I languish here a wicked wretch in woe Oh let the mountaines fall on mee to hide my sinne from thee Let death approch let gaping graue take nowe their due of mee I dare not looke on thee whom that my sinne offended so No no thou wilt not pardon mee thou art of right my fo And Sathan seekes as erst y u saydst to winne my soule from thee I am content to his request I willingly agree I can not now reuoke againe my promise readie past Wherefore I knowe noe remedie I must be his at last Solace ALas poore man thou art in great perplexitie thy sences are sackt in deede But canst thou â—â—l by whose meanes wotest thou y e cause canst thou yet consider who it is that worketh this vnpleasant thing in thee Is it I or Sathan is it vertue or vice Is it life or death The sinfull man A great conflict I feele in deede a right of furious fiends Within my minde a troope of foes whome subtile Sathan sends Who with dispayre doe so beset and ransacke all my will That nothing can appease the rage that pricks mee forth to ill Wherfore I know no boote to seeke to shunne my raging thrall For Sathan binds mee to attend when he or his doe call Solace WEll poore man notwithstanding thy dissobedience and thy wilful running from me to that venemous Serpent who hath thus poysoned thee with the sting of dispaire I am not so hard hearted but of mercie wilbe pacified and vpon thine earnest repentance be a meane for thy reconciliation to the fauour of mine heauenly father againe who gaue me vp into the the hands of the world in the flesh to be a Sacrifice and OblatioÌ„ to appease his wrath which nothing els could doe and to be made the cause of eternall saluation to all the world as many as beleeue in mee The sinfull man Oh worth mee wretch then I am none of whom saluation came For I haue disobeyd thy will and led my life in blame And rest in Sathans bands a slaue by due desert I die Oh death make haste my Soule in sinne for thee is forste to crie Solace AND doest thou now confesse that it is Sathan hath thus be witched thee It is true most vntruely erwhile didst thou charge me with it be now ruled by me take mine aduice and there shall bee a dispensation prouided for thee easely to defeate Sathan and deceiue him of all his hope he hath yea of al his title intrest and demaund in thee for I haue his head vnder my girdle I vaÌ„quished him vpon y e Crosse I spoyled him of all his power I tooke all his weapons from him and tied him in chaines that he cannot passe those limmits that compasse which I haue assigned him without my permission and licence I discharged all wretched sinners out of his iurisdiction and in my humanitie satisfied and absolutely discharged the debt of all mankind and cancelled the Obligation wherein they stood bounde and tooke an acquittaunce for the same sealed with mine owne blood vpon the Crosse So that your olde maister subtile Sathan hath no more to demaund of them for I haue bouÌ„d my self to aunswere the vttermost farthing that lawe can charge them withall Although they were by reason of the breach which thy great graundparents Adam Eue made of the Commaundement of the Lord in the beginning all vnder the lawe and so bounde to aunswere the lawe which I haue done for all men And therefore if thou submit thy selfe vnto me and beleeue in me with a true faith thou shalt bee reconciled vnto mine heauenly father who if thou beleeue in me shall honour thee and for that thou art weake and full of infirmitie my grace and power feare thou not shall then most aboundantly appeare when thy weakenesse is greatest to hold thee vp and to helpe thee For although sinne abound in thee grace may more abound that is if thou repent thou shalt find fauour and mercy but he that walketh on still on his wickednesse without any motion of conscience to craue pardon of him whom he offendeth this grace and this reconcilement taketh no place in such a one Therefore must thou come to me in faith and in true repentance turne from thy former wicked waies so shalt thou bee reconciled vnto GOD mine heauenly father whose wrath by mine obedience is appeased his anger qualified and loue renued Death vanquished and life obteyned hell gates shut vp and the gates of heauen opened yea my dying hath made all men aliue for I am that seede of the woman that haue broken the Serpents head that haue cast out the Prince of this world and iudged him But he loueth yet to play the busie body he luoeth still to bee sifting euery man standing at their elbowes to pricke them forward to euery vanitie and falsly flatter them as a deepe dissembler saying tush tush God knoweth that if thou doe thus it shalbe for the best this is the way to thy most benefite But contrary
amendment of their liues Death contrarie to their expectation hath summoned them to depart by and by whose long flattering themselues in their follie hath bin the cause of their sodaine destruction as to the Sodomites and men of Gomorra to those of Ierusalem and them that perished in the flood and so diuers others whose harmes may be a sufficient spectacle to see and plainely to behold the end of all senceles securitie But thou wilt pechaunce say why I haue séene many that for their wicked liues were euen markes for other men to poynt at with their fingers and they haue made godly ends and haue departed the world very deuoutly by which showe of repentance thou thinkest their sins forgiuen them but I say vnto thée that whoso goeth on still in his wickednes presuming to haue time enough in the end to cry for mercy he may cry and not be heard make no tarrying therefore to turne vnto the Lord let true repentance be thy dayly and continuall exercise examine thine own conscience search and see whether Sathan haue not thruste into thine heart this presumption if so cast it out speedely and follow not the greater number to doo euill accustome not thy selfe to sinne trusting in thine aboundance but imbrace my former counsaile stande not in a foolishe hope to repent at last be not deceiued let not Sathan hinder thée with his subtle deuices but resist them all manfully for I know thou canst not saye mine hearte is cleare from them canst thou speake thy conscience The sinfull man Alas my conscience dooth accuse me guiltie of them all I must confesse my carelesse life hath well deserued thrall But loe in hope I hold by thee my sinnes I will declare To thee who dooth already see that they corrupted are Wherein I liued long secure bewrapt in wealth at will I runne a race that now I rue and lingred long in ill Uouchsafe that I with heart hand may now restore againe The things which I by fraud haue had of any man for gaine And shewe what further dooth belong to traine me to thy blisse Uouchsafe to shew that I may come where all true Solace is Solace SEing then that thou doest confesse that thou hast bene hindred by these deuices and lets of Sathan and hast nowe a feling of thy corruptiō former wicked life beware thou giue not place herafter to his wiles but by a firme faith and confidence in mee withstand him and his ministers the world and the flesh for as the wickednes of the wicked shal not hurt him whensoeuer he truely vnfaynedly repenteth so shall not the righteousnes of the righteous auaile him whensoeuer he offendeth Repente thée therefore of thine offences past and from henceforth kéepe thee vpright in all thy dooings that there maye be ioye in heauen for thy repentaunce And for as much as the daye is so farre spent and the nighte so néere and that thou haste promised to make restitution of the things which thou hast wrongfully gathered go thy wayes performe it accordingly and beware of kéeping backe any thing leaste thou be taken in thine hipocrisie and rewarded with Annanias and Saphira who for kéeping back some of the price of their owne field were striken with present death how much more then shall mine heauenly father punish thée if thou keepe any thing backe that is none of thine owne In the morning I will be here againe in the meane time be carefull of thy promise finish it faythfully and too morrow will I further direct thée in the residue of thy course to eternall life The sinfull man Then will I hasten me away to finish it in haste And in the morning hasten me againe to thee as fast The end of the Thursday or fourth dayes conference ¶ A prayer for true repentance OH Lord my god father of meruailous louing kindnes who in my greate slumber and sleepe of sinfull securitye hast awakned me and by thy sweete and welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ called me out of darknes to light out of errour to the trueth and haste opened the eyes of mine hearte to see mine owne corruption vouchsafe oh Lord for that thy sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake that as hee hath called me to the ende I should giue ouer the wayes of wickednes to walke in thy wayes and lawes to for sake sinne cleaue vnto righteousnes slye Sathan follow thee I moste humbly beseech thee to accept mee againe for his sake into thy fauour who long haue erred and gone astray to forgiue mee who haue offended thee and who am moste ignoraunt how truely to return to the and to repent my former corrupt and most sinfull life But vnto thee most mercifull Lord god in the name of Iesus Christe thy deare Sonne I prostrate my selfe in all humblenesse of heart bewayling my filthines and lamenting the frowardnes and corruption of my former life humbly appealing vnto thy mercies as one who haue rebelled moste traiterously against thee and most wickedly and wilfully transgressed thine holy precepts and will And yet suche is thine vnspeakeable mercy that thou hast most louingly warned mee to forsake mine euill and peruerse wayes and vntoward imaginations which I haue heretofore accompted most right and deare And which now by the light of thy counsailes I vnderstand to be altogether wicked altogether frowarde foolishe and meere vanitie it selfe I now feele mine owne corruption swete Iesu mine owne blindnes and error and perceiue thy wisdome which is infinite thy mercies vnspeakeable and loue aboue measure whereby sweet Iesu I am striken with a desire to be vnburdened of the weight of this mine obstinat errour which by the illusion of mine aduersarie Sathan I haue followed with such greedines that without thy meere mercies I haue no hope of saluatiō Extēd therfore o father of mercy for Iesus Christes sake thy fauour vnto mee againe and deale not in iustice as my deedes haue deserued but giue me that godly sorrow that true and vnfayned sorrow for my sins which may mooue in me repentance vnto saluation which may kill and speedely mortefy all euill desires all the corrupt affections and vngodly motions of the world and flesh the deceites of subtle Sathan whoe goeth about lyke a Lyon seeking whome he may keepe back from that most acceptable worke of true repentaunce And thou good Iesu knowest what and how manie and great are the letts and wiles which he vseth in laying stumbling blockes before the feete of those that endeuour thēselues to returne to thee And my wil which is peruers ready to yeeld vnto him slacke in comming vnto thee pulleth me often-times backward and suffereth me not to doe that which I should but thrusteth me forward to doe that which I should not to followe darknes and to forsake the light so louingly profered Oh good Iesu consider these conflictes of mine Looke vppon the want which I haue of thine holy spirit without the
thrall Extende vnto mee wretched wight thy light and loue withall Oh Lorde my God forget mee not hyde not thy selfe from mee Although my flesh do striue to keepe my syllie soule from thee Showe not thyne anger as a foe let mercy be my staye It is no profite Lord for thee to cast my soule awaye Denie mee not a contrite heart a pensiue person poore An wofull wretch a sinfull soule that knocke here at thy doore Uouchsafe to turne thy face to mee forgiue my deedes amisse In feare I doo appeale to thee as one that guiltie is Deale not as my deserts doo craue but as of mercie thou Doost will and still delight to haue all sinfull heartes to bow Showe not thy force against thy foe that faine would come to thee And pardon my Offences all though Death be due to mee Oh plague mee not good Lord so sore I haue no force I fall I neuer wyll offende thee more if thou vouchsafe to call My soule from sinne and to affoord mee Solace sweete againe Loe here I doo against my selfe a sinfull wretch complaine Shame dooth beset mee round about my selfe consume in woe I am corrupt mine heart throughout I wander too and fro From sinne to sinne I run perforce I wander styll astraye Wherfore without thy due remorce I can not but decaye Since first I suckt my Mothersbrest yea since I sawe the daye The subtill Serpent hath not ceast to wrest mine heart astraye In sinne my mother did conceaue this cankred Corps of mine And Sathan seekes Lord to bereaue all that of right is thine He soweth 〈◊〉 and wicked seedes in mine vnstaid brest Wherof doo grow pernitious deedes which breede my soule vnrest Which I as yet cannot auoyde they fixe so fast one mee That froÌ„ my youth they haue auoid and keepe me Lord from thee So that I am full bought and sould betwene the Feend and synne And wickednes a thousand foulde myne heart doth lodge within The good I cannot which I would my nature proane to ill Withdraws myne harte froÌ„ what it should imbrace w t heauenly skil But Lord in sinne why should I dye syth thy good will is so To heare poor synners wheÌ„ they crie and them redeeme from woe And giuest them repaste againe from heauens high aboue And to repentant hearts full faine thou showest thy selfe in loue Ye thou doest saue through mercie meere those that deserue to dye When they to thee returne in feare oh Lorde now so doe I A thousand times before this daie thy mercies from aboue Haue saued them that went astraie to showe thy zealous loue Our fathers who were longe agoe when they were in dystresse Fell prostrate on their harts and loe thou gauest them redresse Ye wheÌ„ they were incompast round and no hope to auoyde Thy mercye Lord did so abounde that they were not destroyed Haue mercie therfore Lord on mee oh god on whome I call I wretched synner here to thee on prostrate heart doe fall Ease mee againe let mercie thine myne woefull hearte releeue And let not synne all goodnes mine through loosenes thus bereaue My soule alas in dolefull plight in hope of helpe doth crie Oh Lord extend thy louelie light that shines from heauen hye To guide my silly soule to blisse by shunnyng what is ill High time alas good Lord it is to frame mee to thy will Wherfore extend thy grace againe put foorth thy helpyng hand Let it reuiue what sinne hath slaine and loosen Sathans bande Lorde Iesus come oh come in haste Let Heauens Bowe come down That I a wretched wight at last maye ioye that passing Crowne Which y u by dreadful death hast won through pluÌ„ging panges on tree In loue to giue the same to those that feare to fall from thee Come come I say thou Solace true and fill mine hart with ioye My sinfull soule with grace renue whom Sathan would destroye No daye no time no minute is deuoyde of wo to mee But oh alas the cause is this I hold mee not by thee If thou absent thy selfe my soule my bones my bodie dust Corrupt with carke of wicked will as Iron doeth with rust If thou absent thy selfe my soule runnes headlong into yll And staggerryng too and fro it reeles and kickes against thy wyll Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule like wretched wight opprest Fast â—ettred in the boultes of sinne lyes groaning voyde of rest Yf thou absent thy selfe my soule sinckes into darkesome thrall But Lord driue darknes far froÌ„ mee sende light and loue withall So sinne shal passe and vertue slow within my dolefull brest Oh Iesu come Oh come in haste to set my soule at rest And thus my soule I doo commende into thy bosome sweete On whome I doo in heart depende heere prostrate at thy feete Solace Take heed take heed Oh sinful man let heart and tongue agree Leaue off to sinne repent foorthwith and I wyll dwell with thee Cast of the Cloake that is the cause to hinder thine intent Thy sinne and then in deede I wyll to thy request consent The sinfull man How shuld mine heart toong agree what meanest thou therin I haue at large thou maist perceiue vnfoulded all my sinne Solace I T is not ynough to shew thy selfe onely by outward wordes to be a sinfull man but thou must likewise as I haue tould thée before reforme thy former frowarde and peruerse wayes that is as thou knowest and hast confessed thy selfe heretofore to haue walked in errour in darkenes rebellyng against mine heauenly father So wold I haue thée to cléeue vnto the trueth to follow the light and obey mine heauenly father in performing those things which are commaunded thée For there be some that can make a gay gloze and showe of holinesse by such outward protestation when in deede they are farre from that true inwarde sorrow which causeth repentaunce vnto saluation whose dissimulation and hypocrisie deserueth double punishment The sinfull man Show mee therfore what must I doe and what must I obeye Uoutchsaufe mee grace I doe repent my gaddyng longe astray Solace WEll then for asmuch as the daie is gone and that there is no time to declare it now I will deferre it vntill to morrow and then I will tell thée what thou most doe and what leaue vndone In the meane time forget not to prayse myne heauenly father who hath made thee mée whoe haue redemed thée and the holye Ghoast whoe haue sealed thée as one of the adopted Children that shal be saued The Ende of the Frydaye or Fyfth Dayes Conference An earnest confession of sinnes with a Prayer for the forgiuenes thereof OH miserable and most wretched creature am I prest down oh Lord with so many euils with such notorious sinnes geuous offences heynous crymes manifould iniquities That I confesse my selfe manie thousand waies to haue offended thee and to haue deserued more punishmente then I am able to beare Oh Lorde such is myne vntowardenes my cursed
yet in nature coosen Iermaines workes of mischiefe Voluntarie dispaire Faire wordes is franckest when the game is fairest Dissimulation is not daintie in the ambitious man Dotage in doubte· He will cut his throat first and lay a plaister afterwardes A small demaund He promiseth honie and giues gall Qui ante non cauet post do lebit The poore mans griefe a pastime to the rich The promise of honie performed with gall Bagges of golde and siluer are the egges whereon Sathan fits abroode to breede young Diuils to torment theÌ„ that put their confidence therein Wealth and a gay house foolish and vnperfect felicitie God sendeth men knowledge of their error onely of loue to win them to saluation The trueth is straunge to the woldly ones whose wits are occupied about transitorie and vaine causes The riche measure other mens wisdome and honestie by their owne wealth The greatest wealth is coÌ„tentation Mans blindnes can not see the miserie of this world nor vnderstand the perfect happines of heauen Monie accepted as a God to redresse manie miseries Where there are all things at will to content the flesh there is seldome any thing to quicken the spirit Many may but few haue reliefe of the wealthie Many sing when they should sigh and laugh when they should weep Many build lâ—oft for the body but thinke not of the pore â—oule where it shall dwell in the ende the duÌ„gion of hell HarkeÌ„ to god defie the deuill Riches in respecte of the vncertentie of them are not to be accompted a mans owne· Worldlinges doe perswade theÌ„ selues to liue for euer that there is noe God to take againe what he hath giuen them· But make Fortune the Author of happynes It is the fashioÌ„ of fickle Fortune to fauour to day and to frown to morrow But the surest hold of happines is to trust in God It is a rare matter to finde a man willing to forgoe his wealth or to take the losse of his aboundâ—nâ—e with pâ—tience To shun the inconuenience that Riches bringeth is to repose no further trust in them then as vrgeÌ„t necessitie forceth Psal. 62 10. Iam. 1.10 11. The rich and their riches compared to the flower of the field 〈…〉 in this world to to be found Worldlie promotions no sparke of true happines There be too manie that thinke that there is neither heauen nor hell but the pleasure and paines of this world Lyke Epicures who shall finde it contrarie to their endles destruction The glorie of this world a pricke of euill The arrogant man is â—oth to be reâ—oued but if he feele himselfe manifestly touched with his fault he wil put on a stout â—ace and couer his wickednes with audaciâ—â—e The sweetest Solace for an offender is â—â—â—don for 〈◊〉 crime· The word of God is not to draw men to but to withdraw men froÌ„ sinne Nothing too deare for the fleshe but euerie trifle accompted too deare for the Soule Heauenly comfort reuealed to none that haue their whol delight to fulfill the will of the fâ—esh· This solace is contrary to the rich mans â—xpectation He that perswadeth a worldling from his inordinat cares of the world he accepteth him as his vtter enimy Too much affiance in a ches is enmitie to God Riches can not saue a mans life He that loueth not God heareth not his word In the 12. of Luke Though God be vnknoweÌ„ to man yet he seeth the secrets of the heart of man and iudgeth accordinglie God is iust to punish the ofenders and to turne their pleasures into paine God Punisheth with the want of that that we here abouÌ„de withall Gods iudgemeÌ„t is without redemption Luk. 16. Dogges cruel by kinde yet here more curteous then men Pouertie and Sores no bar to keepe the Soule from blisse If mony could saue the soule the deuill had lost his share The rich mans griefe encreaseth to see the poore man in blisse To denie helpe to the needy is sinne before God Many are redie to rifle But few to relieue the poore A hard Sentence to a miserable maÌ„ to giue al that they haue to the poore Pro. 19.17 He leÌ„deth to the Lord that hath pity on the poore â—ob 4.8 9. A foundation laid vpon the pleasures of this world is the grounde work of distruction Luk. 12.20 Hard for the rich man but impossible for the wicked rich man to enter into heauen Iosu. 7.10 Achan stoned to death for stealing Ahabs wicked desire of Naboths vinyarde The wickednes of Iesabell A iust reward Pardon vpon repentance God seeth the wickednes of man â—rueth vnpleasaunt to the wicked Abraham Iob and Dauid rich Gen. 15. â—9 Iob. 1.3 1. King 15.4 The abuse of riches to be auoyded The Rich should esteeme of themselues as hauing nothing Riches withdraweth the heartes of men from the trueth Luke 16. Riches not auaileable without the grace of God to guide the same We must be coÌ„tent withour estate be it high or lowe· We must giue account of our Tallent It is a harde thing for a rich man to discharge him selfe of all ill means to get his goods Mat. 19.20 Occasion the minister of much mischief The rich rob themselues of the freedom of a good minde through vnsaciable couetousnes It is the least care in this world to a uoid the paynes of the world to come· The vncertaâ—ntie of riches by the example of Iob. All riches are in the handes of god he is able to take awaye what he hath giuen Mans foly to promise him selfe ease in respect of his riches Man is but tenaunt at will of his worldly substance Happines is not in the aboundance nor vnhappines in the want of wealth Iob. 17 13. Euill gotten soone spent 2. King 5.22 The rewarde of Bribers Act. 5.3.4 Mat. 27.5 The reward of Iudas for betraying Christ. Coueitousnes odious in the sight of God Mat. 14.20 Io· 6.11 Mat. 15.33 Water giuen out of the hard rock 1 King 19.6 Eliah fed in the wildernes Dani. 4.22 The fall of Nabugodonozer for his pride and rebellion against god No respect of persons with god Luk. 1.2 Osee. 13. God euen with the breth of his mouth can shake our foolish buildings to peeces 1. Tim. 6.17 Libertie sold for a pound of flatterie The plot and grouÌ„d-work of a notable bâ—lding The sea side of Sathan Quick-sands Priuie conspiracie The stamp of a good concience The stones of a mans life hewen with the hammer of gods word The leuel of a true faith The holy ghost the work man We muste breake promise with the body A work-mâ— of a contrarie building Sathan Sathan the workeman of all mischief Esay 5.8 Abac. 2.6 Esa 2.12 An inordinate care of riches a worme to the conscience Pro. 27.20 Couetousnes setteth the end of al sacietie in things wished for· The couetous man enimie to all mâ—n 〈◊〉 and chiefly to himselfe 1. Io. 2.15 Of concupiscence springeth all euil ConcupisceÌ„ce of the flesh CoÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of the eies Pride of life