which are as foggy mists which never surmount the Sunne to obtain this no labour is too great nor any pains too high a price to make us thus affected true worth is to be well composed unto Vertue all that is honourably performed one only Vertue doth it although it be by advice and counsell for there is an inseperable society of all Vertues when any endures affliction constantly Where with shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word Psal 119.9 When strength and health like to the loaded glass Are fall at height remember they must pass Since like this head thy head must bee Hate pride and loue humilitye Noe pas-time needs times steede is passing fleete Time present and time past each moment greete stantly perhaps he imployes all his Vertues although but one discovereth it self at hand which is his Patience Vertue is that which properly belongs to a wise man and cannot be taken from him bloudy Tyrants have no power over this those goods are true and only worthy our serious endeavours to obtain which cannot be taken from us as for riches honour precious-stones gold silver epicures feasts and such like they are but earthly burdens which a sincere minde and such as is not forgetfull of his nature cannot love because nature spiritualized is alwayes light and will mount as high as heaven as soon as it sees the gate open in the mean while as farre as these bonds of the body and masse of the flesh which environeth the same will permit upon the wings of a sudden and swift thought it visiteth and vieweth celestiall things and examineth both time past and that which is to come whereas this frail body the fetters and gives of the soul is tossed hither and thither punishments thefts and sicknesses are exercised upon it but a vertuous minde is sacred and eternall and wicked hands cannot lay hold to hurt it Endeavour to obtain and keep thy self very close to all kinde of Vertue which the holy Spirit shall upon any occasion dart into thy minde and take great heed thou quench not the holy Spirit in thee by sleighting neglecting refusing or delaying to make good use of the good motions thereof for doubtlesse lesse all men have at one time or other offers and opportunities of grace which if he make no good use of his damnation is surely just I will in this place only name and particularize some choice Vertues which I admonish you diligently to labour for and I will but name them as it were because I purpose God willing to discourse more fully of them hereafter The first is Wisdome which teaches all duty to thy Maker thy self and thy neighbour this is a principall thing therefore get wisdome and above all thy gettings get understanding then get Patience which conquereth the world and fits thee to receive all the sweet corrections of thy Maker with joy and comfort remember the patience of Job and the sweet and pleasant fruits thereof Then get Chastity whereby thy body and minde will be a fit Tabernacle for the holy Ghost to dwell in and in the power of the holy Spirit subdue naturall corruption to the blessed Law and rules of true piety and religion Next Meeknesse Moses was the meekest man upon the earth saith the Text Numb 12.3 Matth. 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth and see his favour with almighty God Then Humility O remember how our blessed Saviour humbled himself for our salvation therefore there is no true Christian without true humility Next get Fortitude and true valour but be sure thy cause be religious right and good Then Sobriety and watchfullnesse especially over thy self and therein shew thy true fortitude and valour in conquering and controuling thy naturall passions subjecting them to the upright rules of reason and religion here is great use and need of temperance lest heady and self-conceited youth think and presume to run before he can goe Temperance gives a sweet rellish and seasoning to all the vertues and it is perpetually required in controversies and contestations trouble and divisions this vertue bridles pleasant things that deceive the senses and by serious consideration takes the good of things obdurate As true Fortitude is a spur in adversity so Temperance is a bridle in prosperity with these two we may subdue our passions and carry our selves wisely in all accidents which is a high point of wisdome This is the bridle of the soul and hereby we wean it from the sweet milk of the pleasures of this world and maketh it fit for better nourishment which heaven direct us in for the good mercy thereof Amen Numb 21.3 And the Lord hearkned to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites and they utterly destroyed them and their Cities Eccl. 8.11 Because sentence against an evill work is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sonnes of men are fully set in them to doe evill And Chap. 9. ver 3. Also the hearts of the sonnes of men are full of evill and madnesse is in their hearts while they live Prov. 8.12 I wisdome dwell with prudence 2 Chron. 2.12 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel that made heaven and earth who hath given to David the King a wise sonne endued with prudence and understanding Prov. 23.12 Apply thy heart to instruction and thy ears to the words of knowledge And 4.24 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life 2 Cor. 8.12 For if there be a willing minde it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to that he hath not Prov. 23.19 Hear thou my sonne and be wise and guide thy heart in the way Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guid me with thy counsell and afterwards receive me into glory Isa 2.5 O house of Jacob come ye let us walk in the house of the Lord. Isa 1.18 Come now let us reason together saith the Lord. Prov. 19.11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to passe over a transgression And 27.4 Wrath is cruell anger is outragious Eccl. 7.9 Anger resteth in the bosome of fools Prov. 16.32 He that is slow to anger is better then the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit then he that taketh a City And 29.1 He that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Psal 34.12 What man is he that desireth life and loveth many dayes that he may see good Ver. 13. Keep thy tongue from evill and thy lips that they speak no guile Ver. 14. Depart from evill and doe good seek peace and ensue it Eccl. 7.12 The excellency of knowledge is that wisdome giveth life to them that have it Prov. 12.28 In the way of righteousnesse there is life and in the path-way thereof there is no death Josh 1.8 This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein
severall Mothers yet let your love and unity be one in faith and truth and the One eternall God will undoubtedly give you the incomprehensible blessing both of temporall and eternall peace and will strongly fortifie you against any dejection at the deprivement of any temporall blessings whilest you truly consider the uncertainty of them the difficulty in well using of them and the danger if abused and that nothing is worthy our serious thoughts but what accompanies us to our eternall habitation and goeth with us to that admirable perfect and happy estate we shall most certainly arrive unto if we wean our selves from these worldly impediments that here deface and clogge our souls and only endeavour and esteem that good which tends to the good of our eternity The inward endowments of the minde are by far more excellent than the outward adornments of the body therefore let the bottome and foundation of all thy endeavours be laid in pure and undefiled religion truly grounded upon the sacred Scriptures rightly understood Sint cast a deliciae meae scripturae tuae nec faller in eis O Deus meus nec fallam ex eis August Confess For except the Lord build the house the workmen labour but in vain We must all acknowledge and beleeve a most sacred heavenly Deity for whosoever come to almighty God aright fitting for his mercifull and saving acceptance must first know and beleeve that he is and that he is the rewarder of them that serve him True religion consisteth in the knowledge of God and of our selves for it is a relative action between both the office thereof is to extoll God to the utmost of our power and to beat down man as utterly lost and then to furnish him with means to rise again to make him feel his misery and his weaknesse to the end he may put his whole confidence in God alone Religion should knit and unite us to the author and principall cause of our good and re-unite us to our first cause and root where if we continue firm we are thereby preserved in our perfection and contray if we separate we instantly faint and languish True Religion doth make us give all honour to almighty God and receive all benefit to our selves Glory be to God on high and peace with men on earth Almighty God must be served with our hearts and spirits it is the service answerable to his nature he is a spirit then worship him in purity of spirit this he requireth and it pleaseth him the Father desireth such worshippers the most acceptable sacrifice unto his sacred Majesty is a pure free and humble heart this he will not despise A pure heart is a sacrifice to God an innocent soul an innocent life A holy man is a true sacrifice to God his body is his Temple his soul is his a Image his affections are his b offrings his solemne sacrifice is to imitate serve and implore him God is rich and therefore giveth unto us poor and therefore aske Although all true worship be from the inward spirit yet neverthelesse we must not contemn or disdain outward and publick service which must be an assistant to the inward truth by observing ceremonies orders and customs with moderation without vanity ambition hypocrisie or covetousnes as they may and doe tend to the advancement of true devotion in us alwaies remembring that God will be served in spirit and what is performed by us otherwise is rather for our selves then for God for humane respects and formall observances then divine verity which rather belongs to manners and customs then the thing it self Our vowes and prayers to almighty God should be alwaies with this submission Thy will be done O Lord and not mine Tua voluntas Domine mea sit mea voluntas tuam semper sequatur optimè ci concordet saith a pious and ancient Father Take great heed of asking any thing against the determination of his revealed will his will is that we ought to fit our selves to receive We must think speak and deal with almighty God as if all the world did behold us and live and converse with the world as if God did behold us We must take great care not upon any slight occasion or cursorily to use the most sacred Name of God but with premeditation obediently and reverently to speak and use it his Name is holy and all honour is for ever due unto it The divine providence being well learned by us doth administer sufficient upholding comfort in all the chances and changes of this life We are most thankfully to acknowledge and submit to this providence which disposeth all things to the best to them that truly and obediently acknowledge it without which a Sparrow falls not and with whom our hairs are numbred this is the staff of life the blessed stay of comfort on which we safely rest in all the passages of our pilgrimage this inward spirit works quite contrary to the outward man it makes us truly say Thy will be done O God and not mine and not only say so but heartily and thankfully rejoyce that so it is knowing that it is best and only good for us this clears thy soul of grief and trouble and fills thy heart with joy and gladnes knowing that is done which is only good for thee and that thy will is not done for had it been against divine providence it would have produced thy utter ruine and destruction therefore for ever blesse that most gracious providence that hath avoided it Be diligent to finde out the good of necessity it is a sweet herbe but growes not in every garden it is an especiall branch of true wisdome and teacheth to take every thing by the right end the righteous and the wicked the wise and the foolish the true contented and discontented doe all the same things but not after the same manner not with the same apprehension understanding and judgment neither intending or conducing to the same end and purpose and therefore the operation in them is not the same but quite contrary Nothing in this world is perfect therefore there is both good and evill a right and a wrong use of them the first tending to true joy and comfort the latter to sorrow and discontent Correction upon search discovereth sinne and moveth to repentance and prevention Not to rejoyce after serious thoughts at the chastisements of Gods providence is a very evill signe of a wicked heart we must be truly sorrowfull for sinne which is the only cause of correction not for the correction for the cause of the disease not for the cure Before I was corrected I went astray but now have I learned thy word O blessed and sweet correction that leads and holds us in the way to eternall happinesse if correction bring thee not comfort with resolution by the gracious assistance of almighty God and joy in amendment search narrowly thy wayes for it is greatly to be feared they lead thee to eternall death
mortality Divine dreames are most happy entertainments of rest thereby the sleeping of the body may be the waking of the soul Therefore thus My slumbring brain foretells the night Me safely guard thou God of might Let not my sinnes that raging swell My blessed tutelar expell But let thy works that once were good Have from thy grace their daily food Let not my sinnes black as the night Eclipse the lustre of thy light Thou art my everlasting yeares Where thou art nought but day appears Thou to whom both day and night Make an individuall light Guard we from that secret power That would thee and thine devour Let no dreames my head infest But such as will me wake more blest While I doe rest my soul advance My sleep let be a holy trance That waking I may rise from rest With sacred thoughts and knowledge blest And with as active vigour runne Therein as doth the nimble Sunne Death seems a sleep O make me tell How sleep and death doe paralell And joy as much to lay my head In grave as in perfumed bed But Lord both sleeping and awake My soul into thy arms re-take And though it be since thence it came Polluted with my bodies shame Yet doe not Lord thy own decline Thou art our God and we are thine And thus assur'd behold I lie Securely or to wake or die Here I a Pilgrim can but call At every stage must rest or fall O come that hour when thou shalt please Which is my everlasting ease And then convert beyond all measure My soul into thy perfect pleasure Amen Reason DOst ' reason why when youth and strength is past In foul transgression ' gainst thy Makers Lawes That fainting age when life is near at last Should obtain pardon is there any cause Though true repentance never be too late It 's rarely true that's of so short a date And if not true then woe unto thy sinne It 's no repentance then of least accept Great need of penitence so soon as sinne So soon as wearied wombe her charge hath left Then we that would true comfort have in death Had need prevent betime repent with breath The ten Ages MY little Infant patient be and still In Childhood meeknesse must command thy will Youth be thou temperate and let man-hood be Acted in prudence and humility Man-hood is made for labour and as health Is gain'd by constant action so in health True fortitude in man-hood claims a part And watchfullnesse is ground for every art True justice and sound judgment merit praise That we in wisdome may conclude our dayes The Metaphor WHo enters first a new Plantation Must wander yet oppose temptation And passing Jordan must suppresse the flood Of wickednesse and must protect the good Next chastly he must labour a Plantation Planting good fruit fit for a habitation Then be must nourish and preserve the same Least wilde devouring beasts destroy the frame Then make good Laws which right to all doe give Whose execution maketh for to live Humility IN marriage and in single life it 's best under thy fortune or estate to live So thou command'st it not it thee and rest is never sound where men and women give Themselves to thoughts of vain ambition and would themselves and children raise up high They are deluded by the vain tradition that it is good for it is bad and nigh To sad destruction thus we see full oft that pinnacles and lofty topps are torne And fond conceits of soaring high aloft are alwayes ruin'd vexed and forlorne With those that waver tost with every winde who on true providence unsetled be Whose miseries are form'd of every kinde but peace is hand-maid to humility BLest is the man whom God doth teach his precepts secretly To whom his sacred arm doth reach beyond false sophistry To whom dark silence learned hath from the eternall grace The perfect walk in sacred path which sinne doth not deface To whom true mercy doth confute the vanities of men Who doe contend in much dispute how God to serve and when This precious pearl who hath obtain'd and this selected stone The perfect way hath cleerly gain'd To serve the holy one Why Sinne is forbidden and Righteousnesse commanded THe true reason why almighty God is offended with sinne is not because thereby we wound his sacred person but because thereby we destroy our selves by unfitting us and making our selves uncapeable of his mercy prepared for the works of his own hands whereby onely is our salvation So his commands of obebience to his sacred Laws is not out of any gain or benefit to himself but from his willingnesse and desire of our eternall life and that therein his saving mercy may be sufficient for our salvation so then the whole benefit of avoiding evill and doing good is principally and chiefly to our selves Psal 50.9 10 11 12. I will take no bullock out of thy house nor hee-Goat out of thy foldes for all the beasts of the forest are mine and so are the cattell upon a thousand hills I know all the fowles upon the mountains and the wilde beasts of the field are in my sight If I be hungry I will not tell it thee for the whole world is mine and all that is therein The chief drift and end of all divine instruction is to admonish and lead us to upright holinesse in life and conversation which is the certain path of eternall peace THrice blest is he whose Name is writ above That doeth good though gaining infamy Requiteth evill turns with hearty love And wreaks not what befalls him outwardly Whose worth is in himself and onely blisse In his pure conscience that doth nought amisse That planteth treasure in his spotlesse soule And vertuous life his treasure doth esteeme That doth his passions master and controule And yet true Lordly manlinesse doth deeme That from this world himself hath clearly quit Counts nought his own but what dwells in his spirit So when his spirit from this vain world doth flit It takes all with it whatsoever was dear Unto it self passing in quiet flit As kindly ripened corn dropps from the ear And heeding nought what idle folk doe say He takes his own and stilly goes away D. MORE The Life and Death of E.M. AS by the fruit the Tree is plainly known So by thy Vertues are thy Parents shown Persons of quality knowledge and estate Thereby more fit true duty to relate To God their Countrey and to each degree That Adams off-spring are by pedigree Thy Infancy thy Child-hood and thy years Well nigh till Twenty one was without fears Of marriage-troubles whence thou took thy flight To Governours and Parents great delight With whose consent whose charge and pious care Into like pious family you were Planted by marriage where did grow like he That bore like fruit that well appear'd in thee Thy first-born Childe from accident unknown Abortive was or was an Embryon Nine more thou hadst into the Church baptiz'd
or indeed the least sorrow Matth. 27.27 Then the souldiers of the Governours took Jesus into the Common-hall and gathered about him the whole band Ver. 28. And they stripped him and put upon him a scarlet robe Ver. 29. And platted a Crown of thorns and put it upon his head and a reed in his right-hand and bowed the knees before him and mocked him saying God save the King of the Jews Ver. 30. And spit upon him and took a reed and smote him on the head Ver. 31. Thus when they had mocked him they took the robe from him and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucifie him Ver. 33. And when they were come unto the place called Golgotha that is to say the place of dead mens sculls Ver. 34. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink Ver. 35. And when they had crucified him they parted his garments and did cast lots that it might be fullfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Psal 22.18 They divided my garments amongst them and upon my vesture did cast lots Ver. 36. And they sate and watched him there Ver. 37. They set up also over his head his cause written This is Jesus the King of the Jews Ver. 38. And there were two thieves crucified with him one on the right hand and the other on the left Ver. 39. And they that passed by reviled him wagging their heads and Ver. 40. Saying Thou that destroyest the Temple and buildest it in three dayes save thy self if thou be the Sonne of God come down from the crosse Ver. 41. Likewise also the High-Prists mocking him with the Scribes and Pharisees and Elders said Ver. 42. He saved others but he cannot save himself if he be the King of Israell let him now come down from the crosse and we will beleeve him Ver. 43. He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the Sonne of God Ver. 44. That same also the thieves that were crucified with him cast in his teeth Ver. 45. Now from the sixth hour was there darkness over all the land untill the ninth hour Ver. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Ely Ely lamasabachthani that is My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Ver. 47. And some of them that stood there when they heard it said This man calleth Elias Ver. 48. And straight way one of them ranne and took a spunge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave him to drink Ver. 49. Others said Let be let us see if Elias will come and save him Ver. 50. Then Jesus cried with a loud voice again and yeelded up the ghost Now then let us be glad and rejoyce to goe to him our Saviour our joy our peace what way soever he is pleased to call us through the most bitter torments of minde or body by weaknesses sicknesses and imperfections and let us be most assured that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Tim. 2.3 Let us therefore suffer afflictions as good souldiers of Jesus Christ For it is a true saying If we be dead with him we shall also live with him if we suffer with him we shall also raign with him if we deny him he also will deny us Yea 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions Here have we no continuing City but we seek one to come Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to him in well doing as unto a faithfull Creatour knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world As many as our Saviour loveth he rebuketh and chasteneth Be zealous therefore in the truth and amend and rejoice alwayes that the will of God in Christ Jesus thy Saviour is therein done which is the best for thee Amen X. A fift Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our going from sorrow to joy Isa 17.1 The righteous perisheth and no man considereth it in heart and mercifull men are taken away and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come 2 King 22.19 20. But because thy heart did melt and thou hast humbled thy self before the Lord when thou heardest what I spake against this place and against the inhabitants of the same to wit that it should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me I have also heard it saith the Lord behold therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be put into thy grave in peace and thy eyes shall not see all the evill which I will bring upon this place this was the great love of God to King Josiah See 2 Chron. 34.28 Luk. 16.22 Lazarus by a blessed dissolution is eased of all his pains sores diseases fears and troubles is called for out of the prison of the body and presently by the happy messenger of death is made fit and carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome where all the elect are in joyes incomprehensible freed from sinne and sorrow forever Amen XI A sixth Comfort in Death Rejoyce Because it is our being gathered to our nearest alliance our kindred and our parents 2 King 22.19 20. Josiah was gathered to his fathers in great abundant mercy as I mentioned before See the most sweet and gracious call of the eternall mercy to Moses Deut 32.48 49 50. which I lately mentioned And the Lord spake to Moses the self same day saying Goe up into the mountain of Abarim unto the mount Nebo which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho and behold the land of Canaan which I give to the children of Israell for a possession and die in the mount which thou goest up unto and thou shalt be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor and was gathered to his people Gen. 25.8 The Abraham yeelded up the spirit and died in a good age an old man and of great years and was gathered to his people Numb 20.26 Almighty God commanded Moses to take Aaron and Eleazer his sonne and to bring them up into the mount Hor and to cause Aaron to put off his garments and to put them upon Eleazer his sonne saying Aaron shall be gathered to his fathers and shall die there Numb 30.1 2. Almighty God doth bid Moses avenge the children of Israel of the Mideanites and in token of acceptance and reward faith afterwards thou shalt be gathered to thy people Gen. 15.17 And Ishmaell yeelded up the spirit and died and was gathered to his people Chap. 35. ver 29. And Isaak gave up the ghost and died and
belief or Church to be perfect and infallible neither will I condemn a contrary humble serious and solemn belief to be wholly wicked and abominable but most humbly conceive that the best profession religion devotion and belief to be the most humble and carefull fearing of almighty God and working of righteousnesse which whosoever obediently endeavoureth shall be accepted in the mercy of the Almighty for although none of our works in a strict sense can be called the works of righteousnesse yet in some sort they may be reputed righteous though mixed with much sinne and imperfection as water muddy and mixt with earth is understood and reputed water Ephes 6. I dare not say my own belief is best Nor dare condemn as reprobate the rest All righteous wayes unto one gate doe leade Salvation free thus holy Wriâ— doth reade Who feareth God and worketh truth shall have A free acceptance from his gracious love Ephes 6 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 verses O Lord my God in th' power of thy love I le put on thy whole Armour of defence That in thy strength I may stand firme above the fierce assaults of Hells concupiscence For this I know I doe not enterprize against an enemy made of flesh and blood But against Powers Principalities and worldly Governours Princes of worldly good in darknesse spirituall wickednesse in the high-places fill'd with all excesse For that cause I will take a Cap a pee the whole approved Armour of my God That thence I may resist i' the evill day and having finisht stand against hells rod Lord I will stand with my loynes girt about with Verity in true obedience And I will have upon me paramount that righteous Brest-plate faithfull penitence and I will shooe my feet with preparation of Gospels peace assurance of Salvation And above all I 'le take the Shield of Faith which is sufficient for to quench the ire And to extinguish all those fiery darts whereby the wicked me to slay desire and I will take the Helmet of Salvation the Sword o' th Spirit Gods word from the Creation And I will alwaies with all manner prayers and supplications in truth in the spirit And I will watch against all false gain-sayers with perseverance till I life inherit from thee O Father who without degrees for every Childe hast a fit Legacy and all of us from thy most gracious care though single folke inheritours we are A Military Christian MY onely Lord of hoasts Lord Generall Unto my Captaine his all-conquering Sonne Hath given all power by whom I have a call To be his Souldier by Commission I have his promise that no Armes I l'e want But surely conquer if but valiant Then though I be most naked poor and weake I l'e from his magazine throughly be compleate Thou holy Spirit distributer of graces Fit me a Souldier for the highest places Give me my Helmet my Saviours first descent Give me my Beaver fixt in Virgins wombe Give me my Pendents which to John joy sent Give me my Gorget Salutation Give me that blessed birth my back and breast Give me my guard of reignes that manger rest Give me my Tasses those sweet swadling cloathes Give me my Curaces my Bethleem peace Give me my Knees and Ankle armes and those Give me my Spurros of speed in Egypts ease Give me my Gauntlet call'd a Nazaret Give me that Jordane Sword and I 'me compleate Yet being self-convicted vile and vaine I a blinde beggar humbly beg againe Mount me on Faiths true courage stately steed And give a trâ—â—le to my strugling wayes Give me the reignes of Graces at my need Give me a Saddle mounting me on baies Give me my Breast-plate and my Crooper strong And girt me to thy Saints in Union And give me Pistols that with fire and sword I may be ready to advance thy Word Thou being arm'd and being thus imploy'd Whilest any Judas dare himselfe discover Against my Captaine I 'le be overjoy'd Him to extinguish root and branch together My peace shall be my warre for to destroy The enemies of my God my King my joy Who before long shall all together meete In chainer appointed underneath his feete And then wee 'le march under our Captaines aide In glorious triumph Colours all displaide The vanity of Temporall things in respect of Eternall Desire to live no longer in this thy pilgrimage then thou canst doe Almighty God true faithfull and filiall service and let his testimonies be thy delight and counsellours Ps 119.24 We must through many afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God Let the wicked forsake his wayes Acts 14.22 and the unrighteous his own imaginations and returne unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he is very ready to forgive Isa 55.7 8 9 10 11. For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are my waies your waies saith the Lord For as the Heavens are higher then the earth so are my waies higher then your waies and my thoughts above your thoughts Surely as the raine comes down and the snow from Heaven and returneth not thither empty but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to him that eateth so shall my Word be that goeth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I will and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it therefore ye shall goe forth with joy and be led forth with peace Amen Temporall things are most vaine saving as they tend to the good of our Eternitie O My soul what 's thy body thy earthly house thy prison and what 's that slimie life that brittle fading shade that fashioneth thee a man Are not thy daies as a spanne and the end certaine the Goale set and every minute shortens thy appointed race Is not the will of the Eternall all things both in Heaven and earth and can his predestinated order change Serve the Lord thy God in his waies and pathes that he hath set thee for thy pilgrimage To what purpose is thy springing youth so strictly fettered with thy lettered chaines and what doth knowledge profit if grief be losse To what purpose are those endlesse toyles which sea and land makes way for to obtain the earth To what purpose doth the greedy wretch with broken sleep to fill his empty grave And to what purpose are the hidden mines and deepest pits sought for the secret Pearles And to what purpose is thy lawlesse sword that subdivides the earth unto thy babes And to what purpose are all elements call'd to circulize thy triple angler heart yet vacuums are found And to what purpose dost thou build thy house upon such sandy mountaines as the Earth those mouldring Tombes they hide but frothy mindes the soules contentments of the sacred Saints Seek for thy self a better resting place and be thou married to a meeter mate Long thou and
we are very apt to desire change and not to be content with a providentiall disposement as also to think our own and present condition to be very ill or the worst that may be prayer humility true devotion the uncertainty of life the certainty of death the mercy and justice of God with fervent and constant meditation and practice herein may by the mercy of God make an Eunuch for the kingdom of Heavens sake but if it be that it is better for thee to marry then to burn take along with thee these advisements from a Father which if thou well observe by Gods assistance therein thou maist doe well I cannot make them absolute for that there is nothing so bad but some I will praise thee for I am wonderfully made marvelous are thy works O Lord. Psal 139.14 All reason tell 's mee as the Creatures doe Wee haue a maker and redeemer too Though conquering time doth make mee rott Yet shall I liue when time is not Man is but chang'd for man and till his death Like changeing sand still changes for beneath good may be extracted from it not any thing so good but secundary causes may produce evill by it yet some things are so near the producing a necessity to evill that I wish thee take heed how thou touchest pitch least thou be defiled study what thou art and know what thou maist be before thou hast passed these ten Ages then suite the uncorrupted desires and appetites of thy soul in a woman before she be thy wise least after it be too late know well her nature inclination education parentage private devotion and ordinary imployment that after knowledge doe not trouble thee My first advice to thee is not to marry except thy best friends counsell and wish thee to it before twenty years of age in a woman and twenty five in a man about which time by Gods grace thou maist have a little knowledge of good and evill Secondly let not money beauty or friends be the greatest inducement to thy choice for these things all fade and so thy due affection may also fail but choose such a one as may cheerfully walk with thee in Christ to Christ and in that walk thou maist finde a true and lasting refreshment Thirdly be very circumspect how thou marriest one that before was married it may doe well but I can give no encouragement to it for it seemes as good for thee to make thy partner as for another to make thy house whereby we commonly avoid great losse but alwaies great hazard Fourthly it is good to choose equality in parentage and proportion in some reasonable measure and if greater then thy proportion in these be offered search narrowly least there be a Serpent in the grass least these adorne the Owner and not the Owner these Fiftly endeavour thy living in some wholesome ayre where by the blessing of God thou maist probably have health in thy family Sixtly let thy partner be of a strong and healthy habit of body for that a sickly constitution endangereth the losse both of estate and affection Seventhly having made thy choice and providence having therin determined and finished his appointment do thou as the admired Bee that takes honey out of sower herbs and let nothing be so bitter to thee that thou shouldest not convert it to some good use moving thee to true Christian contentment and do thou joyfully delight thy self in all the providences of God towards thee especially when thou seest his pleasure so fully determined and concluded hate all desire to change increase and nourish all good honest and contented inclinations and besure to subdue hate and and avoide all appearances of evill murmuring or dislike of thy choice and know that we are all here but in our journey the way of our pilgrymage which soe it leade to Heaven happy is that passage for the seas are rough through which we must saile to eternall Peace or not attaine it Now a word or two concerning chastity or continency because it is very difficult and must have a carefull and painefull guard for it is no easie matter wholly to resist nature which herein is strong and ardent but the more obstinate the enemy the more commendable the conquest To be truely chast out of due obedience to the commands of God is alike Vertue laudable in men as women Now because this is a violent passion and deceitfull we must arm our selves against it and be wary to discover its baits and the more it flattereth us the more to distrust it it would willingly imbrace us to strangle us pamper us with honey to glut us with gall Unchast incontinency hath many great inconveniencies and dangers it consumes the body and as some say effeminates the soul weakens the spirit and that many by giving way thereto have lost both lives fortunes and spirits and it doth appear true that there is more pleasure in vanquishing pleasure then in possessing it the best of earthly things oft breeds repentance but the worst alwayes There are many kindes and degrees of chastity continency and incontinency of which the conjugall continency is a chief and principall it must be kept and retained within the chast breast of that party whom almighty God hath disposed of in marriage for our companion and whosoever doth otherwise violates his or her own body by the Law of God which commands chastity therein by the Law of nature which forbids that to be common which is proper to one and imposes upon faith and constancy by the Law of nations and by the Law of Justice equity and right which if we violate and offend the justice of heaven must justly punish us Heb. 13.4 Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Isa 65.21 And they shall build houses and inhabit them and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them Luk. 6.44 Every tree is known by his fruit for of thorns men doe not gather figgs nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes 1 Chron. 28.7 I will establish his Kingdome for ever if he be constant to doe my Commandements and my judgments 1 Sam. 2.3 The Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Matth. 5.44 45. But I say unto you love your enemies blesse them that curse you doe good to them that hate you and pray for them that dispightfully use you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sunne to rise on the evill and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust Gal. 6.9 Let us not be weary of well doing Rev. 1.10 Be thou faithfull unto death and I will give thee the Crown of life 2 Pet. 1.5 Giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to your vertue knowledge Ver. 6. To knowledge temporance to temporance patience to patience godlinesse Ver. 7. To godlinesse brotherly kindnesse to brotherly kindnesse charity Ver. 8. For if these be in
be at all allowed it must be without sinne Be angry but sinne not and then surely it must be very short the Sunne must not goe down upon it Anger is a high degree of madnesse and therefore unfits a man wholly to act any businesse in it it is only good when with thy self for the committing of sinne from which there is some hopes of thy repentance with care for the future to avoid it Anger unfits a man either to defend himself or offend his enemy it doth disarm us as it were and lay us open to all attempts against us therefore have a speciall care to govern thy passions and keep thy self in a constant setled way in thy affections that so no chance or accident may attempt thee unprovided or unfortified with strong reason and wisdome to oppose and resist it passion sets a false glosse upon a businesse and maketh him seem guilty whom moderation and perfect reason would clearly excuse Murmur not neither be angry at any affliction in this life but blesse almighty God that it is no sharper unto thee considering the great deserts of thy infinite transgressions remember if thou make right use of it that it is a sign and mark of the love of God to thee and be thou truly penitent humble and thankfull for it for why should a sinfull man complaine of a man for the punishment of his sinnes but rather in all humble obedience love and thankfullnesse lift up thy heart with thy hands unto God in the heavens That thou mayest avoid the occasion of much anger and passion set a watch over thy lips and a strict restraint to thy tongue use not many words for that can hardly be without sinne especially take heed of cursing swearing blaspheming lying c. and love not to relate fabulous and vain jests for they are commonly as near a lye as complements to hypocrisie and dissimulation which is a gilded untruth to make it passe the better Two things it s said never wax old in a man which without a carefull watch draw the whole body into sinne that is the heart and the tongue the heart alwayes imagining new things and the tongue is swift to utter them especially whilst thou art young keep much silence for that will prevent much repentance imprison thy tongue or it will imprison thee set a restraint unto it for it may be an evill enemy to thee Some say a lyar is only good to reveale secrets unto for that no man that knowes him will beleeve his relation Some say he which knowes not how to dissemble knowes not how to live but dissembling then must be taken only for not speaking all the truth at all times which in some sense may be esteemed dissembling but I conceive a man may so dissemble without blame if he wisely order his discourse whatsoever thou sayest or doest perform it from a pure and right principle in true performance of filiall obedience so highly due unto our God and not out of any respect to man other then in promoting in thy neighbour all good and preventing in him any appearance of evill that by thy evill example thou be not accessory to thy neighbours sinne Now to speak a little of fortitude which is a rare vertue and produceth much worthy praise and commendation if rightly used but may be abused as other good vertues to much losse and dammage it s said of Prudence and Justice that they govern a man in company but Fortitude and Temperance govern a man in private and alone All accidents in this life may be comprehended under prosperity and adversity the former guideth in adversity the latter in prosperity and these two vertues may wholly be comprised and understood by this word Constancy which is a right and equall stayednesse of minde in all accidents and outward things whereby he is not puffed up in prosperity nor dejected in adversity Now Fortitude or Vertue in the generall and vulgar understanding of the words is exercised wholly in opposition and in subduing all things under it contemning all terrible things and if abused brings faire liberty into bondage Military valour is commonly much different from true fortitude we finde this valour in the ordinary sense common in beasts but true Fortitude is only to be found in Wisdome many attain Valour by use institution example or custome though they be of base and slavish mindes without any tincture of vertue or true fortitude which is farre from an inconsiderate temerity or bruitish stupidity for vertue cannot be without knowledge and true fortitude is a stayed minde grounded upon the duty honesty and justice of the enterprise which never ceaseth untill it overcome for that it is a quality of the minde not of the body not of the limbes but of true courage in the heart and will whereby it is truly sound for not the conflict but the cause sheweth valour in which much wisdome and discretion must be shewed in the execution and all lawfull meanes used to avoid an approaching danger true fortitude is both a director and a protector therefore most necessary to be obtained although it cost both pay and pains Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit Mania Psal 1.1 2 7. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsell of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfull but his delight is in the Law of the Lord and therein doth meditate day and night He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters that bringeth forth her fruit in season Jer. 17.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is Ver. 8. He shall be as a tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the rivers Psal 7.10 My defence is of God which saveth the upright in heart And 59.9 God is my defence And 16. I will sing of thy power yea I will sing aloud of thy mercies in the morning for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble Rev. 3.2 Be watchfull and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God Mark 13.33 Take yee heed watch and pray for ye know not when the time is Psal 51.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit And 143.10 Teach me to doe thy will for thou art my God thy spirit is good lead me into the land of uprightnesse Neh. 9.20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them 1 Thes 5.19 Quench not the spirit 1 Joh. 4.1 2 3. Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world Hereby know ye the Spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
infectinn save least sinnes doe cry and crying have Affectedness Affectednesse in carriage needs must gain esteem of shallow idlenesse and vain Sobernesse A sober carriage if apparell sute speak grounds of wisdome gain a good repute Creature Take heed the Creatures have not cause to cry at thy misusing them and cruelty Earth Possesse so much of Earth from more refrain then thou canst order to eternall gain Rest What helps not hinders what doth not assist is enemy to thy eternall rest The minde To write or speak more to affect the minde then guide the soul is folly unrefin'd Teaching If minde and soul be from a sacred word both joy'd and taught such teaching is from God Good and Evill Ill 's onely ill and good is onely good their consequences must be understood Gettings Is ought worth sinfull getting when we see our seeming comforts scarce last seventy Vain joy Be not too jocund when the Sunne doth shine for suddenly it 's noon and must decline Comfort In all transactions underneath the Sunne hence is true comfort that God's will done Good life While we walk worthy of our Makers praise our peace is sound in good or evill dayes Vpright Walking Who laden much with earth can walk upright with lesser load may surely walk more streight The Way Thrice happy want and grief and low degree you are the living way appointed me History By History learn how to act thy part and wisely know thy predecessors Art Nothing new What hath been is and what is may be done Wisdome saith Nothing 's new under the Sunne Practice To read the story and thereof to speake without the practick part shews judgment weak Nature Thy own corrupted nature's sure to blame then what suits most therewith is most the same Reason Our cursed sinnes doth reason so deface that ancient custome much usurpes her place Custome When without pains we leave accustom'd sinne Then Leper change thy spots and More thy skinne Friends unkinde If Friends prove foes and since it must be so be linkt no faster then thou maist let goe Friends death Death thou hast parted us but we shall meet beyond thy power each others blisse to greet Imployments Though worldly businesse us divide a farre yet in Gods service we united are Affronts Give no offence passe by affronts for why it's wisdoms counsell wise men passe them by Anger Anger is open to the greatest harme it armes thy foes and doth thy self disarm Law Doe right to all without Law or offence thy common Law let be good conscience Suites Sue not at Law untill thou 'st throughly tri'de to get but near thy right all wayes beside Judgment If thou be call'd thy judgment for to give remember God that judgeth right doth live Family He that a wife or family controuls ought last to feed their bodies first their souls Exact living From truest principles of filiall love are all the motions of the holy Dove Devotion In daily duties and devotion due be constant fervent and thy words but few Sabboth Make not the Sabboth shortest of the seaven but strictly keep it morning noon and even Publike Fasts or Feasts In publike duties publike fasts or feasts for publike presidents keep them at least Private Fasts When thou as is most fit set'st dayes apart to humble thee doe it with all thy heart Change In all the change that to this life is due change onely Adam old for Adam new Sacraments The blessed Sacraments ought for to move thy soul to tears of thanks in truest love Attending the Word By sacred preaching the true heavenly Word is offer'd us felt heard and understood Duty To all the creatures severall rights it 's fit to give their due as we will answer it Love to God Convert thy soul and see thou doe not move for hope or fear but serve in truest love Meditation Our duty to our God I 'le not relate Heavens joyes hells torments see thou meditate Prayer In prayer prostrate thy most humble spirit in true obedience that 's thy Saviours merit Sudden The sudden act and what is rashly done hath penitence for his companion Tumults Avoid all tumults for their usual spring is pride and envy and a height in sinne Company Take heed of company keep watchfull eyes there 's fewest friends the most are enemies Feare Fear not too much what may the body harme but love our God and trust his mighty arme Evill dayes For evill dayes when worldly friends afford nor peace nor comfort have it in the Lord. Good dayes Those dayes are good and onely good begins when we abound in love subdue our sinnes Beliefe Belief is that for which we ought to pray for sacred guidance in a holy way Reading the Scriptures In reading Scriptures least understanding erre craveth ' holy Ghost for thy interpreter Authors In humane authours so much multiplied the truth of all by holy Writ is tried God With filiall fear we must our souls prepare before we speak his Name for whom we are Souls In studying of souls know it 's not given to self to know it self within a prison Bodies Thy bodie 's mortall life 's but like a breath then walk prepared for a joyfull death Family Consider those allotted to thy charge thy bond 's more great their liberty more large Friends If thou hast found a friend beyond a brother blesse God therefore thou'lt hardly finde another Enemies Of all thy foes take heed of smiling jeast the hypocrite of all is deadliest Occasions In businesse and occasions that depend upon this life consider well the end Reward The innocent and humble minde regard with due respect consider and reward Punishment The childe the simple and the haughty minde are fit for punishments of severall kinde Writing Speak well but better write writings from farre Arts. The perfect use of Arts are helps to call back our pure nature lost in Adhm's fall Recreations Use recreations to refresh the minde and better it for use of every kinde Callings Callings are call'd of God that we therein may with us others to his Kingdome bring Removings In all removals amongst humane race thou' rt still as near to thy eternall place Slander If envy smite thee with his lying tongue works before words confute both old and young Troubles In all the troubles that our works doe merit our comfort is the Father Sonne and Spirit Advice In all my counsell the just summe is this crave wisdome of our God the gift is his The Resolve BUt centre me and fix my soul aright in true obedience to my Makers will Let me converted be as is most right in perfect service as true beauty will Then let his pleasure cast me to those snares of worldly torments minde and body both What ever work it be in peace or warres it 's his imployment triall of my troth It is my safest way the onely path of his blest pleasure onely leading right To my eternall blisse therein his wrath due for my sinnes is covered from my
Consider the portion and Talent of our blessed Saviour and his Apostles in this world and their happy content therewith True peace and comfort is from the treasure in Heaven not in earth Disposement of Estate in life or death Respect the righteous In disposing of thy Estate either in life or death it is good to consider that order in which almighty God hath placed the world unto thee and let nothing save the houshold of faith break that order which order is first thy Wife as next thy self or rather equall with thee then thy Children in their birth-rights then Kindred then thy Servants according to their merit if they have spent their youth and strength in thy faithfull service then Neighbours of thy sober faith and lastly all men that desire to live soberly righteously and honestly in this present world Use the Creature modestly soberly Put them not to any unusual painfull death without great necessity Take heed thou do not tyrannize or oppresse the Creature in the Liberty of use I mean the sensitive who indeed are fellowes with us and exceed us more in sense then is cleerly made out we doe them in reason Our Creatour is one our bodies and our senses are alike we say they sinne not thus farre they equall or exceed us onely our reason makes the difference though some dispute because some sensitives prepare against a storme which onely is the true effect of sense however I advise you to use them very soberly with great care and moderation especially in killing them in taking away their lives to preserve thine own take heed in destroying their bodies thou ruine not thy own soul doe not put them to any unusuall painfull death to please thy palate or gain more health and strength thereby to consume it on thy lusts but if there be any necessity in such using to gain strength or health out of thy true desire better and longer to work in thy masters vineyard as a just servant Liberty in necessity thou maist out of such a true intent in any sort use them yet take heed of the innocent and helplesse cries of the meanest Creature and pitying them let it move thee to true repentance Thy sinne perhaps the cause of their punishment for that thy ill deserving sinne may cause their undeserving punishment therefore blesse our good God in the use of the Creature but abuse it not Comfort from Scripture both in Life and in Death I. Comfort To have true joy in long Life from our hearty desires of serving our God in all our appointed pilgrimage HAB. 2.14 15 16 17 18. FOrasmuch then as the Children were partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part with them that he might destroy through death him that had the power of death that is the devill and that he might deliver all them which for fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage for he in no sort took the Angels but he took the seed of Abraham wherefore in all things it became him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be mercifull and a faithfull High priest in things concerning God that he might make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people for in that he suffered and was tempted he is able to succour those that are tempted 1 Cor. Chap. 15. 1 Thes Chap. 4. You shall finde admirable comfort by death and in death from the certainty of the resurrection and of our change therefore read them diligently Prov. 14.32 The wicked shall be cast away in his malice but the righteous hath hope in his death Eccl. 7.3 A good Name is better then a good oyntment and the day of death then the day that one is born Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints Isa 57.1 The righteous perish and no man considereth it in heart and mercifull men are taken away and no man understandeth that the righteous is taken away from the evill to come Psal 63.3 4. For thy loving kindnesse is better then life therefore my lips shall praise thee Psal 104.33 I will sing unto the Lord all my life I will praise my God while I live II. Comfort Secondly Take comfort for that all our conditions both inward and outward sinne excepted are from the appointment of God and his will is therein dore Numb 20.23 24 25 26 27 28. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the mount of Hor near the coast of the Land of Edom saying Aaron shall be gathered to his people for he shall not enter into the Land which I have given unto the Children of Israel because ye disobeyed my Commandements at the waters of Meribah Take Aaron and Eleazar his sonne and bring them up into the Mount Hor. And cause Aaron to put off his garments and put them upon Eleazar his sonne for Aaron shall be gathered to his fathers and shall die there And Moses did as the Lord had commanded and they went up into the Mount Hor in the sight of all the Congregation And Moses put off Aarons cloathes and put them upon Eleazar his sonne so Aaron died there in the top of the Mount Chap. 33.38 Deut. 32.48 49 50. And the Lord spake unto Moses saying Go up into this mountain of Abrim unto the mount Nebo which is in the Land of Moab that is over against Jerico And behold the Land of Canaan which I give unto the Children of Israell for a possession and die in the mount which thou goest up into and thou shalt be gathered unto thy people as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor and was gathered unto his people Job 23.14 For he will perform that which he had decreed of me and many such things are with him Prov. 16.9 33. The heart of man purposeth his way but the Lord doth direct his steps The Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposition thereof is from the Lord. The will and the deed of holinesse is from the Lord therefore we must truly pray for the sacred guidance of the holy Spirit Paul plants and Apollo waters but it is God that gives the increase Selah Therefore O my God for thy Sonne my Saviours sake and as thou delightest to shew mercy to the saving of a poor sinner that would truly serve thee from his deserved death teach me thy precepts and lead me in the way of thy Commandements Turn me unto thee O Lord and so I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God and I am thy servant though most unworthy of thy service I am thy unworthy prodigall sonne Lord make me return unto thee my blessed and mercifull Father in true and saving repentance Amen Jer. 15.2 3. Thus saith the Lord Such as are appointed to death unto death and such as are for the sword to the sword and such as are for the famine to the famine and such as are for the captivity to the captivity And
that thou wilt turn me from all my evill waies and give me true repentance from the bottome of my heart so I shall be turned unto thee in true love for thou art the Lord my God and thy mercy endures for ever Selah Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart Psal 19.14 be now and ever acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Incline not my heart to evill that I should commit wicked works with men that work iniquity Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the door of my lips so shall my mouth speak thy praises for ever Amen O my sweet eternity and my eternall Saviour in thy love to poor sinners in Jesus and for his sake I only beg of thee trusting that in him thou wilt not deny me notwithstanding all my sinnes for thou art good and thy mercy endures for ever And first my most humble petition unto thy most sacred Majesty is that thou wouldest of free and perfect mercy pardon all my breach of Covenants with thee or men as thy mercy endures for ever Secondly To pardon accordingly my vowing and not paying for thou art good as thy mercy endures for ever Thirdly to pardon of thy like goodnesse all my hypocrisie towards thee and man as thou art good and as thy mercy endures for ever Fourthly To pardon all my blasphemies against thy Majesty any manner of way as thou my God art only good and as thy mercy endures for ever Fifthly To pardon all my Lies wherewith I have given thee cause of Anger against me as thou art good and as thy mercy endures for ever Sixthly To pardon all my relations speaking absolutely yet beyond my certain knowledge at that time when I spoke them as thou my good Lord art onely and perfectly good and thy mercy endures for ever Seventhly To pardon all my Oathes and taking of thy Name in vain as thou art good and thy mercy endures for ever Eighthly To pardon all my vain and idle speakings as thou art good and as thy mercy endures for ever O my mercifull and loving Father I humbly pray thee for thy Sonne my Saviours sake and in his Name be graciously pleased to pardon and forgive all the sinnes of all my senses I humbly acknowledge I have been dull to listen to thy commands but most ready and open to receive vanity to the corrupting and as much as in me lieth the destruction of my body and soul For give I humbly beg also the sins of my seeing smelling tasting goings and of all the members and faculties of my body and soul for they have all rebelled against thy gracious mercy to their due deservings of eternall death O Lord who knowes the errour of his heart and of his waies cleanse my soul O Lord from my secret sinnes and deliver me I humbly beseech thee from my presumptuous sinnes least they get the dominion over me O cleanse thou me and so I shall be cleansed I doubt not but thou wilt in thy infinite love to the works of thy own hands and in thy free pardoning of sinne for Jesus Christ his sake give me eternall life with thy servants and wilt not impute the guilt of sinne unto me for thou art the Lord my God whose mercy endures for ever above all thy works Selah In thee therefore I will rejoice A Confession and humble suit for Pardon in Jesus Christ O My mercifull Lord God I humbly pray thee for Christ thy Sonne my only Lord and Saviours sake to pardon and put clear out of thy remembrance that originall sinne and damnation due to me from the loynes and rebellions of my first parents O forgive thou the sinnes of my father and let the sinnes of my mother be done away I doubt not oh my Father of mercy but thou hast of thy own free goodnesse already done it for I know thou art only perfectly good and thy mercy endures for ever Selah O Father I know thou wilt not visit the originall sinne of my fathers upon me Exek 18.20 for that thou hast said The sonne shall not bear the iniquity of the father neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the sonne but the righteousnesse of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickednesse of the wicked shall be upon himself O Lord I know as a father hath compassion on his children so thou hast compassion on them that fear thee O my God I acknowledge that I was born in iniquity and in sinne hath my mother conceived me Psal 51.5 Exod. 34.6 7. but thou art the Lord my God strong and mercifull and gracious slow to anger and abundant in goodnesse and truth reserving mercy for thousands forgiving iniquities Dan. 9.9 transgressions and sinnes Compassion and forgivenesse is in the Lord our God albeit we have rebelled against him O my Father Eccl. 11.10 Remember not the sinns of my childhood for childhood and youth are vanity When I was a childe I spake as a childe I understood as a childe I thought as a childe but mercy is with thee that thou maist be feared Psal 24.48 Look thou upon my affliction and my travell and forgive all my sinnes It is the joy of my soul O God 86.5 that thou art good and mercifull and of great kindnesse unto all them that call upon thee O my good Lord I beseech thee for thy goodnesse sake remember not the sinnes and vanities of my youth for only thy free mercy in Jesus my Saviour is sufficient to release me from the torments of their deservings Thou my good God in thy saving compassion and sparing us miserable men from our deservings saist Gen. 8.21 The imagination of mans heart is evill even from his youth but thy mercy endures for ever O make me not to possesse the iniquities of my youth Psal 25.7 Remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy loving kindnesse remember thou me even for thy goodnesse sake O Lord for thou art my hope O Lord even my trust from my youth O God thou hast taught me from my youth even untill now therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works I desire most humbly to live if it were thy blessed will from this moment eternally in thy perfect service O my God I must acknowledge and confesse that my heart my will my waies my words and actions have been evill from my youth the leprosie of my sinne is only cureable by the blood of my Saviour that infinite pledge of thy blessed mercy therefore O my good God give me a lively faith to apply it to all my wounds as thou my God art only good and from thee only is the will and the deed of true faith and repentance Amen O my Father Remember not the sinnes of my man hood and riper years I acknowledge O my God when I call to minde my breach of promises and Covenants both with thee