wee willingly be are the punishments of our iniquitie O when wee cōtemplate the incōprehensible infinite and glorious Maiesty of thee our God whom wee haue so heauily offendee in doing so many so great and haynous wickednes in sinning against thee against thee only haue wee sinned and done euill in thy sight O the vilenes and abiectnesse of man that durst thus commit such wickednesse against thee O God how feareful by reason of our manifold iniquities is our condition vnder Satan for of whomsoeuer a man is ouercome euen to the same hee is in bondage besides the dangers wee haue incurred by our sinnes euen all the plagues and curses temporall eternall that are written in thy booke wherefore O most heauenly Father wee most heartily entreate thee to remember the riches of thy mercie in prouiding so excellent a remedy against sin as the pretious blood of thy onely and dearely beloued Sonne as of a lamb vndefiled and without spot when nothing else in the world was auaileable thereto whose sacrifice is daily and hourely effectuall vnto vs timously preuenting sin carefully furthering and diligently sanctifying our cōuersation from impiety his blood cleanseth vs from all sinne hee is the head of his Church and sauour of his body leading vs by the guidance of his spirit to perfection O how excellent is the estate of them that are in thy Sonne how many benefits and priuiledges haue they hee died for our sinnes and rose againe for our righteousnesse hee ascended on high and ledde captiuity captiue and if we now sinne as wee cannot else doe and wo is vs therfore we haue an aduocate with thee O Father euen Iesus Christ the righteous O how vnthankefully offend wee against the blood of this thine annoynted in not walking worthy of the same but treading vnder foot thy Sonne and counting the blood of the coueuenant so much as in vs lyeth as an vnholy thing wherewith wee were sanctified do spight and grieue the spirit of grace dulling yea oftentimes quenching thy spirit in vs thus liuing in sinne we dishonor thee but maruailous yea wondrous is thy patience it is thy mercyes that we are not consumed because thy cōpassions faile not and therfore when we consider deer father how small the number of those is which shall bee saued and that many shall striue to enter in but shall not be able and doe meditate vpon thy iudgements from time to time still continually inflicted vpon the world for sinne and that if the righteous scarcely shal be saued where shall the vngodly and sinners appeare whither shal wee slye from thee O wee haue recourse vnto thy mercie O forgiue vs therefore all our sinnes and offences for his sake who was crucified and did hang on the tree for vs O giue vs thy grace that wee may grow more and more therein that wee thinke often of our end and of the fearfull day of iudgement that sinne may haue little rest in vs but that wee may rest in thee this night and euermore through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lod to whom with thee and the holy Ghost wee giue all glory praise and thankesgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Tuseday at Morning O Lord God eternall and euerlasting Father with heuay griefe loathsome detestation of our sinnes wee confesse them all vnto thee O searcher of the heart and raines there is not any creature which is nor manifest you thy sight but all things are naked and open to thy eyes we acknowled them although our knowledge herein bee too short and doe yeeld our vnsearchable hearts vnto thee O God blaming that corrupt fountaine of our hearts against our selues vnto thee who art ready and able to forgiue O Lord vnto vs appertaineth open shame but righteousnes belongeth vnto thee wee are not worthy of the least of all thy mercies wee detest our waies and couer our faces yea groane vnder the body of sinne and desire to bee rid of it and more carefully hereafter to please thee wee haue felt thy punishments and displeasure often before for sinne and therefore now wee cannot cease crying out against our corruptions and rebellions O Lord wee cannot mourn enough at our priuy motions and prouocations to sinne wee beare the traytor in our bosome which giueth way vnto the temptation which wee cannot of our selues subdue and captiuate and O Lord we haue no certainty of our life if to day yea euen this houre thou wilt call vs neither yet the assurance of the renewing and returne of thy mercie which oft we haue refused disdained and contemned Oh that wee soone yea now heartily repent and earnestly conuert the surer would be our acceptance and the more cōfortable our after conuersation but O thou Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon us O thou pittifull Samaritain take vs vp not halfe but altogether dead in sinnes trespasses make vs liue the life of grace that wee may haue our conuersation in heauen from whence wee looke for thee the Sauiour that wee may walke worthy of the Lord and please him in all things beeing fruitfull in all good works and increasing in the knowledge of our God in dying to sinne and liuing to righteousnesse that wee may finde fauour grace peace and contentment both with God and man casting away euery thing that presseth downe and renouncing our especiall sinnes which hang so fast vpon vs for this cause O Lord make vs surrender our hearts vnto thee and let our eyes delight in thy waies for if there be a willing minde it is accepted according to that wee haue and not according to that wee haue not keepe our soules therefore that they be not couered with the spirite of slumber and sleeping in sin but that wee may stand vp from the dead and thou wilt giue vs light take from stupidity and senselesnesse spirituall blindnesse and hardnes of heart that wee may walke circumspectly redeeming the time which we haue lost and alwaies be watchfull ouer our selues that we may auoide presumption by meditation of thy iustice and despaire by quicknesse and liuelinesse out of thy word for apprehending thy comfortable promises make vs hide them in our hearts that wee may not sinne against thee keepe vs that we may doe all things as in thy presence and neuer yeeld to the inward rebellions and deceitfulnesse of the heart but wrastle by thy grace against the backewardnesse thereof that wee may daily offer it vppe as a sacrifice of obedience vnto thy Maiesty regarding and accounting all things but losse and iudging them to bee dung that wee may win thy loue and fauour and so liue in the time of our perigrination here that we may continually feare our selues haue a holy iealousie of all our best actions that when the chiefe shepheard shall appeare wee may receiue an incorruptible
our hearts this night and euermore and stablish vs in euery worde and good worke in whose name we call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer for Friday Morning NOt trusting in our owne worthinesse for there is none but in thy great mercies doe we present our selues before thee this morning O Lord in great weakenesse to shew our thankefulnesse for thy vnspeakeable goodnesse so plentifully bestowed vpon vs most vndeseruedly for what are wee but wormes and what is man that thou art mindefull of him or the sonne of man that thou visitest him wonderfully hast thon made him in his mothers wombe hee is the image and glory of thee O God thou mightest haue equalled him him with the vgliest and basest creatures it hath pleased thee to spread forth the shadow of the wings of thy protection ouer vs this night wee meditate in the dead of sleepe to haue our soules taken away in thy anger for the offences committed the day before and all the daies of our life and suddenly to haue beene arrainged at thy tribunall seate yet thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and turne vnto thee and now thou hast spared vs vnto this day grant O gracious Father that wee may euer meditate of the true life of thee our God of the day of the resurrection of these our bodies when corruption shall put on incorruption and of our rising to that solemne and dreadfull iudgement O Lord as thou hast banished this nights dardnesse away wherein wee had a sweete repose and sound rest that compassed vs so grant we humbly beseech thee that inward light in minde by the rising vnto vs of that Sunne of righteousnes thy Son the Lord Iesus Christ that wee may mourne for the ignorance and blindenesse that yet resteth in vs and others also the night is past and the day is at hand vouchsafe wee may cast away the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that wee may walke honestly as in the day not in gluttory or drunkennesse nor in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and enuying but that wee may put on the Lord Iesus Christ praising his mercy and patience that yet wee liue to praise him and are continued in life to make our election more sure such is the constancy of thy loue towardes vs O Lord God Father euerlasting for whom thou louest to the ende day vnto day vttereth the same and night vnto night teacheth knowledge thou hast O Lord sealed vs to theday of redemption and hast giuen vs earnest of the spirit of promise in our hearts by the which spirit also wee beholde as in a mirror thy glory O Lord with open face and are changed vnto the same image from glory to glory O when shall we fully enioy the same in that life to come when shall wee cease from all sinne haue perfect knowledge of thee perfect righteousnes and holinesse neuer to bee changed fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition and coniunction with thee our God when thou shalt bee all in all and triumph ouer all thine and our enemies in that inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not reserued in heauen for vs O Lord giue vs the grace that we may keepe our selues in a holy temper and peace of mind by a constant course in all occurrents and so prepare our selues vnto that crowne of glory loking stedfastly vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith to breede constant affiance thereof for this cause O Lord let the glorious light of thy great Maiesty neuer departe from the inwarde eyes of our soules that we may bee seriously affected with the sense of our wants benefits purchased by thy Son our Sauiour and perpetually assisted by thy spirit to consider the great and manifolde blessings which wee haue receiued from thee to prouoke vs to thankefulnesse without which all our prayers are vneffectuall grant good Lord we may seriously bewaile our neglect of prayer and condemne our selues for our lip-labour and customarie deuotions our wearisomensse in well-doing and our contentment with small little feelings and finally we may rest vpon the continual mediation of our blessed aduocate Iesus Christ who continually maketh intercession for vs and is now both praying for vs and ready to present our prayers to the throne of grace and to couer all the infirmities and faylings of them with the mantle of his euerlasting mercies innocency and holinesse to him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost wee render all glory praise dominion thanksgiuing now and euermore Amen A Prayer for Friday Euening O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ thy beloued Son our onely Sauiour wee thee from our very hearts for the least of all thy blessings which are infinitely greater then wee can deserue as well as for the greatest and do as readily praise thee for thy mercies receiued as wee were earnest to sue for the obtaining of them and now we offer vnyo thee sacrifice of praise for the preseruation of vs in our callings which are thy ordinances imposed on euery Christian Lord forgiue vs for strayning our conscience in the least euill this day giue vs thy mercifull assistance that wee may cleaue to reioyce in the good testimony thereof that in simplicity and godly purenesse with singlenesse and contentment by thy grace wee haue had our conuersation in the worlde conuincing the hollownesse and hypocrisie of the same which is the moath of well-doing keehe vs good Lord from vncertaintie and dulnesse in good things preserue vs from corruption in iudgement and Apostacy in life Inable vs to holde to the ende and so obtaine the crowne for this cause O Lord giue vs an inclination and resolution of the heart to all goodnesse that wee may iustifie and beautifie therby our professiō giuing diligence to make our calling and election sure that in doing these things wee may neuer fall and so bee deliuered from many inwarde pangs and outward troubles deare Father grant wee may may euer haue righteousnesse in most precious account prosecuting it with all zeale and courage and rest with delight and contentation in it and practise the same not onely as our knowledge informeth but euen desire beyond our knowledge perfection therein Lord make vs renounce Nature and holde on thy Sonne Iesus Christ by a liuely faith and bring foorth the fruits of true righteousnesse in him giue vs good God a holy and settled purpose to serue thee a plaine and sound dealing in our callings daily repentance and coueuenanting with thee for recouery of our decaies make our hearts daily to be informed out of thy word that wee may worke continually as in thy presence with a full and strong perswasion of thy loue and plentifull experience of the same and preferre it aboue all things whatsoeuer more and more be
THE ANATOMIE of a distressed Soule Wherein The faults of the elect are discerned from the sinnes of the wicked spirituall defections cured confused consciences resolued all meanes of presumption and desperation remoued the sicknesse dulnesse and deadnesse of the spirit releeued crosses and temptations inward and afflictions outward remedied for the benefite of all that groane vnder the burthen of sinne and feeling of Gods anger thirsting for the sense of reconciliation in the blood of the Lambe ROM 8. 38. 39. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue c. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1619. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sir Robert Nanton Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of his Royall Priuie Councell grace and peace in Iesus Christ. GOd leaues his own children oft to themselues to driue them from the weake holde of their owne strength to relie on himselfe yet doth he heale their backeslidings and loues them freely notwithstanding their reuolting and treacherous dealing against him There is Satan also sifting them and fleshly lusts warring against their soules They may fall in their faith by doubtting of Gods fauour and assurance of their saluation erre in som maine points of religion yea dwell in that ignorance for a season and maintain the same They may fall also in their life in some grosse sins yea sleepe in them vntill they be roused vp and then fall into them againe and so commit rebellion against God and yet remaine in the state of grace For they are not senslesse nor doe continue in their fals hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron without resistance feare or griefe nor becomes in the ende a very beast as doth the hypocrite who falls as the Dromedary that cannot rise againe but their corruption and temptation ouer-ruling them doth mislead them cōming to themselues condemnes thēselues for it and cleares the Lord iustifies him in his iudgements and magnifies the riches of his mercy who neuer forsakes his children but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that they may be able to beare it Of the which both inward and outward temptations and afflictions for keeping of the conscience tender and sensible of the least sinne wilfull fechting againe the light therof of the checkes feares distractions anguishes horrible terrours and swoundings with remedies to the same according to the measure of the Lords grace bestowed vpon mee I haue written here I say which I most humbly dedicate to bee sheltered vnder the protection of your Worshippes fauour And I beseech the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory to establish your heart in his holy feare rectifie your iudgement sanctifie your conscience and giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may knowe what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saincts and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward who belieue according to the working of his mighty power To whose euerlasting blessing I leaue you and rests Yours Worships in all Christian duties Barthol Robertson To the Christian Reader SInce it hath pleased God of his mercy to giue so good a passage vnto my former trauailes I haue made bolde in confidence of thy fauour to let this also see the light I haue been moued thereunto by sundry of my friends and truely I detest and abhorre idlenesse with all my heart yet a brother who was in great confusion of conscience to whom I resorted daily looking if God would put his minde at greater libertie from the thraldome pangs of conscience his case I say spurred mee to vndertake this taske In the method I haue not beene curious for the answere is paralelled to the interrogation so proportionably as I could to the which I haue added prayers for euery day of the weeke to season thy reading which strike most vpon the the cord of thy conscience and because the two extreamities presumption and despaire doe most of all misleade men I haue seasonably subioyned a short meditation of the infinit mercy and iustice of God that to the perfecting of thy saluation thou maiest sayle with an euen and plaine course swaying neither to the left nor right hand and I beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to sanctifie these to thy vse and thee to his glory Amen Thine B. R. The Anatomy of a distressed conscience Containing the discouery of spirituall assaults with the particular remedies thereof in Dialogue-wise betwixt the Lord and the Soule Lord. WHy art thou angry thy countenance cast downe if thou doest wel shalt thou not be accepted and if thou doest euill sin lyeth at the doore and the Iudge standeth before the dore Soule I haue been like a Horse or like a Mule alas which vnderstandeth not and am made like vnto beasts that perish I haue wallowed in my owne vomit in the vanity of my mind haue I euer walked hauing my cogitations darkned being a stranger from the life of God through the ignorance that is in me because of the hardnesse of my heart yet somtime I doe professe I did knowe God but by my workes I deny him and am abnominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke a reprobate I haue walked after my owne imaginations and after the stubbornesse of my wicked heart I haue despised the riches of thy bountifulnsse and patience and long suffering not knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth mee to repentance but after my hardnesse of heart that cannot repent haue heaped vppe vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God thus haue I liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantonnes and haue nourished my heart as in a day of slaughter and what shall now become of mee Lord. Thou hast cause poore soule to bemoane thy selfe for the eyes of the wicked shall faile and their refuge shall perish and their hope shall be sorrowe of minde his owne counsell shall cast him downe his reioycing is but short and the ioy of an hypocrite is but a moment for the wickeds light shall be taken away they are snared in the worke of their owne hands thus I will try the righteous but the wicked and him that loueth iniquity doth my soule hate for I the righteous Lord loue righteousnesse and my countenance beholdeth the iust man many sorrowes shall come to the wicked but thou wretched soule call vnto mee and
shall also be punished Saue mee O Lord and take the glory thereof to thy selfe for for not giuing it thee Herod was consumed of wormes thus thou doest lay the wickeds way vpon their owne heads Lord. The cause of all terrours and troubles in thy minde are thy sins I see and thou knowest it for they doe infect thy minde and conscience with their guilt from which guiltinesse proceedeth a fearfull expectation of these punishments thou hast spoken of to the which thou perceiuest thou art iustly liable neither canst thou be freed from this guiltinesse and fearefull pangs vntill thou thy sinnes beeing done away be reconciled to me for then and not before shalt thou haue peace of conscience boldnesse and confidence when thou art assured that I loue thee and thou mee and so canst rest on my promises and prouidence for there is no feare in loue but perfect loue casteth out feare for feare hath painefulnesse and hee that feareth is not perfect in loue the wicked flye when none pursueth but the righteous are bolde as a Lion and thouh thou shouldest walke through the valley of the shadow of death thou wouldest feare no euill because I am with thee and with my rod and staffe comfort thee So being iustified and assured once of my loue thou maist be fully perswaded that nothing is able to seperate thee from my loue which is in Christ Iesus where innocency is there is security for where iustification and assurance of remission of sinnes is there is peace with mee with the creatures and ioy in the holy Ghost Vse the meanes for obtaining of faith as hearing receipt of the Sacraments prayer meditation conference if thou bee not wanting to thy selfe I will not be wanting vnto thee and next approue thy faith by repentance for I haue bound my selfe by promise that all that turne from their sinnes shall in my Son be reconciled vnto mee for I craue no more but that thou beleeue onely and bring foorth fruits of a new life for this is thy part in the couenant with mee for sinnes repented of are forgiuen in my estimate as though they had neuer been committed because thou by these meanes art receiued vnto the protection of my prouidence thou maist be vndoubtedly assured that all things whatsoeuer yea in thy iudgement the worst also shall make together for thy good Be strong and of a good courage it is I that am with thee who can be against thee Soule Is not thy worde euen like a fire O Lord doth not my heart burne within me while thou talkest with me openest to me the Scriptures and manifesteth the word which is like a hammer that breaketh the stone thou onely canst quicken the dead in sinne and call those things which be not as though they were but alas how slow am I to beleeue and how hard is my heart Lord. The occasion of thy euill may bee outward but the cause is inward else neuer should Satan flesh or the world preuaile my Sonne was assaulted but Satan found nothing in him neither was there guile in his lips Satan doth offer thou doest yeelde to tentations if thou canst bee aduersary to thy corruption Satan shall be but as a Chyrurgion which launceth thy impostumation to preserue life howsoeuer hee purposeth to haue wounded to thy heart Ioseph by grace restrained his corruption concerning Putifars wife Dauids eyes opened the vaile to his corrupted heart so sin in him with Bethsheba grew to age in what measure thou withstandeth thy corruption in that measure thou art regenerate and assured to preuaile against strongest tentations thou maist easily espy thy corruption best by thy afflictions or by affections for such is a man as hee is in tentation the heart of man carrieth commonly all the other senses for by it they are moderated and ruled and therefore thou shouldest diligently keepe it againe it marres or makes all thy actions for if it bee pure thy affections are pure yea though some defects bee mixed therewith whatsoeuer commeth from a sound and sincere heart in my eyes is accepted and in my Christ accounded righteousnes vnto thee if for sins sake thou leaue sin though the lees thereof remaine in thee though thou doe not all the good thou louest but in loue desireth to doe it though thou leaue not all the sinnes thou hatest but in hatred of them I accept the good thou doest the euill thou desirest to leaue shall not bee imputed thus striue to haue thy heart right within thee with a purpose to approue thy selfe to mee labouring to kill sinne though the whole body of sinne be not slaine in thee There is a wickednes in thy heart cannot easily be espied the subtilty thereof is vnsearchable which should bring thee out of loue with thy selfe watch diligently ouer it it is like a mill euer grinding thou must circumcise it and make it to bleed to emptie it for there is so much superfluous matter in it Soule Wash mee thoroughly from my iniquity cleanse mee from my sinne O Lord beholde I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue mee create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me I feele alas in my corrupt heart such a world of sinnes and in euery one of them a fault against thee my God a guilt binding my conscience to the punishment of of eternall death and a staine or blot imprinted in mee as the fruite thereof which is my inclination euill disposition prouenesse and aptnesse of heart to offend which causeth me delight and liue in sin which lying in sinne and woe is mee therefore is a greater cause of damnation then the sinne it selfe Lord. Thou must beware of thy thoughts which are the feet and wings the soule walkes flies by yea the waggon and boate it is caried and failed in for an euil thought if it long tarry in the mind it will hardly be restrained before it come to the outwarde act and such monsters of the minde should make thee affraid suspect thy falling in the action of sinne by the affection of it thou must therefore search thy heart which is a bottomlesse pit of corruption and it is a speciall grace to gage it to the deepe for hee that maketh conscience of his thoughts will make conscience of his deeds for if thy heart be found in my my statutes thou shalt not bee ashamed Keepe thee from thoughts iniected as was Iudas his cast in his heart by Sathan and of thoughts arising out of it beware of staying in them by taking pleasure in these immaginations and delight in the sent of them for consent of will with mee is a full action Iudas thought but to doe euill and it is said that thou doest doe quickly after commeth deuise to bring to passe the act that followeth whence ariseth a benummed conscience after diuerse actions
feare before affliction commeth and then it ceaseth but the wicked fear not vntill it come and then they feare too much for piety trembleth in prosperity and triumpheth in aduersity I am alwaies God and am to bee feared of thee for thou art a creature and also sinfull an iron rod can easily break an earthen pot if the commandement onely keepe thee in obedience thou hast not receiued my spirit for my feare causeth obedience and the lawe was not giuen to the iust but to the vniust and therefore learne to say with thy heart I am a man that feare God thou canst not reioyce in mee alwaies faith is often faint loue and little ioy is dead feeling is fallen asleepe yet if thou continue in my feare thou wilt bee zealous of thy selfe least thou displease me mourn vntill these graces shine in thee againe the godly feare sinne more then exernall crosses they that feare least when my iudgements are threatned doe feare most when they are executed a good conscience breedeth true boldnesse sinne breedeth a spirit of feare in the wicked of euills to come the godly say my flesh trēbleth for feare of thee I am affraide of thy iudgements for where feare is not there is security security breedeth hardnesse of heart hardnesse of heart bringeth Gods wrath Soule Wee must haue feare to prepare vs to grace loue to continue vs in that grace this feare not that seruile and excessiue bringeth vs vnto thee helpeth our praiers causeth vs waite continue on our duties I must not bee without feare neither trust in my selfe for when my assistance is weakest sinne and Sathan is strongest neither yet must I haue a cowardly feare fainting of heart to yeelde to tētations but haue a moderate and not a scrupulous feare alawies being strong in thee the Lord my strength the ioy of the Saints may bee temporally interrupted but not finally eternaly absent they haue a iust and royall right in thy Sonne Christ and must maintaine it against all the staines and falls that they feare of the aduersary thus Satan would weare to a dulnesse the edge of our prayers and draw to tedidiousnesse the fruite of our faith and therefore they trust in the Lord with all their heart and leane not vnto their owne wisedome in all their waies acknowledge him and hee doth direct their waies they are not wise in their owne eies but feare thee and departe from euill so health shall bee vnto their nauell and marow vnto their bones they reioyce in his holy name the hearts of them that feele thee O Lord reioyceth they seek the Lord and his strength they seeke his face continually for surely their heart shall reioyce in him because they haue trusted in his holy name they I say doe serue the Lord in feare and reloyce in trembling oh thy louing kindnesse O Lord is better then life truely life is sowen for the righteous and ioy for the vpright in heart but alas good Lord I doe euer feele within mee such procliuity and bentnesse to sinne it is as thou saidst of my corruption whose remnants will follow mee to the graue I am ouer-mastered ouerruled at all times by my actuall impieties against thee and my neighbours offensiue and scandalous to all without any Christian consideration or holy remorse Lord. The cause thereof besides those I haue spoken are first because thou findest not after thy sinne a present controulement of sinne thou thinkest thou hast not offended I oft suffer the spirit of slumber to ouertake trangressors that I may by my spirit more perfectly waken my Saints then doe the wicked take courage and transgresse and doe wickedly but I wil search them with light and visite them that are frosen in their dregges and say in their hearts they Lord wil neither doe good nor euill so because the wicked are not taken in their sin they stretch out their hand to more wickednesse their houses are safe from feare neither is my rodde vpon them they say vnto me depart from vs for wee desire not the knowledge of thy wayes but they shall bee as stubble before the winde and as chaffe which the storme carrieth suddenly away I shall lay vp his iniquity for his children doth the way of the wicked prosper yet are they prepared for the day of slaughter and the worlde counteth the proude blessed and they that tempt me are deliuered but I haue a booke of remembrance of them that feare me and the armes of the wicked shall be broken but the Lorde vpholdeth the iust man The second cause is because thou resteth in my vniuersal promises which although they be true and comfortable yet they can minister no true consolation to thee except thou make a particuler application of them to thy selfe by the word thou seest thy sinnes pardonable yet it is another thing to haue sinnes remissible and another to assure thy selfe that they are already remitted for then thou wouldest search thy selfe more narrowly and purge thy selfe from inwarde sinne as from outward and bee wholly transformed vnto a new holy righteous life therefore the loue of righteousnesse departeth from thee and thou retirest to thy olde sins againe which will breed much sorrowe of heart to remember thy former sinnes to see the greatnesse of them to apply my iudgements to them and to prouoke thy selfe to sorrow for them The third cause is thy slacknes in not espying thy mother speciall and predominant sinne in thee by marking the most checks of thy conscience and the reproaches of thy enemies whereof thou maiest easily bee shortly conquerour if thou labour for the contrarie vertue for a man of vnderstanding knoweth when hee slippeth yea all the dayes of the afflicted are euill but hee that is of a merry heart hath a continuall feast yea and a scorner loueth not one that reproueth him neither will he goe vnto the wise then learne to acknowledge thy speciall secret and seuerall sinnes for the greatest hypocrite will generally complaine of sinne but beeing dealt with in particular points and application of them to their conscience they are not able to distinguish one sinne from another for thus indistinct knowledge cannot auayle in any terrestriall matter much lesse in the businesse of the soule Soule And I poore wretch in any perplexity of minde cannot seperate the blinde and confused cause thereof from the distinct known neither can eschew confusion of minde by bringing my soule to some certaine obiect and matter of my troubled heart good God whence commeth this and how shall it bee amended in mee Lord. The righteous heart knoweth the bitternesse of his soule and the stranger shall not meddle with thy ioy for a sound heart is the life of the flesh and by the sorrow of the heart the minde is heauie giue not ouer they minde to heauinesse and vexe not thy selfe in
what young men did in Sampsons daies in their feasting and how hee reuealeth to the woman which he had concealed from father and mother and Boas commendation of Ruth that shee had not followed young men whether they were poore or rich for childe-hood and youth are vanity and secondly there is in them weakenesse the way to strong vanities and so Dauid as for me saith hee my feet were almost gone my steps had well-neere slipt Thus Abraham made his his wife say shee was his sister so the godly haue spent the time past of their life in the lusts of the Gentiles walking in lasciousnesse lusts reuellings c. And thirdly euen my Saints haue walked in wantonnes in the door to open wickednesse as gluttony drunkennesse and abhominable idolatries which though they breake not forth at all times yet make them lesse carefull to glorifie me for I keepe them that they shal not sinne against mee and doe not suffer them to end their designements other mens harmes may teach the blessed wisedome labour not onely to leaue sinne which one may do for profit feare praise or wearisomenesse but also to repent of it for conscience sake Soule The grieuousnesse of my sinnes filleth mee with feare of iudgement and this feare I hope will cause the power of sinne abate in me thou Lord can giue me victory ouer sin and make it as loathsome vnto mee as euer it hath been pleasant to reioyce in the Lord to vse the meanes of my saluation diligently and to seale vp the pardon of my sinnes in my heart O God when shall it bee If thou wouldest haue destroyed mee for my by-past sinnes thou wouldest neuer haue giuen mee vnfained hatred of thē I consider thy mercy that striueth with mee to bring mee to repentance and thy iustice that will confound such as resist thy mercie hath giuen mee the meanes which thou hast denied to others thou afflictest mee lightly but confoundest others thou gauest mercie when thou mightest iustly haue punished wherin thou doest as it were hire mee from sins and shall I prouoke thee and adde rebellion to sinne O my God I know there is a secret curse vpon euery sinner which will consume him if he doe not repent it hath gone out of thy mouth thy word cānot change because thou art vnchangeable Lord. I haue tolde thee that youth the flower of thy age is of great consideration all this haue I done saith the yong man in the gospel the prodigall maketh his foure stations he hath his portion his fathers ouer-fight euill cōpany but youth worse thē all for youth hath a bundle of folly bound close in his heart which best men haue had neither could flee for as a young man sets his way hee will not departe from it when hee is olde vnlesse by my spirit hee is restrained him that God will haue his roabe must bee a branch of the Almond that is the tree that first blossomes the first fruites was Abels sacrifice so much acceptable to me Soule O God I am like the possessed that was found after sitting in a good mind that sweet wind hath come to me that happened to Elisha I haue felt that gentle calme after the stormie tempest of my heart now may I heare the golden trumpets sounding that ioyfull retrait blessed are the meeke in spirit Lord teach me thy commandements I will run them I shall haue encrease of strength vntill I come to the mount of God while I was in my element of sinne I felt not the weight of it as nothing is heauie in his owne element but now I by thy grace will lay aside euery waight and the sin which doth so easily beset mee runne with patience to the race that is set before mee I finde my selfe within the fadome of thy mercie and compasse of things recouerable the first worke of thy spirit at his comming is to conuince the worlde of sinne that is to make men knowe that without thy sonne Christ there is nothing but sinne and then to rebuke the worlde of righteousnes to make man see that Christ died not for his owne for the prince of this worlde found nothing in him but for our sinnes that so we may see him in the lawe with the wages thereof and the summe in the gospell discharged but good Lord how shall I be assured that I am not vnder the curse but vnder grace for yet I finde such hardnesse in my heart vnquietnesse and troubles in my spirit my sins rebounded vpon mee with terrible fights and fearfull visions which euer amazeth my vnsettled and wauering mind Lord. The examination of thy sinnes is that which first thou must begin with and partly those thou hast committed before thy calling and partly those that were done after thy calling for these sinnes of knowledge of all bite sorest for sinne is most sinfull when thou art intelligenced with my grace in the truth sin after knowledge workes either hardnesse of heart or a troubled spirit and therefore vnderstand that commonly men before knowledge take the trouble of minde very heauily and standing as if neuer any one had it before but they and after knowledge Satan is readie to accuse them of sinne against the holy Ghost as if euery sin of knowledge was a sinne of presumption but learne thou that when tentation ariseth to trie whether thou hast done that sinne or such like already for these tentations are either corrections for some sinnes past or punishment for sinne present or as warning of sinnes to come as thou may bee tempted to adultery and not doe it yet it commeth to thee againe because thou repentest not for this same or the like in thy youth cōmitted again when man will not bee admonished by publique or priuate meane there falleth tentation to sinne differing from that wherein thou doest and presently my iustice punishing one sinne with another as the not repenting couetous to fall into adultery theft or blood and last there may tentation come vpon that neither hee before nor presently doth like of to aduertise he may fall therein hereafter and to signifie that mans standing is not of himselfe none standeth but by my grace Fo as the girdle cleaueth vnto the loynes of man so haue I tyed my children to mee Soule Beside these inward trouarising in my heart which afflicteth mee most the fruite of my corruption I am pinched with sundry diuerse outward afflictions which agrauates and augments my sorrowe Lord thou knowest them well I cannot finde the cause of them for I liue as honest and quiet as any and iniurious to my knowledge to no man in my calling Lord. Vnder any crosse endeauour to haue a cleane conscience to comfort thee with that there is no spirituall cause of these afflictions in thee but that thy sufferings are either for the triall of thy faith beeing assured that thou hast a good conscience in all things blessed
fulnesse of ioy immediate fruition of and coniunction with mee perfect loue triumph ouer all enemies where I shall be all in all crowning thee and all the elect with eternall happinesse blisse for enermore Soule And the Lord shall deliuer mee from euery euill worke and will preserue me vnto his heauenly kingdome to whom be glory for euer and euer Amen A HEAVENLY AND comfortable Mould of Prayers Full of feeling tending to the calming of the conscience for sinne and all other incidents in this wretched life for the benefit of all estates and degrees of people whether by Land or Sea IAM 3. If any man be afflicted let him pray LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniell Speed and are to bee sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1618 A Prayer for Munday at Morning The houshold being assembled the Master thereof or he that shall be made the mouth to God-ward shall with all holy behauiour say Come let vs worship fall downe kneele before the Lord our Maker The houshold beeing assembled shall pray as followeth O LORD our God true iust and merciful who can vnderstand his faults wee come confessing and mourning in the sense of them pouring out our whol desire before thee with plentie of teares and bitter lamentations and our sighing is not hid from thee for wee were borne in iniquity and in sinne haue our mothers conceiued vs how corrupt are our faults our thoughts vaine our words idle actions prophane O what good haue wee omitted and what euill haue we committed how foolish and ignorant are wee yea beasts before thee and while we know thy wil we prepared not our selues neither did according vnto vnto it O Lord how many sinnes and punishments haue wee beene heretofore subiect too how grieuous and heauie are they we presently groane vnder Oh keepe vs deare Fathe from presumtpuous sins let them not raigne ouer vs we and our fathers behaued our selues proudely and hardned our necks but thou O God of mercies gracious and full of compassion of long suffering and of great mercy yet forsookest thē not our Kings Princes and people haue sinned against thee yet compassion and forgiuenesse is in thee O Lord our God albeit wee haue rebelled against thee and now our God what shall we say after this for wee haue forsaken thy commandements therefore abhorre wee our selues and acknowledge vs worthy to bee cut off for euer wee yeeld our selues to thy chastisement for our iniquities are gon ouer our heads and as a weighty burthen they are too heauy for vs wee are pricked in our hearts therefore and what shall we doe O Lord our God most deare Father our onely refuge is to fly vnto thee in Christ hungring and thirsting after the least drop of mercy which wee doe preferre before all earthly comforts in the world intreating thee boldly and constantly in faith to grant it wating diligently and patiently vntill thou answer vs and raise some measure of sense and feeling thereof in our hearts and senses wee call thy mercies of olde to memory how often grace hath been shewed vs from thee our God whē thou didst lighten our eyes and giue vs a reuiuing from our sinnes wherefore most holy father we begge most earnestly thou wouldst giue vs now also strength in Christ to forsake sinne in time to come for in heart we thoroughly purpose neuer to commit the like sins againe bnt thorough thy grace to be changed by the renewing of our mindes to be fearefull of all occasions of sinne and wisely hereafter to decline from sinne and to bend all our strength specially against our beloued sinnes O wee heauily complaine of our weakenesse dulnesse deadnesse and inability to any Christian vertue yet will we by thy power be strengthened to loue out of a pure heart of a good conscience and of faith vnfained and constantly endeauoure to bee found in thy Sonne Iesus Christ and to feele the power of his death and resurrection in sub duing of all our sinnes and wickednesse that the life Christ our Sauiour may appeare in our mortall bodies and that not we but Christ may liue wholly in vs that wee may liue by faith in thy Son who hath loued vs and giuen himselfe for vs for his sake grant O deare Father that wee may practisc these Christian vertues to the which wee finde our selues most aduerse and contrarie that by thy grace wee may obtaine such victory and conquest ouer our most grieuous temptations and perturbations and violence of sinne as that wee neuer fall into them againe and that albeit we finde in our selues pronenesse and aptnesse to fall into some of these transgressiōs yet work in vs a godly resolution holy strife against them groaning and panting vnder the loathsome burthen of vitious corruptions for this cause O heauenly Father inspire in vs humble and submissiue mindes to the power of thy worde that wee may out of it haue our hereditary pollution discouered and our corruptions more and more purged thereby euer sighing for the day of our dissolution and looking for the day of our Lord Iesus Christ to our immortality to whom with the Father and holy Ghost wee render glory praise and dominion now and euermore On Munday Euening Prayer O Lord God deare Father in Iesus Christ repentance is thy proper peculiar gift which thou giuest to all them that aske it of thee in faith for as by nature wee haue it not and therefore doe renounce our selues seeing euery good gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights so the time of repentance is in this life and here while we may it must bee obtained with all speedy diligence for alas the longer we delay and deferre the harder it is to bee got and more doubtfull it doth proue to be had the fittest time O Lord is immediately after the sinne is committed and while it is called to day least wee be hardened thorough the deceitfulnesse of sinne our time here is as a thought it is cut off and quickly doe wee flie away wherefore deare father we confesse the greatnesse of our sinnes committed by vs this day how infinite in number how dangerous and deadly to our soules how offensiue to them that are without and to them also that are in Iesus Christ wee acknowledge them thou art faithfull and iust to forgiue vs them and to cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse wee submit our selues O Lord our God willingly to thy rebukes chastisements which iustly thou mayest lay vpon vs for the taming and subduing of our sinnes wee sorrow and weep for them our laughter is turned into mourning and our ioy into heauines we cast downe our selues before thee O God that thou mayest lift vs vp and open our eares by our corrections that our vncircumsied hearts may be humbled and