quikneth and comforteth all the inferiour creatures by his comming to the Earth in Sommer Psal 19.6 By his remouing they are as it were comfortlesse and dead So Christ is both the light and life of the world by whom wee haue not only our naturall beeing but also the life of our soules I am the Way the Life and the Trueth Iohn 14.6 sayeth hee So that without him there is nothing but death Therefore as wee see light and heate in the Sunne Light and heate together let vs followe these two qualities of the Sunne that we haue light and heate saith and loue And as the High-priest carried in his Ephod his Vrim Simil. Ex. 28.30 and his Thummim that is Illumination and Perfection So should all Christians haue the true knowledge of God and faith working by loue As for the course of the Sunne he is in continuall course The course of the Sun without interruption since his creation But in the dayes of Ioshua when he stood and in the dayes of Ezekiah Iosh 10.12 2. king 20.2 when he stayed his course came backe ten degrees By which his constant course we are taught to runne forward in that good race of Christianity without wearying Learne at the Sunne to run a constant course NOTA. and we must stay neuer except it be to see the exterminion of Gods enemies and turne backe vnlesse it be from sinne to Gods obedience The course of the Sunne is through the Zodiacke which deuydeth the Aequinoctiall in two equall parts the one halfe to the North the other halfe to the South painted vnder the figures of Beasts the twelue signes coelestiall the Lyon Bull Ramme c. It is called Zodiacke from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What the Zodiacke is a Beast The Sunne in his course passeth monethly through one of these twelue signes whereby he compleateth his course in twelue moneths He knowes his apointed times giuen him by God Ps 104.19 which he transgresseth neuer He ariseth dayly in his proper time to giue light to vs let vs then rise earlie out of the bed of sinne Simil. It riseth early let vs rise earlie from sinne that as he goeth forward euerie houre of the day in light so wee may goe after him to doe the works of light which God hath commanded vs. This way made Dauid his Progresse at Morning Noonetide and at Euen in the Night he arose with the Sunne went forward and when he sate he ended with the praising of God Ordinarie defectes of the Sonne His defects are some ordinarie by the inâ—erposition of the Moone betwixt him and the Earth which are rare and sometimes prodigious presaging the eclipsing and death of some rare Prince as the eclipse in the yeere of God 1596. presaged the death of the most Christian King HENRIE the fourth of FRANCE HENRIE the Pearle of France Prince Henrie of Britane and the eclipse of the Sunne the yeere 1612. wherein that excellent Prince HENRIE the Prince of Great BRITANE the Pearle of the World died and was remooued to all our griefes Some defectes are extraordinarie as that which was at the death of Christ for the space of three houres Extraordinarie defects of the which Dionysius Areopagita sayde Aut Deus Naturae patitur aut Mundi machina dissolvitur that is Either the God of Nature is suffering or else the Worlde is dissoluing The Moone is compared to the Church as the Sunne is to Christ The Moone This is a prodigious thing wheÌ„ the Church which shoulde bee the light of the darksome worlde shee goeth betwixt Christ and vs and hideth his beautifull face from vs the which truelie the Church of Rome hath done manie yeeres The Lord let her see howe shee hath beene the cause of that great Ignorance wherin our fore-fathers were plunged for a long season yea shee still hath a desire to nourish Darknesse and calleth Ignorance the Mother of Deuotion The Moone is the other great light but inferior to the Sunne first in place secondly in qualitie thirdly in light because it hath lesse light than the Sunne and some doe thinke that shee borroweth her light from the Sunne Fourthly in honour for she gouerneth the Night but not the Day And fiftly in that the Sunne is constant shee mutable hee hote shee colde hee dry and shee moyst As the Sunne doth represent Christ so doth the Moone the Church which shines in the dark night of this world The comparation of the Moone with the Church being ruled by Christ who can rule and gouerne his Light When the Moone is in the point nearest the Sun then her light is darkened and hidde from the worlde and shee is in her change NOTA. But when shee is farthest from the Sunne then shee is in her greatest perfection The Moone the nearer the Sun the lesser light the Church the nearer Christ the greater farre differing from Christ and his Church For when the Church is nearest Christ then shee shineth in her perfect glorie and shee decreasseth when shee flieth farthest off from him But heerein shee resembleth the Church for that part of the Moone which is toward the Sunne is euer illuminated the rest of her bodie being darkned The Church as farre as shee looketh to Christ is light so likewise the Church so farre as shee looketh to Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shee is light in the Lord but so farre as shee is turned from him shee is nothing but darknesse The Eclipse of the Moone happeneth when the Earth is interponed betwixt her and the Sunne Eclipse of the Moone And so the Church of Christ alace suffereth this Eclipse when the earthlie cares of this life goe betwixt Christ her whereby it doeth come to passe that the world is spoyled of light as we see in the Romish Church which was so long glorious as in her Martyrdome she contemned the world but after when she enjoyed peace and was promoted to honour and wealth she became earthlie minded and her Godlinesse was soone turned into Greedinesse The Starrs As for the rest of the Starres they are innumerable and yet I will affirme that there is not one of them which is ydle but hath a speciall vse for which it was created For as in the Earth the Lord made nothing in vaine for hee sawe that whatsoeuer hee did it was good Then if it was good Gen. 1.10 it behoued to serue for some good vse So in the Heauens likewise hee saw that all was good Some fixed For the Starres there be some fixed as their name Stella à stando beareth So wee should studie to bee fixed Starres in the right hand of CHRIST Rev. 1.16 20. Some of these are remarkable whereof GOD himselfe speaketh vnto Iob as the Hyades Iob 9.9.38 3. Pletades and Orion The Planets haue their name from erring for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doeth
Gates of Hell by Stripes and Wounds our Lord weÌ„t before vs. The feare of Death springeth of the weaknesse of faith and our great loue of the world begets in vs great desire of life and our little sight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death RemeÌ„ber that there are two Deaths and feare the greater There are two deaths Rev. 20.14 the first Death is the separation of the soule from the bodie but the second Death is the euerlasting separation of God froÌ„ the soule If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sinne the second Death shal haue no power ouer thee therfore thou needest not to be afraid of the first Death if thou be deliuered from the second 2. Thou needest not to feare the first Death Death is vniuersall for it is a fatall necessitie laide vpon all Flesh Kinges Prophets People c. all must depart A profitable exchaunge by death 3. There is great gain by the exchaÌ„ge for wee get a Palace for a Prison rest for labour libertie for bondage God for men the companie of Angels for the companie of sinners and finallie the Heauens for the Earth 4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death Present joy by death without delay Luke 23.43 NOTA. Sinne is taken away Simil. The-paines of death are short because thy soule shall not bee holdeÌ„ in suspense nor stand at the gates of HeaueÌ„ nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise 5. The sting of Death is taken froÌ„ it which is Sinne then Death can doe thee no more harme than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting 6. The pangues of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall but thy joyes shall be eternall as Paul saith to the Romanes Chap. 8. Vers 18. Inward comfortes The soule shall shortlie returne 7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses 8. Thy bodie shall sleepe a little thy soule shal returne shortlie the Comforter shall assist thee Christ is praying for thee in Heauen the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer the Angels are readie to conuoy thy soule to eternall blisse 9. Heere is thy comfort Christ thy Sauiour suffered the pangues of Death in the highest degree Christ suffered death Matth. 10.24 Shall the seruant be aboue his Master And as he died so he rose againe and ouercame Death in his owne denne Then if the Head bee risen will hee not raise after him all the members of the bodie Yes surelie Lastly The right desire to liue or die Psalm 6.5 Isa 38.7 if thou find a desire in thee to liue longer let the cause of thy desire be that thou mayest liue better as Ezechias and Dauid saide Shall the dead prayse thee And What signe shall I haue to goe to the House of the Lord And if thou desire to die Christ aduantage in life and death see that it be not for thine earthlie burdens but for sinne which thou weariest to beare and for the desire of the fruition of the glorie of God A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH EVerlasting God and my most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore Prisoner bound by the Chains of Sicknesse to this Bed vpon whome the bondes of Death are seasing and taking holde I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy beseech thee to giue me thine holie Spirite that seeing I am going the way of all flesh I may rightlie resolue 1. King 2.2 with solide judgement and perfect memorie anent my departure that as thou hast prepared a place for mee Iob 14.2 so thou wilt prepare mee for it that I being purged by the blood of Iesus sanctified by thy Spirit may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to mee And because manie times I learned by thy Worde that I must die by daylie experience in the death of others thou gauest mee warning as also I haue carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by diuerse diseases yet Lord nowe at last I learne by mine own proofe that which I would not learne by others Nowe therefore O Lord when I looke backe to my former life and consider the sinnes of my childhood and mine age what things I did ignorantlie and what I did against mine owne conscience my forgetfulnesse of thy mercies and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodnesse mine open sinnes and my secret sinnes my presumptions mine injuries to others mine intemperancie my slouthfulnesse and neglect of thy worship all these sinnes so oft committed by mee beeing put in a masse and manie moe with them I beseech thee most mercifull Father that thou wouldest vouchfase to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion and make mee nowe quite of them that they burthen mee no more and I beseech thee that now in this my last battell thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelitie and distrust that as by thy power I haue ouercome the maine hoste of sin so by thy grace these remnants of a defeated Armie those stragling Souldiours who are shaking their weapons vpon mee they may bee scattered by thine hand that the work of my saluation may now in mercie bee crowned and finished that now I may cry with my Sauiour at his death Consummatum est It is finished Ioh. 19.30 He finished vpon the Crosse the worke of saluation for me now O Lord finish it in me vpon this bedde I acknowledge ô Father that I am infinitlie obliedged vnto thy Majestie for thine innumerable benefits which I haue receiued at thine handes in the time of my life for thou euer didst loue me with a Fatherlie affection thou caredst for mee thou prouidedst in due season to my necessitie thou fedst me thou defendedst mee thou nurturedst me c. Simil. Exod. 19.4 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones so hast thou carried mee in the armes of thy mercie But in speciall thou broughtest mee from ignorance to the knowledge of the trueth madest mee to be borne in the bosome of the Church gauest me that eternall life Iohn 17.3 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the Worlde Yea when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wildernesse the perils of waters of fire of pouertie of sicknesse of decietfull and wicked men c. thou deliueredst mee from them all by thy mightie and out-stretched arme and hast giuen me this time to resolue with thee to repent and thanke thee for thy benefits For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites both spirituall and temporall I render vnto thee moste heartie thankes praise and glorie to continue for euermore As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee it is not of mee O Lord but thy grace working in mee who makest thy power to bee knowne in my weaknesse And if thou wouldest look narrowly to my best actions thou wouldest finde in them a thousand imperfections Therefore I couch vnder the Garment of my Lordes righteousnesse oh spreade the Mantle of thy Mercie ouer mee And as for the Worlde I disclaime and renounce it as a false and deceitfull friend which promiseth faire things to those that seeke it but for golden offers it crowneth them with thornes I bid good-night to all my Friends Acquaintances and good Christians and I exhort all you who would haue peace in your latter ende and die the death of the Righteous Numb 23.10 Mat. 7.13 that ye would treade the footesteps of Iesus Christ goe thorowe the straite way keeping faith and loue with the Sainctes to the ende 2. Tim. 4.8 that seeing I haue gone before you and run my race and shortlie shall receiue the Crowne of Righteousnes yee would rejoyce in my victorie and not bee forâ—e for my remoouing And I pray God to bee with you all and to conuoy you safely vnto his Kingdome that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie And seeing I feele all the members of my bodie decaying and giuing ouer their office my grinders sailing my sight and hearing decaying Eccl. 12.3 my strong men trembling let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace that I may haue a cleare sight of my Lord and Sauiour and so depart in peace with olde SIMEON thy Seruant Now my Soule returne to thy rest for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee Psa 116.7 I commit my spirite into thine handes O LORD take it and by the conuoy of thy moste holie Angels carrie it vnto thy Kingdome And for my bodie I commit it to the dust from whence it came to sleepe there till the Day dawne and my LORD returne and rayse it vppe againe that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vs thorow Christ Amen FINIS THE PRINTER TO THE READER BEcause it is vnpossible that Bookes of any quantitie in the first Impression should escape all Faults and especially in the absence of the Author therefore it shall please the Christian Reader to auoyde partialitie judge charitablie and correct diligentlie such errours as on our behalfe vnwillinglie haue escaped our correction all which God willing at another time wee shall amende most attentiuelie
ease mee thereof that with â—acritie and readinesse of heart I may â—erue thee all the dayes of my life as I â—aue serued sinne before Alace was â—ot I the cause that thy Sonne died â—ine Angels are offended and thy Church grieued O Lord let mee be â—omforted before my departure that I may bee the occasion of all their joyeâ— by my repentance as I was the cause of their sorrowe by my fall and foule defection But alace when that I haue repented mee of my former wickednesse I am readie to runne backe vnto that filthie puddle of sinne from the which I was newlie washen yea I haue fallen more often than seauen times euerie day but thou O Lord with thy mercifull hand didst lift me vp againe Therefore deare Father haue mercie vpon mee I beseech thee and continue thy loue and fauour towards mee and let mee not fall as doe the wicked who fall and rise no more Sende vnto mee O my God faithfull Admonishers and let the Righteous rebuke mee yea let mee not want the checkes of mine owne Conscience that I durst forsweare my promise to my God Breach of promise to God I promised to amend my life but I haue not performed mine oath and haue come vnder a double guiltinesse I purposed to cease from sinne euen when I vowed thinking to stand by mine owne strength But nowe good Lord I beseech thee that thou wouldest giue mee thy constant Spirit that I may stand by thy power Psa 51.10 and fall no more If thou wouldest narrowlie marke mine iniquities O Lord Iob 5.3 I could not aunswere thee to one of a thousand yea mine owne mouth condemne mee Iob 9.20 and mine owne cloathes would defile mee Wash mee therefore O my God Purge mee with Hyssope Psal 51.7 and I shal be cleane with Myrrhe and pure Water and I shall bee whiter than Snow O passe by my great sins for mercy pleaseth thee Mich. 7.8 Remember not O Lord mine ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse toward thy Majestie Ingratitude for all thy manifolde and rich benefits which thou hast so bountifullie bestowed vpon mee from time to time Ne yet good Lord remember mine hypocrisie and superficiall seruice Hypocrisie which manie times I haue done vnto thee both priuatelie and in thine House I craue pardon for these two sinnes which are most haynous and I most humblie beseech thee euer hence forwarde to giue mee a thankfull minde and heart vnto thee for all thine innumerable benefites and blessinges and sinceritie in thy worship that with a single eye and a true heart I may glorifie thee O my Creatour all the dayes of my pilgrimage heere in this life and heereafter with thy Sainctes for euer Oh and alace I am sorie and doe most heartilie repent mee for those manifolde injuries which I haue done vnto my Neighboures Injuries to our neighbour euen for lacke of loue towardes them But O Lord I am no wayes able to reckon mine hainous sinnes and grieuous offences which I haue committed both against God and man no more than I am able to count the haires of mine head or the sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen But binde thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue Oh burie them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST and in the graue of perpetuall obliuion For why O Lord thy Name is Mercie 1. Gods Name is Mercie and thy nature mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and in dureth for euer 2. His nature mercifull Thy promise is O God that thou wilt not cast off those that come vnto thee Thou hast sworne that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner 3. His promise and oath but that hee bee conuerted and liue Thou commandest all that are wearie 4. His CommandemeÌ„t Matt. 11.28 Luke 18.1 and laden with sinne to come vnto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou commendest the vnjust Iudge who at last yeelded to the importunitie of the Widow Therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy mercies looke vpon mine infirmities Bestow vpon â—e O Father the Comforter Ioh. 14.26 euen the Spirit of trueth who may leade mee in all veritie through this Wildernesse and thy constant Spirit who may establish mine heart by his grace and who may sanctifie me and purifie the sountaine of my soule that all good actions may aboundantlie spring from thence And finallie O Lord I resigne my bodie and soule into thine hand beseeching thee most intirelie that thou wilt keepe thine owne Lodging that I may bee directed by thine holie Spirit in the course of this transitorie life that I hauing the assurance of the forgiuenesse of all my former sinnes and likewise a care feare and reuenge of my corruption I may learne to number my dayes Psa 90.12 redeeme the time and spende and ende my life to thine honour praise and glorie through IESVS CHRIST my Lord and onelie Sauior AmeÌ„ So bee it MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS vpon the Lordes seuen dayes worke MOSES albeit hee was borne after the Flood yet he prophecieth of thinges done from the beginning of the Worlde and hath written fiue Bookes of the same GENESIS GENES which signifieth Generation because it containeth the beginning both of the Worlde and of the Church EXOD. EXODVS an Out-passage or deliuerie of the Church from Aegypt LEVITICVS LEVIT setteth downe both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits for the right ministration of Gods seruice NVMBERS a Reckoning of men NVMB. wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should be like the starrs of heaueÌ„ DEVTERONOMIE DEVT. or a Second Law or Declaration of the will of God before the death of Moses He beginneth at the Creation by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation What God was doing before the World I answere with S. Augustine Hee was preparing Hell for such curious braines And to such as aske where he was I say that God needed no place who is comprehended in no place Places are made for bodies which are conprehensible the Creatour beeing incomprehensible hath no neede therof Neque tempus habet quando neque locum ubi Augustine neque modum quomodo neque causam cur fit that is Hee hath neither a place wherein hee is nor a time when nor a manner how nor a cause why he is But he was in himselfe and had a perfect delectation in his owne Trinitie A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDS first dayes vvorke THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Masse was the Light Light admirable which is admirable in two respects First 1. Out of darknesse because it proceeded out of Darknesse as hee doth produce one Contrare out of another 2. Without
Iosephs Brethren after he hath humbled them or else with Saul and Pharoah he will plague them for he sayeth Touch not mine Anointed Last it is naturall for the seed of the Serpent and the fierie Dragon to persecute the Woman and her Child as it is that Foxes and Wolues should persecute the Sheepe therefore let vs preuaile by patience blunt their swords by our sufferinges A PRAYER FOR ANY PERSON WHO IS PERSECVTED with his Enemies O Eternall God and most mercifull father thou hast commanded all those that are wearie and loaden to come vnto thee Matth. 11.28 and thou wilt case them if thou hast commanded me to come thou wilt not reject cast me away when I am come heare the voyce of my prayer out of thine habitation and put not away the supplication of my mouth inlarge my heart to pray and open thine care to my cry O Lord how long wilt thou tarrie mine enemies are moe than the haires of mine head Psalm 22.12.13 c. they are strong like the Bulles of Bashan they are fearce and cruell like Lyons and Vnicornes they conueance against me and say that there is no more helpe for me in God O Lord Psalm 3.2 when trouble draweth neare me be not farre from me Lord haue mercie vpon me It is true O Lord I haue prouoked thy wrath and indignation I haue beene thine enemie and hated thee who wast my Father therefore most justlie hast thou raised vp these wicked men against me Whatsoeuer I suffer thou hast done it out of thy justice Psal 51.4 that thou mayest bee just when thou judgest O Lord forgiue me my sinnes and keepe them not in thy remembrance for all the creatures which were in couenant with me are become enemies vnto me Oh Reconcile me vnto thy selfe that the stones of the fielde may be at peace with me Iob 5.23 The waues of the Sea raged against Ionas Ionah 1.4 and 2.1.2 when he fled from thy presence but by his affliction thou broughtest him to obedience and conformitie to thy will I confesse thou hast enough to be angry for against me but ô Lord what haue I done to offend mine enemie they persecute me without cause Psalm 7.3 In the time of their trouble I prayed for them when they were afflicted then I burnt but when they sawe thee afflicting me and correcting me then they were aliue yea smoat him whom thou didst visit O Lord I beseech thee to try mee and search mine heart if euer I haue done anie thing amisse vnto these who persecute mee or was purposed to doe them harme yea Lord I haue euer done good vnto them and they haue repayed mee with euill Those who recompense mee euill for good are mine enemies But O Lord they haue done vnto mee as I did vnto thee for thy benefites I haue loadened thee with sinnes so ingrate and vnthankfull haue I beene vnto thee so justlie hast thou repayed me 2. King 18.19 2. Sam. 16.5 1. Sam. 17.10 Rom. 8.28 they raile aganst me as Rabseketh did against Hezekiah Simei against Dauid as Goliah cursed the Hoste of Israel But O Lord turne thou their cursing into a blessing who hast promised that all shall turne to the best to them that loue thee I finde that this short triall hath wrought good vnto mee and therefore it is good for mee that I am humbled thereby for I finde my selfe better disposed to thy seruice than I was before Oh sanctifie this mine affliction and crosse that howsoeuer Sathan mindeth by this trouble to vndoe mee thou mayest draw about his labour for my singular comfort that by this persecution I may serue thee more righteouslie and liue more duetifullie and louinglie with my Neighboures and more temperately in mine own person subduing my lustes and affections so that this Cuppe which is most bitter to my nature and hardlie of mee to bee drunken may be conuerted into wholsome Medicine for the saluation both of my bodie and soule O Lord giue me a good Conscience that brest-plate of righteousnesse Eph. 6.14 and I will not bee affraid neither for the multitude nor the malice of mine aduersaries Guard me by thy diuine prouidence and secure me by the protection of thine Angels make mee as a Seale on thine heart Cantic 8.6 and a signet vpon thine arme I commit my soule and bodie vnto thine hands and faithfull keeping Giue me not ouer to the lusts of mine aduersaries make me not a scorne to fooles Psa 27.12 which vnderstand not let me possesse my soule in patience Psal 7.16 Let their mischiefe turne vpon their own head slay them not lest the posteritie should forget Psa 59.11 but rather let them liue that by their correction others may learne not to persecute the members of thy body O Lord they are the stones which thou castest at me and the roddes of thy furie I craue thee mercie for my sinne but as for them thou canst cast the rodde into the fire when thou hast chastised mee My Lord spake seuen words vpon the Crosse and the first was Luke 23.34 Forgiue them for they know not what they doe and I after his example forgiue heartilie my particular quarrell and reuenge for vengeance belongeth vnto the Lord Deu. 32.35 and thou biddest me blesse those who curse me Mat. 5.44 and giue mine enemies foode when they are hungrie that I may heape coales of fire vpon Rom. 12.20 their head And albeit they haue done me wrong both in my person name by their lies and in my substance yet Lord I forgiue them let them repent that thou mayest pardon them And finallie let mee patientlie endure all these wrongs that thou mayest make me meet for thy Kingdome that being more than a Conquerour hauing made conquest of mine affections I may inherite thy glorie and reigne with thee for euer Amen A MEDITATION OF FAMINE THere hath beene Famine thorow all Ages by which GOD hath corrected the abuse of his People The Famine commeth either for the excesse and abuse of Gods good creatures Causes of Famine 1. Excesse as the example of the prodigall sonne beareth witnesse who was brought to such pouertie Luc. 15.15 that hee was faine to sustaine himselfe with the Huskes which the Swine ate because of his ryote 2. Oppression 2. Sam. 21.1.3 Idolatrie 1. King 17 1. or for the oppression of the Poore as in the dayes of Dauid for the wrong which was done to the Gibionites by Sauly or else for Idolatrie as in the dayes of Achab. And the Famine continueth commonlie three fiue or seuen yeares As in the time of Famine the Lord punisheth the wickednesse of his People God in time of Famine remembreth his owne Gen. 21.22 and 30.43 and 47.12 Ruth 1.1 1. King 18 13. 17.4.9 Psa 34.10 Psa 37.19 Iob 5.22 so by his prouidence hee comforteth the godlie Hee encreased Abraham
rouse from sleepe so deepe and long God wak'ned hath the Eccho of this Song W. D. ON THE SEVEN DAYES THe glorious God the First Day made the Light Next stretcht the Firmament in bredth hight The Third dryde Earth and it with Plants He stor'd The Fourth the Heauens with Lamps of light decor'd Fift th' Aire with Fowls with Fishes filde each Flood The Sixt made Beasts and Man and all were good On the Seuenth Day the Lord from worke did rest Therefore that Day Hee sanctifi'd and blest I. A. AN ANTIPHONE or EPODE For VV. D. his Heptachordon TO THE AVTHOR THis seuen string'd Lute as shewes the sacred Storie GOD made to shew the brightnesse of his Glorie On which by diuerse Handes sixe thousand Springs Beene playde and all to prayse that King of Kings Now last the Sonne of that sweet Swan-like Singer Who Christ in Armes embracing would not linger Longer on Earth harmoniouslie doth rayse On it Notes fit the furious fits t' appease Of Soules Saule-like and of their franticke follie Them charme to sound his prayse who 's only holie Therefore my Brother deare well mayst thou thinke Employde thy Paines thy Paper Penne and Inke Whereby poore Soules are sav'd Gods Name 's extoll'd And thine 'mongst neuer-dying names enroll'd M. I. ADAMSON THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE AN humble Confession of sinnes Pag. 1 A Meditation on the first days work Pag. 19 A Prayer on the first Day Pag. 22 A Meditation on the second Day Pag. 27 A Prayer on the second Day Pag. 30 A Meditation on the third Day Pag. 36 A Prayer on the third Day Pag. 38 A Medit. on the fourth Day Pag. 50 A Prayer on the fourth Day Pag. 62 A Med. on the fifth Day Pag. 68 A Pr. on the fâ—fth Day Pag. 74 A Meditat. on the sixth Day Pag. 79 A Prayer on the sixth Day Pag. 85 A Meditation on the seuenth Day Pag. 91 A Prayer on the seuenth Day Pag. 102 Morning Prayer Pag. 108 Euening Prayer Pag. 114 A Meditation on the Church Pag. 120 A prayer for the Church Pag. 125 A meditation on the holie Communion Pag. 133 A prayer before the Communion Pag. 139 A thankesgiuing after the Communion Pag. 141 A Medit. of the trouble of Conscience Pag. 143 A prayer for a troubled Conscience Pag. 149 A meditation of Kinges Pag. 155 A Prayer for the King c. Pag. 158 A Meditation of Sicknesse Pag. 161 A prayer for a sicke person Pag 163 A prayer for a Woman in trauell Pag. 169 A meditation of Persecution Pag. 173 A prayer for one persecuted Pag. 177 A meditation of Famine Pag. 182 A prayer in time of Famine Pag. 184 A meditation of Pestilence Pag. 187 A prayer in time of pestilence Pag. 189 A Meditation of the Sword Pag. 191 A prayer in time of the Sword Pag. 194 A Meditation of Death Pag. 197 A Prayer at the houre of Death Pag. 200 FINIS AN HVMBLE CONFESSION OF SINNES OEternall God and moste mercifull Father I confesse and acknowledge before thine heauenly Majestie that I am a moste miserable sinner first Sinne by nature because I was conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie next by reason I haue added to the sinnes of my nature the sinnes of a damnable life For there iâ— no Precept of thy Law which I haue not broken neither is there any judgemeÌ„t which I haue not deserued Insensible But yet this increaseth my woe that wheÌ„ I am thus wounded I feele not my wound but doe lie sleeping as Ionas did when the tempest of thy judgements doeth assault mee But alace this is moste grieuous of all Ionah 1.5 that when thy Majestie by the sweete voyce of thy worde Against knowledge hast called mee to repentance I closed mine cares to thy warninges If those who transgressed the law of Moses Deu. 19.15 vnder two or three witnesses died without mercy much more I who haue troden vnder my feete the blood of the New Testament Heb. 10.29 and haue accounted light of the offers of thy grace and by the testimonie of mine owne conscience am worthie of condemnation And seeing I am arraigned before thy Tribunall I flee to thy selfe as to a Citie of refuge Deut. 19.3 where I will pleade my cause by an humble Confession Therefore I sall downe vpon the knees of mine heart before the portes of thy mercie begging of thee the spirit of vnsained repentance that acknowledging my sinne I may finde grace in thine eyes But because the beginning of repentance is to see my sinne open mine eyes O Lord that I may see my nakednesse bewaile the dayes of my sinne I will giue vp dittie against my selfe I will giue out doome against my soule I will condemne my selfe that thou mayst absolue me I wil haue my sinnes before mine eyes that thou mayst cast them behinde thy backe I wil remember them that thou mayst forget them I wil repent them thou wilt forgiue them I acknowledge my sins Psal 51.3 mine iniquitie is euer before mee O Lord thou louest the trueth in the inward affections Ibid. 6. I am content that shame be to mee if honour come thereby to thee that thou mayest be just when thou speakest Ibid. 4. and pure when thou judgest First I confesse that I was created to thy Image but sinne hath so disgraced and defaced it in me that there appeareth no print thereof in my nature I was white as the snowe Ier. 13.23 but am become blacke as the More my righteousnesse is as a menstruous garment Esa 64.6 Restore thine Image in me and repare thy ruinous building Thine honour shall bee greatter in reforming than in forming me as in my resurrection thy glorie shall kythe more than in my creation The liberalitie of thy goodnesse appeared when as thou stamped such graces in my nature but thy mercies which indure for euer may bee seene when thou renewest those gifts which I haue prodigallie wasted and spent vpon sinne Transforme mee O Lord to thy similitude that as thou art holy wise mercifull patient bountifull c. so I may represent thee in some measure in them all As for mine infancie Mans state in infancie I knowe not what I was a poore Suckling vpon my Mothers Breastes I could no wayes helpe my selfe but by weeping I was casten vpon thee from the wombe by thy prouidence I was kept and thine Angels guarded mee But this I know that an Infant of one day is not cleane before thee haue mercy vpon mee therefore O my God and by the holy infancie of my Sauiour I beseech thee abolish whatsoeuer guiltinesse I haue contracted in my Childhood euen from my birth Childhood Then I grew a Childe which I doe well remember the poysonable roote of sinne which lay hid in mine infancie sprang foorth in my childhood And then for as little as I was I began to disdaine yea to snite
Nowe O Lord thou hast fed me with the most excellent foode which thou hadst and hast slaine thy fatted Calfe for me Luk. 15.23 Therefore grant that I may honour thee as my Father and bestow all the actions of my life the motions of my minde the speaches of my mouth to set foorth thy praises in this world that I become neuer vnthankfull and ingrate to meete thy good benefits with my sinnes To thee therefore O Lord with thy Sonne and holy Spirit be all prayse and honour for euermore Amen A MEDITATION OF THE TROVBLE OF CONSCIENCE AS it is easie to speake of Sicknesses and deadlie Diseases incureable so men may speake of a troubled Conscience but none can speake of either of them more powerfullie or comfortablie than those who haue experimented them both therfore let vs speake first of Conscience it selfe and next of her diseases and troubles and last of the remedies anenst a grieuous and troubled Conscience Conscience is a composed worde of Con and Science so that it must haue a knowledge of sinne What Conscience is and somewhat more that is a feeling conjoyned with the knowledge There are manie who sinne ignorantlie thinking that they doe God good seruice as Saul did and the Iewes 1. Timot. 1.13 Rom. 10.2 of whome hee beareth witnesse that they haue the zeale of God without knowledge others knowe their sinne and that they are into a wrong course hauing Science without Conscience and Knowledge without Feeling and these are in a worse case for their knowledge maketh to their farther damnation God hath erected a Tribunall in man Conscience is Gods Tribunall Iudge Accuser and Burrio hath set it in his heart fensing the Court of Conscience wherein he maketh both Index Index Vindex that is Attourney Iudge and Burrio There is no Subterfuge against the accusations of the conscience no excuses no replyes no dilators but she must simplie confesse And as she giueth vp dittie against her selfe so she giueth sentence of condemnation for her sinnes according to the law of God wherevpon ariseth such torments tortures in the conscience and an Hell begun and a fire kindled which shall neuer be quenched vnlesse God by the bloode of his Christ quench the same The tendernesse of the Conscience The Conscience is a verie tender thing and doeth examine the quietest thoughts of the minde which other men doe passe lightly it censureth the smallest words or ydle speaches challenging man that he must bee comptable for them it chargeth mens looks as Iob sayeth I haue made a couenant with mine owne eyes his hearing tasting Iob 51.1 and all his other senses so that the smallest thought is more grieuous to a feeling conscience than the worst actions are to a sleeping conscience or to a reprobate This Conscience is common to the Elect reprobat Rom. 1.24.25.26 c. The Hethniks looked to the glasse of nature and their conscience mutually accusing or excusing them but Christians looke vnto the glasse of the Law and see there what they haue done well or euill The Hethniks describe Conscience Magna est vis conscientiae in vtramque partem vt neque timeant qui nihil commiserint Cic. pro Milone poenam semper ante oculos versari putent qui peccarint that is Great is the force of the Conscience on both sides that neither they are feared who did no wrong those who haue offēded suppose punishment euer to be before their eyes Then if this be into the Hethniks much more ought it to be in Christians who see clearly either God allowing their good actions whereby there is bred an vnspeakable tranquillitie and peace to their soules or dissallowing them whereby the infernal furies are kindled within them In the trouble of Conscience there ariseth a fire of the wrath of God The trouble of Conscience conceiued against our sinnes out of the which fire ariseth such a smoak which letteth vs see nothing in God but justice and where the Creator is obscured and his light eclipsed nothing appeareth vnto vs on earth but darknesse All the creatures yea the dearest vnto them seeme to be their enemies for when the Sunne is darkened Simil. what maruell is it that there bee no light on the earth or what comfort can all the creatures minister vnto vs when the Creator draweth back his coūtenance from vs Simil. As if the King would looke downe vpon a Subject who dare countenance him any longer This sort of temptation befel Dauid Psal 22.1 Narke 15.34 Christ had trouble of conscience Iohn 5.4 and to our Lord himselfe vpon the Crosse who cryed My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Neither shall we account them the lesse beloued of God who are thus tryed for as the poole of Bethesda being troubled by the Angel brought present health to him who was casten into it so a troubled conscience in Gods mercie bringeth saluation and comfort to a Christian And as Medicine that worketh vehemently after bringeth health Simil. so doeth tranquillitie and peace come after a troubled conscience Pretended trouble and true differ But many pretende a trouble of conscience when there is nothing in them but a furious madnesse and a melanchollious desperate diffidence in God for perplexities miseries whereinto they are brought where there is a manifest difference betwixt that their paine and the other in that the godly are only pained for the sinnes which they haue done against God Trouble worketh diuerslie in the godlie and wicked the other for the calamities whereinto their sins haue brought them True it is they acknowledge their sin to be the cause of it but they are not moued for the sin but for the paine Now seeing the spirit of man can beare all externall paines Prou. 18.14 but who can beare a wounded spirit therefore let vs see what remedies can be applied to cure the diseases of the Conscience Remedies against a troubled conscience First it is necessary that the doctrine of faith bee propounded whereby the conscience terrified with Gods judgementes may bee strengthened by his mercies and it is requisit that all the places of Scriptures which promise Gods mercie should bee propounded vnto the patient Next that an interpreter one of a thousand may bee sought who may pray for him as a spirituall Physician to his soule Thirdly that he be frequent in reading and praying that he enter not into temptation and then thus being exercised by Gods helpe hee will recouer And after his recouerie let him take heede to himselfe that he grieue not Gods Spirit but walke in feare and trembling and he shall finde such excessiue joy after that trouble as hee neuer did in all his life before For as after the Winter blasts Simil. the Sunne shineth more comfortably in Sommer so after a troubled conscience commeth greatest tranquillitie to our minds after the