shal not bee quenched night nor day yea their plagues shall ascend in all eternitie Reuel 14. and shall haue no end day nor night Consider deare Soule that if one should lie in a costly bed or well-gaâ—nished hall and there be delicately entertained with nourishment if hee were notwithstanding tyed to his bed and should neuer come from it truely hee would not desire to liue in that condition But the damned as they haue no pleasure but swimme in the euerlasting fire of hell in eternall anguish and woe in terrible stincke and darkenesse in the which they shall not receaue one drop wherby they might coole or refresh themselues O then hearken thou poore miserable childe of the world meditate hereupon thou louest the world and pleasures therof and sayest it is good to bee heare behold the time commeth and truely is not farre off when thou shalt say with the rich man Oh I am greatly tormented in this flame yea thou shalt lament and say with a blasphemous mouth It is not good to bee here but there yet must thou stay and that euermore euer burning neuer consumed from the which God of his infinite mercie deliuer vs. A Prayer for a safe deliuerance from the paines of hell and to liue with Christ for euer O Lord Iesus Christ giue me eares to heare an heart to vnderstand that I diligently hearken vnto thy true seruants messengers to the rectifying and bettering of my life and alwaies separate my selfe from the children of darkenesse Helpe me that I conforme not my selfe to this wicked world so be cast downe to the lowest hels torment gouerne teach and lead mee by thy holy spirit that I may learne christianly to liue and when it shall please thee to dye blessedly that I come not in the place of euerlasting paine and torment but with thee Lord my Redeemer thy Angels and all thy Saints may enioy and possesse that endlesse and euerlasting life purchased by the bloud of thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ as of a Lambe vnspotted and vndefiled to whom with thee and the holy spirit in the Church be euerlasting glorie praise and dominion for euermore Amen FINIS ¶ A Morning Prayer for Christian families O Lord God deare Father in Christ we do acknowledge that this night we haue receaued one of the greatest temporall blessings that can bee bestowed vpon Mankinde the fast sleepe sound rest of our bodies entreating thee this day and euermore our mindes do not sleepe in sinne and darknesse of the world from that second sleepe in the graue Restore vs wee beseech thee to euerlasting life that both body and soule may be together partners of blessednesse O thou true light which enlightenest euerie man which commeth into the world shine in vs that wee may see thee and walke as the children of life in all our wayes that as thou hast raised these our heauy and burdensome bodies so lift vp our minds to thy knowledge that wee may liue the rest of our liues in all lowlines meeknes chastity charity patience godlines warines and circumspection as to render an acâ—ount vnto theâ— who shall iudge the quicke and the dead and the world with fire Strip vs therfore out of the olde corrupt Adam cloath our soules with thy righteousnesse make our â—yes to be fixed setled on that thy great and free mercie in electing vs to be thy children before the foundation of the world when others as good as we by nature are reiected in that thy hidden counsell which is made knowne vnto our spirits by thy holy spirit working faith in our hearts to beleeue and so to be iustified before thee O thou our life Iesus Christ worke more and more the death of sinne in vs and giue vs freedome of conscience that we may labour to serue thâ—e with perfect heart and willing mind casting aside carelesnesse and vnfeeling of our sinnes dulnesse and deadnes of soule we may see and sigh for our offences with a continuall remembrance and effectuall conâ—â—deration we shall not alwaies liue heere in this wretched world but must appeare before thy tribunall seate of iudgement and receaue according to our deeds good or bad giue vs feeling of that vnspeakeable and eternall waight of glory which shal follow our seruing of thee heare Yea set before our faces the dreadful and fearfull torments of the pit of hell which the disobedient and wicked shall fall into To the end we may haue a true hatred of sinne and loue to righteousnes this day and all the dayes of our liues Blesse thy word with fruite vnto our soules and send out faithfull labourers into thy haruâ—st grant that wee may bee prepared when hearts with open consciences there to giue an account of whatsoeuer we haue thought done or sayd when the faithfull and obedient shall possesse the kingdome prepared for them but the sinfull and carelesse liuers shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of thee the God who is a consuming fire and the smoake of their torment shal ascend for euermâ—râ— Father of heauen knit our hearts fast vnto Thee anâ— while we haue time giue vs grace rightly to meditate and thinke thereon continue the word of thy gracâ— among vs and make it bring for t fruit according to this pleasure that we may striue to reforme our wicked liues thereby Keepe vs from hardnesse of heart security and hypocrisie stay our inordinate affections and peruerse perturbations and renue vs more more againe to thy image lost in Adam Oppresse vs not deare Father with the vnspeakable and infinite weight of our sins in the time of ignorance willing and knowne offences Preserue thy Church vniuersall the great and mâ—ine member therein our deare and dread Soueraigne K. IAMES the Queeneâ— Maiestie Prince and thâ—ir Royall progeny blesse the nobles and magistrates cloath them with righteousnesse as with a garment increase in this thy Israel true Leuites giue them wisdome and discretion to cut thiâ— word aright bring the remnants which are thine to thy fold bee gratious to our friends kindred in the flesh lighten them with the knowledge of Thee and thy Son that they may glorifiâ— thee all the dayes of their liues Comfort thy afflicted members wheresoâ—uer and in whatsoeuer crosse Grant peace in 〈◊〉 dayes if it bee thy pleasuâ—e And because gratious God the night â—s now vpon vs which thou hast appointed 〈◊〉 rest in let the bed strike iâ— our hearts that the graue is almost readie for vs which of vs can tell whether these eyes of ours once closed vp shall euer open any more Now therefore into thy hands we commend and bequeath our bodies and soules and bee thou present with vs before vs by the insight of our minds that we may not be absent from thee no euen in our sleepe with all puritie and cleannesse that nothing disquiet or disturbe this rest but all things may bee still and calme through that peace of
bottle yea and true meeknesse and hunger after mee Psal. 56.8 all outward benefits turne to thy blessings as seales of my fauour thy crosses are no curses but being sanctified turne to thy good in faith patienly possessing thy soule thou doest wait and looke assuredly for my glorious kingdome after this life it is not thine actions it is thy affections I respect desirest thou to bee righteousâ— then art thou righteous Meanest thou to leaue thy sinâ—es I repute thee as if thou hadst left them wouldest thou not fall I esteeme thee as a valiant Worthy who neuer was vanquished For if there bee a willing minde in thee it is accepted according to that thou hast and not according to that thou hast not 2 Cor. 8.12 thou art blessed that feelest thy wants and desirest to haue them supplied I haue giuen thee a sight of thy sinne a sorrow for it a feeling of the forgiuenes of it in my bloud a power to crucifie it lay holde on my righteousnesse by my resurrection a hope for strength from the same to sanctification and perseuerance to the end What now hadst thou these in thy nature wherby thou wast dead in sin no not so it is my grace which in thee is not in vaine howbeit thou hast receiued but the first fruits of the spirit which are but as a handfull of corne in respect of the whole field See though thy spiâ—ituall growth bee slow yet it is certaine and goeth surely neither begun nor continued by thee but by my spirit Be perswaded therefore that I who haue begun this good worke in thee will performe it vntill my day for with mee there is no change Phil. 1.6 Iam. 1.17 nor shadow of change and therefore as my gifts and callings are without repentance so will I fulfill the desires of them that feare mee Psal. 145.19 The SOVLE I Must grant and doe not deny thou hast loued mee deare Iesus and giuen thy life for mee Gal. 2 20. 1 Ioh. 5.10 else God forbid I should make thee a lier for thou crauest no other thing at my hand but that I should beleeuâ— and haue faith for the assurance of thy loue I should sinne blasphemously if I should not beleeue thy Word both confirmed by thy selfe and ratified by thine oath though I doe else sinne and sorry am I for it yet will I not thus blaspheme nor adde this to other vnworthinesse for this mistrust will weigh downe all the rest for none is damned for sinne if hee doe not ioyne to it infideliâ—y that soueraigne salue of thy bloud doth cure all sores of sinne but not this because it doth refuse the cure and as it were pulleth off this precious plaster when it is layd on it beside this distrust of thy loue deare Christ tormenteth the minde and setteth the conscience vpon the wracke when as men haue no other assurance of thy loue but onely so farre foorth as they finde themselues worthy of making no other ground of thy loue but their owne deserts thus ouerballanced with the vnsupportable waight of sinne they sinke in desparation when I sinne I am greeued at the very heart because I haue displeased thee yet my sinnes doe not make mee doubt of thy loue towards mee founded not vpon my worthinesse but vpon thine owne free mercie grace and good-will for how should I loue thee if I were not perswaded of thy loue yea I loue thee 1 Ioh. 4.19 because thou louedst me first and I know that as loue is the fulfilling of the lawe Rom. 13.8 so want of it is transgressing of all For loue is strong as death iealousie is cruell as the graue the coales thereof are coales of fire Cant. 8.6 which â—ad a most vehement flame But yet alasse poore wretch I feare my sinnes doe bereaue me oft his thy spirit I feele for this time I greeue the spirit 1 Thes. 5.19 quench him vtterly CHRIST I Haue once giuen thee my spirit I am faithfull and iust in all my wayes Ps. 145.17 and my Father is faithfull by whom thou hast been called vnto my fellowship 1 Cor. 1.9 I am not as a man that I should lie neither the Sonne of a man that I can repent thou hast receaued my spirit that thou mayest know the things giuen thee of me 1 Cor. 2.12 for he had knowledgâ— truth and faithfulnesse and so because thou art a Sonne my father hath sent forth his spirit in thy heart which crieth Abba Gâ—l 4 6. father This is the spirit of thy adoption and the same spiâ—it because of thy weakenesse and that thy faith is mixed with doubting is the earnest of thy inheritance purchased vnto the praise of my glorie Ephes. 1.14 by whome thou art sealed vnto the day of thy redemption a seale to secure thee concerning the couenant I haue made with thee in my bloud that it neuer shall be reuoked farre surer then that scaled with King Ahassuerus Ring Ester 8.8 For to this effect had my father sealed mee also that thou shouldest neuer doubt of my meditation Mat. 3.17 17.5 Iohn 1.32 For being reconciled by my death my father giueth thee his spirit in hostage and pledge that hee will not misse a day in performing his promise and in assurance of eternall peace Thou canst not denie but my spirit which rebukest the world of sinne wrought in thee a generall astonishment for sinne Ioh. 16. a speciall griefe for speciall sins a renuing of the affections arauishmeÌ„t with vnspeakable ioy of my free mercy and peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstanding the vnderstanding englighteneth the iudgement reformeth and godly anger Ephes. 3.18 This is the life of God in thee for they who haue receaued the spirit are led by the spirit great weakenesse is ioyned with thee Collos. 3.4 but thy life is hid with mee in God and when I thy life shall appeare then shalt thou also appeare with mee in glorie and as I said a little while ye shall see me and after a while yee shall not see me for I go vnto my father So is it very gainefull for thee beloued Soule that there be an interposition betwixt thee and me that a cloude and dampnesse should ouertake thee yet shalt thou not bee tempted aboue that thou art able to beare buâ— with the temptation will giue thee the issue A milde rod shall serue thee euen the rod of the roote of Iesse Num. 17.10 which flowreth among the other rods that so the sweetnesse of the flowre may mitigate the sharpenesse of the rod. I doe often humble euen my dearest children by masking and disguising my selfe vnto them The eyes of the two Disciples going to Emaus were holden they did not know mee speaking with them The Spirit doth liue in thee when his graces are dead in thee neither doth feeling ioy and practise alwayes follow Faith I am holden and thou art saued by
great dangers 2 Cor. 1.10 and doest deliuer me and I trust that yet thou wilt deliuer me Helpe mee that I giue no place to these misconstructions in my heart I will not say with Iob in his impatiency Thou hast set me as a marke against thee to shoote at Iob 7.20 and so confound this processe of my afflictions in no right discussing them I will entertaine by thy grace my priuy checks whereby thou knockest vpon mine heart ô open thou it wide and fill it ô thou that hast the key of Dauid oh my faith my small faith how feeble and weake art thou thou doest not answer nor satisfie my heart by apprehending and applying straightly into the armes of my soule O my poore soule that sauiour of mankind Iesus Christ. CHRIST REason not most beloued Soule so vnsoundly faith is in thee albeit it shew not in actions and fruits by which it is senâ—ibly discerned for once wrought in thy soule it alwaies continueth a sounding man is not dead by the sicknesse of the soule in sinne or outward violence of temptations it seemeth depriued of loue hope patience c. but by prayer word and spirit it soone reuiueth weather-beaten trees in winter are naked of fruit and leaues yet liue and sucke nourishment of the earth When the sweet shewers of my spirit shall distill vpon thee as in the spring and the warme sunneshine of my Fathers loue appeare to thee thou shalt growe greene and new in holy actions Fire couered with ashes is noâ— extinguished Is man without reason because he hath no vse of it while hee sleepeth drousie securely hardnesse of heart and dulnesse of spirit ouertaketh sometimes my best seruants whose soules seeme so sick in the sence of sinne that there oft appeareth no signe of life Prescribe vnto mee no time but wayt my leasure and I will surely helpe thee thou caâ—st not discerne now of faith and infidelity loue of me and rebellion against me betwixt sanctifications â—nd the heauie masse of filthie corruption Bee perswaded that though thou hast no present sense and feeling of righteousnesse Rom. 11.29 peace and ioy in the holy Ghost Yet if euer thou hadst them truely in any degree they are not taken from thee intermission is not abâ—uption I will in my time finish my worke Phil. 1.6 The woman with child feeleâ—h not the motion thereof alwaies but hauing once felt it shee is perswaded shee is with childe so by the seede of the word faith is begotten and sence of pardon of thy sins yet after a while thou mayest wound thy conscience by sinne for iâ— pleaseth mee thereby to exercise thy faith and manifâ—st my power in thy weaknesse yeelding to my selfe the praise of thy saluation In this case prop vp thy declining faiâ—h call to minde how oft I haue shewen thee my mercifull countenance so doe the Saints Psal. 77.5 â—â— 11 they remember my works and my wonders of olde vpon them and in them Set before thy eyes my seruant Iob who did comfort himselfe in his greatest extreamity with his friends and in his perplexity with himselfe by calling to minde the by-past fruits of faith and wonted workes of sanctification which hee had obserued in himselfe in former times and concluded of them Behold my signe that the Almighty is witnesse for mee Iob 3.12.35 Learne wisely to distinguish betwixt the habite and act of thy faith for it is the ground of things which are hoped for Heb. 11.1 1. Cor. 2.9 and neither the eye hath seen nor eare hath heard nor heart can conceiue them Remember it is a kind of infidelity to beleeue onely things subiect to senceâ— vnderstandings where feeling ceaseth then faith beginneth the chiefe worke thy best faith sheweth it selfe when thou hast no sence but rather discerne and feele the cleane contrarie as to behold my loue through the vizard of my anger and say Iob 13.15 Though thou kill me yet will I trust in thee for faith is not founded vpon thy feeling but vpon my gracious promises immutable goodnesse and infallible truth If once thou hast tasted of mercy the which I know and thou art perswaded thou hast done sundry and diuers times whatsoeuer thou apprehendest in thy present feeling yet faith concludeth thou art still in fauour Ioh. 13.1 For whome I loue I loue to the end and of my own will I did beget thee with the word of truth Iames 1.18 bee not therefore faithlesse but faithfull Ioh. 20.27 The SOVLE MY spirit is refreshed as the thirsty ground O giue me more of the pure riuer of that water of life Reuel 22.1 pure as christall proceeding out of the throne of God and of thee the Lambe This water thou giuest mee is a Well of water in me springing vp to eternall life Ioh. 4.14 But O my God my God I make my moane to thee of the weakenesse of my faith I doe not fully assent vnto that I know I am not surely perswaded of my saluation but assaulted with doubting that thy promises doe not belong vnto me and that by my manifolde sins I may bee separate which God forbid from thy loue CHRIST TO haue true faith is not to haue a perfect faith neuer shaken with any temptations for there was neuer such faith in anie man in the world for the most perfect are partly Flesh and partly Spirit the fruit of the Spirit is faith the fruit of the flesh is doubting which euer fight one against another Rom. 1.17 but there are Babes in me growing from faâ—th to faith Heb. 10.22 till they attaine to that fâ—lnesse of peâ—suasion yet this weake faith is a true faith as neuer so little gold is gold and sufficient to saue the beleeuer for my promises are not made to a strong faith but to those that haue a true faith Ioh. 3.18 for hee that beleeueth shall bee saued I haue no respect to the Quantitie and apprehension but Qualitie if it bee true and liuely a little man is as truly man as a great Gyant My Apostles were ignorant in manie things as that I should redeeme mankind by my death Mat. 16. Mat. 18.20 â—8 Luk. 9 45 Luk. 24 11 Mar. 9.32 Ioh. 13.36 Ioh. 14.5 Act. 1.16 Mar. â—0 37 when I told them I should be crucified they vnderstood it not they knew not that I should rise againe and being taught it thought it a faigned thing Were ignorant of my ascension and kingdome for they dreamed of worldlie preferment See now deare Soule how weak and smal this their faith is which also is euident in that my reprehension Wherefore are yee fearefull O yee of little faith And yet notwithstanding I compared it to a Rocke against which the gates of Hell should not preuaile Yea deare Soule al the power of Hel shal neuer preuaile against the smallest measure of faith Phi. 3.13 the weaker it is the stronger is my power in
death and became obedient to admit such pain feare and astonishment of death to come ouer his body which was wiâ—hout sinne it sâ—eweth vs that his humane nature had no pleasure to die yea and himselfe saith I haue a baptisme to bee baptâ—zed with Luk. 12. â—0 and how am I straitned till it be accomplished A Prayer against the feare of Death I thanke thee Lord Iesus Christ for that thou hast not created mee to death but to life and hast implanted a loue in mine heart to liue I request thee from the bottome of my heart teach mee to vnderstand that death ruleâ—h ouer all because of sinne and ouercometh me grant by thy holy spirit that so oft as death shall assault me I may be enemie to iniquitie and euer flie and efchew sinne as death it selfe helpe me ô Lord that in true faith I may hold me fast by thee for thou art life it selfe Ioh. 11.25 and so may freely and boldly say I shall taste of death although I were dead but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. Psal. 118.17 Grant I may beleeue from my heart that by Thee the Prince of life I may be deliuered from eternall death and attaine vnto that euerlasting life through Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne Amen Flesh. But there are yet some that earnestly craue to die and long for it Spirit Yes truely but it is to be vnderstood that there are twâ— kindes of men which desire to die The Infidell prophane vngodly often wish to die and that of impatiency because of the great misery wherewith God punisheth them for their sinnes for seeing they are without the knowledge of God and without faith they are not participant of the crosse of Christ but despaire in impatiency grudge against God wish themselues not onely to die but also often times lay violent hands on themselues as Iudah Saul and Achitophel did purposing to put an end thereby to their sorrow and misery but then is it that first they begin to haue proofe of their wickednesse sweet heauenly Father keepe vs from hence But the children of God the more they grow in knowledge and increase in faith and loue of Christ the more they are weary of this wretched world and long for that eternall rest and haue Pauls wish in their hearts I desire to depart and to bee with Christ Phil. 1.23 yea our Sauiour commandeth vs Matt. 6.13 that we should daily craue to bee deliuered from euill for therein not onely doe we pray for deliuerance from transitory distresses of soule or bodie but we aske from our heart that God would either put an end to this sinnefull and wicked world or else come in a blessed time and pull vs from hence to euerlasting rest and quietnesse A Prayer for patience in trouble Now helpe mee Lord Iesus Christ that I in the abundance of my crosses may rightly order my selfe and learne of thee how I should beare the waight of my yoke Mat. 11.30 preserue mee that I neuer craue my death through impatiency much lesse that euer I shorten the dayes of my life which thou hast giuen bee but grant that euermore day by day I may learne to know thee to establish and confirme my faith and the longer I shall liue the more dearly to loue thee to the end I may learne to contemne this world and to long after that heauenly world which thou hast made to stand in the conquest of Christ by his bloud To whom with thee and thy holy spirit one blessed God I render praise and and glory now and euer Amen Flesh. May a man with a good conscience pray for a long life Spirit Vnto this question S. Paul answereth for Christ should alwaies be magnified in our bodies whether it be by Life or by Death Phil. 1 20.2â—.22.23.24 for to mee to liue saith he is Christ and to me to dye is gayne but if I liue in the Flesh this is the fruit of my labour yet what I shall chuse I wote not for I am in a strait betwixt two hauing a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is farre better Neuerthelesse to abide in the flesh is more needfull for you and hauing this confidence I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and ioy of Faith A meditation of the Soule tossed in the troublesome waues of this life Here mayest thou perceiue beloued Soule that Paule was tossed with two diuers opinions and thoughts he longed for rest and counted it best esteemed it also good that hee should abide in the flesh longer and beleeued that God would spare him that in his ministerie hee might further serue both God and Man yet in both these had this only before his eyes that Christ should be magnified in his bodye whether it were by life or by death So doth also the king Ezekiah 2. King 20.1.2.6 to whom the Prophet Amos denounced death but he turned his face vnto the Wall and prayed vnto the Lord who added vnto his daies fifteene yeares And so was also Paule greatly joyed for his brother and companion in labour and fellow-souldier Epaphroditus who was sicke Phil. 2.25.27 neere vnto death but God had mercie on him and not on him onely but on meâ— also saith Paule least I should haue sorrow vpon sorrow Follow these examples and thou shalt not goe amisse for if thou canst be necessarie vnto God and thy neighbour it is conuenient thou shouldest craue a long and sound life that thou mayest bee a profitable vessel of mercie and chosen to good actions Neuertheles submit thee alwayes to his will and be readie euerie day to be dissolued for time is but lent thee A Prayer for Health and Gods blessings on our Labours Euerlasting Almightie God thou art my Life and Length of my daies my time is in thy hands for in Thee wee liue and mooue and haue our being Act. 17.28 I thank thee from the ground of my heart that thou hasâ— to this present houre suâ—stayned mee and giuen me a healthfull life and good vnderstanding thaâ— in my calling I mighâ— serue thee my God and my neighbour O God thou seest and knowest mâ— heart that I am willinâ— and verie desirous faithâ—fully and truely to walkâ— forward in my vocation and trade and that I haue no wicked purpose noâ— false pretence in my hart I humbly therefore entreat if it shall stand with thy praise and glorie and my owne saluation that thou wouldest prolong my daies and conduct me by thy holy spirit that I may learn to know thee more fully and serue my neighbour more intirely yet if it bee not thy pleasure and that thou knowest it to be better for mee take mee hence vnto thy selfe when thou wilt for I wholely renounce mine owne will and submit me to thy good wil and pleasure Graunt this vnto mee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake Amen Flesh. What shall moue
Gen. ca. 26. If God keepe not promise wee haue done with saluation but God will keepe it and not lye And therefore albeit our hâ—arts doubt wee must haue our recourse vnto him who will not change for the Lord speaketh so of himselfe I am the Lord and lye not And againe Gods gifts and callings are without repentance Consider this deare Soule and hold thee fast by Gods word He appeareth to be angry but is well pleased 1. Ioh. 3.20 for God is strong and his Word much more sure than thy owne heart And therefore learne to vnderstand the Lords Customes his delight is with the children of men hee ieastâ— and dallieth with thâ—m as Fathers with their children yea hee withholds his hands a little from them to prooue them not for their hurt and destruction but that they should not lean to themselues 1. Cor. 1.9 but on him who rayseth the dead and can make the weak and feeble strong and valiant Hee hath no pleasure in presumption but his will is that we should serue him with feare Ps. 2.11 and reioyce with trembling And we may see in Peter and Thomas what it is to bee too much confident and to build vpon our own courage and strength Ier. 17.9 No man knoweth himselfe aright but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we haue to doe And therefore pray continually that mercifully hee would vphold thee to the end and bee persuaded if at any time thou hast felt comfort that God will certainely come again to thee and if that at any time he hath ioyed thy heart that hee certainly oftner oftner will doe it for thy comfort Yea if in all thy life time thou hadst receiued but onely one drop of comfort yet doubt not but pray beleeue hope and haue patience Hab. 2.3 the Lord will certainely come and will not delay vnlesse thou bee altogether stifnecked and vnwilling Remember the example of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.21 Behold how her Lord ieasteth with her how he dismisseth her yea euen thrice First hee holdeth his peace and answereth not a word Secondly hee heareth but that hee is not come for her good but for the benefit of the Children of Israel but the third time he calleth her a Dogge as vnworthie of his comfort but what doth shee for the first in that Christ was silent she meeteth him with a patieâ—t heart which well could stay and trust For the second she answers with a faithfull heart that shee must haue some portion of his promises For the third she meeteth him with an humble heart and willingly wil be a Dogge desiring that which appertayned to him that is the crums which fal from the table that is a verie small helpe a little deale of comfort wherewith shee and her daughter would bee contented Here the Lord cannot hide himselfe longer from her but presenteth a copious measure of mercie vnto her saying O woman great is thy faith be it vnto thee euen as thou wilt But if thou shalt now say behold she was strong in Faith and I am weake thou must vnderstand that our faith is resembled vnto a Fencer who is in the lists against another for he is euer in feare that he shall be ouercome and be too feeble against his Enemie euen so is it with Faith for when we wrastle and fight wee thinke that wee are weake and shall loose the Victorie But it shall not fall out so for victorie belongeth vnto faith let it incline whether it will it appertaineth euer vnto her yea and a weake Faith shall win the field and through the Lords strength power we shal be kept through faith vnto saluation 1 Pet. 1.5 readie to bee reuealed in the last time Remember also the Patriarch Iaâ—obs wrastling how he straue with God and stucke hardly vnto him and let him not goe but sayd Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee A Prayer for stedfast Faith in Christ. Now Lord Iesus Christ thou knowest I beleeue although but with a weake faith yet by the selfe same I put my whole trust and confidence in thee reach mee thy comfortable hand and draw mee to thee O Lord I am weake increase my faith stand not farre off from mee for thou art mine onely hope to whom else can I goe Kindle that little sparke in my heart by thy holie spirit that I may euermore doe thy will Behold to will is present with mee Rom. 7 18. but how to performe that which is good I find not Yea lord Iesus thou art my Life my Hope and Saluation for hauing thee I haue all things Now haue I thee although by a weak hand now haue I thee albeit my hand be weake thine is strong Let me not goe from thine hand to the end that I let thee not go from mee Looke chearefully vpon mee as thou didst vpon Peter Marie Magdalen the woman of Canaan the holy Patriarch Iacob driue away darkenes from my heart let me enioy the consolation of thy mercies here am I as a poore Dog and stay for the crums which fal from the table of mercie Behold I thus wrastle with thee by praier O thou strong Lord insinuate thy selfe into my hart for by thy streÌ„gth I striuâ— with thy selfe giue thy selfe vnto me I wil not leâ— thee passe by any meanes before thou blesse mee I will not desist before the sâ—n of consolation rise brightly vnto me now thou Lord Iesus Christ who hast praied for Peter dost sit at the right hand of thy father Intercessor for me that my faith shall not decay Arise O Lord still the tempest of my heart and rages of temptation that in a liuely seÌ„ce I may see and rast the sweetnesse of thy word and holy spirit that thereby I may learne that inward ioy and freedome from sinne and power thereof by the death and passion of thy deare Sonne my Sauior the Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and thy holie Spirit bee rendered as most due is all honor power and glorie of all true Christians from this time forth for euer Amen CHAP. VII Contayning spirituall consolations and Instructions against the terrours that eyther the Soule or the conscience of Man now readie to dye can obiect Flesh. It may bee neuerthelesse euidently seene that euerie man is mortall and yeeldeth vnto death Spirit Men dye truely and loose their liues by reason of sinne but they that haue the true comfort of the heart infused by Iesus Christ and rejoyce therein They account death nothing else but a passage froÌ„ this miserable world to their owne natiue inheritance for Christ that dwelleth in them hath tasted death for them taken away the power therof and broaken her sting so that death can doe no more but disseuer the Soule from the body and bereaue vs of this transitorie Life Yet it shal serue as all other things doe to