folly of our liuing SHORT KALENDER NOTES Of the Yeare and the parts thereof A yeare is properly that space of time that the Sunne runnes through the whole Signes and Zodiacke A yeare containeth Months Solar 12 Lunar 13 Weeks 52 and a Day Dayes 365 So many veines in the body of Man Howers 8766 The yeare Astronomicall addeth thereunto 6. houres and 8. minutes which euery fourth yeare increase a day which maketh the Leap-yeare and taketh place on the Eue of Saint Mathias then adding to the moneth of February one day a day Naturall hath 24 houres Artificial 12 A Rule to know how many dayes be contained in euery Moneth Nouember and September say They haue great wroÌ„g to want a day And Iune and Aprill likewise lame That more then thirty cannot claime When all the rest as they passe by Haue one and thirty wet or dry But February more bereft That hath but eight twenty left Except a Leap-yeare once in foure That sends her one day no more Holy-dayes The holy-dayes within the yeare Are three tims ten or very neere But if you reckon Sundaies so Ther 's two and fifty more you know For Kalends Nones and Ides and such like that are more for knowledge then vse I passe them ouer being store of Tables in that kinde Of the vanity imperfection and suddaine decay of all earthly Pleasures and the Shortnesse and Misery of our life such as they are to inioy them VNTO all the sinnefull and wayward generation of mankind the eternall wisedome of that great God of heauen and earth hath so decred it that the life and period and existence of man bee it lengthened as the daies of our fore-fathers the most fullest of yeares or shortned as to these abridged times of ours not a handfull in their comparison bee it more or lesse at his pleasure that giues it for the vncertainety folly and dimnesse thereof it is but compared to a shadow and for the swiftnesse and shortnesse thereof resembled to a spanne and his few not many daies are not repleat with few but many euils And that if Ambition and Pride and the height of wordly happinesse did not so dazle our eyes with looking vpwards thereunto that wee runne our poore and vngouerned barke head-long vpon sands shelues that lye vnder vs whilst wâ—e sailing vpon this dangerous sea without our compasse which so ouermaskt with vanity and deceit present a safenes that we cannot perceiue them vntill we shipwracke thereon we should else discerne to inambush in multiplicity of pleasures but in numerability of desires in inlargement of possessions but more copiousnesse of care in diuturnity of daies but assiduity of sorrowes Eccles 2. 10. 23. and fixe wee our thoughts and desires on our Tabernacles but Tents or on what may more delight vs with the most assurance we can we shall finde in them but a changeable and fleeting vncertainety of estate being oftentimes snatched from the land of the liuing when our thoughts haue scarce trauelled to the habitations of the dead let the earth bee summoned to councell and all the generations both past and present examined what true content euer set foote vpon the face thereof since there was a touchstone of sence to try it and a wisedome truely to suruay it if our affections might feed on the food of Angels it would in time grow distastfull vnto vs if our possessions stretched our themselues from the riuers vnto the ends of the world from one circle thereof vnto the other yet would wee striue to enlarge them if our eminency were aboue the starres yet would wee striue to exalt our heads higher then their firmament for the thoughts and desires of man are endlesse aboue all things and hee hath an vnfaithfull heart as deepe as the sea and who can finde it out The Ambitious hath his thoughts as large as hell the voluptuous his thoughts more large then his belly for when his stomacke was full his desire was vnsatisfied come let vs eate and drinke not because wee are hungry but because to morrow wee shall die and better is a liuing dogge then a dead Lyon The coueteous man his whole thoughts are Soule tâ—ke thy rest to dâ—y or to morrow wee will goe into such a Citty and there continue a yeare and buy and sell and gaine much Hereditary misery of mortall and wretched man first begot in the thoughts of our first parents and so descended linially downe as by a veine or issue of bloud to vs and the very last of their seede and propagation vpon earth who thought not Paradice circuit enough for their vnlimited habitation nor all the lushious delicates and vnspekeable perfections of that selfe-planted Eden of God sweete enough for their tast nor the fruition and fellowship of God himselfe a society good enough for their presence O soule where is thy rest O life where is thy loue And ò God how are they mistaken then that in this transitory and all changed world seeke content which vpon earth in Paradice it selfe was not to bee found As some doe in riches some in honour some in beauty some in carnall loue possest with a madnesse thereto beyond immagination and the more although with the lesse reason in these latest barren and declining daies of ours then euer heeretofore where if desire might at any time meete with content it is so fading brittle transitory and subiect to decay that it dies before it liues and withers in the blossome before it spread the leaues or bud out to any perfection and if there might bee found a heauen vpon earth a pleasure without any allay or limitation in it selfe it were nothing for yet it would bee thought a hell vpon earth to thinke of the suddaine dissolution thereof yet lamed and decrepid cripples as they are how many haue runne themselues head-long to hell to for the momentary inioying of them for a season a little time and a very little season But where the heart and the rebellious thoughts of man are so subdued and brought vnder that godlinesse is accounted gaine and the holines and goodnesse of the Lord of life of most pretious esteeme there the lust of the world and the dust of the world the riches of the world the pleasures thereof shall be valued together as things of equal worth continuance that is of neither worth nor continuance at all For what minion did shee euer produce as her greatest fauourite vpon the circle of the earth amongst the sons of men that either enioyed all pleasures or that had wisedome that found not vanity vexation of mind to attend theÌ„ Enioyest thou a faire house a bountifull table a comely wife generous affable well-descended children Like the Oliue branches round about thy tâ—ble heritages to bequeath to thine heires after thee Be thou thy selfe beautifull valiant strong healthfull learned excellent in arts so that the world fauours thee and al things succeed prosperously vnto thee if the whâ—eâ—e
Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be