in the heart onely or sinnes brought forth into act Sinnes in my beliefe or sinnes in my life Sinnes once committed or often repeated Sinnes before or after my calling Sinnes of impiety against thee or sinnes of iniquity against my neighbour or sins of impurity against mine owne flesh for of all these I haue a great loade They are more in number then the haires of my head they are a burden too heauy for me to beare They lie vpon my conscience like so many Talents of lead and would presse mee downe to hell did not thy mercy take hold of the hand of my faith to support me in hope euen aboue hope How should I hope if I thinke vpon thy greatnesse How should I not hope if I think vpon thy goodnesse How should I hope if I weigh my sinnes How should I not hope if I weigh thy merits How should I hope if I consider my actions How should I not hope if I consider thy passions How should I hope if I number my transgressions How should I not hope if I number thy blessings and fauours towards mee How should I hope if I remember how oft I haue refused grace after it hath bin offered to mee How can I but hope if I remember how oft grace hath bin offered mee after I refused it And still hope I wil as long as thou reteinest thy name Iesu which this day thou receiuedst when thou offeredst the first fruits of thy blood for my sin without which thou couldest not haue bin my Iesus For so fowle and festered were my soares that nothing could heale them but a bloody knife But why should this bloody instrument be applyed to thy purest tenderest immaculate flesh made all of Virgins blood There was no superfluity to be pared off in thee no ranke blood to bee let out The superfluous skinne was on me yet the knife is on thee The festered sores were in my body yet the Launce is in thy flesh Thou hast the paine I the ease thou the smart I the cure O wonderfull cure O more wonderfull loue Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings as thou hast ordained so maist thou iustly chalenge praise who in thy infancy madest such an assay of my redemption and tendered the earnest of thy blood for me Not nine dayes old thou sheddest dropps of blood for me farre more precious then so many drops of the richest balsamom to cure my wounds Let all flesh praise thee who healedst it by thy wounds Eternall thankes be giuen to thee for thy circumcision whereby thou hast abolished circumcision it selfe and prouided mee an easier remedy of originall sinne the sacred lauer of regeneration Water now serueth insteede of blood and a gentle rubbing of the flesh for cutting and wounding it By the circumcision of thy flesh thou hast also merited for me the fulfilling of thy fathers promise and condition of his couenant to circumcise the foreskinne of our hearts By this thy razor thou hast fitted the tables of my heart now write thy lawes loue in them By receiuing this seale of the couenant in thy flesh thou hast sealed to me thy care of mee in thy nonage First ô Lord I am euerlastingly to praise thee for taking my flesh vp on thee and next for leauing part of it with mee as a pledg of thy loue thou bearedst for me from thy mothers wombe In thy infancy thou bleddest for me in thy twelfth yere thou arguedst for me in thy youth thou obeyedst for me and in thy ripe perfect age thou sufferedst and dyedst for me To thee therefore as it is my bounden duty I offer the budds of my childe-hood the blossoms of my youth and the fruits of my age As thou betimes didst set to the worke of my redemption and and on those termes acceptedst the name Iesus so let me betimes giue my name to thee and enter into thy seruice Let mee beare thy yoke euen from my youth Lord who this day wert circumcised in the flesh circumcise me in the heart that I may in purity sincerity and vprightnesse of heart walke before thee all the dayes of my life Neither circumcise my heart onely but my eares eyes hands heart and feete that no superfluity of maliciousnesse nor impurity remaine in me Now thou hast renewed the face of the earth renew this day and repaire thy decaied Image in me Thou hast begunne a new yeere beginne in me a new reformation Make me I beseech thee a cleane heart and renew a right spirit within me The yeere like the serpent hath cast off his old skinne and put on a new let mee also cast off my old man and put on the new man and from this day to my old age and death walke in newnesse of life that I may be a fit guest to be admitted into the new heauen where dwelleth righteousnesse and to be entertained at thy table and drinke new wine with thee in thy heauenly Kingdome for euermore Amen THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY OR TWELFE-DAYE'S DEVOTION The ground of this feast Prophecie in the old History in the new Testament of our Lords manifestation to the gentiles PARALELL Prophecie There shall come a starre out of Iacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel Num. 24. 17. History Lo the starre which they saw in the east went before them till it came to the place where the childe was Mat. 2. 9. When they saw the starre they were exceeding glad and went into the house and found the childe with Mary his mother verse 10. The daughter of Tyre shall bee there with a gift like as the rich also among the people shall doe homage before thy face with presents Psal. 45. 12. They fel down and worshipped him Mat. 2. 11. Kings shall bring presents vnto thee Psal. 68 29. The kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts Psal. 72. 10. And opened their treasures and presented to him c. Mat. 2. 11. All thy garments smel of Mirrh Aloes and Cassia Psal. 45. 9. To him shall be giuen of the gould of Arabia c. Psal. 72. 15. Gold and incense Mirrh Mat. 2. 11. For thy instruction meditate on the Prophecy Historie of Christ's manifestatiō For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefits thereof For thy correction reprooue thy backwardnesse in comming to Christ and honouring him with thy substance Quicken Thy Charitie by the admonition Thy FAITH by the Psalme Thy Zeale and deuotion by the prayer THE ADMONITION for Twelfe-day THE ANALYSIS We ought freely and liberally to offer to God and his Church because we haue in Scriptures Commandements for it Examples of it Promises vnto it Threats to the cōtrary THE TEXTS TAke from among you an offering to the Lord Whosoeuer is of a willing heart let him bring it an offering of the Lord c. Exod. 35. 5. Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase Prou. 3. 9. Be reconciled to thy brother and then
truth and redeemed mee from my vaine conuersations neuer returne backe to my worldly courses but take another way to my true home in heauen The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad I see thy starre in the Scriptures nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart O let my ioy exceede theirs as my knowledge doth The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest and entered into thy bed-chamber So ô Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life euen till I come to see thee not in a stable on earth strawed with litter and dung but in a pallace in heauen built with Saphyrs and founded vpon pearles not receiuing a present of gold from men but wearing a crowne of gold put vpon thee by thy Father not hauing a quantity of frankinsence or mirrh in thy hand but a golden censor full of sweete odours which are the prayers of Saints Among which I beseech thee offer vp the prayers of mee a sinner that I may bee a Saint after thou hast purged mee from all my fil thynesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S RESVRRECTION OR Easter-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old Testamēt Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Lords rising from the dead PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell or graue nor suffer thine holy One to see corruption Psal. 16. 11. He spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh see corruption Acts 2. 31. Historie The Angel said to the women Feare yee not for I know that yee seeke Iesus that was crucified Mat. 28. 5. He is not here for he is risen as hee said come see the place where the Lord lay verse 6. Thy dead men shall liue with my body shall they rise Awake sing yee that dwell in dust for thy dew is the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out her dead Isa. 26. 19. And the graus did open thēselues and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose Mat. 27 52. And came out of their graues after his resurrection went into the holy City and appeared to many v. 53. O death I wil be thy death ô graue I wil bee thy destruction Hos. 13. 14. Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him Rom. 6. 9. Death is swallowed vp into victorie 1. Cor. 11. 14. O Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie ver 55. Type And the Priest shall shake the sheafe of the first fruites before the Lord that it may be acceptable to you the morrowe after the Sabbath Leu. 23. 11. Accomplishment Now in the end of the Sabboth when the first day of the week began to dawn MARY MAGDALEN came to see the Sepulcher Mat. 28. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angell of the Lord descended from heauen and came and rolled away the stone from the dore and sate vpon it c. ver 2. He is not here for hee is risen c. 6. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruites of them that sleepe 1. Cor. 11. 20. The first fruits is Christ ver 23. And Ionah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Ion. 1. 17. The Sonne of man three daies three nights in the heart of the earth Mat. 12. 4. The third day God spake vnto the Fish it cast out Ionah on the drye land Ion 2. 10. Destroy this temple and in three dayes I will reare it vp againe Ioh. 2. 19. Hee spake of the temple of his bodie ver 21. As soone as he was risen from the dead his disciples remembred and belieued the Scriptures and the word which he spake vnto them ver 22. For thine instruction meditate on the Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's resurrection For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit thereof For thy correction examine thy spiritual resurrection from dead workes Quicken Thy faith by the Hymne Thy repentance by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion by the prayer ensuing An Hymne for Easter day OPen mee the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe into them and giue thankes vnto the Lord. Psal. 119. 19. This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it verse 20. I will thanke thee for thou hast heard me and art become my saluation verse 21. Thou wilt shew me the paths of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 11. The same stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone in the corner v. 22 This is the Lord 's doing and it is maruellous in our eyes v. 23 This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will reioyce and be glad in it ver 24. Why doe the heathen rage continually and the people imagin a vaine thing Psal. 2. 1. Then shall hee speake vnto them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure saying Euen I haue set my king vpon Zion mine holy Mountaine verse 5. 6. The Lord vpon thy right hand shall wound euen kings in the day of his wrath Ps. 110. 5. Hee shall iudge among the heathen hee shall fill their places with the dead bodies and smite in sunder heads ouer diuers countries verse 6. He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall hee lift vp his head verse 7 Be wise now therefore ô yee kings bee learned yee that are iudges of the earth Ps. 2. 10. Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce vnto him with reuerence verse 11. Kisse the sonne least hee bee angry and so ye perish from the right way if his wrath bee kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him verse 12. THE ADMONITION for Easter-day THE ANALYSIS Wee must pray and striue for repentāce from dead workes and newnes of life because a 1. It is God's commandement b 2. It is the Saint's practise c 3. It is the euidence of our new-birth d 4. It is the end of our resurrection e 5. It is the end of our redemption f 6. It obtaineth remission of sinnes g 7. It auoideth GOD'S temporall iudgements h 8. It is the onely means to shun eternal death i 9. It maketh vs blessed euen in this life THE TEXTS a CAst off concerning the conuersation in times past that old man which is corrupt through deceaueable lusts Eph. 4. 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mindes verse 23. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse ver 24. b Yee haue put of the old man with his workes Colos. 3 9. And haue put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him verse 10. c Being borne
anew not of mortall seede but of immortall 1 Pet. 12. 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. New wine must bee put into new bottells Mat. 9. 17. d As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the father So also wee should walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. e We are deliuered from the Law being dead to it wherewith we were holden that wee should serue in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7. 6. Purge out the old leuen that ye may be a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7 If any man be in Christ let him bee a new creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 Cor. 5. 17. In Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. According to his mercy hee hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. f Returne and liue Eze. 19. Cease to doe euill learne to do well c. Isa. 1. 16. Though your sinnes were as crimson they shall bee made white as snow verse 18. g Vnlesse yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Luke 12. 3. h Repent and doe the first workes Reu. 2. 5. Repentance vnto life Acts 11. 18. i Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for the second death shall haue no power ouer him Reu. 10. 5. A Prayer for Easter-day GLorious Sonne of righteousnesse who this morning didst preuent the dawning of the day by sending forth the beames of thy glorified body out of the pitâ— of darknesse and A shadow of death shine vpon my soule by the light of thy grace Inlighten my darke apprehension of the misteries of thy resurrection Inflame my cold affections and reuiue my heart euen deaded with pensiue thoughts vpon thy bitter passion O how did the surest ground of faith shake the fastest Anker of hope loosen ' at the earthquake at thy death what smiting together of knees what wringing of hands what knocking of brests what fainting of hearts what hanging downe of heads were there at giuing vp of the Ghost when thy head hung downe on the Crosse with thee the faith with thee the hope with thee the ioy with thee the life of thy dearest Disciples expired What should or could the prisoners of death euer expect when they saw him whom they thought to haue bin their redeemer the Lord of life arrested by death and kept close prisoner in the graue so long O death how sharpe was then thy sting O graue how fearefull was thy seeming victory But blessed bee the angell which remoued the stone and thereby made way that the stone which the builders refused might be preferred to bee the head stone in the corner Blessed be the right hand of thy Father who in raising thee out of the graue raised our hope out of the dust For where is our hope Our hope is euen in thee ô Christ and thy resurrection Thou art the life and the resurrection of all that belieue in thee Death like a Hornet by stinging thee hath lost his sting and now may make a buzzing noise to affright me but can thrust out no sting to hurt mee The graue by thy lying in it is turned to a bedde and a withdrawing roome to retire my selfe a while to put off this ragged flesh and attire my selfe with robes of glory Now I dare insult ouer death and hell since thy triumph ouer them O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory O my soule where is all thy comfort If in this life thou art most miserable if thy life bee hid with Christ in God then when Christ which is thy life shall appeare thou shalt also appeare in glory What though I mourne here I shall be comforted What though I fast here I shall bee satisfied What though I am disgraced here I shall bee glorified What though I am here trampled vnder feete I shall there be crowned What though my flesh be eaten with wormes and these wormes turned into dust and that dust blowed by the winde ouer the face of the earth Yet after thou turnedst man to destruction againe thou sayest Come againe yee children of men I know thou my Redeemer liuest and shall stand vp at the last day and I shall see them in my flesh with these eyes and no other Lord establish this beliefe in me beate downe all the forts that naturall reason reareth against it Grant that I may euery day more and more feele as the power of thy birth in my regeneration and of thy death in my mortification so also of thy resurrection in my rising from the death of sinne to the life of Grace Lord thou restoredst life to three men to one in his bed to another on the beare to the third in the graue They who conceiue sinne in their hearts are like him that was dead in his bed they who bring it forth into action are like him that was brought forth dead on his beare but they that continue in sinne and all impurity and putrifie in the custome thereof are like him that was foure dayes dead and stanke in the graue Such a one or worse am I for I haue layen not foure dayes but scores of yeeres in this loathsome graue and am euen deuoured of the worme of conscience Yet Lord this day of thy glorious resurrection say vnto mee as thou didst to him Come forth awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and I will giue thee light Make this day of thy resurrection from the death of nature the day of my rising from the death of sinne and corruption first to the life of grace and after to the life of glory Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S ASCENSION OR Holy-Thurs-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old TestameÌ„t Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Sauiours going in triumph into Heauen PARALELL Prophecie Thou hast ascended vp on high thou hast ledde captiuity captiue Psalm 68. 18. Historie And when he had spokeÌ„ these things while they beheld him hee was taken vp Act. 1. 9. Hee rodde vpon the Cheâ—ubims did flye yea he did flye vpon the wings of the wind Psa. 18. 10. For a Clowd tooke him out of their sight Act. 1. 9. Sit thou on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. Hee was caried vp into heauen and he sate on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19. Type Eliah was taken vp with a fierie Charet 2. King 2. 11. Accomplishment While hee blessed them he was parted from them and caried vp into heauen Luke 24. 51. For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's Ascension For thy comfort apply the benefit thereof to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy desires and affections check thy earthlinesse and worldlinesse Thy faith and ioy by the Psalme Thy loue and hope by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion