that thou shalt not die yet assure thy selfe this heauie houre this fearfull this dangerous this vnauoidable passage is not farre from thee euen in the fardest and fairest course of nature and may bee euerye houre by many vsuall accidentes both of violence and of sicknesse Thy continuance is onely certaine in vncertaintie and God would haue the time vnknowne because thou shouldest bee allwayes readie Awake therfore and watch ouer thy selfe looke vpon the pale horse and him that sitteth thereon whose name is Death prouide that thou be not sodainely surprised and die before thou beginne to liue Loose not the offer of occasion whilest it may not onely bee taken but offereth yea sueth to bee taken and if it be not now taken will neuer heereafter be ouertaken Christ yet distributeth the treasures of hys mercye the doore standeth yet open to all that will bee suiters for the same his nature is nowe as apte to forgeue as hys power will be able hereafter to punish The kings of Israell were not so famous for heir mercy among the seruauntes of Abinadab as the God is among vs. When thou didst sinne hee did spare when thou didst deferre he did expect when thou shalt returne he will eÌ„brace The bowelles of his mercie doe still ouerflowe neyther wante their issues to deriue the streames thereof into thy soule his backe was torne hys handes and feete were pierced hys side was opened throughe these holes thou maist see the aboundaunce of his loue at these holy holes thou maist taste the sweetenesse of hys mercy Present thy selfe therefore vnto him in all those humble behauiours which the consideration of his maiestie and thy miserie can possibly frame be penitent for the time past and resolue for the time to come and with as greate confidence as necessitie crye vnto him and say O Christ O eternall light O life of all thinges to whom nothing is soe greate that it can resist nothinge soe small that it is contemptible whom no man is soe good that he doth not neede noe man soe euell that he may not hope I beseech thee by the noblâ—st title that in my greatest affliction I can geue my selfe that I am thy creature and by thy onely name of comfort vnto sinners that thou art mercifull heare my vile voyce helpe my distressed soule and in the time of necessitie and trouble bee graâ—ious vnto me Behold O Lord howe my conscience lyeth queasomed vnder the multitude of my offences behold how I am borne downe wyth the weight of my owne weakenesse and doe not thou whose propertie is not onely to spare but to helpe eyther lighten the burthen or lay vnder thy heauenlye hand my soule must needes sincke downe into hell But thou O Lord hast neither delight nor likinge in the death of sinners thou didst dy to raise vs vp from the death of sin O good Iesu thou diddest redeeme vs when wee were thine enemies and shall wee bee destroied now wee are thy suppliantes thou diddest call vs to mercie when wee craued none and wilt thou denye vs now we are suiters for it through thy death wee were brought vnto life and shall we dy now thou doest lâ—ue O thou whoe helpest the weake wich a worde behoulde I come I call I looke for thy mercie hide not thy face stoppe not thine eare cast mee not out of thy regarde let it suffice that I feel mine own weaknesse and want least I should haue beene too proud in my selfe now let thy power and plentye appeare that thereby I may bee confident in thee O Christ the guide of those that seeke thee the light of those that see thee and the life of those that loue thee O sweete Sauiour what shall I say whether shall I goe where shall I seeke thee or wherefore doe I not see thee O my God if thou bee absent from mee where shall I seeeke thee if in all places thou art present wherefore doe I not see thee O infinite goodnesse passing all humane both search and sight thou both fillest and includest all thinges thou art in euerie place present without either seate or motion giue mee grace for thy loue and desires sake I beeseech thee to cast off the blinde burthen of fleshlye affections subdue my reason regenerate my will and purifie my nature lead my desire that I may seeke thee lighten my vnderstandinge that I may see thee for I can neither seeke thee without thou direct mee nor see thee except thou reueale thy selfe Gracious God I haue noe goodnesse in my selfe but onely to finde that I haue no goodnesse like a scholler who is come to that degree of knowledge to knowe him selfe vtterly ignorante but suffer I beseech thee some beutifull beame of thy maiestie to shine into my soule disperse the cloudes wherwith my conscience is ouercast melt the mistie darknesse which couereth my vnderstanding O thou who saydest let there be light and light was made speake the worde and my soule shall bee enlightened that I may playnly see thee and perfectly knowe thee and ardently both desire and loue thee O surpassinge light deliuer mee from the shadow both of ignorance and errour and consequently from the darkenesse of death swallow me vp in the depth of thy brightnesse dazell my eyes that I maye not bee able to see any thing but thee possesse all my bodily sences that my sinnefull affections or rather defections may finde no place but that I maye soe feele thee that I haue noe feelinge of my selfe O Lord of life allthough I am a sinner yet I am thy creature beecause thou hast made mee yea and made me againe both by redeeming and by often renuing mee helpe mee therefore whome of thy goodnesse thou hast fashioned let mee not perish in my miserie whom of thy mercie thou hast redeemed gouerne mee heerafter whome hetherto thou hast preserued despise not O Lord the worke of thine owne handes For wherfore hast thou created mee beecause thou wouldest damne mee It had bin better for mee neuer to haue bin made then to bee confounded in my owne corruption Listen O Lord to the crie of thy poore Orphane cast mee not off in thy displeasure and my distresse forsake mee not for thy sake I beeseech thee And although I haue in such sorte both defiled and defaced this thy creature that thou mayest iustly refuse to take knowledge of mee yet by thy mercies I pray thee wherein thou art more wonderfull then in all thy workes remoue the one and renue the other rubbe out with thy bloode the staines which sticke in my soule and then thou wilt knowe it to bee thy creature O Lord my God at whose presence all powers doe shake at whose becke all creatures obey looke fauourably vpon me from thy glorious seate let thy maiestie shine vnto mee through thy mercie bee not angrye with vs wormish weak elinges although we offend for thou knowest what wee are and whereof we are made Is not man rottennesse are not
to his feast I coulde neyther see nor sorrowe for my sinnes did not he both enlighten my vnderstanding and soften my sences Hee hath not enlightened my vnderstandinge to drowne it in darknes he hath not softned my sences because he could not breake them and why then hath hee thus wakened the one and weakened the other It is euen soe hee that hath hetherto in patience expected mee doeth now in pittie call me Speake then Lord speake vnto thy seruant thunder into the inner eare of my harte breake my deafenesse that I may heare thy voice Lorde thou lookest for mine amendmente that I may haue thy fauour and I looke for thy fauour that I may amende Woe is mee how longe haue I staied Alas how late doe I come how slowlye doe I hasten howe doeth my resolution stick betweene loathnesse and necessitie woe is me wretch how cunningly doth the deuell seeke to delay mee what arte hath he vsed to keepe the line from breaking wherat the fish was caught not drawing him violently but letting him play vpon the hooke which hee soe greedely had swallowed O my God the sunne of my life hath passed his Meridian and I am now in the after noone of my age the night of nature will come fast vpon mee when death as Gods sergeant will arrest my bodie vpon debt to nature her selfe my soule vpon trespasse committed against God The one hee will binde hand and foote and committe close prisoner to the graue the other he will arraigne in the high court of heauen where God shall bee both partie and iudge to aunsweare to all obiections as well of errour as of contempt At this houre of death when the sinnfull soule beginneth to bee loosed from the fetters of flesh O good God howe is it troubled what terrours are presented vnto it Then beginneth it to throwe the thoughtes freely into euery corner of the conscience to see the sinnes which it hath done to perceiue the vengeance that it hath deserued to consider that the time of repentance is then at an end and that it is set vpon the immoueable pointe of passage to a most stricte triall vncertaine howe the best actions that it hath done shall bee examined It is desirous to stay it is compelled to goe and as it often happeneth that whilest one thinketh too much of dooing he leaueth to doe the effect of his thinking soe whilest it lamenteth the losse of all the time that is past it looseth that little which then remaineth Looking backe it esteemeth the whole race which it hath runne as a short steppe looking forward it behouldeth the infinite space of eternytie wherin it hath to continue lifting vp the minde to heauen it discouereth a most bright beautifull glorie againe castinge it downe vpon the earth it seeth all thinges enfoulded in a mistie darknesse Heereupon a new swarme of thoughts stingeth the minde It lamenteth that it was soe chained with the enchauntmentes of a momentanie estate as scarce to thinke vpon the condition which neuer shall haue end that to satisfie the flesh which is to be a nest of wormes it hath neglected the spirite which was to haue bin a companion of Angells that it hath lost for soe short a shewe the eternall substance of pleasure that it hath exchanged the treasure of immortall glorie for the trash of floating vanitie O if it had but a smal time more of amendment how seriously would it conuerte what a sharpe and seuere course would it set into but it is like vnto a horse desirous to runne miserably spurred but soe short reined that hee cannot stirre or like vnto those who in their dreames are taken with some fearfull vision which sweate with payne and striue to crie for helpe but cannot finde any strength to crie In the meane time the head shooteth the back aketh the hart panteth the throate ruttleth the tongue faultreth the breath shortneth the flesh trembleth the veines beate the hart stringes crack the eyes wex dimme the nose sharpe the browes harde the cheekes colde and wanne the lippes pale the handes numme the iointes stiffe the whole bodie is in a colde sweat the strength fainting the life vanished and death drawing on Neither will the children and friendes for whose sake the sick shall often thinke them selues damned for beare in this instant of extremitie but continually like flesh flies they will offer molestation Whilst these summoners of death doe execute their office all the wicked actions wordes and thoughts are broght into presence they are heaped together and aggrauated to the vttermost they giue the conscience many a colde pull and lie vpon the hart as heavie as leade Faine would the sinner turne away his eye but hee shall bee compelled to behold them they will all crie vnto him wee are thy workes wee will goe with thee Then shall the conscience sharplye accuse the memory giue bitter euidence reason shall sit as iudge feare shall stand as executioner and scarce is there any seuere sentence in all the bible against sinne which the deuell will not bring into minde vrging euery poynt and amplifying it by construction Then will resolution bee turned to trembling pride into basenesse confidence into despaire Then will bee a greate difference in iudgment from that which men beare commonly in this worlde in soe much as the sinner shall be forced to cry and confesse we simple men thought their life to be but madnesse whose end wee now esteeme most honourable but wee haue wearied our selues in craggye waies wee are worne out in pursuing vanity and the waies of the Lorde wee haue not knowne Neuer did tirant exercise his rage with greatet cruelty vpon anye that hee most hated then the miserable sinner shall then vpon him selfe in iustly condemninge in vainly acknowledging in vnprofitably lamenting the errours of his actions whilest the paines of parting shall drawe the powers of the minde from true repentance All vaine pleasures are then at an end and as quite forgotten as if they had neuer bin at all Yea euery wicked delighte shall geue sharp twitches to the soule especially whē it considereth that it is to endure the smart for manye thinges wherof it must leaue the plesure to others Somtimes the sinner more able to abide death then the feare of death wisheth to bee discharged from beeinge guided by soe euell a soule not in full hope that his tormentes shall thereby either end or abate but according to the nature of greife the present being most painfull hee desireth to chang and to put in aduenture the ensuing But when he doth perceiue infinite legions of deuells prepared to receiue him and the horrours of hell open for his entertainment then is hee in a maze of amazement then like one that houldeth a wolfe by the eare bitten whilest hee holdeth and slaine when hee lett goe Well then secure and sencelesse soule howsoeuer the deuell woulde beare thee in hande as hee did thy first parentes
Infirmities were multiplied vpon them and after that they made hast to come ps 15 They sought thee out O Lord in their affliction Esay 26. THE Sanctuarie of a troubled Soule Written by I. H. Newly reprinted enlarged and emended by the author himselfe Before I was troubled I went wrong Psal. 119. LONDON Printed by I. W. and are to be sold at the Exchange by Cuthbert Burby 1601. Prouide thee of a medicine beefore the soare come and examine thy selfe beefore Iudgement and so shalt thou finde propitiation in the sight of God Eccies 8. 18. The I. Deuotion The sinner touched with his own sinnes and terrified with Gods iudgment flyeth vnto Christ. O Christ the Sonne of the most myghtye God the Sauiour of most miserable men whose blessed bodie was buffeted with siftes torne with whips stretched vpō the crosse pierced with nailes speare and bathed in the sweete streames of thine owne bloud for the redēption of all mankind to thee O author O restorer O preseruer of life to thy maiestie to thy mercie my sinnefull soule full of fresh bleeding woundes ful of ould corrupted soares sicke to the death with a surfet of sinne would faine present it selfe and sende a few fainte groanes vnto thy heauenly eares but alas the greatnesse of my disease hath almost taken away the sence thereof and so horrible is my corruptiō that I feare it wil too much offend thy pure presence and altogether auert thy coūtenāce from beholding me thine eare from hearing me and thy cōpassion from relieuing me O sinne the verie bane and death of my soule was it not enough for you to infect a heedeles creature with your poison but you must make it so ougly and loathsome that the eie of mercie should not endure to beehould it was it not enough for you to crush it in pieces with your weight but you must also go about to stop both the eare of pittie with horror the mouth of prayer with shame was it not inough for you to drawe me to distruction but you must also take from mee both the sence of griefe and the sight of danger and consequently the cure of the one and care of the other I was wounded I felte it not I was wounded to death I perceiued it not I was bound I was beaten and I regarded it not yea my woundes were a delightfull tickling vnto mee I tooke pleasure in most base bōdage and like Salomons foole I laughed when I was lashed For I was beside my selfe whē I was without thee neither discerning and desiring that which was good nor yet seeing and shunning that which was euill I beecame not only foolish but altogether sencelesse for thou art trueth I was without thee thou art life I was without thee Alas how am I deformed how am I defiled O deere Christ my fainting soule groaneth and gaspeth for thy grace but it is abashed at thy glory I would faine intreat thy mercy to heale mee but I am loth to offend thy maiestie in beeholding mee I am ashamed to lay open my iniquities and yet woe is me I cannot appeare beefore thee without them Ah these my sinnes how do they distres how do they distract me they desire to be seene that they may bee healed but they shunne to be shewn least they should bee detested they are not healed without confession and they are not heard without confusion If they be couered they cannot be cured and if they be opened they must needes be abhorred In the meane time their sharpenes pierceth me their waight presseth me they torment me with griefe they terrifie me with feare they confound me with shame What shall I say or what shall I doe wretche that I am whether did I bende my selfe and to what pas am I now come O Christ I did not set thee beefore my eyes and now I dare not appeare in thy sight I reioyced but not in thee now I am troubled but thou art not with me Alasse better it were to bee nothing then to bee without thee without whom al things are nothing better it were to bee dead then to be without thee O our life Wo to me wretch what shall I do in that terrible day when at the sound of the trūpet all graues shall open yeeld vp their prisoners which they haue kept fast fettered in the chaines of death from all ages since the worlde was made When the bookes of euery mās naked conscience shall be laide foorth when all my actions words and thoughts euen those which I most esteemed either concealed or els forgotten shall bee set in so open and plaine a veiw that all the worlde shall point at mee and say Behold the man and what hee hath done When I shall bee compelled to aunswer to manie thinges whereof I would haue scorned to haue bene either questioned or tould during the time of my life when the heauens shall threatē me the earth rise vp against me and al the creatures which I haue abused crie vēgeance vpon mee when the Diuelles shall accuse mee my own conscience giue euidence against me and the whole Iurie of Saintes passe their verdict vpon me At that day to go forward it will be intolerable to go back impossible to turne a side vnauaileable and so great will bee the astonishment betwene sorrow shame and feare that the guiltie sinner shall be desirous to hide him selfe if it were possible euen in hell What way shall I thē take in these desperate extremities whether shall I turne my selfe what shift what friendes shall I be able to make all thinges giuing cause of terrour and nothinge of comforte Alasse what shall I do but euen faint for feare and stande as a most desperate and forlorne wretch trēblinge and quakinge beefore the presence of the most seuere iudge who neither can bee blinded nor will bee corrupted altogether confounded at the intollerable vehemencie and waight of his wrath at the inexcusable number and enormity of my sinnes at the easelesse and endlesse punishment which I shall see I haue deserued Who where what thinge shall then bee my comfort when I shall behold aboue an angrie Iudge condemning mee beeneath hell open and the boyling furnace ready to deuour me on one side the diuels with bitter scoffes and vpbraydings haling me on the other side the saintes and my very neerest friendes not onely forsaking me but reioycing and praysing God for his iustice in my damnatiō within my conscience tearing me without the powers of heauē shakē and dissolued the elementes shiuered in peeces the whole worlde flaming all damned soules crying cursing rounde about mee O indignation of of the almightie fall not vpon mee for I haue neither power to resist thee nor patiēce to endure thee nor place to auoyde thee And doubtlesse it is impossible ether to expresse or to imagine what an inestimable treasure a good conscience will be at that day and if a sinner could now conceiue
fountaine of mercy Heale the diseased helpe the distressed which crieth to thee for comfort O light behold the blinde O strength stretch forth thy haÌ„d that the lame may come vnto thee O life raise the deade out of the sepulchre of his sinnes O mercrfull louer of mankind ah shew thy selfe vnto me reueale thy glorie reueale thy grace oh let me beehold oh let mee hold thee Let mee finde let mee feele that thou onely art the hope of the distressed the reliefe of the afflicted the comforte the strength the ioy of all O Christ let me not in vaine beleeue this trueth O Christ let mee not in vaine lay hold vpon this hope O Christ let me not in vaine desire this mercie And if my faith be so little my hope so colde my prayer so weake that I can thereby deserue neither pardon of my punishment nor participation of thy glorie supplie thou I beseech thee my imperfections that by thy mercy I may obtaine the one and by thy merites the other O Sweete Iesu O my God bring mee from all ontward thinges to my selfe and from my selfe vnto thee make mee as like to thee in will and desier as I am in nature set me wholly on fire with thy loue thy sweete loue thy longinge loue thy chast loue with desire of thee with contentmente with ioy with saciety in thee Let this light of thy loue captiuate my sences from all other both lightes delightes let it cleere my soule from the grosse vapors of earthly affections that I may thereby if not fully satisfie yet shew my selfe industrious to satisfie thy goodnes and good-will and that as hetherto I haue liued against my selfe and without thee so from henceforth I may leade my life for my selfe in and by thee sweete Iesus Amen Hom. II. a. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tam grauiâ— ille mihi nigri quam limina ditis Ore aliud qui fert aliud sub pectore celat As dale of death so doe I hate that kinde Whose tonge from thâ—ught whose mouth dissent from minde Periissem nisi periissem The II. Deuotion The touch of sinne and the terrors of hell causeth the soule to lay hould vpon Gods mercie O Soule O wicked O wretched soul shake off sloath this sleepe this death of sinne wherin thou walowest and wherin thou wanderest raise vp rowse vpp thy selfe from this dangerous dulnes Call to thy consideration vnhappie creature from whence thou runnest where thou art and wherto thou hastnest the fauour which thou forsakest the horrour wherein thou abidest and the terrour wherto thou tendest Thou wert once washed cleane with the heaueÌ„ly fountain in baptisme cloathed with the pure robe of righteousnesse endowed wyth the ioies of heauen and espoused to my Sauiour Christ but now thou hast soiled thy selfe with sinne defiled that glorious garment broken those sacred bandes and by impuritye of life hast made thy louing spouse both thine earnest enemie and seuere iudge O Christ how can I forget thy goodnes and yet how dare I remember thy greatnesse I haue denied thee with Peter beetraied thee with Iudas and runne from thee with thy other disciples nay with the most accursed cruell Iewes I haue mocked blasphemed buffeted and scourged thee spitte vppon thy glorious face torne opeÌ„ thy teÌ„der wounds Then since I haue committed theire crueltie what hope may I haue to auoide their curse that thy bloud be not vpon me and my posteritie Alas miserable wretch in what path haue I walked in what pollutions haue I wallowed in what perplexities am I now plunged wherein the consideration both of good and euill tormenteth me a like of good with griefe of that which I haue lost of euell partly with sence of that which I sustaine and partly with feare of that which I expect I haue lost glory I feele shame I feare punishment the losse is by mee irrepairable the shame inexcusable the feare inconsolable Oh miserable estate oh vncomfortable not onely to be depriued of vnspeakable ioies but to bee afflicted with intollerable paines O sinne the defiler the deformer the destroier of soules from how high a pitch of happinesse hast thou deiected me into how deepe a gulfe of miseries hast thou depressed mee with what a world of woes hast thou enclosed mee heere woe and there woe and a very hell of woes is heaped vppon mee Iustly Lord iustly am I thus tormented for I haue beene fainte yea false in the charge that thou hast committed vnto me I haue throwne away my spirituall weapons I haue forsaken the fielde of christian combate and not onely cowardly yealded but traiterously turned to the prince of darknesse I haue cast off my Sauiour and cast away my selfe I haue forsaken the societie of Saintes ioyned companie with the damned crew I haue abaÌ„doned the pallaces of heaueÌ„ built mee a nest in the loathsome denne of hell I am altogether become an abiect from God and a subiect to the Deuill What hast thou done O madd man O mischieuous O monstrous man what hast thou done what a wofull exchange hast thou made what a lamentable losse hast thou incurred O peruerse will O miracle of madnes How O God hath corruption depraued mee how O God shall satisfaction restore me Cast thy selfe forlorne wretch into the vncomfortable dungeon of sorrow ouerwhelme thy self with mountaines of bitter mourning come griefe come horror coÌ„e anguish come feare heape your felues vpon me wrap me in weigh me downe I haue impudently contemned you I haue desperately prouoked you and now doe miserably call for you So so it is iust afflict the wicked torment the guiltie reuenge the iniuries reuenge the periuries which I haue committed against God giue the sinner a touch of the infernall tortures which hee hath deserued giue him a tast of the banquet which he hath prepared Comforte peace securitie ioy keepe away I will none of you except you bring a pardone with you disquiet shall be my rest mourning my mirth sowre sorrowe my comforte Alas how shall I present my selfe before the maiestie of the most righteous and vpright iudge how shall my fearfull face behold him how terriblie will he cast his countenance vpon mee His eyes farre brighter theÌ„ the sunne haue narrowly obserued all my actions he hath weighed my words he hath nombred my thoughtes he hath seene he hath sealed vp all my sinnes hee hath hetherto bin silent hetherto patient but out alas hee will one day crie out one day he will call mee to a reckoning for all O my hart O poore harte O harte full of miseries yea depressed yea oppressed with manyfold miseries neuer able to sustaine these firebrandes of conscience Alas mine eies are not worthie to looke towardes heauen yea they are most worthy to bee extinguished with teares If then I be ashamed to be seene how shall I be assured to be receiued if I haue no harte to aske what hope can I haue that I shall
not thy iustice and my desertes but remember thy mercies and my miseries thinke not vpon thy hate towardes offenders but thinke vpon thy loue towardes thy creatures cast thy seuere eye of reuenge vpon thy sonne but looke vpon me with thy eye of pitty O deare God hell is alreadie full and what profite is there in my distructioÌ„ Also many millions of sinners will neuer come vnto thee will neuer cal nor care for thy helpe so that if thou reiectest the repentant and sorrowfull sinner who then shall bee saued and whome wilte thou fâ—â—de righteous if 〈◊〉 iudgest without mercie When I was not O Lord thy fingers framed mee and thou neither hatest nor contemnest any thinge that thou hast made When I was a captiue of the deuill a slaue of hell thou didest send thy beloued sonne to die for my redemption and do not now I beseech thee cast that away which thou hâ—â—â— purchased at soe â—â—gh a price When I walked in my owne wicked waies thou didst patiently endure me mightily preserue me and graciously call mee and wilt thou not now beestow one louinge looke vpon mee Why then O louing God looke vpon thy beloued sonne behold what hee hath suffered of thy goodnesse call him to thy remembraÌ„ce for whom thy will his obedience did cause him to suffer Behold his bitter agonies wherein his bodie was sprinkled with a bloodie sweate beeholde his backe torne with whips his head pricked with thornes his face defiled with spitting behold his blessed body so strained vpon the crosse that all his bones might be numbred behold his harmlesse handes his vndefiled feete pierced with sharpe nailes behold his naked side strooke through with a speare behold the aboundance of blood which gushed forth of those holy fountaines which blood still streameth fresh in thy sight and now pleadeth for my pardon Beholde O gracious God how his feeling was possessed with paine his hearing with reproach his eies with scorne his tast with gall beholde howe his neck bowed his heade hung his breast beat how his sight waxed dimme his countenaÌ„ce pale his legs armes stiffe how hee groaned how hee gasped and gaue vp the ghost Behold the preist behold the sacrifice euen the lambe vndefiled gloriously imbrued with his owne blood Gracious and mercifull God by this thy sonne by this my Sauiour I most humbly beeseech thee to looke fauourably vpon me encline thine eares towardes me hide not thy face now my soule is troubled Graciouslie receiue the lost sheepe which strayinge from thy pastures through sinne and flying from thy presence through a guiltie conscience hee hath louinglye sought and ioyfullye doth bring vnto thee vpon his own shoulders Heare mee O God of all power turne towardes mee and let thy mercies accept his merits for full satisfaction of my misdeedes O infinite mercie thou hast sett vs a way and giuen vs a light thou hast threaned vs the paines of hell and promised vs the ioies of heauen now pierce my flesh with thy feare that I may auoide the one and inflame my soule with thy loue that I may attain the other Grante I praye thee that as longe traueilers are therby taught to loue their owne cuntrey soe my former errâ—urs may henceforth bee a meane to hould mee in the right path that beeing led by thee walking through thee I may come vnto thee and rest in thee for wee sillie wormes are vnable to enter into thine eternitie vnlesse thou who hast created vs doest guide vs in Saue O God who desirest not the deth of a sinner saue my sinnefull soule which flieth froÌ„ thy feareful iustice to thy comfortable mercies from the desert of my sinne to the desert of thy Sonne This O God is easie to thy power and vsuall to thy mercie and agreeable to thy will Such are the witlesse wilfull right as is the heedles flie Which kils it selfe hurtes his sight has hath her in his eie Sperate miseri Cauete faelices The death of Saintes is precious Psal. 125. Miserable is the death of Sinners Psal 53. The III. Deuotion The guiltines of sinne and the consideration of Death calleth the sinner to call vpon God for his mercy in Iesu Christ. O Most high most holye moste mightye most mercifull most good most goodly most louinge most fearefull and terrible God the Creator the renuer the maintainer of all thinges whome to know is to bee wise whome to serue is to raigne whome to loue is the life and happinesse of the soule behold I pore wretch to thee who art both rich and liberall I miserable to thee who art both pittifull and plentifull do draw neere behold a hunger-starued begger knocketh at thy doore open vnto mee O honourable householder without whome all aboundance is beggerie open I say thy mercies to my miseries and although I am not worthy to sitte at thy feast with thy sons yet with the basest of thy seruantes let me bee refreshed with some broken pieces that are taken from thy table Thou hast commaunded vs O gratious God to knock to aske and to seeke whereuppon thou hast promised to open to geue and to bee founde beholde now my sighinge doth seeke thee my teares crie vnto thee and the groanes of my payned soule do knocke at the gate of thy mercies behold Lord I am desirous to doe thy will performe thou I besech thee thy word And first O Lorde I acknowledge against my selfe that I was conceiued in iniquitie and borne in miserie but thou of thy free loue diddest cleanse mee thou diddest sanctifie me thou didst through faith on my part and mercy on thyne betroath thy selfe vnto me Yet I vnmindfull of so greate goodnes haue since with many a foule fact distained my selfe and dishonored thee not dreading thy displeasure whole wrath maketh the deuells to quake I was borne in necessary but I pluÌ„ged my selfe in voluntarie sinnes I made no conscience in offending thee feared not to forgett thy lawe Notwithstandinge thou accordinge to thy wonted mercies diddest not banish mee from thy protection but as though I had daylye and duly obserued thy will thou diddest bountifullye heape thy benifites vppon mee so much vndeserued of mee as not desired When I sinned against thee the deuill was readie to haue made a pray of mee I was content I was desirous to haue perished with him but thou O Lord diddest driue backe him and draw backe me not onely without either my request or knowledge but very much against my mind When I was in daunger of death both by sickenesse casualties and my soule was so rocked a sleepe in sinnefull securitie so burdened with the weight of wicked actions that it must needes haue suncke downe into hell thy grace stoode by mee thy power did preserue both my body from death and my soule from damnation I did offend thee but thou diddest defend mee I did deserue death but thou diddest preserue life I did not regard thee when thou