Gates of Hell by Stripes and Wounds our Lord weÌ„t before vs. The feare of Death springeth of the weaknesse of faith and our great loue of the world begets in vs great desire of life and our little sight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death RemeÌ„ber that there are two Deaths and feare the greater There are two deaths Rev. 20.14 the first Death is the separation of the soule from the bodie but the second Death is the euerlasting separation of God froÌ„ the soule If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sinne the second Death shal haue no power ouer thee therfore thou needest not to be afraid of the first Death if thou be deliuered from the second 2. Thou needest not to feare the first Death Death is vniuersall for it is a fatall necessitie laide vpon all Flesh Kinges Prophets People c. all must depart A profitable exchaunge by death 3. There is great gain by the exchaÌ„ge for wee get a Palace for a Prison rest for labour libertie for bondage God for men the companie of Angels for the companie of sinners and finallie the Heauens for the Earth 4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death Present joy by death without delay Luke 23.43 NOTA. Sinne is taken away Simil. The-paines of death are short because thy soule shall not bee holdeÌ„ in suspense nor stand at the gates of HeaueÌ„ nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise 5. The sting of Death is taken froÌ„ it which is Sinne then Death can doe thee no more harme than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting 6. The pangues of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall but thy joyes shall be eternall as Paul saith to the Romanes Chap. 8. Vers 18. Inward comfortes The soule shall shortlie returne 7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses 8. Thy bodie shall sleepe a little thy soule shal returne shortlie the Comforter shall assist thee Christ is praying for thee in Heauen the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer the Angels are readie to conuoy thy soule to eternall blisse 9. Heere is thy comfort Christ thy Sauiour suffered the pangues of Death in the highest degree Christ suffered death Matth. 10.24 Shall the seruant be aboue his Master And as he died so he rose againe and ouercame Death in his owne denne Then if the Head bee risen will hee not raise after him all the members of the bodie Yes surelie Lastly The right desire to liue or die Psalm 6.5 Isa 38.7 if thou find a desire in thee to liue longer let the cause of thy desire be that thou mayest liue better as Ezechias and Dauid saide Shall the dead prayse thee And What signe shall I haue to goe to the House of the Lord And if thou desire to die Christ aduantage in life and death see that it be not for thine earthlie burdens but for sinne which thou weariest to beare and for the desire of the fruition of the glorie of God A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH EVerlasting God and my most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore Prisoner bound by the Chains of Sicknesse to this Bed vpon whome the bondes of Death are seasing and taking holde I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy beseech thee to giue me thine holie Spirite that seeing I am going the way of all flesh I may rightlie resolue 1. King 2.2 with solide judgement and perfect memorie anent my departure that as thou hast prepared a place for mee Iob 14.2 so thou wilt prepare mee for it that I being purged by the blood of Iesus sanctified by thy Spirit may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to mee And because manie times I learned by thy Worde that I must die by daylie experience in the death of others thou gauest mee warning as also I haue carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by diuerse diseases yet Lord nowe at last I learne by mine own proofe that which I would not learne by others Nowe therefore O Lord when I looke backe to my former life and consider the sinnes of my childhood and mine age what things I did ignorantlie and what I did against mine owne conscience my forgetfulnesse of thy mercies and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodnesse mine open sinnes and my secret sinnes my presumptions mine injuries to others mine intemperancie my slouthfulnesse and neglect of thy worship all these sinnes so oft committed by mee beeing put in a masse and manie moe with them I beseech thee most mercifull Father that thou wouldest vouchfase to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion and make mee nowe quite of them that they burthen mee no more and I beseech thee that now in this my last battell thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelitie and distrust that as by thy power I haue ouercome the maine hoste of sin so by thy grace these remnants of a defeated Armie those stragling Souldiours who are shaking their weapons vpon mee they may bee scattered by thine hand that the work of my saluation may now in mercie bee crowned and finished that now I may cry with my Sauiour at his death Consummatum est It is finished Ioh. 19.30 He finished vpon the Crosse the worke of saluation for me now O Lord finish it in me vpon this bedde I acknowledge ô Father that I am infinitlie obliedged vnto thy Majestie for thine innumerable benefits which I haue receiued at thine handes in the time of my life for thou euer didst loue me with a Fatherlie affection thou caredst for mee thou prouidedst in due season to my necessitie thou fedst me thou defendedst mee thou nurturedst me c. Simil. Exod. 19.4 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones so hast thou carried mee in the armes of thy mercie But in speciall thou broughtest mee from ignorance to the knowledge of the trueth madest mee to be borne in the bosome of the Church gauest me that eternall life Iohn 17.3 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the Worlde Yea when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wildernesse the perils of waters of fire of pouertie of sicknesse of decietfull and wicked men c. thou deliueredst mee from them all by thy mightie and out-stretched arme and hast giuen me this time to resolue with thee to repent and thanke thee for thy benefits For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites both spirituall and temporall I render vnto thee moste heartie thankes praise and glorie to continue for euermore As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee it is not of mee O Lord but thy grace working in mee who makest thy power to bee knowne in my weaknesse And if thou wouldest look narrowly to my best actions thou wouldest finde in them a thousand imperfections Therefore I couch vnder the Garment of my Lordes righteousnesse oh spreade the Mantle of thy Mercie ouer mee And as for the Worlde I disclaime and renounce it as a false and deceitfull friend which promiseth faire things to those that seeke it but for golden offers it crowneth them with thornes I bid good-night to all my Friends Acquaintances and good Christians and I exhort all you who would haue peace in your latter ende and die the death of the Righteous Numb 23.10 Mat. 7.13 that ye would treade the footesteps of Iesus Christ goe thorowe the straite way keeping faith and loue with the Sainctes to the ende 2. Tim. 4.8 that seeing I haue gone before you and run my race and shortlie shall receiue the Crowne of Righteousnes yee would rejoyce in my victorie and not bee forâ—e for my remoouing And I pray God to bee with you all and to conuoy you safely vnto his Kingdome that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie And seeing I feele all the members of my bodie decaying and giuing ouer their office my grinders sailing my sight and hearing decaying Eccl. 12.3 my strong men trembling let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace that I may haue a cleare sight of my Lord and Sauiour and so depart in peace with olde SIMEON thy Seruant Now my Soule returne to thy rest for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee Psa 116.7 I commit my spirite into thine handes O LORD take it and by the conuoy of thy moste holie Angels carrie it vnto thy Kingdome And for my bodie I commit it to the dust from whence it came to sleepe there till the Day dawne and my LORD returne and rayse it vppe againe that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vs thorow Christ Amen FINIS THE PRINTER TO THE READER BEcause it is vnpossible that Bookes of any quantitie in the first Impression should escape all Faults and especially in the absence of the Author therefore it shall please the Christian Reader to auoyde partialitie judge charitablie and correct diligentlie such errours as on our behalfe vnwillinglie haue escaped our correction all which God willing at another time wee shall amende most attentiuelie
rouse from sleepe so deepe and long God wak'ned hath the Eccho of this Song W. D. ON THE SEVEN DAYES THe glorious God the First Day made the Light Next stretcht the Firmament in bredth hight The Third dryde Earth and it with Plants He stor'd The Fourth the Heauens with Lamps of light decor'd Fift th' Aire with Fowls with Fishes filde each Flood The Sixt made Beasts and Man and all were good On the Seuenth Day the Lord from worke did rest Therefore that Day Hee sanctifi'd and blest I. A. AN ANTIPHONE or EPODE For VV. D. his Heptachordon TO THE AVTHOR THis seuen string'd Lute as shewes the sacred Storie GOD made to shew the brightnesse of his Glorie On which by diuerse Handes sixe thousand Springs Beene playde and all to prayse that King of Kings Now last the Sonne of that sweet Swan-like Singer Who Christ in Armes embracing would not linger Longer on Earth harmoniouslie doth rayse On it Notes fit the furious fits t' appease Of Soules Saule-like and of their franticke follie Them charme to sound his prayse who 's only holie Therefore my Brother deare well mayst thou thinke Employde thy Paines thy Paper Penne and Inke Whereby poore Soules are sav'd Gods Name 's extoll'd And thine 'mongst neuer-dying names enroll'd M. I. ADAMSON THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE AN humble Confession of sinnes Pag. 1 A Meditation on the first days work Pag. 19 A Prayer on the first Day Pag. 22 A Meditation on the second Day Pag. 27 A Prayer on the second Day Pag. 30 A Meditation on the third Day Pag. 36 A Prayer on the third Day Pag. 38 A Medit. on the fourth Day Pag. 50 A Prayer on the fourth Day Pag. 62 A Med. on the fifth Day Pag. 68 A Pr. on the fâ—fth Day Pag. 74 A Meditat. on the sixth Day Pag. 79 A Prayer on the sixth Day Pag. 85 A Meditation on the seuenth Day Pag. 91 A Prayer on the seuenth Day Pag. 102 Morning Prayer Pag. 108 Euening Prayer Pag. 114 A Meditation on the Church Pag. 120 A prayer for the Church Pag. 125 A meditation on the holie Communion Pag. 133 A prayer before the Communion Pag. 139 A thankesgiuing after the Communion Pag. 141 A Medit. of the trouble of Conscience Pag. 143 A prayer for a troubled Conscience Pag. 149 A meditation of Kinges Pag. 155 A Prayer for the King c. Pag. 158 A Meditation of Sicknesse Pag. 161 A prayer for a sicke person Pag 163 A prayer for a Woman in trauell Pag. 169 A meditation of Persecution Pag. 173 A prayer for one persecuted Pag. 177 A meditation of Famine Pag. 182 A prayer in time of Famine Pag. 184 A meditation of Pestilence Pag. 187 A prayer in time of pestilence Pag. 189 A Meditation of the Sword Pag. 191 A prayer in time of the Sword Pag. 194 A Meditation of Death Pag. 197 A Prayer at the houre of Death Pag. 200 FINIS AN HVMBLE CONFESSION OF SINNES OEternall God and moste mercifull Father I confesse and acknowledge before thine heauenly Majestie that I am a moste miserable sinner first Sinne by nature because I was conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie next by reason I haue added to the sinnes of my nature the sinnes of a damnable life For there iâ— no Precept of thy Law which I haue not broken neither is there any judgemeÌ„t which I haue not deserued Insensible But yet this increaseth my woe that wheÌ„ I am thus wounded I feele not my wound but doe lie sleeping as Ionas did when the tempest of thy judgements doeth assault mee But alace this is moste grieuous of all Ionah 1.5 that when thy Majestie by the sweete voyce of thy worde Against knowledge hast called mee to repentance I closed mine cares to thy warninges If those who transgressed the law of Moses Deu. 19.15 vnder two or three witnesses died without mercy much more I who haue troden vnder my feete the blood of the New Testament Heb. 10.29 and haue accounted light of the offers of thy grace and by the testimonie of mine owne conscience am worthie of condemnation And seeing I am arraigned before thy Tribunall I flee to thy selfe as to a Citie of refuge Deut. 19.3 where I will pleade my cause by an humble Confession Therefore I sall downe vpon the knees of mine heart before the portes of thy mercie begging of thee the spirit of vnsained repentance that acknowledging my sinne I may finde grace in thine eyes But because the beginning of repentance is to see my sinne open mine eyes O Lord that I may see my nakednesse bewaile the dayes of my sinne I will giue vp dittie against my selfe I will giue out doome against my soule I will condemne my selfe that thou mayst absolue me I wil haue my sinnes before mine eyes that thou mayst cast them behinde thy backe I wil remember them that thou mayst forget them I wil repent them thou wilt forgiue them I acknowledge my sins Psal 51.3 mine iniquitie is euer before mee O Lord thou louest the trueth in the inward affections Ibid. 6. I am content that shame be to mee if honour come thereby to thee that thou mayest be just when thou speakest Ibid. 4. and pure when thou judgest First I confesse that I was created to thy Image but sinne hath so disgraced and defaced it in me that there appeareth no print thereof in my nature I was white as the snowe Ier. 13.23 but am become blacke as the More my righteousnesse is as a menstruous garment Esa 64.6 Restore thine Image in me and repare thy ruinous building Thine honour shall bee greatter in reforming than in forming me as in my resurrection thy glorie shall kythe more than in my creation The liberalitie of thy goodnesse appeared when as thou stamped such graces in my nature but thy mercies which indure for euer may bee seene when thou renewest those gifts which I haue prodigallie wasted and spent vpon sinne Transforme mee O Lord to thy similitude that as thou art holy wise mercifull patient bountifull c. so I may represent thee in some measure in them all As for mine infancie Mans state in infancie I knowe not what I was a poore Suckling vpon my Mothers Breastes I could no wayes helpe my selfe but by weeping I was casten vpon thee from the wombe by thy prouidence I was kept and thine Angels guarded mee But this I know that an Infant of one day is not cleane before thee haue mercy vpon mee therefore O my God and by the holy infancie of my Sauiour I beseech thee abolish whatsoeuer guiltinesse I haue contracted in my Childhood euen from my birth Childhood Then I grew a Childe which I doe well remember the poysonable roote of sinne which lay hid in mine infancie sprang foorth in my childhood And then for as little as I was I began to disdaine yea to snite
ease mee thereof that with â—acritie and readinesse of heart I may â—erue thee all the dayes of my life as I â—aue serued sinne before Alace was â—ot I the cause that thy Sonne died â—ine Angels are offended and thy Church grieued O Lord let mee be â—omforted before my departure that I may bee the occasion of all their joyeâ— by my repentance as I was the cause of their sorrowe by my fall and foule defection But alace when that I haue repented mee of my former wickednesse I am readie to runne backe vnto that filthie puddle of sinne from the which I was newlie washen yea I haue fallen more often than seauen times euerie day but thou O Lord with thy mercifull hand didst lift me vp againe Therefore deare Father haue mercie vpon mee I beseech thee and continue thy loue and fauour towards mee and let mee not fall as doe the wicked who fall and rise no more Sende vnto mee O my God faithfull Admonishers and let the Righteous rebuke mee yea let mee not want the checkes of mine owne Conscience that I durst forsweare my promise to my God Breach of promise to God I promised to amend my life but I haue not performed mine oath and haue come vnder a double guiltinesse I purposed to cease from sinne euen when I vowed thinking to stand by mine owne strength But nowe good Lord I beseech thee that thou wouldest giue mee thy constant Spirit that I may stand by thy power Psa 51.10 and fall no more If thou wouldest narrowlie marke mine iniquities O Lord Iob 5.3 I could not aunswere thee to one of a thousand yea mine owne mouth condemne mee Iob 9.20 and mine owne cloathes would defile mee Wash mee therefore O my God Purge mee with Hyssope Psal 51.7 and I shal be cleane with Myrrhe and pure Water and I shall bee whiter than Snow O passe by my great sins for mercy pleaseth thee Mich. 7.8 Remember not O Lord mine ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse toward thy Majestie Ingratitude for all thy manifolde and rich benefits which thou hast so bountifullie bestowed vpon mee from time to time Ne yet good Lord remember mine hypocrisie and superficiall seruice Hypocrisie which manie times I haue done vnto thee both priuatelie and in thine House I craue pardon for these two sinnes which are most haynous and I most humblie beseech thee euer hence forwarde to giue mee a thankfull minde and heart vnto thee for all thine innumerable benefites and blessinges and sinceritie in thy worship that with a single eye and a true heart I may glorifie thee O my Creatour all the dayes of my pilgrimage heere in this life and heereafter with thy Sainctes for euer Oh and alace I am sorie and doe most heartilie repent mee for those manifolde injuries which I haue done vnto my Neighboures Injuries to our neighbour euen for lacke of loue towardes them But O Lord I am no wayes able to reckon mine hainous sinnes and grieuous offences which I haue committed both against God and man no more than I am able to count the haires of mine head or the sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen But binde thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue Oh burie them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST and in the graue of perpetuall obliuion For why O Lord thy Name is Mercie 1. Gods Name is Mercie and thy nature mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and in dureth for euer 2. His nature mercifull Thy promise is O God that thou wilt not cast off those that come vnto thee Thou hast sworne that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner 3. His promise and oath but that hee bee conuerted and liue Thou commandest all that are wearie 4. His CommandemeÌ„t Matt. 11.28 Luke 18.1 and laden with sinne to come vnto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou commendest the vnjust Iudge who at last yeelded to the importunitie of the Widow Therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy mercies looke vpon mine infirmities Bestow vpon â—e O Father the Comforter Ioh. 14.26 euen the Spirit of trueth who may leade mee in all veritie through this Wildernesse and thy constant Spirit who may establish mine heart by his grace and who may sanctifie me and purifie the sountaine of my soule that all good actions may aboundantlie spring from thence And finallie O Lord I resigne my bodie and soule into thine hand beseeching thee most intirelie that thou wilt keepe thine owne Lodging that I may bee directed by thine holie Spirit in the course of this transitorie life that I hauing the assurance of the forgiuenesse of all my former sinnes and likewise a care feare and reuenge of my corruption I may learne to number my dayes Psa 90.12 redeeme the time and spende and ende my life to thine honour praise and glorie through IESVS CHRIST my Lord and onelie Sauior AmeÌ„ So bee it MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS vpon the Lordes seuen dayes worke MOSES albeit hee was borne after the Flood yet he prophecieth of thinges done from the beginning of the Worlde and hath written fiue Bookes of the same GENESIS GENES which signifieth Generation because it containeth the beginning both of the Worlde and of the Church EXOD. EXODVS an Out-passage or deliuerie of the Church from Aegypt LEVITICVS LEVIT setteth downe both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits for the right ministration of Gods seruice NVMBERS a Reckoning of men NVMB. wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should be like the starrs of heaueÌ„ DEVTERONOMIE DEVT. or a Second Law or Declaration of the will of God before the death of Moses He beginneth at the Creation by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation What God was doing before the World I answere with S. Augustine Hee was preparing Hell for such curious braines And to such as aske where he was I say that God needed no place who is comprehended in no place Places are made for bodies which are conprehensible the Creatour beeing incomprehensible hath no neede therof Neque tempus habet quando neque locum ubi Augustine neque modum quomodo neque causam cur fit that is Hee hath neither a place wherein hee is nor a time when nor a manner how nor a cause why he is But he was in himselfe and had a perfect delectation in his owne Trinitie A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDS first dayes vvorke THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Masse was the Light Light admirable which is admirable in two respects First 1. Out of darknesse because it proceeded out of Darknesse as hee doth produce one Contrare out of another 2. Without
blessing vnto all the rest of the weeke Seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Mat. 6.33 and all other thinges shall bee casten vnto you vvhere by the contrarie there are Curses denounced aga nst the profanators of the Sabbath Ier. 17.27 that God shall curse the workes of their handes and the Land shall enjoye manie Sabbathes of yeeres euen as it did in the Captiuitie of Babylon Now Three kinds of Sabbaths 1. Of Creation 2. Of Redemption Reuel 1.10 there are three kindes of Sabbathes the first of the Creation as a memoriall that GOD ceased from his worke vpon the seuenth day this lasted till Christes death and resurrection The second Sabbath beganne vpon the day of his resurrectiō which is called THE LORDES DAY in rememberance of a newe Creation of the worlde 3. Of Perfection Isa 66.23 and this will ende with the worlde And the thirde Sabbath shall be eternall when as the sixe dayes of this miserable life shall bee finished vvee shall rest from all our earthlie businesses and trauels that our continuall exercise may bee to glorifie him in minde heart and with all our strength in his Kingdome Then let vs occupie this Sabbath whollie in his prayse vvhich shall bee a sure pledge of that in the Heauens A Prayer vpon the seuenth Day MOst mightie Lord and mercifull Father distill I beseech thee and powre downe into mine earthlie heart thy diuine Dewes vvhich may moysten it together with such heauēly meditations as may stirre vp mine heart vnto thy prayse and glory that as vpon these sixe dayes I haue beene musing and meditating vpon all thy most glorious workes so I may repose my selfe vpon the day of Rest and finde quietnesse to my soule in thee for all the rest of the creatures albeit they be glorious yet they be subject vnto a curse not because of themselues but for man who hath defiled them I haue trusted to the pleasures which I saw in the creatures and I see that it is true that Salomon saide All is but vanitie and vexation of the spirit Eccles 1.2 as Ritches increase so Care groweth But O Lord let me come to thine Arke as the Doue did which found no rest till shee came backe to Noah Genes 8.9 Pull in thine owne doue O my Lord vnto thee for the floods of sinne haue ouerflowed the face of the Earth that I finde no rest heere I am wearie and loadned Lord giue me rest to my soule in thee This day is joyfull to me because that my Lord rose this day from death I beseech thee my God Nota. raise vp my soule from the graue of sinne that I may be partaker of the first Resurrection and make my thoughts spirituall this thy Sabbath day banish from my minde all earthlie cares this day forgiue me in that I haue so many times abused these thine holie dayes Oftentimes when I was praying to thee or thou preaching vnto me Sathan did cast into my mind carnall cogitations which interrupted that communication betwixt my soule thy majestie O Lord forgiue me and fill my soule with thy reuerence and feare in all the dayes of my life to come that all such ydle purposes may be dispatched by thine holie Spirit shut the doore of my soule when thou art speaking vnto me or when I pray to thee that none get entrie to vnquiet me and stay my joy for alace mine heart was casten open vnto many of thine enemies I will close the doore of mine eare to the voyce of all others that thou mayest speake to me Alace my God I finde a great decay of that spirituall joy in me that I haue not that sparke of delight and that inward spirituall joy which I should haue or had sometimes I loath the exercise which I loued mine hands are wearie and fallen downe I haue lost my first loue it was sweeter to me thā the honey Reuel 2.4 now it is loathsome vnto me as the Manna was vnto the Isralites therefore I beseech thee Numb 11.6 kindle vp an holie fire of thy loue in my soule as was in the Disciples going to Emmaus and that the zeale of thine House may eate me vp Luk 24.32 Psal 69.9 and 52.8 and 27.4 Let me flourish as a greene Oliue in the house of my God O would to God I could abide in thine house all the dayes of my life that I might praye with good Anna 1. Sam. 1.13.16 out of the bitternesse of my soule making my supplications to thee O Lord I craue thee pardon for the earthly and ydle speaches which I spake vpon the Sabbath I will holde mine hand vpon my mouth speake no more Iob 39.37 Luk 24.15 The Disciples which went to Emmaus were speaking of Christ he came vnto them alace when I spake of the world he went from me and my heart was colde Lord forgiue me for it was a great sin which I did yea I made no matter to deale in mine earthly businesse on thy Sabbath All mine excuses are nowe accusations against me they burne me when I am trying mine heart But Lord I found neuer any blessing in those mine actions which I enterprysed vpon thy Day I haue sinned I will doe it no more let the world be crucified to me and me to it vpon thy Sabbath I haue resolued in mine heart that I shall spende my dayes while I liue to thine honour Helpe my resolution by thine holie Spirit that neither the corruption of my nature my weaknesse and forgetfulnes Nota. neither the euil example of these wicked and profane people among whom I liue suffer me to break my promise which I doe make vnto thee but that thou mayst be my speach my thought and my delight vpon the Sabbath dayes Let me be feruent in prayer and supplications to thee vpon the day of thy rest Let me heare what thou speakest to me by the mouth of thy seruant Let me gather thy Manna when it is rained downe from the clowdes of Heauen Ex. 16.15 as the people gathered Manna in the Desart that I may heare it as thy word I may gather it and lay it in the store-house of mine heart against the yeere of famine Gen. 41.48 and giue me thy grace that vpon thy holy day I may proclaime thy prayses with the rest of the Saincts This day let me breake my bread to the hungrie seeing thou satisfiest me with thy spirituall graces let me cloathe them that are naked visit those that are sicke and that I may so rest from earthly vanities this day that I may moste diligently worke the workes of God that I may gather out the flowrs of thy most holy Scriptures that I may studie to practise which I heare in a godlie life and conuersation so I may redeem the time which I haue spent in vain Eph. 5.16 that I now getting mercie for the abusing of thy
hast nurtured me by thy Rod and that thou hast not suffered my spirituall enemies to triumph ouer mee and forsooke me not neither left me to my selfe nor to be a prey to them O Lord pardon me all the sinnes of this day and purge me from my secret sinnes euen those which are hidden from my selfe Who can know or vnderstand them no doubt I haue sinned this day My conscience may erre and deceiue me but thou searchest the depth of the heart But I praise thee that thou kepedst me from presumptuous sinnes this day Psa 19.13 Forget O Lord my negligence in thy seruice Alace I haue beene wearied of thy worship And seeing thou art and hast begun to bring darknesse vpon the face of the earth breake in O Lord with the glorious beames of thy presence and illuminate my darknesse Psal 16.7 When the bodie is at rest let the soul be busie with God Instruct my reines in the night season and speake familarlie vnto my soule when I sleepe in my bed then open mine eares when my senses are asleepe then let my soule enjoy thy presence without interruption Let thy Spirite teach my spirit and informe her ignorance rebuke my spirit correct her sinfulnesse strengthen my spirite and help her weaknesse comfort my spirit and cure her sorrowes Giue me sleepe and rest to my bodie if it may make me the more able to serue thee But if it may stay thine honour Nota. I will be content to want it And if thou hast appointed this night that I shall awake Lord hold the eyes of my soul waking that I may repent for the abuse of that great rest which I haue receiued alreadie without rendering thankesgiuing vnto thee Lord let mee lie with a peacable minde vnder the hand of a reconciled God Suffer not my soule this night to bee disquieted with the cares of this world which bereaueth worldlings of their rest but I cast my burthen vpon thee all mine affaires vnto the bosome of thy prouidence for thou wilt beare them Why art thou troubled my soule Psal 42.5 and 43.5 and why art thou disquieted within me trust yet in thy God and he will be thy reliefe Ly downe in peace and sleepe Psal 4.8 for he will care for thee And againe O Lord deliuer my soule from the fearfull terrours of this night Giue me faith with Dauid Psal 3.6 and I shall not be affrayde of ten thousand for thy presēce is a sufficient defence to me against all mine enemies But O Lord especially deliuer mee from the feares of thy wrath when Sathan laieth my sinnes in order before me and that they stand in the sight of thy countenance then thou makest me to mourne like a Doue Isa 38.14 and chatter like a Swallow Mine eyes were lifted vp on high I reckoned till the morning Psal 58.6 but thou brake my bones like a Lyon From day to night thou wilt make an ende of me Then I cryed My sinnes haue opressed me cōfort me O Lord remoue the clowd of my sinnes which interueaneth betwixt thy mercie and me let me see thee this night sitting vpon thy mercie seate stretching out the poynt of the golden Scepter Hest 5.2 and retreating the sentence of death giuen out by thy justice against me Cast my sins behind thy back drown them in the bottome of the Sea of thine obliuion that this night I may lodge in the Fort of thy grace as in a Citie of refuge and finde rest to my soule Keepe me O Lord from the curse threatned by thy Prophet against such as in the night are plotting euil things against their neighbours Mica 2.1 Let me remember O Lord that darknesse is to thee as light Psal 139.12 and thou hast an eye of fire whose light can pierce the most hard places Where can I hide any thought from thee for thou who plantedst the eye doest not thou see most clearly Psal 94.9 Therefore keepe my soule this night that I admit no purpose therein whereof thou wilt not be content Be thou my Counseller my Witnesse and Judge that by thy presence my soule may be kept in that holy reuerence to thee that it consent to no vncleane or injust action to offende thee Thou hast tryed and proued mine heart in the night and hast found nothing for I was purposed not to displease thee And because my Lord wil come as a thiefe in the night and I doe not knowe what houre he commeth let me watch and pray 1 Thess 5.2 Matth. 24.43 and 25.13 that at the voyce of thine Angel I may be watching with mine oyle in my lampe Let me praise thee in the night with feruencie Keepe me from the Arrow which flyeth in darknesse and from the temptations of the Prince of darknesse Preserue me O Lord and my familie euerie thing which thou hast giuen me I doe resigne all to thy keeping who art a faithfull keeper of all things which are committed to thy custodie Thou wilt suffer nothing to be taken out of thine hand O GOD be thou a pillar of fire to giue light to me this night and carrie thy child in the armes of thy mercie through all perils of bodie and soule I leaue my soule into thine hand and when I awake I will seeke my soule in thee And finallie O Lord this bodily sleepe teacheth me to die and when I lie downe in my Bed I remēber that I shall once be casten into the bed of my graue that I may sleep there til the day dawne and the Sunne of Righteousnesse arise that then I may arise also and praise thee O my God together with the Sonne and the holie Ghost for euermore AMEN A MEDITATION VPON THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL EVen as it is necessarie vnto Saluation to belieue in GOD our Father so it is necessarie to belieue the holie Church our Mother Belieue the Church but not in the Church that she is the Queen the Spouse of Iesus Christ Wee must belieue in God put our whole trust and confidence him Wee must belieue also that the Church is his Spouse and belieue whatsoeuer shee speaketh vnto vs of him out of his own mouth for if shee bee his Spouse shee will not adulterate inuert or corrupt her Lords speaches And if an Angel taught another Gospel let him bee accursed Gal. 1.8 In the Nicene Councell and in Athanasius his Symbole the particle In is added But yee must vnderstand that the Apostolicke Symbole which is called the Creede must bee a Rule of perfection and antiquitie vnto all the rest Then God willing I shall define the Vniuersall Church vnto you that yee may know her The Vniuersall Church is the Members of the Elect whom God hath called by his word vnto Life euerlasting What the Church vniuersallis Shee taketh not her name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to elect but from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
could not bee called a CommunioÌ„ as the Masse-Priest taketh it alone Thirdlie They differ in the Elements the one being receiued in Water the other in Bread and Wine Fourthlie in the manner of receiuing in Baptisme the receiuer is meere passiue doing nothing himselfe but offering himselfe and suffering himselfe to bee washen by another In the Supper the receiuer is actiue and that which is offered vnto him hee taketh eateth and drinketh The superstitious Papist would put it into his mouth for holinesse And finallie Baptisme is ministrated but once Luk. 22.19 1. Corin. 11 25 Simil. and cannot bee reiterated the Supper as often as wee doe it sayeth our Sauiour There is a reiteration for as a childe is once infested in his fathers heritage but hee is fedde daylie at his fathers table so once baptized may often communicate The necessitie of the Word and SacrameÌ„ts But now God willing wee shall speake something of the necessitie of the Word and Sacraments The Word is necessarie to saluation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simplie those who are come to age without the which they cannot bee saued The Sacramentes are necessarie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conditionallie they may bee had So I say with Augustine August Non carentia sed contemptis Baptismi damnat that is Not the want but the contempt of Baptisme condemneth men Iosh 5. For as in the Wildernesse many died who were not circumcised Circumcision then being more strictly vrged than Baptisme is now Exod. 4.24 and of a like power and signification yet vve vvill not judge those who so died to be damned no more reason is it that those who are preuented by death or excluded by necessity bee in danger of damnation lacking Baptisme Preparation to the Sacrament is necessarie A man should not set himselfe to any graue action without deliberation much lesse vnto this which is the grauest of all others the Supper of the Lord he should first try and examine himselfe First let vs try our repentance next our faith and thirdlie our loue Our repentance must bee tryed by the Lawe How to try thy repentance without the which there is no knowledge of sinne Examine our selues and judge our selues that God doe not judge vs. Spare not to search all the corners of thine heart that there be no hid leauen therein try what sorrow thou hast for thy former life and in what measure for manie sinnes doe craue many teares Luke 7.38 as the Magdalen washed Christs feete with her teares and Dauid his bed Next Psalm 6.6 try the trueth and sinceritie of thy repentance for God doeth loue the trueth in the inward parts And be sorrowfull Psal 51.6 not for any paine which hath befallen thee for thy sinnes but for offending God thereby Try thy faith see that thou haue knowledge to vnderstand what is giuen thee How to try thy fayth for ignorance secludeth thee from the Sacraments And next that thou canst apply to thy felt that which thou doest receiue externally in the elements and internally by faith in Christ Finally try thy loue that it be without hypocrisie for there is no conjunction with the head How to try thy loue vnlesse there bee communion with the members of the bodie Therefore purge your selues from the leauen of maliciousnesse and bitternesse 1. Cor. 5.7 yea pardon your enemies heartilie and pray for them if ye desire that at this holy SacrameÌ„t God should be mercifull vnto your sinnes The honourable receiuing of the SacrameÌ„ts Both the Sacramentes craue a like reuerence as they are of a like substance and weight and therefore we ought to come with all humilitie and reuerence to that most holie Supper both in bodie and soule praying that God Almightie would blesse this his ordinance and make it steadable to our saluation and then receiuing it in all deautifull reuerence let vs apply it to our owne comfort rendering thanks to God for this inestimable benefite in giuing his Sonne to the death for our redemption A PRAYER BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE LORDES SVPPER O Lord God most gracious most holy most glorious I thy poore creature most filthie and vnworthie most graceles and ingracious most contemptible and vilde worme doe heere present my selfe before thine holy Majestie crauing at thine handes that I may bee worthily prepared to receiue the body and blood of Iesus Christ to mine eternall saluation and to this effect I beseech thee that thou wilt remooue from me all impediments which might hinder me from the right receiuing of the same namely ignorance which blindeth my minde infidelitie and damnable hypocrisie O merciful father replenish me with thâ—ne holy Spirit that I may know and vnderstand the mysterie of my redemption and truly apply it to mine owne soule and in all sinceritie and singlenesse of heart render all praise honour and glorie to thy Majestie for the same O Lord the blinde dulnesse of my minde will not suffer me sufficiently to acknowledge these thy most ample benefits the height the length the breadth and the deepnesse whereof neither man nor Angel euer was able to sound yet I am perswaded that all my saluation consisteth in the death and passion of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST who died for the sinnes of the world and therefore I humbly beg at thy Majesty that as I receiue these outward elements at thy commandement eat and drinke thereof in rememberance of him Nota. so it will please thee secretlie to communicate the vertue of his blood to my soule which may feed the hidden man of mine heart to eternall life by whose power also and force of his death all my wicked and sinfull affections may be crucified and finally by the aide protection of his blood I may bee defended from all my spirituall and temporall enemies from all temptations and dangers and by the selfe same his bodie blood I may be strengthened to fight my spiritual battels and to goe forward in my spirituall journey to that Land of Canaan in the which battell and journey helpe me good Lord by the precious merite of thy deare SONNE CHRIST IESVS to whom with thee and thine holy spirit bee all honour glorie and dominion for euer AMEN A THANKESGIVING AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE COMMVNION O Most gracious God I heartilie thanke thee for this thy most excellent benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee euen the bodie and blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus for the saluation of my soule I beseech thee most mercifull father that thou wouldest bestowe thine holy spirit vpon me that I may honour and serue thee all the dayes of my life that the corruption of my nature may be beaten downe and the Image of God may bee more clearely seene in me that I may cast off the olde man Colloss 3.9 with the lusts thereof and put on the newe man which is formed after God in holinesse and righteousnesse
Iesus I may sing the triumph and render my spirit into thine hands through Christ Iesus to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all praise for euermore Amen A MEDITATION OF THE SWORD THE Sword is Gods third Arrow which hee sendeth out either vpon a whole Land Causes of the Sword to punish their wickednesse Deu. 28.49 or to his own chosen Children for their sinnes as to Dauid the Sword of Saul and Absolam 2. Sam. 12.9 The Lord threatned by the Prophets and executed manie times in the Scriptures this judgement vpon his people for he brought Nations vpon them from farre flying as swift as an Eagle to the prey Terem 5.15 a people whose tongue they vnderstood not and of a fearce countenance which will not regard the persons of the olde nor haue compassâ—on of the young who shall besiedge them in all their Cities c. The Sword the greatest Plague 2. Sam. 24.14 This is the greatest temporall scourge that God euer sent to a Land to giue them ouer vnto cruell Tyrants for which cause Dauid made choyse of the other because he thought it better to fall into the handes of God than into the handes of men First we must consider that the author of all Warres God the author of Warres and first worker is the eternall God who being prouoked by the sinnes of the people and especiallie by Idolatrie and innocent blood as also Sacriledge raiseth vp Warres either intestine among themselues or forraine powers The Scriptures are furnished with insinit examples for the confirmation hereof Then we may learne not to looke vnto the rodde but to him who smiteth vs and to turne vnto him by vnfained repentance that he may stay and bridle the cruelcie of Tyrants Next ye shall know the causes of Warre Warres are lawfull if they bee warranded for we must not accompt that all Warres are vnlawfull for as Augustine saieth Melius justum â—ellian quam Pax iniqua that is A just Warre is better than an vnjust Peace Therefore Princes should consider that they raise no Warres vpon small groundes neither by ambition or couetousnesse encroath vpon the possessions of their neighbour Princes neither yet should they suffer their people to bee oppressed or brought vnder thraldome either of their bodies possessions or their conscience but rather ought to defende them by the Sword As the commodities of Peace are manie for in it Religion flourisheth The commodities of Peace 1. King 4.25 Isa 2.4 and Learning is aduanced euerie man dwelleth vnder his owne Figge-tree and the Sworde is turned into a Mattocke and the Speare into a Sythe the voyce of the Bridegroome is heard in the Citie and not the blooddie cryes of the Opressour which our Sauiour Christ when hee came to the world brought with him although it was attributed vnto Augustus Caesar so are the incommodities of Warre also manie The incommodities of Warres for in it all Religion euanisheth good Lawes are abolished good manners corrupted good Sciences forgotten Townes and Villages sacked Fieldes and Lands which were manured by great trauell and cost wasted by the incursion of strangers great Treasures are spent men muthered or made captiues women made whoores slaues c. so that Warres are the beginning and mother of all euils A PRAYER IN TIME OF THE SWORD O Lord we confesse that by reason wee haue abused so long and so gracious a peace and thy patience which should haue led vs to repentance wee are worthie of all these stripes which are laid vpon vs by these Barbarous Tyrants which thou hast raised vp against vs but wee haue our refuge to the Throne of thy mercie beseeching thee deare Father to remember that we are the price of thy Sonnes blood and for his sake spare vs chastise vs in mercie and in measure with the rodde of thy children and suffer not thy Turtle Doue to bee a prey to the wild Beasts Psa 74.19 Our hearts are oppressed and wounded with sorrow when we see thy glorie defaced thy Name blasphemed by these blooddie Beasts thy Temples burnt with fire and thy people daylie put to the Sworde O Lord the examples of others that called vpon thee in their troubles giueth vnto vs hope that thou wilt not suffer vs to bee confounded Our enemies haue raised vp battell against vs without all deseruings or cause vpon our side or injurie offered vnto them therefore O Lord maintaine our innocency as thou didst alwayes defend a righteous cause O Lord looke to their crueltie and mercilesse tyrannie who spare neither the gray haires nor tender sucklings neither women with child the rather O Lord they seeke our destruction because we haue renounced the Romane Antichrist whose kingdome they defend in daylie shedding the blood of thy Saincts O Lord looke to their craft and policies whereby daylie they vndermine vs. In vs O Lord there is no strength no wisdome no number nor judgment to withstand their force their craft multitude and diligence and therefore O Lord looke thou mercifullie vpon vs and deliuer vs from their crueltie for thy Christs sake Thou hast assisted thy Church euen from the begining and for the deliuerie of the same thou hast plagued her cruell persecuters from time to time O Lord thou remainest one for euer thy nature is vnchangeable thou canst not but hate crueltie pride oppression and murther and speciallie these blooddie Tyrants who are sent against vs by that Romish Idole and hired to roote out all those who truelie professe thy holy Name Put out thine arme O God for our relief let al the world know 1. Sam. 17.46 that the God of Israel yet liueth Heare vs O Lord helpe deliuer vs for thy Christs sake Amen A MEDITATION OF DEATH Death a dead enemie DEath is our last and least enemie for if Sinne and Sathan who are liuing enemies bee ouercome by the power of Christ in vs what need we to feare Death which is a dead enemie and altogether without power strength Indeed Death is terrible to the Worldling and no maruell for it separateth him from all his comforts and entereth him to all his paines but it possesseth the godlie in all their joyes and maketh an end of all their troubles it is to them Non obitus sed abitus non exitus sed transitus Ambros iis funera sunt faenora that is Not death but a departing not an out-going In the hour of death remeÌ„ber what thou wast what thou art what thou shalt bee but a thorow-going and to these their burials are gaines In the houre of Death remeÌ„ber with remorse thy former life thy future life with joye and delight and thy present estate with patience If the troubles of thy conscience or paine of thy sicknes vrge thee to impatience Quid scis quid sueâ—is quisque futurus cris then thinke this is the high way to HeaueÌ„ for euen by the