passe thou through thy vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest to a fortunate end Wee therefore being fullie perswaded of thy bent and readie goodnesse of thy present helpe of thy sweete comfort in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonie of thy Word how great intollerable the paines of Women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercies they be not mittigated and eased most hâ—mbly pray thee for Iesus Christ his sake thy Sonne our Lord that thy louing kindnesse may make that easie and tollerable which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O LORD the paines which thou most righteouslie hast put vpon all Woemen for the sinne and disobedience of our Grand-mother Eue in whom all wee haue sinned and giue vnto all such as haue conceiued and bee with childe strength to bring forth that Childe which thou wonderâ—ully hast wrought in them be present with them in their trouble helpe them and deliuer them Let thy power bee shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth then in the wonderfull fashioning of the Childe that that which thou hast begunne in them may come vnto good successe Make them glad and ioyfull Mothers that they through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to their olde strengths may liue and praise thy blessed name foâ—euer Amen A Thankesgiuing vnto GOD for their deliuerance O LORD GOD among other thy great benefits yea and those innumerable which thou daily bestowest vpon vs thy needy and poore Creatures this is not the least O most mercifull Father that thou of thy tender goodnesse doest vouchsafe for the conseruation of mankind to preserue the Woemen that are with childe and to giue them safe deliuerance of their burthen by this meanes making them glad and ioyfull Mothers For these thy benefits and good will towards vs wee so heartily thanke thee as heart can thinke beseeching thee to worke such thankeâ—ulnesse in the hearts of all Mothers that they being not vnmindfull of this high benefit of their safe deliuerance wrought onely by the Sauiour of all mankinde may shew themselues thankeful vnto thee for this thy goodnesse and neuer forget that thy present helpe and most sweete comfort which thou mercifullie shewest vpon them in their great trauailes labours and paines when they fled vnto thy holie name for succour as vnto a strong bull-warke and holie deâ—ence Continue thy fauour towards them O Lord by making them ioyfull Mothers of many children and indue them with long life that they may see their Childrens Children And the Children that thou gauest vnto them make thou as in age so likewise in wisdome and in the aboundance of thy holy Spirit to encrease that they may haue fauour both with thee and with all good men vnto the glory of thy most blessed name one GOD World without end Amen A Prayer for a sicke Man O Almighty GOD and all full of mercie which art the onelie Father of helpe and true Physician of our bodies soules in thy hands are life and death thou bringest to the graue and pullest backe againe Wee came into this World vpon a condition to forsake it whensoeuer thou wouldest call vs and now the Summoners are come thy fetters hold mee and none can loose me but he which bound me I am sicke in bodie with paine and in soule for feare of condemnation LORD thou hast stricken me but in iudgement shew mercie I deserued to die so soone as I came to life but thou hast preserued me till now and shall this mercie be in vaine as though we were preserued for nothing Who can praise thee in the Graue I haue done thee no seruice since I was borne but my goodnesse is to come and shall I die before I beginne to liue But good Lord thou knowest what is best of all and if thou conuert me I shal be conuerted in an houre and as thou acceptedst the will of Dauid as well as the act of Solomon so thou wilt accept my desire to serue thee as well as if I did liue to glorifie thee The spirit is willing but the flesh is fraile and as I did liue sinfully whensoeuer thy Spirit was from me so I shall die vnwillingly vnlesse thy Spirit prepare me Therefore deare Father giue mee that minde which a sicke man should haue and encrease my patience in my paine and call vnto â—y remembrance all that which I haue heard or read or felt or meditated so strengthen me in this houre of my trauaile that I which neuer taught any good while I liued may now teach others to die to beare their sickenesse patiently Applie vnto mee all the mercies of thy beloued Sonne as if he had died for me alone be not from me when the enemy comes but when the Tempter is bustest let thy Spirit bee busiest too and if it please thee to loose me out of this prison and when I shall leaue my earth to earth let thy Angell carry vp my soule as they did Lazarâ—â— and place me in one of those mansions which thy Sonne is gone to prepare for me This is my Mediator which hath reconciled mee and thee when thou diddest abhorre me for my sinneâ— and thou diddest send him from Hâ—auen to vs to shew that thou art bound to heare him for vs. Therefore in him I come vnto thee in him I call vpon thee O my Redeemer my Preseruer and my Sauiour to thee bee all praise with thy Father and the Holy Spirit for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the holy Communion THy loue towardes vs O most gentle Father is so great and vnmcasurable that it can by no meanes be expressed by mouth nor sufficiently conceiued in heart and this thy loue is without any deserts on our behalse freely and willinglie O Heauenly Father thou hast sent downe thy only Son Christ Iesus from the glorious seate of thy diuiâ—â—e Maiestie to take our flesh vpon him and to become perâ—ect man of the substance of a pure and vndefiled Virgiu Mary through the operation of the Holie Ghâ—st O thou that art this our Mediatour thou taughtest the will of thy Heauenly Father confirming the same with wonderfull mercies vnto the great comfort of many which then liued and vnto the perfect establishment of our faith which liue at this present aâ—ter thou haddest trauelled in this World certain yeeres the time afore appointed from euerlasting of thy Heauenly Father drawing nigh that thou mightest giue thy selfe an oblation and sweete smelling sacrifice to God the Father for the sins of the whole World euen so many as repent beleeue and amend willing that so noble and worthy a benefit of our redemption should not bee forgotten nor fall out of remembrance who art the sole Authour of our saluation and the onely comfort of weake consciences when thou hadst eaten the Paschall Lambe with thy Disciples according to the appointment of the Law thou tookest bread into thy hand gauest thankes
Come ye blessed c. Go ye cursed c. THE SOVLES Alarum-bell WHEREIN THE sicke Soule through the horror of conscience being awakened from security by the sight of sinne hath recourse to GOD by MEDITATION and PRAYER By H. Thompson Watch pray lest ye fal into temptation Mat. 26. At London printed by Io. Beale 1618. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sir Ivlivs Caesar Knight one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Counsell Henry Thompson wisheth increase of grace and all spirituall gifts by Iesus Christ our Lord. THe chiefe and principal thing Right Honourable appertaining to euerie worthy personage which thing it is good to see that your Honour doth well consider is to walke in the Garden of humility whereto the â—igh 〈◊〉 direct way is to passe by 〈◊〉 of Vertue whose 〈◊〉 is anchored and lincked to the feare and loue of GOD. For as by the one 〈◊〉 couered the multitude of sinnes so by the other is obtained blessednesse wisedome and knowledge Dauid that noble King and Prophet after hee had long trauelled and passed through the Gate of Vertue entred the faire and pleasant Garden of Humilitie and his walking and continuance therein so much pleased God that hee saide of him by the mouth of his Prophet I will set vp thy seede after thee which shall proceede out of thy bodie And now knowing most Honourable Knight the great loue and affection which your Honor euer hath and doth beare to vertue and godlinesse I was thereby moued the more boldlie after I had gathered together this small-handfull of flowers named The Soules Alarum-Bel to dedicate the same to your Honour as the fruite of my labours nothing doubting but that they shall bee acceptable vnto you and shelter themselues vnder your fauourable sure protection And I thought good to set forth a Treatise of this nature the rather because meditation is the key that openeth to vertue and all godlines for the encrease of vertue and godly liuing leading all them that follow it to tread in the right and true pathe which our Sauiur Christ hath prescribed vnto vs in his holy Gospell I most humbly beseeche your Honour to accept it as my good will towards you a shew of thankefulnesse but no satisfaction for the great fauours and kindnesses which my friends and I haue receiued from your Honour So crauing your honourable patience pardon herein if any thing haue escaped me for want of knowledge or learning I shall according to my bounden dutte call dailie with my most humble and heartie prayers to Almighty GOD that hee will finish that good which hee hath begunne in you praying also for the prosperous preseruation of your health and posteritie long to liue in honour ioy and felicitie in this World and to send you in the World to come a ioyfull Resurrection Amen Your Honors to commande in all duty and seruice Henry Thompson The Preface to the Reader REligious Reader amongst other there bee two seuerall causes which haue instigated me to enterprise and publish this worke of Meditation partly because of mine owne exercise and commodity for the health of my soule in the World to come and the good ordering of my body here in this present troublesome Pilgrimage and partly for the vtility and profit of my natiue Countrey the aduancement and benefit whereof euery Man is bound both by nature and conscience to studie by all meanes possible to the vttermost of his power for the true leading of the soule into the right path of righteousnesse And for that purpose euery Man is bound to distribute according to the greatnes or smalnesse of the Talent ministred and lent vnto him bee it neuer so little if it may any way profit and see it doe not remaine in him as dead and frustrate but rather that it bee bestowed forth to encrease and fructifie But gentle Reader the manifold miseries and calamities of this our wretched life which are incident to our fraile flesh being duly considered doe enforce vs to seeke out the right way of Meditation for the comfort of our weake and oppressed soules ouer growne with the deluge of sinne Now if we did rightly know the aboundance of benefits which true Meditation being poured forth to GOD in zeale of heart doth bring wee would bee farre more industrious to find it and being once found and surely lodged in the secret chamber of our hearts we would be farre more desâ—rous to keepe it the thoghts of our hearts are as so many spectacles to demonstrate and make apparant vnto vs the benefit necessity force and vse of holy â—editation inciting vs both to frequency and feruency therein without which besides many other benefits which thereby wee either obtaine or lose neither can Sathan be resisted nor our faith manifested nor GOD daily honoured There be many considerations likewise therunto mouing aâ— the shortnesse of our life which is but a span and the vanity thereof the suddennesse of Christs comming in a moment the strict and fearefull account that must bee â—â—dered at the day of his appearance for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vngodly vncharitable and vnchristian liuing and behauiour And because holy Meditation is a mourning and desire of the Spirit to God for that which is lacking euen as the sicke man sorroweth for his health whereby being reconciled to God by faith he may enioy the thing he doth expect and craue or hath need of In what a desperate danger may wee bee thought to bee in if wee shall shew our selues slacke or carelesse in this so auailable a dutie Let vs therefore meditate in all places and at all times calling to mind the largenesse of Gods gracious loue and his louing kindnesse in Christ Iesus our Sauiour who biddeth vs aske and it shall be giuen knocke and it shall be opened And whensoeuer thou art burthened or oppressed with thy sinnes or any other misery or calamity in the World vse godly and holy meditation and be thou then fully assured the Lord will offer himselfe to be reconciled to thee if thou thy selfe be readie and faithfull to call for the same at his hands To the furthering whereof and as it were the tracing a path thereto consider that life it selfe is but the harbenger of death and we liue to die GOD that numbred the haires of our head hath unmbered our yeeres also which we cannot passe whether in middle age or in old age or in Infancy when and where and how we know not for the issue of death is in the hands of God Our end and finall dissolution is therefore concealed from vs because we should be alwayes meditating and prepared for our end and thinke euery moment vpon death which is the ende of all flesh Dauid teacheth vs to looke backe into our liues by holy meditation whereby wee may learne to redeeme the time by timely repentance Psal 90. As a Bird guideth her â—light with her traine so the life of man is best directed by a continuall meditating recourse
our distressed saint-sicke soules then receiue by the meditations thereof the comfort and ioy whereof is not to be declared such is the vnmeasurablenesse thereof which God powreth vpon his chosen As the Peacocke a glorâ—ous Fowle in his owne shew when he beholds that comely fanne and circle which hee maketh of the pride of his beautifull feathers reioiceth ietteth and beholdeth euery part thereof but when hee chanceth once to looke on his feete in the very heat of his pride perceiuing them to bee blacke foule and illfauoured by and by with a great misliking veileth his top gallant as though it had neuer beene and withall seemeth to shew sorrow so in like manner many here in this World know by experience that when they see themselues abound in riches and honors then they glory in the height thereof and are so deepely conceited of themselues as that they praise the pride of their fortune and admire themselues then pride inforceth their high ambitious thoughts to make plottes and appoint much for them selues to perform in many yeers to come This yeare say they wil we beare this office and the next yeare that so afterward we expect to rule in greater authority then wee study to build a gay Pallace of pride neere vnto our authority whereto we adioine gardens of pleasures And thus they make a very large reckning aforehand who if they did but once behold their feete how slippery they stand if they did but thinke vpon the shortnesse of their life so transitory and inconstant how soone would they let fall their proude feathers forsake their arrogancie and change their purposes therein their liues and their manners For man is scarce conceiued when as hee is condemned to death and when he commeth out of the wombe he commeth out of prison not to be free but to vndergoe the Crosse And wee doe tend and hasten as it were to death some at one miles end and some at two and some at three and other some when they haue gone further And thus it commeth to passe that some are taken out of this life sooner and some tarry longer First let vs know our selues that wee may then know God the better Since then the case standeth thus who can sufficiently wonder at our madnesse for we are going as it were to the gybbet and yet wee dance we laugh and reioice in the way as if wee were secure from all manner of euill In so doing wee runne our selues into a very grosse error because we know not the shortnesse of our life O therefore let vs know our selues and then know God There be two wonderfull and monstrous things one is that Man being scarcely borne dieth when as notwithstanding hee hath a forme and shew of immortalitie Other things how long they retain their forme so long they remaine a house falleth not all the time that his forme and fashion lasteth the bruite Beast dieth not except first he forgoe his life which is his forme but man hath a forme which is immortall namely a mind indued with reason and yet hee liueth a very short time Therefore let vs know our selues and then know God There is another thing to be seene far more monstrous in this creature that whereas hee is indued with reason and counsell and knoweth that this life is like vnto a shadow to a dreame to a tale that is told to a watch in the night to smoake to chaffe which the wind scattereth to a water bubble and such like fading things and life to come shall neuer haue end He yet neuerthelesse setteth his whole mind most carefully vpon this present life which is to day and to morrow is not but of the life which is euerlasting he doth not so much as thinke If this bee not a monster I know not what may bee called monstrous Thus hauing seene the shortnesse and mutabilitie of Mans life let vs now also see the misery thereof Man saith holy Iob being borne of a woman is of a Iob 14. short continuance and full of miseries euery word hath an emphasis He is full of misery euen from the sole of the foote to the crowne of the head not onely the body but the mind also so long as it is captiuated in the prison of the body thus no place is left empty and free from miseries Therefore let vs know our selues that in knowing our selues we may know God Mans miseries are many and great there is no member no sense no one faculty in man so long as he is here vpon Earth which suffereth not his hell nay all the Elements all liuing creatures all the Diuels yea the Angels and God himselfe bend themselues against Man for sinne To beginne with the sense of feeling with how many kinds of seuers impostumes vleers sores and other diseases is it afflicted The Volumes of Physicions are full of diseases and remedies for the same and yet for all this there are daily new diseases and new remedies found out for them and among the remedies themselues it were to bee wished that there were one to bee found that were more vehement to vex the sicke then the disease it selfe Long fasting and extreme hunger is a better medicine then the cutting of veins the incisioÌ„ of wounds sores the cutting of members the searing of flesh and sinewes The pulling out of teeth are remedies for griefes and diseases but yet such that many had rather choose to die then to vse remedies Furthermore immoderate heate exceeding cold one while too much drought another while excesse of moisture doth offend and hurt the very sense of â—eeling As for the sense of tasting it is most of all troubled with hunger and thirst and many times medicines and meates that are bitter sharpe salt and vnsauoury doe distemper it As for the sense of smelling it is compelled to endure and suffer many times all manner of stinkes all vapors and fogs and things of bad sent As touching the sense of hearing what ill tidings how many cursed speakings and iniuries doth it heare which like sharpe swords pierce the heart As for the sense of seeing how many things doth it beholde which it would not and how many things doth it not see which it desireth As for the thoght how many horrible fearefull things doth it imagine and faine As for the vnderstanding what an innumerable sort of errors is it subiect vnto It seemeth to bee like vnto a little child to whom a tedious and very hard knot to bee dissolued is deliuered and contendeth what he can to vndoe it and when the knot beginneth in one part to be opened hee sheweth it and reioiceth and seeth not that the knot in the other part is more fast shut so in like manner God hath made this generalitie of all things and hath set the same before mans minde to be considered and saith Seeke and search out the reasons and the causes of all these things if thou canst when as indeede the trueth of
enemies which see vs and we not them for the diuels which are most crafâ—y cruell and most mighty 〈◊〉 number and strength doe practise nothing thinke vppon nothing else then how they may tempt deceiue hurt and cast men downe headlong into hell fire The holy and blessed Angels also do many times fight against sinfull men for who burnt Sodâ—me and 〈◊〉 with the inhabitants thereof with fire and brimstone the Angels Who slew the fourescore and fiue thousand men in the Host of Senacharib The Angels Who afflicted the Aegyptians with those plagues mentioned in Exod The Angels Who assisted Ioshua against the Cananites and Iebusites Gods Angels Not onely the Angels but God himselfe also somtimes sheweth himselfe towards man as towards an enemyâ— which causeth holy Iob to say Why dost thou hide away thy face and takest me for thine enemy What meaneth this O Lord God Thou also which was wâ—nt to bee my Father and Keeper hast now bidden a battell against me And beside all these things there is yet a ciuill and internall warre which man hath with in his owne bowels continually for what man is hee which feeleth not the striuings and contentions of his affections will sense and reason in so much that man himselfe doth afflict himselfe and vnderstandeth it not and is a greater enemy to himselfe then any other man can be For who doth greater harme to thee then thou dost to thy selfe Who more then thy selfe letteth thee and turneth thee away from thy felicity Who then seeth not how truely it is said Man that is borne of a Woman is of short continuance and full of miseries Who seeth not that Man is set in the very center of the spheare that miseries may fall vpon him from euery part or as the white in a but that the arrowes and darts of all miseries may be directed vnto him But let vs see what followeth He shooteth forth like a flower and is cut downe whereby he teacheth that mans life is fraile and transitory A flower verily is a comely and beautifull thing and yet for all that it is nothing because there is nothing found more fading and vanishing euen so man during the time of his childhood and â—lourishing youth seemeth to be of a wonderfull comelinesse but his beauty is of small price because it is more brittle then the glasse seeing that 〈◊〉 carrieth alwaies the cause of death in his veines and bowels Mans fading away is such and so sudden oftentimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bee no reason giuen of his death for many haue gone to bed well in the euening that in the morning are found dead and many very suddenly haue drouped downe in the high wayes streets as they haue walked about their affaires And this is no wonder if wee consider the substance of mans body which being a building compact of greene clay is easily ouerthrowne with a small puffe of wind How commeth it to passe that Clockes are so easily stopped from their course Is it not because they are made by art and skill with so many wheeles that if one bee stayed all the rest be letted If this befall Clockes that haue wheeles of iron and steele how much more easilie may it come to passe in the humane Clocke of life the wheeles and engines whereof are not of iron but of clay Therefore let vs not wonder at the frailety of mans body but at the foolishnesse of mans minde which vpon so fraile a foundation is wont to erect and build such lofty Towers Yet there is another misery which is signified to vs by the comparison of a flower namely the deceitfulnesse of mans life which indeed is the greatest misery for as feined vertue is double iniquity so counterset felicity is a twofold misery and calamity If this present life would shew it selfe to bee such as it is indeede the miserie thereof should not greatly hurt vs but it doth now greatly damnifie vs because it is false and deceitfull and being foule it maketh a very faire and glorious shew being euer mutable it will seeme to bee stable and constant being most short it beareth vs in hand that it is continuall that so men being deceiued may beleeue that they shall haue time to fulfill all their lusts and yet time and space enough to repent them Holy Iob concludeth this sentence thus Hee vanisheth also as a shadow and neuer continueth in one stay To make this more plaine behold consider the ages of man and thou shalt euidently perceiue the alterations of humane life Child-hood is weake as well in minde as bodie flourishing youth is weake in minde but strong in body ripe and manly age both in mind and body old age strong in minde but weake in body crooked old age is in this twice a child weake both in mind and bodie therefore hee flieth as it were a shadow and neuer continueth in one stay Moreouer there is another thing to bee considered in man He is now wise now foolish now merry now sad now in health now sick now strong now weake now rich now poore now he loueth anon hee hateth now hee hopeth by and by hee feareth one while hee laughes another while hee weepes now he wil anon â—e will not To conclude the Moone nor any other thing that is mutable sheweth not so many changes to â—s as doe the daily almost sudden alterations of men yet for all this they liue as men in a fâ—enzie which know not their miseries Although they know they must not â—epose their hope and assurance in the present things of this life yet doe they not remoue the thoughts of their minde their counsels their workes and endeuours vnto the happinesse of the life to come and if it were possible they would make the place of their 〈◊〉 and banishment their Countrey and inheritance but in vain doe they desire this for death commeth and playeth the last Pageant shutting vp and finishing the life of all calamities But the errour of man for the most part through his frailety being indued with onely vanity it selfe is such that it makes him forget the end of his life which he ought to haue alwaies before his eyâ—â— and his pride and ambition with his carefulnesse for the body in following the vaine lusts thereof is such that it makes him forget what hee is and his end If hee would but duely consider what hee shall be after a few daies his manner of liuing would bee peraduenture more humble and temperate for who would haue a high looke a proud stomack if he would but with the eyes of his mind behold what manner of one shortly after he shall be when hee is laide in his graue Who would then worship his belly for a god or yet build his gay Towers vpon the sand when he truly weigheth and ballanceth himselfe that the same must in a shorâ— time bee wormes-meate Who will be so in loue with the pride of this World being the chiefest downefall
Anâ— thou must purpose with thy selfe to doe â—othing that day which may displease God but meditate in thy minde some godly meditations desiring his assistance for the furtherance of the true seruing his omnipâ—tent Maiâ—sty â— A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deâ—â—tions O Most gracious Lord giue me leaue to present my selfe before thy diuine Maiestie and to poure out my vnworthy prayers in the sight of thy most mighty and glorious presence Behold mee O Lord not in my merits but in the multitude of thy mercies I now comâ— to make manifest my necessities and to vtter my griefeâ— vnto thee I come as a poorâ— and needy wretch vnto â— God of infinit glory I comâ— as a worme of the Earth vnto my Soueraigne Makeâ— and Creatour I come as â— guiltie hainous offendeâ—â— I am not worthy to lift vâ— mine eyes to Heauen muâ—â— lesse to open my mouth in thy glorious presence oâ— presume to talke with â— Lord and King of so great â— Maiesty being my selfe buâ— slime and ashes but ô Fatheâ— of mercies and God of all comfort thou promisest that who asketh shall receiue â— who knocketh shall bee leâ— in who seeketh shall findeâ— Thou inuitest the greatest â—inners and refusest not to â—eelde thy assistance to any â—hat will vse it grant mee â—herefore grace now to pray â—nto thee as my duety and â—hy desert requireth grant â—e a pureintention a ferâ—ent deuotion and an attenâ—â—ue mind that it be not carâ—ed away with impertinent â—oughts nor any other diâ—raction but with humble â—eart firme hope and perâ—ct charity I may effectualâ—e pray vnto thee and aske â—f thee that which thou seeâ—t most for thy glory and â—y good graâ—t Lord I beâ—ech thee that thou wilt â—elpe mee to pray worthily â—at thou maiest mercifuâ—ly â—rant my Petitions keepe â—y thoughts from wandring râ—straine my imaginations and preserue my sences from being distractedâ— defend O Lord my weakâ— heart from ghostly assaultsâ— and so fixe my minde vpon thee that I be not carrieâ— away from consideration oâ— thy presence grant mee distinctly to pronounce my words attentiuely to apply my thoughts and to bee wholly rauished and possessed with zeale and true deuotion O Lord grant me to aske forgiuenesse with â— deepe contrition and fulâ— purpose of amendement â— grant me to craue thy benefits with hearty thankfulneâ—â— for those which I haue receiued Grant mee to pray for my selfe with a perfect resignation vnto thy will and â—or all others with true chaâ—itie and sincere affection Affoord O Lord such comâ—ort to my soule as thou â—eest fit â—or mee and by the â—ssistance of thy spirit inspire â—hy good motions into mee â—hat I may feele them forciâ—ly accept them thankefulie and fulfill them effectuâ—llie Finally I humbly beâ—eech thee of thy mercy and goodnesse that I may praise â—hee with a true repentant â—eart to appease the fury of â—hy anger against me whereâ—y I may come to enioy â—ith thy Maiesty eternall â—lorie without end Amen A Morning Prayer O Most gracious LORD and Omnipotent Father thou which madeâ—â— Heauen and Earth the Sea and all that is therein together with thy dearely beloued Son IESVS CHRIST and with thy holy Spirit thou hast brought vs to the beginning of this day thorow thy goodnesse now we beseech thee that this day wee fall into no sinne buâ— that we may accomplish thy holy will by directing ouâ— words framing our thoghts and disposing our doing accordingly Helpe vs anâ— further vs O Lord in all ouâ— Prayers that whatsoeuer wâ— doe may alwaies take beginning from thee and being so begun wee may proceede in true seruing of thee who art the Fountaine 〈◊〉 light and most peerelessâ— spring of Wisdome LORD vouchsafe that the beames of thy wonderfull glorie may beate against my darke and smal vnderstanding and driue from me two kinde of mists to wit sinne and ignorance wherein I was borne Thou O Lord that makest the tongues of little Infants to be eloquent teach me to rule my tongue and let thy grace and blessing bee pouâ—ed on my lippes Giue mee sharpnesse of vnderstanding thy heauenly word and ability to retaine it a facility to serue a good kind of interpretation a good place to vtter my words and that they may tend to thy glory and guide my entrance to the matters I speake of direct my proceeding in the same and make perfect my conclusion Come Holy Ghost fill my heart with thy faith and kindle in mee the fire of thy loue doe thus good Lord who diddest bring the Gentiles to the vnity of thy saith by all kindes of diuers and strange languages send out Lord thy holy Spirit and all things shall be created and thou shalt make fresh the face of the Earth and thou that hast taught the Hearts of thy faithfull by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost giue mee the same spirit right vnderstanding and alway to reioice in thee make mee forsake Sathan and cleaue to thee ô Christ who art the way truth and life shew me thy wayes ô Lord and teach me thy pathes direct my steps according to thy word that no vnrighteousnesse reigne ouer mee Maâ—e my going perfect in thy wayes that my steps be not moued Lord whi hart the Father of grace anâ— mercie desend me from my enemies and receiue mee at the houre of my death Good Lord grant I may depart in a good houre out of this World and that I may arise from the death of sinne and walke in newnesse of life that when I shall rise againe at the latter day when our life shall be seene manisestly of all men I also may bee openly but fauourably seene of thy glory who liueâ—â— and reiguest one GOD World without end Amen Another Prayer for the Morning O Lord God and my heauenly Father I do here present my selfe with my morning sacrifice vnto thy Omnipotent Maiestie crauing thy mercifull aide for the strengthening of my weake faith at this present that thereby I may be made the more apt and able to serue thy heauenly Maiesty in all holinesse and true sincerity of heart And now that the time allotted for my feeble senses is expired and that the spring of the morning approacheth I offer vp my bounden duety of praise and thankesgiuing to thy euer blessed and glorious Maiestie vpon whom all the houres and moments of life depend for adding yet more space vnto my daies for granting me a larger time of repentance for the obtaining of thy grace and exercise of vertue and amendement of my sinfull life O eternal and euerliuing God who art the guardian to all true beleeuers make me euermore to magnifie and extoll thy mercies and in true token of this my thankefulnesse hauing nothing more neere vnto me then my selfe I here offer and present my selfe body and soule vnto thy heaâ—enly will and pleasure beseeching thee to dispose of me as of thine owne to direct the remainder of my life to thy Honour and seruice
onely Sauiour so loue thee that all mine affections may bee set on thee alone and so embrace true godlinesse that our whole life may be a cleere mirrour of all vertue and goodnesse so shall wee through thy mercie bee found worthy guests of this thy Table and receiue these holy mysteries to the saluation of our soules Yea so shall we be well assured of the remission and forgiuâ—nesse of all our sinnes By the breaking of thy blessed bodie and the shedding of thy precious blood our consciences shall bee quiet our hearts shall be filled with all true and spirituall ioy we shall triumph ouer Sathan sinne death hell and desperation wee shall be partakers of all the fruites and merites of thy blessed passion bee made one body with thee fellow-heires in euerlasting glorie O Lord God let it so come to passe for the honour of thy name Amen A Thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion VVEe thanke thee O Heauenly Father for the blessed passion and glorious death of thy dearely beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by whose holy wounds we faithfully beleeue and are assuredly perswaded that thy wrath is not onelie pacified towardes vs buâ— that thou also are now become our most mercifull Father and hast freelie forgiuen vs all our sinnes Restore vnto vs thy heauenlie grace and make vs sonnes and heires of thine eternal glorie And because wee should not doubt of thy Fatherlie goodnesse rewards vs 〈◊〉 in the deâ—th of thy 〈◊〉 the same Son Christ 〈◊〉 Lord hath lâ—â—t vnto vs not onely his holy Word but also a blessed memorial of his death and passion set forth 〈◊〉 the holy bâ—â—ad and wine which weat this present haue receiued both for a remembrance of the breaking of his blessed body and the sâ—edding of his moâ—â— prâ—â—inâ—â— blood 〈◊〉 also for the quietnâ—sse of our â—â—onscience and â—â—â— the 〈◊〉 of the remissiâ—â— of our â—â—â—nes through faithâ—â—â—â—â— We 〈◊〉 thee O Heaâ—â—enly Father that we be neuer vnmindefull of this thy exceeding great kindnessâ— not vnthankefull for thy maâ—ifolde blessings vnspeakable mercies declared vnto vs in the glorious death of thy welbeloued Sonne but so worke thou in vs through thy holy Spirit that wee may be made worthy members of that bodie whereof thy Sonne and our Sauiour Christ Iesus is the head And that we may so faithfullie beleeue in thee and so â—eruently loue one another alway liuing in thy feare and in the obedience of thy holy law and blessed will that wee being fruitfull in all godly and Christian workes may traine our liues according to thy good pleasure in this transitorie World and after this fraile and short life obtaine the true and immortal life where thou with thy dearely beloued Sâ—nne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and the Holy Ghost that most sweete Comforter liuest and raignest one true God in all honour glorie World without end Amen A Prayer to be saide at the receiâ—ing of the mysterie of Christs Bâ—die in the Communion O Heauenly and blessed Father â—â—render vnto thoe most hearty thankes for all thy benefits which thou hast shewed vnto mee a most wretched sinner but especially for that most sweete smelling sacrifice which thy onely begotten Son offered vnto thee on the Altar of the Crosse by giuing his most pure and vndefiled bodie vnto the death for the redemption of Mankinde in remembrance whereof according to thy wellbeloued Sonnes ordinance I now receiue this holie bread most entirely beseeching thee that I may both be partaker of the merites of thy deare Sonnes Body-breaking and also leade a life worthy so great a benefit to the glorie oâ— thy name Amen A Prayer to be saide at the receiuing of the mysterie of Christs bloud in the holy Communion O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards mee sinful Creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I cannot but giue vnto thee most humble thankes namely for the shedding of the most precious bloud of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stored vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paide the Law is fulfilled mine enemies are ouercome put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this Table O merciful Father to drinke of this Cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may bee comforted and made strong by true faith in the precious blood of thy most deare Sonne O Lord and my Heauenlie Father giue me thy holy Spirit which may so rule gouerne my heart that I neuer bee vnthankefull nor forgetful of this thine exceeding great kindnes but so traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doe speake or thinke may bee vnto the glory of thy most blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes MY Soule O Lord hath desired thee in the night season and I haue also waited for thee in spirit and minde all the morning beseeching thee that thy presence which I sore haue longed for may expell from me all my sinne Lord water the secrets of my heart with thy manifolde graces and mightily enâ—â—â—â—e the same with thy loue And now my most sweete Lord Iesus Christ I rise and come early to thee in the morning and pray thee from the bottome of my heart that thou wilt hearken vnto my prayers and godlie requests which I doe most humbly in heart offer vnto thee for thou art the wisdome the eternall brightnesse and verie figure of the substance of the Father who hast created all things of nothing And because thou wouldest bring againe Man to the pleasure of Paradise thou camest downe from Heauen into this vale of miserie and by thy holie conuersation thou hast shewed and trod him the path thereunto and for ransome of all Man-kinde thou wouldest bee offered to thy Father as a most immaculate Lambe Open by thy Holy Spirit my stony and hard heart that with the eies of a perfect beliefe â— may alwaies behold thee who art King of Kings and Lord of Lords Giue mâ— wisâ—dome truly to consider of thy â—eath and passion that thereby I may profit in thee onely who art as a Booke of charitie for me Grant mee that I be vtterlie destitute of all vanities that now I be not he whom heretofore I haue beene but doe thou alwaies abide in me that so linked vnto thee I neuer sâ—verue or decline from thee Send downe good Lord thy wisedome from the seate of thy Maiestie that shee may labour and be with mee that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight that my heart and senses may bee enlightened whereby I may vnderstand how to bee a true follower of thy Precepts O my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who art most sweete vnto mee
of paine where euery mans soule shall be rewarded according to his desarts CHAP. III. Of the Body A BODY hath length breadth thicknesse a man is nothing else but a liuely body sensible reasonable which man hath fiue wittes or senses hearing feeling seeing smelling and tasting and these senses are deuided into Animall and Rationall The Animall senses bee diffused throughout all the members of man such as bee seeing hearing smelling c. And all these are common to vs with brute beasts The Rationall faculties consiste in reason which doth make a man a Gen. 1. 28. 29. reasonable Creature who by reason may rule vnreasonable beasts all things being vnder his dominion CHAP. IIII. Of earthly pleasurs and the vanity thereof Of the comfort and commoditie which man reapes in and by knowing himselfe Of the shortnesse frailty and miseries of mans life With a remembrance of death and meditation thereof THE way to ballance our selues and our desires is to know our selues first then to know God and to fixe our whole hope confidence and desire in him who is the true fountaine and well spring of all happinesse and content within the compasse of whose mighty Protection we are no longer his then while wee walke within the boundes of his gracious directions Miserable are those and most wretched that wander and runne astray out of the armes and safegard of his omnipotencie If the Lord should forget vs as wee forget him nay if he should not remember vs sinfull Creatures a thousand times ere wee remember him once and keep vs in wee should daily and howrely wander out of the right way and perish therein But his mercy and goodnesse is aboue al his works and his great benefites are so generally extended that the wicked haue their portion therein as well as the godly his enemies as well as his friends If the Lord should reuenge our iniuries and ingratitude which wee commit in contemning his will and Commandements and deale with vs as wee deale one with another what would or should become of vs then Nothing but woe and meere confusion O let vs therefore learne from him which is the true patterne of all goodnesse and consolation in some poore measure to be like vnto our Lord and and Maister Christ Iesus from whence we deriue our name are called Christians Let vs whose Image wee carry stamped by the fingers of his owne hands let vs bee not onely shadowes but bodies mouing after his steppes that is our head let vs walke heere on earth as good Christians whereby we may shew the wicked a patterne of good life to imitate such humility and sobrietie as our Lord Iesus Christ the true and liuely patterne of all goodnesse and pietie hath walked before vs the print of whose blessed feete wee daily looke on with our eies and consider in our heartes with ioy and comfort If wee will be his Disciples wee must take vp his Crosse and follow him making it our glory that are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes who neuerthelesse in simple sight grasing on the mountaines are either fleeced of the shearer growne into we oll or snatched vp by the bucher growne into flesh and the water of affliction being wrung vnto vs out of a full cup wee be exposed to the shame of the world and the windes still beate on our sayles and our liues bound vp in vexation and sorrow whilest the wicked like the bramble in confidence of their shadow Iudg. 9. 15. dare challenge to be Kings ouer the forrest And though they sayle calmely as in the Hauen and their breastes are full of milke as IOBE Iob 21. 26. speaketh and their bones of marrow and though with DAVID in the 73 PSALME wherein the property of the wicked is liuely set forth how they come not to misfortunes like other folke neither are they plagued like other men their eyes swell with fatnesse and they do euen what they liste yet let vs take comfort to our selues stay our soules on the anchor of his prouideÌ„ce as the same Prophet did although in the consideration of his chastisement all the day long euery morning yet the prosperity of the wicked hee confessed said My feete had almost slipt yea and I had sayd as they vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I the end of these men namely how thou settest them in slippery places and castest them downe and destroyest them how suddenly they come to a fearefull end So when death shall make vs both euen with the Earth here is our comfort The graue shall bee to vs as a folde till our Shepheard come and to them a shambles vntill the destroyer of their soules shall receiue an endlesse commission to torment them Therefore neither the pleasures of this life nor health wealth or liberty are at the best but candied wormewood that delighteth the taste but destroyeth the stomacke without a true and sanctified vse therein that makes those happy and blessed that haue them for with all the goodly branches of delectation pleasure they cast if their Tree answer not with fruit the leaues will not protect it from the fire Cursed is he that is blessed in this world to be cursed in the world to come Here we haue the eloquence of the flesh to perswade vs the inticements of the diuell to allure vs the company of the wicked to associate vs All these to diuert our course from the place whither we are going and the World with her inticements to traine vs furthest from what wee seeke and the pride of our life to perswade vs for trifles to forgoe the interest wee haue in heauen and our branched corruption euery way ready to set vs forward being ambitious like Adam who if he may be as God there is Gen 3. 5. no command can restraine him vaine-glorious like Esau who if hee may haue a Gen. 33. 1. traine of men at his heeles will soone digest the losse of his birth-right and so byvsury if our bags may thereby be made fuller the word of God shall nâ—t restraine vs from it If the sonnes of men shall take the diuell at his word which the Sonne of God did not when the diuell tempted him and shewed him â—ll the Kingdomes of the Earth and the glory thereof All these will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me and for the glory of the world which he shall shew and cannot giue shal fall downe and worship him If he shew honors preferment pleasure riches saying as this I will giue thee though the minions and louers of the world that seeke for their heauen vpon earth shal be ready to betray their soules as Iudas betraied Christ with his Haile Master shall bee ready to imbrace him to serue him to serue themselues yet with the Sonne of God after his fasting be thou so strong in thy strength as he was in his
weakenesse to bid him depart and say him Nay It is Matt. 16. 20. but a bitter recompence to buy the pleasures at so deare a rate as at the price of the soule in euerlasting confusion for our life is short and fading and but the length of a shanne and if thou thinke it more take the Counters into thy hands and see what reckoning thou canst make of it What is past grieues thee with the remembrance thereof because so much of thy time is spent what is present burdeneth thee with the weight thereof because in sweat and soare study and trauell thou doest waste thy time what is to come troubleth thee with the vncertainty of it lest the graue do swallow thee before thou see it Yea make thine account as thou oughtest and thou shalt find it swifter then the Weauers shuttle Iob 7. 6 and speedier then a post on the wings of the wind Iob 9. 25. Then in consideration of this and whatsoeuer hath beene spoken to the vnâ—lothing of our nakednesse and humbling vs before God to the pulling off our robes of leuity and lightnesse and the preparing our bodies to the graue and our soules to this insuing exercise of holy meditation to the daunting of all flesh All must come and the houre may be neere but it cannot be farre off and howsoeuer wee forget it it will bee sure to remember vs. Therefore let vs know that here as Pilgrimes and strangers wee wander hauing no abiding City but wee seeke for one to come But wee must not seeke to find it here nor suffer the vaine applause of the world and the vainer conceit of our selues to make vs forget where wee liue remembring that wee are of our selues but as trees turned vpwards hauing no sap from the Earth but refreshed and moistened with the deaw of Heauen Let vs so prouide for our iourney that wee misse not the Ciâ—y wee seeke for Let vs so runne our race that we obtaine the victorie and reward we runne for and therefore if thou expect in thy labour blessing in thy peace continuance in affliction comfort in thy death triumph in thy iudgement ioy respect in thy life sobâ—iety in thy calling honesty in thy pleasures iudgement in thy sorrowes in thy life religion If God be not with thee to direct thee that thou stray not to correct thee that thou presume not to sustaine thee that thou famish not to pardon thee that thou despaire not to support thee that thou stumble not to strengthen thee that thou fall not and to sanctifie thee that thou sinne not and to glorifie thee that thou perish not If the Lord thorowout the whole course of thy life and in thy death be not present and powerfull to thee thou faintest in the one and failest in the other and desperation enuironeth thee on euery side for where the Lord keepeth not watcheth not but turneth away his face all the miseries in the World then will lay their siege Therefore to him let vs day and night send vp our supplications and prayers vnfainedly without ceasing like incense into the aire whereby that mercifull and louing Sauiour of mankind may continue his goodnesse towards vs and giue vs that what we want to support vs by his grace to direct vs by his Spirit and so leade vs thorowe this exemplarie World of sinne and wickednesse with our eyes so looking forward fixed on him that we let not temptations in at their windowes so captiuating our desires vnto the omnipotency of his Maiesties will that with Lot we may be righteous in a City in a World of vncleannesse that so wee may saue our soules at the last though we lose all the vaine pleasures in the World besides The losse of 〈◊〉 soule would more 〈◊〉 Sathan then 〈◊〉 sorroweth for the daâ—nation of his owne but Christ our louing Sauiour he being ouâ— onely and chiefe Precursor into Heauen euen vnto his last breath being not vnmindfull of his little flocke did as Abraham vnto Isa ackâ— as Dauid vnto Salomon as Tobias vnto his son bequeathed vnto his a few small houres before his glorification his best and principall legacy being eternall life confirming it vnto them in his last and latest prayer made for his Apostles This is life eternall that we know thee to bee the onely very God without beginning or ending and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ That wee know him who he is and Rom. 11. what he is 1 Who he is euen the principall and singular essence from whom and by whom all things were created all things are preserued all things shall be dissolued 2 What hee is great in wisdome and therefore knoweth powerfull in strength and therefore can plentifull in loue and therefore will crowne those which hee knoweth and know those euerlastingly which hee loueth and loue those most tenderly which know and acknowledge him By his knowledge he will rule by his strength defend by his loue embrace all that know and acknowledge him that know him after a long and earnest seeking him and acknowledge him by a most gracious and happy finding him seeking him among their miseries finding him in his mercies seeking him in the croud and preasse of their sinnes finding him in the top of his Crosse seeking Him in finding our selues finding him in seeking our selues As wee desire to know and find God so wee must endeuour by all means possible to know and seeke out our sâ—lues and make a true inquisition about our selues before wee can attaine and reach vnto the right knowledge of him that made vs. For God being as he is without beginning and ending and not subiect to definition or Description must be shadowed per posteriora because hee hath not priora he being primum principium the primary cause principall ground of euery principle yea that principium principiorum that illimited wonderfull and vnsearchable Alpha must bee Apoc. 1. comprehended and knowne by his effects It is meere dotage in Philosophie to search out causes of Principles when they are Principles they haue not precedent causes and therefore those things that borrow not their proofe demonstration from fore-running causes their brightnesse and luster must appeare by their effects Since then God in regard of his being which is without ending is incompreheÌ„sible and void of all demonstration mans frailtie must labour to know him by his effects and works For the inuisible wisdome of God is seene by the creation of the world and if in any creature the perfect Art of Gods omnipotencie may be comprehended it is in nothing more then in man vpon whom he hath set the stampe of his owne image Man therefore must know him giue him that due reuerence of honor which pertains to the omnipotencie of his Maiestie for in knowing GOD man knowes himselfe as being his workmanship Therefore wee ought to loue and know him as our Maâ—er Creator Redeemer First know thy selfe with the eye of experience then know
O let vs call to God that hee out of the riches of his mercie would inspire into our hearts the due and diligent consideration of the vncertaintie shortnes frailtie and other grieuous calamities of mans life All humane pride and the whole glory aboundance of the world hauing mans life for a stay and foundation can certainly no longer endure then the same life abideth so that riches dignities honors offices and such like which men here in earth haue a great regard of they doe many times forsake a man he being yet and doe neuer continue longer with them then to the graue This is a vaine slipperie delightfull pleasure for then when the foundatioÌ„ faileth the whole building must needs fall Iob saith these clay Tabernacles Iob. 4. doe daily faile Dauid compareth our life to the fat of Lambes which wasteth away Psal 69. in the roasting and to a new coate which soon waxeth olde and is eaten with Moathes and further compareth man to grasse and to the flowr of the field which to day flourisheth and to morrow is cut downe and withered Iob compares man to the burning of a Candle which in the end annoyeth Iob. 18. and then euery man crieth Put it out What thing else is mans life but a bubble vp with the water and downe with the wind what is then to bee thought of humane pompe and glory which is more transitory and fraile then life it selfe O that man would know himselfe wherby he may know God Iob further saith Man that is borne of a woman is of a short continuance and full of miseries hee shooteth forth as a flower and is cut downe hee vanisheth also as a shadow and continueth not This consideration might open our blindnesse to see into our selues and to know our selues and then know God in this description of humane calamities to the end wee might want no knowledge thereof It seemeth Iobs purpose was to beginne with the very matter it selfe of which man was made that he might expresse the basenesse of the matter of which this most proud creature was made He was created and made of the Earth but not of the best of the earth but of the slime of the earth as the Scripture testifieth being the most filthy and abiect part of the Earth among all bodies the most vile element and among all the Elements the basest Among all the parts of the Earth none is more filthy and abiect then the slime of the Earth whereof man was made of that matter then the which there is nothing more vile and base And whereas hee saith that hee was borne of a woman he hath in few words comprehended many miseries of humane condition Our very fashioning and originall is so impure and vncleane that it is not for chaste eares to heare but to be passed ouer in silence as a thing most filthy and horrible to be told Mans conception is so foule that our most mercifull and louing Lord taking vpon him all our sorrowes and calamities for our redemption would in no wise beare this although hee vouchsafed to take vpon him our humane nature and to suffer many reproaches of his enemies as to be mocked blasphemed spit vpon bound whipped and in the end most shamefully crucified yet hee thought it vnseeming his Maiestie to be conceiued in the wombe of the blessed Virgin Mary after the same sinfull manner that other men be After man is once conceiued doth he not endure great calamities in his mothers wombe as it were in a filthy and vncleane prison where euery moment he is in perill of his life And at the last hee is borne naked weake ignorant destitute of all helpe and counsell not able to goe to speake or to helpe himselfe all that hee can doe is to cry and that is to set forth his miseries for he is borne to labour a banished man from his Countrey the enemy of God in possibility to liue but a few dayes and the same few daies full of misery deuoide of all quietnesse and rest O let vs know our selues and then know God The very beginning from whence man hath his first originall is sinne the vanity whereof makes him thinke himselfe borne to an inbâ—ed pride which pride mingleth and confoundeth all things ouerturneth troubleth and subdueth Kingdomes There is another calamity incident to mans body the building is scarcely finished but it is ready to totter and fall and sure it is ere long to fall Man is scarce entred into the world but he is admonished to remember his departure The dayes of Man saith Dauid are threescore yeeres Psal 90. and ten and though some be so strong that they come to fourescore yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow The summe of our yeeres wherevnto all doe not attaine is threescore yeeres and ten â—he strongest bodies someâ—imes continue till fourescore from which yeeres if wee deduct those yeeres which infancie and childehood spendeth for all that â—ime wee liue not like men â—either are gouerned with â—eason and counsell but are â—arried with a certaine vioâ—ent motion liâ—e vnto brute â—easts which are deuoide of â—eason and vnderstanding 〈◊〉 also wee take away that â—ime which passeth away â—hen wee sleepe for sleeâ—ing wee liue not the life of â—easts when they wake â—â—ch lesse of men and that â—â—me will rather seeme a liâ—ing death theÌ„ a liuely life If we deduct all the time of childhood and sleepe that which remaineth wil scarcely amount to forty yeeres and of these forty yeeres weâ— haue not one moment oâ— time in our power that wee can assuredly say that wee shal not die therein for whether wee eate drinke or sleepe whether we be in labour or in rest wee are in danger of perils It is not without cause our Sauiour Christ crieth in his Gospell Watch because yet know 〈◊〉 the day nor the houre which Mar. â—3 is as much as if he had more plainely said Because yee know not that day watch euery day and because yee know not the moneth and the yeere watch therefore euery moneth and yeere 〈◊〉 thou shouldest be inuited to 〈◊〉 Feast and being set at the Table seeing before thee many and sundry meates of â—ll sorts a friend secretly â—omes admonisheth thee â—hat among so many dainty â—ishes there is one poysoâ—ed what in this cause woulâ—est thou do which of them â—arest thou touch or taste 〈◊〉 wouldest not thou susâ—ect them all I think thogh â—ou wert extreamely hunâ—y thou wouldest refraine â—om all for feare of that one â—here the poyson is It is â—ade manifest vnto thee alâ—eady that in one of thy forâ—e yeeres thy death lieth â—idden from thee and thou â—rt vtterly ignorant which â—at yeere shall be how then â—n it be but that thou must suspect and feare them all O let vs first know our selues and then know God whereby we shall know to vnderstand the shortnesse of our life O what a great profit and commodity should
of mans ioy and felicity in the World to come or yet with money that he would runne after it like a mad man by Sea and Land as it were through fire and water If man did but vnderstand himselfe aright and that he must leaue all his worldly delights behind him sauing onely his winding-sheete if this were carefully thought vpon and diligently considered al our errors would soone be corrected God telleth vs of this vanitie in many places of his word to the end we might the more earnestly seeke a better course and more happie life The Prophet desireth of God that hee may learne to number his dayes that hee may apply his heart vnto wisdome for vnlesse we thinke vpon death wee cannot apply and fashion our selues to a godly life Yea wee find daily in our selues by experience that the forgetfulnesse of death makes vs apply our hearts to all kind of vanitie The holy men of old time were wont in such wise to keepe an account of their daies that aboue all things they might apply their hearts to wisedome Of all Arithmeticall rules this is the hardest To number our dayes Men can number their heards and droues of Cattle they can reckon the reuenues of their mannours and Farmes they can with a little paines number and tell their Coine and yet they are perswaded that their daies are infinite and innumerable and therefore doe neuer beginne to number them One saith vpon the view of another Surely yonder man looketh by his countenance as if hee would not liue long or yonder woman is old her daies cannot be many Thus we can number other mens daies and yeeres and vtterly forget our owne It is therefore true wisedome to number our owne daies and like skilfull Geometricians to measure all our actions all our studies all our thoughts all our desires and all our counsels by the departure of others out of this life as the ende whereto wee must all come and so direct the course of our life which God hath giuen vs that at the last we may come to the Hauen of rest Wee cannot nor ought not to doubt but that the diuell a most cruell enemie of mankind laboureth all that hee can to take away from vs the wholsome remembrance of our death which by a most euident demonstration setteth before our eyes the breuity of our life the misery of our flesh the deceits of the world the vanitie of things present and whereunto all humane beauty and the vniuersall glory of the World shall come at the last How then is it possible that we should at any time forget death a thing which by no manner of meanes wee can shun and auoide If a light suspition of some losse either of our goods or of honour doth preuaile so greatly with vs that many times it taketh from vs our sleepe what might the meditation of most assured dâ—â—th 〈◊〉 which to flesh and bloud is more terrible then all other terrors beside Therefore as they which in open games of actiuitie as of shooting wrestling and such like doe long before the day come thinke vpon the same and doe exercise their hand and bow spending and consuming many arrowes at the marke that in the day of triall for the best game they may shoot neerest the mark and as Fencers which are to play their prizes of triall do daily trie their strength and exercise themselues bending the whole course of their minds how they may best foyle their enemies that when the day commeth they may haue honour and triumph euen so ought wâ—e to doe for whom a greater reward without all comparison is set if we die well and if otherwise it come to pass we shall bee punished with vnspeakable shame and reproach to the downefall and vnrecouerable ruine of our soules As they who are to runne a horse race doe often leade the Horses vp and downe the running place that they may see and be acquainted with all the stones vneuen places and other impediments in the same that when the day commeth they may finish the race without stay or stop euen so we who whether wee will or no must measure and passe the race of death shall doe very well if now in our mind and memory we frame this race and doe diligently consider all those things which are in the same especially seeing the way is most obscure full of sundry impediments and so perillous that there are very few which finish the same happily they who slip and stumble in it shall neuer more find any hope of saluation Therefore that wee may begin where this most bloudy battell hath his originall wee ought diligently to consider the same namely that then death doth especially come when men doe least thinke of it Hereupon the Apostle Paul saith The day of the Lord shall come as a theefe in the night and in the Apocalyps Behold I come as a theefe Now theeues haue this property that they break open houses to steale when men are most fast asleepe and when they least suspect any such thing Herevpon the Prophet Amos â—ath these words In that â—ay will I cause the Sunne to 〈◊〉 downe at noone and I will â—arken the Earth in the cleere â—ay That is to say when men thinke it to be the high â—â—one of their age when â—hey thinke that they haue â—et many yeeres to liue when their mind is occupied â—bout their gaine about â—heir affaires about their hoâ—ours buildings marriages and pleasures when they say â—nto their soule Soule thou â—ast much goods laied vp in â—tore for thee for many yeeres â—ate drinke rest and be mercy then it shall suddenly bee said to them Behold death is at the doore Thou foole this night shall thy life bee taken away from thee and whose are then those things which thou hast gotten Then death vnlooked for frustrateth all our counsels cutting off the webs of our deuices and with one stroke hee casteth downe and layeth flat on the ground all those Towers which are builded in the aire What a wound doth the heart of the sinner which loueth this present life receiue when the Phisicion saith vnto him Thou must from henceforth thinke no more of lifâ— but of death First of all those things which he loued in time past offer themselues vnto him from the which he shall be pulled away and separated by death whether he will or no. The body shall die but once but the heart shall die so often as the things bee in number which he loued Then in very deed shall the most cleere light bee turned into darkenesse because those things which were aforetime occasions of great ioy shall be now horrible vexations and torments It is a most sweete and pleasant thing to them which liue to see their louing and faithfull friends to remember their honours to thinke vpon the pleasures past and to come but all these things in the time of death shall be as swords as forments and most bitte◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be
a hard matter to bee passed away from those things which doe not so neerely touch man how bitter I pray you will the separation be of soule body two such kind louing familiars who haue alwaies liued sweetly together euen from the mothers wombe surely they cannot bee separated without great griefe If the Oxe doe commonly lowe and mourne when his yoke-fellow which was wont to draw with him is taken away how will euery one of vs mourn when the soule shall be separated from the body Then will they with teares repeate their sinnes againe and againe and cry out O death bitter death doest thou 〈◊〉 separate vs And when the cogitation of so sharpe a separation is deepely setled in our minds then griefe followeth grief and sorrow commeth vpon sorrow for then it commeth presently to mind what a miserable condition the body and soule shall be in after the separation When a man beginneth to recount with himselfe that his body after a few houres shall be buried in a graue or darke tombe hee cannot cease from wondering at so abiect and miserable a condition What the body that now liueth which seeth heareth speaketh shall â—it bee made after one houre in a moment blinde deafe dumbe without spirit without life It shall haue then in stead of a large Pallace a base Sepulcher in stead of a soft bed the hard ground for delights rottennesse for sweete smels stinkes and in stead of seruants and familiar friends wormes And thus this cogitation of the graue will very sore trouble and terrifie a man in these extremities yet notwithstanding euery man feareth much more when he beginneth to consider what condition remaineth for the soule When Man beholdeth that eternitie and that new Region vnknowne to al men liuing which he then alone naked is to enter and when he vnderstandeth that there is to bee found in the same both euerlasting glory and perpetuall paine and miserie and knoweth not of which he shall take his part it cannot bee told with how great feare with what carefulnesse and with what exceeding sorrow hee shall be tormented when he perceiueth plainely that after two houres hee shall be either in eternall ioyes or in euerlasting paines Is not this a crosse very heauy surpassing all other crosses this vncertainty of a blessed or cursed estate which after a small time the sinner expecteth the remembrance of his sins and feare of the iust iudgement of God without hope of remission or faith in Christ is a hell to the mind not to be expressed For by how much the Kingdome which he desireth is of largenesse and by how much the firy furnace which he feareth is terrible by so much the greater shall this perturbation be considering also that Angels shall come to carry the faithfull vp into Heauen and infernall spirits to carry the wicked and infidels into hell But there is yet a farre greater perturbation then this namely that he shall call to mind the accouÌ„t which he is to make to God of all his words deeds and thoughts for of it self 〈◊〉 is a horrible thing to thinke vpon the day of iudgement the which horror will wonderfully and extremely vexe disquiet the Diuels themselues for as so long as we liue they set forth vnto vs the mercy of God and doe also commend the same and doe striue all that they can to keepe vs from meditating of his iustice iudgements euen so now on the contrarie they extenuate and make his mercy insufficient and doe set before our eies the greatnesse and seuerity of the Lords iustice Then will the sinner beginne to tremble and fal into desperation and will beginne to reason thus with himselfe If God for the sinnes of others spared not his onely Sonne will he spare me which am guilty of so many sinnes If this be done in the green tree what shall befall that which is seare and drie If the Prophets if the Apostles if the Martyrs after they liued godly so many yeeres entred not into the Kingdome of Heauen without tribulations what other place can bee left for mee but that of hell fire which know no good that I haue done If the Scripture be true which saith He will render to euery man according to his workes what should I which haue done so many horrible and great wickednesses looke for but eternall torments If that of the Apostle bee true as in deed it is when he saith That which a man soweth that shall he reape what shall hee reape but eternall death which hath made so cursed a so wing Iâ— no polluted thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God how shal I which am altogether filthy and vncleane haue hope to make so happy and blessed an entrance Then all his sinnes which he committed with so greater desire and facility when hee liued shall violently inuade the sinfull man like an hoast of enemies then the feare of punishment will open the eyes which sleeping security in sinne before had shut then ambition pride thefts murthers adulteries fornications gluttonies drunkennesse lying periury idle words vncleane thoughts negligent slacknesse and all that naughty is will come to remembrance O how heauy and grieuous will they then seeme to be which now seem so light and are done with so much sweetnes and pleasure How greatly will they then torment the minde of the sinner Who is able to expresse that last agonie wherein the soule fighteth with sore and painefull sicknesse with the temptations of diuels with feare of the iudgement to come and all this at one instant Then commeth that last perturbation the failing of all the senses as the fore-runner of death approaching which vehemently terrifieth At what time the breast swelleth the speech groweth hoarse faint and hollow the eyes sinke the nose beginneth to be sharpe the countenance waxeth pale the feete die and the arteries send forth a cold sweate These things which do thus appeare outwardly are grieuous and full of horror but they are without all comparison more greeuous horrible which are felt inwardâ—â— for as Saint 〈◊〉 writeth of blessed 〈◊〉 saying Though hee had many yeeres serued God yet did hee feare at the time of his departure What shall they doe who many yeeres haue serued the Diuell and their execrable wickednesses and who haue prouoked God vnto wrath whither shall they goe whose helpe shall they craue what counsell shall they take If they look vpward they shall see the drawne sword of Gods Iustice if downeward they shall see a gulfe gaping and hell fire there if the time past they shall see all things vanished away like a shadow if the time to come they shall behold the eternitie of Worlds which shall last without end Who can bee able to resist and abide the assault of the diuels who will bee then busiest in their desire to bestirre them with all their might and maine What shall then sinfull men doe which are left in this estate Returne they cannot and
longer to abide in this state will not bee permitted them If we did but vnderstand and know what manner of battell this is and what manner of burthen is then to bee borne by man in this houre wee would then verily bee other manner of persons then heretofore we haue beene All these things Faith teacheth Nature proclaimeth Experience testifieth and it is euident to euerie one of vs that wee shall come vnto that state wherein wee will desire with all our heart that wee had bridled ourselues from all our wickednesse that we 〈◊〉 exercised all the workes of vertue that we had liued 〈◊〉 al holinesse and not spent our time in vanitie Let vs not imitate foolish men who looke vpon present things onely let vs wisely â—rouide for things to come and so by the grace of God wee shall bring to passe by our godly meditation and praiers that the same houre which to others is the beginning of sorrowes to vs shall be the beginning of joy and felicitie Thus far is shewed what may befall a man at the point of death vntill the moment of his departure Now let vs see how the body is bestowed after the separation of the soule from it After the dissolution the body lieth vpon the ground not a humane body but a dead carcasse without life without sense without strength and so fearefull to looke vpon that the sight thereof may hardly be indured to be short it is little better as touching the substance then the body of a horse or a dogge which lyeth dead in the fields and all that passe by stop their noses and make hast away that they be not annoyed with the sight and â—linke thereof Such is Mans body now becom though it were the body of a monarch Emperor or King Where is now that maiestie that excellencie that authoritie which it had afore-time when men trembled to behold it and might not come in presence thereof without all reuerence and obeisance Where are all those things become were they a dreame or a shadow After all those things the funerall is prepared which is all they haue of all their riches and possessions and this also they should not haue if in their life time they did not appoint it for their dignitie and honour The Prophet Dauid saith truely Be not thou afraid though one be made rich or if the glory of his house be encreased for hee shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth neither shall his pompe follow him A pit is digged seuen or eight foot long and that must serue euen Alexander the Great whom the World could not containe In this pit the dead carkasse must dwell alone continually whereto as soone as it is come the wormes doe welcome it and the bones of other dead men are constrained to giue place In this house of perpetuall obliuion and silence the carkasse being wound in a sheete and bound hands and feete is shut vp though it neede not to haue so great labour bestowed vpon it for it would not runne away out of that prison though the hands and feete were loose If we doe but consider a little of the Tombes and Sepulchers of Princes and Noble men whose glory and maiesty we haue seene when they liued heere on earth and do behold the horrible formes and shapes which they now haue shall wee not erie out as men amazed Is this that glory is this that highnesse and excellencie where now are the degrees of their waiting seruants where are their ornaments and jewels where is their pompe their delicacie and nicenesse all these things are vanished away with the smoake and there is now nothing left but dust horror and stinke Now leauing the Body in the graue let vs consider how the soule entreth into the new World As soone as the soule of the sinner is dissolued from the flesh it beginneth to passe through a Region vnknowne where there are new Inhabitants and a new manner of liuing What then shall the miserable and sinfull pilgrime doe when he shall see himselfe alone in such an vnknowne Region being full of feare and horror how and by what meanes shall he defend himselfe from those most fierce theeues and horrible monsters which in those vast Deserts doe assaile passengers this verily is a fearfull journey and yet the iudgement is much more fearefull which in that place is exercised Who is able to expresse the vprightnesse of the Iudge the seueritie of the iudgement the diligence of inquisition and the multitude of witnesses in this iudgement teares will not preuaile praiers will not be heard promises will not be admitted repentance will be too late riches honourable Titles Scepters Diadems these will profite much lesse The inquisition will be so curious and diligent that not one light thought nor one idle word not repented of in the World past shall be forgotten For truth it selfe hath said that of euery idle word which men haue spoken they shall giue an account in the day of iudgement how many which doe now â—in with great delight yeâ— euen with greedinesse of heart will be then astonished ashamed and silent Then shall the daies of thy mirth be ended and thou shalt be ouerwhelmed with euerlasting darknesse and instead of thy pleasures thou shalt haue euerlasting torments When Ieremy had remembred all the calamities and sinnes of the Iewes at the last he imputed all to this Shee remembred not her end So if wee may iudge why naturall men care for nothing but their pompe why great men care for nothing but their golden gaine why voluptuous Epicures care for nothing but their pleasure why the pastor careth not for his flock nor the people for their pastor we may say with Ieremy They remember not their end When Salomon had spoken of all the vanities of men at last he opposeth this against all Remember thou shalt come to iudgement As if hee should haue said Men would neuer speake as they speake thinke as they think nor doe as they doe if they were perswaded that their thoughts words and deeds should come to iudgement What if wee had died in the â—aies of our ignorance like Iudas that hanged himselfe before he could see the passion resurrection or ascention of CHRIST IESVS We are therefore to number our daies and our sinnes too But alas how many daies haue we spent and yet neuer thought why aâ—y day was giuen vs but as the old yeer went and new came so wee thought that a new would follow that and that another will follow this and God knoweth how soone we may be deceiued for so they thought that are now in their graues This is not to number our daies but to prouoke God to shorten our daies Which of vs haue not liued twenty yeeres yea and some thirty or forty and happely some many more and yet we haue neuer applied our hearts aright vnto wisedome O if we had learned but euery yeere one vertue since we were borne we might
loue deuoiâ—â— of all â—ypocâ—isie from a purâ— heart to â—oue our Neighbourâ— This Honourable Lord iâ— true Religion whereunto â—â— GOD in great mercy hatâ— called you so gâ—â— cheerefullâ— forward Beware of thiâ— vaine World and of thaâ—â—â—ine trust that wiched mâ—â— are wâ—â—t to put in it leanâ—â—â—t vpon it but stoppe youâ— eares against the eâ—eâ—anting and fawning whisperingâ— of the hollowâ—esse thereof and the dissolute Professors for there can bee â—â— greater trespasse against the Lâ—â—â— theâ—to â—â—â—â— vpon Assyria to rest in the strength of Egypt to goe downe into Ethâ—opia Cursed is that Man that putteth his trust in Man and maketh flesh his â—â—â—e hee shall be like the Heath that groweth in the Wildernesse But con 〈◊〉 He that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall â—mbrace him on euerie side he shall neuer be confounded hee shall bee â—s Mount 〈◊〉 and shall neuer be remoâ—ed for the Lord is his secret place is with him therefore who can â—â— against him What is a â—â—ns â—owe what are his legges what is the swiftnesse of Horses 〈◊〉 the strength of an Hoaâ—â— or the fauour of all thâ— Princes of the World iâ— comparison of God iâ— whom is onely the assurance of that euerlastinâ— inheritance It is the Goâ— of Iacob that must be ouâ— defence our strong Tower and Rock the Chariâ— and Horsemen of Israeâ— the testimony of his prâ—sence and fauour thâ—â— onely can make vs glad Wherefore againe and â—gaine I most humbly beseech your Honour bewaâ—â— of vaine trust and consâ—denâ— in Men and in things thâ—â— are lesse worth then Mâ—â— â—nd as GOD hath in mercy â—estowed vpon your Honour â—reat wisedome so pray that â—ou may haue a discerning â—pirit that the deceiuable â—lory of this World make you â—ot forget your greatest duty â—hat so you may shine in his â—â—erlasting Kingdome True Religion Honouâ—able Lord is effected by â—at diuine and eternall wisâ—â—ome whereby the contemâ—atiue vertue of man is lifâ—d vp to the happy knowâ—â—dge of the Maiesty of God all other the greatest verâ—â—e and wherein resteth the â—â—iefest contentment in this 〈◊〉 For if there be a Pareâ—e in this life it is seated in one of these two either in Religious Meditations or iâ— holy studies and godly specâ—lation because whatsoeuâ—â— is not in one of these two 〈◊〉 full of griefe vexation biâ—ternesse fearefulnesse caâ—â— and sorrow But as Christiâ—â— moâ—esty Right Honourablâ—â— hath moued me to giue to eâ—â—rie thing his due in not ceâ—sing from setting forth aâ— thing in the praise of thâ— which of right deserueth 〈◊〉 be commended so Christiâ—â— Iustice and equity would 〈◊〉 suffer mee to let that paâ—â— without some commendaâ—â—on whereunto I am not abâ— sufficiently to giue any Bâ— considering that slightly commend a thing were the next way to dispraise it exâ—ept withall it were shrâ—wâ—ded under the Patronage of â—ome worthy Person and â—hinking it vnmeete to let â—hat go like an Orphan withâ—ut a father at home I haue â—resumed to commit it vnto our Honours protection not bare Lawrell which of it â—lfe for the greennesse when â—ther be withered may seem 〈◊〉 bee accepted but the same â—ecked and adorned with â—ost heauenly Meditations 〈◊〉 that as I thinke if your â—onour were presented with materiall Lawrell wherein â—esides naturall greennesse â—ere but this neceâ—â—â—ry vse that it could defend you iâ— your Garden from the heatâ— of the Sunne you would accept if not of the gift yet oâ— the good will of the giuer So relying my selfe still vppon your Honours wonteâ— accustomed fauour and clemency I doubt not but yoâ— will affoord mee a fauourable and friendly acceptatioâ— hereof For herein is not thâ—â— greennes which consisting 〈◊〉 naturall qualities must theâ— wither when all things haâ—â— their ending according tâ—â— their nature but the flourishing greene promises of thâ— coâ—enant of God which 〈◊〉 God himselfe last alwaieâ— immutable and vnchangeable Here are not the beautifull leaues of a materiall tree which delight onely the outward sight but a most familiar view and patterne of God himselfe in Christ euen to the delight of the soule and inward comfort of the spirit which take pleasure onely in Heauenly things To conclude here you are not shrowded from the heate of the Sunne but shall finde most coole shade from the parching heate of sinne from which as in duety I am bound I will pray that God in this life shield and defend you and in the life to come grant you euâ—rlasting rest Thus presuming on your Honors wonted fauours and curtesies shewed vnto mee and crauing pardon for this my bold enterprise I humbly take my leaue Your Honors to be commanded in all duty and seruice HENRY THOMPSON An Admonition to the zealous Reader concerning the most godly exercise of PRAYER MAny are the godly and zealous Treatises which are already extant tending to the encouragement of those that hunger and thirst for the true seruice of the liuing God yet gentle Reader I craue thy Christian patience friendly to accept this small trauell of mine and these my simple Admonitions For among all our godly and deuoute Meditations good Christian Reader there can bee none better more acceptable to GOD more commodious and necessary to Man or more fit for vs to the attaining of a good and happy life then at all times to occupic our selues in the continuall remembrance and meditation of the life and death of our Lord Iesus Christ the which thing is plainly shewed and declared not onely by the example and doctrine of diuers holy and learned Men but also by experience it selfe And if thou wouldest flie from sinne and shunne vice then consider with thy selfe what great things the onely Sonne of God both did and suffered to the end thou mightest deliuered from sinne If thou desire to beautifie thy soule with loue humilitie gentlenes patience obedience châ—rity and other vertues then cast thine eye on the perfect and liuely patterne of all vertue which is thy LORD CHRIST himselfe If thou bee desirous to contemne the world and all worldlie vanities and nothing to care for the same then weigh with thy selfe earnestly what kind of life CHRIST our Lord led when hee was liuing here How full of troubles how full of labour and sorrow and how bitter a death hee sustained for Mans saluation Finallâ— if thou wouldest stâ—re vp and inflamâ— thy mind with the loue of GOD and giue him thankes what can in such a case bee more effectuall then still to call vpon GOD and to remember Christ his life and pâ—ssion and how many â—nd great benefits we haue receiued thereby ' Wherâ—upon the Apostle saide for good cause Remember you him who suffered at the hands of sinners that Man should not quaile not bee dismaied in heart and Saint Peter saith That CHRIST suffered that Man should bee also comforted with the remembrance thereof But to the intent that thâ—â— â—ood Christian Reader maiest vse these Meditations to thy great profit thou must obserue this order that
grant me perfect patience in all trâ—bulations and aduersitie Preserue me from pride â—re enuâ—e couetousnesse and from all offences contrarie to thy law suffer no false delight of this deceiueable life by fleshlie temptation and fraude of the â—â—end to blind mee at the houre of my death I beseech thee O Lord grant me such a light of thy ghostlie wisdome that I may doe those things which are most acceptable to thee grant mee grace to doe hurt to nobodie but to helpe those with good counsell which haue offended thee and make me to proceede in vertue vntill such time as I shall see thy Omnipotent Maiestie and let me not turne to those sinnes which I haue sorrowed for and accused my selfe of The horrible sentence of endlesse death the terrible iudgement of damnation thy wrath ire and indignation mercifull Lord let them neuer fall vppon me thy mercie and thy merites euer bee betweene them and me Lord grant mee grace inwardlie to feare and dread thee and to eschew those things whereby I might offend thee giue mee a contrite heart for that I haue offended thee good Father remoue my sinfull dispositions which dull mine heart and like lead doe suppresse me Let me not forget the riches of thy goodnesse of thy patience of thy long sufferance and benignitie let the threatning of paine and torment which shall fall vpon sinners the losse of thy loue and of thy heauenlie inheritance euer make me feare to offend thee Suffer mee not deare Father to liue and die in sinne but soone call me to repentance when I haue displeased thee and grant mee grace trulie to loue thee and when I offend thee smite mee not with thy wrathfull indignation I beseech thee but let it be thy gentle rodde of correction Let the remembrance of thy kindnesse and patience conquer the malicious wretched desire in mee draw me Lord to thee by thy holy spirit and doe with mee according to thy mercie and not after my vnthankefulnesse withdraw tâ—y sword of vengeance O Lord for thy great mercie sake and grant me to be the childe of saluation whereby I may haue glorification cleere fight and fruition of the Deitie and bee euer present to see the glorious Trinitie O sweete Sauiour Lord Iesus Christ grant me grace for to remember perfectlie the danger of death and the great account which I must then giue to thee Lord dispose so of mee then that my soule may bee acceptable in thy sight turne net thy louing face then from me but be a merciful King meeke Iudge at that dreadful houre of my visitation that I may not haue the â—igour of thy righteousnesse which is Goeâ—e câ—rsed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels but to heare that comfortable saluation which thou doest giue to thy chosen Come yee blessed of my Father and enioy the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the World Let this hope of thy mercies comfort my sick weake soule that I neuer fall into desperation of thy endlesse mercie For the merites of thy Sonne Christ Iesus I beseech thee grant mee these petitions which I haue asked of thee haue mercie on me awretched sinner And I beseech thee bring me to thine euerlasting glorie there to rest in blisse World without end A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and our tongues from vttering â—ll words O Lord Iesus grant mee grace to â—lie euill companie and when I come among them for thy glorious passion I beseech thee to preserue me that no occasion of sinne ouercome me and send me comfort from thy omnipotent Maiestie to withstand al illusions of the flesh whereby thy blessed name may be dishonoured Keepe my mouth good Lord from slanders ill speaking lying false witnessebeating cursing swearing vncharitable châ—ding dissolute laughing and words of vanitie Make me blessed Lord with dread to remember that thou presentlie hearest me and that the least of my words shall iudge me Suffer not my heart to be light of credite in hearing that which is detraction obloquy rancour and ire Represse all inordinate affections of carnalitie and where I haue by euil fellowship offended thy Maiestie I beseech thee for the helpe of thy mercies in so offending thee let thy power protect me thy wisdome direct me thy fatherlie pittie correct me and send me a gracious life and a blessed ending and with thy goodnes preserue me from euerlasting damnation and terrour of mine enemie Jn my temptations I beseech thee Lord to helpe me and to keepe my soule from consent to sinne For the tender loue thou bearest to mankinde repell the power of my aduersaries which intend the damnation of mee Possesse my soule O Sauiour with all humble subâ—ection to thy law and make mee pure in spirit meeke in speaking patient in suffering to hunger after righteousnesse and to bee mercifull to all them that be in miserie Make mee peaceable in conueâ—sation cleane in heart vnto godlie meditation and ioyfull to suffer persecution for thee Let all my powers and desires bee ruled according to thy will let all my petitions be ordered by thy wisdome to the euerlasting profit of my soule Lord keepe my soule and my bodie whereby I may be patient in suffering iniuries rebukes let me leade that life which thou knowest to be most to thine honor and my eternall felicity Fill mine heart with contrition and mine eies with teares that I neuer be forsaken of thee Awake my dull soule from the sleepe of sin and send mee helpe Lord from Heauen to ouercome the olde serpent with all his crafts Deliuer me from the enemie of daâ—kenesse and his great crueltie let thy obedience recompence for mine obstinacie thy abstinence for my superfluitie thy meekenesse and thy patience for my pride irefull heart enmitie Thy charitie for my malice thy deuotion for my dulnesse thy louing heart for mine vnkindnesse thy holy death for my wretched life Lord grant mee grace in the time of prayer to fixe my minde on thee and at that time to remember the perils of bodie and soule which I haue escaped and the benefits that I haue receiued thorow thy great mercie And I thanke thee most Heauenlie Father for all the Creatures which thou hast made to helpe man and that thou hast made man after thine owne Image in glorie to honour thee The motions of my running mind the desire of mine vnstable heart in time of praier stop and stay Lord I beseech thee and represse the power of my ghostlie enemie which then doth with-draw my minde from thee and thy true seruice to many vaine imaginations Lord I beseech thee to take me into thy power and with thy goodnesse glad me Lord let my minde be so occupied in goodnesse that my prayers may bee acceptable to thee Heare now sweet Sauiour the voice of a sinner who would faine loue thee and with the heart as greatlie please thee as euer hee hath offended thee I
beseech thee saue my enemies from thy wrath and forgiue them that haue offended thee like as I would bee forgiuen in those things whereby I haue offended thee Giue mee grace to order my life O Lord and the workes of my bodie soule with resolued intent neuer to offend thee whereby I may receiue the reward of thy infinite ioy and eternall felicitie O Lord Iesus Christ grant mee whatsoeuer thy diuine wisdome knoweth most expedient for mee and that this miserable life is not worthy to obtaine Grant at the houre of my death I neuer fall from thee when as I shall bee accused for my hainous offences and sinnes committed against thy omnipotent Maiestie I beseech thee breake my froward heart and make it obedient vnto thee Lord keepe me from sudden death and preserue mee so by thine almightie hand and grant me sweete Father to haue a contempt of this World that I may with a iâ—yfull heart come into thy blessed presence Let the remembrance of thy death make mee ioifull wherby I may endure temptations tribulations and make mee so to loue thee that I may come to inherite that ioifull immortall and glorious life most excellent blisse and endlesse felicitie which is ordained in thy heauenlie Kingdome and for thy seruants prepared Lord grant me these supplications which I haue made to thee at this present grant me here in this Pilgrimage a gracious life and â— blessed ending free from debt and deadly sinne and after my death bring mee to euerlasting life there to haue an endlesse blisse and felicitie Amen A Prayer to GOD for hiâ— great goodnesse vnto Man O My Soueraigne Lord Iesu the very true Son of Almightie God that sufferedst death for my sake I beseech thee Lord haue mercie on mee that am a wretched sinner but yet thy creature For thy tender passion keepe me from all perils bodilie and ghostlie and especiallie from all things that may turne to thy displeasure And with all my heart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the great mercies which thou hast shewed me in the great dangers which I haue beene in as well in soule as in bodie and that thy grace and endlesse mercie hath alway kept and saued mee since the houre of my birth vnto this day Lord I beseech thee let thy mercie be continued towards mee and for my great offences vnkindnesse wretched and sinfull life Lord â— humblie aske pardon for the same at thy Almightiâ— hands And I thanke thee moâ—â— gracious Lord for thy greâ—â— benefits and graces which thou hast so largely bestowed on me before many other Creatures who haue betteâ— deserued then I. Lord I doe here meekeliâ— prostrate my selfe in heart aâ— it becommeth thy seruant promising neuer to offenâ— thee more tendering all honour and praise to thy holiâ— name who liuest raigne one God World withoâ—â— end Amen A Prayer to GOD to deliâ—er vs from our ghostlie Enemies MOst deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I beseech thee of thy benigne goodnesse and mercie to protect saue keepe and defend me against the assaults of my ghostlie enemies for I haue no other trust hope nor succour but thee alone Grant me therefore most gracious Father to dread loue thee aboue all things in this present life and after this life ended to enioy the Kingdome prepared for all true beleeuers Further I beseech thee that thou wilt vouchsafe out of thy great mercie and clemencie to shew thy bountifull goodnesse vpon me anâ— to forgiue me all my sinnes and grant that I may perseuere euerlastinglie in alâ— goodnesse and serue thee aright that after this life â— may raigne with thee in euerlasting glorie Worlâ— without end Amen A Prayer to GOD daâ—lie to be saide O My most blessed Lord the wel spring of pity and Fountaine of endlesse mercie I humbly beseech thee to giue mee grace so to spend this my transitory life in vertuous and godly exercises that when the day of my death shal come though I feele paine in my body yet I may feele comfort in my soule and with a faithfull hope of thy mercie imbrace thy messenger so contentedlie that I may wâ—llingly thorow thy grace and strength depart out of this vale of misâ—riâ— in loue towards thee and charitie towards the World that I may hasten me to that glorious Counâ—rey wherein thou hast purchased mee an inheritance for euer with thy most precious bloud O my sweete Sauiour and Lord Iesus Christ I beseech thee while thou doest suffer mee to liue in this World be so gracious a Father as to giue vnto me a contrite and cleane heart quiet and patient a bodie chaste humble and obedient to follow thy will and alwaies ready to do thee seruice To thee O God bee alâ— praise which hast â—ermitteâ— mee to accomplish thiâ— worke grant O â—ordâ— iâ— may bee to thee acâ—eptable to my soule healthfâ—l and to others profitable through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to be vsed at all times O Heauenly Lord and Omnipotent Father the patterne of all goodnes and follower of all vertues most stoute ouerthrower of all wickednesse and sharpest rooter vp of vices mercifullie behold my frailety and pronenesse to euill Helpe me with thy superâ—al power that I may learne â—o despise all earthly pleaâ—â—res and the vanities thereâ—â— and loue all celestiall and â—eauenly things Make mee resist all sinne which stands betweene thy â—aiesty and my weake spiâ—â—t ready to ouerthrow mee â—â— thy mercies were not assiâ—â—ant to my poore soule Make me to withstand all â—â—mptations firmely to imâ—race vertue to eschew all â—orldlie honours and carâ—all delights and to bewaile â—â—ine offences committed in â—y sight I beseech thee restraine my â—â—bridled desires with thy â—â—uing hand whereby I may â—â—staine from a leude and â—ose life and accustome my selfe with goodnesse to thâ— end that by thy benefit anâ— gift of grace by the true woâ—shipping and seruing of thâ— Omnipotent Maiestie I maâ— possesse the Crowne of eueâ—lasting life in thy Kingdomeâ— prepared for thine â—leâ— World without end Amen A Prayer to bee daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ O Maker of Heauen anâ— Earth King of Kingâ— Lord of Lords which of nothing diddest make mee tâ— thine Image and likenessâ— and didst redeeme mee witâ— thine owne blood when I sinner was not worthy tâ— name to call or with heâ— to thinke vpon thee Humbly I desire meekâ—ie pray thee that thou gentâ—ie wilt behold mee thy sinâ—ull and wreâ—ched seruant O haue mercie on mee thou which â—adst mercy on the woman of Canaan vpon Mary Magdalen vpon the â—ublican vpon the thiefe â—anging on the Crosse Vnto thee I confesse Lord â—y sinnes which if I would cannot hide from thee Haue mercy Lord on me or I am a wretched sinner â—hich haue sore offended â—ee in pride couetousnsse â—luttony letchery vaingloâ—â—e hatred enuie adulterie â—â—est lying backbiting â—orting dissolute and wanâ—â—n laughing idle words â—aring tasting sleeping â—orking and many more waies
miserable estate of the wounded man with thy pitâ—ifull eye camest vnto him madest cleane his wounds pouredst in wine and oileboundest them vp settest him vpon his beast and carâ—ied him into the Inne and neuer leftest him till hee was perfectly whole O most louing Sauiour vouchsaâ—e with thy merciful eye to looke vpon my wretched estate which without thy helpe must needs perish my wounds are deadly and not able to be healed of any â—ither in Heauen or in Earth but of thee alone whâ— art the true Phisician and heaâ—est those that are contrite in heart my whole head is sick and the â—eart is very hâ—aâ—ie from the sole of the foot vnto the crowne of the head there is no whole part in all our body but all are wouÌ„ds botches soares and stripes which can neuer bee healed bound vp mollified nor eased with any ointment except thou puttest to thy helping hand Let it therefore please thee of thy great goodnesse to cleanse my wounds to poure in the wine and oile of spirituall gladnesse to binde them vp and neuer to leaue mee till thou hast made me perfectly whole and brought me into thy Heauenly Kingdome Heale thou mee O Lord and I shall bee healed saue thou mee and I shall bee saued Thou art that most tender Father who receiuedst home again with imbracing armes that lost Sonne which had wasted all his goods with riotous liuing so soone as he returned vnto thee and did repent him of his disorder confessed his sinne and humbled himselfe in thy fight thou hadst compassion on him thou didst fall on his necke and kissed him thou didst command thy seruants to bring forth that best garment and put it on thy Son and to put a ring on his finger and shooes on his feete thou gauest commandement to fetch the fat Calfe to kill saying Let vs eate and be merry for this my Son was dead and is aliue againe hee was lost and now is found Shew this thy fauour O most gentle Father to mee thy Childe who haue vngodlily bestowed those good and gracious gifts which thou both louingly and liberallie gauest vnto me This my prodigall and licentious liuing sore grieueth me and I am heartilie sorrie that I haue so grieuously offended thy Fatherly goodnesse notwithstanding according to thy olde wonted goodnesse I most humbly beseech thee for thy name sake to haue mercy on me to forgiue me my sinnes and to receiue me againe into thy sauour take away froâ— me all my old beggarlie rags of sinne and put on me that new garment of innocencie that precious ring of faith wherewith I am maned vnto thee and those most godly shoes of that Euangelicall peace that I may walke from henceforth in the wayes of thy holy Commandements and doe that which is pleasant in thy sight Giue me grace vnfeinedlie to repent and to amend my life that the Angels in Heauen may reioice at my conuersion and so wash mee from my sinnes more and more that at the last I may be cleane and appeare beauâ—â—full in my Heauenly Fathers sight thorow thee my onely Sauiour who with the Father and the Holy Ghost â—iuest and raignest one true and euerlasting GOD world without end Amen A generall Prayer for all kind of sinnes AH Lord the most puissant GOD we in Baptisme giuing ouer our selueâ— vnto thee and vnto thy holy Religion protesting openlâ— in the face of thy holy Congregation to forsake Sathaâ— with all his pompes anâ— workes to renounce thâ— World and all the vainpleasures thereof to mortifie thâ— flesh and all the lusts of it and from henceforth to diâ— vnto sinne liue vnto righteousnesse and to leade â— new life Ah Lord this our couâ—nant and bargaine made vnto thee wee keepe not bâ—â— too much wretchedly we breake in transgressing thy holy Commandements In stead of performing our seruice due vnto thee we serue Sathan leauing the fulfilling of thy Commandements we obey our owne will The World and the flesh so rage and raigne in vs that we can â—carcely breathe forth any godlinesse By mouth wee professe thee but with our deeds we denie thee wee promise to worke in thy Vineyard but we loiter and worke not In name wee are Christiâ—ns but in deede wee are Saâ—hans bondmen the Worlds â—laues and most vile seruants â—nd drudges to the flesh Oh Lord too too wretâ—hed is our state and except â—hou shortly helpest we are like vtterly to perish the ragiâ—g slouds of all kinde of sinne haue so preuailed and almost ouerwhelmed vs. O most gentle Sauiour wee â—aue a will such as it is to doe good but wee find no power nor strength in our soules to â—eâ—forme it That good thing which wee would wee doe not but the euill doe wee which wee would not do For we know that in vs that is in our flesh dwelleth no good thing And no maruell for wee are by nature the Children of wrath wee are begotten conceiued and borne in sin our senses wits and deuices are euill euen from our yong age vpward Our heart is vncleane wicked froward leude and vnsearchable wee are not able to think a good thought of our selues wee aâ—e vnprofitable seruants by oâ—rites fleshly and all that nought is yea wâ—e are the very bâ—nd-slaue of sin for euery one that committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne O most sweete Sauiour helpe vs for the glory of thy name Thou camest downe from the right hand of thy Father into this vale of misery to saue that which was lost saue me therefore good Lord which wander abroad like a sheepe destitute of a shepheard suffer not thy blessed body to bee broken and thy precious bloud to be shed for vs in vaine Thou by thy death valiantly conqueredst him that had power of death deliuer me therefore from his raging tyrannie and make mee thy faithfull and obedient seruant Suffer mee not to loue the World neither the things that are in the World seeing that all that is in the World as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and pride of life is not of thee O Father but of the World and the World vanisheth away and the lusts thereof but he that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for euer Suffer me not to be ouercome with the boyling concupiscence of the Flesh which euer lusteth against the Spirit and is not obedient to the Law of God â—eâ—ther can bee but giue thâ—â— grace to kill and crucifie the â—lesh with the appetites and â—usts thereof that I may liue â—nd walke in the spirit and beâ—ome a new Creature let not sinne raigne in my mortall bodie that I should thereunto oâ—ey in the lusts of it neither â—â—â—â—er thou mee to giue my â—embers as instruments of vnâ—ighteousnesse vnto sinne but â—o giue my members as instruments of righteousnesse vnto â—â—ee And as heretofore I gaue â—y selfe vnto vncleannesse and â—o iniquitie So let mee now â—â—om henceâ—orth giue my selfe â—â—to holinesse that â— may bee â—â—ctified Kill in
grace good Lord that as they professe thy Sonne Christ in name so they may truly represent his maners in their life and conuersation which willingly was obedient to his Mother Mary and her Husband Ioseph giuing example vnto all children of the like subiection and obedience towards their Parents Engraft in them such a loue towards their Fathers and Mothers that they may both reuerence them with outward honour and also to their power helpe them succour them prouide for them comfort and cherish them in their neede euen as their Paâ—ents comforted and nourished them in their Infancie and tender age But aboue all things giue them grace truly to honour thee which art the Heauenlie Father yea our Father and Redeemer which hast made vs and daily cherishest vs euen as a Father or Mother doth cherish their most deare and naturall Children So shall it come to passe that they faithfully honouring thee shall also in order heartily honour and vnfeinedlie obey their carnall Parents in thy feare vnto the glory of thy most holy blessed name which is most worthy to bee honoured World without end Amen Children their dâ—ty is to acknowledge their Parents next vnto God their Heauenly Father to be the Authors of their life and being and also to acknowledge and rightly to cousider of their charges cares troubles and paines in bringing them vp and to loue theâ—â— for all that they haue done for them and in token of loue and thankfulnesse to maintaine relieue and comfort them when need is as Ioseph Gen. 47. 11 to be as faithfull seruaâ—ts vnto them Mal. 3. 17. To worke and take paines for them as Râ—th did though shee was but a daughter in Law Ruth cha 2. Their dutie is to feare and reuerence their Parents in their hearts according to Gods Commandement Lâ—â—it 19. 3. and also to reuerence them in their outward behauiour by standing bare-headed before them putting off their hats with an humble and lowlie countenance when their Parents speake vnto them or they vnto their Parents and bowing their bodies when they passe by or come towards vs â—s Salomon did to his Mother I Kings 2. 19 or receiuing any thing of their Parents as Ioseph did Gen. 48. 12 and by giuing them the vpper hand as Salomon did to his Mother though â—he was a King 1 Kings 2. 19. Their duty is to obey their Parents according to the Word of God Col. 3. 10. Especially in marriage as Isaâ—c did Gen. â—4 and Iacob Gen. 28 and not â—o greeue them by marrying â—gainst their will as Esan did Gen. 26. 34 who was a râ—proâ—ate hated of God Rom. 9. 13 A Prayer against Whoredome O Lord God and Omnipotent Father the searcheâ— and trier of the thoughts anâ— reines of all Creatures O hoâ— greatly doest thou abhomâ— whoredome fornication and all vncleannesse O Lord thâ— drowing of the world with water the destruction of Sodomâ— Gomorrah with fire brimstone from Heauen and otheâ— like plagues mentioned in holy Scriptures doe euidently declare and shew Thy Commandement is that we should commit none Adultery And in the Common-wealâ— of the Israelites thou commandedst that there should be neither whoremonger nor whore if any such were found that they should be stoned to death Although the lips of an harlot are to the foolish a dropping hony-combe and her necke softer then oile yet at the last shee is as bitter as wormewood and as sharpe as a sword her feete goe downe vnto death and her steps haste them to hell and hee that accompanieth himselfe with an whore shall goe downe vnto hell but hee that goeth away from her shall be saued yea he that maintaineth an whore shal come vnto beggery in this World and after this life shall haue his part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone O Lord thou hast called vs not vnto vncleannesse but vnto holinesse and purenesse of life thou hast made vs one body and one spirit with thee how vnseemely then is it to take the mâ—mbers of Christ to make them the members of an Harlot Wee therefore most humbly beseech thee to make in vs cleane harts and to renue right spirits within vs and to turne away all voluptuousnesse froâ— vs. Take from vs the lusts of the bodie let not the desites of vncleaunes take hold vpon vs giue vs not ouer into an vnâ—â—amefast and obstinate mind let not fornication adulterie or any kind of vncleannesse be once named among vs let not filthy communication proceed out of our mouthes but that which is good to edifie withall when neede is that it may haue fauour with the hearers And as for as much as neither whoremongers wedlock-breakers abusers of themselueswith mankinde shall inherite the Kingdome oâ— God Grant Lord wee heartilie pray thee that such as be vnmarried may keepe themselues pure and vndefiled aâ—ter the example of that godly young man Iosâ—â—h and bring with them into honorable wedlock both their bodies and their minds chaste and honest Grant also that the married men may beware and keepe themselues from all whoredome and vse the company of no woman besides their wiues Againe grant that all married woemen may practise the manners of that vertuous woman Susaâ—â—a and neither for flattering nor menacing wordes at any time consent to vncleannesse but so keepe the body vndesiled that it may be honourable that God may blesse them and their godly trauels and make them ioyfull Mothers of many Children Finally grant O most mercifull Father that wee may so auoid all vncleannesse that we being pure both in body and soule may attaine to see thy glorious face in thy Heauenlie Kingdome throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer for a Woman with Childe THou O Lord art wonderfull in all thy workes and whatsoeuer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing impossible with thee that thou wilt performe and albeit this thine Almighty power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in all thy workes yet in the conceiuing forming and bringing forth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Heauenly Father when thou madest Man and Woman thou coÌ„mandedst them to encrease multiply and replenish the Earth If through the subtile inticements of Sathan they had not transgressed thy Commandements by eating the foÌ„rbidden fruite the Woman whom thou hast appoâ—nted the Organe Instrument and vessell to couceiue nourish and bring forth Man through thy wonderfull wormanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought forth her fruite but that which thy goodnes made easie sinne and disobedience hath made hard painefull dangerous and if thy helpe were not impossible to be brought to passe so that now all Woemen bring forth their Children in great sorrow paines and troubles Notwithstanding thou shewest thy selfe vnto thy Creatures a Father of mercy and God of all consolation for that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenesse they are not able of themselues to bring to
pleased thee of thy maruellous humility patience and loue towards man kinde to descend from the high Throne of Heauen to be incarnate by the Holie Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie and here to suffer trouble paine for our sakes I doe beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion deliuer me from all euill and from the euerlasting paines of hell and vouchsafe through thy great mercie and goodnesse to leade me whither thou diddest leade the Thiefe crucified with thee And I beseech thee thorow thy clemencie to vouchsafe vnto mee O Lord God King of Heauen and Earth the ioyes prepared for thy chosen and so direct sanctifie and gouerne my heart my thoughts my words and deeds in thy sacred Law by keeping thy Commandements that here euer through thy helpe O Sauiour of the World I may bee safe and free and by thy bitter death passion may be broght to the glory of the resurrection so remaine in euerlasting life Amen A Prayer in temptation O Mercâ—full Lord and Sauiour iesus Christ the onely refuge of a desolate and afflicted soule O God thou that hast made mee and redeemed mee in whom â—ll things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to doe nothing thou seest who I am that here prostrate my prayers and poure out my heart vnto thee what I would haue and what is fittest for mee thou knowest My soule is buried 〈…〉 and blood and would be â—â—â—ne dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my will and violently drawne to think that which from my-heart I detest and to haue in minde the poyson and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest mee for thy hands haue framed me and with flesh and skinne thou hast cloathed mee and loe this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth mee to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit if thou helpest not I am ouercome if thou forsakest mee I must needes faint why doest thou set mee contrary vnto thee and makest mee greeuous and a burthen vnto my selfe Diddest thou create mee to cast me away Diddest thou redeeme mee to damne me for euer It had beene good for mee neuer to haue beene borne if I were borne to perish O my most mercifull Father where is thy olde and wonted mercies where is thy gracious sweetenesse and loue towards me become how long shall mine enemie reioice ouer mee and humble my life vpon earth and place me in darkenesse like the dead of the World What am I Lord that thou settest mee to fight alone against so mightie subtile and cruell enemies that neuer cease to bid mee a pâ—rpetuall battaile O Lord why doest thou shew thy might against a leafe that is tossed with euery wind and persecutest a drie stubble wilt thou therefore cast away the worke of thy hands wilt thou banish mee from thy face and take thy holy Spirit clean from me Alasse O my good Lord whither shall I goe from thy face or whither shall flie from thy Spirit or shall I flie from the incensed but to the appeased whither from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull Doe with mee Lord that which is good in thine eies for thou wilt doe all things in righteous iudgement oneâ—y Lord I desire to remember I am but flesh blood sraile of my selfe and impotent to resist shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or grant mee grace that without wound or fault by thee and with thee I may ouercome them sweet Lord Amen FINIS A Table to find out the principall Prayers contained in this Booke THe way how to commend our selues to GOD in the 〈◊〉 aâ— our vprising Page 285. A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deuotions p 287. A Morning Prayer p. 291. Another Prayer for the Morning p. 296. Another Morning Prayer p. 308. A short Prayer for the Morning p. 312. A Meditation to be vsed before thou goest to bed p. 314. A Prayer for the Euening p 322. A Prayer for the Night p. 333 A Prayer to GOD for grace and to despise the vanity of the World p. 338. A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and to keepe ouâ— tongues from vttering ill words p. 346. A Prayer to GOD for bâ— great goodnesse vnto Man p. 354. A Prayer to GOD to deliuer vs from our ghostly enemies p. 357. A Prayer to GOD daily to bee said p 358. A Prayer to be vsed at all times p. 360 A Prayer to be daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ p. 362. A prayer for the remission of sinnes p. 367. A general prâ—yer for all kind of sin p. 380. A 〈◊〉 Faith p. 3â—â— A prayer vnto GOD that we may liue in his 〈◊〉 and that hee will turne his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 394. A 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 with their duty 400. A 〈◊〉 for children their duty p. 404. A prayer against whoâ—â—dome p. 410. A prayer for a Woman with child p. 414. A Thanksgiuing vnto God 〈…〉 deliuerance p. 41â— A prayer for a siâ—ke Man p. 421. A prayer to bee saide before the receiuinâ— of the holy Communion p. â—24 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of â— holy Communion p. â—38 A prayer to 〈◊〉 saidâ— at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs Body in the Communion p 441. A prayer to bee saide at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs blood in the holy Communion p. 442. A morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes p. â—44 A prayer for the King p. 454. A 〈◊〉 prayer to our Lord. p. 〈◊〉 A prayer in 〈◊〉 p. â—59 FINIS