Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
and I shall not bee condemned deliuer mee from the pit of corruption that openeth her mouth shutteth vs therein and keepeth vs as part of her owne bowels For the graue will not acknowledge thee nor the dead confesse thee but the liuing shall extoll and magnifie thy name world without end But if to thy vncomprehended wisedome to ballance against which all the wisedome in the world is but folly it seeme better to thee that I dye then liue then deale with me according to thy good pleasure giue thine Angels charge ouer my soule that it may be receiued in peace which into thine hands I commend that gauest it me strengthen my faith in thee and in thy Law that I may willingly resigne that into thy hands that was due vnto thee the first day that I liued if it had pleased thee to call for it by a double right nay so many rights that might claime a thousand liues if I had them to lay downe for thee that hast layd downe thine owne Sons and done so many things for me and for my sake and for all mankinde and teach me O Lord to make such true vse of this my sicknesse that the former miseries of this wretched life ioined with my present griefe anguish make me weary of these times of sin and willing to resigne my soule into thy hands prepared by this vnwelcome yet wholsome summoner that will transport mee out of this vale of misery to that euerlasting kingdome which thou hast purchased for mee which grant I beseech thée for Christ Iesus sake my onely Sauiour and Redéemer Amen The commendation of the soule to bee said at a sicke mans death out of the Man of M. Crashaw I Here commend thee to Almighty God most deere brother and I commit thee to him whose creature thou art Goe forth therefore O Christian Soule get thee gone out of this filthy world goe forth in the name of the Almighty Father who created thee in the name of Iesus Christ who dyed for thee in the name of the Holy-ghost who hath beene powred out vpon thee and when thou happy soule art deliuered out of the prison of the body the glorious quier of heauenly Angels meete and the Company of all holy Saints entertaine thée the louing countenance and cheerefull face of Iesus Christ shine vpon thee a mercifull iudge be he vnto thee that thou maist haue sentence to sit for euermore amongst his Saints on his right hand thy dwelling be in peace and thy habitation in the heauenly Ierusalem for euermore farre bee it from thee euer to feele or know how horrible the darknesse how terrible the flames how intollerable the torments of hell are Sathan and all his hellish g 〈…〉 be confounded at thy presence and if he dare set vpon thee victory and triumph bee on thy side shame and trembling fall vpon him from the presence of Gods Angels and be hee banished into the blacke mists and confused Chaos of eternall darknesse But let the Lord arise and his enemies bee scattered and as the smoake vanisheth so let them flye away but let the iust bee exalted and reioyce in the presence of the Lord let the infernall legions not dare to touch thee nor all Sathans Hell-hounds presume to hinder thee and hee who disdained not to dye for thee bee hee thy Sauiour and deliuerer from all spirituall vexation Bee the gates of Paradice open vnto thee and thy Christ giue thee thy place and mansion in the same and hee that is the true Pastor and great Sheepheard of the sheepe acknowledge thée for one of his true sheep and receiue thee into his fold Iesus Christ absolue thee from all thy sinnes and place thee on his right hand among his elect that there thou mayst see thy Redeemer face to face and in the society of blessed soules maist enioy the comforts of heauenly contemplation and the blessed vision of God for euer and euer Amen W. C. Six signes according to S. Anselme vpon the which a man may â—est confident of his saluation 1 If he beleeue the articles of Chrian faith as many as are determined by the Church 2 If he reioyce to dye in the faith of Christ 3 If hee know that hee hath grieuously offended God 4 If he be hartely sorry for it 5 If he resolue to forsake his sinnes if God giue him life 6 If he hope and beleeue to come to eternall saluation not by his owne merits but by the merits of Iesus Christ. Then say to the sicke person If Sathan obiect any thing against thee oppose thou the merits of Christ betwixt thee and him And thus without all doubt he shall be saued Another Meditation against the feare of death for strength patience in that last houre Statutum est omnibus semel mori THe mettall and substance wherof we are made being but dust ashes slime corruption might alone without further motiue reason perswade vs that we are not euerlasting nor made for continuance what is man therefore O Lord that he should be proud or what are our bodies that we should so regard them the beauty delicasie whereof so much pampered and adorned so much accounted esteemed of so curiously carefully preserued kept must so suddenly discend to corruption amongst the wormes creepers of the earth and to rubble and ashes This mutation and dissolution of our bodies the separation and seuering of two antient Inne-mate-friends must needs as in the act so in the consideratioÌ„ therof strike a strange amazement in a weake and vnresolued Christian that truly vnderstands not what death is which is indeed to the godly and those that haue made a preparation thereunto the gate and passage to a better life the end of sorrow and a rest from labour yet O Lord consider the weakensse of our nature and helpe vs in that which euen thy blessed Saints Prophets and Apostles that knew thee in a measure aboue our knowledge that haue giuen rules and motiues and reasons against the â—eare thereof yet in the tryall and accomplishment thereof haue found the imbecility of flesh and nature repugnant against it and for the adding of a few lingring dayes of further cares and sorrowes some haue forsworne thee others haue wept vnto thee and all haue beene willing to stretch it out to the last minute and yet it is but a prolonging not a preseruing Ezechias may turne to the wall and weep and mourne like a Doue and pray for life yet at the last hee must render it vp O Lord giue vs therefore patience to part with it being no inheritance to vs but debt to thee beeing most certaine and assuredly perswaded that thou wilt one day restore it to his former nay fuller perfection lessen our loue toward the world and our selues and increase it towards thee and thy Kingdome Make this good Father the frequent thought and meditation of our hearts to thinke that wee must dye that it may
Rides quid non sic forsitan vna dies Knewest thou a moneth should end thy dayes it would giue cause of sorrow And yet perhaps thou laughes to day when thou must die to morrow A Prayer or meditation before the receyuing of the holy communion MOst mercifull and most worthely beloued Lord the eternall sonne of the eternal father thou blessed Iesus Christ what should we render vnto thée for all thy louing kindnesse for all that thou hast done and suffered for vs thy creatures of priuiledge aboue all the creatures in the world the sonnes and daughters of men indued with wisedome capability and vnderstanding the steps of thy foot the printes of thy hands fixed in a spattous world and the innumerability of creatures there of delight and admiration for vs to contemplate theron and imploy to our vse a delight more heauenly and truly intire alone then all the irration all hud-winked creatures in the world can tast besides therefore all those in subiection vnder our foot besides fashioned and framed vs to thine owne image with a stature ascendant shooting vpright into heauen when all other creatures go groueling precipitated downe towards the earth yet O Lord for all these benifits and excellent indowments that we should behaue our selues so vngratefully towards thee that it should repent the to haue made man that our rebellious and vnnaturall sins should vnwillingly on thy party draw thy punishments euen from out thy grasped hand Oceans of waters froÌ„ thy cloudes to drowne all the world but eight persons shall pull fier from heauen to burne whole Citties and townes as Sodome and Gomorroh were and not ten righteous persons to be found amongst ten thousand vnrighteous and yet thy loue to be so fâ—r continued notwithstanding that when all maÌ„kind had peruerted their ways and there was not one that did good no not one and wee lay bare and open to the law and sathan triumphing ouer our infirmities leading vs captiues vnder the bondage of sinne that thou shouldest send thy sonne into the world descending from the throne of his maiesty into the bowelles of humanity from thy right hand in heauen to thy foot-stoole the earth there to be layed in a manger persecuted by Herod beeing a child to pay tribute to preach to pray to fast to be tempted to be betrayed to be mocked to be scourged to be crowned to be crucified all by vngratefull man that would oppose a power against him that gaue them power to take away his life that was the author of life and breathed the breath of life into there nostrils yet O loue without example without imitation that very night that hee was betrayed when the hower and the power of darkenesse met together wheÌ„ the blackest consultation that euer day or night was witnesse too was held to darken the sun to extinguish the light to vndermine the intirest innocency that euer possest the breath of being yet O loue aboue all loue that night and that hower of that night when these heades were combining against thee wast thou instituting and ordayning this thy blessed Sacrament to the saluation of there soules and all the wretched sinners in the world besides as many as by a liuely fayth shall apply it to there wounded consciences O gratious God open thou our eyes in the largest consideration that wee may see thy loue and consider what thou hast done for the sonnes of men that for thy loue vnto vs more strong then death we may returne our loue to thee more weake then our owne life cold dull and frosen which let vs seeke to warme in the hottest zeale of our affection that in some poore measure we may be worthy to receiue this thy sacrament of thy most blessed body and bloud then by thee ordayned to our euerlasting saluation the admiration of men and Angels and that we may so doe prepare vs O Lord to this thy heauenly banquet with all due and requisite regard with penitent and bleeding hartes that we come not there without our wedding garment least we turne that blessing into a curse and by eating and drinking our owne damnation bee guilty of thy body and bloud which is otherwayes able to saue our soules and to that end we besech thee set a part in vs whatsoeuer thy maiesty is most offended with or maketh vs vnworthy of this thy blessed sacrament and giue vs new hartes and new desires purged and swept and prepared fit for the intertainement of so worthy a guest and though with the Centurion in the Gospell we be not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder our roofe yet speake but the word and wee shall be saued and then hauing so receyued thee wee may bouldly with Zacheus confesse Hodie salus Iehouae this day is saluation come vnto my house come vnto my soule the which cause and effect preparation and blessing graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receyuing of the holy coÌ„munion HOnour glory and praise be giuen to the O God the euerliuing sonne of the euerlasting father the stay and comfort of all Christian soules at whose right hand in heauen thou sittest and raignest for euermore what may we render vnto thee as a sacrifice acceptable that hast giuen thy selfe a bleeding sacrifice for vs and for our sinnes A broken and contrite hart O Lord that thou will not dispise which daily in the meditation of this thy loue and mercy towardes vs and what thou hast vndergone for vs our sakes shall be rent and torne that it may be healed in thy wounds and bound vp in the bundle of thy mercy that so we may stand spottlesse before thee the day of thy appearing and good Lord so continue thy fauour vnto vs that this learnest and pledge of thy loue left as a monument to all after-worldes and ages to come may be so powerfull and effectuall vnto vs that it may seale in our hartes the forgiuenesse of our sins washt away in the streame of thy bloud and buried in thy side neuer to open there mouthes against vs beeing there condemned to euerlasting silence and if at any time the frayltie of the flesh by the instigation of Sathan shall draw me vnto sinne forgetting what thou sufferedest therefore yet let my wandering thoughts bee called home to thy fould in remembrance of these visible signes whereby the breaking of thy body and the shedding of thy bloud is so liuely presented vnto me that I behould it as with my eyes mourning in my selfe not accusing the iewes the scribes nor pharises high priestes nor elders Iudas nor Pilate but my sins that tormented wounded crucified the Lord of life to death they were the cause these were but the instruments whereby it was effected O what is man that thou shouldest so regard him or the sonne of man that thou so kindly visitest him let euery nayle that was driuen into thy handes and feet by the hammer of our sinnes be
a thousand daggers at our hartes to launch and let forth that putrified corruption that returned such muddy chanâ—elles to thee the fountaine of liuing waters that but with so a high a price and deare expence could not be purified but now beeing thus purged and made cleane let vs be wary we pollute them not againe hauing receiued so pure a guest let vs not harbour with him the vncleane least to our euerlasting losse he take his flight and forsake vs when then our vncleane thoughts and cogitations which his presence expelled and kept a loofe of from vs retire themselues euery one accompanied with seauen worse then themselues and our end be worse then our beginning and so that become vnto vs the sauour of death vnto death which otherwayes had bene the sauour of life vnto life wherefore O Lord blesse vs at this time and this thy holy institution that by our vnworthinesse we turne not that to euill which was ordayned for our good make it O Lord the plaster to heale all our wounds the garment to couer our nakednes the spirituall and corporal bread to the stay of our bodies and soules let it be the cocke to remember our sins and the rocke to stay our soules vppon that we neuer fall from thée againe to that end so blesse vs most gratious God yâ— this thy sacrament now receyued may be to our euerlasting good and wellfare so conducting vs through this vale of misery with so godly a direction guide enuy contention and malice layed a side forgiuing the offences of our bretheren towards vs as we expect forgiuenesse at thy handes that so in a godly society in this world we may liue together in peace vntill we shall raigne with thee in glory which art the end of peace where we shall then behold thee with our bodily eyes as wee behold thee now with faith by the eye of the Spirit and see that body that was broken and bruised for our sinnes those hands that haue made vs and fed vs that head that was crowned now all glorified neuer to bee debaced more To which blessed vision fruition he bring vs that hath so ransomed vs for the glory of his sacred Name Amen A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father vsed by the reuerend and learned W. Musc and fit to bee vsed of all good Christians LET all true Christians say and acknowledge with one heart and mouth say also with them O my Soule say in this mortall body without this mortall body Glory Honour and Praise bee vnto thee most mercifull God throughout all ages and Generations of the world which hast not spared thine onely Sonne but offered him vp a bleeding Sacrifice for the sins of thy people giuen him to death euen to the death of the Crosse for most wretched mankind to that end that through him we might be saued and deliuered from distruction and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life graunt vnto vs by thy spirit that we may perfect and continue in this thy grace for euer and euer Amen Mart. Luthers Prayers COnferme in vs O God that which thou hast wrought and finish the worke thou hast begunne in vs to the glory of thy name and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy Visitation for thy mercies sake Amen Saint Aust O Deus omnium miserationum pater Abyssus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abyssum peccatorum meorum O Father of all goodnesse and mercy let the depth of thy mercy drye vp the depth of my sinnes A Prayer for a Woman with childe or in trauaile to bee said by those present with her O God most wise most iust the blessed Father of our blessed Lord and sauiour Christ Iesus creator preseruer and gouernor of all things next vnder thee vnder the subiection of man so largely intituled by thy loue extended by thy fauour created with so goodly and beautifull a perfection in the estate of Innocency that hee was the modell and figure liuely Image of thee the fountaine of all perfection and happinesse but through sinne is our image defaced our beauty and perfection darkened our whole disposition and purpose altered the earth made barren and cursed for our sake and we cursed in the curse by the sterility labour and manuring thereof that now denies the increase that before shee brought forth without the sweat and sorrow of the heart and browes of man And for yâ— woman a party in the sinne a party in the curse In paine and sorrow shalt thou bring forth And to the Serpent vpon thy belly shalt thou creepe and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life Yet to this woman O Lord as her present necessity requireth bee propitious neere vnto her let thy birth sweeten her sorrow that broke the head of the Serpent that was the cause of the breach of thy Commandement that hath sweetened the sorrowes of all mankinde Heare her O Lord and answere her fauourably and be not angry with thy seruant for presuming to cry vnto thee for the vncessant beating thine eares with her clamouâ—s for griefe compelleth her to speake and the misery shee indureth inforceth her to cry vnto thee haue mercy vpon her O fountaine of mercy and hearken to her agony that cryeth for thy helpe To her and all women with childe or in trauaile bee mercifull and giue them grace with patience to vndergoe and suffer the decree and pleasure of thy holy will let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy name suffer thy crosse contentedly which their owne originall sinne and wickednesse drew froÌ„ thy hands vnwillingly O Lord if her heauinesse induce for a night let her comfort come in yâ— morning for ioy that a child is borne into the world and to that end blessed God bee thou present and powerfull in the exigent and straite of her greatest extremity for as all thy works are wonderfull and past finding out as our soules know right well so are they not manifested in a shallow measure in the connexion creation and nourishment and preseruation of the infant in the wombe of the mother in the birth and bringing forth of their little limbes into the world all whole and perfect to the which if thy ayd and hand bee absent though all helpe beside in the world bee present they perish vndoubtedly both the one and the other Wherfore thou God of wonders and Father Almighty of heauen and earth as thou hast by the death of thine onely Sonne taken away the sinnes of the whole world and condemned sinne in the flesh so take away the anguish of Childe-birth brought forth by sin to all woman-kinde especially to this woman now in thy hands that shee may ioyfully bring forth that which by thy blessing shee hath happely conceiued that shee may bee to her Husbands and her owne comfort as the fruitfull viâ—e on the walles of his house and his children like the Oliue
THE EMBASSADOR BETWEEN Heauen and Earth betweene God and Man OR A BOOKE Of Heauenly and Healthy Meditations and Prayers for earthly and sickly Soules and Sinners Fit to be borne in the hand and worne in the heart of euery good Christian By W. C. Preacher of the word MATH 7. 7. Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and you shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you LONDON Printed by N. O. for Lenard Becket and are to be sold at his shop in the Inner Temple 1613. To the Christian and supplicant Reader REligious reader the manifould myseries and calamities of this our wretched life our Sauiour Iesus Christ the Apostles and fathers of the Church these euery one of these with as many motiues as there are thoughts in the hart or spectacles to the eye of man teach vs and haue taught vnto vs the necessity force vse of prayer and withall inciting vs both to frequency and feruency therin without which besides many other benefits which therby we eyther obtaine or lose can neyther sathan be resisted nor our faith manifested nor God daily honoured with an innumerable consideration on the other side vs like-wayes thereunto mouing as the shortnesse of our life but a span the suddainnesse of Christs comming in a moment the strict and fearfull account that must be rendered at the day of his appearing And for that prayer is a mourning and desire of the spirit to God for that which she lacketh euen as the sicke-man sorroweth for his health whereby being reconciled to God by faith we may inioy the thing we craue or haue need of In what a desperate danger securitye may wee be then thought if we shall shew our selues slacke or careles herein in this so avayleable a duty let vs therefore pray in all places and at all times calling to mind the largnes of Gods gratious loue and his louing kindnes in Christ Iesus our sauiour who biddeth vs aske and it shall be giuen knocke and it shall be opened and whensoeuer thou art burdened or opprest with thy sins or any other misery or calamity in the world be thou assured the Lord will offer himselfe to be reconciled to thee if thou thy selfe be ready and faithfull to call for the same at his hands to the furthering whereof and as it were the tracing a path thereto thou hast heare good reader both the manner and the method both the forme and the fashion both how to pray and what to pray mouldes and methodes fitted vnto seuerall occasions and purposes for thy releife and benefit as time and necessity shall require in that behalfe which requisit regard and serious consideration that these heauenly Embassadours may be the more gratious in the eyes of God and successe-ful in our occasions is most intirely to be tendered thereunto So that God may blesse both them and vs with an happy eâ—rnest in this world of the eternitye in the world to come whither by his blessed will so prospering this intended meanes that it be able to bring vs he grant for the glory of his owne great name Amen Thine in the Lord. W. C. IF by the absence of the author difficulty of the hand misplacing of points some sillables or wordes mistaken the sence in any place be obscured the iuditious reader may be pleased to correct such easy faults as by these meanes haue escaped which I trust are not many A view of the Contents and Prayers as they orderly stand in this Booke 1 A Treatise of the vanity of all earthly pleasures and the misery of our life such as they are to enioy them 2 Of the force the vse and necessity of Prayer 3 A Morning Prayer for the Saboth day 4 An Euening Prayer for the saboth day 5 A Description of Heauenly Ierusalem and the happinesse there out of the Manual of Mr. Crashaw 6 An euery-dayes sacrifice or a Morning praier for any day in the weeke or euery day in the weeke 7 An Euening praier for any day in the weeke or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person or other changing but the number 8 Another Morning praier 9 An Euening Praier to the same 10 A Morning praier for a priuate family 11 An Euening praier for a priuate family 12 A praier to God the father for the forgiuenesse of sinnes 13 A praier to bee said before the vndertaking of any iourney 14 Another for the same somewhat more ample both by sea and land 15 A praier for internall and externall peace and against debate and contentious going to law 16 A prayer for seasonable weather vpon sensible consideration therefore 17 A Meditation of Gods loue and mercy towards vs and our vnthankefulnesse towards him alluding to the phrase of Saint Austin Misereri mei Domine indigna facientis digna patientis 18 A meditation against the feare of death written in French by P. M. S. de Plessis 19 The sick-mans Praier 20 The commendation of the soule to bee said at a sicke mans death out the Manual of Mr. Crashaw 21 Six signes vpon the which a man may rest confident of his saluation 22 Another meditation against the feare of death and for strength and patience in that last houre 23 Sir Thomas Moores verses of the vncertainty of life 24 A Praier or Meditaion before the receiuing of the holy Communion 25 A meditation or thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Holy Communion 26 A thankesgiuing to God the father vsed by the R. W. Musc and fit to be vsed of al good Christians 27 Martin Luthers Praier 28 Saint Austins Praier 29 A Praier for a woman with childe or in trauaile 30 The Prisoners Praier written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few daies before his triall 31 A thankesgiuing for our Redemption and for other both corporall and spirituall blessings 32 Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it 33 A Praier against that dangerous and deadly sinne of Desperation 34 A praier in time of pestilence 35 A praier for Humility 36 The liuing words of a dying man closed vp in that vertue 37 The summe of the praier of the Lady I. G. at the time of her execution 38 A generall thankesgiuing to God for all his benefits and mercies to man 39 A thankesgiuing before meat 40 A thankesgiuing after meat 41 Two other for the same 42 Certaine Rules and Preceps for the good ordering and gouernement of a mans life 43 Certaine Sentences or Rules of good life pertinent to the precepts going before them 44 The Deriuation of man 45 Admonition against sinne 46 Zacheus certaine gaine the worlds imagined losse 47 The fiue thoughts of a Christian 48 Foure kinde of men according to Dauid that are most indebted vnto God for their liues 49 A Praier for Constancy and grace against all worldly vanities and allurements 50 A short Memoratiue of the mortality of our life and
of fortune lift thee to the stars if thou reigne happy in all these a thousand yeares What then they so suddenly passe and vanish away as things that had neuer beene and a man inspired with true wisedome from aboue findes so much content left behinde after the vse and possession of them all as a poore man that had dreamed hee was a King and that hee had had all the pleasures and contents the world could affoord him in his power and fruition and being afterwards awaked finds nothing so What man that euer liued before or after Salomon that had a greater portion in this world of eminency and glory then hee and yet this Salomon King Salomon King Salomon in all his royalty in some particulars inferiour to the Lillies of the field let the power of the wicked bee neuer so potent the heart of the most cruell tyrant that euer reigned neuer so enuious and though his pleasure therein bee as great as his power neither hee nor it can exceed Pharaohs and yet was both hee and his exceeded vanquished and brought to confusion and his whole Egyptian Hoast by the vnsensible creatures of Gods most sensible power the course of waters or the waters of the red sea wherein they were ouer-whelmed put to confusion Let the power of his command be neuer so absolute neuer so vnquestionable that it be of force throughout territories and dominions to stifle and strike dead that vapour and breath of life that was first breathed by GOD in the face of man to make him a a liuing soule that it keepe not his wonted progresse and passage throughout the gates of his body let his voyce bee as terrible as the roaring of a Lyon be it neuer so fearefull bee it neuer so ample more fearefull and ample then Nabuchaddonezers it cannot bee yet was hee in the middest of his pride and iollity compast and inuirond in for seauen yeares within the walles of wilde Asses Let his cloathing bee neuer so sumptuous the Throne where hee sits neuer so Maiesticall his speech and eloquence neuer so plausible and his praises neuer so generall yet in these was Herod his equall and yet not defended by these from the wormes that gnawed out his bowels Take a suruey in the present from the Monuments Histories Traditions and Reliques of ancient ages going vp from these low descended times of ours to those first that began the world and long since expired and imagine that if the best and most iuditious obseruer that liued in euery age since that time that God sayd Let there bee Day and Night and Times and Seasons or shall liue whilest these creatures of his world that giue rest and labour shall last indure should stand vp to report and poynt out the chiefest men and vertues that in them euer liued and were whether for wealth or wisdome fortitude or temperance eloquence or learning For continency or patience beauty magnanimity or whatsoeuer else might bee numbred in the bead-roll of excellence that could say in the perfection and largest indowment hereof here is munition against the graue and with this will I preserue my body from corruption they would all in their seuerall turnes confirme and testifie the graue hath closed them vp without resistance of quality or vertue and they sleepe with their excellencies together raked in the earth Is it then so and are wee no more but thus Is there not one man of former ages can stand forth to bee darted through with all eyes of wonder and admiration as a monument neuer yet beheld to say I haue peruerted the sentence and the decree hath past by me I haue made a League with Death and a Couenant with the Graue and I shall liue for euer and my body shall not descend into that bed of darknesse If not what true content can bee taken in this life in any thing wee enioy which goes not warranted with an houres security but in the peace of conscience wherein is true ioy present giuen as a taste or earnest of that reall eternall ioy and gladnesse wee shall inherit in the kingdome of heauen to come Vnmindful wretched miserable man shall the best finde no euasion to escape and doe the worst thinke to bee freed from thence Shall beauty descend into corruption and yet will it idolize it selfe in conceit of immortality will it plaister ouer that earth with colours like the morning-Sunne which must bee suddenly transformed into earth and true earth indeede and make her bed in the darknesse more obscure then the clouds of the night Will not wisedome defend a man What folly is it then not to haue so muâ—h wisedome as to make â— serious preparation thereunto can strength nor magnanimiâ—â— make no resistance how suddeÌ„ly then will weaknesse and infirmity yeeld it selfe Will not riches defend a man the rich man in the Gospell answeares no for they sooner transport him thether whether then we runne ouer the liues of the vertuous and godly such as withstood the temptations of Sathan and the illusions of the world with that most forcible presideÌ„t the innumerabilitie of her followers which without thought carries so many head-long to perdition Or the state and condition of the most dessolute vnrepentant sinners such as run through the race of there liues in a most carelesse and dessolute securitie not regarding there end nor the cause of there being we see an equall conclusion and period and end of there daâ—es all bound vp and shackelled together in the same bundle of corruption and there resolution so that the eye of man cannot distinguish in the graue betweene the bones and ashes of the one and the other betweene Vashti the most beutifull Queenes and the blackest Egypâ—ian bond-womans that euer was yet when the Lord both of life death shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead he alone can distinguâ—sh which shall raise vp the one to euerlasting life and the other to an endlesse death euer dijng yet neuer ending and herein let the godly take comfort who haue not taken there porâ—ion and pleasure in this world that they shall be knowne and raysed vp and distinguisht from the wicked and let them willingly and ioyfully therefore without the least feare inbrace this messinger of the Lord which to their bodies brings but a quiet sleepe from the which they shall be awaked to ioy And let the wicked who haue cause feare him as their enemie that is the subduer and danter of all flesh the finisher of all wordly pleasures that takes the earth and ashes of the most maiesticall composure stuft with ambition and pride with thoughts beyond bound without warrant from trampling and wounding the brest bosome of there mother in scorne and contempt into the darkesome and solitarie chambers of her wombe where that earth taken out of that earth that thought it selfe more then earth and yet was but earth becomes earth lesse then earth euen to moates
and graines in confusion Let vs cast vp our dayes by Iacobs account valewâ— them not to be more not to better then he did his few and euill as he that truly considers it shall most rightly find it true for the first that they are few what age since there were creatures that liu'd and breathed died in it and howers yeares to wast and spend themselues to giue it a quantitie and quality thereof that might speake with more probabilitie and exemplarie experience hereof then ours when our yong men in our streetes in our houses oftentimes part with there health there life and all within an hower and others fall downe dead as they trauaile vpon the way and the latest yeares of our ould men accomplish not the child-hood of our fore-fathers with such daily other presidentes of death before our eyes both of vntimely youth and ould age that might moue vs to looke into our selues yet as if we tooke leases of our liues as wee do of our houses we incroach and build set vp pull downe alter repaire like earth-deluing-moles presse crush our owne bowelles and consciences to heaue vp little piles of rubbish and earth toyle our bodies and beat our braines to ioyne our possessions together dispeopling whole villages that we may be Lordes alone drawing the earth from the poore that they liue tread vpon by exactions plottes and tyrannies pulling the bread from out there handes and the food from out there mouthes calling our habitations after our owne names as if we should for euer liue or our posterities after vs succeed to the worldes end or world without end when he that sits in heauen laugheth them to scorne for he that thinkes to be rich or great without him in the prophanenes of his heart Esay 14. 15. let him know Gen. 11. 7. that the least breath of his mouth shall so batter his seat that the place thereof shall be no more found and scatter his riches as the dust before the wind or the chaffe that slies in the ayre and all there thoughtes inteÌ„tions more vaine theÌ„ vanity it selfe if we liued like Adam without any president of death before our eyes and the length of our dayes in some measure stretched out like to his it were some little securitie for presumption to build vpon but wee that haue sene our thousand three-thousand weekly such a dearth of health that the sicke haue bene more then the sound the dead more then the lyuing and death hath so layd about in our streetes and in our houses that grasse hath growne in the one and solitarinesse so taken vp the other that the sight of a man in either hath bene more pretious then the gold of Ophir sometimes come so neare vs that it hath puld away the wife from our owne bosome children from our owne loynes reueld in the darke of the night at the noone of the day disposest vs of neighbour and frend neare and distant far of spared none from the child supported by the hand for weakenesse to him that walkes with the staffe for age with such an innumerable and daily witnesse in which number our owne bowelles sometimes a part the sentence of God vpon all flesh as a forerunner and the accomplishmeÌ„t thereof with such a â—ercenesse succeeding all crying with a loud voyce and proclaming this proclamation of God Statutum est omnibus semelmori O but may the yong man or some not aged say although we must once die yet we may liue many yeares and therefore we wil take our pleasures whilst we may and when they haue forsaken vs when age shall ceaze vpon vs with her whitenesse die our lockes into another coullor then will we repent vs and thinke of our end O but who euer thou art that thinkes so deceiue not thy selfe with this vaine procrastinating folly but let Salomons experienced councell be the tutor to thy youth forget not to remembe his MemeÌ„to To remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill dayes approach and the times wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them and beeing a reasonable creature offer not God that indignity that hath made thee both body and soule giuen thee both health and strength thy beeing thy benefites all that thou hast as to offer him the huskes and refuse of Sathan What earthly maister that but for a few temporall benefits as in sustayning our yeares of infancye although all that he could for vs were but as a grauell stone in comparison to the whole sea shore of his goodnesse that would not expect in recompence hereof the abilitye of our best seruice to his imployment which if wee should neglect him in and forsake him vnacknowledged so long vntill our youth and strengthes were spent and old age were crept vpon vs and wee disabled to helpe our selues much lesse to stand him in stead or deserue his former kindnesse yet then with blushlesse faces should offer to put our selues vpon him for a second suppertance that with the acclamation and consent of the earthly maisters in the world would not only turne his face away but vtterly reiect foreuer cast vs off from his acknowledgement Is it then iust with vs and is it not much more iust with God We are all seruants to him in a thousand duties he fashioned vs in our mothers wombe carefully tooke vs out from thence euer since protected and preserued vs vpon the finger of whose prouidence we sticke as the sun in the firmament and shall wee from him that hath done so much for vs dedicate the ioy marrow of our bones to the enemie of our God our good the welfare of all mankind to him that compasseth the earth seeking whom he may deuour shal we I say in our ripest iudgement and abilitie of largest consideration make no vse hereof but run one with the spurre of the flesh and the pricke of the deuill all the sun-shine of our dayes in obliuion and forgetfulnesse of him we should euer remember If we doe the euening will bring heauinesse vnto vs which will not indure for a night and ioy approach in the morning but a night without end of sorrow and lamentation whom no day shall euer arise to cleare and he that hath lost Christ in a large youth and run from him many yeares must not thinke that few wil vntread that path againe and recouer him but rather that a yeare may so lose him that many shall not find him againe though with Ioseph and Mary he be sought in sorrowing Presume not vpon that text of mercy to much At what time soeuer a sinner although it be an Oracle of truth truth it selfe for if thou refuse the time of grace that is offered thou knowest not whether it wil be offered thee againe whether thou shalt euer after haue a time to repent thee of thy sins from the bottome of thy hâ—rt that thine owne
restraine vs from it if the sonnes of men shall take the deuill at his word as the Son of God did not and for the glory of the world which hee shall shew and cannot giue shall fall downe and worship him if hee shew honour preferment pleasure riches saying all these will I giue thee though the Minions and Louers of the world that seeke for their heauen vpon earth shall be ready to betray their soules as Iudas betrayed Christ with their hayle Maister shall bee ready to embrace him to serue him to serue themselues yet with the Sonne of God Math. 16. 20. after his fasting bee thou so strong in thy strength as hee was in his weaknesse to bid him depart and to say him nay For it is but a bitter recompence to buy the pleasures at so deere a rate as at the prise of thy soule in thy euerlasting confusion for a short and fading life and but the length of a spanne if thou thinke it more take the counters into thy hand and see what reckoning thou canst make of it what is past grieueth thee with the remembrance thereof because so much of thy time is spent what is present burtheneth thee with the waight therof because in sweate and sorrow study and trauel thou dost wast thy time what is to come troubleth thee with the vncertainety of it least the graue do swallow thee before thou see it yea make thy account as as thou oughtest and thou shalt finde it swifter then the Weauers shuttle Iob. 7. 6. and speedier then a post on the wings of the winde Iob. 9. 25. Then in consideration of this and whatsoeuer hath bene spoken to the vncloathing of our nakednes and humbling vs before God to the pulling off of our roabes of leuity and lightnesse and the preparing our bodies to the graue and our soules to this insuing exercise whether to the daunting of all flesh all must come and the houre may bee neere but it cannot bee farre off and howsoeuer wee forget it it will bee sure to remember vs and therefore let vs know that here as Pilgrimes and strangers wee wander hauing no abiding Citty but wee seeke for one to come but wee must not seek to find it here nor suffer the vaine applause of the world and the vainer conceit of our selues to make vs forget where we liue what we are of our selues being but as a tree turned vpwards hauing no sap from the earth but refreshed and moistened with the dew of heauen let vs so husband our iourney that wee misse not the Citty we seek for let vs so runne our race that we obtaine the victory 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 sobriety in thy calling honesty in thy pleasures iudgement in thy sorrowes mercy in thy life religion For if God bee 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 throughout the whole course of thy life and in thy death bee not present and powerfull to thee thou faintest in the one and failest in the other and desperation inuironeth thee on euery side for where the Lord keepeth not watch or turneth away his face all the miseries in the world lay their siedge therefore to him let vs day and night send vp our supplications and prayers without ceasing like incense into the aire to continue what we haue and giue vs what wee want to support vs by his grace to direct vs by his Spirit and so lead vs through this exemplary world of sinne and wickednes with our eys so looking forward fixed on him that wee let not temptations in at their windowes so captiuating our desires vnto his will that with Lot wee may bee righteous in a Citty in a world of vncleanesse that so wee may saue our soules at the last though wee loose all the pleasures in the world besides the losse whereof would more reioyce Sathan then hee sorroweth for the damnation of his owne which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Of the Force the vse and necessity of Prayer SInce all the dayes and howers of the life of man the consumers of the world the measurers of time it selfe are the subiects succeeders of the Lords owne handes and by him only lent to thy vse be not thou then so vnnaturall against the Lord the owner thereof and against thine owne good as not sometimes to lend him some of his owne howers to his seruice for thine owne good Amongst the many perturbations and troubles of this life as sickenes imprisonment losse of frendes vexation of spirit wrought by the bretheren with vs of the same inheritance in the portion of the same infirmitie from the loynes of our first parent Adam The world in Rebellion offering diuers assaultes against the peace and tranquility of her children and nothing to be found vnder the sunne but Vanity and vexation of Spirit The vnrulye passions and affections of our owne nature and the head-strong lustes of the flesh and the concupiscence thereof euer at enmity with the spirit euer readye to intangle vs in the snares of sinne and death our pronenes vnto euill and our backwardnesse vnto good The Many that are called and the few that are chosen the certainty of our death the vncertainty of the time when or the manner how the fearfull account that must be rendered vnto thee at the day of thy appearing in Maiestie and power to iudge both the liuing and those that are departed the consideration whereof in the hart of a Christian toucht with the least finger of his grace that can heale all our infirmities will call him aside into his retired clofset or chamber where he may not only find ease for his body but ease also for his soule and spirit within him by calling to mind the promises of God the largenesse of his loue the extention of his fauour the inheritance layed vp the kingdome prepared from the beginning the peace and rest euerlasting which no distraction tumult nor vexation shall annoye which by the ouer-eager pursuit of our affections and loue to this world which is but a sea subiect to all passions and Mare amarum a bitter sea with all kind of myserie we may lose if we take not heed And being so with-drawne with most prostrat humylitie and obedience we may sacrifice the good thoughts of the spirit and send vp prayers like the smoke of incense into the ayre laying our mouthes to the eares of that wisedome that knoweth our wantes better then we vnderstand them our selues be we new so afflicted
right hand is of more puissance then the whole arme either of flesh or any spirit besides yea then the whole loines whole substances whole bodies of Angels or of Men siluer gold silke purple all other creatures so it shall walke through life and death without controulement if it find Angels Principallities powers things present things to come or any other creature in the world stopping her passage and rebuking her forwardnesse shee shall cleare her way notwithstanding and clime into the presence of her God and in his eares deliuer her message Bee we in sickenesse to him the true Phâ—sition that knowes both the cause and the cure shee comes for health bee wee in imprisonment there shee sollicites a release from him the Lord of liberty bee we opprest with pouerty or want The earth is the Lords and all that dwell therein to him shee comes for the blessing of the Lord maketh rich are we afflicted aboue measure beyond the strength of man insomuch that we doubt whether we liue or no receiuing the sentence of death within our selues so as in our opinion we comprehend no deliuery no euasion but lie open to the direct accomplishment thereof yet in this exigent and extremity wee come to God in this meanes euen almost beyond hope without expectation and by his good pleasure we are deliuered therefore heerein let vs receiue comfort hee hath hee doth and will deliuer vs not onely from the death of our bodies when wormes and rottennesse haue made their long and last prey vpon them but from the death of our mindes too when the spirit is buried vnder sorrowes there is no creature found in heauen or earth to giue it comfort Therfore be our misery bee our affliction neuer so great and though in our weake immagination wee can imagine no deliuery no release when all earthly meanes and comforts forsake vs let vs not yet forsake this refuge let vs not despaire in his helpe no more then Ionas did who in the bottome of the sea within a prison within that bottome in such an affliction so great so strange as greater nor stranger could not bee nor to humane reason more without hope yet saith hee Ionas 2. 2. I cryed in mine affliction vnto the Lord and hee heard mee out of the belly of hell cryed I and thou heardest my voyce Therefore I say againe in aduersity let vs not despaire but pray with hope In aduersity be it neuer so great let vs pray with confidence In our prosperity let vs pray in our prosperity neuer so flourishing let vs pray let vs pray continually In our health and prosperity let vs pray to continue it in our sickenesse and aduersity let vs pray to release it And if we consider our estate rightly we shall perceiue many reasons that may moue vs to this exercise daily to seeke his fauour and louing countenance without whose protection and care ouer vs wee are ready to fall into a thousand dangers to perish continually let vs therefore in time and season with wordes sutable to our purpose and intention either thankes-giuings for benefites receiued or with petitions and intreaties for necessities implored in the time of sickenesse in the time of our health in the time of our aduersity in the time of our prosperity let vs come before him suting our wordes in the habite of our occasions with such fitnesse and decency that they sal not harshly and from the purpose in the eares of the Almighty And to that end good Reader I haue heere compiled and set downe many formes and moulds of prayer fitting for seuerall persons occasions and times after the example of our Sauiour Christ the true patterne of all wisedome and goodnesse who hath giuen vs the first and best forme thereof himselfe who hath both taught vs to pray and taught vs how to pray and that will both heare our prayers and grant our requests as farre as seemes expedient to his vnsearchable wisedome that knowes our wants before hee heares our coÌ„plaints our necessities better then we our selues for because Prayer is so excellent a thing so ready so swift so powerful so vnseperated from vs that it cleaues vnto vs when all other meanes forsak vs therfore that wee should the more earnestly imbrace it more zealously imply it more deerely esteeme it there is great reason that it finds vs ofteÌ„times out coÌ„fort in greatest extremities that wheÌ„ we find our selues in misety our waies hedged vp as with thornes that wee cannot stirre to deliuer our selues there hence when wee are ouerflowne with the deluge of sinne as with a floud and iudgements inuiron vs on euery side this is the Doue that brings vnto our soules the Oliue branch of comfort yet because for the most part we kill the life therein through the coldnesse of our deuotion and carelesnesse of our deliuery and vnfit preparation thereunto and finde not the sweetenesse and successe that else we might expect and obtaine at the hands of God thereby Therefore I haue here drawne them out to life shewed both the excellency thereof and preparation thereunto befitting that these formes hereafter following and all other whatsoeuer in this kind may be the more powerfull blessed and comfortable to all that shall vse them without the which it is impossible that they should please God or any good successe follow thereupon The Embassadour betweene Heauen and Earth A morning Prayer for the Sabaoth day MOST mercifull God and eternall father what may we render vnto thee for all thy louing kindnesse for the which blessings and thankes-giuings for euermore be heaped vpon thy holy name in whom the treasures of mercy and louing kindnesse dwell bodily who of thine owne good will and pleasure hast bene pleased to communicat vnto vs so many of thy fauours so many seuerall ways without any manner of desert of ours to the which may it please thee to ad stil to the number by taking away those iniquities of ours that take away thy fauours and blessings from vs or as a stranger that knoweth them not passe by our transgressions retaine not thine anger against vs foreuer though wâ— retaine our sins the cause of thine anger but returne to vs by grace who returne not to thee by repentance and haue compassion vpon vs who haue not compassion on ouer owne soules subdue our raigning and raging vnrighteousnesse and drowne our offences in the bottome of the sea which else will drowne vs in the bottome of destruction raise vp our soules from the dead sleepe of sinne as thou hast raised vp our bodies from this night of darkenesse protect vs from all dangers from the which no minute we are secured of our selues but in thee brought vs to the begining of this thy blessed sabaoth of rest which good father so sanctifie vnto vs through thy blessed spirit that thy name may be hallowed thy power admired thy mercy magnified and thy loue manifested to thy glory and our euerlasting
comfort fill thou our hartes with such a desire and longing after thee that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the flesh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long take hold on vs that see me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the stomacke that say peace peace and all is well when destruction and death is bayted ore with them but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exercise our selues both day and night our whoole felicity Let that treasure be our pleasure that is layd vp in heauen all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitternesse but in this there is neyther bitternesse nor end blesse good Lord the seed of thy word that shall this day be sowen in our harts and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the same that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the saluation of our soules in that great day of ioy and sorrow and for the better furtherance thereof good father inlarge and reforme our vnderstanding keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in such sort that no ill word be vttered by or through the same and so rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not our hands that they touch not our feet that they go not too our eyes that they see not our eares that they heare not our sences that they tast not our harts that they consent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good that thereby thy loue may be confirmed in vs and we in it that so we may walke cherfully in our vocations wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all such as perseuer in thy wayes without wearinesse to the end which graunt and whatsoeuer besides in thy wisedome thou knowest needfull and necessary for vs good father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we further intreat thy mercy and goodnesse towards vs in that forme of prayer which he himselfe hath both commanded and taught vs saying our father c. An euening Prayer for the Sabaoth day O eternall God and most mercifull father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light darkenesse day and night in whose handes is contained that ouerflow of goodnesse that filleth all the empty and indigent creatures in the world in the ayre in the earth in the sea and on the land who ordaynest times and seasons successions and discentes ould age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and a labour an increase and a decrease and a perpetuall motion and change ouer all the sublunary things in this world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many howers since broke out of darkenesse and cheard the world with her light and the sunne arose and came forth as a bridegrome out of his chamber and reioysing as a Gyant to runne his course and his beames are now steeped in night darkenes the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitory pleasures and delights which haue there increase there height and there suddaine decrease againe and there is no continuance or stability in any thing vnder the sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast apointed for rest which Lord so blesse vnto vs that as this day thou hast gratiously ministred strength vnto vs to walke in our vocations blesse our good indeauours studies and labours our hearing meditating on thy word to the comfort of our bodies and soules so we may be thankefull therefore hauing alwayes thy hand to sustayne vs to effect and finish those councels and labours which we vndertake for thy glory so good Lord blesse this night vnto vs that we may now receiue that comfort and strength which thou hast graunted to our weake nature by the which we are sustayned and daily renued and refreshed to our labours and further we beseeche thee as the night shadoweth darkeneth all things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake hide our sins from thy sight that they neuer stand vp to accuse vs vnto thee beeing buried in eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe this night so our minds by the hope of thy mercy may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer that so beeing wholy refreshed both in body and in mind we may arise with alacrity chearfulnesse vnto thy seruice this day insuing and all the dayes of our life after succeding that when death which is the end of all flesh shall remoue vs from thence into the graue of corruption where our bodies shall dissolue to the matter they are though now they seme not from the which it is as easy for thee to rayse them vp from the smallest graine of dessolution as from our naturall sléepe for I beleeue that the time shall come when all that are in the graue shal heare the voyce of the sonne of God when he shall speake vnto the earth giue and to the sea restore my sonnes and daughters and to all the creatures in the world keepe not backe mine inheritance and to the prisoners of hope lodging a while in the chambers of the ground stand forth and shew your selues and the earth shall disclose her bloud and shal no longer hide her slain and the sea shall find no rest till her drowned be brought forth nor any creature in the world be able to steale one bone that it hath receiued but all kinds of death shall be swallowed vp in generall victory and in his name that hath wonne the feild for vs we shall ioyfully sing thanks be to God that hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ whence our bodies being awaked to that euerlasting day of light which shall neuer be obscured with darkenesse more where we shall be made pertakers of that vnspeakable inheritance that thy saints and holy ones enioy which is honour glory and peace a garland of righteousnesse an incorruptible crowne fruite of the tree of life sight of the face of God following the lamb fellowship with Angels and Saints and the congregation of the first borne new names white garments pleasures at the right hand of God and fulnesse of ioy in his presence for euermore whither he bring vs that hath made vs that must raise vs from both these sleepes for the glory of his blessed name Amen A further Description of this heauenly Ierusalem and blessed happinesse therein taken out of the Man Cathol of W. C. IN Syon lodge me Lord for pitty Syon Dauids Kingly Citty Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keyes are Christs vndoubted word VVhose dwellers feare none but the Lord VVhose walles are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease
breed in vs humility and godlinesse as a happy preparation thereunto let vs resolue patiently and resolutely to vnder-goe that taske assigned by thee the dissolution of nature for the corruption of nature the sting is gone and wee neede not feare it beeing but that which all the seuerall ages and generations of the world that are past haue accomplished and in theâ—r times and seasons descended to corruption and others haue taken their places and all that are to come must drinke of the same portion Mathusalem though he liue 969 yeares yet must he not liue euer the portion neuer so long the person neuer so eminent his preseruation neuer so great to this at last hee must surely come and all mankinde besides although not all by one meanes yet all brings to one end though some by water some by fire some by famine some by pestilence some by the iawes of wilde beasts some by the hand of an enemy some in the bed others in the field Haman by the gallowes Iesabel by dogges Herod by wormes the Sonnes and daughters of Iob by the fall of an house the Mothers and Infants of Ierusalem by famine One cryeth my head my head as the Shunamites sonne another my bowels another my feet feet as Asa the Stone the Gout the Feuer and a thousand other punishments not yet equall to our sinnes thy iust Executioners of that sentence Thou shalt dye the death pronounced against our first Parents and in them to the whole race of mankinde Remember thy end saith the wise man thou shalt not do amisse Teach vs O Lord to remember it and make vse thereafter that will in time remember vs if we gorget it Though we escape the pit we shall be taken in the snare we shall fly from a Lyon and a beare shall meet with vs or leane our hand vpon a wall and a serpent shal bite vs we may be deliuered from six troubles and the seauenth shall dispatch vs for neyther councel nor art nor meanes can preserue vs euer for it is the will of God and the cannon of his own lippes against the which there is no euasion no conuenant to be made with death the graue let this meditation be vnto vs as the starre that lead the wisemen vnto Bethleem where Christ then lay in a maÌ„ger in aâ—inne that now sittes at the right haÌ„d of his father in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead that it may lead vs to the throne of his maiesty where now he raigneth in glory for euermore sweeten O Lord this remembrance of death and the graue vnto vs with this cogitation that it was thy bed that in our strength and youth our veynes full of bloud and our bones of marrow in our liuelihood and iollity we may thinke of our dissolution with a quiet mind and with S. Paul desire to be dissolued to be with Christ whose presence in such full and ample measure as we shall there inioy it far exceedeth all the pleasure and delight that this transitory world afford thee giue vs more wisedome O Lord then to esteeme the ruinous and rotten cottages and houses we liue in fortresses and castles of euerlasting refuge not built vpon rockes for continuance but vpon tottering heapes of sand ashes shaken about our eares with the windes and stormes of infinit casualties and afflictions gaping still for ruine and confusion teach vs to know that heare wee haue no abiding Citty but we look for one to come that we passe not our time in this vale of misery day night youth and age in pleasure and delight that so we make our end the remembrance thereof bitter vnto vs neyther let vs thinke that because we haue fatnesse in our bones and health in our ioynts that therefore we shall liue many yeares and se the succession of our sons and nephewes if we doe what will become of this if we flatter our selues soule take thy rest and vpon the suddaine are snacht to hell once more let vs speake like Abraham one thing and one thing more we will beg at thy handes that since thy decree is set downe and thy word is past the accomplishment whereof neuer fayles in the least title that all shall dye confermed by so many millions of creatures since the beginning of the world to this present which shall not cease to runne on whilst there are creatures breathing vpon the circle of the earth to the end of the world dessolution of all things since we must all wax ould as doth a garment and from one defect to another drawe thereunto since the sonne of God himselfe vpon the earth was not priuiledge that now in this time of preparation we make swéet and hony our passage by a due and godly preparation thereunto that when our friends and our children forsake vs with griefe and sorrow on both sides the Phisition giues vs ouer wisheth vs well but can doe vs no good that then when no comfort is left vnto vs besides we haue coÌ„fort in our souls through the forgiuenesse of our sins and though we haue a graue before our eyes greedy inexorable vnsatisfied opening her mouh to receiue vs and hauing receiued vs closing hereuerlasting iaiawes vpoÌ„ vs neuer to returne vs backe againe till the wormes and vermine of the earth haue deuoured vs we despaire not though the strongest man liuing a hart of marble iron shall find terror enough in the thought accoÌ„plishment of these things yea Aristippus feareth death as well as the common people but if the wrath of God which consumes like a riuer of brimstone for our former transgressions shal accompany them thrise wo vnto vs our dull and heauy cogitations will then exclude all thought of mercy and our soules shall sleepe in death clogged with a burthen of sinnes which were neuer repented of therefore O Lord teach vs true and timely repentance for our sins that the extremity which then outragiously wil assault vs may be lessened and the sting thereof pulled away before hand that now we may liue the life of the righteous that then we may die the death of the Godly that we now gird on our armour before the battayle begine that we now thinke of repentance and doe it before it be to late before this wellcome or vnwellcome guest as we our selues make him commeth which brings in his hand either tydings of great ioy or a message of euerlasting sorrow giuing w e all such grace vnto vs to possesse these transitory things that they possesse not vs that we may so vse this world as if we vsed it not to passe through this vale of misery our few and euill dayes with such regard to our life such loue to thy law such obedience to thy precepts that wee may inioy the first and avoyde the later which graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Sir Thomas Moore Fleres si scires vnum tua tempora mensem
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
the feild and we â—eed not only our selues but our oxen in our meadowes and stalles to feed our vnprofitable carcasses our horses in the stable to beare our vnprofitable carkasses when the poore in our streetes at our gates feed vpoÌ„ empty aire for lacke of sustenance we remeÌ„ber not theÌ„ not Christ in them the hungereth and Christ the must feed vs which is the aduocate for the poore yâ— iudge of the rich in this obliuion and height of our sins what is become of humility of repentance we are all begotten in sin and to misery are we brought forth coÌ„cupiscence hath bene the nurse whose milke wee haue sucked from time to time as we haue growne in yeares so hath corruptioÌ„ growne vp with vs as part of our owne nature what remayneth theÌ„ O Lord for vs but humility repeÌ„taÌ„ce to prostrate our selues vpon the knees of our harts and say Lord haue mercy vpoÌ„ sinners with the poore publican not with yâ— proud Pharise to say I am not like this maÌ„ or other my brethren for I doe thus and so let vs not be so mad as to forget nature so much all our imperfections the substance and mettall whereof wee are made and that we must suddenly turne to the earth vpon which now we trample with such contempt and scorne and must become chamberers and fellowes with wormes and rotlennesse and what cause haue wee then to be proud Nay what cause haue wee not to bee humble when of all the large possessions and inheritances wee possesse wee haue no more truely our own then the length and bredth of our Carkasses And againe let vs humble our selues that Christ may exalt vs and not exalt our selues lest hee throw vs downe as hee scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts Let vs learne of him to bee humble and meeke which although the King of heauen and earth hauing all power and preheminence and proud in subiection vnder his feet yet was not touched with this vice himselfe that chose poore Fisher-men to bee his Disciples payd tribute to his inferiours rode vpon an asse praied for his Persecutors imbraced yong children cured the halt and the lame and the blinde and regarded the low estate of his Handmaid and will regard vs if wee regard this vertue which hee so regarded if wee be imitators of his steps and examples which hee grant that hath thus led the way the God the King the Prince of humility for his own deere sake Amen The liuing words in effect of a dying man closed vp in this vertue I Vnto thy hands O Lord I commend my soule and body prostrate in all humility and obedience to thy good will and pleasure Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon thy humble and prostrate seruant The summe of the Prayer of the Lady G. at the time of her execution VVIllingly and ioyfully O Lord come I hither into thy hands to resigne my soule and body in whose protection I trust they shall bee safer and better then in this life although in the best measure they euer were giue vnto me my God thy poore and weake seruant and vessell patience constancy and strength to vndergo this my sentence of death strengthen the frailty of my sex in the act of this my suffering and though I dye for that I neuer of my selfe desired yet howsoeuer lest any sinne in the least consent or thought hath defiled my purity therein for it pardon me my God and blot it out of the booke of thy remembrance and not onely that but the whole course thereof throughout my whole life that my soule with the wings of faith in thy mercy may cheerefully ascend to thy blessed kingdome And so preparing her selfe to dye with these words rendred her life Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit A generall Thankesgiuing to God for all his benefites and mercies to man O Eternall God in Christ Iesus most gracious and mercifull for all thy blessings both temporall and spirituall bestowed vpon me the least of thy seruants and most vnworthy to cast vp mine eyes to thy heauenly Tabernacle where thou reignest in glory doe I yeild all possible hearty thanks vnto thy diuine Maiesty for all thy blessings and mercies bestowed vpon me especially for the singular benefite of my Iustification and the admirable gift of eternall saluation purchased by the righteousnesse and deerest life of thy beloued Son Christ Iesus my Sauiour My lot is fallen in a pleasant place well is me and yet woe is mee because it is and I vnderstand it not hast thou beene fauourable vnto all thy creatures in the world or hast thou neglected others and beene mindfull of me Good Lord why shouldest thou bestow thy health thy wealth thy rest and liberty aduancements friends possessions Children like the Oliue Oliue branches and their trees for me them to repose securely vnder Why shouldest thou I say bestow these blessings vpon me more then vpon others I can giue no reason for it but stand wondring and admiring thy mercy which is the cause of it and if thou shouldest take a suruey of my worthinesse to enioy all these at thy hands and finding mee so vnworthy as I am of the least shouldest withdraw them all backe againe what could I say but commend thy iustice Haue I deserued liberty and Ioseph thy seruant deserued bonds Haue I deserued rest and thy Dauid to bee tost to and fro vpon his watery couch day and night to haue the sonne of his owne loynes and the loynes of his owne body rebelling against him Hath thy Lazarus deserued to lye at the gates afflicted in body minde crauing but crums wherewithall to be refreshed and I like the rich man whose dogges more merciful theÌ„ their maister came and licked his sores sitting at my table furnished with abundance like his Haue I deserued health and thy Iob to lye full of botches and biles vpon the dung-hill Are these thy blessed seruants tried in the furnace of affliction layd in the throat of hell and am I wrapt vp into Abrahams bosome haue I their portion and do they stand at reward or sent empty Why my soule is it so well with thee mercy aboundance of mercy and why art thou so ill my soule O mercy yet most wretched sinner that I am haue I not in a Christian loue and godly nature beene moued to serue thee in a larger measure considering these thy benefites vpon mee so largely multiplyed then the poore and persecuted Children that neuer tasted thy mercy but in imitation of their misery Continue O Lord this thy goodnesse vnto me and the more to perswade thee thereunto lift my heart and spirit out of this dull and earthly Center wherein it moueth to the meditation of thée and these thy mercies with a thankfull retribution of all my thoughts and affections to thée from whence they come that I may euer serue thee from this hower with those dutyes which the world the flesh and
the way then to runne out of the way 32 A good life and a bad make death apeare in two shapes happy is he that liues so that it appeare in the best 33 He that feares to dye feares to find that he liues to seeke 34 If death bee not good of it selfe yet it is the end of many euils 35 Health is aboue wealth and a competency with content riches enough And many a one hath the vse of much money that hath not the vse of himselfe 36 Be silent in thy intentions least by the contrary thou be preuented and laughed to scorne 37 As the Touch-ston tries so gold tries man 38 It is better to be truly reprehended by a friend then falsly flattered by an enemye 39 By other mens examples not by thine owne learne what is worst to eschue what is best to follow 40 As he sleeps well that feeles not he sleeps ill so hee sins much that thinkes not that he sinnes at all 41 Seuerall accidents haue seuerall remedies but patience is appliable to all 42 The later day is commonly the scholler of the former 43 To conquer the affections of ones owne heart is more then to conquer a kingdome 44 The couetuous man is good to non but he is worst to himselfe and wantes aswell that he hath as that he hath not 45 So trust thy friend that he cannot hurt thee being thy enemy 46 He that doth an iniury to one threatens it to many 47 It is hard to keepe safe that that many men desire as a faire wife ready money 48 The eye nere offendes if the hart gouerne it well 49 Nothing is thine own truly that thou canst dispossesse thy selfe of 50 There is no day of a mans life so happy that somthing doth not happen to grieue him 51 Hee that giues not willingly will allwayes find some reason why he should not giue 52 The increase of knowledge is the increase of sorrow 53 There was neuer wise man but saw more cause of sorrow then ioy 54 That mans end is easy and happy that death finds with a weake body and a strong soule 55 Youth and nature passe ouer many infirmities that are owing till our age 56 Who liues most vertuousoy will dye most patiently 57 Liue to dye once dye once to liue euer 58 Thinke of God with wonder speake to God with reuerence serue him in loue obay him in feare and do nothing but as in his presence and sight and thou shalt liue the life of the godly go the way of the blessed liue in his feare and dye in his fauour The diriuation of man 59 Homo ex humo cadauer ex carodata vermibus 60 Sapiens miser plus miser est quam rusticus miser scit enim exaggerare causas dolendi quas rusticus miser nescit Admonition against sinne 61 When sinne allures thee thinke that thou seest Christ comming towards thee as he lay in the armes of Ioseph of Arimathea taken downe from the Crosse all wanne and bleeding wounded the delicacy beuty and admiration of all his partes clouded sullied and stayned speaking thus vnto thee ô forbeare to commit it for it fetcht me from the armes of my father from my royalty and glory in heauen whole and vntoucht to the armes of this mortal man all wounded and torne as thou seest and with this contemplation forbeare Zacheus certaine gaine the worlds imagined losse If Zacheus to winne heauen restored fore-fould from those he had hut iniured single how do they labour to winne hell that do iniury foure-sould yet make not restitution single The fiue thoughts of a Christian 1 Thinke of pleasure to dispise it 2 Of death to expect it 3 Of iudgement to escape it 4 Of hell to preuent it 5 Of heauen to desire it Foure kinde of men according to Dauid that are most indebted vnto God for their liues 1 Those that haue escaped a dearth 2 Prisoners there bondes 3 Those escaped in a mortall sickenesse 4 Seafaring men that are neyther among the liuing nor the dead A Prayer for Constancy and grace against all worldly vanities and allurements GIue me grace to effect thy will O Lord command me what thou pleasest giue me constancie and perseuerance in my calling and duties of life according to thy will and direction and then let my course be in what thou wilt appoynt Be I a husband chastity and content shall adorne my calling in despight of the allurement of all other beauties all other accidēts Be I rich pride nor oppression nor contempt the adherent vices of that Mammon shall not ceize me with their easinesse in their snares be I whatsoeuer I am bee thou my guide and rule of my life and then all my actions shall bee squared and fitted by the ayme of thy word to the leuell of thy will that so they may end in thy glory my comfort and that they may so doe good Lord so guide temper my disposition with such a regiment of thy goodnesse that thou let not the world with her smiles beguile me nor with her frownes affright me arme me with sanctity strength wisedome that I may vse it as though I vsed it not and let not Sathan deceiue me therein let not my owne cōdition betray me to his malice let mee euery day increase my strength in thee adding to the spirituall estate and welfare of my soule that the longer I liue I may walke more securely in the midst of so many enemies giue me a true estimation of all earthly flatteries vanities and pleasures such deep sight therin y◠through the shades beauties allurements I discerne the poyson y◠lyes at their roots so forbeare the one that I perish not by the other let my delight bee least taken when my body most liues but whilst the one walkes dully vpon earth let the other soare sprightly to heauen let me not for y◠glimse and shining like a glo-worme in this world loose the splendor beauty more glorious then the stars in the firmamēt in the world to come prepared for me and all that perseuer in thy waies vnto the end which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amē A short Memoratiue of the mortality of our life and the folly of our liuing Ashes earth stād forth thou art here acus'd That thou thy brittle substāce hast abus'd The potters vessels being earth and clay Not safely guarded suddenly decay And then their vse though needfull much before Fails in effect and are obseru'd no more Thou wōdrous workmā of vnboūded skil That shewest so large art on a stuffe so ill What are our bodies made of but of mould And yet how rich a substance do they hold The which so many waies we do deface That for the iewel should preserue the case Sometime a thousand vanities our guide We dash this bark vpon the rocks of pride Or on the shelues of gluttony or lust We perish suddenly and not mistrust Sayling along