יהוה HEAVENS GLORY SEEKE IT EARTS VANITIE FLYE IT HELLS HORROR FERE IT LONDON printed for Michaell Sparke A o. 1628. To the Reader THE present carelesse security of all men in generall is like vnto our first Parents neglect of Gods sacred commandement in Paradice when the seducing Serpent no sooner pâ—rswaded euill but it was inctantly put in practise You shall dye said God was heard but you shall not dye said the Diuell was beleeued Our eares are daily acquainted with the threatnings of Gods denounced against sinners and yet that sinne that broad way-path and highway to hell is attempted with a delectation and pleasure so craftie and subtill are the baits and lures of the deceiuer and so void of spirituall wisedome is the soule-murdering sinner But if due consideration were had of the wages of sinne and the reward of vnrighteousnesse and to what bitternesse it will turne in the end it would make vs lesse bold to sinne and more fearefull to offend if we would take into our company for a daily consort the pale memory of death and whereto he summoneth vs after this life Death it selfe is very fearefull but much more terrible in regard of the iudgement it warneth vs vnto Imagine to see a sinner lye on his departing bed burdened and tyred with the grieuous and heauie load of all his former trespasses goared with the sting and pricke of a festered conscience feeling the crampe of death wresting at his heart strings ready to make the ruthfull diuorce betweene soule and body panting for breath and swimming in a cold and fatall sweat wearied with strugling against the deadly pangs Oh how much would he giue for an houre of repentance at what rate would he value a daies contrition Then worlds would be worthlesse in respect of a little respite a short truce would seeme more precious than the treasures of Empires nothing would be so much esteemed as a moment of time which non by moneths and yeeres is lauishly spent How inconsolable were his case his friends being fled his sences frighted his thoughts amazed his memorie decaied his whole minde agast and no part able to performe that it should but onely his guiltie conscience pestered with sinne continually vpbraiding him with bitter accusations what would hee thinke then stripped out of this mortall weed and turned both out of the seruice and house roome of this world hee must passe before a most seuere Iudge carrying in his owne conscience his enditement written and a perfect register of all his misdeeds when hee should see the Iudge prepared to passe the sentence against him and the same to be his Vmpire whom by so many offences he hath made his enemie When not onely the deuils but euen the Angels should plead against him and himselfe maugre his will bee his owne sharpest appeacher What were to be done in these dreadfull exigents When hee saw that gastly dungeon and huge gulfe of hell breaking out with fearefull flames the weeping houling and gnashing of teeth the rage of all those hellish monsters the horrour of the place the rigour of the paine the terrour of the company and the eternitie of all those punishments Would you thinke them wise that would daily in so weighty matters and idlely play away the time allotted them to preuent these intollerable calamities Would you then account it secure to nurse in your bosome so many vgly Serpents as sinnes are or to foster in your soule so many malicious accusers as mortall faults are Would you not then thinke one life too little to repent for so many iniquities euerie one whereof were enough to cast you into those euerlasting and vnspeakeable torments Why then doe we not at the least deuote that small remnant of these our latter dayes to the making an attonement with God that our consciences may be free from this eternall danger Who would relie the euerlasting affaires of the life to come vpon the gliding slipperinesse and running streame of our vncertaine life It is a preposterous pollicie in any wise conceit to fight against God till our weapons be blunted our forces consumed our limmes impotent and our breath spent and then when we fall for faintnesse and haue fought our selues almost dead to presume on his mercy It were a strange peece of Art and a very exorbitant course while the Ship is sound the Pylot well the Marriners strong the gale fauourable and the Sea calme to lye idle at rode and when the Ship leakes the Pylot were sicke the Marriners faint the stormes boysterous and the Sea turmoyled with surges to launch forth for a voyage into a farre Country yet such is the skill of our euening repenters who though in the soundnesse of health and in the perfect vse of reason they cannot resolue to weigh the ankers that withhold them from God neuerthelesse feed themselues with a strong perswasion that when their sences are astonied their wits distracted their vnderstanding dusked and both body and minde racked and tormented with the throbs and gripes of a mortall sicknesse then will they thnke of the weightiest matters and become Saints when they are scarse able to behaue themselues like reasonable creatures being then presumed to be lesse then men for how can he that is assaulted with an vnsetled conscience distrained with the wringing fits of his dying flesh maimed in all his abilities and circled in with so many encombrances be thought of due discretion to dispose of his chiefest iewell which is his soule No no they that will loyter in seed time and begin then to sowe when others begin to reape they that will riot out their health and cast their accounts when they can scarsely speake they that will slumber out the day and enter their iourney when the light doth faile them let them blame their owne folly if they dye in debt and eternall beggerie and fall headlong into the lapse of endlesse perdition Great cause haue wee then to haue an hourely watchfull care ouer our soule being so dangerous assaulted and enuironed most instantly entreating the diuine Maiesty to be our assured defence and let vs passe the day in mourning the night in watching and weeping and our whole time in plainfull lamenting falling downe vpon the ground humbled in sackcloath and ashes hauing lost the garment of Christ that hee may receiue what the persecuting enemy would haue spoyled euery short sigh will not be sufficient satisfaction nor euery knocke a warrant to get in Many shall cry Lord Lord and shall not be accepted the foolish Virgins did knocke but were not admitted Iudas had some sorrow and yet died desperate Foreslow not saith the holy Ghost to be conuerted vnto God and make not a daily lingering of thy repaire vnto him for thou shalt finde the suddennesse of his wrath and reuenge not slacke to destroy sinners For which cause let no man soiourne long in sinfull securitie or post ouer his repentance vntill feare enforce him to it but let vs
hee himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father c. A Prayer at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them which dye in thy faith I wretched sinner giue and submit my selfe wholly to thy most blessed will being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed vnto thy mercy I most humbly beseech thee O Lord to giue me grace that I may now willingly leaue this fraile and wicked flesh in hope of the resurrection which in better manner shall restore it to me againe grant me O Lord God that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule against all temptations and that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against the assaults of Satan I acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation but all my hope and trust is in thy most mercifull goodnesse I haue no no merits nor good workes which I may alleadge before thee of sinnes and euill works alas I see a great heape but through thy mercy I trust to be of the number of thē to whom thou wilt not impute their sins but take and impute mee for righteous and iust and to be the inheritor of euerlasting glory Thou O most mercifull Lord wert borne for my sake thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst thou didst preach teach pray and fast for my sake thou didst all good workes and sufferedst most grieuous pangs and torments for my sake and finally thou gauest thy most precious body to dye and thy blessed bloud to be shed on the crosse for my sake wherefore most mercifull Sauiour let all these things profit me which thou hast freely giuen mee which hast giuen thy selfe for me let thy bloud cleanse and wash away the spots and foulenesse of my sinnes let thy righteousnesse hide and couer my vnrighteousnesse let the merits of thy bitter sufferings be a sufficient and propitiatory sacrifice and satisfaction for my sinnes giue me O Lord thy grace that my faith and beleefe of thy true and grieuous death wauer not in me but euer be firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie waxe not cold in me and finally that the weaknesse of my flesh be not ouercome with the feare of death grant me also O most mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my body yet the eyes of my soule may still behold and looke vpon thee and that when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue and speech yet my heart may cry and say vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I giue and commi◠my soule Lord Iesus receiue my spirit and take mee to thy mercies Amen A Prayer for a Woman in time of her trauaile RIghteous holy Lord God I doe now finde by experience the fruit of my sinne that I must trauaile in sorrow and bring forth in paine and I vnfainedly adore the truth of thy sacred Word as certifying vnto me that sorrow must be in the Euening so comforting me also against the Morning that a Childe shall be borne Willingly I doe desire to submit my selfe in hope into this thy chastisement and to learne the desert of my sinne horrible in themselues that these temporall paines are forerunners of eternall and yet by thy mercy may be so sanctified vnto me as not onely to preuent eternal vengeance but also prepare for eternall comforts euen to be Saued by bearing of Children Grant me therefore gracious Father true repentance and pardon for my sinnes past that they may not stand at this time in this my neede betweene mee and thy mercy Giue mee a comfortable feeling of thy loue in Christ which may sweeten all other pangs though neuer so violent or extreame make me still to lift vp my soule vnto thee in my greatest agonies knowing that thou alone must giue a blessing to the ordinary meanes for my safe deliuerance Lay no more vpon me then I am able to endure strengthen my weake body to the bearing of what sorrow soeuer by which it shall seeme good vnto thee to make triall of me Grant me to consider that how soeuer it be with me yet I am alwaies as thine hand whose mercies faile not who will be found in the Mount and greatest extremitie and to whom belong the issues of death so prepare me therefore to death that I may be fit for life euen to yeeld fruit aliue vnto the world and to be renewed and enabled to nourish the same And when thou hast safely giuen mee the expected fruit of my wombe make me with a thankfull heart to consecrate both it and my selfe wholly to thy seruice all the dayes of my life through Iesus Christ mine onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen A Thanksgiuing after safe deliuerance O Blessed for euer be thy great and glorious Name most deere and louing Father for thy great mercy to me most weake and sinfull woman Wonderfull art thou in all thy workes O Lord the riches of thy mercies are past finding out thou hast plunged me with great afflictions and yet thou hast returned and refreshed me againe thou hast brought me to the feare of the graue and yet thou hast raised me vp again to life O how hast thou shewed thy power in my weaknesse How hath thy louing kindnesse preuailed against my vnworthinesse Thou mightest for my sinnes haue left me to perish in mine extremities but thou hast compassed me about with ioyfull deliuerance thou mightest haue made my wombe a graue to burie the dead or in affoording life to another thou mightest haue procured my death but yet thou hast not onely made my wombe a wel-spring of life but restored life vnto me also for the cherishing thereof Marucilous O Lord are thy workes infinite are thy mercies my soule by present experience knoweth it well O my soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holy name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Thou hast heard my prayers and looked vpon my sorrow thou hast redeemed my life from death and healed mine infirmities and crowned me with thine euerlasting compassions O giue me I humbly pray thee a thankfull heart not onely now while the memory sense of thy fauour is fresh before me but continually euen so long as I haue any being Grant that I may learne by this liuely euidence of thy power and mercy for euer hereafter to depend onely on thee Quicken me also to all holy duties that my thankfulnesse may appeare in my pure and Christian carriage Make me a kind and carefull mother willing to vndergoe the paine and trouble of education Let no nicenesse or curiositie hinder mee from those seruices to whom both nature and religion hath appointed me let me also be carefull when time requireth to season the fruit thou hast giuen me with the sauing knowledge of thee thy
in a little ring set forth the great vanity of this world in a little Map Let vs now learne the lesson of Saint Iohn the beloued Disciple of Christ who wrote so much of loue doth yet dehort vs from louing the world 1 Ioh. 2. 15. Loue not the world neither the things that are in the world Why not the world for three reasons 1. If any man loue the world the loue of the father is not in him 2. All that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world 3. The world passeth away and the lust thereof that is it is vaine and vanishing yea in the abstract Vanity For these reasons we must not suffer our hearts to cleaue to the best things in the world as if hâ—ppinesse were to be sound in them Follow the counsell of the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 7. 31. Vse this world as though thou vsed it not fâ—â— the fashion of this world goâ—th away Vse the things of this world as helpes to thee in thy trauell to heauen-ward but let them not steale away thy heart from better things from God and Christ and heauen and peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost these must de light the heart of a Christian who was redeemed not with corruptible 1 Pet. 1. 19. things as siluer and gold but with the precious bloud of Iesus Christ in comparison of whom all the things of the world must seeme losse and drosse and dung and whatsoeuer is most despitable in the eyes of mâ—n If riches increase set not thy heart vpon them no treasure no pleasure no honor nor gold nor plate nor iewels Ps. 62. 10 nor house nor land nor apparell nor friends must steale away thy heart We must be affected to these things as Theodoricke In bonis 〈…〉 us tacet in maâ—is â—idet in vtrisque Philosophâ—◠〈…〉 the good King of Aquitaine was with his play * In good casts he was silent in ill merry in neither angry in both a Philosopher or a wise man We must not make these a riuall vnto God we must not leane vpon these by our confidence for they are a reed that shall quickly breake and the shiuers will run into our hand Death is the most terrible of all things that are terrible said the Philosopher Aristotle it is terrible both to man and beast but most terrible to a wicked man that is worse then a beast when he remembers his sinfull life past the complexion of his flesh the palenesse of his face the dissolution of his members the rottennesse of his bones the obscurenesse of his graue the solitarinesse of his sepulcher the gnawing of wormes and the like But alas albeit these are terrible yet these are nothing without the consideration of sin which is the sting of death the strength and victory of the graue Thinke vpon thy sinnes whereof thou art guilty and for which thou must dye as the condemned malefactor that after sentence pronounced is hurried to the fatall place of execution to suffer deserued punishment Remember yea againe and againe I say remember how miserably how violently how sodainly others haue suffered death that were guilty of those sins which are more predominant in thee then they were in them Art thou a thiefe which thou maist be though thou weâ—t neuer attached for theft by the lawes of mâ—n for couetousnesse is a Pick purse before God read and remember how Achan dyed Iosh. 7. Art thou a whoremaster which thou maist be as well in thy minde as in thy body then 1 Sam. â— read and remember how Hophni and Phineas dyed how Zimri Num. 25 8. and Cosbi were slain in the very act of their vncleannesse And Iezabel an impudent strumpet dyed a sodaine and shamefull death Art thou a blasphemous swearer that dost rend grinde the sacred name of God betweene thy teeth Remember him vnder the Law that was stoned to death for his blasphemy Art thou an Idolatrous impe of the Popish Church that dost leaue our Lord to worship our Lady and giue that honour to Sâ—ints nay to stockes and stones which is proper to God alone call to minde how Sennacharih was slaine in the midst Is 37. vlt of his Idolatry Art thou an intempeâ—ate drunkard that dost sâ—crifice thy time and state nay â—oule and body vnto Bacchus rising eaâ—ly to drinke strong drinke and sitting vp lâ—te till Wâ—ne inflâ—â—ne thee thinke Dan. 5. vlt. vpon Belshazzar that was slaine in the midst of his cups whilst he was drinking in that Wine which the swords of his insâ—lting enemies drew out of him together with his lâ—test blood Art thou a couetous Vâ—â—rer that dost let out thy mony to men thy time to Mamon and thy soule to Satan that like a common Hackney jade wilt not beare thy debtors one houre past thy day or art thou a griping oppressor that dost racke thy poore tenants and exact vpon thy neighbour to gaine a little transitory trash Remember Nabal and remember that Miser in the Gospell who being Luk. 12. asleep in security and dreaming of enlarged barns and plentifull haruests was sodainly â—erest of all and being awaked vpon the hearing of his Soule-knell perceiued himself to be for euer wretched Consider whether these and the like sinners that haue made their souls the slaues of vanity haue not in the end made themselues the slaues of misery Haue they prospered or haue they perished if they haue prospered then follow them if perished as indeede they haue then in the feare of God retire out of their paths lest thou be speedily cut off hauing no information of the danger till thy owne eyes amazed with the sodainnes behold it in the shape of ineuitable damnation Be thou warned by their examples for God hath punished sinne in them to preuent sinne in thee Vt exempla Cyprian ser. â— dâ— Laps sint omnium tormenta paucorum that the torments of some few may be terrours vnto all like as thunderbolts fall Paucorum periculo sed omnium metu to the hurt but of few though not without the horror of all That ship which sees another ship sinke before her lookes about her puls doâ—ne her saile turneth heâ— câ—â—â—se and escapes the sanâ—s which else would swallow her vp as they done the other When the earth swallowed vp Corah and his confederates all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them for they said Lest the earth swallow vs vp also Num. 16. 34. The Bird will not light on the lime bush nor into the net if she see another insnared before her the Hoâ—se will not follow another whom he sees to sticke fast in the mire oh be not lesse wise then bird or beast nor more brâ—tish then Horle and Mule that hath no vnderstanding If thou â—â—â—st another fall into the fire thou wilt not willingly follow him
in store I deserue that my request should now be denied me sith when the poore made request vnto me I refused to releeue them I haue deserued to sigh and lament so long as God shall be God I haue deserued that this worme of conscience shal gnaw mine entrails for euer and euer by representing vnto mee the little pleasure that I haue enioyed and the great felicitie which I haue lost and how far greater that was which I might haue gained by forgoing that little which I would not forgoe This is that immortall worme that shall neuer dye but shal lye there euerlastingly gnawing at the entrailes of the wicked which is one of the most terrible paines that can possibly be imagined Peraduenture thou art now perswaded good Reader that there can be added no more vnto this than hath beene said But surely the mighty arme of God wanteth not force to chastice his enemies more more for all these paines that are hitherto rehearsed are such as doe appertaine generally to all the damned but besides these generall paines there are also other particular paines which each one of the damned shall there suffer in diuers sorts according to the quality of his sinne And so according to this proportion the hauty and proud shall there be abased and brought low to their great confusion The couetous shall be driuen to great necessity the glutton shall rage with continuall hunger and thirst The lecherous shall burne in the very same flames which they themselues haue enkindled And those that haue al their life time hunted after their pleasures and pastimes shall liue there in continuall lamentation and sorrow But because examples are of very great force to moue our hearts I will bring onely one for this purpose wherby somewhat of this matter may the better be perceiued It is written of a certaine holy man that he saw the paines in spirit of a licentious and worldly man in this sort First he saw how the diuels that were present at the houre of his death when hee yeelded vp his ghost snatched away his soule with great reioycing and made a present thereof to the prince of darkenesse who was then sitting in a chaire of fire expecting the comming of this present Immediately after that it was presented before him he arose vp out of his seat and said vnto the damned soule that he would giue him the preheminence of that honourable seat because he had beene a man of honour ann was alwayes very much affected to the same Incontinently after that he was placed therein crying and lamenting in that honourable torment there appeared before him two other most ougly diuels and offered him a cup full of most bitter and stinking liquor and made him to drinke and carouse it vp all perforce saying It is meet sithence thou hast beene a louer of precious wines and bankets that thou shouldest likewise proue of this our wine whereof all we doe vse to drinke in these parts Immediately after this there came other two with two fiery trumpets and setting them at his eares began to blow into them flames of fire saying This melody haue we reserued for thee vnderstanding that in the world thou wast very much delighted with minstrelcie and wanton songs and sodainly he espied other diuels loaden with vipers and serpents the which they threw vpon the breast and bellies of that miserable sinner saying vnto him that forsomuch as he had beene greatly delighted with the wanton embracings and lecherous lusts of women he should now sollace himselfe with these refreshings instead of those licentious delights and pleasures which he had enioyed in the world After this sort as the Prophet Esay saith in the 47. chapter when the sinner is punished there is giuen measure for measure to the end that in such a great variety and proportion of punishments the order and wisedome of Gods iustice might the more manifestly appeare This vision hath almighty God shewed in spirit to this holy man for aduertisement and instruction not that in hel these things are altogether so materially done but that by them we might vnderstand in some manner the varietie and multitude of the paines which be there appointed for the damned Whereof I know not how some of the Pagans haue had a certaine knowledge for a Poet speaking of this multitude of paines affirmed That although he had a hundred mouthes and as many tongues with a voyce as strong as yron yet were they not able onely to expresse the names of them A Poet he was that spake this but truely therin he spake more like a Prophet or an Euangelist than a Poet. Now then if all this euill shall most assuredly come to passe what man is he that seeing all this so certainly with the eyes of his faith will not turne ouer the leafe and begin to prouide for himselfe against that time Where is the iudgement of mâ—n now become Where is their wits yea where is at least their selfe-loue which seeketh euermore for his owne profit and is much affraid of any losse May it be thought that men are become beasts that prouide onely for the time present Or haue they peraduenture so dimmed their eye-sight that they cannot looke before them Hearken saith Esay O yee deafe and ye blinde open your eyes that you may see Who is blinde but my seruant And who is deafe but yee vnto whom I haue sent my messengers And who is blind but he that suffereth himselfe to be sold for a slaue Thou that seest so many things wilt thou not suffer thy selfe to see this Thou that hast thine ears open wilt thou not giue eare hereunto If thou beleeue not this how art thou then a Christian If thou beleeue it and doest not prouide for it how canst thou be thought a reasonable man Aristotle saith That this is the difference betweene opinion and imagination that an imagination alone is not sufficient to cause a feare but an opinion is for if I doe imagine that a house may fall vpon mee it is not enough to make me afraid vnlesse I beleeue or haue an opinion it will be so indeede for then it is sufficient to make me afraid And hereof commeth the feare that murderers alwayes haue by reason of the suspition they conceiue that their enemies doe lye in wait for them If then the opinion and onely suspition of danger is able to cause the greatest courage to feare how is it that the certainty and beleefe of so many and so great terrible miseries which are farre more sure than any opinion doth not make thee to feare If thou perceiuest that for these many yeares past thou hast led a licentious and sinfull life and that at the last according to present iustice thou art condemned to these horrible torments in hell if also there appeare by probable coniecture that there is no more likelihood of thy amendment for ensuing years to come than there was in those already past how happeneth it
houshold Prayer for priuate Families in the Morning MOst mighty and glorious God the onely Craator and Gouernour of heauen and earth and all things therein contained we miserable sinners here met together by thy grace doe in thy feare prostrate our selues before thy throne of Maiesty and glory desiring in some measure to shew our vnfained thankfulnesse for thy innumerable mercies multiplied vpon vs from the first houre of our birth yea before our birth and before time was Before the foundations of the world were laid thou out of thy free loue and meere mercy didst elect vs to eternall life when thou didst reiect others Thou didst create vs after thine owne image engrauing vpon vs the characters of spirituall wisedome righteousnesse and true holinesse when it was in thy power to haue made vs like vnto the beasts that perish yea to haue equalled vs to the basest of thy creatures And when through our owne default we lost that dignity thou dist so pittie vs as to send from thine owne bosome thine onely begotten Son to recouer it for vs and to restore it to vs and that with no lesse price then his owne heart-bloud Besides it hath pleased thee continually to spread the wings of thy gracious protection ouer vs to ward and guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to continue our life health strength food raiment peace and liberty to this very houre Thou hast euen loaded vs with thy benefits if we had hearts rightly to consider it thou renewest thy mercy toward vs euery morning and the night past hast giuen vs a testimony of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the dead of sleepe haue giuen vs a sodaine call out of this world and so presently haue brought vs to that great account which wee must make before thee thou vouchsafest yet to spare vs yea which is more to refresh vs with comfortable rest to preserue vs from all dangers that might haue befallen our soules or bodies and to bring vs in safety to the beginning of this day Heauenly father grant that we may not be vnmindfull of thy manifold mercies but that wee may often thinke of them and speake of them to thy glory and that the consideration thereof may stirre vs vp to deuote all the powers of our soules and members of our bodies to thy seruice Forgiue vs our former vnthankfulnesse for thy mercies and our seueral abuses of them yea pardon all our sinnes past we most humbly beseech thee for thy owne mercies sake and for thy sonnes merits Our sinnes are great and grieuous for in sinne we were borne and euer since haue we gone on in a course of sinne and rebellion against thee we doe daily breake thy holy precepts and that against the light of our owne knowledge albeit we know that thou art our Creatour who hast made vs our Redeemer who hast bought vs with the precious bloud of thy onely begotten Sonne and our Comforter who bestowest vpon vs all things needfull for our being and well-being for this life and for a better life Yea euen thee thee O Lord haue we presumed to offend that hast beene thus abundantly mercifull vnto vs. For this our vnthankefulnesse and wickednesse enter not into iudgement with vs wee most humbly beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts but haue mercy vpon vs haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and in mercy wash away all our sinnes with the bloud of Iesus Christ that so they may neuer be laid to our charge nor haue power to rise vp in iudgement against vs. Pierce our hearts with a feeling of our sinnes that wee may mourne for them as wee ought to doe make vs to loath and abhorre them that we may leaue and auoid them that we may be watchfull against all occasions of sinne and circumspect ouer our owne wayes Poure thy spirit and put thy grace into our hearts that thereby we may be inabled for thy seruice and both in body and soule may glorifie thee heere that wee may be glorified of thee and with thee hereafter And as a speciall meanes to keepe vs in subiection before thee worke in vs holy Father a continuall and effectuall remembrance of this earths vanity of our owne mortality of that great and terrible iudgement to come of the paines of hell and ioyes of heauen which follow after O let the remembrance of these things be a spur to prouoke vs vnto vertue and a bridle to hold vs in from gallopping after vice and wickednesse We know not â—ow soone thou wilt set a period to our liues and call for our soules to appeare before thee whether this day or not before the euening O prepare vs therefore for the houre of death that we may then neither feare nor faint but may with ioy yeeld vp our soules into thy mercifull hands and doe thou O Father of mercy receiue them Let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day shield vs from the temptations of the diuell and grant vs the custody of thy holy Angels to defend vs in all our wayes enable vs with diligence and conscience to discharge the duties of our callings and crowne all our endeauours with thy blessing without thy blessing all mans labour is but vaine doe thou therefore blesse vs in our seuerall places oh prosper thou our handy-worke Prouide for vs all things which thou knowest to be needful for euery one of vs this day Giue vs a sanctified vse of thy creatures a godly iealousie ouer ourselues a continual remembrance of thy omniscience and omnipresence that we may labour to approue our very thoughts vnto thee weane vs from the loue of this world and rauish our soules with the loue of our home and thine euerlasting Kingdome Defend the vniuersall Church the Churches of this Land especially our gracious King Charles our illustrious Queene Mary together with Prince Palatine Electour the Princesse Elizabeth his wife and their Princely issue crowne them with thy graces here and with thy glory hereafter Be with the Magistracie and Ministerie of the Realme make thy Gospell to flourish amongst vs by the labors of those whom thou hast appointed to this great seruice Comfort thine afflicted seruants in what place or case soeuer they be giue vs a fellow feeling of their miseries and wisedome to prepare our selues against the euill day Heare vs in these things and grant what else thou knowest needfull for vs not for our worthinesse but for thy Sons sake our alone Sauiour in whose name and words we conclude our imperfect prayers saying Our Father c. A houshold Prayer for priuate Families in the Euening O Glorious God in Iesus Christ our gracious Father wee wretched creatures by nature but by thy grace thy seruants and children doe here make bold to appeare before thee in the humility of our soules to performe some part of that dutie which wee owe vnto thee And
deere Son that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections to bring them in obedience vnto thee that if it shold be thy pleasure either now or hereafter to take this Infant froÌ„ me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gane it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS THE Common Cals Cryes and Sounds of the Bell-man OR Diuers Verses to put vs in minde of our mortalitie Which may serue as warnings to be prepared at all times for the day of our death Printed at London for M. S. 1628. For Christmas day REmember all that on this morne Our blessed Sauior Christ was borne Who issued from a Virgin pure Our soules from Sathan to secure And patronise our feeble spirit That we through him may heauen inherit For Saint Stephens night THis blessed time beare in your minde How that blest Martyr Stephen dyed In whom was all that good confinde That might with flesh and bloud abide In doctrine and example he Taught what to doe and what to flee Full of the spirit he would preach Against opinions false and naught Confute them too and boldly teach What Christ himselfe to him had taught For which at last he lost his breath Ston'd by the stony hearts to death Let vs then learn by this blest Martyrs end To see our â—oliies and our liues amend For Saint Johns day THis man the word did boldly teach Saw Christ transformed and did preach The glory in that Mount he saw And by that glory stroue to draw The soule of man to sinne a thrall To heauen to which God send vs all For Innocents day THe swords of Herods seruants tooke Such sweet yong things as with a look Might make a heart of Marble melt But they nor grace nor pittie felt Some from the cradle some awake Some sweetly sleeping some they take Dandled vpon their mothers lap Some from their armes some from the pap For New-yeares day ALL you that doe the Bell-man heare The first day of this hopefull yeare I doe in loue admonish you To bid your old sins all adue And walke as Gods iust Law requires In holy deeds and good desires Which if to doe you le doe your best God will in Christ forgiue the rest For Saint Dauids day I Am no Welchman but yet to show The loue I to the Countrey owe I call this morning and be seeke Each man prepare him for his Leeke For as I heare some men say The first of March is Saint Dauids day That worthy Britaine valiant wise Withstood his Countries enemies And caused his Souldiers there to choose Leekes for to know them from his foes Wâ—o brauely fought and conquest won And so the custome first begun Then weare your Leeks and doe not shame To memorize your worthies name So noble Britaines all adew Loue still King Charles for he loues you For the 5. of Nouemb. Awake Britaines subiects with one accord Extoll and praise and magnifie the Lord Humble your hearts and with deuotion sing Praises of thanks to God for our most gracious King This was the night when in a dark some Cell Treason was found in earth it hatcht in hell And had it tooke effect what would auail'd our sorrow The traine being laid to haue blowne vs vp o th' morrow Yet God our guide reueal'd the damned plot And they themselues destroy'd and we were not Then let vs not forget him thankes to render That hath preseru'd and kept our saiths desender For Good Fryday ALL you that now in bed doe lye Know Iesus Christ this night did dye Our soules most sinfull for to saue That we eternall life might haue His whips his grones his crown of thornes Would make vs weepe lament and mourn For Sunday LEt labour passe let prayer be This day the chiefest worke for thee Thy selfe and seruants more and lesse This day must let all labour passe All hale to you that sleepe and rest Repent awake your sinnes detest Call to your minde the day of doome For then our Sauiour Christ will come Accompt to haue be hath decreed Of euery thought word worke and deede And as we haue our times here past So shall our Iudgements be at last AS darke some night vnto thy thoughts present What 't is to want the dayes bright Element So let thy soule descend through contemplation Where vtter darknesse keepes her habitation Where endlesse easelesse pines remedilesse Attend to torture sinnes curst wilfulnesse O then remember whilst thou yet hast time To call for mercy for each forepast crime And with good Dauid wash thy bed with teares That so repentance may subdue hels feares Then shall thy soule more purer then the Sunne Ioy as a Gyant her best race to runne And in vnspotted robes her selfe addresse To meet her Lord that Sonne of righteousnesse To whom with God the Father and the Spirit Be all due praise where all true ioyes inherit THe Belman like the wakefull morning Cocke Doth warne you to be vigilant and wise Looke to your fire your candle and your locke Preuent what may through negligence arise So may you sleepe with peace and wake with ioy And no mischances shall your state annoy YOur beds compare vnto the graue Then thinke what sepulcher you haue For though you lay you downe to sleepe The Belman wakes your peace to keepe And nightly walkes the round about To see if fire and light be out But when the morne dayes light appeares Be you as ready for your prayers So shall your labours thriue each day That you the Belman well may pay Like to the Seaman is our life Tost by the waues of sinfull strife Finding no ground whereon to stand Vncertaine death is still at hand If that our liues so vainlesse be Then all the world is vanitie THose that liue in wrath and ire And goe to rest in any sinne They are worse vnto their house the fire Or violent theeues that would breake in Then seeke to shun with all your might That Hidr as head that monstrous sin That God may blesse your goods abroad And eke also your selues within SLeepe on in peace yet waking be And dread his powerfull Maiestie Who can translate the irkesome night From darknesse to that glorious light Whose radient beames when once they rise With winged speed the darknesse flyes THou God that art our helpe at hand Preserue and keepe our King land Frem forraigne and domesticke foes Such as the word and truth depose And euer prosper those of pittie That loue the peace of this our Citie
AWake from sleepe awake from sin With voyce and heart to call on him Who from aboue pleas'd to dâ—scend From Sathans malice to desend Our forfeit soules to that â—ich grace Where we may still behold his face LEt vs repare and God implore That henceforth we transgres no more And that our ioy be at this tide That we in him be satisfide Then shall we all for his deare sake Be blest asleepe be blest awake SIth neither men nor Angels know When as the dreadful trump shal blow Nor when our Sauiour Christ shall come To giue the world a wofull doome Thinke then but what a case you 're in That sleepe in vnrepented sinne O wake O wake O watch and pray And thinke vpon this dreadfull day SLeepe not so sound rest not secure Marke well my words of this be sure The waking Virgins past the gate When those that slept came all too late Wherefore be watchfull in your center That you may with the Bridegrome enter IF wicked impes make day and night And keepe their candle alwayes light And all their skill and practise bend To bring their damned plots to end Let vs not sleepe but laud his skill That frustrates all their proiects still THe night well spent the day drawes nigh Awake from sleepe and sinne deâ—ie All sluggish sloath expell away Haue still in minde the iudgement day When dead shall rise at trumpets call The graues shall open wide with all ARise from sinne awake from sleepe The earth doth mourne The heauens weepe The winds and Seas distempered bin And all by reason of mans sin Wherefore arise â—ay sleepe aside And call on God to be your guide From raging sword and arrowes flight And from the terrours of the night From fires flame from sin and sorrow God blesse you all and so good morrow ALL you which in your beds doe lye Vnto the Lord ye ought to cry That he would pardon all your sinnes And thus the Belmans prayer begins Lord giue vs grace our sinful life to mend And at the last to send a ioyfull end Hauing put out your fire and your light For to conclude I bid you all good night MAns life is like a warfare on the earth Whose time is spent with troubles toyles and cares Subiect to all temptations from his birth In woe he liues and dyes at vnawares The surest signe true fortitude to show Is in his life all vice to ouerthrow O Harke O harke my Masters all To your poore seruants cry and call And know all you that lye at ease That our great God may if he please Depriue you of your vitall breath Then sleeping thinke your sleep is death LEt true repentance cleanse your sin And then your soules coÌ„mend to him That by his death hath rais'd and cur'd The dead the blinde and them assured To giue to them eternall rest To liue in heauen among the blest Confesse thy sinnes to God on hie Who pardons sinners when they cry Bewray thy faults to him in time Who will in Christ forgiue thy crime HE that on the crosse hath dyed And for our sinnes was crucisied Be you euer blest in him And cleane reâ—itted from your sinne Be it granted as I haue praid And so the Belman resteth paid ALL you that in bed doe lye Harken well to what I cry Leaue of your sinnes repentance craue It is the onely way your soules to saue REpent in time while ye haue breath RepentaÌ„ce commeth not after death He therefore that will liue for aye Must leaue his sinnes and to God pray O Gracious God and blessed Preserue all ye that be in bed So that your quiet rest may take Vntill the morning that yee wake Then may ye all with praises sing To thee O God our heauenly King REmember man thou art but dust There is none aliue but dye he must To day a man to morrow none So soone our life is past and gone Mans life is like a withered flower Aliue and dead all in an houre Leaue of thy sins therefore in time And Christ will rid thee from thy crime O Mortall man that is made of dust In worldly riches put not thy trust Remember how thy time doth passe Euen like the sand that from the Glasse Hath spent the time and there remaines Neuer canst thou call that time againe SIcke men complaine they cannot sleepe The Bel-man such a noise doth keepe Others that doe win at play Saies he too soone proclaimes the day Yet to the sicke that drawes short breath It puts them in the minde of death And saies the gamster makes good stake If he for heauen so long would wake And all this while like silly worme He doth his office but performe Then if his duety breed disease Hee le go to bed and none displease FINIS
secure in so great danger but may quake and tremble to see thy hand of vengeance before vs. And howsoeuer by our sinnes we are set in the middest of this danger yet let the hand of thy mercy which is as omnipotent as that of thy iustice rescue vs let thy out-stretched arme deliuer vs. Put vp thy sword into the scabbard oh bid it rest and be still Be fauourable and gracious vnto this thy Syon crowne her with plenty prosperity and victory Let not her enemies reioyce in her subuersion nor triumph in her destruction Hide not thy face from her in the day of trouble stoppe not thine eares at our prayers Be vnto vs all a horne of saluation a rocke of safetie a wall of brasse a strong tower and fortresse against the face and force of our enemies diuert their designes frustrate their enuie abate their fury asswage their pride restraine their power and in thy name let vs tread them vnder that maliciously and mischieuously rise vp against vs. Suffer not the light of thy Gospel to be eclipsed nor the splender of thy glory to be obscured let not thy name be dishonoured nor thy Sanctuary defiled nor thy truth slandered but now and euer defend and deliuer as thou hast formerly done this Church and State from plagne Pestilence and aboue all that most terrible vengeance the deuouring sword and that for his sake who hath led captiuity captiue and like a victorious Conqueror hath triumphed ouer all his enemies euen Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and holy Ghost be all honour and glory Amen A Prayer for them that are about the Sicke HEare vs Almighty and most mercifull God and Sauiour extend thine accustomed goodnesse to this thy seruant which is grieued with sicknesse visite him O Lord as thou didst Peters wiues mother and the Captains seruant restore vnto this sicke body his former health if it be thy will or else giue him grace to take this thy visitation patiently that after this painfull life ended he may dwell with thee in euerlasting life O Lord behold we bend our knees yea the knees of our hearts with vnfained prayers lift vp our eyes to the throne of thy mercies seat to hearken to these our petitions according to thy promises therefore O Lord grant our requests we are gathered here together in thy name in the behalfe of this thy seruant deliuer him we humbly beseech thee from these his languishing paines and miseries of sicknesse and as it hath pleased thee to lay thine hand vpon him so O Lord restore him to his former health keepe him O Lord from fearefull and terrible assaults and despightful temptations of the diuell sinne and hell deliuer him O Lord as thou deliueredst Noah from the raging waues of the flouds Lot from the destruction of Sadome Abraham from the feare of the â—aldeans the children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh Dauid from the hands of Goliah the three men from the violence of the fiery furnace in Babylon Daniel from the mouth of the Lyons Ionas from the belly of the Whale and Peter from the prison of Herod Euen so O gracious Lord deliuer the soule of this person both now and whensoeuer he shall depâ—rt hence from all perill and danger open vnto him at the houre of death the doore of Paradice the gates of heauen and the entry of euerlasting life O Lord Iesus Christ forgiue him all his sinnes and lead him with ioy into the kingdome of thy heauenly Father euen vnto the bosome of Abraham and appoint him his euerl sting rest that he may reioyce with thee and all the elect children of God to whom be all honour glory power and dominion Amen The sicke persons Prayer LOrd hearken to my prayer and giue eare to my humble request Lord be mercifull vnto me and giue me grace patiently to beare the crosse and in the midst of this my sicknesse alwayes to say thy will O heauenly Father be done and not mine forgiue and forget most gracious Father all mine iniquities blot them out of thy remembrance and cast them from thy sight O Lord as farre as the East is from the West the North from the South they are many and innumerable let them not rise vp in iudgement against me neither enter thou into thy narrow iudgement with thy seruant O Lord for no flesh is righteous before thee handle me not according to my deserts deale not with me after my wickednesse neither reward me aftermine iniquities O Lord my God looke not into my â—normious nor incestious life I am ashamed of my sinnes and aske pardon for my faults euen with a repenting heart and sorrowfull minde a bleeding soule with hidden teares of a true and vnfained repentance for my misdeeds yea my wounded breast surcharged with oppressing griefes doth sigh groane and lament vnder the burthen of my heinous crimes wherefore O Lord wash them away with thy bloud which thou hast shed for my sinnes and I shall be clean and pure without spot purge me O Lord with those precious drops that distilled from thy tormented heart and I shall be whiter then the snow burie mine offences in the sepulcher of thy death and cloath me with the garment of righteousnesse O Lord for thine infinite goodnesse and mercy sâ—ke â—eceiue me into thy tuition and fauour pardon O Lord and remit my sins as thou forgauest Dauid his murther and adultery with Bersheba Saul his persecutions of thy people Peter his deniall Mary Magdalen her lasciuious life and the Publican in the Temple with striking his breast craued thy gracious pardon saying Lord haue mercy vpon me a sinner and although my sinnes and offences are farre greater and more grieuous then these yet O Lord thy mercies exceede and are far more compassionate then our sinnes manifold I iustifie not my selfe O my God by the offences of these but declare thy righteousnesse and mercifull clemencies in forgetting and forgiuing our abhominable trespasses and transgressions of thy wil which though wee are froward yet thou art gentle though we are stubborne yet thou art meeke and though we run headlong to the pits brinke and to the gates of hell yet thou of thy goodnesse callest vs backe and remittest all that wee haue done amisse O Lord I haue acknowledged my faults that they are best knowne vnto thee wherefore O Lord I aske forgiuenes for the same send me the comfort of thy holy spirit that if thou giue me my former health and strength of body I may amend my life according to thy sacred will and walke worthily in thy Lawes and Commandements if it be thy pleasure to take mee hence out of this transitory life O Lord grant that I may rest and liue with thee for euer world without end O Lord heaken vnto these my petitions for Iesus Christ his sake I aske them and all other things which thou shalt thinke meet both for our soules and bodies in the same forme of prayer as