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
that running headlong into so manifest a danger thou art not at all afraid Especially considering the sinfull state wherein thou liuest and the horrible paines and torments which doe attend for thee and the time which thou hast lost and the endlesse repentance which thou shalt haue therefore in the most horrible torments of hell Assuredly it goes beyond the compasse of all common sence conceit of humane reason to consider That there should be such negligent wilfull grosse carelesse blindnesse able to enter and take such deepe rooting in the soule of man The Conclusion of all the Premises IF now all this be so I beseech thee euen for the bitter passion of our sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ to remember thy selfe and consider that thou art a Christian and that thou beleeuest assuredly for a most vndoubted truth whatsoeuer the true faith instructeth thee This faith telleth thee that thou hast a iudge aboue that seeth all the steps and motions of thy life and that certainly there shall a day come when he will require an account of thee euen for euery idle word This faith teacheth thee That a man is not altogether at an end when he dieth but that after this temporall life there remaineth another euerlasting life and that the soules dye not with the bodies but that whiles the body remaineth in the graue vntill the generall day of iudgement the soule shall enter into another new country and into a new world where it shall haue such habitation and company as the faith and workes were which it had in this life This faith telleth thee also that both the reward of vertue and the punishment of vice is a thing so wonderfull that although the whole world were full of bookes and all creatures were writers yet should they all be wearied and the world come to an end before they should end their description and make a perfect declaration what is comprehended in each one of these points This faith informeth thee also that the debts and duties which we owe to almighty God are so great that albeit a man had so many liues as there be sands in the Sea yet would they not suffice if they were al employed in his seruice And this faith likewise telleth thee that vertue is such an excellent treasure that all the treasures of the world and all that mans heart can desire are in no sort comparable vnto it Wherefore if there be so many and so great respects that doe inuite vs vnto vertue how commeth it to passe that there be so few louers and followers of the same If men be moued with gaine commodity what greater coÌ„modity can there be than to attain life euerlasting If they be moued with feare of punishment what greater punishment can be found than the most horrible euerlasting dreadfull torments in the lake of fire and brimstone to continue euer world without end If that bonds of debts and benefits what debts are greater than these which we owe vnto almighty God as well for that he is which he is as also for that which we haue receiued of him If the feare of perils doe moue vs what greater perill can there be than death the houre thereof being so vncertaine and the account so strait If thou be moued with peace liberty quietnesse of minde and with a pleasant life which are things that all the world desires it is certaine that all these are found much better in the life that is gouerned by vertue and reason than in that life which is ruled by the affections and passions of the minde forsomuch as man is a reasonable creature and no beast Howbeit in case thou account all this as not sufficient to moue thee thereunto yet let it sussice thee to consider further that euen almighty God so abased himselfe for thy sake that he descended from heauen vnto the earth and became man and whereas hee created the whole world in sixe dayes he bestowed three and thirty yeares about thy redemption yea and was also contented for the same to loose his life Almighty God dyed that sinne should dye and yet for all this doe we endeauour that sinne might liue in our hearts notwithstanding that our Lord purposed to take away the life of sinne with his owne death If this matter were to be discussed with reason surely this already spoken might suffice to preuaile with any reasonable creature for not onely in beholding almighty God vpon the crosse but whethersoeuer we doe turne our eyes we shall finde that euery thing crieth out to vs and calleth vpon vs to receiue this so excellent a benefit for there is not a thing created in the world if wee duely consider it but doth inuite vs to the loue and seruice of our Sauiour Iesus Christ insomuch that looke how many creatures there be in the world so many preachers there are so many bookes so many voices and so many reasons which doe all call vs vnto almighty God And how is it possible then that so many callings as these are so many promises so many threatnings and so many prouocations should not suffice to bring vs vnto him What might almighty God haue done more than he hath done or promised more greater blessings than hee hath promised or threatned more grieuous and horrible torments than he hath threatned to draw vs vnto him and to plucke vs away from sinne And yet all this notwithstanding how commeth it to passe that there is so great I will not say arrogancy but bewitching of men that doe beleeue these things to be certainly true and yet be not afraid to continue all the dayes of their life in the committing of deadly sinnes yea to goe to bed in deadly sinne and to rise vp againe in deadly sinne and to embrue themselues in euery kinde of loathsome detestable and odious sin euen as though all their whole endeauours intended by the practise of sinne to resist all grace and fauour in the sight of God And this is done in such sort so without feare so without scruple of minde so without breaking of one hoâ—â—â—s sleepe and without the refraining of any one delicate morsell of meat for the same as if all that they beleeued were dreames and old wiues tales and as if all that the holy Euangelists haue written were meere fiction and fables But tell me thou that art such a desperate wilfull rebell against thy Creator and Redeemer which by thy detestable life and dissolute conuersation doest euidence thy selfe to be a firebrand prepared to burne in those euerlasting and reuenging horrible fires of hell What wouldest thou haue done more than thou hast done in case thou haddest beene perswaded that all were meere lyes which thou hast beleeued For although that for feare of incurring the danger of the princes lawes and the execution of their force vpon thee thou hast somewhat brideled thine appetites yet doth it not appeare that for any feare of Almighty God thou hast refrained thy
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
shadow shake i' th shine And by free choice from good to ill decline Sweet Sauiour cleanse my leprous loath some soule In that depurpled Fount which forth thy side Gurgling did twixt two Lilly-mountaines roule To rinse Mans tainted Race Sin soylifide Wash it more white then the triumphant Swan That rides o' th siluer brest of Eridan Suffer my prayers harmony to rise Into thine eares while th' Angels beare a part Accept my Sigâ—s as smelling Sacrifice Sent from the Altar of my bleeding heart Vpto thy nostrils sweet as th' Oyle of Aaron Or th'odoriferous Rose of flowrie Sharon The Hart ne're long'd more for the purling brookes Nor did the lust full Goate with more pursuit After the blossom'd Tritifolie looke Then do's my panting Soule t' enioy the fruit Of thy Life-water which if I attaine To taste of once I ne're shall thirst againe Euen as the chapped ground in Summers heat Cals to the clouds and gapes at euery showre Whose thirstie Casma's greedily intreat As tho they would th' whole house of heau'n deuour So do's my riuen Soule beparcht with sin Yawne wide to let mayst drops of Mercie in Earths vanitie VAnitie of vanities and all is but vanitie saith the wisest Preacher that euer wrote One generation passeth and another commeth and all is but vexation of spirit Which diuine theorem that we may the better perceiue let vs set our selues to the serious meditation of it for the more we search the more we shall see all things to be vanity nothing constant nothing for our eternall good but our soules saluation Mans life on â—arth doth no sooner begin but his 〈◊〉 approacheth his death hasteneth Some come vpon the stage of this world but to haue a breathing and are presently gone others stay a while longer it may be a day perhaps a weeke perhaps a month peraduenture a yeare or it may be some few yeares but alas the longer they stay the greater their griefe care feare and anxietie of minde Euen in the infancie of age man is oft times left as Mâ—ses sometime was in the flouds of misery but as age increaseth sorrow increaseth because sinne increaseth when youth runnes most at randome and thinketh it selfe most safe it is then hemm'd in with greatest dangers then the rashfoole-hardy minde of man hurrieth him headlong to hell except the irresistible power of Gods preuenting grace doth speedily stay him then his wits are euen intoxicated with a frenzie of iniquity and wholly bent vpon riotousnesse rashnesse luxury iollitie superfluity and excesse in carnall pleasures Hee then deuoteth his time and addicteth himselfe to all manner of euill drinking dancing reuelling swaggering swearing whoring gaming quarelling fighting and in the meane while neuer thinkes on heauen nor feareth hell His head is frought with vanities his heart with fallacies whereby his soule is brought into a labyrinth of inextricable miseries So great is the temerity of his vnaduised minde that no consideration of Gods iudgements either past or present or to come can set a stop to his wickednesse His youthfulnesse damps at no bogges quagmires hils or mountaines but wingeth him ouer all impediments mounts him ouer all motiues that might way-lay his sinnes He sticks not to offend his maker to recrucifie his redeemer to resist shall I say his sanctifier no but the Spirit whom God hath giuen to be his sanctifier and if hee so carry himselfe toward thâ—se no meruaile that he derideth his Tutor scornes the Minister like the little children that mock'd Elisha oppresseth his poore brother as Pharaoh did the Israelites spareth not Infants no more then Herod did regardeth not parents no more then Hophin and Phinius did Let the mother direct him the father correct him his ancients instruct him alas all is in vaine youth makes men head-strong selfe-conceited and proud so that they swell with an ouerweening opinion of their owne worth they thinke themselues the onely wits of the time the onely men of the world more fit to teach others then to learn themselues more able to giue then to take aduice If they goe on a while in their lewd courses without the restraining and renewing Grace of God they get a habit of euill are hardned through the custome of sinne none may resist them none compare with them no law of God or man can restraine them They take counsel together against Psa. 2. 2 3 the Lord and against his annointed saying Let vs breake their bands asunder and cast away their cords from vs. Whereupon oftentimes the ripenesse of sinne being hastened by outragiousnesse of sinning God suddenly Nâ—quities vitae non sinit esse senew cuts them off in their intemperancy luxury quarrels and disorders which shewes their vainnesse to be meere vanity Suppose they grow as great as Tamberlaine yet a Gunne Pike Arrow nay a Fly Flea or Gnat a dram nay a drop of poyson proues them to be vaine men one of these silly creatures may send him presently to his creatour to receiue his final doome Yet alas what doe these most minde The bum-basted silken Gallants of our time that come forth like a May morning decked with all the glory of Art the Epicurean Cormerants the gusling and tipling tosse-pots the dainty painting Dames the delicate mincing Ladies the sweet-singing Syrens the dancing Damsels the finicall youths the couzening Shop-keeper the crafty Crafts-man I say what doe all these but set their minds vpon vanitie vpon glory honour pride drosse and such like trash which weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary proue lighter then vanity Doe we not sometime see more spent vpon one suite in Law then would keepe a poore Country towne with the inhabitants for a whole yeare See wee not more spent vpon one suite of apparell for one proud carkasse then would build a Free-schoole So that the cloathes on many a Gallants backe exceeds his Rent-day See we not more spent vpon a Feast to satisfie the curiosity of a few then would satisfie the necessity of a hundred poore wretches almost famished to death See wee not more drunke in a Tauerne at one â—itting by a small company then would serue a troope of sturdy Souldiers in the field Many goe daily to the Tauern where they sticke not to spend their twelue pence who would grudge to giue one penny nay one farthing to a hungry begger Againe is there not now more spent vpon a Ladies feather then would pay a meane mans tythes Is there not more spent vpon one paire of sleeues then would cloath sixe bodies and more spent at a Whitsun-ale then would keepe the poore of the Parish for a yeare Haue wee not amongst our Gentry some of the female sexe who will spend more vpon a Glasse and a pot of complexion then they will giue a whole yeare at their gate they must be menders of that which God makes makers of that which God marres turning themselues like the Camelion into all shapes though neuer so grisly and vgly and being
sinne will then torment me for sinning vntill I cry out with Cain My punishment is greater then I can beare A horse is but a vaine thing to saue a man said the sweet singer of Israel so say I all earthly things are too vaine to saue a man to make him blessed I appeale to the conscience of euery man if thou hast tried the pleasures of vanity and who hath not whether thou maist not take vp the words of Saint Rom. 6. 12. Paul What fruit haue I of those things whereof I am now ashamed Shame and griefe and guilt and punishment are the fruit of vanity enough I thinke to rend our hearts from affecting of it Thinke vpon this thou that art in the trace of vanity that thou maist make a retreat loose no more time herein for thou hast already lost too much redeeme the time because the dayes are euill and why are they euill but because they are vaine Whatsoeuer is without the circumference of euill is about the sphere of vanity Resolue therefore with thy selfe that all things earthly worldly carnall sinfull are vaine the fashion of this world passeth away faith the Apostle 1 Cor. 7. 3. The fashion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a word very emphaticall it signifies first an accidentall and externall figure without substance secondly the habit vesture or cloathing of a thing Saint Paul vseth this word to debase the world by intimating vnto vs that the world is cloathed with a vesture that is wearing and wasting the fashion of it lasteth but for a time it is ready euery houre to put on a new fashion againe by intimating vnto vs that the world is without any substantiall forme like vnto shewes and shadowes that vanish in the representation Saint Luke cals all Agrippa's pompe but a fancie Dauid cals the yeares of a man but a tale Psal. 90. 9. We spend our yeares as a tale that is told As a tale nay as a thought for so much the originall word doth import and how many thoughts may a man haue in an houre Nothing is more changable then a vesture nothing more fugitiue then a shadow nothing more fickle then a fancie nothing more swift then thought What a disproportion therefore is it for the immortall soule of a man to be fastened vnto things which are of such a variable nature What a folly for vs to preferre those which are but momentary for so I may more truely cal them then temporall vnto those things which are indeede eternall Glasses are in great vse amongst vs yet because of their brittlenesse who esteemes them precious We smell to flowers because they are sweet but because they are fading we regard them thereafter It were well if we would deale thus with all other vanities viz. regard them as they are vse the creatures we may but not abuse them serue our selues of them but not serue them inioy them but not ouer-ioy in them Now because examples are are very effectuall whether we vse them by way of dehortation or whether by way of exhortation let me propound one or two in this matter whereof I am treating that by them thou maist be beaten off from the vanities and iniquities of this present euill world When Alexander in the height of his glory kept * a Parliament of the whole Conuentum terrarum orbiâ— world himselfe was summoned by death to appeare in another world It was a wonderfull president of the vanity and variety of humane condition saith the Historian to see mighty Iustin. l. 2. Zerxes flote and flye away in a small vessel who before wanted Sea-roome for his Ships When Belshazzar was laughing and Dan. 5. quaffing with his Princes and Concubines carowsing healths in the sacred Vessels deaths secretary the hand-writing on the wall told him he was weighed in the ballance and his Kingdome was finished And before him his father Nebuchadnezzar at that time the greatest Monarch in the world as he was strouting in his Galleries and boasting of his owne power and honour a voyce from heauen told him that his Kingdome was departed from him that he Dan. 4. should be driuen from amongst men that he should haue his dwelling with the Beasts of the field c. And the sentence was fulfilled on him the same houre So Zedekiah was a liuely spectacle 2 Kin. 25 of this worlds vanity and misery who of a potent King became a miserable captiue saw his children slaine before his face after that had his eyes put out and died miserably in prison I had almost forgotten Salomon the wisest King that euer Eccl. â— was hauing giuen himselfe to take pleasure in pleasant things hauing made great workes built goodly Houses planted Vineyards Gardens and Orchards and planted in them trees of all fruit hauing gathered siluer and gold and the chiefe treasures of Kings and Prouinces being now full of wisedome and schooled with experience he is licensed to giue his sentence of the whole world and euery man knowes what his censure was Vanity of vanities Eccl. 1. â— vanity of vanities all is vanity This wise King trauelled all the world ouer and the further he went the more vanity he did see and the neerer he looked the greater it seemed till at last he could see nothing but vanity Wouldst thou know what is to be seene or heard or had in this vast Vniuerse Vanity saith Salomon yea vanity of vanities and what else Vanity of vanities And whâ—â— else All is vanity Nothing beneath the Moone that hath not a tincture of vanity Nay the Moone it self the Sunne all the Planets all the Starres the whole body of the Heauens is become subiect to Vanitie The creature is subiect vnto Vanity saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 20. that is the whole frame of the world consisting of the coelestiall and elementary region the visible heauens with all their goodly furniture of Starres and of coelesti all bodies and the earth with her ornaments and the other elements The heauens shall perish Psal. 10◠〈◊〉 and they shall waxe old as doth a garment and the Lord shall change â—hem as a vesture and they shall be changed As a garment the older it waxâ—th the lesse comely it is the lesse able to warme him that weares it so the materiall heauens by continuance of yeares decrease in beauty and vertue The neerer the Sunne drawes to the end of his daily course the lesse is his strength in the euâ—ning we feele the Sunne to decay in his heat and he waxeth alway the weaker Now if those superiour bodies then much more things inferiour and sublunary are included within the compasse of vanity But it was my purpose when I first set vpon this subiect so ample and large to be so much the more short euery vnderstanding can of it selfe discourse where such plenty of matter is offered I haue therefore according to the modell of that gift which God hath giuen me contriued a great picture
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
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