A GODLIE MANS GVIDE to Happinesse A Manuell of necessary Motiues holy Meditations and godly Prayers to stirre vp the hearts of men vnapt to pray To the great Comfort of all that with due and holy attention will practise this most godly and Christian dutie Written for his owne and published for the Comfort of them that long for trvâ— happinesse By I. N. LONDON Printed by A M. for Iohn Marriott and are to bee sold at his Shop in Saint Dâ—nstons Churchyard in Fleetsheet 1624. TO THE HONORAble Sir IAMES FVLLERTON Knight one of his Highnesse Councell of Reuenues c. I Know Sir that I shall be censured very rash in attempting more vnaduised in publishing and most improuident in making your selfe the Patron of so weak a Pamphlet for the first I may excuse me in that I haue bin long vnwillingly idle and loath to lose the benefit of the inforced intermission of mine accustomed former imployments I could conceiue no fitter or better passe-time then in this interim to seek some inward consolation in my outward discomforts for the Second I acknowledge that imparting these weake Meditations vnto some seeming wel affected to the best things I was incouraged to lay them down to the pleasure of the Printer who not without examination allowance hath brought the same to publike view And as touching the Third and last in making choyce of your name among so many of that Honourable Societie whom I most humbly and sincerely honour and reuerence I cannot but acknowledge the reason to be no other then that I haue bene longest knowen vnto your selfe And you best know how I haue past many yeares in Seruice and attendance commanded by that Honorable Table These no fained excuses may in honourable fauour free me from the censure of rashnesse in attempting it of presumption in publishing it and of neglect or respect of persons in patronizing it So shall I think mine idle time not altogether lost though gaining little outward profit whether happy or vnhappy in gaining the one or loosing by the other I am so much the more doubtful to iudg by how much I obserue that men are heere censured happy vnhappy not in respect of inward or outward qualities bee they good or bad but according to their present prosperitie or aduersity glory or basenesse riches or pouertie which as a sea often ebbes and flowes As variable winds blow and waues tossed are lifted vp and come low wherein some sayling with a full gale of glory thinke themselues in highest felicity who yet forgetting or neglecting to steere aright the huge bulke of their conceiued happinesse rush many times vpon the rocke of Disgrace more grieuous then their former fortunes were glorious He that seeketh and thinketh to finde true felicitie in the inconstant things of this life is as happy a man as hee that dreameth that hee hath sound great store of golde and seemeth to reioyce beyond measure in his good fortune and when hee awakes hee findes it a dreame So may men dreame of happinesse here but it is onely reserued for such as make least account of this worlds glory who haue their conuersations in Heauen while they liue in the earth where yet no man can iudge of a truely happy man At yours and to the rest of their Honourable Commaunds euer ready IOHN NORDEN To as many as long for true happinesse IT is not to be doubted but that euery man that liueth desireth to liue a happie life but euery man taketh not the right course to be truly happy For as there is in euery man a double life the one in this world the other in another the one perishing the other permanent so are men carnally or diuinely qualified and accordingly bend their indeuors to visible or inuisible things are commonly most affected to things visibly seene and sencibly felt tasted or heard But as for inuisible things few attaine to know them much lesse to seeke them least of all to enioy them No although their bodies bee ouerwhelmed with millions of maladies their minds with cares griefs infinite passions which nothing can cure or releeue but some speciall inward spirituall working yet seldome or neuer looke they vp aboue these earthly things but in whatsoeuer outward or inward hard estate they are they seeke helpe here below if they finde it they ascribe it to the visible meanes and acknowledge them happie in finding it in sicknesse to finde a Phisition to heale them in pouertie to haue a friend to enrich them is imputed happinesse how much more happinesse were it then for a man neuer to be sicke to be rich to be glorious in the eyes of all men to be reputed the wisest man in the world and to enioy what his heart could thinke here Would not all men admire this mans happinesse And would not all men desire and couet to bee in his like estate And admit hee attaine vnto it is this the happinesse he aymes at No hee must haue peace and long life to enioy it else the very consideration of death and to forgoe this faigned happinesse would be vnto him as if a sword hung ouer his head by the haire of a horse taile euerie minute readie to fall on his head Alas what shall a man then so much struggle and striue for the happinesse of this life that consisteth onely of such things as the getting of them requires labour somtimes lies the hauing of of them enuie the keeping of them feare and the losse of them sorrow Which yet is not all there must bee finally a redde rationem an account a fearefull reckoning which if men would dulie consider in the time of their greatest supposed happinesse it would make their hearts to tremble and their knees to knock one against another like Balteshars for feare of the infelicitie to come If then the greatest happinesse that man can attaine vnto in this life be thus accompanied where is that true happinesse that absolute felicitie finally promised Such a happinesse there is but what it is no man can declare it for the eye hath not seene it the eare hath not heard neither can it enter to mans heart what God hath prepared for those that loue him But by examination of the chiefe things wherein man in this life can repute himselfe most happie and comparing them with what things wee shall futurely enioy it will appeare that mans happinesse doth not onely consist in the enioying of good things but in the freedome from euill things The happiest man in this life hath causes of mourning griefe and vexation of spirit his life requireth labour labour brings wearinesse wearinesse couets rest and rest presupposeth the bodies infirmitie and consequently decay and death And death precedeth eternall saluation the happinesse of the soule and bodie or damnation of both This is the portion of all men mortall how happie soeuer hee seeme to liue heere where they haue hunger thirst heate and cold want of things
and in feare to bee stoned of the people And many other crosses had he Not one of Christs Apostles or faithfull Fathers of the Primitiue Church no not Christ himselfe hath escaped the troubles of this mortall life and shall wee weâ—e wee his dearest children thinke or desire to escape it sith it is our honour to suffer with and for Christ The Scriptures themselues besides authentike Histories abound with witnesses that Gods Children haue beene euer most afflicted and that God yet nâ—uer fayleth them nor finally forsaketh them Whosoeuer therefore is strayted with any troubles or pressed with any afflictions Let them make vse of the examples of Gods dealing with and his mercies shewed towards our former afflicted faithfull Fathers For hee is the same God still hee hath the same power the same prouidence the same loue and the same Fatherly care of theÌ„ that trust in him as our faithfull forefathers did and were deliuered And the memoriall of their faith and patience is recorded by former holy men of God as by Moses by Dauid by the Prophets by Christ and his Apostles to teach vs to imitate them in holy obedience euen vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come that through our like patience and faith wee might haue hope to bee likewise eased of our afflictions and troubles as thâ—se and other holy men hoped and were deliuered and releeued Dauid that worthy King of â—srael penned to the prayse and glory of God for our instruction and comfort sundry most sweet and comfortable Psalmes in the middest of his greatest troubles shewing the force of his faith to bee so strong and his hope so assured depending vpon Gods power promises and prouidence as he deemed himselfe euen then deliuered when he was yet in greatest perill Such was the firme and constant hope of holy Dauid that in all his troubles sicknesse of the body danger of enemies yea when his Crowne was like to be taken from his head by his owne sonne through patience and hope not limiting the holy one of Jsrael hee wayted Gods leasure and was deliuered teaching vs to attend Gods appointed time without grudging at our troubles There is no danger so great no tentation so strong out of which God is not able to deliuer his For example was not Daniel in a desperate danger being cast into the hungry Lyons Denne Did hee perish there The three children in the seuenfold hot Furnace were they consumed Did not the powerfull and preuayling hand of God the Angell of his presence miraculously preserue them in his mercie And did he not confound the ministers of their intended torments in his Iustice Why then shall faithfull men feare or be affrayd at the â—alice and furious threates of whatsoeuer roaring Tyrant God hath power ouer their hearts and hands And therefore sayth Dauid full of faith I will not feare what man can doe vnto mee for it is the Lord that maketh mee to dwell in saftie What if then I bee sicke with Hezekiah hee can apply the sweete and salutary figs of his fauour to heale mee or will affoord mee the patience to beare it or which is best of all a speedie dissolution to rest with him If pouerty assaile mee should I grudge and repine at the wealth and prosperitie of others euen as holy Dauid himselfe once seemed to doe seeing himselfe in necessity and the wicked to prosper This he did in his haste but vpon more holy deliberation and consultation with the Word of God he did acknowledge it good for him so to bee humbled knowing that God forgetteth not the poore that call vpon him though he supplie not our necessities in abundance yet he neuer will faile to prouide for vs that we perish not Hee may suffer vs to want some superfluous things of this world that the wealthy haue but instead thereof hee will giue vs better things that the wealthy want Though Lazarus was poore naked hungry and full of sores here loathsome to the eye of men and the rich man gloriously robed his belly full his body free from spott or wrinkle which of these was the happiest Man could not iudge but their ends declared which of them had the best portion the vilest of them in mans sight was most glorious in Gods and contrary Man often fayleth in iudgement of mens happinesse because hee seeth onely the case and seeth not the Iewell within it hee discerneth onely the outward habit but not the inward heart and therefore knoweth not what end any man shall make for whatsoeuer the outward shew bee of a happy man beleeue it not till thou see his end What a miserable man was Iob on the dunghill and what an vnhappy man was Joseph in prison what ends the Lord made with them both is manifest What a happy man was Nabuchadnezzar in his glorious palace and what a glorious Monarch was Balteshasher who feasted one thousand of his Vassall Princes at once What a worthy wise and glorious King was Herod the son of Aristobulus surnamed Agrippa sitting in his royall robes in his regall throne at whose Oration the people showted crying The voyce of God and not of a man Looke within a while vpon the first and thou shalt see him grazing with the wild beasts of the forest Looke vpon the second thou shalt suddenly see him perish in his drunkennesse and behold the third and thou shalt see him immediatly vpon his Deified Oration to be deuoured with the vermine of his owne bowels The estates of these kindes of men seene with the eyes of a carnall man are censured as they seeme but these and infinite other examples prooue that the mightie and the wise men of the world are not all glorious within though gorgious with â—ut Iudge not therfore the ends of men by their outward appearance for the most glorious beginnings of men not fearing God come often to fearefull endes To prooue further by Histories wee need not wee haue seene it with our eyes But as touching the children of God they for the most part seem base and such as are seemly to the outward appearance haue yet humble spirits seeming not the wisest in the world because they are inwardly so innocent and harmlesse as they can shew no carnall policies as doe the wise of the world but the basest and seeming vilest of Gods children that want plentie of food for their bodies or competent clothes to couer their nakednesse are yet through faith the feare of God and humblenesse of heart accepted of God And although it be obserued that at their deaths there be no pompous funerall Obsequies yet dying the Saints of God they haue the Angels of God attending theÌ„ who conuey that part which the world seeth not into heauenly Paradise as they did the soule of Lazarus and leaue that seeming base part to the world in as meane a manner to be disposed to the earth If yet the vngodly poore should pretend interest in the loue and promises
I haue attained vnto thou mightest weaken my senses and the faculties of my body and minde all which I cannot but confesse I haue abused and without the vse of them thou knowest I cannot performe the workes of my calling I humbly therfore pray thee good Father rather to increase and continue in me that measure of knowledge and that perfection of my body and minde which thou hast already bestowed vpon mee then either to depriue mee of them or to weaken them in mee I acknowledge Gracious Lord that there is no vocation or calling high or low no labour exercise or endeuour that can bee vsefull or profitable to himselfe or others no mans life pleasing or commendable without thine especiall direction and blessing and that in the Name of that blessed of all blessings in whom as all blessednesse doth consist So through his most blessed mediation and merrits blessings vpon blessings are powred vpon the godly labours of all them that in whatsoeuer calling â—n his Name truely seeke to be blessed In him therefore Father of blessings let thy blessing be vpon mee in all my labours enterprises and endeuours for without thy blessing ayde direction and protection I may labour trauaile bee carefull solicitous diligent and most industrious yet all in vaine my paines may bee great my rising vp to my labours earely yet without thy blessing little profit mee I may get much but I shall put it as it were in a broken bagge my going foorth without thy blessing cannot be but dangerous my trauailes subiect to many perils in euitable inconueniences Mine owne carnall corruptions accompany mee whithersoeuer I goe ride or remaine the vanities of the world euery where distract my wauering and inconstant minde And Satan with his millions of infernall ministers prouoking mee to sinne pursue mee euer plotting and practising occasions to draw mee from thee suggesting Idlenesse and Ease to bee sweete and Labour and Trauaile in lawfull and honest callings painefull deceite in my vocation gainefull iust dealing foolish nicenesse negligent performance a sufficient discharge of my dutie Thus being beset good Father within and without with sundry tentations I cannot without thy Grace auoyde the committing of many sinnes not only in abusing my calling but in mine ordinary conuersation and course of life and sinne committed draweth on thy displeasure and thy displeasure punishments such as in thy seueritie may iustly disable mee to performe my dutie in my calling hauing no power in or of my selfe to performe the least part of my duetie either in my vocation or conuersation Leaue me not therfore deare Father vnto mine owne weakenesse nor to the will and wiles of my Spirituall or corporall enemies that hate me and couet to hinder or slander euery good worke in mee reioycing when any euill befals in my life or calling Preuent them O Lord and for thy best beloueds sake teach mee wisdome and giue me vnderstanding according to thy Word that in all my wayes I may bee watchfull in my labours painfull in my carriage and calling faithfull and iust that my principall chief care may euer bee to please thee And furnish mee so with true iudgement in all and euerie part of my duetie as there may bee nothing wanting in mee which may further thy Glorie which grant for thy blessed Sonnes sake IESVS CHRIST to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost bee praise for euermore Amen Lord increase my faith Hee whose calling requireth Iourneys by land or sea may prepare himselfe by adding this Prayer following or to vse it by it selfe MOst louing and most mercifull Father in â—esus Christ I acknowledg my selfe the weakest and most ignorant of al humane creatures hauing receiued in thy prouidence a calling requiring continuall trauailes iourneys and much labour of body and mind hauing such and so great a troupe of aduersaries and dangers accompanying me in the execution thereof as euermore seeke to stop the way of my good successe therein as well in my iourneying forth in performing my lawfull labors abroad as also in my returning home I most humbly therefore pray thee to haue a fatherly care of mee and to take charge of me in all my proceedings in all places among all men and at all times that all my iourneis from and to mine owne home may be prosperous and all my labors indeauors may succeed to thine owne glory to the faithfull discharge of my dutie in all mine imployments to the competent supply of whatsoeuer I need And forasmuch as these my iourneys trauailes and labours are and may bee much hindered through sicknes infirmities of my body defects of my limbes bodily members and senses the perfection of which being originally thine own gifâ—s continue my body in health my limbs in streÌ„gth and all my senses perfect vntill the time when thou shalt thinke fit to dissolue my whole bodily frame when I shall no more trauaile no more labour nor feele any defect of body or mind And grant if it bee thy good pleasure that neither sicknesse death or any other corporall infirmitie seize vpon mee in my trauels and iourneys submitting my will yet vnto thy will knowing that thou knowest what is most necessary for mee and that who so is thine is thine and in thy fauour and protection as well abroad as in his owne house yea whensoeuer wheresoeuer and in what manner soeuer thou art pleased to touch him with thy correcting hand or to call him out of this mortall life And forasmuch good Father as there are many other impediments to hinder my necessary iourneys trauels and labours as distemperature of the ayre immoderate weather difficulties of wayes inundations of water danger of theeues euilly disposed persons defects in the creatures which thou vouchsafest for my vse in trauell and many other dangers and hinderances infinite in number all concealed from mee vntill they fall yet all knowne and foreseene of thee and all disposed and permitted by thee I most humbly therefore pray thee to watch and spread the wings of thy power and prouidence ouer mee and stretch foorth thy helping hand ouer me that no euill if it please thee befall me But if thy will bee so grant me wisedome and patience not to impute it to fained Fortune but as indeed it is to mine own sinfull deseruings and that I may be euer thankfull vnto thee whatsoeuer befal me Let the Angel of thy presence accompany mee let thy heauenly spirit euer possesse me let my heart euermore possesse thee let my thoughts be euermore free from sinne and all the parts and powers of my body my mind affections and will from euery euill action and vngodly desire Giue me a holy feare to walke worke trauaile and vse mine occasions as in thy presence knowing that thou beholdest me mine inward inclination and outward actions Thou knowest also good Father that besides mine owne wandring and wauering heart Sathan ceaseth not to watch opportunitie to snare mee
eye Lord hold vs euer vnder the shadowe of thy wings from them that seeke to oppresse vs For by thee alone Lord shall wee bee able to breake through an hoste of enemies And though we seeme by reason of the number of our aduersaries to walke as it were thorow the valley of the shadow of death yet will we not feare them for thou art with vs a strong rocke and a house of defence to saue vs. Thou redeemest the soules of thy seruants for when we were euen ready to be swallowed vp with a mercilesse multitude thou by the powre of thy strength didst deliuer vs. To thee be praise and glory for euer Amen Lord increase our faith in thee for euermore A necessary motiue to stirre vs vp to a holy desire to resort to the Temple of God to pray vnto him with the Congregation and to heare his word the knowledge and practise wherof is truest happinesse and he that is ignorant or negligent of this holy dutie bee he neuer so carnally wise or worldly glorious is a most vnhappy man WHat difference doth christian experience find between a carnall worldling and a man truely fearing God It can hardly be answered to the vnderstanding of the meere naturall man that hath as many desires as are pleasing delights offered to his senses and euery sense as many delights as the heart hath fantasies which are not to bee numbred and the fulnesse of euery delight esteemed a kinde of happinesse yet if each sense had as many pleasures as it could entertaine the desire were not satisfied And if all the senses had what they couetâ—d were it not a heauy burthen to the heart which ingrosseth them all And yet the more it apprehendeth the more desire increaseth for the eye is neuer satisfied with seeing nor the eare with hearing things of delight And thus with all the senses and yet but one thing necessarie This one thing Mary the sister of Martha made choyce of the hearing Christ preach a thing most needfull approued by Christ and that Mary â—n hearing Christ chose the best part which neuer could be taken from her Dauid desired this one thing namely That hee might dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of his life onely that hee might pray to God with the Congregation and heare God speake vnto him by the Prophets and men of God whom whosoeuer heareth attentiuely and profitably heareth God himselfe which is a sure token that he is of God For hee that is of God heareth Gods word The hearing of God speake vnto vs in his familiar word is the sweetest Musicke that the eare of the heart of a spirituall man can heare and acceptable also to God himselfe Jf yee will heare my voyce indeed saith God and keepe my Couenant then shall yee bee my chiefe treasure aboue all people Is not this chiefest happinesse to bee accepted of God as hâ—s onely Treasure No maruell then that Dauid dâ—sired onely this one thing a farre better request then Bathsheba his wise the mother of Salomon desired of her son which hee promised her to graunt but performed it not But Dauid the father of Salomon desired this one thing the thing most needefull of a King greater then Salomon and a matter of farre more moment then was Bathshebaes yet she was reiected and his request accepted Both their desires seemed to proceed of loue yet the one procured hatred and death the other life and happinesse Shee made her request to man in whome to put confidence is vaine The other in God the Holy one of Jsrael who is truth it selfe and neuer deceiueth But Dauids petition might seeme strange being a King to desire to dwell better then in a Kings palace where hee might sport at his pleasure take what delights hee would hauing a Kingdome to supply whatsoeuer hee desired But in these delights he found not the happinesse hee sought for it consisted in his loue to God and Gods fauour towardes him and therefore desired rather to bee one day in his Courts then a thousand in the Court of Saul or in his owne Court among his gallant Courtiers nay hee would choose rather to bee a Doore-keeper in the House of God then to command an earthly kingdome It is in dâ—ede a glorious thing to bee a King but that glory hath no long continuance many discontents distractions accompany worldly greatnesse But the glory that Dauid desired though seeming base was such as commonly greatest men desire last and least and yet desire as Balaam did To dye the death of the righteous seldome yet remembred but practise not the life of the righteous Yet fewe or none doubtlesse are so irreligious or barbarous in shew but they will looâ—e into the House of God peraduenture once it may bee twice in a Sabbath and peraduenture thinke it long they would bee loath to spare their pleasures delights and vanities to liue a whole day in hearing God speake vnto them and praying vnto God nay but one required houre but to liue all the dayes of their liues as Anna did and as Dauid desired in the Temple of God they would thinâ— it as hard as taske as the bondage of Egypt or the captiuitie of Babylon But thâ—re are no doubt diuers and some as high in Office as Dauid that haue both Dauids desire and are comfortably conuerâ—aâ—t in the House of God and doe finde that in his presence is the fulnesse of ioy and happinesse This is that chiefe happinesse and delight that great men should desire and ayme at to the ende they might be examples vnto their inferiors going before them in well doing especially in Gods seruice For it is commonly found by experience that example doeth more good or euill then documents or dehortations The godly and religious life of a great man is as a towre seene a farre off And many especially his folâ—owers will indeuour to immitate his steppes at least in shew and euen that shew of a godly life is a good motiue to others to liue godly in deed and as a good lifâ— giues comfort and incouragement to otheâ—s to bee good So the president of euill makes many euill If greatnesse and goodnesse goe together it is the sweetest harmonie that man can make in this life And the contrarie as hâ—â—sh and hellish This holy desire of Dauid was not for a day for hee speakes of the time past J desired which implyes a continuall inward petition So our desire of well doing should not be but for a moment and then vanish like Ionahs Gourd that quickly grew vp and suddenly withered and like the seede sowne in stonie ground we must be constant heires and humble petitioners not wauering like waues but as we once desire to heare and practise we must continue therein with a godly and religious perseuerance still desirous according to oportunity to visite Gods Church not yet to thinke that there is no place to serue God in but the materiall Temple but
desired and a thousand discontents from which wee can neuer bee freed vntill wee come to our heauenly Country where Christ is ready to receiue vs where the holy Angels and Saints are euer expecting the increase of that heaueÌ„ly coÌ„pany whose ioy and happinesse increaseth by the increase of sanctified soules to accompanie them where the seruitude which in this life oppresseth vs shall bee turned into ioyfull libertie where we shall haue no more cause of mourning of sorrow or griefe God himselfe will wipe away our teares which the tribulations which we heere indure haue prouoked death shall haue no more power ouer vs wee shall haue there no night nor darkenesse we shall neede there neither sleepe nor corporall sustinance wee shall be free from sicknesse we shall feare there no enuie or malice of neighbours wee shall neither buy nor sell we shall neede neither gold nor siluer wee shall want no garments to adorne and couer our base bodies as heere wee need wee shall not be oppressed with the euills wherewith we are here infested But bee replenished and made rich in euery delightfull thing wee shall be there imbraced of our God as his deere Children our happinesse shall be so vnspeakeable as it cannot be manifested here what and how glorious it shall be there but we shal haue pleasure at Gods right hand for euermore If men therefore that now delight themselues in the multitude of their riches in their siluer and gold and boast themselues of the greatnesse largenesse of their possessions of their magnificent Mansions of their rare iewels the abundance of their plate and sumptuous feasts wherein they repose their felicitie and happinesse did duely consider the shortnesse and inconstancie of these deceiuing vâ—nities and other inferiours that delight themselues in all kindes of vices would but call themselues to minde what they lose by these false baytes of Sathan they would cast their most precious things ouer-boord into the sea of contempt as disdayning this worlds accounted best things and their dearest sinnes wherein they finde a kinde of counterfeit content and felicitie which shall bee futurely requited with future infelicitie and horrour Happie then shall that man bee euen heere seeme he neuer so vnhappie that for this pearle wil sell all his carnall and corporall delights to buy such a precious purchase and so permanent which hee shall hold to himselfe for euer freely without râ—nt without feare of forfeiture and without any other mans claime for euery man shall haue so competent a portion as none shall couet another mans The purchase in respect of the value is not deere And the Lord of whom he shall hold it will neuer expose his tennant nor exact any seruile seruice at his hands but such as shall bee vnto himselfe more glorious and sweet then the most honourable attendance of the greatest Potentate of the World Hee that hath a heart to conceiue the least portion of this vnexpressible happinesse let him seeke it while hee hath time let him aske Wisdome of him that giueth it freely let him heare and consider what comfortable words and serious promises are spoken of in the Scriptures touching this happinesse by the Prophets by CHRIST who is Truth it selfe and by his Apostles who beare witnesse of the same Truth that so being assâ—â—ed of the certaintie of this happinesse to come hee may labour to attaine it hungering and thirsting for it with continuall prayer to him that giues it Yours in Christian good will I. N. To the zealous Reader THinke not the Prayers contained in this little Booke too tedâ—oâ—s by reason of their length and proâ—ixitie for if thy heart be well prepared thou wilt thinke it no burden to thy tongue lips to speak vnto God Short prayers in deâ—d are most pleasing to them that vse prayers without â—eeling more for custome then comfort A truely 〈…〉 man is not onely not wearie in Prayer but the longer hee prayeth with the more feâ—uency he prayeth and the more ferueâ—t the more pleasing vnto God Pray therefore alwayes in all manner Prayer and Supplication in the 〈◊〉 as long as Gods holy Spirit 〈…〉 Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseuerance without wauering or wearinesse And so shall thy Prayers be acceptable to God and true comfort to thy selfe This is the way walk in it A HELPE to Happinesse A premeditation or consultation what are the best things men in this life should principally ayme at to attaine vnto highest happinesse which are hearing the Word and faithfull prayer EVery man by nature hath in himselfe a desire of the best things and in heart wisheth and endeauoureth to obtaine them wherin euery man hath his priuate and peculiar affection according to his inward qualification But as Nature and Grace mans corruption and Gods holy Spirit doe differ in euill and good so doe mens desires differ in choyce of things yet all seem to tend to the attaining of the things they conceiue to be best and they are such as may giue them the content they ayme at which they account happinesse And the most of men in stead of true happinesse desire and seeke things not only not best but meerely hurtfull things subiect â—o the outward senses which are often deceiuing taking that for best that is to bee abandoned and reiecting that which is to bee chiefly imbraced as truest happinesse The best things are such as the eye sees not the mouth tasteth not the handes hâ—ndle not neither are they subiect to natures vnderstanding For the things wee see touch or taste haue neither true goodnes such as to giue a man best content nor continuance to tarry with them and therfore are but shadowes of seeming happinesse which by experience are found fickle and vanishing Beautie Health of the body Riches Honour high Office Long life Delights Carnall pleasures Humane wisdom and Naturall Literature are things much esteemed But what happinesse is there in any of these Beautie decayes Health impayreth Riches vanish Honour is enuied Offices dangerous Long life a burden humane wisdome foolishnesse naturall Learning a puffe of vaine glory Wee may therefore conclude that if a man haue all the former seeming contentments yet may he not be happie for euery of them drawes with it as many disasters as variable accidents as many peeuish passions of the minde which draw him into as many calamities and miseries And therefore doth no truely wise man thinke that these are worthy the name of happinesse for then had many Heathens attained vnto that best But true happinesse consisteth onely in the enioying of Gods graces and Spirituall blessings which carnall men who enioy onely the former haue not But are possest with an erronious opinion of those things which seeme best rather by an implicite conceit following and allowing that for happinesse whiâ—h the most hold so and to attaine the same they vse all meanes labours and endlesse trauailes to get that which indeed is not of the world to be
neuer wearieth the soules of such as delight in the liuing God whose beautie Dauid saw as neuer satisfied with the contemplation of the glorious Maiestie oâ— Iehouah whose beautie the more the Spirituall minde beholdeth in his word his workes his fauour power and prouidence the more is hee mooued with desire to see more and more And thinkes no happinesse comparable to the happinesse of a heauenly life Much were the Disciples mooued at the sight of Christs transfiguration in so much as they desired to haue built there Tabernacles to haue enioyed that blessed sight Still to desirous was Dauid still to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple Where God is truely heard and duly called vpon by a holy congregation nay by one particular faithfull Christian there appeareth the glorie of God There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mightie God of Iaakob whose glorie filleth the Temple which onely the Spirituall man seeth with a supernaturall eye Though the carnall man bodily present apprehendeth it not Paul at his conuersion saw Gods glorie but they that were with him heard onely a voyce but saw it not Such beautie shineth in the hearts of the deere Children of God by the operation and illumination of the Holy Ghost by whom Stephen saw the glorie of God in the heauens and Christ sitting at his right-hand which none 〈◊〉 can see but such onely aâ—are inlightened who take such surpassing sweet delight in the beholding the face of God not onely in the Word wherein hee is in part seene but especially through faith that their soules are euen rauished and as it were transchanged by the splender therof as it were into the Image of the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father â—od commanding the light to shine out of darkenesse shineth in our hearts to giue light of the knowledge of the Glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let vs therefore indeuour to exercise our selues in puritie and sanctitie clensing our consciences from all counterfeit sincerity and labour to become in deed such as wee would seeme to bee And not to neglect the visiting of the materiall Temple to heare the Word of GOD and to pray vnto him if wee hope to be happie for there is none happie but they whom GOD loueth and who loue GOD if wee loue God wee will delight in him to heare him often for our instruction and confirmation of our faith and to seeke him by our prayers for he is ready to bee found of all them that are true of heart who shall heere behold his beautie and hereafter enioy his glorie A Prayer vnto God that he will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to prayse him GRant O most gracious Lord God according to the riches of thy grace that I may bee strengthened by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and so my whole spirit soule and bodie may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus for thou Lord knowest what I am by nature a man vnworthy to take thine holy Name into my mouth or to come into thy presence being inclynable to no good dutie but apt to euery vanity I come therefore vnto thee heauenly Father in the Name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne in whom thou hast promised to receiue them that sincerely seeke thee heare the voyce of my petitions O Lord when I crie vnto thee and when I lift vp my hands towards the mercies seat of thy holy Temple reiect me not vnto thee O Lord I lift vp my soule crauing pardon for my sinnes and that thou wilt admit me into the holy societie of thy Saints and that I may delight to dwell in thy holy Temple vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings for euer Let my heart bee euer vpright in thy Statutes and faithfull euer before thee for thou hast pleasure in righteousnesse and hee is blessed in whose heart are thy wayes knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy Name giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to walke euer vprightly as in thy presence Indue me with thy Spirituall knowledge leade me by thy right hand to thine holy Temple shew mee thy glorie and thy beauty that I may be comforted through thy presence Open mine eares that I may heare thee and thy Word by thy holy Ministrie and prepare my heart to receiue knowledge and vnderstanding and open my mouth and fill it with thy prayses and let my prayers in thy Sons Name bee acceptable vnto thee Shew me thy way and giue mee vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandements and walke in them My hearts desire Lord is to dwell with thee to haue the full free fruition of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth that I may serue thee with a pure affection and giue thee prayse in the congregation of thy Saints Turne thy face vnto me O Lord that I may see the beautie of thy countenance and bee changed into the same Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit bee admitted to visite thine holy Temple with faith and assurance of thy presence wherein I know is libertie and life protection and plentie of all good things Make my heart stable vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure conscience and vndefiled that I may not come into thine house only to bee seene and to seeme seruiceable or dutifull vnto thee but may inwardly hunger thirst for thy Word the food of my soule the bread of life and imprint the same so effectually in my soule that it may prooue fruitfull in â—ee and that I may shâ—w it in my 〈◊〉 holy conuersation to thy Glorie that being filled with the comforts proceeding from the beautie of thy countenance I may euer posâ—sesse my soule in that peace which passeth all vnderstanding euer-more reuerencing thy glorious Maiâ—stie that euer-more filleâ—h both the heauens and the earth fill my heart O Lord with thy Spirit that I may draw neere vnto thee and to thy Holy place my strong Rocke to thee will I alwayes resort Make mee to heare ioy and gladnesse and that I may more abound in hope and be strengthened to euery good work through the power of the holy Ghost by Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Lord increase my faith The Conclusion A Prayer for true happinesse which shall bee consummate onely in heauen O Lord what am I the son of dust and ashes that I should presume to come into thy presence to seeke and desire felicity and happinesse here in this wildernesse of so many vanities miseries and troubles as are among the children of men As for me Lord thou knowest wherof I am made thou remembrest that I am but dust what happinesse therfore Lord can I look to obtaine here where sinne dwelleth in my mortall body
and by sinne I offend and displease thee and in thy displeasure is death O preuent me Lord therfore from sinfull feeding my foolish mind with false felicitie as to repose my happinesse in the things of this life in health riches honour beautie carnall friends worldly wisdome pleasures delights ease which are not worthy in respect of true happinesse in deed to bee the least esteemed Giue me therefore here O Lord euen in this life an entrance into true happinesse send foorth thy Spirit and breath life into my dead soule transforme me into thine own image from glory to glory by thy Spirit withdraw me from delight in the vanities of this life for as long as I delight in the pleasing things of this world I am farre from happinesse and it lies not in my power to restrain my heart from that which naturally I affect I cannot subdue the corruption of mine owne nature but that which is impossible to mee is possible with thee declare therefore thy great power in mercy vpon me I am by nature wretched miserable and poore and naked a most vnhappy man yet such is my blindnesse that I see it not I feele not mine owne vnhappinesse Lord remooue that darknesse from me and graunt that seeing I may see mine owne errour and in hearing I may vnderstand and take the right way to felicitie work faith in my heart that I may taste how gracious thou art in working in me a new heart a new mind and new affections holy and heauenly the beginning here of happinesse to come Make mee to feele the peace of a good conscience let my faith be seen through obedience vnto thee let me feele in my soule through faith the merits of thy Son working the assurance of the remission of my sinnes and assured hope of the enioying of my finall felicity and endlesse happinesse in heauen None are truly happy or blessed but such as thou dost chuse cause to come vnto thee for none can come vnto thee but whom thou callest and they onely are iustified whom thou iustifiest them wilt thou glorifie and whom thou glorifiest are and none else truly happy Carry me therefore gracious Lord carry me by the wings of thy mercy and by the strength of thy fauour in Christ my Sauiour into that heauenly Canaan the inheritance of them that are in Christ Iesus elected to saluation Let me euen here in this base outward forme of an vnhappy man behold thee through faith in thy word let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse for in the liuely beholding of thee is the fulnes of ioy and highest happinesse in this life O that the time would therefore speedily come wherein I being dissolued may see thee my Sauiour face to face when this my mortall body shall be quickened and made like vnto thy glorious body for I know thou wilt keepe vnto the end that which I haue committed vnto thee both my soule and body to bee glorified and made happie though I yet see not what I shall be and therfore when thou wilt I will willingly lay down my life and commit my soule vnto thee my God through Iesus Christ as vnto my most faithfull Creator and louing Redeemer to whom with the holy Ghost bee all glory for euer Amen The consummation and full perfection of our happinesse shall be When wee shall bee made partakers of the diuine Nature 2. Pet. â— v. 4. When Christ shall tranâ—forme our base bodies that they may bee like the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. v. 21. When she shall perfectly enioy those things which eye hath not seen nor the eare heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to coâ—ceiue which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2 11.9 Who then or what shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ in and by whom wee haue firme hope to attaine vnto this so great happinesse neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor perill nor the sword Romanes 8. verse 35. Which God for his Christes sake graunt to whome with the Holy Ghost be ascribed all glory for euer Amen The principall things contained in this Booke A Meditation or Consultation what are the best things that men in this life should principally ayme at to attaine vnto highest happinesse c. Fol. 1. A motiue to Prayer against the temptations of Sathan c. 18 A Prayer for Gods holy assistance against Sathan 23. A Meditation to stirre vs vp when wee are vnapt to pray 29. A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings spirituall and corporall c. 35. A motiue to begin the day with Prayer 54. A Prayer fit to bee vsed euery morning 57. A motiue to Prayer before a man 〈…〉 65. A Prayer for a man before hee goes to hiâ—â—â—ghtly rest 70. A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience c. and may serue as a motiue to some prayers that follow viz. 77. A generall Prayer in whatsoeuer troubles and affections with a confâ—ssion that sinne is the cause of them 103 A Prayer for a man hindred by 〈…〉 kind of 〈…〉 lawfull takings c. 114 A consideration or consultation touching the estates and conditions of seuerall men c. necessary for all men that hope of any blessing vpon their labors Trauels Professions Artes Trades or Jmployments 124 A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and endeauors in whatsoeuer calling 139 A Prayer for a man whose Calling requireth Journeyes by land or sea 149 A motiue to a Prayer for patience in godly Parents that are affâ—icted in minde for the disobedience and vngodly liues of their children c. 150 A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children and for patience in Parents c. 166 A Christian incouragement to all that feare God act to bee 〈◊〉 at the threats 〈◊〉 and policies of whatsoeuer enemies c. To which is added a Prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger 173 A Prayer to God that hee will defend vs from our strongest enemies with Thankesgiuing to God for our former deliuerances 189 A necessary motiue to stirre vs vp to a holy desire to resort to the Temple of God to pray vnto him with the Congregation and to heare his VVord c. 198 A Prayer to God that hee will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him 219 A Prayer for true happinesse which shall be consummate only in heauen 226 FINIS