priuate families O Lord our God and heauenly Father wee thy vnworthie children doe here come into thy most holy and heauenly presence to giue thée praise glory for al thy great mercies and manifold blessings towards vs especially for that thou hast preserued vs this night past from all the dangers and feares thereof hast giuen vs quiet rest to our bodies and brought vs now safely to the beginning of this day and doest now a fresh renew all thy mercies vpon vs as the Eagle reneweth her bill giuing vs all things aboundantly to enioy as food raiment health peace libertie and fréedome frō many miseries diseases casualties and calamities which wée are subiect vnto in this life euery minute of an houre and not only so but also for vouchsafing vnto vs many good things not onely for necessitie but euen for delight also But aboue all deare father we praise thy name for the blessings of a better life specially for thy most holy word and sacraments and all the good wée enioy thereby for the continuance of the Gospell amongst vs for the death of thy sonne all that happinesse which we haue thereby Also because thou hast chosen vs to life before we were and that of thy méere goodnesse vndeserued fauour towards vs and hast called vs in thine appointed time iustified by thy grace sanctified vs by thy spirit adopted vs to be thine owne children heires apparant to the great crowne O Lord open our eyes euery day more more to sée and consider of thy great and maruailous loue to vs in all these things that by the due consideration therof our harts may be drawne yet nearer vnto thée euen more to loue thée feare thée and obey thée that as thou art enlarged toward vs in mercie so we may be enlarged towards thée in thanksgiuing and as thou dost abound towards vs in goodnesse so we may abound towards thée in obedience and loue And sith deare father thou art neuer wearie of doing vs good not withstanding all our vnworthinesse naughtinesse therefore let the consideration of thy great mercy and fatherly kindnesse towardes vs euen as it were force our hearts compell vs to come into thy most glorious presence with new songs of thanksgiuing in our mouths Wée pray thée O most mercifull God to forgiue vs all our vnthankfulnesse vnkindnesse prophanes and great abusing of all thy mercies and specially our abuse and contempt of thy Gospell togither with all other the sins of our life which we confes are inumerable mo then can be reckoned vp both in omission of good things and commission of euill We most humbly intreate thée to set them al ouer to that reckoning which thy son Christ hath made vp for them vpon his crosse and neuer to lay any of them to our charge but fréely forget all and forgiue all Naile downe all our sinnes and iniquities to the Crosse of Christ burie them in his death bath them in his bloude hide them in his wounds let them neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. Set vs frée of the miseries that are vpon vs for sin kéepe back the iudgements to come both of soule bodie goods good name Be reconciled vnto vs in thy deare sonne concerning all matters past not once remembring or repeating vnto vs our olde and abhominable iniquities but accept vs as righteous in him imputing his righteousnesse to vs and our sinnes to him Let his righteousnes satisfie thy iustice for all our vnrighteousnes his obedience for our disobedience his perfection for our imperfectiō Moreouer we humbly beséech thy good maiestie to giue vs the true sight and féeling of our manifold sinnes that we may not be blinded in them through delight or hardned in them through custome as the reprobates are but that we may be euen weary of them and much grieued for them labouring striuing by all possible meanes to get out of them Good Father touch our harts with true repentance for all sinne Let vs not take any delight or pleasure in any sinne but howsoeuer we fal through frailtie as we fall often yet let vs neuer fall finally let vs neuer lie downe in sinne nor continue in sinne but let vs get vpon our féete agayne and turne to thée with all our hearts and séeke thée whilst thou mayest be founde and whilst thou dost offer grace and mercie vnto vs. O Lord encrease in vs that true and liuely fayth whereby we may lay sure hold on thy sonne Christ and rest vpon his merites altogether Giue vs fayth assuredly to beléeue all the great and pretious promises made in the Gospell and strengthen vs from aboue to walke and abound in all the true and sound fruites of fayt◠〈◊〉 vs walke not after the flesh but after the spirite Let vs féele the power of thy sonnes death killing sinne in our mortall bodies and the power of his resurrection raysing vs vp to newnesse of life Let vs growe daylie in the sanctification of the spirite and the mortification of the flesh Let vs liue holily iustly and soberly in this present euill world shewing foorth the vertues of thée in all our particular actions that we may adorne our most holy prafession shine as lights in the midst of a crootied froward generation amongst whom we liue being gainefull to all by our liues conuersations offensiue to none To this end we pray thée fill vs with thy spirite and al spirituall graces as loue wisedome patience contentment méekenes humility temperancy chastity kindenes and affability stir vs vp to vse prayer watchfulnes reading meditation in thy lawe and al other good meanes whereby we may grow and abound in all heauenly vertues Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes from day to day make vs such as thou wouldest haue vs to bée and such as wée desire to bée working in vs both will and déede purpose and power For thou O Lorde art all in all thou wilt haue mercie vppon whom thou wilt haue mercy and whom thou wilt thou hardnest Haue mercie vppon vs therefore deare Father and neuer leaue vs to our selues nor to our owne wils lusts desires but assist vs with thy good spirite that wée may continue to the end in a righteous course that so at length we may be receiued into glory be pertakers of that immortall crowne which thou hast laid vp for all that loue thée and truely call vpon thée Further we intreat thée O heauenly father to giue vs all things necessary for this life as foode raimcut health peace liberty such fréedome from those many fold miseries which we lie open vnto euery day as thou séest méete Blesse vnto vs all the meanes which thou hast put into our hands for the sustenance of this fraile life Blesse our stock and store corne cattle trades occupations all the workes of our handes for thy blessing onely maketh rich and it bringeth no sorrows
thy sinnes while thou iettest vp and downe with a Cammels proud neck bearest no part in their song of sorrow Thy corne which thou hopedst would growe plumpe in the eare is blasted in the prime and it thanks thée for it Thy close is pesterd with thornes and thistles and other cursed and vntimely fruite and it thankes thée for it Thy fishes are frozen to thy pond they silently thanke thée for it O what a rack what a gybbet would this be to thy soule if thou hadst any grace But thou more sencelesse then sencelesnesse euen when fit opportunitie is offered to cast dust vpon thy head and that thine eye euen thine eye should shoure forth teares day and night goest metily away regardlesse of so lamentable spectacles What is this but a cleare demonstration that so continuing thou art within an inch of hell Water is an heauie substance and yet if a man lay close to the bottome of the sea he should féele no waight because No Element is heauy in it proper place The whole world is crushed with the ponderousnesse of thy sinnes and thou féelest it not A shrewd token that sinne is where it would be Alas for pitty why wilt thou dye why wilt thou strangle thy soule with so full resolution If thou loue God who loued thée first be no longer an Heafer of thrée yeares olde euer liuing in pleasure neuer féeling sorrow but let thy bowels sound like an Harpe or Shawme for thy transgressions and now at length sigh out this exclamation Oh that mine head were full of water and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might wéepe day and night for my manifold and bloody sinnes And that thy hart may yet waxe colder within thy body know further that thy sins lye so sore vpon thy swéete Saniours back that he can take no rest Hearke how he complaineth Beholde I am pressed vnder Amo. 2. 13 thy sinnes euen as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaues Pitie O pitie thy selfe if not take pitie vpon thy Redéemer who is prest downe to hell with the heauy sheaues of sinne which thou hast pickt vpon him most cruelly more like a Iew than a Christian It was thou O wretch that didst cast him into his agony where he swet such a sweat that the drops of blood trickled downe apace and the Angels were faine to comfort him It was thou O wretch that betraiedst him with a kisse soldst him for a little pleasure of sinne not worth thirtie péeces of siluer It was thou O wretch that camest vnto him with swords and staues as if he had béene a théefe who indéede thought it no robbery to be equall with God It was thou O wretch that didst whip him and clap a crowne of thornes vpon his head mocking him spitting in his face O cruelty If thou haue occasiō to spit thou gettest thée to the Chimney or behinde the doore for manners sake and yet thou makest no bones of spitting in the face of the God of Angels It was thou O wretch that didst strip him naked riuet his hands and féet to the crosse flouting him euen when he indured for thy sake the incomprehensible wrath of God his Father Behold thy Redcéemer offering vp praiers with strong crying and teares and art thou srolicking The daughters of Ierusalem wéepe the Virgin Mary is pierced through with the sword of sorrow and doost thou run ryot and chop away thy soule for a mite of pleasure The Sunne lends night in midst of day the vaile of the Temple is rent from the top to the bottom the earth quaketh the Mat. 27. 51. stones cléeue the graues open and art thou fatting thy selfe with merriment And meanest thou for all this to saile to heauen by heauen Can there be two heauens If thou still play the Epicure letting these reasons which the scripture yéeldeth so bounteously rebound from thine eye eare and hart like a Tennise from the ground I euen plunged in a gulfe of sorrow to sée thée like a frantick smile when thou dingest thy knuckles against what is next thée till the blood spin out must leaue thée to the secret councell of God if thou néeds wilt perish thy blood will be vpō thine owne soule But I trust these words shall prooue vnto thée the swéet sauour of life vnto life and not of death vnto death wherfore be dilligent in waighing two reasons moe so will I betake me to the remainder The first is the blessednesse of this godly sorrow Doest thou molest the ayre with sighes and the earth with teares not countersaite and forced but sincere and penirent Reioyce and be glad Thou art in the kingdome of Grace the forerunner of the kingdome of heauen Before the conuersion and Zeph 1. 12 new spirituall byrth thou was frozen in the dregs of thy sinne there was such a thicke Ice vpon thy soule that the euill Angelles shotte at pricks as it were and droue carts vpon it but since the Holy Ghost which the Math. 3. 12 Gospell compared to fire hath caught holde on thée thy congealed nature is dissolued and thawed into a flood of teares Wouldst thou thinke it There is not a Psal 56. 8. teare shed for sinne but God catches it before it falles to the ground and treasureth it vp in his bottle Not a teare spent in this sort which thou shalt not finde vpon recorde in heauen so soone as euer thy soule is vnhousde In summe the Lambe in the midst of the Thorne will with his owne hand wipe away al teares from thine eyes Thus they that sowe in teares shall reape in ioye Blessed art thou if thou now wéep for thou Reue. 7. 17 shalt laugh blessed art thou if thou now mourne for thou shalt be comforted Yet a very little while and he that shall come Luck 6. 21 will come and will not tary The last Motiue is the consideration of their deplored estate who ayming at nothing but the bodyes corrupt satisfaction bury the excellent designes of the soule in muddy sensuall pleasure terming sorrow for sinne nothing els but a sullen passion be got betwéene Feare and Melancholy the silly effect of the foolishnes of Prenching Whervnto shall I liken this generation They are like vnto the fat Kine of Bashan that are in the mountaine of Samaria appointed for the slaughter They are like vnto Théeues that goe through a fayre sloured field to the gallowes They are like vnto Riuers that run swéet fresh into the salt sea They are like vnto Passengers laide along to sléepe vnder shady trées who wakning since themselues swelted with the heate of the remooued sun These Riotours that neuer came where true sorrow grew first are base For themselues affirme that pleasure is for the body all men know the body is for the soule so become they seruants to their seruants seruāt Secondly their estate is damnable in life in death after death In
may enter in Héere begins he to sighe at the view of his sinnes Presently comes me in a Ruffian whom God sends to prooue him whom the Deuill sends to spoile him and he with a payre of Cardes and a Cup of neate Claret thrusts Iesus out into the Stable because there is no roome for him in the Inne Thus be the good motions of the holye Ghoste extinguished by the accesse of a Gamester that Schooles his young maister in the Arte of Driuing away time Driue away time Is Tyme so slow-footed that it néedes driuing My friend if a sinner intice thée to sport when the Feuer of thy sinnes begins to shake thée consent not to him Rather goe aside as a man throwne from the world and then let thy belly tremble let thy lips shake let rottenuesse enter into thy bones Learne of the Nightingale who when she is robd of her yonglings gets her to some solitarie trée where she bewailes her vnhappie marriage Abstract and sequester thy selfe flée resorte say vnto laughter thou art madde haunt vntrodden pathes desire the Lillies of the fielde to cloath themselues in blacke and accompanie thée in thy dolefull passions The fourth Impediment is Impayring of health A ioyfull hart saith the Wiseman causeth good health but a sorrowfull minde Pro. 17. 22 dryeth vp the bones Let not this dismay thée better go sickly to heauen than healthfull to hell Be not all for thy bodie nothing for thy soule but like the Lapidarie estéeme the Iewell farre aboue the rinde or barke Moreouer I affirme that it is the care of this worlde that brings a Calender into the bones and snowes vpon mens heades so timely and not this sorrow which we magnifie For as the Sea at high water if angred with a boystrous wind threatneth present deluge to the earth and yet suddainely it giues backe and runnes away like a coward so the panges and gréeuances of the righteous stird vp by the iustice of God euen when they séeme to deuoure are deuoured of his mercy They are as sorrowing and yet alwayes reioycing by reason of spiritual comfort which putteth life into them Heauines may indure for a night but ioye wil be sure to be with them in the morning The last and worst Let is the holding the mortality of the soule There is a cursed generation that sit downe to eate and drinke and rise vp to play and hold that their soules in death vanish away like a dogges This Satanicall paradoxe possest the hart of that great Phisition Galen A man might haue cast his water and found filthy sediments of Athisme But he is dead long ago I would this sin had died with him Good Christian neuer come thou nere those Carrions that maintaine the soule to be a vapour vnlesse thou haue the winde of them That thou maist be assured of the soules immortality harken to these pregnant and vnanswerable proofes Our fathers are the fathers of our bodyes Heb. 12. 9. Eccle. 12. 7. not of our soules saith the Apostle The spirite returnes to God that gaue it saith the Preacher The Lord breathed the soule into Gen. 2. 7. mans body saith Moses Therefore is it not elementary therefore is it euerlasting But because the disputer of this worlde renounces Christian principles we will enter the listes of reason with him a little and foile him in his proper element The sence is so corrupted by a great obiect that it cannot indure the lesse For example The eye is so dazeled with the beames of the Sun that it cānot iudicially discerne colours in an obscurer light It is contrary with the vnderstanding For the more vehement the obiect is whereabout it is conuersant the more forcible is it in comprehending the inferiour An euident demonstration of the soules diuinity I omit the horror of conscience which cānot possibly light vpon the body it being a spirituall punishment nor yet vpō the soule were it not a subsisting essence And I will but tutch the most admirable gradation of the creatures some whereof are onely bodily as beasts some spirituall as Angels some both spirituall and sensible as man the one in respect of his soule the other of his body Therfore my beloued be thou stedfast immooueable aboundant in mourning for thine iniquities for as much as thou knowest thy sorrow shall not be in vaine in the Lord. If thou finde thy soule at od times vnwilling to thinke of flitting impute that to her illnesse for naturally she is estranged from the father of lights and lodging so warmely and peaceably in the body she is not so forward to remooue as she ought The Infant is at harts-case in the mothers wombe and would not change it for a pallace yet when it is borne and comes to discretion it cannot indure to thinke of the closet where it lay enwrapped The soule delighteth now to inhabit the body but when death hath brought it to a ioyfull birth after a long trauaile O then it would not be imprison'd againe in the body for a thousand worlds And thus by Gods goodnesse haue I gone through the Impediments And now good brother that I haue giuen thée a potion the vertue whereof I trust hath had full course to runne throughout all thy vaynes I am for a farewell to leaue thée a swéete Electuary or Iulep for thy comfort It is a Moderation in sorrowing For the tempter will couet to besnare thy soule with intollerable anguishe that so with Cain thou maiest complaine that thy sinnes are greater than can be forgiuen O pray pray pray for patience and comfort of the holy Ghost for a wounded spirite who can beare Iob and Dauid a blessed pare of Saints mourned like Doues and Pellicans when the Lord caused them to possesse Pro. 18. 14. the sinnes of their youth Surely no wisdom can counsell no counsel can aduise no aduise can asswage a perplexed conscience nor any thing els but onely the hart bloud of Iesus Christ which blood hee hath powred out so plenteously for all true penitent sinners that they may bath themselues therein Then cry incessantly and importunately O sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me open mine eyes heale my woundes cure my Maladies euen for thy goodnes sake O Lord. Remember the heauenly wordes Christ vttered in the extreame agony of his soule My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Behold how hée calleth his father his God twice what time his wrath ceazed vpon him in an incomprehensible maner Sorrow not too much when the Lord openeth the booke of thy conscience all blurd and blotted with sinne but bee of good cheare kisse his holy hand euen when he striketh thée The father of mercies and God of al consolatiō be thy Castle of defence in all thy tribulations spirituall conflicts that thou maist be able to comfort others in the like distresse by the same comfort wherewith thou thy selfe art comforted of him Amen FINIS A Morning praier to bevsed in