may alwaies make pretious account of the least measure which it shall please thee in mercie to vouchsafe vnto me referre it wholly to thy honour and glory And sith whatsoeuer I am I am in thee whatsoeuer grace I haue I haue it from the whose gift onely it is let me be content with that portion which thou in thy wisdome and goodnesse allottest vnto me and knowing that for the present it is sufficient for me neither enuie those that haue receiued more lest I repine against thee nor despise those that haue lesse lest it displease thee and cause thee in iustice to withdraw that grace from me which in mercie thou hadst freelie giuen vnto me and to bestow it vpon those who would make better vse of it Death alwaies to be desired of the godlie IF anie shall take away from me my torne and ragged-worne coate and in stead thereof put vpon me a new and a better shall I thinke that I haue anie iniury done vnto me haue I anie cause to complaine as if I were wronged If the Lord vncloath me by depriuing me of this temporall this sinfull and corruptible life and in stead of it cloath me with that which is eternall incorruptible and most glorious doth he hurt me doth he any wrong or iniurie vnto me shall I complaine yea rather Lord let me desire alwaies to remoue out of this bodie and to dwell with thee for euer Let me desire earnestlie to put off this corruption to be dissolued to be with Christ my Sauiour in the heauens for this is that onelie happinesse and felicitie which I expect and hope for Lord euen when it pleaseth thee let me see thy saluation which thou hast promised The imprisonment of the godlie in this life THe godlie whiles they remaine in this world liue as it were in perpetuall imprisonment They are laden with manie chaines and fetters which lie heauie vpon them and cause them to sigh in themselues and to long earnestly for the time of their deliuerance freedom O blessed Lord thou knowest what a burden vnto my soule this corruptible and sinnefull bodie of mine is which I carry coÌ„tinually about with me and how this earthlie mansion keepeth downe and oppresseth my minde and maketh me heauie and vntoward for the performance of that good which thou commandest and wherein my heart desireth to approue it selfe vnto thee I am so fast in prison so much encumbred with manifold annoiances which are as it were so manie heauie irons pressing downe my minde and hindring me from walking before thee with that freedome of spirit and that cheerefulnes and alacrity wherein thou delightest that my soule mourneth secretlie within me and longeth to be freed from this miserie and bondage wherein I am now detained O Lord when wilt thou set me at libertie Continually doe I expect and waite for the redemption of this earthlie and sinfull bodie The vanitie of all earthlie things OH the vanitie of the things of this world riches pleasures honour whatsoeuer else to him that hath a carnall and fleshly eye may seeme most pretious and glorious how fruitles how fading and transitorie are they was there euer anie that found any true peace any sound ioy or contentment in anie or in all of them What a vaine thing then is it for any one to be carried with such an vnsatiable desire after them yea to place if not his onely yet his chiefe happines and felicitie in them as many doe O Lord draw my heart daily more and more from the things of this world whereunto the most are so fast glewed weane my soule both from the loue and desire of them and let my delight be in thee let me reioyce in thee continuallie yea let my soule alwaies long after thee and in comparison of thee esteeme of all these earthly things but as drosse meere vanitie A true discerning of the worlds vanitie maketh men willing to leaue it and desirous of a better estate out of it MAnie there be that complaine of the vanitie and deceitfulnesse of this world and yet are loth to leaue it to depart out of it Such either had neuer a true sight of the vanitie of all things here below and of the wretchednesse and miserie whereunto men euen the best are subiect in this life or else they neuer indeed fullie tasted of the blessednesse and felicitie of the life to come euen those endlesse ioyes and vnspeakable glorie which are prepared and reserued for the Saints in the kingdome of God or if they haue in some sort tasted of this heauenly gift yet without any certaintie or assurance that it belonged vnto them and that their right and portion should be in it and therefore could not be so soundly affected with it as thereby to be brought into a true dislike and contempt of this present euill world which notwithstanding at least they wouâ—d seeme to be out of loue with The man that seeth indeed how vaine how deceitfull and how miserable this world is and hath withall receiued the first fruits of the spirit of God and tasted of the sweetnes blessednes of the world to come and also knoweth that the assurance of the promise thereof is made and sealed vnto him and that by the truth it selfe euen by him whose word shall stand when heauen and earth shall passe away that man as he shall finde cause enough to complaine of this euill world wherein he liueth so it cannot be but that he should desire vnfainedly to be gone out of it to make change for a better euen that which his soule longeth after and in the hope and expectation whereof he resteth continually sighing in himselfe and waiting earnestly for the fruition and full possession thereof when as being vnclothed of the burden of this flesh loosed out of the prison of this earth he shal be clothed with glorie and immortality and liue for euer in that celestiall mansion not made with hands but eternall in the heauens O Lord when shall I be fullie deliuered from the bondage of corruption vnto which I am now daily subject when shall I lay downe this bodie of sinne and death which I now carrie continually about with me when shall I remoue out of this earthlie tabernacle when shall I leaue the wildernesse of this wearisome world and departing from hence be translated into that glorious kingdome of thine which thou hast promised vnto me My soule longeth to dwell in thy courts to see thy saluation to enioy thy blessed presence and to liue and rest with thee continuallie For here alas I find no resting place yea I see vanitie wretchednesse and miserie on euerie side in euerie place One sorrow succeedeth another The snares of many afflictions and temptations haue taken holde of me many deepe waters haue passed ouer me and euen almost ouerwhelmed me I am assailed continually with many and those verie dangerous and perillous enemies who fight against my
one minute then of that which is eternall and shall neuer haue an end but continue for euer in such glorie the enioying whereof one moment is better then all the glorie pleasures and delights of this life whereof any man is or can bee made partaker in this world yea though hee liue long and see many daies and wants nothing of those things heere below which seeme most pretious and glorious in the eyes of men What should I say more We are more troubled with the feare and dread of our naturall death the death of our bodies which if our liues were such as they ought to be would be more desired then feared of vs being the entrāce into that promised rest and happinesse then of the death of our spirits yea of our soules and bodies euen that fearfull most dreadful death which is the second death when as the soule presently after the dissolution and separation of it from the bodie in the end of this life and both soule and bodie euen the whole man immediatly after the day of iudgement hauing receiued their finall doome shall bee deliuered vp vnto eternall death and condemnation in hell where they shall be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power Surely many such there be in al places who haue so small sense and feeling of the greatest euils both present and imminent that are more grieued and troubled for the approching of some lesser euill then of the greatest miserie that can possibly befall a man the very remembrance and consideration whereof were enough to breed a horror and astonishment in the minde of the hardiest the most obstinate and impenitent sinner if he should haue a right apprehension of it Oh the follie of such men who seeth not how Satan hath blinded and besotted them that they should bee as those who haue no vnderstanding no discerning of things that differ so exceedingly O blessed Lord open their eyes that they may haue a sight of their greatest miseries touch their hearts that they may haue a feeling of that which should bee their greatest griefe and wherewith they should be most affected And keepe thy seruants from falling at any time into that vaine and foolish opinion and imagination of theirs Let vs alwaies feare thy displeasure more then the angrie countenance of any mortall man whatsoeuer let vs be more afraid to be despised and reiected of thee or to bee such as thou takest no pleasure no delight in then to be disgraced and contemned of the whole world esteemed the filth and ofscouring of all things men vnworthie to liue vpon the earth let vs chuse rather to incurre the daunger of the losse of our goods lands substance and to bee content to haue our outward estate in this world much impaired yea altogether wasted and brought euen to nothing rather then once willingly to hazard our euerlasting estate in the world to come by bringing our selues into daunger of the losse of those vnsearchable riches and treasures of life glorie and endlesse felicitie euen those farre more excellent and glorious things which thou hast promised and prepared for all thy Saints in that heauenlie kingdome Let vs not feare the death of these mortall bodies of ours which are but dust and shall returne to the earth of which they are framed let not the remēbrance thereof trouble vs or bee any waies grieuous and bitter vnto vs nay rather let vs reioyce in it and long for it and that with an earnest desire seeing it shall be a passage vnto vs from this life vnto a better but let vs feare auoid those things which might cause the death of our soules yea let vs so feare hell death and destruction that we may be full assured we shall escape them and when this life of ours is ended be translated into that place where thou dwellest in fulnes of glorie and maiestie and liue and raigne with thee in the heauens for euermore Amen The Lords seruice the greatest freedome TO be in the Lords seruice is the greatest freedome yea the greatest priuiledge and most excellēt prerogatiue that men can attaine vnto in this world It is a verie honourable and glorious calling no earthly dignitie office or prehemencie whatsoeuer to be compared vnto it The Angells of heauen those celestiall creatures account it as it is indeed their crowne and their greatest glorie that wherein they finde cause of continuall ioy and reioycing Why then should any man a worme of the earth esteeme so meanly of it as many do yea thinke it to be a burden which he is loth to take vpon him a bondage which it is grieuous to him to vndergoe yea a disgrace and reproch which he is vnwilling to sustaine Oh that vaine man should be so degenerate and base minded as to haue so meane a◠conceite of that which he ought so highly to prize that he should suppose the seruice of the great king and monarch of the whole world the most high God wherein the most excellent creatures do glorie to be base and contemptible that he should thinke it a dishonour and disparagment vnto him to professe himselfe to be a dutiful and obedient seruant vnto the Lord of heauen the mightie possessour of all things to whom all knees are to bowe and whom all creatures must adore when as he accounteth it an honour and a grace vnto him to be reputed an inferior seruant vnto his minister and vicegerent vpon earth and no small priuiledge to be in any office vnder him yea that he should be such a miscreant as to despise that which if he were not strangely blinded and extremely besotted he would think himself happie that he might haue it once vouchsafed and granted vnto him O blessed Lord how great is thy goodnesse and thy mercie towards me in that it hath pleased thee to take me into thy seruice how much am I bound vnto thee for this fauour which thou hast shewed vnto me who by reason of my sinnes whereby I haue from time to time dishonoured thee am altogether vnworthie to be called thy seruant or once to be reckoned amongst the least and meanest of those vnto whom thou hast vouchsafed this so great a priuiledge so glorious a dignitie and prerogatiue Oh that I were able to performe that seruice which is due vnto thee and which thou requirest of me Thou art my Lord and my God vnto whom I owe all dutie all homage and loyaltie thou onely art worthie to be serued worshipped and glorified of all creatures both in heauen and in earth I acknowledge that all that I can possible doe is lesse then that which my dutie and thy loue and goodnesse bindeth me vnto and which thou mayest well expect of me It is the desire of my heart to be found euery way obedient and faithfull vnto thee yea to serue thee with al my strēgth with all my might and that vnto the end of my
heart with the sprinkling of the blood of that immaculate lambe Christ Iesus the righteous purge me daily more and more from all my corruptions euen those which are most secret and open to the view of none but of thy all-seeing maiestie whose eye pierceth thorough all things and seeth and discerneth perfectlie those things which are hid from the sight of men and which we our selues are ignorant of Cleanse me both in soule in bodie and in spirit from the filthinesse of all sinne and iniquitie and from the staine of all inbred corruption and so sanctifie me throughout with thy grace that I may be a fit temple and mansion for thy holy spirit to rest in yea that thou maist delight to remaine to abide and to dwell with me for euer which is the onely happinesse and felicitie which my soule desireth and longeth for and which I know assuredly thou who hast promised it wilt not denie vnto me Grieuing of the spirit of God THou art vnwilling to giue iust occasion wherby thy kind friend might be grieued and so for thy vnkind dealing with him be moued to leaue thee and depart from thee in displeasure hauing no delight no desire to return any more vnto thee no scarcely though he be much sought vnto and intreated with great importunitie Why then dost thou daily and hourely deale so vnkindly with thy best friend why dost thou grieue the spirit of God which is the onely comforter and without whom thou canst neuer haue anie true peace or contentment in any estate or condition of life Why dost thou continually offer him so iust cause to turn away from thee yea to remoue farre off and to denie any more to visite thee with that gratious and comfortable presence of his though thou shouldest hereafter neuer so oft and so earnestly seeke and sue vnto him O my God forgiue me my sins whereby I haue heretofore grieued that holy spirit of thine by whom thou hast sealed me and assured me of those gracious promises which thou hast made vnto me in thy Christ Forgiue me those manifold sinnes and trangressions whereby I haue from time to time most grieuously displeased and prouoked thy maiestie who hast continually shewed thy selfe euery way so good and so kinde vnto me Hide thy face from them and let them neuer come into thy remembrance to be a meanes to cause thee as iustlie thou maist to depart and to take thy spirit from me lest I die and perish But notwithstanding my vndeseruednesse for thy promise sake doe thou stil in mercie vouchsafe freely to continue thy wonted and accustomed loue and kindnesse vnto me Giue me not onely the presence but also the grace and comfort of thy spirit yea let it alwaies rest and remaine with me that so my spirit may liue and praise thee O Lord this I know that nothing but my sinnes can hinder this goodnes and blessing of thine from me forget therefore I pray thee my sins past couer my sinnes present and keepe me from falling into sinne hereafter and then I am assured that thy blessed and gratious spirit shall dwell with me and comfort me both now and euer according vnto thy promise Spirituall desertions THe Sunne may be eclipsed for a while by the interposition of the thicke duskie bodie of the Moone but that being remoued it will quickly cause the bright beams therof to shine forth again vnto the world The Lord may hide his face from me for a time by reason of my sinnes which onely can make a separation and diuision betweene him and me and cause him to withdraw the light of his gracious countenance from me but sure I am that he will neuer vtterly forsake me for his foundation is surely laide his loue and grace is vnchangeable He hath been once nay often gracious vnto me and will continue so for euer O my God keepe me from sinning against thee so shall the light of thy countenance shine alwaies vpon me so shall I feele the comfort of thy presence remaining with me in life in death after death euen for euer The truth and faithfulnesse of God in performing his promises THe Lord is mercifull in promising and true in performing whatsoeuer he hath promised vnto his children We haue no other title to the least of Gods blessings but euen this his mercie and truth to claime them by and hauing that wee need no other O Lord although my sinnes are many and grieuous and might iustlie cause thee to withdraw all thy mercies and fauours from me and to denie any more to be gracious vnto me yet Lord thy truth and faithfulnesse indure for euer O thinke vpon thy couenant and according to thy mercie do thou alwaies remember me and looke vpon me Euen for thy promise sake haue mercie vpon me and notwithstanding my sinnes call for iudgement yet doe thou continue still to be good and gracious vnto me in the supplie of thy manifold blessings and mercies The comfort of a good conscience especially in death A Good conscience is a continuall feast as in and thoroughout the whole life time so especiallie in the houre and in the verie agonie and pang of death With what sweet pleasant food of diuine consolation doth it then feed the soule refresh the mind when all other comforts faile and become as running streames dried vp in the heate of summer nothing then will afford the like comfort vnto this Wouldst thou see this as it were in a glasse clearely represented vnto thy view Suppose that euen now thou sawest one lying at the point of death vpon the bed of his sorrowes readie to take his last farewell of the world to lay downe his bodie in the dust where he should haue corruption to be his father and the crawling worme his mother and his sister and the graue his house and dwelling place for a long season whiles his soule being separated from his bodie should depart into a farre countrie Suppose now at this instant thou sawest one in this estate as thus most certaine it shall be with thee with me with all of vs what thinkest thou would be the greatest comfort vnto him what is it that would most refresh him and cheere him vp Fine fare or sweete iuncats Alas he takes no pleasure in them he cannot tast them though they be neuer so daintie or if he could yet should hee take no delight nor finde any sweetnesse in them for it is his soule that now hungers and thirsts and seeks for comfort whiles his bodie is almost senselesse He desireth he looketh for spirituall foode wherewith his fainting soule and languishing spirits may be fed and refreshed and not for corporall yea that is loathsome vnto him Sweet musicke and delightsome melodie Alas the daughters of singing are now abased he is almost past hearing and though he could heare it neuer so well yet it would not be any refreshing vnto him he could not solace himselfe in it yea rather
it would seeme harsh in his eares and vnpleasant vnto his mind it is another kind of musick and melodie which hee longs to heare and hearken after that therein he may finde sound ioy and true comfort in that his extremitie His pleasures profits or great reuenues in this world neither can these comfort him in that houre they will not afford him any true ioy pleasure or delight no though he might euen swimme and bathe himselfe in the abundance of them yea rather they would be a trouble vnto him they would disquiet distract his mind both because he now seeth that he is presently to leaue theÌ„ for euer to giue a finall farewell vnto them neuer to haue any vse or benefit of theÌ„ afterwards as also and that especiallie because he knoweth that he is forthwith to goe to answer and to giue an account both for the getting vsing imploying of theÌ„ and to receiue accordinglie His credit fame and reputation amongst men alas although he were as famous and renowned as Salomon was when he was so admired that nations came farre and neere to see to heare him this then would little auaile him it would yeeld him no pleasure no delight yea rather it will grieue him to thinke how that haply hath bin an occasion heretofore to make him proud vaine-glorious and how that hereafter it will perish with the remembrance of him and vanish as the smoake so that all his glory shall lie buried in the dust and his name be as if it had neuer been Friends kins-folke and acquaintance Neither can they affoord him any true peace and sound comfort Indeed in the time of his health they might be a ioy and refreshing vnto him euen the verie sight and presence of them peraduenture would affect him with an inward and secret delight and contentment but now they can bring little or no comfort vnto him no more then Iobs friends did vnto him in the depth of his miserie euen sit by him and say nothing yea rather they will be a meanes to renue his sorrow and to increase his griefe because he is so shortly to take his last farewell of them for so long a season as also for that hee sees them who are most deare vnto him nothing but mourning weeping sorrowing and lamenting for him on euery side which cannot but disquiet and trouble him very much especially hauing his minde so much busied with the serious consideration of that long iourney which his soule immediatly after the dissolution and separation thereof from his body is now presently to take into that vnknowne land It is therefore neither the finest fare or daintiest iuncats the sweetest musicke and most delightsome melodie neither pleasures profits great reuenues honor preferment friends kinsfolks acquaintance nor any worldly thing else whatsoeuer though neuer so pretious neuer so glorious in the eyes of men that can yeeld him any true peace or sound comfort when this houre is once come wherein he must breathe out his soule which hath a long time beene vnited vnto his body in such a firme league and with so straite a bond of speciall loue and amitie that it is death now to depart or to be separated from it and lay downe his body in the dust and make his graue in the darke where he shall neither see any nor be seene of any What therfore thinkest thou is it wherein he shall finde comfort when he shall stand in most need of it hauing besides all the former occasions of griefe and sorrowe sinne and Sathan assaulting yea laying harder siege against him then euer before seeking by all meanes to daunt him and to rob depriue him of al true peace and comfort yea if it be possible to bring him vnto deepe despaire What then would be most sweete and pleasant vnto him What would most refresh him and cheere vp his languishing spirit In briefe if thou shouldest aske him what was his comfort in this extremity wherein he found most ioy and delight would he not answere thee that his reioycing was the testimonie of his owne conscience euen in this that he had endeauoured himselfe with Paul to haue alway a cleare conscieÌ„ce toward God and men in this that he had laboured with Henoch to walke with God al his life long in this that it was his chiefe care coÌ„tinually to liue vprightly and sincerely before God and blamelesly and innocently before men Would he not tell thee that this was the thing wherin he reioyced wherewith he was comforted Surely without doubt he would And no maruaile For this this the testimony I meane of a good conscience would then be as a delightsome feast a most heauenly banquet vnto him It would be sweete musicke and a pleasant melodie within him Neuer did he tast of such iuncats as these would be to his hungry soule and to his fainting spirits It would be as it were Manna from heauen and water of life out of the Sanctuarie of God to refresh and to reuiue him when hee were almost dead Neuer did he heare any musicke that so much delighted him Oh how would it cheere vp his soule and refresh his minde causing him to breake foorth into that speech of the holie Prophet Why art thou so cast downe O my soule why art thou so disquieted so troubled within me O put thy trust in God euen thy God reioyce yea againe reioyce in him for loe as he hath promised hee will send foorth his light and his truth which shal leade thee bring thee safely vnto his holy mountaine and vnto his dwelling place Lo he wil plenteously reward thee receiuing thee presently into his heauenly palace and set thee vpon a Throne and crowne thee with glorie and immortalitie Or to say with that ancient and religious Father Goe foorth ô my soule what fearest thou why art thou danted or any waies dismaied Goe foorth what needest thou to feare Commit thy selfe vnto him who as he is a faithfull Creator so is hee also a liberall rewarder of all them that delight in well doing Behold thou hast fought a good fight thou hast finished thy course thou hast endeuoured to keepe faith and a good conscience and to serue God in truth vprightnes and sinceritie all thy daies So therefore those heauenly ministers the Angels of God who haue heretofore attended vpon thee are now ready waiting for thee eueâ— to embrace thee wiâ—â— their armes and to câ—râ—ie thee with ioy and triumph into that heauenly citie that celestiall paradise that new Hierusalem where thou shalt enioy the blessed presence of that glorious God aâ—d the comfortable societie and compaâ—â—â— oâ— al the Saints and Angels who desire and expect thy comming and with whom thou shalt liue and conuerâ—e in heauenly manner being â—â—tisfied with fulnes of ioy blâ—sse and happinesse for euermore This is the comfort which a good conscience will giue as thoroughout the whole life in the daies of triall and afflictioÌ„ so
the whole world but they would presently cut off all delaies which in good things are alwaies exceeding dangerous and seeke diligently by all meanes to leade their liues in that manner and so to secure their estate that in death they might haue assurance that they should not die but liue hauing their soules translated and carried though not by firie chariots as Elias was yet by the hands of those heauenlie Angels which continually waite and attend vpon them from earth to heauen from this vale of miserie to that place of endlesse glorie and happinesse O Lord keepe me from that extreame follie and simplicitie of the wicked whom Satan hath so deceiued and deluded that they should be carelesse of that which most neerly concernes them euen their future and eternall estate after this life which depends vpon the course of their life lead in this world which is short and momentarie Let it bee my care and endeuour euery day to seeke by a holy conuersation to be assured of the certaintie of my election and of my blessed and happie estate after this life euen my future glorification in thy kingdom that so I may be alwaies prepared and rest continually in a ioyfull hope and expectation of the accomplishment and fulfilling of thy gratious promise Freewill IT is a vaine thing to thinke that a man hath freewill vnto that which is good As well maist thou perswade me that a stone can moue it selfe or that a dead bodie can raise it selfe out of the graue Except the Lord put to his hand wee can neuer moue our selues no not to one good motion one good thought or desire much lesse giue our selues to the constant practise of that which is good Except the Lord put new life into vs except he quicken vs with his spirit we are al but dead men and shall lie in our graues vntill we be awaked vnto iudgement O Lord the fountaine of grace and life doe thou quicken me so shall I liue do thou lift me vp so shall I rise out of the graue of sinne and death Doe thou draw me so shall I come vnto thee yea so shall I euen runne with libertie in all the waies of thy commandements Heare me O Lord and help me for in thee doe I trust in whom onely I liue moue and haue my being and without whom all my life is but death Without thee I can doe nothing In thee and by thee all things What worship God especially requireth MAny performe outward worship and seruice vnto God few that which is inâ—ard Both are required but the latter is chiefly necessarie without which the former though commanded is neither pleasing nor acceptable yea vile and abominable vnto him that hath alwaies loathed such dead carcases such liuelesse sacrifices Lord giue me grace alwaies to offer vnto thee a whole burnt offering to serue thee as in bodie which thou hast made for that end so especially in spirit and in truth so shall I not bee reproued yea then thou wilt accept both of me and of all my sacrifices and be exceeding gracious and mercifull vnto me aboue that I can expect or desire Christians are willingly to resigne themselues and all that they enioy to Gods will ALL those things which wee enioy in this world are not our owne but Gods he gaue them to vs to vse and at his pleasure he may call for them and cause vs to restore them to him againe since he alone hath absolute right and interest in them Whiles wee haue them wee are to haue a care to vse them well and not to neglect them or to bee regardlesse of them We ought to vse them and yet not so to vse them as if they were our own but lent vnto vs by another of whom we haue receiued them When hee taketh them from vs we are willingly to restore them and readily without any murmuring or repining to part with them sith they were but lent vnto vs for a time for our conuenient or necessarie vse and are now called for againe by the right owner of them so that to bee vnwilling to returne them at his commaund is not neither ought to bee otherwise esteemed of vs then as the vsurping or violent detaining of another mans goods against his will and pleasure euen theft and robberie against the highest What meaneth it theÌ„ that many are so loth to restore the things which God hath giuen them the vse of for a while and now requireth of them againe What meanes it that many are so grieued to part with those things which the Lord hath lent them vntil such time as he should call for them Yea why is it that many complaine so grieuously as if they were greatly iniured or had very hard measure offered vnto them when the Lord taketh from them their wiues their children their friends their goods their lands liuings or their life it selfe Are they their owne and not Gods Why then should they sinne against him by repining that they cannot keepe them against his will Hath he giuen vnto them the vse of them thus long doth he now call for them and require them againe of them Why then should they not with al willingnes and thankfulnes restore them acknowledging themselues much indebted vnto him for the fruition of them and the benefit they haue receiued by them hitherto O Lord thou hast freely and most graciouslie vouchsafed many blessings and benefits vnto me euen in the things of this world the least whereof I am altogether vnworthie of thou hast giuen me life health friends and a competencie of these earthly things which in wisedome thou sawest to bee conuenient for me thou art the author and giuer of them as of all other things which are good Whiles it pleaseth thee to continue them vnto me for my vse giue me grace to vse them soberly in a sanctified manner so as may be most for thy glorie and my comfort both here and hereafter wheÌ„ it shall please thee to take theÌ„ away from me and to depriue me either of any or of all of them grant that I may with a willing minde and with a thankfull heart returne them againe vnto thee saying with that faithfull and constant seruant of thine whom thou hast made a paterne and president vnto me Naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither euen into the bellie of the earth which is the mother of vs all the Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken it blessed be the name of the Lord. Forgiuing of others how necessary for all men HE can neuer truely and freely forgiue those that offend and iniurie him that hath not first tasted of the infinite loue and fauour of God in Christ towards him in the forgiuenes of those manifold sinnes and innumerable and most grieuous offeÌ„ces whereby he hath displeased and prouoked him But he that hath a true apprehension and a liuely sense and feeling hereof in his owne soule
it were continually with manifolde vexations and distractions The only way to liue peaceably and ioyfully is to leade a holie and a religious life in al sinceritie and vprightnes This bringeth with it that sweete peace and that inward solace and ioy which the world cannot giue O blessed Lord the daies of this my pilgrimage are few and euill make them comfortable vnto me I humbly pray thee by leading me forward in the waies of righteousnesse and true holinesse grant that I may alwaies endeuour my selfe to haue faith and a good conscience before thee and before all men and to walke continually in simplicitie and godlie purenes without al guile hypocrisie that so my heart may reioyce in thee vnfainedly yea euen be filled with that ioy which is vnspeakable and glorious How they are to liue that are redeemed by Christ IT is a shame for the Lords free man to make himselfe a seruant a drudge and a slaue to the world to sinne and Satan Hee that Christ hath redeemed must liue like one set at libertie being alwaies very carefull and warie that hee be not intangled nor ouercome with any lust with any corrupt and vnlawfull affection lest thereby he bring himselfe into that bondage and seruitude then which there can be nothing more wretched and miserable O Lord since it hath pleased thee of thy infinite goodnes and mercie to redeeme me with so great a price euen with the pretious blood of thy deare Sonne that immaculate Lambe graunt that being freed from that estate of corruption vnto which before I was in bondage and hauing escaped froÌ„ the filthinesse of the world wherewith I was formerlie stained and polluted I may be carefull to renounce all those vngodly courses euen that vaine conuersation wherein I walked and delighted before I knew thee and that sauing grace of thine which thou in the riches of thy mercies hast reueiled and manifested vnto me and that I may daily more and more labour and striue after spirituall libertie and freedome liuing as thy seruant as thy redeemed one and shewing foorth the vertues of thee my God and Sauiour who hast called me out of darknesse into that maruellous light of thine Gods loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things and his wrath feared IF wee bee out of fauour with men of no esteeme no reckoning amongst them If despised and disgraced of the world and made as such as are vile and of no reputation If wee bee but in daunger to lose our goods our riches our lands and liuing or to haue our outward estate by any meanes impaired and decayed or in any sort diminished If any of our dearest friends and nearest kinsfolke die and depart from vs for a while or if we our selues be in any perill of death loe then we are very sad and heauie we are exceeding pensiue and grieued out of measure as though no greater euill could befall vs. But if we be cleane out of the loue and fauour of God then which there can be no greater miserie if we be not regarded of him but are vile in his sight such as by reason of our sinnes hee doth lothe and abhorre more then wee doe the vgliest and the loathsomest creature in the world and doth many waies testifie the signes of his hatred and the deepe displeasure which hee hath taken against vs If wee be in continuall danger to hazard the most desireable goods which are better then all things which this whole world can affoord euen those pretious things of God wherin onely true happinesse and felicitie consists If wee be in neuer so great and apparent danger and ieopardie to lose the vnspeakable riches of that glorious and immortall inheritance reserued for the Saints in that heauenly kingdome that celestiall Canaan the Paradise of God where there are such ioyes such pleasure such blessednes as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or to comprehend If our neerest and inmost friend which resteth continually in our bosome and in the secretest lodgings of our hearts vnto whom wee professe the greatest loue and friendship that may be in briefe to whom wee are ioyned and vnited with so neere and strait bands that it is death for vs at any time to bee seuered and separated for the least while for one moment euen our owne soule if that bee dead in vs whiles it seemeth to liue dead in trespasses and sinnes whiles it liueth according to the flesh delighting in those things which are vnlawfull dead in regard of the life of grace whiles it liueth the life of nature yea continuallie in extreame danger to die eternally euen that second death which of all euils is the most fearfull most wofull aboue that any man doth thinke or can imagine though he haue â—resented vnto his minde the most dreadfull things and fullest of horror that can possibly enter into the heart of man yet behold such is the sottishnes of mans nature though wee knowe these things yet wee are not inwardly touched nor moued with them as we ought to be though we reade of them our selues though wee heare of theÌ„ oft by others yea though the Lord from day to day and from time to time causeth them to sound in our eares by the ministerie and preaching of his word in the mouthes of his faithfull seruants whom he sendeth and by the inward and secret voice of his spirit which suggesteth these things vnto vs yet our hearts are not affected with the consideration of them wee haue almost no sense or feeling of these euils and miseries wee make no account of them we are little seldome or neuer troubled with the meditation and remembrance of them The feare and danger of them doth not strike our soules with griefe and sorrow nor make vs so pensiue and heauy as the feare and dread of farre lesser euils doe Wee grieue more at the losse of the fauour and countenance of men yea of carnall and worldly men then of that glorious and immortall God whose louing fauour is better then life and the want of it worse then death we grieue more at the losse of the things of this world which are vaine earthly and transitory and such as can neuer make the owner of them trulie blessed and happie though he had them in greater abundance then his heart albeit neuer so vnsatiable could desire theÌ„ of the things of the world to come which are most excellent heauenly and enduring for euer in the hope and expectation whereof there is ioy and comfort vnspeakable and glorious euen whiles they are not seen but beleeued and in the full fruition and possession whereof there is entire and absolute felicitie and blessednesse We are grieued more at the death and departure of our friend then at the death and destruction of our owne soule more troubled with the feare of the losse of this temporall life which is alwaies fading and whereof wee can haue no certaintie or assurance one houre no not
fulnesse of thy presence and drinke abundantly out of the riuers of thy pleasures for euermore The old man neuer dies in this life EVery Christian as long as hee liueth in this world hath the old man liuing in him hee is in part but not wholly crucified and slaine hee hath receiued his deadlie wound and lieth a dying euery day but will not bee quite dead till the soule be separated by death from this earthly this sinfull and this corruptible bodie O Lord subdue and mortifie daily more and more I humbly pray thee the corruption of my nature let mee feele the power and strength thereof weakened and decaying in me put thy spirit into my hart wâ—ich may striue continually against it and suppresse the force of it so that although in some sort it liue in me yet it may not raigne at any time nor haue dominion ouer me And when it pleaseth thee make an end of these wretched and miserable daies and deliuer me from this bodie of sinne and of death which I carrie continually about with me that so being wholly freed from the bondage vnto which I am now subiect and restored vnto perfect libertie I may serue thee with all cheerefulnes and alacritie as thy holie Angels and Saints in glorie now doe and shall for euermore A free minde how to be obtained THere cannot bee a free minde where the heart doth not continually rest vpon God and stay it selfe vpon him only Hee that doth this shall quickly finde all sinfull and immoderate feare and the excessiue and inordinate loue of all earthly things much diminished and abated in him yea flying quite away and vanishing in such sort as if hee had neuer bin annoied or encumbred with them He that doth it not it cannot bee but that he should liue and spend his daies in coÌ„tinuall disquietnes yea in great miserie and vexation of minde and spirit by reason of many distracting thoughts superfluous cares and vaine desires which will euen pierce his soule with many sorrowes and oppresse his minde with much griefe anguish and perplexitie Ah Lord thou knowest the secret thoughts and desires of my heart thou seest what it is that my soule longeth after how faine I would serue thee with that cheerefulnesse of minde and that freedome of spirit which is the sacrifice wherein thou art so much delighted Haue regard vnto me I humbly intreate thee consider my request which I powre out vnto thee from a heart vnfained Giue me daily a greater measure of thy grace whereby I may breake thorow those snares which are laid for me and wherewith I am readie continually to bee intangled and grant that I may resigne my selfe wholly vnto thee and rest yea set and fixe my heart euen roule my selfe vpon thee that so I may passe the rest of my pilgrimage heeâ—e on earth peaceablie cheerefullie and comfortably as one that is set at libertie from all sinfull and inordinate affections from the vaine desires and the needlesse and troublesome cares of this euill and wicked world Amen An effectuall motiue to true humilitie and lowlines of minde OH how meanly ought euery one to esteeme of himselfe How little ought he to be in his owne eyes seeing that in himselfe he is nothing notable of himselfe no not so much as once to thinke that which is good If he were as wise as Salomon so famous for his wisedom and vnderstanding yet if the Lord did not continually guide his heart and direct his stâ—ppes there would be much follie aâ—d vanitie sound with him If he were aâ— râ—ghteous as Dauid â— man after Gods owne heart yet if the Lord did not alwaies preserue him and strengthen him through the assistance of his gracious spirit he would fall most dangerously yea if he were as pure and as holy as the Angels themselues those heauenly spirits yet if the Lord should not sustaine him with his especiall grace and continue him in that estate but withdrawe his hande from him he would quickly fall as it were a starre from heauen and all his glorie being lost and his light dimmed yea quite extinguished become like vnto Sathan the prince of darkenes nothing but sinfulnes and impuritie There is no wisedom no righteousnes no holines no stedfastnes but onely in God and of God who is the fountaine of all grace and goodnes and from whom the streames thereof are to be deriued into the hearts of men or else there wil be nothing but barrennes and emptines in them God is all in all the best without him are as nothing hauing no power no ability to do any thing which is good What is it then that men should glorie of in themselues Or how should they not alwaies haue a verie meane conceite and esteeme of themselues yea euen annihilate themselues and giue the glorie of all vnto God vnto whom alone it is due O blessed God giue me that meekenes of spirit and that true humblenes of minde which as it is a thing rare and pretious in it selfe so of thee verie much set by Teach me considering mine own weaknes of which I haue daily experience and my insufficiencie of my selfe and of my owne strength to doe to will or to thinke any thing which is good to be lowly vile and abiect in mine owne eyes yea to esteeme my selfe as nothing without thee and alwaies acknowledging mine owne feeblenes and manifold fraileties and infirmities to depend wholly and onely vpon thee yea to cleaue fast vnto thee and to ascribe the praise and glorie of whatsoeuer good is wrought in me or by me vnto thee alone who art the God of my streâ—gth the author and giueâ— both of grace and glorie and the beginner and finisher of euery good thing which is wrought in any of thy children Another THE more that any one doth emptie himselfe of his owne worth and goodnes the more will the Lord fill and replenish him with the abundant riches of his diuine and heauenly grace The lower that he doth abase and cast downe himselfe the higher wil the Lord aduance him and lift him vp euen farre aboue that which he did either desire or expect Thus his gaine wil be exceeding great in that wherein to others he may seeme to suffer some losse much to preiudice himself O Lord grant I beseech thee that I may euery day be more humbled with the sight of mine owne vnworthines of my spirituall pouertie and beggarlines that so it may please thee to inrich me with the greater measure of thy grace let me yet be more vile in mine own eyes that so I may at length be exalted of thee aboue that which I deserue and be crowned with honour and glory in thy kingdome for euermore Vainglorie what a vanitie and follie it is VAinglorie as it is a common disease in the world so the greatest vanitie that can be yea meere follie and madnesse itself It argues euidently that he that is carried away with it