was wedded I haue remembred the z Titus 3. 3 deceitfull pleasures thereof wherewith I was intangled I am bent to the vile a Rom. 13. 14 lustes of my flesh wherein I am defiled miserablie and almost drowned eternally O LORD I find sensitlie that Capitall crimes I am not able to expresse sufficiently the hainousnesse the grievousnesse of my filthie enormitie for frequently I b Timoth. 5. 4 haue turned the grace of GOD into wantonnesse I haue despised c Rom. 2. 4 the riches of the bountifulnesse of thy patience without d Ephes 4. 15 feeling I haue given my selfe to commit vncleannesse to commit wickednesse even with a vehement desire and with greedinesse Alace O mightie GOD if it was said of thy servant IOB that hee added rebellion e Iob. 34. 37 to his sinne may not I say rather of my selfe that I haue added high treason to my manifold transgressions In so great a light of the GOSPEL I f Ezech 16.49 haue exceeded the people of sinfull Samaria in vngodlinesse Alace O LORD without mercy and amendement I haue iustified the sinne of Sodom and Gomorah in pride and aboundance of idlenesse If the prophet DAVID protested O LORD that g Psal 73. 22 hee was a beast before thee how can I declare my beastlynesse vnto thee For h Psal 119.176 I haue gone astray like a lost sheepe I am now in great danger and jeopardie I who should haue beene vpright am like i Deut. 32. 15 a horse waxing fatte haue spurned with my heele and forsaken thee who made mee I haue not regarded but I haue offended the GOD of my salvation I haue beene like an k Hosea 10.12 heifer vsed to delight in threshing but haue no desire of the painfull worke of plowghing I am like a vile l 2 Pet. 2. 22 dogge returning to his vomite againe I am like the filthie Sow once washen and yet turneth backe to the pudle and filthie myre like m 2 Tim. 4. 17 a cruell Lyon devouring and like a false foxe n Luke 13 31 deceiving like a bold o Psal 22. 12 bull of Bashan pushing and wronging or like a subtill Serpent and like an p Levit. 11. 41 vncleane creature creeping on my bellie and licking the dust of the earth altogether abhominable and vnmeete to bee offered vp vpon GODS Altar And I confesse that by nature I am like q Ierem. 13. 23 a Leopard that cannot change his spots I doe acknowledge O LORD Worse than senslesse creatures that r Isaiah 5. 4 I haue beene an evill vine in thy vineyarde thou lookest that I should bring foorth sweet grapes but I haue brought foorth soure I as I am the sonne of Adam haue not the fatnesse of the oliue but am as a wilde oliue I am Å¿ Rom. 11. 7 as a brier or thorne of the garden worthie to bee cast in the fire I am alace like a barren and vnprofitable husbandrie for t Iob. 31. 40 thistles doe grow in me in stead of wheate and cockle in stead of barley I like earth doe drinke in the raine that commeth vpon mee but I am hurtfull and noysome and neere u Heb. 6. 8 to cursing whose end without repentance is to bee burned O pitifull GOD I haue reason to cry to thy Majestie that x â— Tim. 1. 15 I am the least of thy Saints that I am y Luke 17. 10 the chiefe of all sinners I am an vnprofitable servant I haue not done that which was my duetie to doe and LORD most justlie may thou cast z Malach. 2.3 the dongue of our confession backe vpon our faces and reject me with all my service but now O LORD by thy helpe I will assay to lament before thee most bitterly my woefull state and great miserie A PREPARATION TO LAMENTATION The third Chapter THou to whom the Alsufficient GOD the a Iam 1.17 giver of every perfect gift and donation hath vouchsafed vpon thee this Heavenly wisdome that thou art of this resolute purpose as to b 1 Sam. 7.2 lament after the LORD to c 1 Sam. 1.15 powre foorth thy soule with Hannah before thy GOD to deplore thy miserable estate and wretched condition Know thou must certainly and bee perswaded in thy minde assuredly Three thinges needefull for true lamentation that first thou must haue three things necessarie namelie a sure sense and feeling of thy vnspeakable miserie againe a great feare and terrour therewith lastly an vnfained sorrow and heavie displeasure for the same No lamentation will bring to thee Feeling life solide joy and consolation without a sure sense and painefull feeling of thy sore disease and doolefull calamitie Before thou attaine to this feeling thou must of absolute necessitie and without any controversie haue two things First spirituall quickning Secondly tymous awaking vnlesse thou bee quickened inwardly vnlesse thou be awakened throughly thou shall neither haue knowledge nor feeling of thy wretchednesse and misery And yet before this d Galat. 6. 15 new birth and regeneration there must bee Death of sin in thee vndoubtedly a e Coloss 3. 5 true mortification and f Heb. 2. 15 deliverance from the death of sinne and impietie which by many degrees is worse than naturall death the separation of the soule from the body This naturall death bringeth to Death of sin worse than naturall death the bodie seven evils Namelie senselesnesse weaknesse heauinesse vglinesse coldnesse rottennesse stinke or an evill savour Now albeit this bee most evident and manyfold by the proofe of dayly experience so that it needeth no probation yet wee will insist a little therein for our memorie and consideration 1 Saul being slaine had no feeling Senslesnesse when the Philistims abused his body and g 1 Sam. 31. 10 hanged vp the same on the wall of Bethshan 2 A dead body wanting vitall Heavinesse spirits is heavier than it was when the soule remained therein this heavinesse of body apparantly made these Iewes when they were burying h 2 King 13.21 a corps when they saw the Souldiers of Moab they cast his corps in the sepulchre of Elisha 3 Seeing there is weakenesse Weaknesse in man while hee liveth for all flesh is as grasse how weake is hee wanting life That Giant Goliah being dead had i 1 Sam. 17.46 no strength to keepe his carkase from the foules of the aire 4 If olde age bringeth coldenesse Coldnesse to the feeble body for David himselfe being striken in yeares albeit k 1 King 1. 1 they covered him with cloths yet no heat came vnto him death much more maketh the body cold as a key or as clay 5 The body by death groweth Vglinesse vglie and vnprofitable to behold when beautifull l Genes 12. 11 Sara her selfe was deprived of life then her loving husband Abraham had no
pleasure to looke on her he m Genes 23.3 arose from the sight of the corps he made request and gaue money for a place to burie his dead wife from his sight 6 Putrefaction and rottennesse followeth death The bodie will Rettennesse returne to the dust and bee putrified albeit the n Genes 13. 16 Physitian embalmed Ioseph and put him in a chest yet they could not preserue his fraile flesh from putrifying o Exod. 13. 15. for Moses tooke but his bones with him from Egypt 7 A dead body becommeth loathsome and hath an evill smell A evill savour therefore Marke said of Lazarus whom CHRIST p Iohn 11. 39 did raise from the graue LORD hee stinketh already hee hath beene deade foure dayes Yet notwithstanding this naturall death bringeth not wretchednesse but rather happinesse to the bodies of the godly For their bodies being deade shall q Isaiah 57. 2 haue peace and shall rest in their beds for a time They r 2 Cor. 15. 42 43. 44 will be sowne in corruption but raised in incorruption They will bee sowne in dishonour but raised in glory They will bee sowne in weakenesse but raised in power They will be sowne naturall bodies but raised spirituall bodies Now the death of sinne will bring such senselesnesse that albeit the Å¿ Prover 23.35 wicked be striken yet they are not sicke albeit they be beaten yet they know not they haue no feeling nor paine of their misery their heart is dead within them and they are like a stone 2 This death it will bring such heavinesse so that the sinner cannot lift vp his soule to GOD it will be disquieted a Psal 42. 11 and cast downe within him 3 It will bring such weaknesse that one cannot rise inwardly vnlesse hee bee lifted one cannot stand vnlesse hee bee strengthned one cannot goe forward except hee bee borne in GODS bosome one cannot doe good except hee bee helped b Iam. 4. 6 neither resist the Devill or the smallest tentation except c Ephes 6. 13 14.15.16.17 18 he put on the whole armour of GOD. 4 Coldnesse commeth by the death of sinne and no wonder for as a father saith Frigus DEI est cum deserit peccatorem nec vocat Augustin nec aperit sensum nec infundit gratiam GOD leaveth that sinner hee calles not on him neither openeth hee his senses neither infuseth grace Hee remaineth like to the Salamander who as they say walking vpon the fire doth extinguish the same And d Hab. 1. 6 albeit hee cloth himselfe yet shall hee not bee warme 5 By this death of sinne one becommeth abominable and vglie in the eyes of the Almightie The LORD cannot endure to looke vpon such a one If hunger or bodily famine will make the e Lament 4.7 Nazarites who were purer than snow and whyter than milke and rudier than the red pretious stones to haue a visage blacker than a coale and to bee withered like a stocke will not this death bring greater blacknesse and deformitie it will surelie remoue all comelinesse and beautie If DAVID said in regarde of his afflictions hee was become a f Psal 71. 7 monster vnto many surely much more a sinner in respect of his transgressions appeareth a monster in the eyes of the Almightie Hee is g Titus 1. 16 abominable and to every good worke a reprobate 6 By this death a sinner becommeth like h Isaiah 14. 16 a carkase troden vnder foote such a one i Iob 13. 24 consumeth like a rotten thing and as a garment that is moth-eaten hee is corrupt and putrified 7 Yea k Ioel. 2. 20 his stinke shall come vp and his corruption shall ascend and his l Isaiah 34. 3 stinke shall come out of his body and the mountains shall bee melted with his blood But which is worst of all this death of sinne without regeneration bringeth the m Revel 21 8 second death which is eternall death anguish and tribulation Mors prima animam nolentem pellit de corpore Augustinus Mors autem secunda animam nolentem tenet in corpore The first death thrusteth the vnwilling soule out of the body the second death detaineth the vnwilling soule within the body Mors nulla major est quam vbi non moritur mors Idem surelie there is no greater death than when death dieth not This bringeth everlasting misery and perpetuall wretchednesse the aboundaunce of all affliction the want of all consolation Ingressus humanae conditionis miserabilis progressus humanae conversationis culpabilis Hugo de vilitate humanae conditionis egressus humanae dissolution is damnabilis The ingresse of mans condition is miserable the progresse of mans conversation is culpable and the egresse of mans dissolutionis damnable Now contrariwise if thou shall bee quickened with spirituall life thou shalt surely attaine to happinesse and felicitie then thou hast o Revel 20. 6 part in the first resurrection the second death shall haue no power over thee thou are blessed and holy thou shall bee nourished in this life and glorified in the life to come Resurgat in prima resurrectione qui non vult in secunda damnari Let him rise in the first resurrection who in the second would not be condemned 2 Thus thou living the life of grace shall bee nimble light and spirituall discerning al things p 1 Corin. 5. 14 seeking q Coloss 3. 1 those things which are aboue While thou art in nature thou art like an egge heavie and dead Similitudo Zanchii but in and by grace hatched thou art like a birde moving seeking and flying 3 Then the loue of GOD shed r 2 Cor. 5. 14 abroad into thy soule constraining thee to doe thy duetie shall strengthen thee for thy calling Å¿ 2 Cor. 12. 9 His grace shall bee sufficient for thee thou shall bee more strong than Goliah than Milo who with a Sam. 17. 5 stroke of his fist did kill a Cow than Polydamas who trusting to their owne strength died all miserably Franciscus Patricius lib. 2 de institutione reipubl but thou shall liue most happily overcomming the Devill thine adversarie Yea in t Rom. 8. 37 al things through CHRIST thou shall be more than a conquerour u Philip. 4. 13 through him thou shall bee able to doe all things necessarie 4 When thou enjoyeth that spirituall life thou shall be warme with the heate of the holy Spirit and of the x Malach 4. 2 sunne of Righteousnesse which shall arise vnto thee wherewith thou shall bee so inflamed that the extremitie of cold shall never prevaile against thee These fourtie Martyres who that father writteth in the dayes Basilius Magnus in 40 Martyros of cruell Licinius were cast into a pond of water all the night suffering the cold Northerne wind and their bodies being frozen and almost senslesse their soules remaining hotte with the
of exhortation for to all men is knowne your moderation Your Philip. 4. 5 light so shineth before them that they may see your good workes Math. 5. 6 and glorifie you Father which art in HEAVEN For which causes I haue presumed to present next to his Majestie this small treatise vnto your Wisedomes praying that your succeeding posteritie and all others of this Kingdome may bee earnest followers of your godly vertues and diligent imitators of your pious proceadings for GOD his glory the welfare of this Kingdome the good of your Citie your owne praise and eternall salvation in the LORD IESVS to whose grace and blessing I commend you for ever From Dysart the last of Maij. 1630. Remaining your W. most assured and affection at all power in CHRIST WILLIAM NARNE TO THE READER SOme Writers both Christian and Heathen doe make mention of Gyges his admirable ring August Erasmus in adagii Cicero valer Maximus affirming that by vertue thereof or of the stone therein he received 3 great commodities namely 1. Victorie over his enemies for when he pleased he became saith they invisible 2. He attained to an honourable marriage 3. He gained an earthly Kingdome and so became happie and fortunate This in my judgement may bee but a fable or a tradition without a sure ground or certaintie But thou mayest perswade thy selfe that this is a most certaine trueth a vndoubted veritie without all contraversie that true and earnest prayer is a most powerfull and pretious Pearle by helpe and vertue whereof thou shall surely saue thy a Act. 2. 40 selfe from this naughty crooked and vntoward generation thou shall subdue sinne and thy owne fleshlie corruption thou shall be able b Ephes 6. 16 to quench all the firie darts of Sathan and in c Rom. 8. 37 all thinges thou shall bee more than a Conquerour through him who hath loved thee from the beginning 2. Thou shall get CHRIST IEUS the prince of Glory to bee the husband of thy soule eternally thou shall be joyned in most happy marriage with him vnseparable and most comfortable thou shall become a d Ephes 5. 30 member of his most glorious body 3. Thou shall gaine a Heavenly Kingdome which cannot bee shaken thou shall be e Revel 1. 6 made a King vnto GOD and reigne with Christ in Heaven in all glorie and happinesse for ever and ever I pray thee then to receiue courteously and to possesse continually this Pearle of inestimable worth and commoditie that thou may receiue grace heere and glory in the life to come In through the merits of the LORD IESUS to whom with the Father and holy Spirit bee all honour power praise and Dominion forever ever Amen AD. LECTOREM QVI cupis horrendos Erebi vitare caminos Deliciis Domini perpetuòque frui Hunc lege perlectum decies imiture libellum Vespere nocte die corde precando Deum Quo duce per Christum vita potiere futura Hujus innumeris tu potiere bonis RICHARDUS WRIGHT The Table of this Booke Chap. 1 A Preparation to our confession Pag. 1 Chap. 2. A confession of our sinne and iniquitie Pag. 47 Chap. 3 A preparation to lamentation Pag. 80 Chap. 4 A lamentation for our woe and misery Pag. 138 Chap. 5 A preparation before petition Pag. 164 Chap. 6 A petition for grace and mercy Pap. 185 Chap. 7 A description of true prayer Pag. 206 Chap. 8. A great sinne not to pray Pag. 216 Chap. 9. A grievous punishment not to pray Pag. 228 Chap. 10 Of the good of prayer Pag. 251 Chap. 11 Of the difficultie of prayer Pag. 305 Chap. 12. Consolations for weake Christians Pag. 352 Chap. 13. Of the causes of prayer Pag. 377 Chap. 14. Of the necessitie of prayer Pag. 390 Chap. 15 Of the profite of true prayer Pag. 401 Chap. 16 Of the dignitie of prayer Pag. 407 Chap. 17 Of the force of prayer Pag. 414 Chap. 18 Of the circumstances of prayer pag 434 Chap. 19. Of the signes of prayer Pag. 450 FINIS THE PEARLE OF PRAYER MOST PRETIOVS AND POWERFVLL The first Chapter SEing by the a Psal 124. 8. helpe of the LORD GOD which made Heaven and Earth and by the gratious assistance of his holie Spirit wee are now of purpose to handle that most worthie and excellent matter the doctrine of b Iam. 5. 16. fervent and powerfull prayer It is not only expedient and comlie but also most profitable and necessare that everie one of vs in all humiltie and sinceritie in c Iohn 4. 24 trueth and spirit vnfeinedly first confesse our sinnes and iniquitie next deplore and lament our woefull estate and great miserie and thirdlie that we earnestly beg for grace and mercie Augustin Prius requirit Deus confessionem quam orationem But before wee come to this confession wee will declare three things whereof we must be certainly assured and throughly perswaded first that sinne and iniquitie cannot bee for ever covered next of the great good and profite of confession lastlie that there is a right maner thereof and this will bee for our preparation before confession There d Luke 8. 17 is nothing so secreet saith our SAVIOUR but it shall bee evident neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come to sight Sinne then cannot bee concealed In regard of GOD. but at some tyme must bee disclosed and that in regard of GOD of thy conscience of Sathan and of the nature thereof and of other creatures GOD himselfe against whom it is principally e Psal 51.4 committed and who therewith is highly offended and heavily f Sam. 11. 27 displeased IESUS CHRIST the Prince of Glorie who thereby is g Heb. 6.5 againe mocked and crucified the holy Ghost that sanctifying Spirit is therewith h Ephes 4. â—0 grieved i Thess 5. 19 quenched and k Act. 7.5 resisted even hee who l Iob. 12.22 discovereth the deepe places from the darknesse and bringeth foorth the shaddow of death to sight Hee will who seeth and knoweth all things revealeth wickednesse and m Hos 2.10 discovereth lewdenesse and no man can delyver out n Nehem. 3.5 of his hand show to Nations all filthinesse Againe the conscience cryeth and originall sinne that therein is written Of the conscience at length that o Revel 20.12 booke will be opened all faults vnrepented will bee manifested and the true testimony thereof which everie one hath had in his owne custodie can not bee denyed * Conscientia est codex in qua Chrysost in Psal 50. quotidiana peccata conscribuntur The conscience saith a father is a booke wherein our dayly sinnes are written together An other Ancient compareth the conscience to a contentious woman chyding oftentimes and clattering casting vp secreet sinnes having no discretion nor power to conceale things not to bee revealed Like Samsons wife who could not keepe secreet
si confessio praecurrat humana the revenge of GOD ceasseth if the confession of man preceedeth and in an other place he thus exhorteth Fatere peccata ô homo vt Idem lib 1. de interpellatione cap. 5. veniam consequaris dic iniquitates vt justificeris quid erubescis fateri ea in quibus natus es O man acknowledge thy faults that thou mayest haue pardon tell thine iniquitie that thou mayest be justified wherefore art thou ashamed to confesse these in the which thou art borne An other Ancient affirmeth Gregorius Nazianzen in oratione consolaorta de pacis silentio thus Magnum remedium malitiae est confessio fuga peccati that confession is a great remedie of maliciousnesse and a flight of sinne An other so speaketh Basilius in Hexamero homilia vndeci ma. Septuplam retributionem peccatoribus delatam remittet DOMINUS in hac vita per confessionem ac resipiscentiam à nobis placatus the LORD being pleased by vs in this lyfe by confession and repentance will forgiue that sevenfold retribution objected to sinners dicito peceata saith Chrysostome vt Chrysostom homilia 2. deleas dicito in hac vita vt requiem habeas tell thy sinnes that thou mayest put them away tell them in this lyfe that thou mayest get rest in an other lyfe Absque confessione Bernard 2 â—ep cap 14. justus judicabitur ingratus peccator mortuus reputatur confessio igitur peccatoris est vita justi gloria without confession the just is judged vnthankfull and the wicked is esteemed dead confession then is the lyfe of the sins and the glory of the just Moreover another writeth thus Confessio sanat confessio justificat confessio peccatis vemam donat omnis spes in confessione consistit in confessione locus misericordia est nulla est tam gravis culpa quae per confessionem non habeat veniam Confession healeth confession justifieth confession giveth pardon to sinnes all hope consisteth into confession in confession there is a place for compassion there is no fault so greevous but by confession it will bee pardoned But principally let vs giue attendance August pas sim in multi locis to Augustin in this point assevering Damnaberis tacitus qui possis liberari confessus being silent thou shall bee condemned who being confessed may be delyvered Againe Confessio malorum operum initium bonorum operum est the confession of evill workes is the beginning of good workes And furthermore Confessio nos humiles facit Confession maketh vs humble Confessio jungit nos DEO confession conjoyneth or vniteth vs to GOD Confessio judicat vivos confession declareth that wee are aliue now enjoying the lyfe of grace referved to haue eternall fruition of the lyfe of glory yea that Philosopher Seneca Seneca saith Somnium narrare vigilantis est vitia confiteri sanitatis indicium est It is a token of one awake to tell their dreame and of health to confesse their sinnes And not to bee too tedious in such trie testimonies for concâ—ution of the same wee will offer to your due consideration that fathers saying Ratio DEI inducendi August citante Spinaeo in lib depeccatorum confessione vt peccata nosira excuset ac tegatâ— ea est si ea detegamus ac nos ipsos accusemus nos ille evehit cum ipsi nos abijcimus nos justificat cum nos ipsi condemnamus obliviscitur peccatorum cum nos ipsi meminimus eorum denique nos in prctio habet cum nobis ipsi vilescimus nos invenit cum nobis ipsis perditi videmur pluriminos facit cum nos ipsos nihili facimus â—he mâ—ane most remarkable are the sentences to moue GOD that hee may excuse and cover cur sinnes is that if wee shall vncover them accuse our selues hee exalteth vs when wee cast downe our selues hee justifieth vs when we condemne our selues hee forgetteth our sinnes when wee remember on them Finalie wee are pretious vnto him when wee are vile in our owne sight hee findeth vs when wee seeme lost to our selues and he maketh much of vs when we make nothing of our selues Sicut sumus praecedit incendium sic flammam Similitude fidei charitatis praecedit peccatorum confessiâ— As smoake goeth Primasius in Apocalypsin before burning so confession of sinnes goeth before the flamme of faith and charitie Thirdly Experience showeth vs that the parient will declare his disease to the Physitian the wounded man will vncover his soares to the Chirargion the Client will manifest the weaknesse of his cause or action to his Advocate the poore Beggar will vtter his wants to the helping Passenger and cry pittifully and earnestlie for some support that the child will tell his necessitie to his loving parents that the oppressed subject will signifie his hurt to a gratious King or pittiefull Magistrate Now answere mee truely is not GOD thy perfite Physitian who will heale all thine q Psal 103. 3 infirmimities Is not CHRIST a faithfull r 1 Iohn 2. 1 Advocate who will defend thy right and bee thy reconciliation for thy sinnes to purchase an Heavenly Kingdome for thee Is not thy LORD a most liberall benefactor who Å¿ Iob. 22. 18 can fill the house of the wicked with good things at sometimes and will multiplie his t Hezek 36.11 benefites towards thee more than at the first Is not Hee the Father u 2 Corinth 1.3 of mercy and the GOD of all consolation Will not He satisfie x Psal 91. 16 thee with long lyfe and glorifie thee with salvation Is not He the King of y Isaiah 44. 6 Israell the LORD of Hostes and thy Redeemer Will not Hee looke z Psalm 102 19. 20 downe from the hight of his Sanctuarie out of Heaven Will Hee not behold the Earth that he may heare the mourning of his prisoners and delyver the children of death Wherefore then will thou hide thy woes and offences from him Wherefore will thou a Iohn 8. 24 die in thy sinnes and perish eternally in thine iniquities Why concealeth thou thy cancred corruption for thine owne destruction in b 2 Pet. 3. 47 the day of judgement and perdition of vngodly men or before that dreadfull day Why will thou vexe thine owne soule with continuall griefe and molestation When DAVID himselfe did hold his c Psal 32. 3. tongue his bones consumed fearefully his hand was vpon him continually his very moisture was turned into the drought of summer But when hee did not hide his iniquitie but acknowledged his trespasse then he got remission and so joy and consolation It is written of Creusa by an Ethnick that being troubled in Euripides in Iovem her minde and grievouslie perplexed in conscience to mitigate the extremitie of that vexation shee did vse the remedie of confession and shee did discover her secret fornicatios and did declare openly her whoordome that shee had
m Genes 22.13 sand which was vpon the sea shore and the starres of Heaven as it is to mee to number my innumerable offences and manifold enormities whereby I haue offended thy godly Majestie I 2 Great sins am compelled also O gratious GOD to confesse vnto thee that mine iniquities n Psal 25. 11 are great my wickednesse o Iocl 3. 13 is grievous it is also growne to a terrible hight it is mounted vp to the cloudes Nebuchadnezar but dreamed that p Daniel 4. 8 the hight of that tree which hee saw in aâ— vision reached vp to the Heaven but I am perswaded that my sinne is ascended higher It is come vp to q Revel 18. 5 Heaven and cryeth r Genes 18.20 vpon GOD for wrath and indignation against mee I doe acknowledge O Heavenly and mercifull Father that my 3 Heavie sins sinnes are wondrous weightie and infinitly heavie The Å¿ Psal 70.27 stones are weighty and the sand is heavie but light in respect of my iniquities for t Psal 23. 4 they are growne over my head and as a weightie burden they are too heavie for mee the iron thereof is importable Manasseh In the prayer of Manasses was bound downe with many iron bands that hee could not lift vp his head vnto Heaven I am bund downe with many heavie bands of sinne that I can not lift vp my heart to thee as I most earnestly desire to doe The people of Israell protested that u 2 Chron. 10.4 Salomons yoke was heavie and his servitude sore vpon them and prayed that it might be made lighter but LORD I find the yoke of sinne much more bitter and the slaverie thereof more intolerable I long to bee eased thereof The Israelites sighed x Exod. 2. 23 and cryed to GOD when they were kept vnder with the heavie burdens of the Aegyptians I haue greater cause O LORD to bee vexed and wearied with the burden of sinne which y Heb. 12. 1 hangeth so fast and presseth so sore downe which without helpe from thy Majestie would thrust my soule to the lowest hell I confesse O GOD that as my 4 Filthie sinne sinnes they are not few but many they are not small sinnes but great sinnes they are not light but verie heavie sinnes so they are most vile filthie and abhominable polluting and defiling mee both outwardly and inwardly in soule spirit and body It is trueth pitch z Eecles 13. 4 defileth him that toucheth it and mirie clay contaminateth him that walloweth in the same The excrements of men which thou most holy GOD commanded to be digged in a Deut. 23. 13 the graue and to bee covered with earth the dung of beastes doe not so defile the body as the excrements of filthie sinne hath polluted my soule and inward man The corruption of dead Carions and carkases b Levit 11. 39 made the handlers thereof vncleane but LORD my continuall doing of dead c Heb. 12. 1 workes hath made mee much more polluted and detestable in thy presence The Ammonites for their wrong to DAVID did d 2 Sam. 10. 6 stinke in his sight but LORD I am more lothsome in thy pure eyes I doe acknowledge before thee 5 Odious sins O e Genes 18.25 righteous judge of the whole world that my hainous sinnes makes mee odious vnto thy Majestie for I know well that thou hatest f Psal 5. 5 all them that worke iniquitie and even at this time my conscience cryeth to mee that I haue committed many enormities justly O LORD may thou hate mee and set g Psal 50. 21 all my sinnes in order before mee and therefore take vengance vpon mee most deservedly O my GOD I confesse also that Scandalous sin my sinnes are exemplary and scandalous I haue alace caused the h 2 Sam. 12. 14 enemies of the LORD blaspheme They i Rom. 3. 19 who obeyed not the word haue not beene wonne by my holy lyfe and conversation I haue not stopped but rather opened the mouths of the vngodly I haue strengthned them in their wickednesse and impietie as also I haue scandalized but not bettered the weake ones I k Levit. 19. 14 haue put a stumbling block before my blind brethren I haue caused them by mine evill example to goe astray and to fall into the pit I haue beene an offence to some litle ones that dwelt with mee Thou thy selfe O my SAVIOUR hath said it l Math. 18.7 must needs bee that some offences must come Many alace haue come by mee for the which without thy mercie I would be wrapped vp in woe and endlesse miserie I can not deny O most righteous 7 Pernitious sinnes judge but I must acknowledge of necessitie that my filthie faults and terrible transgressions are most hurtfull and pernicious to my selfe for weakning and wounding mee for binding and blindfolding me for sundering me from thee and swallowing mee vp in woe and calamitie I say with thy servant O m Psal 6. 2 LORD I am weake and feeble my sinnes haue made my strength to fall neither am I able to rise againe my n Psal 38. 4. 5.6.7.8 wounds are putrified and corrupt because of my foolishnesse I am bowed and crooked very sore my reines are full of burning and there is nothing sound in my flesh I am weakned and sore bowed I roare for the very griefe of myne heart I find O LORD that myne owne o Proverb 5.22 iniquities doe take me and Sathan by them hath caught me and I am holden with the cordes of sinne and by them the Devill is drawing mee vnto everlasting damnation And as the blind Aramits were p 2 King 6.19 led to Samaria so am I carried to hell and without spirituall eyes am brought to perdition without thy helpe and salvation for q Isaiah 59.2 they doe hide thy face from mee that thou will not heare they doe separate betweene thy Majestie and mee they will make mee alace to perish eternally to bee deprived of all comfort and glory and without true repentance to bee tormented continually in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which r Revel 21. 8 Originall sin is the second death And yet O LORD when I descend more deeply by thy assistance of thy grace into mine heart and narrowly examine my conscience I doe confesse in sinceritie that I am guiltie of originall sin I want that righteousnesse wherewith man was indued in his creation I haue a bent desire a bad inclination to doe evill wickednesse and abhomination Behold Å¿ Psal 51.5 I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne did my mother conceaue mee I t Rom. 7.23 see another law in my members rebelling against the law in my mynde and leading mee captiue vnto the law of sinne which is into my members O LORD this is the evill seede which bringeth foorth evill encrease This is the bitter
trespasses During Samsons sleepe one p Iudg. 16. 19 did shaue off his seven lockes of his head and tooke away his consecrate haire then his strength was gone from him yea the LORD for a season departed from him therefore the Philistims his enemies they tooke him they put out his eyes and bound him with fetters and hee did grind in the prison house so while a Christian is sleeping Sathan will bee most readie to spoile him of his strength and other gifts wherewith hee was endued Sixtly By such sleepe man becommeth most vnlike to GOD Vnlikenesse to GOD. whom hee should most of all resemble for the keeper of Israell will q Psal 122. 4 neither sleepe nor slumber GOD r Iob. 28. 24 beholdeth the ends of the world and seeth all that is vnder Heaven ruling and governing all things by his mightie providence his eyes are looking his eares patent his hand sustaining continually and Å¿ Psal 104. 27 giving foode in due season to every creature wherefore his servants should studie to show themselues to be obedient children of their good Creator to bee lyke to him in holynesse in righteousnesse and in watchfulnes That every one may say t Psal 25. 1 vnto the LORD I lift vp my heart and I u Psal 123. 1 lift vp my eyes O LORD to thee that dwelleth in the Heavens and I x 1 Tim. 2. 8 pray every where lifting vp pure hands I will altogether with all vigilance and diligence consecrate my selfe soule and bodie vnto the LORD his service and y Rom. 6.13 giue all my members to GOD as weapons of righteousnesse 7 Death and destruction will Destruction ensue therevpon if that younge man Eutychus z Act. 20. 9 fallen into a deepe sleepe and overcome therewith fell downe and with that fall he died whom the Apostle Paule raised vp and restored to life againe Sisera a Iudg. 4 21 a valiant man being fast a sleepe was killed by a woman as b Iudg. 8. 11 the hoste of the Midianits which were carelesse was easily destroyed in the night Chedarlaomer with the rest of the Kinges and their victorious armie being c Genes 14.15 secure sleepie and drunken as Iosephus writeth were surprized and smitten Wee Antiquitatiud lib. 1. cap. 1. Franc. Patric de inst reip Herod read that Spargastes sonne to Thomyris queene of the Scythians and all his armie being buried in sleepe and wine was destroyed by Cyrus Thus if so many hath beene overthrowen in sleepe naturall many moe haue perished while they haue beene sleeping in sinne and securitie Yea wee read that a weake Plinius and contemptible enemie will overcome and kill a strong adversarie being a sleepe for albeit the Crocodile an hudge and a savage Serpent bee of great strength yet a very weake beast of a little more quantitie than a ratte while the Crocodile sleepeth creepeth in at the mouth of the strong fish it goeth downe to the bellie and lacerateth the same the Crocodile dieth and it escapeth No maruell then that Sathan who is strong and subtill get advantage to overcome and overthrow weake men especially when in securitie accompanied with infirmitie These and moe being the discommodities of that fearefull sleep namely 1. idlenesse 2. indigence 3. infamie 4. pollution 5. losse 6. vnliknesse to GOD and 7. destruction It is much to bee wondred and much more to bee pitied that Alace so many should so carelesly continue in their let hargie Heere in the third place wee Who do sleepe A difference betweene the godly and the wicked will breefly declare who they are that sleepe 1. The godlie sleepe 2. The wicked also but with this maine difference albeit while the d Cant. 5. 2. bridegroome tarieth both the wise Virgins and the foolish Virgins slumber and sleepe yet the wise haue oyle in their lampes even faith in their soules but the foolish are emptie and haue not the oyle of grace in their hearts Againe the faithfull sleepe most vnwillingly they are sorrowfull for their slumbring hee sleepeth but his heart waketh and it is oftentymes that hee f Numb 15.27 sinneth through ignorance so they sleepe But the wicked hee doeth g Numb 15.30 presumptuously hee sleepeth willingly as h Prover 15.21 foolishnesse is a joy to him so sleepe is a pleasure and delectation This may be esteemed a wonder in Gippius that Romane Lucilius apud Beraldum who would desire yea faine himselfe to sleepe and swore that his owne wife might play the harlote more easilie and commit adulterie But it is verie vsuall to many calling themselues Christians who desire to sleepe that their soules may the more readily commit great whoredome i Hos 1. 2 departing from the LORD a most pittifull and marvellous matter Few men will sleepe naturally to prostitute their wiues but many will sleepe spiritually to prostitute their soules Fourthly Let vs consider by what meanes and how wee are awakened 1. by GODS Word 2. by his rodde 3. by his benefites 4. by the operation of his holy Spirit First The Word is a cleare light that shineth k Prov. 4. 12 in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the day starre arise in our hearts it is a Lanterne to our feete and a light to our paths that l Psal 2. 9. the way of righteousnesse may shine as the light which shineth more and more vntill the perfite day The Word of the LORD is his m Numb 10.2 voice Which is mightie and glorious like the silver trumpets which were vsed for the assembling of the congregation Now shall the light so long tyme shine in thine eyes and shall this voice and trumpet so long tyme sound in thine eares telling thee with many cryes and advertisements that thou sleepest in a most perillous place as n Prov. 23.34 one that sleepeth in the top of the mast in the midst of the sea 2. In a most dangerous case having moe cruell enemies in this wildernesse compassing thee round about for thy confusion than DAVID had in the wildernesse Maon where hee sleeped not but made o 1 Sam. 23. 36 haste to get from the presence of Saul pursuing him 3. In a most short and troublous time when other Saincts some of them are sore working for p â— Cor. 9. 24 their penny some of them are fast q Heb. 12. 4 running for their prize some are praying and weeping in calamitie some are fighting for victorie some are suffering and resisting r Act. 21. 13 vnto blood striving against sinne readie to die and giue their lyues for the name of the LORD IESVS for to obtaine an incorruptible Crowne of glorie What now art thou I pray thee doing Is this a fitte tyme to sleepe in yea the Heavens are swiftly moving the sea vncessantly flowing and ebbing the earth is now decaying All creatures Å¿ Rom. 8. 22 together are groning Our
corruption is ever defiling The world deceaving continually The Devill destroying bussily The glorious Bridgrome t Math. 25. 6 is comming The righteous Iudge approaching The great GOD is already executing his determined decree and art thou yet slouthfull yet securing yet sleeping What u Ionas 2. 6 meanest thou O sleeper Thou sleepest in such estate as Ionas The heavie tempest of GODS wrath is raised the tempest of his indignation is encreased the sea of miserie highly swelled the weake ship of thy rotten bodie is fearefully cracked it is like to be broken thy neighbours haue laboured and death is present before thee hell it selfe hath gaped for thee yet alace thou sleepest when thou shouldst awake thou loyterest when thou should worke thou tarriest when thou shouldst runne thou goest backward when thou shouldst goe fordward â—hou rejoycest in wickednesse when thou shouldst lament in heavinesse thou art yeelding when thou shouldst be fighting thou art a prisoner when thou shouldst bee a conquerour that thou x Revel 21. 7 mayest bee GODS sonne to inherite all things What meanest thou O sleeper Knowest thou not that in the meane tyme thou art contracting debt which y Math. 6. 12 vnforgiven will molest thee thou z Psal 51. 2. art gathering filthinesse vnwashen will pollute thee thou art breeding a a Psal 36. 3 sicknesse which vnhealed will weaken thee thou art making b Prover 5. 22 cords which vnloosed will bind thee thou art c Rom. 2. â— heaping coales which vnremoved will burne thee against the day of judgement and the declaration of the judgement of GOD. What meanest thou O sleeper to hinder d Ier. 5. 25. the good things of GOD from thee to procure his anger and displeasure against thee to hasten his heavie curse and malediction vpon thee to depriue thee of his blessed societie to bring everlasting e Math. 25.12 paine and griefe vpon thee When the LORD called f Sam. 3. 4 and spake to Samuel he awaked and answered When g Act. 12 7 an Angell of light came into the prison where Peter was hee awakened hee arose hee followed and obeyed The LORDS voice hath come ofter vnto thee his marveilous light hath shined longer vnto thee Awake Awake It was holden a wonder and a very rare thing because that Plutarchus in vita Alexan. Iustinius Conquerour did sleepe deeply contrare to his custome as oppressed therewith a little before hee was to fight that last and great battell against Darius his Captaines marveiled at him Parmenio reproved him But this is an evill custome of many that they are secure and sleepie in time of greatest danger and difficultie while they haue to encounter with a subtle and puissant adversarie and to wrestle h Eph. 6.12 not against flesh and blood But i Eph. 2.2 against that prince that ruleth in the aire and that spirit which ruleth in the children of disobedience which is a great wonder especially seing GOD hee calleth vpon them to bee awaking Secondly GOD hath his rod GODS rod. who will not heare his Word let him feare k Math. 6.9 his rodde If an earthly father should according to SALOMON smite l Prover 23.14 the child with his rod to delyver his soule from hell will not rather our Heavenly Father more wise and more loving correct his child with his rod for his deliverance and instruction Hath thy LORD GOD this delight with thee Art thou not awakened Hast thou not turned m Isaiah 4 to him that smiteth thee Hast thou not sought the LORD of hostes who visiteth thee thy case is most dangerous thou hast to bee afraide greattumlie least n Psal 2. 9. he crush thee with his scepter of yron least hee breake thee in peeces like a potters vessell Thou o Lament 3. 1 shall bee much more miserable than that man who saw affliction in the rod of GODS indignation Many are in regarde of their estate like vnto Dionisius Heracteol in regarde of his godly estate who was so corpulent that albeit needles were thrust into his belly being asleepe yet hee was senslesse and not touched with paine Many p Prov. 25. 36 they are stricken and not sicke they are beaten and know not they are chastised and amend not Ah! If q Amos. 4. 6 the LORD giue thee cleannesse of teeth and scarsnesse of bread returne vnto him If GOD shall punish thee with thirst and with drougth that thou shall wander farre to drinke watter Awake and turne in tyme to GOD If hee shall smite thee with blasting and mildew returne vnto him If hee shall send thee pestilence and sword and a great overthrow prepare to meete thy GOD O Israel See that thou be wearied of thine owne wayes awake and by vnfained repentance turne vnto thy GOD least hee forsake thee altogether and punish thee with vtter destruction and ruine Now when the LORDS hand shall bee heauie vpon thee and his rod painefull vnto thee when thy crosse shall bee sanctified for thy conversion bee not r Heb. 12 3. 5. 6 wearie neither faint in thy minde forget not the consolation neither despise the LORDS chastenings For whom the LORD loveth hee correcteth and hee scourgeth every sonne which hee receaueth even for thy profite that thou mayst be partaker of his holynesse and bring vnto thee the quiet fruite of righteousnesse When thou art corrected hope thou that thy sinne is remitted Nullus fructus correctionis sine Augustin spe remissionis There is no fruit of correction without hope of remission Remember if the Lords Word had awaked and amended thee his rodde had not lighted vpon thee But Quem non corrigunt Augustin verba corrigunt experimenta whom words will not amend then let tryall amend them and let him who with the Word is bettered and converted confesse with the Prophet It Å¿ Psal â—â— 6 is good for mee that I was afflicted Thirdly Let the benefits which GOD bestoweth vpon thee bee GODS gifts meanes for to awake thee As when Elijah sleept naturally vnder the juniper tree Behold t 1 King 19. 5 an Angell touched him and brought benefits vnto him so oftentimes while thou doest sleepe spiritually GOD hee commeth and giveth gifts vnto thee Thou sleepest when thou forgettest the LORD So saith the Ancient Quaecunque anima oblita fuerit Dominum Augustin suum dormit What ever soule forgetteth the LORD sleepeth Thou cannot deny but when thou hast forgotten the LORD hee hath beene then mindefull of thee hee then hath beene beneficiall vnto thee Israell u Hos 8. 14 hath forgotten his Maker His x Ier 2. 32 people hath forgotten him dayes without number who is only the good portion and ornament and attyre of his people But hath thy Well-beloved come vnto thee who art sleepie and drousie Hath he for a long tyme knocked at the doore of thy heart Open y Cant. 5. 2 open
is godly is good and sure from the tentation of the devill Excellently writteth Bernard Bernardus in sermone de dono Spiritus Omne virtutis adificium ilico vergit in praecipitium si hujus gratiae amiserit praesidium all vertuous building will fall flat downe to the ground incontinently if it losse the helpe of this grace Sine hac gratiâ primâ gratiarum que totius religionis exordium est nullum bonum pullâ—lare aut manare potest Without this grace the first of graces which is the beginning of Religion no good thing can spring vp vnto thee If thou bee GODS l 1 Cor. 3. 9 building let not this keeper depart from thee lest thou fall to ruine and destruction Wise Abraham judged that there was no good in Gerar neither pittie equitie or civilitie when m Genes 29.11 the feare of GOD was not in that place and surely according to Peters preaching in every Nation Hee that n Act. 10. 35 feareth GOD and worketh righteously is accepted with him Lastly Thou being quickened awakened and somewhat afraid Sorrow before lamentation thou will haue that godly o 2 Cor 2. 16 sorrow that causeth repentance vnto salvation not to be repented of then thou will set thy selfe to deplore thy miserable estate and woefull condition thou will giue thy selfe to earnest prayer and supplication that the LORD may refresh thee with his inward consolation that hee may p Psal 106.4.5 remember thee with the favour of his people and visite thee with his salvation that thou may see the felicitie of his chosen and rejoyce in the joy of his Sancts and glory with his inheritance Now perswade thy selfe assuredly as it is q Heb. 9. 27 appointed that man should once die naturally so it is appointed that everie man should lament once pitifully The wicked indeede are most vnwise and vnhappie for they shall bee constrained to you le and lament eternally for their vnspeakeable paine and punishment with r Genes 4. 13 Cain 2. In an evill time with Å¿ Heb. 12. 17 Esau the season of repentance being past 3. In an evill place in Hell in the t Revel 21. 8 lake which burneth with fâ—e and brimstone 4. In evill companie with the u Math. 25.41 reprobat with the Devill and his angels yea sometimes in this life the strongest and best hearted of them will you le with bitter lamentation So Eras in Adag did the Emperour Bassianus when hee saw the image of his brother Geta whom hee slew So did couragious Pericles at Plutarchus in Pericl the death of his sonne But the godly they are wise and blessed they lament 1. For a good cause even for their sinnes with x Rom. 7. 24 St. Paul 2. In a good tyme where their is hope of comfort with y Psal 6. 6 David 3. In a good place in the LORDS Sanctuarie with z 1 Sam. 1. 9 Hannah 4. With good companie with the Church militant Which a Revel 7. 14 shall come out of their great tribulation and remaine in the LORDS presence to be partakers of his joyes forever If thus thou complaine and lament arightly for thy grievous sinnes and miserie thou shall not find the LORD as Pharao b Exod. 5. 17 to the Israelits misregarding thee refusing thee and more vexing thee But certainly at length thou shall find the LORD c Exod. 34 6 mercifull to thee slow to anger and abundant in kindnesse saying to thee comfortably and doing commodiouslie as David d Sam. 22. 23 said to Abiathar declaring Sauls crueltie abide with mee feare not for with mee thou shall bee in safegarde Let vs goe on now to this lamentation as it shall please our GOD to assist vs by his Spirit and helpe vs by his Alsufficient grace A LAMENTATION FOR OVR WOE AND MISERIE The fourth Chapter ALmighty and most dreadfull GOD thou who art the a Genes 18. 28 righteous judge of the whole world who maketh not the b Exod. 24.7 wicked innocent who is most fearefull and terrible a c Heb. 12. 29 consuming fire against vngodlinesse I thine owne poore servant a wretched worme who d Isaiah 1. 4 am a sinfull creature ladened with iniquitie overburthened with miserie altogether polluted with impietie most guiltie for my transgression subject to thy wrath and indignation worthie of death and eternall damnation It is impossible to mee to hide my selfe from thy Al-seing eye Whether f Psalm 139. 7. 8. 9. shall I goe from thy Spirit or whether shall I flee from thy presence If I ascend vnto the Heaven thou art there If I flee downe to hell thou art there Let mee take the wings of the morning and dwell in the vttermost partes of the earth yet there shall thine hand find me and hold mee Though I hide my selfe in the toppe of Carmell thou may search me and take me out thence and though I hide mee in the bottome of the sea yet there thou may command a serpent to bite me Therefore O LORD my GOD I desire earnestly to g Iam. 4. 8 draw neere vnto thine Heavenly Majestie to prostrate and h Psal 95. 6 fall downe before thee my Maker in humilitie to lament also my woefull estate and great misery Now trueth it is O LORD that I am insufficient to expresse i Psal 106. 2 thy noble actes and worthinesse so am I as vnable to deplore my calamitie and wretchednesse At this tyme I am perswaded GOD complaineth certainly that thou my Creator my preserver and gratious benefactor doth complaine of mee for my manifold sinnes and hainous iniquities Ah! k Isaiah 1. 4 I am a seede of the wicked a corrupt child that I haue forsaken the LORD that I haue provoked the Holy One of Israell to anger that I haue gone backward And that my Saviour CHRIST lamenteth my Redeemer hath egrated hath l Mark 6.6 mervailed hath mourned at mine vnbeliefe When m Luke 19.41 hee beheld Ierusalem hee wept becavse in her day shee did not know these things which belonged to her peace that I in the day of mercifull visitation am ignorant of these things which concerne my peace and aeternall salvation All the holy Saints the chosen Saincts doe mourne of the LORD who n Math. 5 4 are blessed they mourne now that they may be comforted They sow o Psal 126. 5 in teares that they may reape in joy everlastingly Yea the p dead earth The dead earth lamenteth lamenteth and falleth away the world is feebled and decayed the earth is vtterly broken downe the earth p Isay 24. vers 4. and 19 is cleane dissolved the earth is moved exceedingly the earth doth reele to and fro like a drunken man the inhabitants thereof are heavy upon it it shall be removed like a tent Yea I know All creatures grone that every q Rom. 8. 22
Ioseph thy y Psal 105. 18 feete bee helde in the stocks and thou laide in yrons yet in the appointed time thou shal be loosed delivered and exalted As Manasses was brought from â—etters from chaines from Babell to Ierusalem and z 2 Chr. 33.13 to his Kingdome or as Mathias a mightie and happie King of Hungarie was freed from prison and with great Vide SpinaeuÌ„ lib. 7. in metuÌ„ pompe and solemnitie caried to Buda the Metropolitan citie and there with contentment and acclamations of the people was joyfully crowned So the LORDS anoynted shall surclie come out of great a tribulation albeit hee bee in prison and the b Psal 18. 4 snares of death compasse him and the griefes of the graue caught him yea though hee were in the verie agonie and pang of death when natures debt must needs bee payed and this outward man dissolved our earthly c 2 Cor. 5. 1 house of this Tabernacle destroyed and soule and bodie separated yet let him remember with comfort that his light d 2 Cor. 4. 17 affliction which is but a moment causeth vnto him farre more excellent and eternall weight of glorie and that death it selfe is but GODS messinger Similit to call thee out of this wearisome world to the perpetuall possession of an Heavenly Kingdome as it would haue bene a great delight to David to follow the mâ—ssiâ—ger sent e 1 Sam. 16. â—â— to him by Samuel that of a sheepheard hee might bee the LORDS Annoynted King over Israel So death may be very welcome to thee who is the LORDS messinger to bring thee a f â— Peter 2.11 Pilgrime and g Psal 39. 12 Sojurne heere to his h Heb. 2. 11 rest to bring thee a miserable and contemptible creature to glorie and endlesse felicitie Lastly By heartie praying thou shall bee furnished with constancie and perseverance and so shall be comfortably and asâ—â—â—edâ—y perswaded that thou art not only a King into the LORDS house but also c Heb. 3. 6 the very house of CHRIST if thou hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope vnto the end This stabilitie in weâ—â—doing and continuance in goodnesse is most necessarie for thy Christian calling and â—oyall dignitie as the Patriarch laakob in his journey from Mesopotamia to Canaan his natiue countrey and to his earthly father Isaac was hindered with many impediments namely Laban behind him detaining him and determining to f Genes 31. 25 doe him evill Esau before him afraying and sore troubling g Genes 32. 7 him himselfe going more slowly and halting h Genes 32. 31 vpon his thigh yet hee continued constant in his intended course hee would not decline nor goe backward but did ever proceede and goe forward with true pietie and lawfull policie as is at length expressed in the same historie hee was much given to fervent prayer and earnest supplication and so wrestled i Genes 32.31 and prevailed vntill hee receaved a blessing by k Hos 12. 4 weeping and praying vnto him whom hee found in Bethell So thou in this thy warrefare and pilgrimage looking to Christ going to the land of Canaan the â—â—tie l Heb. 12. 22 of the living GOD the celestiall Hierusalem to m Heb. 12. 9 the Father of the living spirits that thou mayest liue thou will bee deteined with many stayes and crossed with many calamities for some tymes thou n Lament 1 19 shall call vpon thy lovers who will deceaâ—e theâ— somâ—tymes thou shall meete with false o 2 Cor. 11. 26 brethren who will annoy thee and bring thee in greater perrill the world like Laban will hinder thee the devill worse than Esau will tempt thee and p â—phes 6. 1â— Wresâ—le with thee craâ—â—â—â— flatterers like Achitophell Sam. 15. 12 desirous to betray thee will trouble thee thou will sometimes find thine owne hands weake and q Hebr. 12. 12 thy knees wearie thy r Math. 4. 6 selfe halting and fainting yet goe not backward but fordward hold on thy course with constancie runne thy Å¿ Heb. 12. 1 race with patience cry to GOD crane helpe of the Almightie implore GODS mercie and with sighs and teares that rare gift of perseverance which is most necessare for thy salvation and glory for as CHRIST cerâ—ifieth thee if t Math. 24.13 thou endure vnto the end thou shall bee saved for that effect aske GOD courage and constancie which is most necessarie Sicut oculis corporalibus necessaria Similit est lux vt suo fruantur fine ita omnibus praedestinatis ac vocatis ad regnum Coelorum necessaria est perseverantia aut sicut absque luce frustra aperitur oculus codem modo inaniter currit qui vsque ad vitae finem non perseverat As light is necessarie to the bodily eyes that they may enjoy their owne end so perseverance to all those who are predstinate and called to the Kingdome of Heaven or as without light there is no sight the eye is opened in vaine so in that same manner he runneth in vaine who doeth not persevere vnto the end of the race to his liues end By fervent prayer also thou shall bee indued with such discretion and dexteritie that carying thy selfe duetifully in respect of all in whatsoever estate sexe condition or degree they bee Thou will u 1 Thess 4.12 Principis est virtus maxima nosce suos behaue thy selfe honestly toward them that are without Thou will labour to know the conditions and to acquaint thy self well with thy owne friends for that is the chiefe duetie of a commander Thou will studie then if x Rom. 1â— 18 it be possible to haue peace with all men but knowing well that thou hast mortall and irreconciliable enemies thou will travaile with all the force of thy soule to scatter subdue and overcome them who goe about to tyranize over thee to bring thee to perpetuall slauerâ— aâ—d endâ—â—sse miserie A wise King saith Salomon scattereth y Prov. 20. 18 the wicked and causeth the wheele to turne over them A wise Christian will vse all meanes to punish his sinnes his most cruell and deadly foâ—s to smite them with a mightie destruction as z Iudg. 15.8 Samson the Philistims and so to doe with his corruptions as the Prophet speaketh of the Babilonians a Psal 137. 9 to put them to the sword to mortifie them with anger and indignation And yet perswade thy selfe that thou hast great neede of watchfulnesse and consideration of prayer and earnest supplication for this victorie over thy ghostly enemy â—â—onne and gotten with much travell tuâ—mâ—ilâ— trouble with vexation and much wrestling in regarde of the multitude might and maliciouâ—â—â—ssâ— of thy enemies considering thy owne sinnes also oâ—her soes who in number will be â—erie many as Bees or as the haires of our head they will bee also cruell in maâ—â—ce they having no
not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto beastes Surely thou must fight against Lyons cruell men like Nero against foxes craftie men like Herod against bulles strong men as that Egyptian whom Benaiah slew a man of great stature and strength and against l â— Sam. 23.21 dogs shamelesse and impudent men like Doeg yea against subtile serpents false flattering and betraying men as Ahitophell This is an hard matter but also honourable for as faith an holy Father Milites suos CHRISTVS August reges appellat CHRIST calleth his souldiers Kings and will giue to them an everlasting Kingdome But if thou say I find worldlings to bee my friends and not my foes I hope to get good and favour by them I answere The In Carrinensi Hispaniae agro â—ons est aurei coloris omnes ostendens pisces nihil extra illam aquaÌ„ à caeteris differentes Plinius natur hist lib. 2. cap. 103 wicked of the world are like the fish of that river which is in the countrey Carrinensus in Spaine they appeare to be like gold in the water but taking them in thy hand thou will perceaue them neither in nature or colour to be any wayes discrepant from other fifties So the vngodly will seeme not to fight against thee but to favour thee not hurtfull but profitable to thee yet looke to them narrowly and bring them to the touch of trueth and veritie thou shall confesse all is not gold that glistereth thou shall trie at length that they are false friends ever hurting thee and fighting against thee Yet if thou affirme I haue sensible proofâ— of the contrarie that I smell and taste sweenesse in them I answere that this world is like a Paâ—ther that carrieth with him a sweete sent but an vgly face â—linâ—natur hist lib. â— cap. 17 the one entycing beastes to sollow him the other affrighting them from him therefore craftilie hee hides his head till assuredly the prey bee in his power to destroy the same So this world will show foorth a faire colour and giue a pleasant tast and smell at the beginning and allureth many to follow to embrace the same but it hideth the end thereof which is deceaving and destroying for the whole m Iohn 5. 1â— world lyeth in wickednesse and therefore fighteth against vs to bring vs to death and wretchednesse vnlesse wee bee helped by IESUS CHRIST who sayeth to his diâ—ciples Be n Iohn 16. 22 of good comfort I haue overcome the world Secondly How hard is it to fight against thine owne filthy and faultie flesh thy corruptions sinnes and terrible transgressions these are the o Exod. 17. 8 Amalekits hindring thee in the way to Heavenly Canaan These p 1 Sam. 11. 1 are the Ammonits besciging thee who will agree with thee vpon no other condition but to thrust out thy right eye to bring shame and paine vpon thee These are the Cananits q Iosh 23. 13 a snare and destruction vnto thee a whippe to thy side and a thorne in thine eyes These are like the governours of r 1 Sam 23. 12 Keilah traitours to David readie to betray thee and to delyverthee to the devill thine enemiâ— These thy sinnes are as the Å¿ Rev. 9.7.8.10 locusts like horses prepared for the battell they promise honour and victorie but will giue shame and miserie for they haue on their heads as it were crownes like vnto gold they promise friendshippe and favour their faces beeing like vnto men they promise profite and pleasure for they haue haire as the haire of women but yet bee not deceived looke and consider their teeth and their tailes their teeth are as the teeth of lyons to devoure thee their tailes are like a Scorpions to sting thee and to annoy thee Thou must striue against them at all times but chiefly at prayer for then they will striue to separate t Isaiah 59. 2 you betweene you and your GOD to blind-solde thee to cast thee into the pit of eternall perdition Thirdly as when u Zech. 2. 1 Iehoshua stood before the Angell of the LORD Satan stood at his right hand to resist him so when the devoute Christian shall x Psal 42. 2 come and appeare in the presence of GOD the devill wiâ—l drawe neere to molest and fight against him But it was more easie for young David y 1 Sam. 17. 3â— to overcâ—me Goliah albeit others as Saul said hee was not able who was but young to goe against a strong man of warre than it is to a Christian by himselfe to foyle Satan and put him to flight who never ceaseth sed Gregori lib. 18 moral viventem accendit ad vitia morientem trabit ad tormenta while one liveth hee stirreth him to vice when hee dieth hee draweth him to torment Fourthly which without doubt is yet more difficiâ—e in prayer thou must wrestle with GOD himselfe as did z Gen. 32. 24 Israel so must all true Israelites thou must a Hos 12. 4 haue power over the Angell by weeping and praying Now consider I beseech thee if there be betweene such parties any appearance of equalitie What is maâ— fraile flesh a b Isaiah 41. 14 weake wâ—rme a c Nehem 13 17 sillie grassehopper a fading flowre a decaying dreame d Psal 90. 5 grasse from â—ithering dry stubble light e Psal 1. 4 chaffe which the wind driveth away Againe â—he other partie is GOD Almighâ—ie who f Amos 5. 9. 6 buildeth his spheres in the Heavens and hath laid the foundations of his globe of elements in the earth whose g Psal 29.47.8 voice is mightiâ— and glorious that divideth the slammes of fire and maketh the wildernesse to tremble the h Iob 29. 11 pillars of Heaven quake at his reproofe i Iob. 9. 7 the Sea by his power is made calme and hee smiteth the pride thereof yea hee commandeth the Sunne and it riseth hee closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet Behold all k Isa 40. 15 nations before him are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the dust of ballance they are as nothing and they esteemed of him lâ—sse than nothing even vanitie â—et thou who art so filthy aâ—d weaâ—e by nature must striue and wrestle with the Almightie by l Heb. 5. 7 prayer and supplication by strong crying and teares and so only thâ—u must fight while thou get the viâ—torie and prevâ—ile with thâ— Crâ—ator and m Rom. 8. 37 in all these things thou will bee more than a conquâ—rour through him who loveth thee so plentifully freely and continuallie But seventhly thou shall finde it most painfull and laborious to gaine such a notable and comfortable victorie for nothwithstanding of all thy travailes and turmoyle GOD n 1 Cor. 15.57 himselfe must giue the victorie through Iesus Christ thou must o Iohn 5.4 bee borne of GOD if thou purchase victorie to overcome the world and
Malach. 1.6 Master If Absoloms e 2 Sam. 13.29 servants obeyed him an evill Master in an vnlawfull and wicked action farre rather art thou oblished to obtemperate thy good Master in a lawfull dead Absolom commanded that his brother Amnon should bee slaiâ—e GOD commandeth this service that thy soule may bee saved and therefore absolutely ought to bee obeyed Seeing moreover he is King Almightie who e Math. 10.28 is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell eternally and to giue thee a great reward for thy obedience and loyaltie when King David but desired to drinke of the water of the well of Bethlem three f 1 Sam. 25.15 of his subjects brake through the hoast of the Philistims and brought vnto him that water longed for thus they ventred their liues for Davids sake and for his plâ—asure And shouldest not thou much more willingly hazard thy life to giue vnto GOD obedience to doe his Majestie acceptable service Who Gods promise maketh also vnto thee most sweet and comfortable promises to deliver g Psal 50 1â— thee to h Psal 91. 1â— glorifie thee to satisfie thee with long life and to show thee his salvation He perfitly performed his promise given of a Kingdome not only to i 2 Sam. 5. â— David whom hee loved but also to k 1 King 11. 3â— Ieroboam an idolator whom hee hated l Iosh 23. 14 all his promises shall in due tyme vndoubtedly come to passe nothing shall faile thereof So hee promiseth if thou pray m Ierem 29.12 to him to heare thee if thou seeke him to be found of thee Againe when thou considerest CHRIST IESUS thy Saviour thou shall confesse that thou hast good CHRISTS example cause of prayer Consider thy redemer remaining in this earth hee n Math. 14.23 went vp into a mountaine alone to pray for a long-space of time In o Heb. 5. 7 the dayes of his flesh hee offered vp prayers and supplications with strâ—ng crying and teares Quòd si ille orabat qui sine pecato crat quantò magis peccatores oportet orare If hee prayed who was without sinne how much more behoueth it sinners for to pray His precept also and promises Christ his precept and promise is cause of prayer may cause thee to call vpon GOD Aske p Math 7. 7 saith Hee and it shall bee given you seeke and you shall find knock and it shall bee opened vnto you Moreover Seing hee q Heb. 9. 24 is entred into Heaven himselfe to appeare CHRISTS intercession now in the sight of GOD for thee to make continuall request and intercession for thee Hast not thou great reason to make request for thy owne selfe When the r Levit. 16. 17 high Priest went into the holy place to make atonement then the whole multitude of the people stood without in Å¿ Luke 1. 10 prayer while the incense was in burning Seing therefore thou hast t Hebr. 4. 14 a great high Priest which hath entred into Heaven even IESVS the Sonne of GOD who now is at the u Ephes 1. 20 right hand of the FATHER to make request and intercession for thee to procure thy peace and reconciliation hast thou not who are without in this earth great reason to continue thy selfe in earnest prayer and supplication to the end thou mayest obtaine eternall salvation Furthermore If thou desirest The desire of the grouth of the graces of Spirit a cause of prayer an increase of the graces of the holy Spirit that they may the more abundantly bee bestowed vpon thee thou hast cause to pray for the same more earnestly for thy Heavenly Father x Luke 11. 13 will giue the holy Ghost a greater measure of his gifts to thee that desireth him for the same Spirit is both the cause and effect of our prayer Scultet cap. 3 de precatione and petitions Secondly If thou take heede Cause of prayer Sathans power to the Devill thy mortall enemie thou will pray to GOD most fervently hee thy deadly adversarie y 1 Pet. 5. 8 like a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking to devore thee Hee is stronger than z 1 Sam. 17.4 Goliah desirous to destroy with firie a Ephes 6. 16 darts 2. He is much more craftie than b 2 Sam. 16.23 Achitophell by his wicked counsell and machinations plotting to supprise thee 3. Hee is more false than c Ierem. 41. 6 Ishmael promising to pleasure thee but will punish thee for ever 4. Hee is more cruell than Herod who slew d Math. 2. 16 the male children that were in Bethlehem but he would kill body and soule eternally 5. Sathan is more malitious than e Esther 3. 6 Haman who purposed to put to death Mordecay and all the people of his country So desireth the Devill to destroy thee and all thy of-spring and posteritie 6. Sathan is much more treacherous than Saul who albeit hee f 1 Sam. 18.29 verse 21 became alwayes Davids enemie yet in appearance of loue and familiaritie he gaue his daughter to him in marriage for to be a suare to him So Sathan although hee would giue the whole world to thee and although hee spake to thee the trueth and veritie yet it is ever his minde to hurt thee to ensnare thee and altogether to overthrow thee 7. He is restlesse and g Iob. 1.7 never ceasseth but with shamelesse impudencie with continuall celeritie and agilitie hee accuseth thee hee persueth thee for thy perdition and endlesse torment and destruction Seing then such is the strength craft crueltie deceate malitiousnesse The estate of the Church is a cause of prayer treacherie and vigilancie of thy spirituall enemie thou hast great cause to pray most earnestly and vncessantly Thirdly if thou consider other Christians of the familie i Galat. 6. 10 of faith thou knowing some yea too manie molested and vexed on everie side with k Zach. 1. 14 the foure hornes of persecution thou then shouldest bee sorie l Nehem. 1. 4 for Iosephs affliction and with Nehemiah fast and pray for the reproach and miserie of Hierusalem Certainly seeing thou art a member of Christs body the Church militant it is thy duetie to m Psal 1â—2 6 pray for the peace of Hierusalem when thou shalt see the graces of GOD multiplyed vpon thy brethren and them walking n Ephes â— 1 worthy of their Christian calling and living an holy life and godly conversation thou shouldest aske of GOD that thou thy selfe may become an earnest imitator of tâ—eâ—r good courses and true religion that GOD alwayes may bee more and more glorified his kingdome enlarged Satan and his power confounded and thy selfe surely perserved yea that the whole p Ephes 5. 23 spirit soule and body of all Saints may bee kept blamelesse vntill the comming of our Lord IESVS CHRIST Fourthly when thou shall behold