grant me perfect patience in all trâ—bulations and aduersitie Preserue me from pride â—re enuâ—e couetousnesse and from all offences contrarie to thy law suffer no false delight of this deceiueable life by fleshlie temptation and fraude of the â—â—end to blind mee at the houre of my death I beseech thee O Lord grant me such a light of thy ghostlie wisdome that I may doe those things which are most acceptable to thee grant mee grace to doe hurt to nobodie but to helpe those with good counsell which haue offended thee and make me to proceede in vertue vntill such time as I shall see thy Omnipotent Maiestie and let me not turne to those sinnes which I haue sorrowed for and accused my selfe of The horrible sentence of endlesse death the terrible iudgement of damnation thy wrath ire and indignation mercifull Lord let them neuer fall vppon me thy mercie and thy merites euer bee betweene them and me Lord grant mee grace inwardlie to feare and dread thee and to eschew those things whereby I might offend thee giue mee a contrite heart for that I haue offended thee good Father remoue my sinfull dispositions which dull mine heart and like lead doe suppresse me Let me not forget the riches of thy goodnesse of thy patience of thy long sufferance and benignitie let the threatning of paine and torment which shall fall vpon sinners the losse of thy loue and of thy heauenlie inheritance euer make me feare to offend thee Suffer mee not deare Father to liue and die in sinne but soone call me to repentance when I haue displeased thee and grant mee grace trulie to loue thee and when I offend thee smite mee not with thy wrathfull indignation I beseech thee but let it be thy gentle rodde of correction Let the remembrance of thy kindnesse and patience conquer the malicious wretched desire in mee draw me Lord to thee by thy holy spirit and doe with mee according to thy mercie and not after my vnthankefulnesse withdraw tâ—y sword of vengeance O Lord for thy great mercie sake and grant me to be the childe of saluation whereby I may haue glorification cleere fight and fruition of the Deitie and bee euer present to see the glorious Trinitie O sweete Sauiour Lord Iesus Christ grant me grace for to remember perfectlie the danger of death and the great account which I must then giue to thee Lord dispose so of mee then that my soule may bee acceptable in thy sight turne net thy louing face then from me but be a merciful King meeke Iudge at that dreadful houre of my visitation that I may not haue the â—igour of thy righteousnesse which is Goeâ—e câ—rsed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels but to heare that comfortable saluation which thou doest giue to thy chosen Come yee blessed of my Father and enioy the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the World Let this hope of thy mercies comfort my sick weake soule that I neuer fall into desperation of thy endlesse mercie For the merites of thy Sonne Christ Iesus I beseech thee grant mee these petitions which I haue asked of thee haue mercie on me awretched sinner And I beseech thee bring me to thine euerlasting glorie there to rest in blisse World without end A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and our tongues from vttering â—ll words O Lord Iesus grant mee grace to â—lie euill companie and when I come among them for thy glorious passion I beseech thee to preserue me that no occasion of sinne ouercome me and send me comfort from thy omnipotent Maiestie to withstand al illusions of the flesh whereby thy blessed name may be dishonoured Keepe my mouth good Lord from slanders ill speaking lying false witnessebeating cursing swearing vncharitable châ—ding dissolute laughing and words of vanitie Make me blessed Lord with dread to remember that thou presentlie hearest me and that the least of my words shall iudge me Suffer not my heart to be light of credite in hearing that which is detraction obloquy rancour and ire Represse all inordinate affections of carnalitie and where I haue by euil fellowship offended thy Maiestie I beseech thee for the helpe of thy mercies in so offending thee let thy power protect me thy wisdome direct me thy fatherlie pittie correct me and send me a gracious life and a blessed ending and with thy goodnes preserue me from euerlasting damnation and terrour of mine enemie Jn my temptations I beseech thee Lord to helpe me and to keepe my soule from consent to sinne For the tender loue thou bearest to mankinde repell the power of my aduersaries which intend the damnation of mee Possesse my soule O Sauiour with all humble subâ—ection to thy law and make mee pure in spirit meeke in speaking patient in suffering to hunger after righteousnesse and to bee mercifull to all them that be in miserie Make mee peaceable in conueâ—sation cleane in heart vnto godlie meditation and ioyfull to suffer persecution for thee Let all my powers and desires bee ruled according to thy will let all my petitions be ordered by thy wisdome to the euerlasting profit of my soule Lord keepe my soule and my bodie whereby I may be patient in suffering iniuries rebukes let me leade that life which thou knowest to be most to thine honor and my eternall felicity Fill mine heart with contrition and mine eies with teares that I neuer be forsaken of thee Awake my dull soule from the sleepe of sin and send mee helpe Lord from Heauen to ouercome the olde serpent with all his crafts Deliuer me from the enemie of daâ—kenesse and his great crueltie let thy obedience recompence for mine obstinacie thy abstinence for my superfluitie thy meekenesse and thy patience for my pride irefull heart enmitie Thy charitie for my malice thy deuotion for my dulnesse thy louing heart for mine vnkindnesse thy holy death for my wretched life Lord grant mee grace in the time of prayer to fixe my minde on thee and at that time to remember the perils of bodie and soule which I haue escaped and the benefits that I haue receiued thorow thy great mercie And I thanke thee most Heauenlie Father for all the Creatures which thou hast made to helpe man and that thou hast made man after thine owne Image in glorie to honour thee The motions of my running mind the desire of mine vnstable heart in time of praier stop and stay Lord I beseech thee and represse the power of my ghostlie enemie which then doth with-draw my minde from thee and thy true seruice to many vaine imaginations Lord I beseech thee to take me into thy power and with thy goodnesse glad me Lord let my minde be so occupied in goodnesse that my prayers may bee acceptable to thee Heare now sweet Sauiour the voice of a sinner who would faine loue thee and with the heart as greatlie please thee as euer hee hath offended thee I
of mans ioy and felicity in the World to come or yet with money that he would runne after it like a mad man by Sea and Land as it were through fire and water If man did but vnderstand himselfe aright and that he must leaue all his worldly delights behind him sauing onely his winding-sheete if this were carefully thought vpon and diligently considered al our errors would soone be corrected God telleth vs of this vanitie in many places of his word to the end we might the more earnestly seeke a better course and more happie life The Prophet desireth of God that hee may learne to number his dayes that hee may apply his heart vnto wisdome for vnlesse we thinke vpon death wee cannot apply and fashion our selues to a godly life Yea wee find daily in our selues by experience that the forgetfulnesse of death makes vs apply our hearts to all kind of vanitie The holy men of old time were wont in such wise to keepe an account of their daies that aboue all things they might apply their hearts to wisedome Of all Arithmeticall rules this is the hardest To number our dayes Men can number their heards and droues of Cattle they can reckon the reuenues of their mannours and Farmes they can with a little paines number and tell their Coine and yet they are perswaded that their daies are infinite and innumerable and therefore doe neuer beginne to number them One saith vpon the view of another Surely yonder man looketh by his countenance as if hee would not liue long or yonder woman is old her daies cannot be many Thus we can number other mens daies and yeeres and vtterly forget our owne It is therefore true wisedome to number our owne daies and like skilfull Geometricians to measure all our actions all our studies all our thoughts all our desires and all our counsels by the departure of others out of this life as the ende whereto wee must all come and so direct the course of our life which God hath giuen vs that at the last we may come to the Hauen of rest Wee cannot nor ought not to doubt but that the diuell a most cruell enemie of mankind laboureth all that hee can to take away from vs the wholsome remembrance of our death which by a most euident demonstration setteth before our eyes the breuity of our life the misery of our flesh the deceits of the world the vanitie of things present and whereunto all humane beauty and the vniuersall glory of the World shall come at the last How then is it possible that we should at any time forget death a thing which by no manner of meanes wee can shun and auoide If a light suspition of some losse either of our goods or of honour doth preuaile so greatly with vs that many times it taketh from vs our sleepe what might the meditation of most assured dâ—â—th 〈◊〉 which to flesh and bloud is more terrible then all other terrors beside Therefore as they which in open games of actiuitie as of shooting wrestling and such like doe long before the day come thinke vpon the same and doe exercise their hand and bow spending and consuming many arrowes at the marke that in the day of triall for the best game they may shoot neerest the mark and as Fencers which are to play their prizes of triall do daily trie their strength and exercise themselues bending the whole course of their minds how they may best foyle their enemies that when the day commeth they may haue honour and triumph euen so ought wâ—e to doe for whom a greater reward without all comparison is set if we die well and if otherwise it come to pass we shall bee punished with vnspeakable shame and reproach to the downefall and vnrecouerable ruine of our soules As they who are to runne a horse race doe often leade the Horses vp and downe the running place that they may see and be acquainted with all the stones vneuen places and other impediments in the same that when the day commeth they may finish the race without stay or stop euen so we who whether wee will or no must measure and passe the race of death shall doe very well if now in our mind and memory we frame this race and doe diligently consider all those things which are in the same especially seeing the way is most obscure full of sundry impediments and so perillous that there are very few which finish the same happily they who slip and stumble in it shall neuer more find any hope of saluation Therefore that wee may begin where this most bloudy battell hath his originall wee ought diligently to consider the same namely that then death doth especially come when men doe least thinke of it Hereupon the Apostle Paul saith The day of the Lord shall come as a theefe in the night and in the Apocalyps Behold I come as a theefe Now theeues haue this property that they break open houses to steale when men are most fast asleepe and when they least suspect any such thing Herevpon the Prophet Amos â—ath these words In that â—ay will I cause the Sunne to 〈◊〉 downe at noone and I will â—arken the Earth in the cleere â—ay That is to say when men thinke it to be the high â—â—one of their age when â—hey thinke that they haue â—et many yeeres to liue when their mind is occupied â—bout their gaine about â—heir affaires about their hoâ—ours buildings marriages and pleasures when they say â—nto their soule Soule thou â—ast much goods laied vp in â—tore for thee for many yeeres â—ate drinke rest and be mercy then it shall suddenly bee said to them Behold death is at the doore Thou foole this night shall thy life bee taken away from thee and whose are then those things which thou hast gotten Then death vnlooked for frustrateth all our counsels cutting off the webs of our deuices and with one stroke hee casteth downe and layeth flat on the ground all those Towers which are builded in the aire What a wound doth the heart of the sinner which loueth this present life receiue when the Phisicion saith vnto him Thou must from henceforth thinke no more of lifâ— but of death First of all those things which he loued in time past offer themselues vnto him from the which he shall be pulled away and separated by death whether he will or no. The body shall die but once but the heart shall die so often as the things bee in number which he loued Then in very deed shall the most cleere light bee turned into darkenesse because those things which were aforetime occasions of great ioy shall be now horrible vexations and torments It is a most sweete and pleasant thing to them which liue to see their louing and faithfull friends to remember their honours to thinke vpon the pleasures past and to come but all these things in the time of death shall be as swords as forments and most bitte◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be
the thing is more secret and profound then mans vnderstanding being placed in the prison of the body can reach vnto This is the cause that the Philosophers worldly-wise-men haue fallen into so many and sundry sects dissentions about things euen of least moment and and they doe so contend among themselues vntill falshood hauing put on the habite and vizard of truth deceiueth them all Hereunto accordeth the saying of the Preacher Chap. 3. God hath set the World in their heart or God hath giuen them the world to dispute of yet cannot man find out the worke that God hath wrought from the beginning euen to the end Be not curious therefore saith Syrach Chap 3. Vers 24 in superfluous things for many things are shewed vnto thee aboue the capacity of men and yet we see that the most ignorant doe many times soonest offend herein rushing into those matters wherof they haue no knowledge and nothing belongeth vnto them They will build Tabernacles with Peter and lay platformes for the Church whereof they haue no skill But a greater miserie as yet holdeth our actiue and practising vnderstanding for how many meanes how many reasons and wayes doth it deuise to climbe vp higher and to grow in the opinion and estimation of men For which cause the Prophet Dauid in his â—salmes saith That our whole life is like a Cobweb for as the Spider is occupied all his life time in weauing of cobwebs and draweth out of his owne bowels those threads wherewith he knitteth his nets to catch flies and often times it commeth to passe that when the Spider suspecteth no ill a Seruant that goeth about to make cleane the house sweepeth downe the cobweb and the Spider and throweth them together into the fire Euen so the greatest part of Men consume their whole time spend all their wit and strength and labour most painefully to haue their nets in a readinesse with which they may catch the flies of honors and riches and when they glory in the multitude of flies which they haue taken and promise vnto themselues rest in time to come behold Death Gods handmaide is present with the broome of diuers sicknesses and griefes and sweepeth these men away to hell fire they being fast asleepe in the chaire of securitie and so they worke together with the Workemaster in a moment of time to perish Neither is the man of meanest capacitie and least vnderstanding free from miseries Who can number the suspitions the hatreds the iealousies the enuies the cares the desires the vaine hopes the griefes and anguishes of mans mind If he doe euill hee feareth the Iudges banishment whipping reproches and torments If hee doe well hee feareth euill tongues Who is able to expresse with what insatiable desires all men are inflamed In so much that no man liuing is contented with his estate but we are all like vnto sicke men which tumble and tosse first from one side of the bed and then to the other and yet neuer find rest After this let vs behold and consider all ages how weake is infancy how ignorant is childhood how light and inconstant is adolescency how rash and confident bee young men how grieuous and irkesome is old age What is a young boy but as a brute beast hauing the forme and shape of a man What is a flourishing younker but as an vntamed horse What is an old man but the receptacle of all maladies and sicknesses And in all these ages with how great a heape of miseries necessities are we ouerwhelmed Wee must daily eate drinke and sleepe wee are daily compelled to serue many other necessities and which is much more miserable and vnhappy we must of necessitie purchase vnto our selues these occupations with infinite labours and sweatings Now who is not astonished if hee consider how all the creatures which compasse vs round about do bend their whole force and fight against mankinde as if the things which haue beene already repeated were not sufficient to fill the bosome of mans heart with miseries That same most cleere brightnesse which wee call the Sunne which is as a certaine generall Father to all liuing things doth sometimes so scorch with his beames that all things are parched and burnt vp with the heate thereof at another time he taketh his course so farre from vs that all things die with cold The Earth also which is the Mother of vs all how many men doth shee swallow vp with her downfals gulfes and quakings And what doe the Seas How many doe they deuoure Verily they haue so many rocks so many slattes and sands so many Syrtes so many Charybdes and so many perillous places that it is a most hard thing of all other to escape the danger of shipwracke and they which are most safe in the shippe haue but the thickenesse of a planke betweene them and death What shall we say of our aire Is it not many times corrupted and doth it not ingender and gather cloudes thicke mists pestilences and sicknesses As for the brute beasts they yeeld no reuerence to Man their Prince and not onely the Lyons Beares Tygers Dragons and other greater wild Beasts but the very flies also gnats fleas and other of the most small sort of liuing Creatures doe wonderfully and very vehemently trouble vexe afflict and disquiet Man It were to be wished that wee had no worse enemies then the brute beasts and that wee had no cause to stand in feare of men themselues But these also are full of fraudes deceits iniuries euil practices then the which what can be more intollerable And what meaneth so much armour pikes bowes bils swords and gunnes with diuers other instruments of Mans malice Doe not these destroy and consume moe men then doe sicknesses and diseases Histories report that by one onely Iulius Caesar which is saide to haue beene a most curteous and gentle Emperour there were slaine in seuerall battels eleuen hundred thousand men if a man of mildnesse and meeke spirit did this what shall wee looke for at the hands of most cruell Men Neither Lands nor Seas nor desert places nor priuate houses nor open streetes are safe from ambushments conspiraâ—ies hatreds emulations theeues and pirates Are there not vexations innumerable persecutions infinite spoyling of fields sacking of Cities preying vpon mens goods firing of houses imprisonments captiuities gally slaueries renegations of Christianitie by torments inforced beside death it selfe which men daily suffer at the hands of men And yet this is that ciuill and sociable Creature which is called humane borne without clawes and hornes in token of peace loue which he ought to embrace Moreouer not onely enemies but also friends and the maintainers of peace and Iustice are fierce and cruell against men O Man the very store-house of calamitie and yet thou canst not be humbled but art proud still Neither haue we onely those foresaid corporall enemies which wee may see and shunne but which is more perillous we haue also ghostly
a hard matter to bee passed away from those things which doe not so neerely touch man how bitter I pray you will the separation be of soule body two such kind louing familiars who haue alwaies liued sweetly together euen from the mothers wombe surely they cannot bee separated without great griefe If the Oxe doe commonly lowe and mourne when his yoke-fellow which was wont to draw with him is taken away how will euery one of vs mourn when the soule shall be separated from the body Then will they with teares repeate their sinnes againe and againe and cry out O death bitter death doest thou 〈◊〉 separate vs And when the cogitation of so sharpe a separation is deepely setled in our minds then griefe followeth grief and sorrow commeth vpon sorrow for then it commeth presently to mind what a miserable condition the body and soule shall be in after the separation When a man beginneth to recount with himselfe that his body after a few houres shall be buried in a graue or darke tombe hee cannot cease from wondering at so abiect and miserable a condition What the body that now liueth which seeth heareth speaketh shall â—it bee made after one houre in a moment blinde deafe dumbe without spirit without life It shall haue then in stead of a large Pallace a base Sepulcher in stead of a soft bed the hard ground for delights rottennesse for sweete smels stinkes and in stead of seruants and familiar friends wormes And thus this cogitation of the graue will very sore trouble and terrifie a man in these extremities yet notwithstanding euery man feareth much more when he beginneth to consider what condition remaineth for the soule When Man beholdeth that eternitie and that new Region vnknowne to al men liuing which he then alone naked is to enter and when he vnderstandeth that there is to bee found in the same both euerlasting glory and perpetuall paine and miserie and knoweth not of which he shall take his part it cannot bee told with how great feare with what carefulnesse and with what exceeding sorrow hee shall be tormented when he perceiueth plainely that after two houres hee shall be either in eternall ioyes or in euerlasting paines Is not this a crosse very heauy surpassing all other crosses this vncertainty of a blessed or cursed estate which after a small time the sinner expecteth the remembrance of his sins and feare of the iust iudgement of God without hope of remission or faith in Christ is a hell to the mind not to be expressed For by how much the Kingdome which he desireth is of largenesse and by how much the firy furnace which he feareth is terrible by so much the greater shall this perturbation be considering also that Angels shall come to carry the faithfull vp into Heauen and infernall spirits to carry the wicked and infidels into hell But there is yet a farre greater perturbation then this namely that he shall call to mind the accouÌ„t which he is to make to God of all his words deeds and thoughts for of it self 〈◊〉 is a horrible thing to thinke vpon the day of iudgement the which horror will wonderfully and extremely vexe disquiet the Diuels themselues for as so long as we liue they set forth vnto vs the mercy of God and doe also commend the same and doe striue all that they can to keepe vs from meditating of his iustice iudgements euen so now on the contrarie they extenuate and make his mercy insufficient and doe set before our eies the greatnesse and seuerity of the Lords iustice Then will the sinner beginne to tremble and fal into desperation and will beginne to reason thus with himselfe If God for the sinnes of others spared not his onely Sonne will he spare me which am guilty of so many sinnes If this be done in the green tree what shall befall that which is seare and drie If the Prophets if the Apostles if the Martyrs after they liued godly so many yeeres entred not into the Kingdome of Heauen without tribulations what other place can bee left for mee but that of hell fire which know no good that I haue done If the Scripture be true which saith He will render to euery man according to his workes what should I which haue done so many horrible and great wickednesses looke for but eternall torments If that of the Apostle bee true as in deed it is when he saith That which a man soweth that shall he reape what shall hee reape but eternall death which hath made so cursed a so wing Iâ— no polluted thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God how shal I which am altogether filthy and vncleane haue hope to make so happy and blessed an entrance Then all his sinnes which he committed with so greater desire and facility when hee liued shall violently inuade the sinfull man like an hoast of enemies then the feare of punishment will open the eyes which sleeping security in sinne before had shut then ambition pride thefts murthers adulteries fornications gluttonies drunkennesse lying periury idle words vncleane thoughts negligent slacknesse and all that naughty is will come to remembrance O how heauy and grieuous will they then seeme to be which now seem so light and are done with so much sweetnes and pleasure How greatly will they then torment the minde of the sinner Who is able to expresse that last agonie wherein the soule fighteth with sore and painefull sicknesse with the temptations of diuels with feare of the iudgement to come and all this at one instant Then commeth that last perturbation the failing of all the senses as the fore-runner of death approaching which vehemently terrifieth At what time the breast swelleth the speech groweth hoarse faint and hollow the eyes sinke the nose beginneth to be sharpe the countenance waxeth pale the feete die and the arteries send forth a cold sweate These things which do thus appeare outwardly are grieuous and full of horror but they are without all comparison more greeuous horrible which are felt inwardâ—â— for as Saint 〈◊〉 writeth of blessed 〈◊〉 saying Though hee had many yeeres serued God yet did hee feare at the time of his departure What shall they doe who many yeeres haue serued the Diuell and their execrable wickednesses and who haue prouoked God vnto wrath whither shall they goe whose helpe shall they craue what counsell shall they take If they look vpward they shall see the drawne sword of Gods Iustice if downeward they shall see a gulfe gaping and hell fire there if the time past they shall see all things vanished away like a shadow if the time to come they shall behold the eternitie of Worlds which shall last without end Who can bee able to resist and abide the assault of the diuels who will bee then busiest in their desire to bestirre them with all their might and maine What shall then sinfull men doe which are left in this estate Returne they cannot and
and fansies which beare away the due reuerence wee owe vnto God For when we haue praied to GOD that hee will giue eare vnto our requests and receiue our petitions they are sonegligently done that we had need pray againe to desire him that hee will out of his bountifull loue and great mercy cast his eye of pitty and not of anger vpon the great offence which was committed in the idlenesse of our prayers and supplications made by vs vnto his diuine Maiestie and that he will forgiue vs our sins committed in our prayers because wee thinke then leasâ— of him at the time we make our prayer vnto him neuer remembring the Maiestie of his person to whom weâ— speake nor the Excellencie of the worke wee take in hand neuer rowsing vp the spirit of a sorrowfull repentant heart for our former offences committed but if we â—hance then to stirre vp ouâ— deuotion to prayer we leaue them halt and lame bodie without soule or soule without deuotion sound of lips without the heart one part of our selues without the other or the whole without a whole clamour without intention But Dauid practised true repentance which may not bee repented of and such were the panges and prickings of Iobs heart vnto GOD My groanings saith he come forth before I eate and my roarings are powred forth Not onely groaning nor crying but also roarings with a continual inundation as one waue dasheth forth another Now when the soule is thus prepared to speake the eares of the Lord are euer open to heare the true penitent sinners cry These are wonderfull passions The hungry Lyon in the desert opprest with extremitie of suffering want neuer roared so much for his prey nor the Hart braying after the water brookes as the goodnesse of the Lord in the soule of the faithfull He is the mighty LORD of Heauen and Earth whose name be blessed and hallowed for euer in Earth as it is in Heauen and blessed are all those that are in loue with his goodnes and traâ—â— nearest vnto his steps And to giue vs a further example in his owne cause when his soule was hedged in and enuironed round about with vexation euen vnto death when anguish sorrow incompassed him round about as also then in his greatest agony when he cried with a great voice not for particular persons as before hee wept but vndergoing the burthen and punishment of all the sinnes and sinners in the World My God my God why hast thou forsaken me and crying againe with a great voice gaue vp the ghost Therefore the blessed Apostles mentioning the daies of his humanitie and the exercise of his godly and sacred life and fruite of his lips and the passions of his spirit thought it not enough to giue notice to the World that he prayed to his Father that hee praied with teares which trickled downe his blessed cheekes and watered the ground nor of a cry alone weakely sent out but of a vehement and strong cry which if Heauen were brasse were able to pierce through it and find way into the Sanctuary into the eares of the Almighty Such a prayer as it ascends lightly vp borne vpon the wings of Faith so it eueâ— comes laden heauily downe with a blessing on the head of him that first gaue it flight This Lanthorne of our direction and composition of humilitie and goodnesse this glorious and neuer enough admired LORD of life who prest opprest with the weight burthen thereof groaned vnder the affliction of our sinnes in a most perfect forme of exact obedience with his bleeding teares for vs shewed vs the right forme of faithfull supplications for our selues Let vs then bee importunate and feruent in our praiers that our Petitions may wrestle with GOD and ouercome him For if our praiers bee powred forth in the â—eruentnesse of zeale without wauering then let vs make no doubt but hee wil graciously receiue them into his armes of mercie Way hâ—e thus grieueâ— for vs and shall not wee grieue for ourselues groaned hee vnder the weight of our sin being himselfe without sinne onely in compassion and pitty towards vs why then doe not we continuallie groane and grieue It is so farre from vs that in no way wee giue his heauenlie Maiestie his due except in committing finne and drinking it downe the throate with greedinesse and a desiring thirsting appetite euen as Beheâ—â—th drinketh down Iâ—rdan without sense sorrow or griefe for the same The true consideration hereof will enforce and procure in vs a more perfect desire to follow the true prescription that our Sauiour hath prescribed for vs in his holy Gospell which commandeth vs by expresse words to bee importunate and feruent in our prayers that our Petitions may ascend vp to GOD our Lord and onely Sauiour and there to be receiued into his bosome to preâ—rent a further and greater danger before the dreadfull Maiestie of the omnipotent LORD of Heauen and Earth who with the breath of his nostrels is able to destroy our bodies and soules change the World and the beauty thereof into a Chaos and â—eape of confusion turne the Sunne into darkenesse and the Moone into blood and alter the property and being of all the Creatures in the World at the twinckling of an eye Considering what we are that speake that offer vp the calues of our lippes and the fruites of our repentance poore naked impotent vnworthy wretches wee should be importunate and with a feruentnesse of zeale poure out our supplications vnto GOD that he wil mercifully heare vs and gently receiue our supplications and according to his wonâ—ed goodnesse satisfie our faithfull requests poured forth vnto him in the name of CHRIST IESVS our Lord and onely helper in all distresse But our wretchednesse and mortality our nakednesse in good workes towards him is such that if there were any spark of true faith in vs it would make vs ashamed as it did our first Parents when they bidde themselues from the presence of their GOD. The view of our sinnes is exceedingly sinful the number the weight the danger thereof hang about our neckes like milstones that we are notable nor worthy to cast vp our eyes to heaueÌ„ for our sinnes are so exceedingly miserable that the Prophet of GOD being astonished to see either man or the Sonne of man so kindly visited biddeth vs be feruent in our Petitions to GOD. And we must expect an happy successe of our supplications vnlesse we wil cal in question or doubt of the promises of God which are more stable then the pillars of the Earth or the basis of the surest foundation except we will cast our graine into the earth and expect no haruest plant Vines and not drinke the Wine thereof If wee meane to receiue that at GODS hand we doe expect to haue then wee must prepare our selues in another forme to poure out our vnworthy plaints and petitions and thinke that GOD either heareth not or regardeth not at all the
zeale of â—ur importunity wâ—ll proâ—ure his Omnipotent Maieâ—â—ie to graâ—t audience If our words and prayâ—ers will not preuaile then â—et vs ioine thereto our â—eares that GOD may say to â—s as he said to Ezekiah I â—aue seene thy teares They â—re so powerful messengers â—hiefly if they be done in the â—â—nceritiâ— and singlenesse of â—eart No sooner can the thought â—ppeare crauing his merciâ—ull aide but the eye of his compassion and goodnesse â—s vpon them Then who is it that wilâ— not worship and serue thiâ—â—ouing Master being so readie at our call to receiue ouâ— Petitions into his hands oâ— mercie Dâ—â—id saith that God haâ— heard the voice of his weepingâ— Teares and sorrow for ouâ— sinnes doe cause the eares oâ— GOD to open vnto our godâ— lie requests Therefore let vâ— glorifie this good GOD with our bodies in true humilitie and serue him in spirit and lift vp our soules with Dauid and our hands with Moses our eyes with Peter â—â—d our voices with Dâ—bâ—râ— Thus seeking wee shall find thus knocking it shall bee oâ—ened vnto vs. â—et vs giue our Petitious but the â—â—ght voiâ—e to aske with guestionlesse there is no â—oubt but GOD will heare â—s in his mercie to our imâ—easurabâ—e comfort and â—oy It must not be the dumbe â—nd silent which must giue â—n eye to seeke with it must â—ot bee the blinde and careâ—esse which giues an hand to â—nocke with it must not â—eare to molest and disquiet â—ot onely the doores but all â—he Treasures and Iewels in â—he Kingdome of Heauen â—hich will bee opened vnto â—hose his chosen And whiâ—her our blessed SAVIOVR â—oth hâ—â—â—elf iâ—nuite vs Come â—nto â—ee all 〈◊〉 that labour â—nd are laden O this is a loue withouâ— example where the King â—imselfe not onely comman deâ—h but desireâ— our appearance Who then shall keepâ— vs backe where he comman deth Open ye gateâ— of rightcousnesse and be ye opened ye euerlastiâ—g doores O what a blessed and comfortable saying is this vnto sinnefull man by so great â— Lord and King Who theâ— shall oppose themselues against vs What need we to haue a Mediatour an Intercessor or friend when bee himselfe hath giuen his voice and freely calles vs to himselfe alone Though the frankenesse and bounty of his loue hath yeelded acceâ—â—e vnto hiâ— heauenly Maiesty this great 〈◊〉 four good GOD vnto â—â— must not eâ—bolden vs with â— lesse respect or reuerence in shewing our dutie in the true seruing of him which loue of his doth deâ—erue more in a farre greater degree then our vaine and â—raile flesh can yeelde vnto â—is Omnipotency and State that fitâ— in glory at the right â—and of his Father And whereas we are poore â—ormes creeping vpon the â—oote-stoole of this Earth â—ray wee that his Maiestie will bee so gracious as to â—ouchsafe we should speaâ—â—â—nto him as it were face to â—â—ce to poure out our petitiâ—ns with our owne voices â—â—to his most blessed and saâ—â—ed earâ—â— All know by 〈◊〉 experâ—ence that the Kings of thâ— earth keep themselues witâ— in a strict watch and waâ— râ—gard and their persons aâ—â—â—ull of Maiestie and terroâ— and not spoken vnto bâ—â— with difficulty and frienâ—ship besides the infinite dâ—straction of suites and buâ—â—nesses more then the cares 〈◊〉 any mortal man can receiuâ— driue them of necessity 〈◊〉 the deputation of subordâ—nate Ministers But in GOD who rideâ— vpon the Cherubins aâ—â— maketh his enemies 〈◊〉 foote stoole there is neithâ—â— dange of his person nor dâ—fect in his hearing For hâ— that â—lanted the eare doâ— he not heare He that stâ—â—deth and knocketh at 〈◊〉 〈…〉 for â—â—â—rance when wee knocke at â—is will he not grant enâ—rance In earthly Courts among which wee liue wee may haue many impediments â—ew will hardly fauour vs but many may hinder vs before we can deliuer our message But at these Heauenlie Gates at which we must alwaies call the LORD alone â—s Porter For when the friend knocked in the Parable of Luke â—t mid-night the heauiest 〈◊〉 deadest houre of the night â—e who was neerest the gate â—irst awaked if hee slept at all and first answered How willing is hee to grant that is so willing to â—e disquieted Now glad to heare our knocke that hatâ— placed his bed so neere thâ—â— gate Hew truly may we say that hee was not oneâ—â— nâ—cre the gate but thâ—â—ord himselfe and the verâ— gate who when his Chiâ— dren were fast asleepe thâ— cares of Angels and Saint shut vp hee first and at thâ— veâ—y first call nâ—y onely he among the rest made answâ—â— vnto it The LORD is alwaieâ—â—eerer vnto vs then we arâ— vnto him Psal 10. Hee â—â—â—reth the desire of the poore Hâ— first prepareth the heart anâ— setteth it on worke to pray and when hee hath so donâ— he bendeth his care vnto â—â— giuing vnto vs both thâ— cause and the effect boâ— the blessing and meanes â— â—e blessings The true stand â—ost effectual messenger we â—aue to send our Petitionâ—â—y is Prayer poured forth â— the zeale and singlenesse four hearts If we send vp merites the â—arres in Heauen will disâ—aine it that we who dwell â—t the foote-stoole of GOD are presume so farre when â—e purest Creatures in Heaâ—en are impure in his fight If we send vp feare and diâ—rust the length of the way â—ill tire them out and with â—he weight sinke to the â—round before they come â—alfe way vp to the Throne of saluation If wee send vp blasphenies and curses all the Creautes in Heauen and Earth â—ill set themselues against vs the Sunne and the Mooâ— will raine downe bloud thâ— fire hot burning coales thâ— aire thunderbolts vpon ouâ— heads But Prayer is a Messenger freed from all these imperfections whom neitheâ— the irksomnesse of the way or tediousnesse of the passage can hinder from hâ— purpose quicke of speedâ— faithfull of trust able â—â— mount aboue the Eagles â—â— the Skie into the Heauen 〈◊〉 Heauens as a Chariot of fiâ—â— leading vs alost into the prâ—sence of GOD to seeke hâ—â— assistance and grace The least finger of hiâ— right hand is of more puissance then the whole arâ—â— of flesh or armie of spiritâ— yea then the whole liueâ— hole substances of Angels Men of siluer gold silke â—urple and all other Creaâ—â—res So that Prayer shall walke â—â—rough life death withâ—ut controllement If it find Angelâ— Principâ—â—ties Powers things present â—nd things to come or any â—ther Creature in the World â—opping her passage and reâ—uking her forwardnesse â—â—e shall cleere her way notâ—ithstanding and climbe â—â—to the presence of her GOD and in his eares deliâ—er her message Be wee in sicknesse To â—im the true Phisicion that â—nowes both the cause and â—he cure shee comes for â—ealth Be wee in imprisonment There she sollicites a releaâ—â— from him the Lord of libeâ—tie Be we opprest with pâ—uertie or want The Earth the LORDS and all thâ—â— dwell therein to him she comes for the blessing 〈◊〉 the Lord maketh rich Are wee afflicted aboâ—â—
loue deuoiâ—â— of all â—ypocâ—isie from a purâ— heart to â—oue our Neighbourâ— This Honourable Lord iâ— true Religion whereunto â—â— GOD in great mercy hatâ— called you so gâ—â— cheerefullâ— forward Beware of thiâ— vaine World and of thaâ—â—â—ine trust that wiched mâ—â— are wâ—â—t to put in it leanâ—â—â—t vpon it but stoppe youâ— eares against the eâ—eâ—anting and fawning whisperingâ— of the hollowâ—esse thereof and the dissolute Professors for there can bee â—â— greater trespasse against the Lâ—â—â— theâ—to â—â—â—â— vpon Assyria to rest in the strength of Egypt to goe downe into Ethâ—opia Cursed is that Man that putteth his trust in Man and maketh flesh his â—â—â—e hee shall be like the Heath that groweth in the Wildernesse But con 〈◊〉 He that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall â—mbrace him on euerie side he shall neuer be confounded hee shall bee â—s Mount 〈◊〉 and shall neuer be remoâ—ed for the Lord is his secret place is with him therefore who can â—â— against him What is a â—â—ns â—owe what are his legges what is the swiftnesse of Horses 〈◊〉 the strength of an Hoaâ—â— or the fauour of all thâ— Princes of the World iâ— comparison of God iâ— whom is onely the assurance of that euerlastinâ— inheritance It is the Goâ— of Iacob that must be ouâ— defence our strong Tower and Rock the Chariâ— and Horsemen of Israeâ— the testimony of his prâ—sence and fauour thâ—â— onely can make vs glad Wherefore againe and â—gaine I most humbly beseech your Honour bewaâ—â— of vaine trust and consâ—denâ— in Men and in things thâ—â— are lesse worth then Mâ—â— â—nd as GOD hath in mercy â—estowed vpon your Honour â—reat wisedome so pray that â—ou may haue a discerning â—pirit that the deceiuable â—lory of this World make you â—ot forget your greatest duty â—hat so you may shine in his â—â—erlasting Kingdome True Religion Honouâ—able Lord is effected by â—at diuine and eternall wisâ—â—ome whereby the contemâ—atiue vertue of man is lifâ—d vp to the happy knowâ—â—dge of the Maiesty of God all other the greatest verâ—â—e and wherein resteth the â—â—iefest contentment in this 〈◊〉 For if there be a Pareâ—e in this life it is seated in one of these two either in Religious Meditations or iâ— holy studies and godly specâ—lation because whatsoeuâ—â— is not in one of these two 〈◊〉 full of griefe vexation biâ—ternesse fearefulnesse caâ—â— and sorrow But as Christiâ—â— moâ—esty Right Honourablâ—â— hath moued me to giue to eâ—â—rie thing his due in not ceâ—sing from setting forth aâ— thing in the praise of thâ— which of right deserueth 〈◊〉 be commended so Christiâ—â— Iustice and equity would 〈◊〉 suffer mee to let that paâ—â— without some commendaâ—â—on whereunto I am not abâ— sufficiently to giue any Bâ— considering that slightly commend a thing were the next way to dispraise it exâ—ept withall it were shrâ—wâ—ded under the Patronage of â—ome worthy Person and â—hinking it vnmeete to let â—hat go like an Orphan withâ—ut a father at home I haue â—resumed to commit it vnto our Honours protection not bare Lawrell which of it â—lfe for the greennesse when â—ther be withered may seem 〈◊〉 bee accepted but the same â—ecked and adorned with â—ost heauenly Meditations 〈◊〉 that as I thinke if your â—onour were presented with materiall Lawrell wherein â—esides naturall greennesse â—ere but this neceâ—â—â—ry vse that it could defend you iâ— your Garden from the heatâ— of the Sunne you would accept if not of the gift yet oâ— the good will of the giuer So relying my selfe still vppon your Honours wonteâ— accustomed fauour and clemency I doubt not but yoâ— will affoord mee a fauourable and friendly acceptatioâ— hereof For herein is not thâ—â— greennes which consisting 〈◊〉 naturall qualities must theâ— wither when all things haâ—â— their ending according tâ—â— their nature but the flourishing greene promises of thâ— coâ—enant of God which 〈◊〉 God himselfe last alwaieâ— immutable and vnchangeable Here are not the beautifull leaues of a materiall tree which delight onely the outward sight but a most familiar view and patterne of God himselfe in Christ euen to the delight of the soule and inward comfort of the spirit which take pleasure onely in Heauenly things To conclude here you are not shrowded from the heate of the Sunne but shall finde most coole shade from the parching heate of sinne from which as in duety I am bound I will pray that God in this life shield and defend you and in the life to come grant you euâ—rlasting rest Thus presuming on your Honors wonted fauours and curtesies shewed vnto mee and crauing pardon for this my bold enterprise I humbly take my leaue Your Honors to be commanded in all duty and seruice HENRY THOMPSON An Admonition to the zealous Reader concerning the most godly exercise of PRAYER MAny are the godly and zealous Treatises which are already extant tending to the encouragement of those that hunger and thirst for the true seruice of the liuing God yet gentle Reader I craue thy Christian patience friendly to accept this small trauell of mine and these my simple Admonitions For among all our godly and deuoute Meditations good Christian Reader there can bee none better more acceptable to GOD more commodious and necessary to Man or more fit for vs to the attaining of a good and happy life then at all times to occupic our selues in the continuall remembrance and meditation of the life and death of our Lord Iesus Christ the which thing is plainly shewed and declared not onely by the example and doctrine of diuers holy and learned Men but also by experience it selfe And if thou wouldest flie from sinne and shunne vice then consider with thy selfe what great things the onely Sonne of God both did and suffered to the end thou mightest deliuered from sinne If thou desire to beautifie thy soule with loue humilitie gentlenes patience obedience châ—rity and other vertues then cast thine eye on the perfect and liuely patterne of all vertue which is thy LORD CHRIST himselfe If thou bee desirous to contemne the world and all worldlie vanities and nothing to care for the same then weigh with thy selfe earnestly what kind of life CHRIST our Lord led when hee was liuing here How full of troubles how full of labour and sorrow and how bitter a death hee sustained for Mans saluation Finallâ— if thou wouldest stâ—re vp and inflamâ— thy mind with the loue of GOD and giue him thankes what can in such a case bee more effectuall then still to call vpon GOD and to remember Christ his life and pâ—ssion and how many â—nd great benefits we haue receiued thereby ' Wherâ—upon the Apostle saide for good cause Remember you him who suffered at the hands of sinners that Man should not quaile not bee dismaied in heart and Saint Peter saith That CHRIST suffered that Man should bee also comforted with the remembrance thereof But to the intent that thâ—â— â—ood Christian Reader maiest vse these Meditations to thy great profit thou must obserue this order that
beseech thee saue my enemies from thy wrath and forgiue them that haue offended thee like as I would bee forgiuen in those things whereby I haue offended thee Giue mee grace to order my life O Lord and the workes of my bodie soule with resolued intent neuer to offend thee whereby I may receiue the reward of thy infinite ioy and eternall felicitie O Lord Iesus Christ grant mee whatsoeuer thy diuine wisdome knoweth most expedient for mee and that this miserable life is not worthy to obtaine Grant at the houre of my death I neuer fall from thee when as I shall bee accused for my hainous offences and sinnes committed against thy omnipotent Maiestie I beseech thee breake my froward heart and make it obedient vnto thee Lord keepe me from sudden death and preserue mee so by thine almightie hand and grant me sweete Father to haue a contempt of this World that I may with a iâ—yfull heart come into thy blessed presence Let the remembrance of thy death make mee ioifull wherby I may endure temptations tribulations and make mee so to loue thee that I may come to inherite that ioifull immortall and glorious life most excellent blisse and endlesse felicitie which is ordained in thy heauenlie Kingdome and for thy seruants prepared Lord grant me these supplications which I haue made to thee at this present grant me here in this Pilgrimage a gracious life and â— blessed ending free from debt and deadly sinne and after my death bring mee to euerlasting life there to haue an endlesse blisse and felicitie Amen A Prayer to GOD for hiâ— great goodnesse vnto Man O My Soueraigne Lord Iesu the very true Son of Almightie God that sufferedst death for my sake I beseech thee Lord haue mercie on mee that am a wretched sinner but yet thy creature For thy tender passion keepe me from all perils bodilie and ghostlie and especiallie from all things that may turne to thy displeasure And with all my heart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the great mercies which thou hast shewed me in the great dangers which I haue beene in as well in soule as in bodie and that thy grace and endlesse mercie hath alway kept and saued mee since the houre of my birth vnto this day Lord I beseech thee let thy mercie be continued towards mee and for my great offences vnkindnesse wretched and sinfull life Lord â— humblie aske pardon for the same at thy Almightiâ— hands And I thanke thee moâ—â— gracious Lord for thy greâ—â— benefits and graces which thou hast so largely bestowed on me before many other Creatures who haue betteâ— deserued then I. Lord I doe here meekeliâ— prostrate my selfe in heart aâ— it becommeth thy seruant promising neuer to offenâ— thee more tendering all honour and praise to thy holiâ— name who liuest raigne one God World withoâ—â— end Amen A Prayer to GOD to deliâ—er vs from our ghostlie Enemies MOst deare Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ I beseech thee of thy benigne goodnesse and mercie to protect saue keepe and defend me against the assaults of my ghostlie enemies for I haue no other trust hope nor succour but thee alone Grant me therefore most gracious Father to dread loue thee aboue all things in this present life and after this life ended to enioy the Kingdome prepared for all true beleeuers Further I beseech thee that thou wilt vouchsafe out of thy great mercie and clemencie to shew thy bountifull goodnesse vpon me anâ— to forgiue me all my sinnes and grant that I may perseuere euerlastinglie in alâ— goodnesse and serue thee aright that after this life â— may raigne with thee in euerlasting glorie Worlâ— without end Amen A Prayer to GOD daâ—lie to be saide O My most blessed Lord the wel spring of pity and Fountaine of endlesse mercie I humbly beseech thee to giue mee grace so to spend this my transitory life in vertuous and godly exercises that when the day of my death shal come though I feele paine in my body yet I may feele comfort in my soule and with a faithfull hope of thy mercie imbrace thy messenger so contentedlie that I may wâ—llingly thorow thy grace and strength depart out of this vale of misâ—riâ— in loue towards thee and charitie towards the World that I may hasten me to that glorious Counâ—rey wherein thou hast purchased mee an inheritance for euer with thy most precious bloud O my sweete Sauiour and Lord Iesus Christ I beseech thee while thou doest suffer mee to liue in this World be so gracious a Father as to giue vnto me a contrite and cleane heart quiet and patient a bodie chaste humble and obedient to follow thy will and alwaies ready to do thee seruice To thee O God bee alâ— praise which hast â—ermitteâ— mee to accomplish thiâ— worke grant O â—ordâ— iâ— may bee to thee acâ—eptable to my soule healthfâ—l and to others profitable through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to be vsed at all times O Heauenly Lord and Omnipotent Father the patterne of all goodnes and follower of all vertues most stoute ouerthrower of all wickednesse and sharpest rooter vp of vices mercifullie behold my frailety and pronenesse to euill Helpe me with thy superâ—al power that I may learne â—o despise all earthly pleaâ—â—res and the vanities thereâ—â— and loue all celestiall and â—eauenly things Make mee resist all sinne which stands betweene thy â—aiesty and my weake spiâ—â—t ready to ouerthrow mee â—â— thy mercies were not assiâ—â—ant to my poore soule Make me to withstand all â—â—mptations firmely to imâ—race vertue to eschew all â—orldlie honours and carâ—all delights and to bewaile â—â—ine offences committed in â—y sight I beseech thee restraine my â—â—bridled desires with thy â—â—uing hand whereby I may â—â—staine from a leude and â—ose life and accustome my selfe with goodnesse to thâ— end that by thy benefit anâ— gift of grace by the true woâ—shipping and seruing of thâ— Omnipotent Maiestie I maâ— possesse the Crowne of eueâ—lasting life in thy Kingdomeâ— prepared for thine â—leâ— World without end Amen A Prayer to bee daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ O Maker of Heauen anâ— Earth King of Kingâ— Lord of Lords which of nothing diddest make mee tâ— thine Image and likenessâ— and didst redeeme mee witâ— thine owne blood when I sinner was not worthy tâ— name to call or with heâ— to thinke vpon thee Humbly I desire meekâ—ie pray thee that thou gentâ—ie wilt behold mee thy sinâ—ull and wreâ—ched seruant O haue mercie on mee thou which â—adst mercy on the woman of Canaan vpon Mary Magdalen vpon the â—ublican vpon the thiefe â—anging on the Crosse Vnto thee I confesse Lord â—y sinnes which if I would cannot hide from thee Haue mercy Lord on me or I am a wretched sinner â—hich haue sore offended â—ee in pride couetousnsse â—luttony letchery vaingloâ—â—e hatred enuie adulterie â—â—est lying backbiting â—orting dissolute and wanâ—â—n laughing idle words â—aring tasting sleeping â—orking and many more waies
I fraile man and most wretched sinner haue offended thee Therefore I most humbly pray and beseech thy gentlenesse who for my health and saluation descendedst from Heauen and diddest hold vp Dauid that hee should not fall into sinne Haue mercy vpon me O Christ who didst forgiue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my Creatour my Helper and Maker my Redeemer my Gouernour my Father my Lord my God my King thou art my helpe my trust my strength my defence my redemption my life my health and my resurrection thou art my stedfastnesse my refuge and succour my light and my helpe I most humbly and heartily desire pray thee helpe â—nd defend mee Make mee â—â—rong comfort me make me stedfast make me soberâ—y mery giue me the light of thy spirit and visite mee reuiue me again who am dead for I am thy making and thy worke O Lord despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondman although euill vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee good or bad I am euer thine Therefore to whom shall I flie except I flie vnto thee If thou cast mee off who shall or wil receiue me If thou despise me and turne thy face from me who shall looke vpon mee and recognise and acknowledge me Although I be vnworthy to come to thee although I be vile and vncleane thou canst make me cleane If I be dead thou canst râ—uiuemee for thy mercy is much morethen mine iniquitie thou canst forgiue me more then I can offend Therefore O Lord doe not consider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnesse of thy mercie looke on me a most wretched sinner Lord say vnto my soule I am thy health who saidest I will not the death of any sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted Turne me O Lord to thee and bee not angry with me I pray thee most meeke Father for thy great mercie bring mee vnto that blisse that neuer â—hall câ—â—sse so bee it Aâ—en A Prayer for the râ—missâ—â— of sinnes O Lord God if we wretched sinners had not â—y thy tender mercies and â—ouing promises in Holie Scripture the comfort of our weake consciences and sorrowfull hearts we see no other remedy so great and â—infinite are our sinnes but that wee must needes despaire But for as much as whatsoeuer things are written are written for our learning that through patience and the comfort of Scriptures wee may haue hope though our sinnes be neuer so many neuer so abhominable yet they doe not so much make vs sad as thy louing kindnesse and â—ender mercieâ— make vs glad Our sinnes we consesse are innumerable but thy mercies are also infinit thoâ— art that most gentle Lord which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that hee turne and liue Thou for repentance sake wilt not see the sinâ—es of men thou confessest that thou camest into this World to saue sinners to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance and to seeke that which was lost Thou callest vnto thee all those that are diseased and loaden with the heauy burthen of sinne and promiseâ—t that thou wilt case them yea by thy Prophet thou saiest If wee will wash and make cleanâ— our selâ—â—s put away our euill thoughts out of thy sight cease from doing euiâ—â— and violence learne to doe right apply our selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherlesse to his right and heare the widowes coâ—plaint though our sinnes were as â—ed as scarlet â—et shall they be made whiâ—â—â— then snow and though they were like purple yet they shall be made like white 〈◊〉 Yea thou saiest moreouer that for thine owne sake euen for thy mercy names sake thou wilt be good vnto vs fauour vsâ— and so cast away all our sinnes behind thy backe thaâ— thou wilt neâ—er remember them more O Lord thou art the God which cannot lie thou art the soules truth thou art faithfull in thy words and holy in all thy workes For according to these thy louing promises hast thou euer dealt with the chiâ—dren of men whensoeuer they repented and turned vnto thee when they forsooke their sinful liuing and called vpon thy holy name thou forgauest all their sâ—ns and healedst all their infirmities thou also sauedst their life from destruction and crownedst them with mercie and louing kindnesse For thou O Lord God aâ—â—full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse thou wiâ—â— not alway be chiding neither wilt thou keepe thine anger for euer neither wilt thou deale with vs after our sinnes nor yet reward vs according to our wickednesse For looke how high the Heauen is in comparison of the Earth so great is thy mercie towards them that feare thee Looke how wide the East is from the West so farâ—e dost thou set our sinnes from vs yea like as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou mercifull vnto them that feare thee For thou knowest whereof we be made thou remembrest that wee are but dust that a man in his time is but grasâ—e and flourisheth as a flower of the fiâ—ld and as soone as the wind goeth ouer it is gone and the place thereof knoweth it no more but thy mercifull goodnesse O Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare thee Of these thy louing kindnesses and tender mercies who hath not tasted if hee sought it with all his heart Thou diddest forgiue Dauid both his whoredome and manslaughter when hee repented and confessed his sinne How oft diddest thou call back the plagues of thy vengeance when the Children of Israel lamented their sins and turned vnto thee How mercifull diddest thou shew thy selfe to the Nâ—nâ—â—ites when they repented humbled themselues in thy sight How louingly spakest thou to that sinfull Woman in the Gospel and forgauest her all her sinnes because shee repented and beleeued Peter thy Disciple although most cowardly denying thee after that he had bitterly wept and lamented his sinnes thou diddest behold with thy mercifull eye and fauourably receiue him againe into the number of thy holy Apostles One of them that died with thee being a thiefe after he had called vnto thee for grace thou didst place in Paradise and make him partaker of thine eternall felicity Many other notable examples of thy great mercies find wee in Holy Scripture which will not suffer vs to despaire of thy clemencie and goodnesse be our sinnes and wickednesse neuer so maâ—y but they rather encourage â—s boldly to come vnto the Throne of thy Grace that we may receiue mercie and finde grace to helpe in â—ime of neede O most gentle Sauiour thou art that most louing Shepheard who didst diligentâ—y seeke the wandering sheepe louingly laide it vppon thy shoulderâ— and tenderly brought it home againe seeke vs who haue so long run astray lay vs vpon thy mercifull shoulders and bring vs home againe vnto the companie of thy faithfull Thou art that mercifull Samaâ—â—tane who beholding the
onely Sauiour so loue thee that all mine affections may bee set on thee alone and so embrace true godlinesse that our whole life may be a cleere mirrour of all vertue and goodnesse so shall wee through thy mercie bee found worthy guests of this thy Table and receiue these holy mysteries to the saluation of our soules Yea so shall we be well assured of the remission and forgiuâ—nesse of all our sinnes By the breaking of thy blessed bodie and the shedding of thy precious blood our consciences shall bee quiet our hearts shall be filled with all true and spirituall ioy we shall triumph ouer Sathan sinne death hell and desperation wee shall be partakers of all the fruites and merites of thy blessed passion bee made one body with thee fellow-heires in euerlasting glorie O Lord God let it so come to passe for the honour of thy name Amen A Thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion VVEe thanke thee O Heauenly Father for the blessed passion and glorious death of thy dearely beloued Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ by whose holy wounds we faithfully beleeue and are assuredly perswaded that thy wrath is not onelie pacified towardes vs buâ— that thou also are now become our most mercifull Father and hast freelie forgiuen vs all our sinnes Restore vnto vs thy heauenlie grace and make vs sonnes and heires of thine eternal glorie And because wee should not doubt of thy Fatherlie goodnesse rewards vs 〈◊〉 in the deâ—th of thy 〈◊〉 the same Son Christ 〈◊〉 Lord hath lâ—â—t vnto vs not onely his holy Word but also a blessed memorial of his death and passion set forth 〈◊〉 the holy bâ—â—ad and wine which weat this present haue receiued both for a remembrance of the breaking of his blessed body and the sâ—edding of his moâ—â— prâ—â—inâ—â— blood 〈◊〉 also for the quietnâ—sse of our â—â—onscience and â—â—â— the 〈◊〉 of the remissiâ—â— of our â—â—â—nes through faithâ—â—â—â—â— We 〈◊〉 thee O Heaâ—â—enly Father that we be neuer vnmindefull of this thy exceeding great kindnessâ— not vnthankefull for thy maâ—ifolde blessings vnspeakable mercies declared vnto vs in the glorious death of thy welbeloued Sonne but so worke thou in vs through thy holy Spirit that wee may be made worthy members of that bodie whereof thy Sonne and our Sauiour Christ Iesus is the head And that we may so faithfullie beleeue in thee and so â—eruently loue one another alway liuing in thy feare and in the obedience of thy holy law and blessed will that wee being fruitfull in all godly and Christian workes may traine our liues according to thy good pleasure in this transitorie World and after this fraile and short life obtaine the true and immortal life where thou with thy dearely beloued Sâ—nne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and the Holy Ghost that most sweete Comforter liuest and raignest one true God in all honour glorie World without end Amen A Prayer to be saide at the receiâ—ing of the mysterie of Christs Bâ—die in the Communion O Heauenly and blessed Father â—â—render vnto thoe most hearty thankes for all thy benefits which thou hast shewed vnto mee a most wretched sinner but especially for that most sweete smelling sacrifice which thy onely begotten Son offered vnto thee on the Altar of the Crosse by giuing his most pure and vndefiled bodie vnto the death for the redemption of Mankinde in remembrance whereof according to thy wellbeloued Sonnes ordinance I now receiue this holie bread most entirely beseeching thee that I may both be partaker of the merites of thy deare Sonnes Body-breaking and also leade a life worthy so great a benefit to the glorie oâ— thy name Amen A Prayer to be saide at the receiuing of the mysterie of Christs bloud in the holy Communion O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards mee sinful Creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I cannot but giue vnto thee most humble thankes namely for the shedding of the most precious bloud of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stored vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paide the Law is fulfilled mine enemies are ouercome put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this Table O merciful Father to drinke of this Cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may bee comforted and made strong by true faith in the precious blood of thy most deare Sonne O Lord and my Heauenlie Father giue me thy holy Spirit which may so rule gouerne my heart that I neuer bee vnthankefull nor forgetful of this thine exceeding great kindnes but so traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doe speake or thinke may bee vnto the glory of thy most blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A Morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes MY Soule O Lord hath desired thee in the night season and I haue also waited for thee in spirit and minde all the morning beseeching thee that thy presence which I sore haue longed for may expell from me all my sinne Lord water the secrets of my heart with thy manifolde graces and mightily enâ—â—â—â—e the same with thy loue And now my most sweete Lord Iesus Christ I rise and come early to thee in the morning and pray thee from the bottome of my heart that thou wilt hearken vnto my prayers and godlie requests which I doe most humbly in heart offer vnto thee for thou art the wisdome the eternall brightnesse and verie figure of the substance of the Father who hast created all things of nothing And because thou wouldest bring againe Man to the pleasure of Paradise thou camest downe from Heauen into this vale of miserie and by thy holie conuersation thou hast shewed and trod him the path thereunto and for ransome of all Man-kinde thou wouldest bee offered to thy Father as a most immaculate Lambe Open by thy Holy Spirit my stony and hard heart that with the eies of a perfect beliefe â— may alwaies behold thee who art King of Kings and Lord of Lords Giue mâ— wisâ—dome truly to consider of thy â—eath and passion that thereby I may profit in thee onely who art as a Booke of charitie for me Grant mee that I be vtterlie destitute of all vanities that now I be not he whom heretofore I haue beene but doe thou alwaies abide in me that so linked vnto thee I neuer sâ—verue or decline from thee Send downe good Lord thy wisedome from the seate of thy Maiestie that shee may labour and be with mee that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight that my heart and senses may bee enlightened whereby I may vnderstand how to bee a true follower of thy Precepts O my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who art most sweete vnto mee
pleased thee of thy maruellous humility patience and loue towards man kinde to descend from the high Throne of Heauen to be incarnate by the Holie Ghost and borne of the Virgin Marie and here to suffer trouble paine for our sakes I doe beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion deliuer me from all euill and from the euerlasting paines of hell and vouchsafe through thy great mercie and goodnesse to leade me whither thou diddest leade the Thiefe crucified with thee And I beseech thee thorow thy clemencie to vouchsafe vnto mee O Lord God King of Heauen and Earth the ioyes prepared for thy chosen and so direct sanctifie and gouerne my heart my thoughts my words and deeds in thy sacred Law by keeping thy Commandements that here euer through thy helpe O Sauiour of the World I may bee safe and free and by thy bitter death passion may be broght to the glory of the resurrection so remaine in euerlasting life Amen A Prayer in temptation O Mercâ—full Lord and Sauiour iesus Christ the onely refuge of a desolate and afflicted soule O God thou that hast made mee and redeemed mee in whom â—ll things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to doe nothing thou seest who I am that here prostrate my prayers and poure out my heart vnto thee what I would haue and what is fittest for mee thou knowest My soule is buried 〈…〉 and blood and would be â—â—â—ne dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my will and violently drawne to think that which from my-heart I detest and to haue in minde the poyson and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest mee for thy hands haue framed me and with flesh and skinne thou hast cloathed mee and loe this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth mee to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit if thou helpest not I am ouercome if thou forsakest mee I must needes faint why doest thou set mee contrary vnto thee and makest mee greeuous and a burthen vnto my selfe Diddest thou create mee to cast me away Diddest thou redeeme mee to damne me for euer It had beene good for mee neuer to haue beene borne if I were borne to perish O my most mercifull Father where is thy olde and wonted mercies where is thy gracious sweetenesse and loue towards me become how long shall mine enemie reioice ouer mee and humble my life vpon earth and place me in darkenesse like the dead of the World What am I Lord that thou settest mee to fight alone against so mightie subtile and cruell enemies that neuer cease to bid mee a pâ—rpetuall battaile O Lord why doest thou shew thy might against a leafe that is tossed with euery wind and persecutest a drie stubble wilt thou therefore cast away the worke of thy hands wilt thou banish mee from thy face and take thy holy Spirit clean from me Alasse O my good Lord whither shall I goe from thy face or whither shall flie from thy Spirit or shall I flie from the incensed but to the appeased whither from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull Doe with mee Lord that which is good in thine eies for thou wilt doe all things in righteous iudgement oneâ—y Lord I desire to remember I am but flesh blood sraile of my selfe and impotent to resist shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or grant mee grace that without wound or fault by thee and with thee I may ouercome them sweet Lord Amen FINIS A Table to find out the principall Prayers contained in this Booke THe way how to commend our selues to GOD in the 〈◊〉 aâ— our vprising Page 285. A Prayer before wee settle our selues to our Deuotions p 287. A Morning Prayer p. 291. Another Prayer for the Morning p. 296. Another Morning Prayer p. 308. A short Prayer for the Morning p. 312. A Meditation to be vsed before thou goest to bed p. 314. A Prayer for the Euening p 322. A Prayer for the Night p. 333 A Prayer to GOD for grace and to despise the vanity of the World p. 338. A Prayer to GOD to defend vs from euill company and to keepe ouâ— tongues from vttering ill words p. 346. A Prayer to GOD for bâ— great goodnesse vnto Man p. 354. A Prayer to GOD to deliuer vs from our ghostly enemies p. 357. A Prayer to GOD daily to bee said p 358. A Prayer to be vsed at all times p. 360 A Prayer to be daily saide vnto our Lord Iesus Christ p. 362. A prayer for the remission of sinnes p. 367. A general prâ—yer for all kind of sin p. 380. A 〈◊〉 Faith p. 3â—â— A prayer vnto GOD that we may liue in his 〈◊〉 and that hee will turne his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 394. A 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 with their duty 400. A 〈◊〉 for children their duty p. 404. A prayer against whoâ—â—dome p. 410. A prayer for a Woman with child p. 414. A Thanksgiuing vnto God 〈…〉 deliuerance p. 41â— A prayer for a siâ—ke Man p. 421. A prayer to bee saide before the receiuinâ— of the holy Communion p. â—24 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of â— holy Communion p. â—38 A prayer to 〈◊〉 saidâ— at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs Body in the Communion p 441. A prayer to bee saide at the receiuing of the mystery of Christs blood in the holy Communion p. 442. A morning salutation to GOD for wisedome for grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes p. â—44 A prayer for the King p. 454. A 〈◊〉 prayer to our Lord. p. 〈◊〉 A prayer in 〈◊〉 p. â—59 FINIS