shadow shake i' th shine And by free choice from good to ill decline Sweet Sauiour cleanse my leprous loath some soule In that depurpled Fount which forth thy side Gurgling did twixt two Lilly-mountaines roule To rinse Mans tainted Race Sin soylifide Wash it more white then the triumphant Swan That rides o' th siluer brest of Eridan Suffer my prayers harmony to rise Into thine eares while th' Angels beare a part Accept my Sigâ—s as smelling Sacrifice Sent from the Altar of my bleeding heart Vpto thy nostrils sweet as th' Oyle of Aaron Or th'odoriferous Rose of flowrie Sharon The Hart ne're long'd more for the purling brookes Nor did the lust full Goate with more pursuit After the blossom'd Tritifolie looke Then do's my panting Soule t' enioy the fruit Of thy Life-water which if I attaine To taste of once I ne're shall thirst againe Euen as the chapped ground in Summers heat Cals to the clouds and gapes at euery showre Whose thirstie Casma's greedily intreat As tho they would th' whole house of heau'n deuour So do's my riuen Soule beparcht with sin Yawne wide to let mayst drops of Mercie in Earths vanitie VAnitie of vanities and all is but vanitie saith the wisest Preacher that euer wrote One generation passeth and another commeth and all is but vexation of spirit Which diuine theorem that we may the better perceiue let vs set our selues to the serious meditation of it for the more we search the more we shall see all things to be vanity nothing constant nothing for our eternall good but our soules saluation Mans life on â—arth doth no sooner begin but his 〈◊〉 approacheth his death hasteneth Some come vpon the stage of this world but to haue a breathing and are presently gone others stay a while longer it may be a day perhaps a weeke perhaps a month peraduenture a yeare or it may be some few yeares but alas the longer they stay the greater their griefe care feare and anxietie of minde Euen in the infancie of age man is oft times left as Mâ—ses sometime was in the flouds of misery but as age increaseth sorrow increaseth because sinne increaseth when youth runnes most at randome and thinketh it selfe most safe it is then hemm'd in with greatest dangers then the rashfoole-hardy minde of man hurrieth him headlong to hell except the irresistible power of Gods preuenting grace doth speedily stay him then his wits are euen intoxicated with a frenzie of iniquity and wholly bent vpon riotousnesse rashnesse luxury iollitie superfluity and excesse in carnall pleasures Hee then deuoteth his time and addicteth himselfe to all manner of euill drinking dancing reuelling swaggering swearing whoring gaming quarelling fighting and in the meane while neuer thinkes on heauen nor feareth hell His head is frought with vanities his heart with fallacies whereby his soule is brought into a labyrinth of inextricable miseries So great is the temerity of his vnaduised minde that no consideration of Gods iudgements either past or present or to come can set a stop to his wickednesse His youthfulnesse damps at no bogges quagmires hils or mountaines but wingeth him ouer all impediments mounts him ouer all motiues that might way-lay his sinnes He sticks not to offend his maker to recrucifie his redeemer to resist shall I say his sanctifier no but the Spirit whom God hath giuen to be his sanctifier and if hee so carry himselfe toward thâ—se no meruaile that he derideth his Tutor scornes the Minister like the little children that mock'd Elisha oppresseth his poore brother as Pharaoh did the Israelites spareth not Infants no more then Herod did regardeth not parents no more then Hophin and Phinius did Let the mother direct him the father correct him his ancients instruct him alas all is in vaine youth makes men head-strong selfe-conceited and proud so that they swell with an ouerweening opinion of their owne worth they thinke themselues the onely wits of the time the onely men of the world more fit to teach others then to learn themselues more able to giue then to take aduice If they goe on a while in their lewd courses without the restraining and renewing Grace of God they get a habit of euill are hardned through the custome of sinne none may resist them none compare with them no law of God or man can restraine them They take counsel together against Psa. 2. 2 3 the Lord and against his annointed saying Let vs breake their bands asunder and cast away their cords from vs. Whereupon oftentimes the ripenesse of sinne being hastened by outragiousnesse of sinning God suddenly Nâ—quities vitae non sinit esse senew cuts them off in their intemperancy luxury quarrels and disorders which shewes their vainnesse to be meere vanity Suppose they grow as great as Tamberlaine yet a Gunne Pike Arrow nay a Fly Flea or Gnat a dram nay a drop of poyson proues them to be vaine men one of these silly creatures may send him presently to his creatour to receiue his final doome Yet alas what doe these most minde The bum-basted silken Gallants of our time that come forth like a May morning decked with all the glory of Art the Epicurean Cormerants the gusling and tipling tosse-pots the dainty painting Dames the delicate mincing Ladies the sweet-singing Syrens the dancing Damsels the finicall youths the couzening Shop-keeper the crafty Crafts-man I say what doe all these but set their minds vpon vanitie vpon glory honour pride drosse and such like trash which weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary proue lighter then vanity Doe we not sometime see more spent vpon one suite in Law then would keepe a poore Country towne with the inhabitants for a whole yeare See wee not more spent vpon one suite of apparell for one proud carkasse then would build a Free-schoole So that the cloathes on many a Gallants backe exceeds his rent-Rent-day See we not more spent vpon a Feast to satisfie the curiosity of a few then would satisfie the necessity of a hundred poore wretches almost famished to death See wee not more drunke in a Tauerne at one â—itting by a small company then would serue a troope of sturdy Souldiers in the field Many goe daily to the Tauern where they sticke not to spend their twelue pence who would grudge to giue one penny nay one farthing to a hungry begger Againe is there not now more spent vpon a Ladies feather then would pay a meane mans tythes Is there not more spent vpon one paire of sleeues then would cloath sixe bodies and more spent at a Whitsun-ale then would keepe the poore of the Parish for a yeare Haue wee not amongst our Gentry some of the female sexe who will spend more vpon a Glasse and a pot of complexion then they will giue a whole yeare at their gate they must be menders of that which God makes makers of that which God marres turning themselues like the Camelion into all shapes though neuer so grisly and vgly and being
will in any one thing neither from carnall pleasures not from backbiting and slandering thy neighbours nor yet from fulfilling thine inordinate lusts and desires in case thine ability serued thee thereunto Oh what doth the worme of thy conscience say vnto thee whiles thou art in such a fond securitie and confidence continuing in such a dissolute and wicked life as thou doest Where is now become the vnderstanding iudgement and reason which thou hast of a man Why art thou not afraid of so horrible so certaine and so assured perils and dangers If there were a dish of meat set before thee some man albeit he were a lyer should say vnto thee refraine to touch and eat thereof for it is poysoned durst thou once aduenture to stretch out thy hand to take a taste thereof though the meat were neuer so sauorie and delicate and he neuer so great a lyer that should beare thee thus in hand If then the Prophets if the Apostles if the Euangelists yea if Almighty God himselfe doe cry out vnto thee and say Take heede thou miserable man for death is in that kind of meat and death doth lye lurking in that gluttonous morsell which the diuell hath set before thee How darest thou reach for euerlasting death with thine owne hands and drinke thine owne damnation Where is the applying of thy wits thy iudgement and the discourse and reason which thou lâ—â—st of a spirituall man Where is their light where is their force Sith that none of them doâ— bridle thee any whit from thy common vsuall vices Oh thou wretched and carelesse creature bewitched by the common enemy Satan adiâ—dged to euerlasting darknesse both inward and outward and so doest goe from one darknesse to the other Thou art blinde to see thine owne misery insensible to vnderstand thine owne perdition and harder than any Adamant to feele the hammer of Gods word Oh a thousand times most miserable thou art worthy to be lâ—mented with none other teares than with those wheâ— with thy damnation was lamented when it was said Luke 19. Oh that thou knewest this day the peace quietnesse and treasures which Al mighty God hath offered vnto thee that doe now lye hidden from thine eyes Oh miserable is the day of thy natiuitie and much more miserable the day of thy death forsomuch as that shall be the beginning of thine euerlasting damnation Oh how much better had it beene for thee neuer to haue beene born if thou shalt be damned in the horrible pit of hell for euer where the torments are perpetually durable How much better had it beene for thee neuer to haue beene baptised not yet to haue receiued the Christian faith if through the abusing thereof by thy wicked life thy damnation shall thereby be the greater For if the light of reason onely sufficeth to make the Heathen Phylosophers inexcuseable because they knowing God in some degree did not glorisie him nor serue him as the Apostle saith in the first to the Romans how much lesse shall hee be excused that hath receiued the light of faith and the water of Baptisme yea and the holy Sacrament of the body and bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ hearing daily the doctrine of the Gospell if hee doe nothing more than those Pâ—gan Phylosophers haue done Now what other thing may we inferre of the premisses but briefly to conclude That there is none other vnderstanding none other wisedome none other counsell in the world but that setting aside all the impediments and combersome dangerous wayes of this life wee follow that onely true and certaine way where by true peace and euerlasting life is obtained Hereunto are we called by reason by wisedome by law by heauen by earth by hell and by the life death iustice and mercy of Almighty God Hereunto are we also very notaâ—ly iâ—uited by the holy Ghost peaking by the mouth of Ecclesiasticus in the sixt chapter in this 〈…〉 My sonne harken â—o instruction euen from the first yeares of thy youth and in thy latter dayes thou shalt enioy the sweet fruit of wisdome Approach vnto it as one that pâ—â—weâ—h and soweth and with patience expect the fruitful â—ncrease which it shall yeeld vnto thee The paines that thou shâ—lt take shall be but little and the benefits that thou shalt speedily enioy shall be great My sonne hearken to my words and neglect not this my counsell which I shall giue thee put thy feet willingly into her fetters and thy necke into her chaines bow downe thy shoulders and carry her vpon thee and be not displeased with her bonds approach neere vnto her with all thy heart and follow her wayes with all thy strength seeke for her with all thy diligence and she will make her selfe knowne vnto thee and after that thou hast found her neuer forsake her for by her shalt thou finde rest in thy latter dayes and that which before did seeme so painfull vnto thee will afterwards become very pleasant Her fetters shall be a defence of thy strength and a foundation of vertue and her chaine shall be a robe of glory for in her is the beauty of life and her bonds are the bonds of health Hetherto Ecclesiasticus Whereby thou maiest vnderstand in some degree how great the beauty the delights the liberty and riches of true wisdome are which is vertue it selfe and the knowledge of Almighty God wherof we doe intreat But if all this be insufficient to mollifie our stony hearts lift vp thine eyes and fix thy thoughts constantly to behold our omnipotent God in his mercy and loue towards sinners vpon his dying crosse where he made full satisfaction for thy sinnes There shalt thou behold him in this forâ—e his feet nailed fast looking for thee his â—rmes spread abroad to receiue thee and his head bowing downe to giue thâ—e as to â—noâ—â—er prodigall sonne nâ—w kâ—ssâ— of pâ—ace and attâ—â—â—ment From thence hee calleth thee if thou wouldest â—eare with so many callings and cries as there be wounds in his whole body Hearken thou therefore vnto these voyces and consider well with thy sâ—lfe that if his prayer he not heard that hearkeneth not vnto the cries of the poore how much lesse shall he be heaâ—d that maketh himselfe deafe to such cries as these being the most mercifull cryings of our louing sauiour and intended for our soules saluation Who is he that hath not cause to resolue himselfe whoâ—ly into teares to weepe and bewâ—ile his manifold offences Who is he that can lament and will not lament at this vnlesse he be such a one as seeth not nor careth not what great shipwracke waste and hauocke he maketh of all the riches and treasures of his soule FINIS GODLY PRAYERS NECESSARY AND VSEFVLL for Christian Families vpon seuerall occasions Therefore I say vnto you What things soeuer yee desire when yee pray beleeue that ye receiue them and ye shall haue them Printed at London for M. S. 1628. Godly Christian PRAYERS A
great diuersitie betweene thy things and the things that wee doe continually see in this life In thee is neuer seene neither darkenesse nor night neither yet any change of time The light that shineth in thee commeth neither of lampes nor of Sunne or Moone nor yet of bright glittering Starres but God that proceedeth of God and the light that commeth of light is he that giueth clearenes vnto thee Euen the very King of Kings himselfe keepeth continuall residence in the middest of thee compassed about with his officers and seruants There doe the Angels in their orders and quires sing a most sweete melodious harmonie There is celebrated a perpetuall solemnitie and feast with every one of them that coÌ„meth thither after his departure out of this pilgrimage There be the orders of Prophets there is the famous company of the Apostles there is the inuincible army of Martyrs there is the most reuerent assembly of confessors there are the true and perfect religious persons there are the holy Virgines which haue ouercome both the pleasures of the world and the frailtie of their owne nature there are the young men and young women more ancient in vertue than in yeares there are the sheepe and little lambes that haue escaped from the wolues and from the deceitfull snares of this life and therefore doe now keepe a perpetuall feast each one in his place all alike in ioy though different in degree There Charitie raigneth in her full perfection for vnto them God is all in all whom they behold without end in whose loue they be all continually inflamed whom they doe alwayes loue and in louing doe praise and in praising doe loue and all their exercises consist in praises without wearinesse and without trauell O happie were I yea and very happy indeed if at what time I shall bee loosed out of the prison of this wretched body I might be thought worthy to heare those songs of that heauenly melodie sung in the praise of the euerlasting King by all the Citizens of that so noble Citie Happie were I and very happie if I might obtaine a roome among the Chaplaines of that Chappell and wait for my turne also to sing my Halleluia If I might bee neare to my King my God my Lord and see him in his glory euen as hee hath promised mee when he said O Father this is my last determinate will that all those that thou hast giuen vnto me may me with me aad see the glory which I had with thee before the world was created Hetherto are the words of S. Augustine Now tell mee Christian brother what a day of glorious shine shall that bee vnto thee if thou lead thy life in Gods feare when after the course of this pilgrimage thou shalt passe from death to immortallity and in that passage when others shall beginne to feare thou shalt beginne to reioyce and lift vp thy head because the day of thy deliuerance is at hand Come forth a little saith S. Ierome vnto the Virgine Eustochia out of the prison of this body and when thou art before the gate of this Tabernacle set before thy eyes the reward that thou hopest to haue for thy present labours Tell me what a day shall that bee when our Lord himselfe with all his Saints shall come and meete thee in the way saying vnto thee Arise and make hast O my beloued my delight and my Turtle doue for now the Winter is past and the tempestuous waters are ceased the flowers doe beginne to appeare in our land Cant. 2. How great ioy shall thy soule then receiue when it shall be at that time presented before the Throne of the most blessed Trinity by the hands of the holy Angels and when shall bee declared thy good workes and what crosses tribulations and iniuries thou hast suffered for Gods sake Acts 9. S. Luke writeth That when holy Tabitha the great almes giuer was dead all the widdowes and poore folke came about the Apostle S. Peter shewing vnto him the garments which shee had giuen them wherewith the Apostle being moued made his prayer vnto Almighty God for that so mercifull a woman and by his prayers he raised her againe to life Now what a gladnesse will it be to thy soule when in the middest of those blessed spirits thou shalt be placed with remembrance of thy almes deeds thy prayers and fastings the innocency of thy life thy suffering of wrongs and iniuries thy patience in afflictions thy temperance in diet with all other vertues and good workes that thou hast done in all thy life O how great ioy shalt thou receiue at that time for all the good deeds that thou hast wrought how clearely then shalt thou vnderstand the value and the excellencie of vertue There the obedient man shall talke of victories there vertue shall receiue her reward and the good honoured according to their merite Moreouer what a pleasure will it bee vnto thee when thou shalt see thy selfe to bee in that sure hauen and shalt looke back vpon the course of thy nauigation which thou hast sailed here in this life when thou shalt remember the tempests wherein thou hast been tossed the straits through which thou hast passed and the dangers of theeues and pyrats from whom thou hast escaped There is the place where they shall sing the song of the Prophet which saith Had it not beene that our Lord had beene mine helper it could not be but my soule had gone into hell Especially when from thence thou shalt behold so many sins as are committed every houre in the world so many soules as doe descend euery day into hell and how it hath pleased Almighty God that among such a multitude of damned persons thou shouldst be of the number of his elect and one of those to whom he would grant such exceeding great felicity and glory Besides all this what a goodly sight will it bee to see those seats filled vp and the Citie builded and the wals of that noble Ierusalem repaired again With what chearefull embracings shall the whole court of heauen entertaine them beholding them when the come loaden with the spoiles of their vanquished enemies Theâ—e shall those valiant men and women enter with triumph which haue together with the world conquered the weakenesse of their owne fraile nature There shall they enter which haue suffered martyrdome for Christs sake with double triumph ouer the flâ—sh and the world adorned with all coelestiall glory There shall also daily enter many young men and children which haue vanquished the tendernesse of their young yeares with discretion and vertue Oh how sweet and sauorie shall the fruit of vertue then be although for a time before her roots seemed very bitter sweete is the cold euening after the hote sunnie day sweete is the fountaine to the weary thirstie trauailâ—r sweet is rest and sleepe to the tired seruant but much more sweet is it to the Saints in heauen to enioy peace after warre security
neuer well till they be most ill neuer as they conceit in fashion till indeede they be out of all fashion If this be not a vanity of vanities who can tell what is vanity Euery man is an eye-witnesse of this vanity the more is the pittie that it should be so common your Lady the Merchants wife the trades mans wife nay all of all sorts are a degree aboue their estate Your Gallant is no man vnlesse his haire be of the womans fashion dangling and wauing ouer his shoulders your woman no body except contrary to the modesty of her sexe shee be halfe at least of the mans fashion shee jets she cuts she rides shee sweares she games shee smoakes shee drinkes and what not that is euill She is in the vniuersall portraiture of her behauiour as well as in her accoutrements more then halfe a man the man on the other side no lesse womanish Wee may well admire and exclaime with the Poet O tempora O mores O the times O the manners of these times O quantum est in rebus mane O how great a nothing is there in all things What a vanity of vanity hath ouerspread the age we liue in Were our forefathers now aliue to be spectators of this vanity it would strike them into amazement In their dayes the Pike the Speare the Sword the Bowe the Arrow Musket and Calieuer with the warlike Horse were the obiect of exercise and recreation Now the Pot the Pipe Dice and Cards and such like vanities indeede worse then the quintescence of the extreamest vanity We are now all for ease wee must lye soft fare deliciously goe sumptuously drinke Wine in bowles carowse healths till health be quite drunke away nay wee must kneele to our drinke when we will not kneele to him that gaue vs our drinke we doe homage to that which takes away the vse of our legges nay of our braines our hearts wits sence â—eason when we refuse homage to him that gaue vs all these O vaine man that dost thus forget thy God and abuse thy selfe why dost thou thus suffer thy selfe to be swallowed vp in the gulfe of vanity which hath no bottome but misery Why sufferest thou the Diuell thus to take thee on the hip that he may cast thee downe into the Abisse of hell Art thou so bewitched with that which will haue an end a sudden end a wretched end Thy hony will proue Gall in the end and thy Wine Vinegar In these faire roses of vanity the Diuell hides his pins that shall pricke thee when thou lookest to be refreshed with their sweet smels These vanities wee purchase at no easie rate it is with the procurement of punishment anrd losse of happinesse As the biâ—d that accepts of the Fowlers meat buyes it full dearely with the losse of her owne life so when we accept these vanities from the Diuell it is with the losse of better things in price aboue the whole world In these contracts with Satan we make Esau's peâ—niworth sell heauen for a messe of pottage Claucus exchange Gold for Copper Now thou art pompering thy corruptible flesh but let pale death step in and clap thee on the shoulder wher 's thy mirth wher 's thy felicity thy voluptuous vanity doth presently expire There is a banquet set before thee in which are all varieties of delicacies but alas euery one poysoned darest thou touch or taste any one of them by sin thou poysonest all those outward blessings of God which in themselues are wholesome and good and wilt thou ingurgitate that which is poyson to thy soule Tell me when all is done two or three hundred yeares hence what thou wilt be the better for all thy dainties more then the poore man that neuer tasted them Nay how much better in the day of triall and at the houre of death Then all thy pride pompe and pleasure shall be turned into squaled deformity irrecouerable calamity then vanity shâ—wes it selfe in the proper colours then death and knell and hell doe all conspire to aggrauate thy sorrow yea then hell begins to come to thee before thou come to it thy eyes sleepe not thy senses rest not thy perplexed heart burnes within thee thy wounded conscience bleeds within thee thou seest nothing but terror thou feelest nothing but horror thou thinkest thy self to be haunted with sprights ghosts and hellish furies stinging thee with Adders pursuing thee with Torches and firebrand That saying of the Heathen man is then if noâ— before verified Suae quemque exagitant suriae euery man is tormented with his owne fury which is his conscience Besides thy wife children or other friends â—o the exasperating of thy griefe doe stand about thee weeping as loath to part from thee whereas thy sinnes follow thee and will follow thee doe what thou canst hell gapes before thee with a wide mouth as ready to deuoure thee destruction on both sides attends thee backe thou canst not goe for a dead corps followes thee so neere that thou canst not part from it it is tied vnto thee with an indissolueable knot besides conscience followes thee and cries out against thee and will not leaue thee continually it presents thee with the dreadfull spectacle of thy doleful and wofull sinnes If this were now seriously considered how would it make thy heart to ake with grieuing thy eyes to swell with weeping thy hands to be alwayes lifted vp thy knees euer bended How wouldest thou striue to subdue thy flesh to the spirit sensuality to reason reason to faith and faith to the seruice of God But thou dost not now consider this that thy sinne is so fast linkt to thy conscience that at the last albeit not before it will pull and hale thee and rack and prick thy conscience which will accuse conuict condemn thee all thy vanities all thy iniquities will then pursue thee like so many furious ghosts Then ex ore tuo out of thy own mouth shalt thou be iudged thou euill seruant thy owne mouth shall confesse that thou hast followed nothing but vanity What a vanity was it for me to make earth my heauen and so to admire euen adore this earth that it is a hell to forsake it What a wofull bargain haue I made to sell my soule for vanity I was borne in vanity I haue liued in vanity and it is my feare that I shall dye in vanity Oh how griefe followeth griefe my heart is terrified my thoughts hurried my conscience tortured I fry in anguish I freeze in paine I stand agast and know not which way to turne me my friends must forsake me my â—oes will deride me my earthly ioyes and comforts I should call them vanities haue betraid me Indeede my friends may goe with me to the graue but there they must leaue me my riches pleasures and such like vanities vanish before but my sinnes and conscience will neuer leaue me the diuell will still pursue me hee that tempts me now to
then follow not sinners to the fire of hâ—ll lest thou be constrainâ—d at last when it shall be too late to bewaile thy folly to câ—y out with those that haue mispent their time in vanity Oh that now I might dye the death of the righteous oh Thus â—ran cis Spiâ—ra crieâ— out after he had renouÌ„ ced the profession of true pietie for the possession of earths vanity that I might not dâ—e at all oh that I might fâ—ele in my conscience the least hope of pardon which is as vnpossible as to vnlade all the water in the vast Ocean with a spoone Oh that God would giue mee the least dram of grace which is as impossible as for the least graine of Mustardseed to fill the whole earth preuent this betimes which thou maist doe by abandoning the vanity of the world and so liue that wheresoeuer or howsoeuer thou dyest whether abroad or at home by day or by night slâ—eping or waking whether asâ—d in death or a deliberate death thou maist willingly commend thy spirit vnto the hands of God â—s vnto the hands of a faithfull creator and maist say with the Bride Come Lord Iesu euen so come Lord Iesu come Reu 22. quickly my heart is prepared to enter into thy rest receiue me into the armes of thy mercy entertaine mee into thy owne kingdome that leauing the vanity of this world I may with thy glorified Angels and blessed Saints enioy that euerlasting felicity of a better world which neuer shall haue an end Adew therefore vain world with all worldly delights whatsoeuer and now solitary soule begin to take thy solaâ—â— in better things And to proue the world vaine and consequently thy selfe vaine behold these shapes read thâ—se Verses and in order open the leaues that are folded vp Herein as in a mirrour behold thy owne estate read and consider what thou readest that thou maist know and see thy owne vanity Here thou shalt see what thou wert what thou art and what thou shalt be Dust thou wert dust thou art and vnto dust thou shalt returne dust in thy creation dust in thy constitution dust in thy dissolution I. THough long it were since Adam was Yet seemes he here to be A blessed creature once he was Now naked as you see Whose wife was cause of all my care To say I may be bold Turne backe the leaues and then you may My picture there behold II. To thinke vpon the workes of God All worldly men may wonder But thinking on thy sinnes O man Thy heart may burst asunder The sinner sits and sweetly sings And so his heart beguiles Till I come with my bitter stings And turne to griefe his smiles III. Muse not to gaze vpon my shape Whose nakednesse you see By flattering and deceitfull words The Diuell deceiued me Let me example be to all That once from God doe range Turne backe the leaues and then behold Another sight as strange IV. Had Adam and Eue neuer beene As there you saw their shape I neuer had deceiued them Nor they ere made debate But turne behold where both doe stand And lay the fault on me Turne backe the vpper and nether erests There each of them you see I. III. Here we doe stand in perfect state All formed as we were But what the Serpent did by hate Shall sodainely appeare Then here behold how both doe stand And where the fault did lye Th' almighty power did so command That once we all must dye II. IV. See what comes of wicked deed As all men well doe know And for the same God hath decreed That we should liue in woe The dust it was my daily food Vnto it we must turne And darknesse is my chiefe abode In sorrow so we mourne Of the punishments which the Lord threat neth vnto such as liue a sinfull life ONe of the principall meanes that our Lord hath vsed oftentimes to bridle the hearts of men and to draw them vnto the obedience of his commandements hath beene to sâ—t before their eyes the horrible plagues and punishments that are prepared for such persons as be rebels and transgressours of his Law For although the hope of the rewards that are promised vnto the good in the life to come may moue vs very much hereunto yet are we commonly more moued with things that beirkesome vnto vs than with such as be pleasant euen as we see by daily experience that we are vexed more with an iniury done vnto vs than delighted with any honour and we are more troubled with sicknesse than comforted with health and so by the discommodity of sicknesse we come to vnderstand the commodity of health as by a thing so much the better perceiued by how much more it is sensibly felt Now for this cause did our Lord in times past vse this meane more than any other as it appeareth most clearely by the writings of the Prophets which are euery where full of dreadfull sayings and threatnings wherewith our Lord pretendeth to put a terrour into the hearts of men and so to bridle and subdue them vnder the obedience of his Law And for this end he commanded the Prophet Ieremie That he should take a white booke and write in the same all the threatnings and calamities which hee had reuealed vnto him euen from the first day he began to talke with him vntill that present houre and that he should read the same in the presence of all the people to see if peraduenture they would be moued therewith vnto repentance and to change their former life to the end that he might also change the determination of his wrath which he had purposed to execute vpon them And the holy Scripture saith That when the Prophet had done according as he was commanded by almighty God and had read all those threatnings in the presence of the people and of the Rulers there arose such a feare and terrour amongst them that they were all astonished and as it were bestraughted of their wits looking one in anothers face for the exceeding great fear which they had conceiued of those words This was one of the principall means which almighty God vsed with men in the time of the Law written and so he did also in the time of the Law of grace in which the holy Apostle saith That as there is reuealed a iustice whereby God maketh men iust so is there also reuealed an indignation and wrath whereby he punisheth the vniust for which cause S. Iohn Baptist the glorious forerunner of our Sauiour Christ was sent with this commission and embassage to preach vnto the world That the axe was now put to the root of the tree and that euery tree that brought noâ— forth good fruit should be cut downe and cast into the fire Hee said moreouer That there was another come into the world more mighty than hee that carried in his hand a fanne to winnow and cleanse therewith his floore and that he would put vp the corne into
houshold Prayer for priuate Families in the Morning MOst mighty and glorious God the onely Craator and Gouernour of heauen and earth and all things therein contained we miserable sinners here met together by thy grace doe in thy feare prostrate our selues before thy throne of Maiesty and glory desiring in some measure to shew our vnfained thankfulnesse for thy innumerable mercies multiplied vpon vs from the first houre of our birth yea before our birth and before time was Before the foundations of the world were laid thou out of thy free loue and meere mercy didst elect vs to eternall life when thou didst reiect others Thou didst create vs after thine owne image engrauing vpon vs the characters of spirituall wisedome righteousnesse and true holinesse when it was in thy power to haue made vs like vnto the beasts that perish yea to haue equalled vs to the basest of thy creatures And when through our owne default we lost that dignity thou dist so pittie vs as to send from thine owne bosome thine onely begotten Son to recouer it for vs and to restore it to vs and that with no lesse price then his owne heart-bloud Besides it hath pleased thee continually to spread the wings of thy gracious protection ouer vs to ward and guard vs by thy prouidence to open thy hand and to replenish vs with good things to continue our life health strength food raiment peace and liberty to this very houre Thou hast euen loaded vs with thy benefits if we had hearts rightly to consider it thou renewest thy mercy toward vs euery morning and the night past hast giuen vs a testimony of thy loue For whereas for the sinnes committed the day before thou mightest euen in the dead of sleepe haue giuen vs a sodaine call out of this world and so presently haue brought vs to that great account which wee must make before thee thou vouchsafest yet to spare vs yea which is more to refresh vs with comfortable rest to preserue vs from all dangers that might haue befallen our soules or bodies and to bring vs in safety to the beginning of this day Heauenly father grant that we may not be vnmindfull of thy manifold mercies but that wee may often thinke of them and speake of them to thy glory and that the consideration thereof may stirre vs vp to deuote all the powers of our soules and members of our bodies to thy seruice Forgiue vs our former vnthankfulnesse for thy mercies and our seueral abuses of them yea pardon all our sinnes past we most humbly beseech thee for thy owne mercies sake and for thy sonnes merits Our sinnes are great and grieuous for in sinne we were borne and euer since haue we gone on in a course of sinne and rebellion against thee we doe daily breake thy holy precepts and that against the light of our owne knowledge albeit we know that thou art our Creatour who hast made vs our Redeemer who hast bought vs with the precious bloud of thy onely begotten Sonne and our Comforter who bestowest vpon vs all things needfull for our being and well-being for this life and for a better life Yea euen thee thee O Lord haue we presumed to offend that hast beene thus abundantly mercifull vnto vs. For this our vnthankefulnesse and wickednesse enter not into iudgement with vs wee most humbly beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts but haue mercy vpon vs haue mercy vpon vs most mercifull Father and in mercy wash away all our sinnes with the bloud of Iesus Christ that so they may neuer be laid to our charge nor haue power to rise vp in iudgement against vs. Pierce our hearts with a feeling of our sinnes that wee may mourne for them as wee ought to doe make vs to loath and abhorre them that we may leaue and auoid them that we may be watchfull against all occasions of sinne and circumspect ouer our owne wayes Poure thy spirit and put thy grace into our hearts that thereby we may be inabled for thy seruice and both in body and soule may glorifie thee heere that wee may be glorified of thee and with thee hereafter And as a speciall meanes to keepe vs in subiection before thee worke in vs holy Father a continuall and effectuall remembrance of this earths vanity of our owne mortality of that great and terrible iudgement to come of the paines of hell and ioyes of heauen which follow after O let the remembrance of these things be a spur to prouoke vs vnto vertue and a bridle to hold vs in from gallopping after vice and wickednesse We know not â—ow soone thou wilt set a period to our liues and call for our soules to appeare before thee whether this day or not before the euening O prepare vs therefore for the houre of death that we may then neither feare nor faint but may with ioy yeeld vp our soules into thy mercifull hands and doe thou O Father of mercy receiue them Let thy mercifull eye looke vpon vs this day shield vs from the temptations of the diuell and grant vs the custody of thy holy Angels to defend vs in all our wayes enable vs with diligence and conscience to discharge the duties of our callings and crowne all our endeauours with thy blessing without thy blessing all mans labour is but vaine doe thou therefore blesse vs in our seuerall places oh prosper thou our handy-worke Prouide for vs all things which thou knowest to be needful for euery one of vs this day Giue vs a sanctified vse of thy creatures a godly iealousie ouer ourselues a continual remembrance of thy omniscience and omnipresence that we may labour to approue our very thoughts vnto thee weane vs from the loue of this world and rauish our soules with the loue of our home and thine euerlasting Kingdome Defend the vniuersall Church the Churches of this Land especially our gracious King Charles our illustrious Queene Mary together with Prince Palatine Electour the Princesse Elizabeth his wife and their Princely issue crowne them with thy graces here and with thy glory hereafter Be with the Magistracie and Ministerie of the Realme make thy Gospell to flourish amongst vs by the labors of those whom thou hast appointed to this great seruice Comfort thine afflicted seruants in what place or case soeuer they be giue vs a fellow feeling of their miseries and wisedome to prepare our selues against the euill day Heare vs in these things and grant what else thou knowest needfull for vs not for our worthinesse but for thy Sons sake our alone Sauiour in whose name and words we conclude our imperfect prayers saying Our Father c. A houshold Prayer for priuate Families in the Euening O Glorious God in Iesus Christ our gracious Father wee wretched creatures by nature but by thy grace thy seruants and children doe here make bold to appeare before thee in the humility of our soules to performe some part of that dutie which wee owe vnto thee And
deere Son that my desire may manifestly appeare to be set for the encrease of thy Kingdome Vouchsafe so to order my affections to bring them in obedience vnto thee that if it shold be thy pleasure either now or hereafter to take this Infant froÌ„ me I may as willingly part with it as thou freely gane it me And now O God perfect in mee that strength which thou hast begun make me to grow in care to serue thee faithfully both in the duties of pietie and in other businesse of my place and calling that I may be a comfort to my husband and example to my neighbours a grace to my profession and a meanes of glorie to thy Name through Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS THE Common Cals Cryes and Sounds of the Bell-man OR Diuers Verses to put vs in minde of our mortalitie Which may serue as warnings to be prepared at all times for the day of our death Printed at London for M. S. 1628. For Christmas day REmember all that on this morne Our blessed Sauior Christ was borne Who issued from a Virgin pure Our soules from Sathan to secure And patronise our feeble spirit That we through him may heauen inherit For Saint Stephens night THis blessed time beare in your minde How that blest Martyr Stephen dyed In whom was all that good confinde That might with flesh and bloud abide In doctrine and example he Taught what to doe and what to flee Full of the spirit he would preach Against opinions false and naught Confute them too and boldly teach What Christ himselfe to him had taught For which at last he lost his breath Ston'd by the stony hearts to death Let vs then learn by this blest Martyrs end To see our â—oliies and our liues amend For Saint Johns day THis man the word did boldly teach Saw Christ transformed and did preach The glory in that Mount he saw And by that glory stroue to draw The soule of man to sinne a thrall To heauen to which God send vs all For Innocents day THe swords of Herods seruants tooke Such sweet yong things as with a look Might make a heart of Marble melt But they nor grace nor pittie felt Some from the cradle some awake Some sweetly sleeping some they take Dandled vpon their mothers lap Some from their armes some from the pap For New-yeares day ALL you that doe the Bell-man heare The first day of this hopefull yeare I doe in loue admonish you To bid your old sins all adue And walke as Gods iust Law requires In holy deeds and good desires Which if to doe you le doe your best God will in Christ forgiue the rest For Saint Dauids day I Am no Welchman but yet to show The loue I to the Countrey owe I call this morning and be seeke Each man prepare him for his Leeke For as I heare some men say The first of March is Saint Dauids day That worthy Britaine valiant wise Withstood his Countries enemies And caused his Souldiers there to choose Leekes for to know them from his foes Wâ—o brauely fought and conquest won And so the custome first begun Then weare your Leeks and doe not shame To memorize your worthies name So noble Britaines all adew Loue still King Charles for he loues you For the 5. of Nouemb. Awake Britaines subiects with one accord Extoll and praise and magnifie the Lord Humble your hearts and with deuotion sing Praises of thanks to God for our most gracious King This was the night when in a dark some Cell Treason was found in earth it hatcht in hell And had it tooke effect what would auail'd our sorrow The traine being laid to haue blowne vs vp o th' morrow Yet God our guide reueal'd the damned plot And they themselues destroy'd and we were not Then let vs not forget him thankes to render That hath preseru'd and kept our saiths desender For Good Fryday ALL you that now in bed doe lye Know Iesus Christ this night did dye Our soules most sinfull for to saue That we eternall life might haue His whips his grones his crown of thornes Would make vs weepe lament and mourn For Sunday LEt labour passe let prayer be This day the chiefest worke for thee Thy selfe and seruants more and lesse This day must let all labour passe All hale to you that sleepe and rest Repent awake your sinnes detest Call to your minde the day of doome For then our Sauiour Christ will come Accompt to haue be hath decreed Of euery thought word worke and deede And as we haue our times here past So shall our Iudgements be at last AS darke some night vnto thy thoughts present What 't is to want the dayes bright Element So let thy soule descend through contemplation Where vtter darknesse keepes her habitation Where endlesse easelesse pines remedilesse Attend to torture sinnes curst wilfulnesse O then remember whilst thou yet hast time To call for mercy for each forepast crime And with good Dauid wash thy bed with teares That so repentance may subdue hels feares Then shall thy soule more purer then the Sunne Ioy as a Gyant her best race to runne And in vnspotted robes her selfe addresse To meet her Lord that Sonne of righteousnesse To whom with God the Father and the Spirit Be all due praise where all true ioyes inherit THe Belman like the wakefull morning Cocke Doth warne you to be vigilant and wise Looke to your fire your candle and your locke Preuent what may through negligence arise So may you sleepe with peace and wake with ioy And no mischances shall your state annoy YOur beds compare vnto the graue Then thinke what sepulcher you haue For though you lay you downe to sleepe The Belman wakes your peace to keepe And nightly walkes the round about To see if fire and light be out But when the morne dayes light appeares Be you as ready for your prayers So shall your labours thriue each day That you the Belman well may pay Like to the Seaman is our life Tost by the waues of sinfull strife Finding no ground whereon to stand Vncertaine death is still at hand If that our liues so vainlesse be Then all the world is vanitie THose that liue in wrath and ire And goe to rest in any sinne They are worse vnto their house the fire Or violent theeues that would breake in Then seeke to shun with all your might That Hidr as head that monstrous sin That God may blesse your goods abroad And eke also your selues within SLeepe on in peace yet waking be And dread his powerfull Maiestie Who can translate the irkesome night From darknesse to that glorious light Whose radient beames when once they rise With winged speed the darknesse flyes THou God that art our helpe at hand Preserue and keepe our King land Frem forraigne and domesticke foes Such as the word and truth depose And euer prosper those of pittie That loue the peace of this our Citie
AWake from sleepe awake from sin With voyce and heart to call on him Who from aboue pleas'd to dâ—scend From Sathans malice to desend Our forfeit soules to that â—ich grace Where we may still behold his face LEt vs repare and God implore That henceforth we transgres no more And that our ioy be at this tide That we in him be satisfide Then shall we all for his deare sake Be blest asleepe be blest awake SIth neither men nor Angels know When as the dreadful trump shal blow Nor when our Sauiour Christ shall come To giue the world a wofull doome Thinke then but what a case you 're in That sleepe in vnrepented sinne O wake O wake O watch and pray And thinke vpon this dreadfull day SLeepe not so sound rest not secure Marke well my words of this be sure The waking Virgins past the gate When those that slept came all too late Wherefore be watchfull in your center That you may with the Bridegrome enter IF wicked impes make day and night And keepe their candle alwayes light And all their skill and practise bend To bring their damned plots to end Let vs not sleepe but laud his skill That frustrates all their proiects still THe night well spent the day drawes nigh Awake from sleepe and sinne deâ—ie All sluggish sloath expell away Haue still in minde the iudgement day When dead shall rise at trumpets call The graues shall open wide with all ARise from sinne awake from sleepe The earth doth mourne The heauens weepe The winds and Seas distempered bin And all by reason of mans sin Wherefore arise â—ay sleepe aside And call on God to be your guide From raging sword and arrowes flight And from the terrours of the night From fires flame from sin and sorrow God blesse you all and so good morrow ALL you which in your beds doe lye Vnto the Lord ye ought to cry That he would pardon all your sinnes And thus the Belmans prayer begins Lord giue vs grace our sinful life to mend And at the last to send a ioyfull end Hauing put out your fire and your light For to conclude I bid you all good night MAns life is like a warfare on the earth Whose time is spent with troubles toyles and cares Subiect to all temptations from his birth In woe he liues and dyes at vnawares The surest signe true fortitude to show Is in his life all vice to ouerthrow O Harke O harke my Masters all To your poore seruants cry and call And know all you that lye at ease That our great God may if he please Depriue you of your vitall breath Then sleeping thinke your sleep is death LEt true repentance cleanse your sin And then your soules coÌ„mend to him That by his death hath rais'd and cur'd The dead the blinde and them assured To giue to them eternall rest To liue in heauen among the blest Confesse thy sinnes to God on hie Who pardons sinners when they cry Bewray thy faults to him in time Who will in Christ forgiue thy crime HE that on the crosse hath dyed And for our sinnes was crucisied Be you euer blest in him And cleane reâ—itted from your sinne Be it granted as I haue praid And so the Belman resteth paid ALL you that in bed doe lye Harken well to what I cry Leaue of your sinnes repentance craue It is the onely way your soules to saue REpent in time while ye haue breath RepentaÌ„ce commeth not after death He therefore that will liue for aye Must leaue his sinnes and to God pray O Gracious God and blessed Preserue all ye that be in bed So that your quiet rest may take Vntill the morning that yee wake Then may ye all with praises sing To thee O God our heauenly King REmember man thou art but dust There is none aliue but dye he must To day a man to morrow none So soone our life is past and gone Mans life is like a withered flower Aliue and dead all in an houre Leaue of thy sins therefore in time And Christ will rid thee from thy crime O Mortall man that is made of dust In worldly riches put not thy trust Remember how thy time doth passe Euen like the sand that from the Glasse Hath spent the time and there remaines Neuer canst thou call that time againe SIcke men complaine they cannot sleepe The Bel-man such a noise doth keepe Others that doe win at play Saies he too soone proclaimes the day Yet to the sicke that drawes short breath It puts them in the minde of death And saies the gamster makes good stake If he for heauen so long would wake And all this while like silly worme He doth his office but performe Then if his duety breed disease Hee le go to bed and none displease FINIS