Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
the way then to runne out of the way 32 A good life and a bad make death apeare in two shapes happy is he that liues so that it appeare in the best 33 He that feares to dye feares to find that he liues to seeke 34 If death bee not good of it selfe yet it is the end of many euils 35 Health is aboue wealth and a competency with content riches enough And many a one hath the vse of much money that hath not the vse of himselfe 36 Be silent in thy intentions least by the contrary thou be preuented and laughed to scorne 37 As the Touch-ston tries so gold tries man 38 It is better to be truly reprehended by a friend then falsly flattered by an enemye 39 By other mens examples not by thine owne learne what is worst to eschue what is best to follow 40 As he sleeps well that feeles not he sleeps ill so hee sins much that thinkes not that he sinnes at all 41 Seuerall accidents haue seuerall remedies but patience is appliable to all 42 The later day is commonly the scholler of the former 43 To conquer the affections of ones owne heart is more then to conquer a kingdome 44 The couetuous man is good to non but he is worst to himselfe and wantes aswell that he hath as that he hath not 45 So trust thy friend that he cannot hurt thee being thy enemy 46 He that doth an iniury to one threatens it to many 47 It is hard to keepe safe that that many men desire as a faire wife ready money 48 The eye nere offendes if the hart gouerne it well 49 Nothing is thine own truly that thou canst dispossesse thy selfe of 50 There is no day of a mans life so happy that somthing doth not happen to grieue him 51 Hee that giues not willingly will allwayes find some reason why he should not giue 52 The increase of knowledge is the increase of sorrow 53 There was neuer wise man but saw more cause of sorrow then ioy 54 That mans end is easy and happy that death finds with a weake body and a strong soule 55 Youth and nature passe ouer many infirmities that are owing till our age 56 Who liues most vertuousoy will dye most patiently 57 Liue to dye once dye once to liue euer 58 Thinke of God with wonder speake to God with reuerence serue him in loue obay him in feare and do nothing but as in his presence and sight and thou shalt liue the life of the godly go the way of the blessed liue in his feare and dye in his fauour The diriuation of man 59 Homo ex humo cadauer ex carodata vermibus 60 Sapiens miser plus miser est quam rusticus miser scit enim exaggerare causas dolendi quas rusticus miser nescit Admonition against sinne 61 When sinne allures thee thinke that thou seest Christ comming towards thee as he lay in the armes of Ioseph of Arimathea taken downe from the Crosse all wanne and bleeding wounded the delicacy beuty and admiration of all his partes clouded sullied and stayned speaking thus vnto thee ô forbeare to commit it for it fetcht me from the armes of my father from my royalty and glory in heauen whole and vntoucht to the armes of this mortal man all wounded and torne as thou seest and with this contemplation forbeare Zacheus certaine gaine the worlds imagined losse If Zacheus to winne heauen restored fore-fould from those he had hut iniured single how do they labour to winne hell that do iniury foure-sould yet make not restitution single The fiue thoughts of a Christian 1 Thinke of pleasure to dispise it 2 Of death to expect it 3 Of iudgement to escape it 4 Of hell to preuent it 5 Of heauen to desire it Foure kinde of men according to Dauid that are most indebted vnto God for their liues 1 Those that haue escaped a dearth 2 Prisoners there bondes 3 Those escaped in a mortall sickenesse 4 Seafaring men that are neyther among the liuing nor the dead A Prayer for Constancy and grace against all worldly vanities and allurements GIue me grace to effect thy will O Lord command me what thou pleasest giue me constancie and perseuerance in my calling and duties of life according to thy will and direction and then let my course be in what thou wilt appoynt Be I a husband chastity and content shall adorne my calling in despight of the allurement of all other beauties all other accidēts Be I rich pride nor oppression nor contempt the adherent vices of that Mammon shall not ceize me with their easinesse in their snares be I whatsoeuer I am bee thou my guide and rule of my life and then all my actions shall bee squared and fitted by the ayme of thy word to the leuell of thy will that so they may end in thy glory my comfort and that they may so doe good Lord so guide temper my disposition with such a regiment of thy goodnesse that thou let not the world with her smiles beguile me nor with her frownes affright me arme me with sanctity strength wisedome that I may vse it as though I vsed it not and let not Sathan deceiue me therein let not my owne cōdition betray me to his malice let mee euery day increase my strength in thee adding to the spirituall estate and welfare of my soule that the longer I liue I may walke more securely in the midst of so many enemies giue me a true estimation of all earthly flatteries vanities and pleasures such deep sight therin y◠through the shades beauties allurements I discerne the poyson y◠lyes at their roots so forbeare the one that I perish not by the other let my delight bee least taken when my body most liues but whilst the one walkes dully vpon earth let the other soare sprightly to heauen let me not for y◠glimse and shining like a glo-worme in this world loose the splendor beauty more glorious then the stars in the firmamēt in the world to come prepared for me and all that perseuer in thy waies vnto the end which grant Lord for thy mercies sake Amē A short Memoratiue of the mortality of our life and the folly of our liuing Ashes earth stād forth thou art here acus'd That thou thy brittle substāce hast abus'd The potters vessels being earth and clay Not safely guarded suddenly decay And then their vse though needfull much before Fails in effect and are obseru'd no more Thou wōdrous workmā of vnboūded skil That shewest so large art on a stuffe so ill What are our bodies made of but of mould And yet how rich a substance do they hold The which so many waies we do deface That for the iewel should preserue the case Sometime a thousand vanities our guide We dash this bark vpon the rocks of pride Or on the shelues of gluttony or lust We perish suddenly and not mistrust Sayling along
breed in vs humility and godlinesse as a happy preparation thereunto let vs resolue patiently and resolutely to vnder-goe that taske assigned by thee the dissolution of nature for the corruption of nature the sting is gone and wee neede not feare it beeing but that which all the seuerall ages and generations of the world that are past haue accomplished and in theâ—r times and seasons descended to corruption and others haue taken their places and all that are to come must drinke of the same portion Mathusalem though he liue 969 yeares yet must he not liue euer the portion neuer so long the person neuer so eminent his preseruation neuer so great to this at last hee must surely come and all mankinde besides although not all by one meanes yet all brings to one end though some by water some by fire some by famine some by pestilence some by the iawes of wilde beasts some by the hand of an enemy some in the bed others in the field Haman by the gallowes Iesabel by dogges Herod by wormes the Sonnes and daughters of Iob by the fall of an house the Mothers and Infants of Ierusalem by famine One cryeth my head my head as the Shunamites sonne another my bowels another my feet feet as Asa the Stone the Gout the Feuer and a thousand other punishments not yet equall to our sinnes thy iust Executioners of that sentence Thou shalt dye the death pronounced against our first Parents and in them to the whole race of mankinde Remember thy end saith the wise man thou shalt not do amisse Teach vs O Lord to remember it and make vse thereafter that will in time remember vs if we gorget it Though we escape the pit we shall be taken in the snare we shall fly from a Lyon and a beare shall meet with vs or leane our hand vpon a wall and a serpent shal bite vs we may be deliuered from six troubles and the seauenth shall dispatch vs for neyther councel nor art nor meanes can preserue vs euer for it is the will of God and the cannon of his own lippes against the which there is no euasion no conuenant to be made with death the graue let this meditation be vnto vs as the starre that lead the wisemen vnto Bethleem where Christ then lay in a maÌ„ger in aâ—inne that now sittes at the right haÌ„d of his father in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead that it may lead vs to the throne of his maiesty where now he raigneth in glory for euermore sweeten O Lord this remembrance of death and the graue vnto vs with this cogitation that it was thy bed that in our strength and youth our veynes full of bloud and our bones of marrow in our liuelihood and iollity we may thinke of our dissolution with a quiet mind and with S. Paul desire to be dissolued to be with Christ whose presence in such full and ample measure as we shall there inioy it far exceedeth all the pleasure and delight that this transitory world afford thee giue vs more wisedome O Lord then to esteeme the ruinous and rotten cottages and houses we liue in fortresses and castles of euerlasting refuge not built vpon rockes for continuance but vpon tottering heapes of sand ashes shaken about our eares with the windes and stormes of infinit casualties and afflictions gaping still for ruine and confusion teach vs to know that heare wee haue no abiding Citty but we look for one to come that we passe not our time in this vale of misery day night youth and age in pleasure and delight that so we make our end the remembrance thereof bitter vnto vs neyther let vs thinke that because we haue fatnesse in our bones and health in our ioynts that therefore we shall liue many yeares and se the succession of our sons and nephewes if we doe what will become of this if we flatter our selues soule take thy rest and vpon the suddaine are snacht to hell once more let vs speake like Abraham one thing and one thing more we will beg at thy handes that since thy decree is set downe and thy word is past the accomplishment whereof neuer fayles in the least title that all shall dye confermed by so many millions of creatures since the beginning of the world to this present which shall not cease to runne on whilst there are creatures breathing vpon the circle of the earth to the end of the world dessolution of all things since we must all wax ould as doth a garment and from one defect to another drawe thereunto since the sonne of God himselfe vpon the earth was not priuiledge that now in this time of preparation we make swéet and hony our passage by a due and godly preparation thereunto that when our friends and our children forsake vs with griefe and sorrow on both sides the Phisition giues vs ouer wisheth vs well but can doe vs no good that then when no comfort is left vnto vs besides we haue coÌ„fort in our souls through the forgiuenesse of our sins and though we haue a graue before our eyes greedy inexorable vnsatisfied opening her mouh to receiue vs and hauing receiued vs closing hereuerlasting iaiawes vpoÌ„ vs neuer to returne vs backe againe till the wormes and vermine of the earth haue deuoured vs we despaire not though the strongest man liuing a hart of marble iron shall find terror enough in the thought accoÌ„plishment of these things yea Aristippus feareth death as well as the common people but if the wrath of God which consumes like a riuer of brimstone for our former transgressions shal accompany them thrise wo vnto vs our dull and heauy cogitations will then exclude all thought of mercy and our soules shall sleepe in death clogged with a burthen of sinnes which were neuer repented of therefore O Lord teach vs true and timely repentance for our sins that the extremity which then outragiously wil assault vs may be lessened and the sting thereof pulled away before hand that now we may liue the life of the righteous that then we may die the death of the Godly that we now gird on our armour before the battayle begine that we now thinke of repentance and doe it before it be to late before this wellcome or vnwellcome guest as we our selues make him commeth which brings in his hand either tydings of great ioy or a message of euerlasting sorrow giuing w e all such grace vnto vs to possesse these transitory things that they possesse not vs that we may so vse this world as if we vsed it not to passe through this vale of misery our few and euill dayes with such regard to our life such loue to thy law such obedience to thy precepts that wee may inioy the first and avoyde the later which graunt Lord for thy mercies sake Amen Sir Thomas Moore Fleres si scires vnum tua tempora mensem
of fortune lift thee to the stars if thou reigne happy in all these a thousand yeares What then they so suddenly passe and vanish away as things that had neuer beene and a man inspired with true wisedome from aboue findes so much content left behinde after the vse and possession of them all as a poore man that had dreamed hee was a King and that hee had had all the pleasures and contents the world could affoord him in his power and fruition and being afterwards awaked finds nothing so What man that euer liued before or after Salomon that had a greater portion in this world of eminency and glory then hee and yet this Salomon King Salomon King Salomon in all his royalty in some particulars inferiour to the Lillies of the field let the power of the wicked bee neuer so potent the heart of the most cruell tyrant that euer reigned neuer so enuious and though his pleasure therein bee as great as his power neither hee nor it can exceed Pharaohs and yet was both hee and his exceeded vanquished and brought to confusion and his whole Egyptian Hoast by the vnsensible creatures of Gods most sensible power the course of waters or the waters of the red sea wherein they were ouer-whelmed put to confusion Let the power of his command be neuer so absolute neuer so vnquestionable that it be of force throughout territories and dominions to stifle and strike dead that vapour and breath of life that was first breathed by GOD in the face of man to make him a a liuing soule that it keepe not his wonted progresse and passage throughout the gates of his body let his voyce bee as terrible as the roaring of a Lyon be it neuer so fearefull bee it neuer so ample more fearefull and ample then Nabuchaddonezers it cannot bee yet was hee in the middest of his pride and iollity compast and inuirond in for seauen yeares within the walles of wilde Asses Let his cloathing bee neuer so sumptuous the Throne where hee sits neuer so Maiesticall his speech and eloquence neuer so plausible and his praises neuer so generall yet in these was Herod his equall and yet not defended by these from the wormes that gnawed out his bowels Take a suruey in the present from the Monuments Histories Traditions and Reliques of ancient ages going vp from these low descended times of ours to those first that began the world and long since expired and imagine that if the best and most iuditious obseruer that liued in euery age since that time that God sayd Let there bee Day and Night and Times and Seasons or shall liue whilest these creatures of his world that giue rest and labour shall last indure should stand vp to report and poynt out the chiefest men and vertues that in them euer liued and were whether for wealth or wisdome fortitude or temperance eloquence or learning For continency or patience beauty magnanimity or whatsoeuer else might bee numbred in the bead-roll of excellence that could say in the perfection and largest indowment hereof here is munition against the graue and with this will I preserue my body from corruption they would all in their seuerall turnes confirme and testifie the graue hath closed them vp without resistance of quality or vertue and they sleepe with their excellencies together raked in the earth Is it then so and are wee no more but thus Is there not one man of former ages can stand forth to bee darted through with all eyes of wonder and admiration as a monument neuer yet beheld to say I haue peruerted the sentence and the decree hath past by me I haue made a League with Death and a Couenant with the Graue and I shall liue for euer and my body shall not descend into that bed of darknesse If not what true content can bee taken in this life in any thing wee enioy which goes not warranted with an houres security but in the peace of conscience wherein is true ioy present giuen as a taste or earnest of that reall eternall ioy and gladnesse wee shall inherit in the kingdome of heauen to come Vnmindful wretched miserable man shall the best finde no euasion to escape and doe the worst thinke to bee freed from thence Shall beauty descend into corruption and yet will it idolize it selfe in conceit of immortality will it plaister ouer that earth with colours like the morning-Sunne which must bee suddenly transformed into earth and true earth indeede and make her bed in the darknesse more obscure then the clouds of the night Will not wisedome defend a man What folly is it then not to haue so muâ—h wisedome as to make â— serious preparation thereunto can strength nor magnanimiâ—â— make no resistance how suddeÌ„ly then will weaknesse and infirmity yeeld it selfe Will not riches defend a man the rich man in the Gospell answeares no for they sooner transport him thether whether then we runne ouer the liues of the vertuous and godly such as withstood the temptations of Sathan and the illusions of the world with that most forcible presideÌ„t the innumerabilitie of her followers which without thought carries so many head-long to perdition Or the state and condition of the most dessolute vnrepentant sinners such as run through the race of there liues in a most carelesse and dessolute securitie not regarding there end nor the cause of there being we see an equall conclusion and period and end of there daâ—es all bound vp and shackelled together in the same bundle of corruption and there resolution so that the eye of man cannot distinguish in the graue betweene the bones and ashes of the one and the other betweene Vashti the most beutifull Queenes and the blackest Egypâ—ian bond-womans that euer was yet when the Lord both of life death shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead he alone can distinguâ—sh which shall raise vp the one to euerlasting life and the other to an endlesse death euer dijng yet neuer ending and herein let the godly take comfort who haue not taken there porâ—ion and pleasure in this world that they shall be knowne and raysed vp and distinguisht from the wicked and let them willingly and ioyfully therefore without the least feare inbrace this messinger of the Lord which to their bodies brings but a quiet sleepe from the which they shall be awaked to ioy And let the wicked who haue cause feare him as their enemie that is the subduer and danter of all flesh the finisher of all wordly pleasures that takes the earth and ashes of the most maiesticall composure stuft with ambition and pride with thoughts beyond bound without warrant from trampling and wounding the brest bosome of there mother in scorne and contempt into the darkesome and solitarie chambers of her wombe where that earth taken out of that earth that thought it selfe more then earth and yet was but earth becomes earth lesse then earth euen to moates
vnto the cloudes by the good thoughtes and motions of the spirit and sometimes cast mee downe to the ends of the earth euen to the bottomlesse pit of hell by the temptations and allurements of the world and the deuill till I come vnto the hauen of my rest to the which Lord bring mee for thy mercies sake Amen In time of pestilence TThe life of man most glorious Lord therof by whose handes it was made in whose hands it is inlightned with such vnderstanding capacity so large ample thy creatures benefits so good so innumerable and all for the delight and seruice of man which are so powerful and comfortable to him in the ouerlooking thereof in his large discourse and reason that he could wish in this world a perpetuity without change not knowing in his fleshly and blinded indgemēt what may be more in heauen with thée to content his naturall desire that he inioys not in this eclipse glimpse of thy goodnes vpon earth that lands possessions sumptuous building gorgeous clothing the cōfort of children friends seruāts with many other adiunctes cannot be equalled or exceeded in the world to come we confesse O thou giuer of all good guiftes y◠we are not worthy of the least of these thy benifits not thy friēds but thine enemies such that haue pulled thee frō the crowne to the Crosse nayld thee there vnto death and not greeuing our selues that we haue thus greeued thée snacht thy benefits out of thy hands not returning that easy curtesy vnto thee thou requirest of vs which is nothing but gratuity and thankes being more vngratefull vnto thee for all we haue for by thee we liue and moue and haue our being inioying nothing but from thy al-filling hands from that ouerflowing fountaine of thy goodnes yet more returning to a mortall man for one single curtesy then to thee for all these correct O Lord this fault in nature this vniuersal defect in mākind O Lord if thou hast prepared so good things for thy enemies and friends together what hast thou in store for thy elect there seuered surely such things as the eye hath not sene the eare hath not hard the tongue cannot vtter the hart cannot conceiue w e thée ò Lord there is fulnes of ioy at thy right hād pleasures for euermore Psal 16. who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasure Psal 36. where ioy shal be euer present yet we cannot be filled or rather filled but not satisfied what it is O Lord thou knowest best but there is the fountaine spring from whēce all goodnes floweth take vs into thy besome vnder the wings of thy mercy into that celestiall habitation where the sight and splendor of that heauenly presence shal more delight then all the obscured and mixed pleasures the world can afford on the other side we know as a strong motiue vnto vs the vnsupportable and heauy iudgement prepared against the day of wrath for those y◠haue drunke downe sinne as the Leuiathan the waters terrefie O Lord our vnderstanding with there horrour fearfullnes y◠we neuer come there to feele them bring vs by one meanes or other to the heauen of our happinesse what thy promises cānot perswade let thy threatnings performe by y◠terrour of thy punishments which are impossible to be vttered and yet must be indured bound hand and foot cast into vtter darkenesse where thy fauour nor mercy shall neuer-more be extended where nether the light of the sunne nor the moone or starres much lesse the light of Gods face shal euer shine where for euer shal be weping and gnashing of teeth without determinatiō or ceasing O Lord who is able to indure it thy Angell y◠walkes in the darkenes and striketh at noone dayes the many dangers that accompany our wretched liues the least of which one time or other strikes home take vs in our pallace in our gardēs in ourwarehouses in the feild on the sea on the earth in the ayre in our beds at our tables whatsoeuer our bodies do whatsoeuer our minds thinke comes thy messēger in one shape or another takes vs by the hand leades vs from whatsoeuer is dearest vnto vs to the tribunall seat of thy iustice and mercy where we are eyther to be acquitted or condemned eyther to be receiued or thrust out Lord therfore deale with vs according to thy mercy that if thou prolong our liues bring vs safe out of this storme tempest of mortality that by y◠fal slaughter of others we be brought to such a serious cōsideration of our owne mortality estate y◠we make our preparation thereunto all y◠days of our life knowing y◠he may fal in his tent y◠hath escaped y◠feild perish in y◠hauen y◠hath passed y◠Ocean y◠it must be surrendered one time or another and if it please thée the we fall by y◠stroke of this thy deuouring Angel as the corruption ranlinesse of our nature infectious enough to procure it and bring to passe that thou accept as my deed my will desire and purpose to serue thée my intent for my action that I would as if I should liue to glorifie thée make mée out of loue with this wretched world and all the allurements and baytes therein and in loue only with thee and thy heauenly kingdom for thy blessed name sake Amē For humility vpon these considerations THou mighty Lord of heauen and earth who holdest the ball of the world in thy hand and keepest all times and seasons as in a register who art all hand all eye all foot for strengthe for fight for swiftnesse to whom the in-most chambers and retired clossets the tabernacles and habitations of mortall men nay the hartes and bosomes of all the creatures in the world are vnfoulded and layed open as leuill to thy sight as the aire which we looke on with our eyes what cā we do the is hid frō thy sight ten thousand times brighter then y◠sun or whether can we go y◠our sins offences lye not naked before thée surely no otherway there is but only to inuolue them in the clowds mistes of sighes repentance repentance the guift of God the ioy of Angels the salue of sins the heauen refuge of sinners O where remaines the subiect of the title the Angels sin not and therfore need not repentance nor the spirits of darkenes for the sentence is already past condemnation sealed it is only for me most wretched sinner y◠I am for my brethren of the same inheritance to vs alone doth it belong and we perceiue it not we eat and feed delitiously we are wanton with thy guifts O God abusing them in surfet and riot and luxuriouslye we sinne in drinking in procuring an appetite to exceed therein we sin in our cloathing most superfluously attyred like the rich glutton condemned to hell as if we would exceed Salomon and match the lillies of
neerer thy end by one day Therfore euery night be so wise as to know yâ— which the foole neglected that that night thy soule may be taken away which came to passe vpon him when hee thought of the inlargement of his barnes but thought not of that at all Therefore omne crede diem tibi deluxisse supremum 7 Health is aboue gold and a sound body aboue infinite riches therefore keepe thy selfe from surfetings from drunkennesse from whooredome for besides that they waste thy substance and distemper thy body they expend thy time more pretious theÌ„ the gold of Ophir which is not lent thee but for other ends vses If sicknesse come but seeke it not bee carefull to passe it ouer to redeeme thy health but put not thy trust in the Phisition for he may apply but vnlesse God perfect his help and thy hope is in vaine Asa may complaine of his gout Ezekias of his vlcer the Shunamites childe of his head but no helpe can bee had where the Lord doth deny it 8 Vnus introitus innumeri exitus There is but one manner of entring into the world but many wayes of going out Mille modis morimur vno bene we dye a thousand wayes and but one way well In the middest of our life we are in danger of death in the middest of our pleasures many times it is present it followes the body of all flesh as the shadow that waits thereupon and at one opportunity or another will be sure to strike home Set therefore sometimes before thy eyes that which alwayes stanâ—s behind thy backe Remember thy end and thou shalt feare to do amisse 9 Keep the wandring thoughts of thy heart the suggestions of the fresh which are euer rebellious to the will of God within bounds and limits suffer them not to kindle and burne vp the good motions of the spirit but extinguish the least spark that shall arise whilst it is a sparke by the wholsome precepts of Gods reuealed will be carefull to vse the time well which thou hast for thou knowest not what time will bee allotted thée more from thy worldly affaires the mart trafficke of thy businesses wherewith the multitude that looke no further then the example of the world and the eyes of nature giue them sight are carried away and draw thy selfe sometimes aside to the exercise of prayer and thankesgiuing for how earnest soeuer â—hy businesse be it shall speede the better for this what haste soeuer this hinders not the speed 9 Whatsoeuer thou takest in hand though thou haue beaten thy braines and wearied thy spirits and it hath succeeded well yet thinke not that it brought to passe with thine owne indeuours but by the sufferance assistance of God without whose helpe it is in vaine to rise early and to goe to bed late and eate the bread of carefulnesse For except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that goe about to build it Except the Lord keep the Citty the keepers watch in vaine And therefore without this aid and assistance implored his direction and protection craued indeauour not any thing â—â—t it lead thee forth bring thée in let it bee the beginning the middle the end in whatsoeuer thou vndertakest vt bene sit tibi yâ— it may go well with thee 10 For food rayment the fruits of the body yâ— fruits of the feild for health wealth friends for all yâ— mercies and benefits thou receyuest from God whether out wardly or inwardly in body or inwardly in mind receiue them not vse them not touch them not without prayer and praise thankesgiuing to him the creator and giuer of all good things whose ouer-flowing goodnesse mercy sufficeth the wantes and necessities of thee and all his creatures and clientes in the world besides and as Christ himselfe and his Apostle vpon earth gaue thankes for the benefittes both of soule and body to God the father so learne thou by there example to do likewise 11 Consider often seriously of the wisdome power omnipoteÌ„cy maiesty of that dreadful Lord of heauen earth that created gouerneth the whole frame of the world all the creatures therein that hath made thee a creature of such excellence capability giuen thee rule dominion ouer all his creatures in the world done so many bleeding wonders miracles for confirmation of his loue to thee defended thee by his gracious prouidence and protection euerfince thou wast borne as the apple of his owne eye the explication of whose loue the height of heauen aboue the earth the distance of the east froÌ„ the west the loue of fathers towards their sons of mothers towards the latest fruit of their wombes hennes towards their chickins haue beene but dull shewes in a poore measure to expresse it towards thee so amply testified in recompence wherof striue to giue him thy heart thy soule and best affections which is all hee desires though much more he deserues 12 Be euer careful to lay hold vpon the fore-top of time deferre not any thing that must be done for whatsoeuer is good is much bettered by the speedy performance of it and one delay is the mother of many according to the old prouerbe qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit hee that is not fit to day will be lesse fit to morrow Wilt thou obserue yâ— time the season for the tilling of thy ground for yâ— sowing of thy séed for the gathering of thy fruits for the setting of thy tree for the lopping of her branches and wilt thou not obserue thy owne time obseruing so in these transitory and triuiall things which if thou let carelesty passe may neuer be graunted vnto thée againe and for that neclect thou perish 13 Thinke with thy selfe thou hast deferred many yeares thy repentance thinke how gratious the Lord hath bene vnto thée the he hath not cut thée of in the middest of thine iniquity and resolue with thy selfe no longer to delay in yâ— kind but make this thy present day vpon paine of thy perill least in the bitternesse and anguish of thy soule thou hereafter be inforced to cry out then was the kingdome of grace but that I haue neclected and now is the kingdom of iustice by which I am coÌ„demned theÌ„ was the sauing of soules now the time of condemning them the meanes then deliuered by the tongs of men mildly perswaciuely the account now in the trumpet of the Archangel fierce and terrible wo is mee therfore that I haue thus deferred 14 Then came it with tydings of great ioy to yâ— world but now with terrour amasement to yâ— who le humanity therof to all yâ— kindred generatioÌ„s therin theÌ„ with Laus Deo in exelsis glory to God on high peace vpoÌ„ earth but now with a changed still ve ve habitatoribus terrae woe to the inhabitants of the earth then together the lost sheep of Israell into the fould now