speaketh better things then the blood of Abel I confesse I haue sorely displeased thee but it troubleth me that I haue so incensed thee I haue grieued thy spirit but it grieueth mee that I should bee so gracelesse as to grieue that Spirit of grace which sealeth thy chosen to saluation I deserue that thou shouldest euen abhorre me for my sinnes but I abâ—orre my selfe for them in dust and ashes I haue offended thee in gluttony but I now fast for it in pride but I humble my selfe in laughter and sports but I weepe for it in sinfull ioyes but I mourne for it I haue wallowed in filthy pleasures but Iâ—wallow for it in dust and ashes haue broken all thy commandements but I haue broken my heart in true contrition for it Thou didst not breake a bruised reede wilt thou grind to powder a broken heart What profit is in my blood O Lord when I go down into the pit Nay what profit is in thy blood O blessed Redeemer if they for whom it was shed god downe into the pit of destruction Shall the dust giue thankes vnto thee O Lord or the ashes and cinders of hell praise the God of heauen Hâ—are O Lord and haue mercie vpon me thou that healest those that are broken in heart and giuest medicine to cure their sicknesse raise vp my prostrate and deiected soule Why didst thou hunger O Lord but to satisfie for my gluttony Why didst thou thirst but to satisfie for my drunkennesse Why didst thou weepe but to satisfie for my sinfull ioyes Why didst thou endure vnspeakeable torments but to satisfie for my Iewd pleasures Why didst thou dye an ignominious death but to satisfie for my shamefull life Why didst thou shed thy blood but to satisfie for my crimson sinnes Adam our first Parent did eat the forbidden fruit and all our teeth are set on edge but thy fasting forty dayes hath fully satisfied for his eating But I renue my sinnes dayly and thou renewest thy mercies The guilt of my sinne is great but the price of thy blood is greater I haue offended an infinite Maiestie but satisfaction hath beene made by an infinite Maiestie My wickednes cannot exceede thy goodnesse for my power of sinning is finite but thy facultie of pardoning is infinite Wherefore sith my sins bee they neuer so many neuer so weighty fall within the measure of thy mercy and compasse of thy goodnesse And sith it is all one with thee to giue what I aske and to ineite mee to aske to heale my wounds and to make mee feele the smart of them Lord who hast giuen mee the one deny mee not the other Rebuke the surges of temptations and quiet my soule Thou who in the dayes of thy flesh offeredst vp prayers with strong cryes heare the strong lowd cryes of a penitent sinner Thou who tookest vpon thee our infirmities take pitie vpon them thou wert in thine agony stricken with horror and vnutterable griefe allay the troubles of my affrighted conscience Thou who fastedst forty dayes accept of my humiliation these forty dayes and graunt that my stomacke may not onely fast from accustomed meates but all my sences from their vsual delights and most of all my heart from worldly comforts and contentments Let no fight delight mee till I see my sinnes remoued like a mist and thy countenance shine vpon mee Let no sound or voice delight mee till I heare thee by thy Spirit to speake peace to my conscience and say to my soule I am thy saluation Let no pleasant fields and gardens delight me til I haue gathered red flowers out of that garden which was watered with thy blood Let no fruit delight me till I haue fully tasted the fruit of the tree of thy Crosse. Let no meate delight me till with the sower herbes of sorrow and anguish of heart for my sinne I haue eaten the Christian Passeouer the flesh of thee that immaculate Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world Heare me blessed Redeemer and as thou wroughtest in dust when thou tookest the woman in adultery So I beseech thee write my sins in dust and bury them all in the ashes of obliuion So be it Amen GOOD FRIDAY'S DEVOTION OR The Christian Fast on the Passion of our Lord. The ground of this Fast In the Old Testament Prophecies Types geuerall speciall In the new Historie Sacrament of Christ's death of which before in the preparatioÌ„ PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt bruise his heel c. Gen. 3. 15. He was cut out of the land of the liuing Isa. 53. 8. He shal make his soule an offering for sinne ver 10. And after threescore and two weekes Mâ—ssiah shall bee slaine Dan. 9. 26. They shall looke vpon him whom they haue pearced Zac. 12. 10. Historie This is your houre the Power of darknesse Luk. 22. 53. Then Iesus cried with a loud voice and yeelded vp the Ghost Mat. 27. 50. Him haue yee crucified slaine Acts. 2. 22. Christ dyed for our sins 1 Cor. 15. 3. He offered himselfe by the eternal Spirit Heb. 9. 14. One of the Souldiers with a Speare peirced his side Iohn 19. 34. Type Besides all sacrifices of the old Law which foreshewed Christs death there are 2. speciall types 1 Abraham builded an Altar and bound Isaak his son Gen. 22. 9. And stretched out his hand and tooke the knife to kill his sonne ver 10. Accomplishment So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Io. 3. 16. He became obedient to death euen the death of the crosse Phil. 2. 8. So Moses made a Serpent of brasse set it vp for a signe and when a Serpent had bitten a man then he looked to the Serpent of brasse and liued Numb 21. 9. They crucified him Luk. 23. 33. Iesus whoÌ„ ye haue crucified Act. 2. 36. Hee was crucified concerning his infirmity 2. Cor. 13. 4 I if I were lift vp from the earth wil draw all men to me Io. 12. 32. This he spake signifying what death he should die v. 33. IOH. 14. As Moses lift vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of Man be lift vp For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Tipes Storie of Christ's Passion For thy comfort apply to thy self the benefits of his death For thy correction remember and bewaile thy sinnes for which Christ suffered and dyed Quicken thy Faith by the Psalme Obedience and patience by the admonition Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing THE ADMONITION for good-friday THE ANALYSIS We must suffer afflictions because 1. a By them we are made conformable to our Head Christ Iesus 2. b They are the Chastisements of our heauenly Father 3. c They proceede from loue 4. d They are moderated and mitigated by his mercy 5. e They are sweetened with many comforts 6. f They are the common lot of all Gods dearest children 7. g They are medicinable to the soule 8. h They bring vs to a sence of our sins and remorse for them 9. i
is impossible for those who were once enlightened and haue tasted the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4 It they shall fall away to renew them to repentance c. ver 5. The Angels which kept not their first estate he hath reserued in euerlasting chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud 6. THE PRAYER FOR Saturday Morning composed of Petitions sutable to the rest of the Father and the Sonne on this day Motiues to perseueraÌ„ce agreeable to the subsequent exhortation ALmightie Creator of heauen and earth and all things therein who this day restedst froÌ„ all thy workes and blessedst it grant to me after the painefull laboures and trauailes of this life are ended a sweete blessed and comfortable rest with thee in heauen where I may keepe a continuall Sabbath hold a perpetuall feast sing an euerlasting song weare an incorruptible crowne possess an eternall inheritance and fully enioy thee in all things and all things in thee in endlesse quietnesse ioy content and rest This rest is the marke at which all my desires aime this is the price for which all my endeauouâ—s runne this is the hauen to which by the gales of thy spirit my christian course driues For in this rest there is perfect tranquillitie and in this tranquillitie contentment and in this contentment ioy and pleasure and in this ioy and pleasure varietie and in this varietie securitie and in this securitie eternitie This is the end without end to which all my labours in thy seruice and sufferings for thee through my whole life tend vnto Here I haue labour without rest there shall be rest without labour here perturbations without tranquillitie there tranquillitie without perturbations here desire without content there content without desire heere paine and sorrowes without sincere pleasures and ioy there ioyes and pleasures without all paine and sorrowes heere satiety of delights without variety there variety without satiety here feare without safety there safety without feare heere a sudden end without ioy there ioyes without end Wherefore I beseech thee heauenly Father loosen my desires and affections from the things that are belowe and knit them to the things that are aboue Breake and dissolue the vnlawfull contracts betweene my soule and the creatures and marrte her to thee in righteousnesse Breede in me more and more the loathing of the forbidden fruit and a longing for the fruits of the tree of life Let mee not leane vpon the reedes of Aegypt which will breake vnder me and the splinters run into my body Let mee not repose my selfe vnder Ionâ—s's worme-eaten gourd but the sollid wood of Christ's Crosse. Let me not set vp my rest on this side of Iordan but passe ouer into the celestiall Canaan And because death is the narrow passage betweene this life and the life to come let mee not so much feare this cut as I doe for on this side I leaue labour sorrow sinne shame vexation anxiety paine and mortality and on the other side I finde rest righteousnesse glory contentment pleasure and immortality It is but a short passage and my Sauiour hath made it safe All thy Saints either haue or shall passe it ouer I lose nothing in this passage my soule is presently transported and though my body stay a while heere yet it shall follow in due time And no sooner this darke world and the shadow of it goes out of sight but the glorious light of heauen shineth vpon me I see streetes of gold and gates of pearle and foundations garnished with all sorts of pretious stones I shall behold thee the Father in thy Maiesty Christ thy Sonne in his glory the Spirit in his sanctity the Arch-angels and Angels in their excellency and the Saints in their felicity I shall then hunger no more I shall labour no more I shall trauell no more I shall feare no more I shall grieue no more I shall desire no more I shall need no more any house for the heauen heauen of heauens shall be my habitation nor Temple for God shall bee my Temple nor light for the Lambe shall be my light O Lord let the hope and expectation of this euerlasting rest and happinesse sweeten all my labours and ease my torment and mittigate my sorrowes and comfort my heart that I faile not in my labour nor tyre in my trauell nor sinke vnder my burdens nor fall vnder my crosses nor die for sorrow of my wounds receiued in the Lord's battailes but hold on cheerefully strenuously and valiantly till I ariue at the land of promise and there receiue the lot of mine inheritance with the Saints in light So be it Amen The close out of Scripture The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding preserue my heart and minde through Iesus Christ Phil 4. 7. The Deuotion for Saturday Euening THE HYMNE I Will blesse the Lord at all times his praise shall bee in my mouth continually Psal. 34. 1. O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast layed vp for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Psal. 31. 19. Blessed be the Lord for hee hath shewed mee meruailous kindnesse v. 21. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth vs with benefits euen the God of our saluation Psal. 68. 19. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits Psal. 116. 12. O loue the Lord all yee his Saints for the Lord preserueth the faithfull and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer Ps. 31. 23. Behold the eye of the Lord is vpon them that feare him and vpon them that hope in his mercie Ps. 33. 18. To deliuer their soule from death and to keepe theÌ„ aliue in famine v. 19. Though I haue layen among the pots yet shall I bee as the wings of a Doue couered with siluer and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68. 13. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of all Psal. 34. 19. He keepeth all his bones so that not one of them is broken v. 20. Why art thou cast downe ô my soule and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I will yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psal. 42. 11. THE TEXTS IN. Adam all dye 1 Cor. 15. 22. It is appointed to men once to dye Heb. 9. 27. Death went ouer all Rom. 5. 12. Man that is borne of a woman is but of few dayes Iob. 14. 1. Hee commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe he flyeth away as a shadow and continueth not verse 2. And where is he verse 10. When the breath of man goeth forth hee shall turne againe to his earth and then all his thoughts perish Psal. 146. 3. Man lyeth downe and riseth not till the heauens be no more Iob 14. verse 14. They shall not be awaked nor raised out of their sleepe v. 14. Thou hast made my
dayes as it were a span long Psal. 39. 6. Wee are but as yesterday our dayes on earth are a shadow Iob 8. 9. What man is hee that liueth and shall not see death Psal 89. 47. All flesh is grasse and the glory of it as the flower 1 Pet 1. 24. As the flower of grasse hee shall passe away Iam. 1. 10. What is our life It is a Vapour that appeareth for a little time and vanisheth away Iam. 4. 14. Man his dayes are determined the number of his months are with thee thou hast appointed him his bounds that hee cannot passe Iob. 14. 5. Lord let me know mine end and the number of my dayes Psal. 39. 5. I will adde vnto thy dayes fifteene yeeres Isa 38. 5. O teach vs to number our dayes c. Psal. 90. 12. Whether we dye or liue wee are the Lords Rom. 14. 8. The right vse of Fasting consisteth in the 1 Manner that it be sincere not hypocriticall 2 Measure that it be not immoderate 3 Cause or end which must bee either 1 To tame and subdue the flesh such was Paul's fast I beate downe my bodie 2 To testifie our humiliation and sorrow for our sinnes such was Ezra's and the Nineuites fast 3 To quicken zeale and deuotion such was Hanna's fast Luke 2. The abuse of Fast likewise is seene in the 1 Manner if wee abstaine from one kinde of meate and feede daintily on another forbeare one meale and glut our selues another 2 Measure if we continue or fast so long that we much impaire our strength or endanger our health 3 Cause or end 1 If we abstaine from any kind of meat out of an opinion and erroneous scruple of conscience that it is of it selfe vncleane as the Tatians and Encratites did or as being now forbidden vs vnder the Gospell as some Iudaising Christians at this day 2 If we abstaine from all or any kind of meate to merit or satisfie thereby as Papists doe 3 If wee keepe a Fast to colour any vngodly or malicious purpose as Iezebel did The second Table of Fasting The Lord is faithfull who shall keepe you from euill 2 Thes. 3. 3. Commit the keeping of their soules to him who is a faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. 19. I know whom I haue trusted and I am perswaded that he is able to keepe that which I haue committed vnto him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. For this end Christ dyed and rose and reuiued that he might be Lord both of the liuing and the dead Rom. 14. 9. In that hee dyed hee dyed to sinne once but in that hee liueth hee liueth to God Rom. 6. 10. If we be dead with Christ wee belieue that wee shall also liue with him verse 8. I was dead I am aliue and I liue for euer and I haue the keys of death and of hell Reu. 1. 18. I am the resurrection and the life Hee that beleeueth in mee though he were dead yet shall he liue Ioh. 11. 25. Christ hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 10. Death is swallowed vp into victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory v. 55. The sting of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the Law verse 56. But thankes bee to God who hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ verse 57. Hee also tooke part of the same that through death hee might destroy him that had the power of death euen the diuell Heb. â— 14. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth Ioh 11. 11. And when hee had thus spoken he fell asleepe Acts 7. 60. And many are fallen asleepe 1 Cor. 11. 10. Which are asleepe in Christ 1 Cor. 15. 18. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruits of them that sleepe verse 20. Christ to me is life and to die is gaine Phil. 1. 21. Whosoeuer loseth his life for my sake shall saue it Mar. 8. 35. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord Reu. 14. 13. For they rest from their labours verse 16. There remaineth a rest for the people of God Heb. 4. 9. God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes Reu. 1. 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst no more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heate Reu. 7. 16. Hee that is dead is free from sinne Rom. 6. 7. We looke for a new heauen in which dwelleth righteousnesse 2 Pet. 3. 13. And there shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination or maketh a lye Reu. 21. 27. For without shall bee doggs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh a lie Reu. 22. 15. The creature shall be deliuered from bondage Rom. 8. 21. His the tempters place was no more found Reu. 12. 8. Your ioy shall no man take away from you Ioh. 16. 22. Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace according to thy word Luke 2. â—9 I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ for that is best of all Phil. 1. 23. For we know that if the house of this earthly Tabernacle were dissolued we should haue a building of God an house not made with hands eternall in the heauens 2 Cor. 5. 1. For in this we groane earnestly desiring to be clothed vpon with our house which is from heauen verse 2. We are willing rather to bee absent from the body and present with the Lord v. 7. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. He that beleeueth on him is not condemned v. 18. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the euidence of things not seene Heb. 11. 1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Ro. 8. 1. I am perswaded that neither life nor death c. shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord v. vlt. We know that wee are passed from death to life because wee oue the brethren 1 Iohn 3. 14. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ Phil. 3. 20. Hope maketh not ashamed Rom. 5. 5. If we hope for that we see not then doe we with patience waite for it Rom. 8. 25. Reioycing in hope Rom. 12. 22 I would not haue you ignorant concerning them which are fallen asleepe that ye sorrow not as they which haue no hope 1 Thes. 4. 13. The full assurance of hope vnto the end Heb. 6. 11. Let vs hold fast the profession of our hope vnto the end for he is faithfull that promiseth Heb. 10 23. Which hope we haue as an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast and which entereth to that within the veile Heb. 6. 19.
the eternall Spirit offered himselfe to God without spot purge our consciences from dead workes verse 14. The blood of Iesus Christ his Son clenseth vs from al sinne 1 Ioh. 1. 7. If any man sin wee haue an Aduecate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous 1 Iohn 2. 1. And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but also for the sins of the whole world v. 3. These haue washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe Reu. 7. 14. Thou hast redeemed vs by thy blood to God Reu. 5. 9. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keepe them from the euill Ioh. 17. 15. Sanctifie them through thy truth thy Word is truth v. 17. Neither pray I for these alone but for them which shall belieue on me through the word v. 20. I haue prayed for thee that thy faith may not faile Luke 22. 32. In that day ye shall aske in my name and I say not vnto you that I will pray the Father for you Ioh. 16. 26. For the Father himselfe loueth you because ye haue loued me v. 27. Who is he that condemneth It is Christ that dyed yea rather that is risen againe who is euen at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8. 34. Hee is able to saue them euermore that come vnto God by him seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. IOHN did baptize in the wildernesse and preach the baptisme of repentance for the remission of sins Mar. 1. 4. According to his mercy hee saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. The like figure whereunto euen baptisme doth now saue vs by the resurrection of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. Repent and bee baptized euery one of you in the name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of sins Act. 2. 38. This is the Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins Mat. 26. 28. Seeke the Lord while hee may be found call ye vpon him while he is neere Isa. 55. 6. Let the wicked for sake his way and the vnrighteous man his thoughts and let him returne to the Lord and he will haue mercy vpon him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon v. 7. For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor my waies your waies saith the Lord v 8. As I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Ezekiel 18. 22. Turne you turne you from your euill waies for why will yee dye ô yee house of Israel Ezek. 33. 11. I haue no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selues and liue Ezek. 18. 32. They shall know me from the least to the greatest saith the Lord and I will forgiue their iniquity and remember their sin no more Ier. 31. 34. Thou shalt finde the Lord if thou seeke him with al thy heart and with all thy soule Deut. 4. 29. For the Lord thy God is a mercifull God he will not forsake thee nor destroy thee v. 31. If my people shall humble themselues and pray and seeke my face and turne from their wicked waies then I will heare from heauen and will forgiue their sinne 2 Chro. 7. 14. If thou returne to the Almighty thou shalt be built vp Iob 22. 23. I haue blotted out as a thick clowde thy transgressions and as a clowde thy sins returne vnto me for I haue redeemed thee Isa. 44. 22. Cease to doe euill learne to doe well Isa. 1. 17. Come now let vs reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as skarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall bee as wooll Isa. 1. 18. Goe proclaime these words to the North and say Returne thou back-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall vpon you for I am mercifull saith the Lord and will not keepe anger for euer Ier. 3 12. Onely acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed the Lord thy God verse 13. Come let vs returne to the Lord for he hath torne and hee will heale vs he hath smitten and he will binde vs vp Hosea 6. 1. I will heale their back-slidings I will loue them freely Hosea 14. 4. Seeke the Lord and yee shall liue Amos 5. 6. Turne yee vnto mee saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turne vnto you Zac. 1. 3. Come vnto me all ye that are heauy laden and I will ease you Mat. 11. 28. Likewise I say vnto you There is ioy in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth Luke 15. 10. The Son of Man came to saue that which was lost Luke 19. 10. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Luk. 5. 32. That repentance and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name among all Nations Luke 24. 47. Repent ye therefore and bee conuerted that your sinnes may be blotted out when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The Lord is not slacke as some men account slacknesse but is long suffering to vs-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. If wee confesse our sins hee is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and cleanse vs from all vnrighteousnesse 1 Ioh. 1. 9. Manasses built altars for al the Host of heauen 2 Chron. 33. 5. And he caused his children to passe by the fire in the valley of Hinnon also he vsed Witch-craft and dealt with familiar Spirits c. v. 67. But when hee was in his affliction hee besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the Lord of his Fathers v. 12. And prayed vnto him and he was intreated of him and he heard his supplication v. 13. He denied before them al saying I know not what thou sayest Mat. 26. 70. And againe he denyed him v. 72. Then he began to curse and to sweare saying I know not the man v. 74. And the Lord turned and looked vpon PETER and PETER remembred the words of the Lord Luk. 22. 61. And PETER went out and wept bitterly v. 62. And behold a woman in the City which was a sinner brought an al abaster box of ointment c. Luk. 7 37. Her sinnes which are many are forgiuen her for she loued much v. 47. A woman which had bin healed of euill Spirits and infirmities Mary Magdalene out of whom went seauen diuels Luk. 8. 2. The younger tooke his iourney into a farre countrey and wasted his substance with riotous liuing Luk. 15. 13. When he came to himselfe he said c. v. 18. I will arise and goe to my Father and say Father I
Our condition requires it Examples of mecknes God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The Saints Moses Dauid Ieremiah The woman of Canaan Saint Paul Resemblances in the creatures Meekenesse bringeth peace Wealth Honour Wisedome The fruits of the spirit Blessednesse 1 Gods Commandement 2 The Saints practise Hezekiah Manasses Ezra Peter 3 A preparation to the Gospell 4 Acceptable to God 5 The effect of true conuersion 6 A cause of many diuine vertues 7 Bringeth ioy and comfort 8 The want of it fearefull Precepts for seeking the meanes of saluation Examples Dauid Mary The bearers of Iohn Baptist. Promises of life All things needfull Gods fauour Delight Peace Life Blessed content The kingdome of heauen Saluation by Mercy It is the most eminent attribute to God Precepts of mercy The last iudgement proceeds vpon works of mercy Mercy the fruit of the Spirit The Saints practise Iobs Tabithas Cornelius The good Samaritans Philippians Onesiphorus Philemons Workes of mercy a certaine note of pure Religion In assurance of saluation and meanes of obtaining mercy at Gods hand 1. Precepts for it 2. God takes notice of it 3. God highly esteemes it 4. Promises of 1. Life 2. Fauour of Kings 3. Sight of God 4. Gods fauours 5. Profiting by the Word 6. Abode in heauen Precepts God the Father God of peace The Sonne Prince of peace The holy Ghost the Spirit of peace Examples The Saints children of peace The fâ—uits of peace are Prosperity Honour Benediction Wisdome Righteousnesse The speciall presence of God Vnity Beatificall vision God his Will Power Ordinance Christ his loue Example Sympathy The Saints continuall practise Ioseph Iob. Daniel Ieremiah The Apostls and Saints of the Primitiue Church Paul The Thesa louians The Hebrewes Thyatyra Encouragements Couuersion of enemies Conuiction Triall Ioy. Assurance of Gods loue Fruit of righteousnesse Holinesse Perfection The promises Life Honour in in heauen Rewards in this life For holinesse 1. Precepts 2. Paterens so fit in God the Father The Sonne The Spirit The church Reasons drawne from the Creation Our Vocation Redemption Sanctification Glorification Fruites of holinesse Ioy. Peace Prosperitie Dignitie Faith commanded As necessarie to all religious duties as Prayer Hearing the word The Sacrament It is Pretious Holy Proper to the Elect. Grounded on God the Father his Word Oath The Sonne his promise Pray The Spirits earnest Seale Faith worketh miracles Ouercommeth the 〈◊〉 The world Maketh sonnes of God Purifieth the heart Keepeth from confusion Iustifieth Saueth Crowneth with euerlasting blessings Precepts for perseuerance Examples Abraham Dauid Daniel The blind man The Cananitsh woman Peters conuerts Paul Cornelius The beasts full of eyes The Corinthians CoÌ„tinuance is a note of Truth Hath certaine promises of reward Saluation Comfortable assurance A crowne of life Apostasie and backsliding vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Fearefully thrâ—aâ—ned with losse of reward Of Gods fauour With a reprobate sence Infamy Death Eternally punished Death is common to all men The time and houre is by God prefixed God is an omnipotent and faithfull Creator Christ himselfe died and by death entred into his glorie And destroyed death And changed it in Name Nature Of a losse it is made a gaine Of a curse a blessing and a dâ—scharge from Labour Sorrow Paine Sinne. Free from euill company Bondage Temptation Feare the Saints desire Death Are comforted in death by Faith By Loue. By Hope By a good conscience The bodie resteth in hope of a glorious resurrection The soule immediatly enioyeth blisse Body and sonle shall be crowned at the last day Fruitfulnes is a spirituall blessing The paines are deserued by the sin of Eue. Sweetened with hop of a childe And promises of blessings Temporall Spirituall Confidence in God comanded Practised by Abraham Saraah Moses Dauid Eliah Hester Iob. The three children Ionah Reasons drawne from God His Attributes Faithfulnesse Prouidence Omnipotencie Goodnesse Gracious promises Performances to men in distresse as Lot The children of Israel Eliah Citizens of Samaria The 3 children as they are called Daniel Ionah Peter The sicke soule expresseth her malady Remembrance and experience of Gods goodnesse Hope in God Meeke patience Prayeth for ease Helpe Recouery Quickening grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome Sicknesse is God's visitation who is the Father of our Spirits and cannot be resisted Must be obeyed From whoÌ„ we receiue good It is a scourge for our sins It is sent for our good To weane vs from the world To tame the flesh and strengthening the Spirit To make vs loath sin To bring vs to acknowledgement of our sins in speciall To proue sincerity of our faith and loue To keepe vs from euerlasting torments To make vs seeke more earnestly to God Who will be found of vs. And shew his glory in our recouery For thankfulnesse Examples of Christ. The Angels The Saints in heauen The Saints on earth Melchizedeck Iacob The people of Israel in Moses time Moses Deborah Barak Anna. Dauid Salomon Ezra Isaiah Ezekias Daniel Ionah Marie Zacharias The Shepheards The man taken with a Palsie The people The woman that had a Spirit of infirmity One of the Lepers The blinde man The 〈…〉 Paul Peter Iude. Iohn Precepts In thy extremest fit meditate vpon 1 The heinousnes of thy sin deseruing a sharper scourge 2 The vnsufferable torments of hel which by these teÌ„porall chastisements â—re preuenâ—ed 3 The vnconceiuable paines and sorrowes which Christ endured for thee 4 The afflictions of Gods Saints equalizing farre surpassing thine Iob. Dauid Ieremiah The Apostles and first Disciples Paul 5 The faithfulnesse goodnesse of God who will not tempt vs aboue our strength 6 The short continuance of these paines and sorrowes 7 The incoÌ„parable reward of our patience See the Admoniâ—ion for good-Fryday Pray instantly and feruently Desire others to pray ◠〈◊〉 open thy sins and griefe in particular Weepe abundantly Restore Reconcile Forgiue freely from the heart Giue as thou art able liberally Seeke to thy Pastor and desire comfort froÌ„ him and the Church absolution Medit at vpon by faith apply to thy selfe Gods infinite mercy The vertue of the Sacraments The vniuersality of promises to penitent sinners The example of Gods mercy in pardoning heinous and grieueus sinners Peter Mary Magdalen The prodigall The theefe on the Crosse. The Iewes that crucified or consented to the crucifying of IESVS Layeth opeÌ„ his afflictions in body and soule Confesseth Prayeth for audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sin 4 Acknowledgeth Gods mercies 5 Professeth trust Desire of death Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Assured hope of Eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God
against enuenomed wounds Then would we as soone as we feele the sting of sinne in our consciences bruise the Serpent by true contrition destroy the sinne and apply the oyle of teares issuing from it to cure the wound before it festered But among other iust causes of teares this is not the least that wee misspend our teares and spill that heauenly dew and profane the Font-water of our second baptisme as Saint Cyprian calleth it Wee haue teares at our owne will in worldly losses but none at God's command for the losse of his grace Wee take on for the death of our friends departing frō vs but cannot wring out a teare for the spirituall death of our soules departing from God Yet all our fretting and vexing all our weeping and howling cannot fetch our friend backe againe or repaire our worldly losses whereas on the contrary as Saint Chrysostome piously noteth the afflicting of our soules and serious bewailing of our sinnes by God's grace shall reuiue our soules and recouer all our spirituall losses and that with aduantage What pittie nay what folly is it to powre costly eye-water out of a Venice-glasse into a vile pot or basen to wash our feete withall Do we not the like when we turne godly sorrow into worldly and abuse pretious teares to the bewailing of vile base losses haue we suchstore of them or such want of better employmēt for them See we not wrath is gone out against vs and the fire long agoe kindled and not yet quenched by our teares Lord thou hast shewed thy people terrible things thou hast giuen vs a drinke of deadly wine and hast caused vs to suck out the dreggs of it because we Moab like are setled vpon our Lees. As Pharaoh saw the hugh of his bloodie minde in the waters of Aegypt turned all redd as blood so we may see the crimson colour of our sins in the vialls of thy wrath powred of late vpon vs. We trade not spiritually for the pearle of the Gospell and therefore our Merchant's returnes faile Wee would not weepe for our sins and therefore the heauens did weepe for vs a long season in continuall showers We haue bin hard hearted and barren in good works and therefore thou madest heretofore the heauen aboue vs as brasse and the earth vnder vs as Yron By drunkennesse and gluttony by euill perswasions and worse examples one soule hath infected another and therefore thou hast sent a Plague whereby one body infecteth another Such a Plag◠as our ancients neuer heard of and our posterity will scarce belieue The chiefe of our Cities haue beene ploughed vp and sowed so thick with dead corps's that one could scarce lye by another Against this and all other iudgements which thy law threatneth and our sins prouoke wee haue no weapons to contend with thy iustice but prayers and teares We haue no meanes to clense the infected aire but our sighs and groanes O Lord remoue our sins as a clowde and iniquities as a mist and then this dreadfull bloodie clowde which lately powred downe but now onely droppeth will vanish of it selfe Consummate the worke of mercy thou hast begun and quite remoue this iudgement through thy tender compassion in the bowells of Christ Iesus wee beseech thee But remoue this iudgement in mercie not in iudgement Take not thy hand off of vs to fetch a greater stroake at vs. Deliuer vs not from one Plague as thou diddest Pharoh to send a worse in steede thereof Put vs not out of thine hands into which we are fallen to giue vs ouer into the hands of our enemies Saue vs not from the Sword to kill vs with Famine neither preserue vs from a corporall to starue vs with a spirituall Take not away one plaister to apply a smarter in the place but perfectly heale our wounds Bee absolutely reconciled vnto vs in him vpon whom thou hast already layed the chastisement of our peace O remember not our our old sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs and that soone for wee are come to great misery Helpe vs ô God of our saluation for the glory of thy name ô deliuer vs and bee mercifull to our sins for thy names sake O thinke vpon thy congregation and Mount Sion wherein thou hast dwelt Looke vpon the hands of many thousands that haue beene lifted vp to thee in Publike and many more in Priuate to iustifie thee in thy Iudgements and blesse thee for thy mercies and intreate thee for this Land and thy disconsolate Spouse yet weeping in teares of bloud in diuerse places To strengthen and support the weaker of these hands and fill their mouthes with continuall Deuotions I haue furnished and replenished this Manuel which I name THE HAND-MAID To PRIVATE DEVOTION to waite on her in her Chamber or Oratorie The purtraying of her Mistresse I leaue to the pensill of some Diuine Apelles whose taske will be the harder because she neuer commeth abroade All that my intention aimeth at and my endeauours promise is but to lay open a priuate way and set vp certaine Stages for thy holy race and pricke thee on forward in it Farre better helpes in this kinde the pious charitie and zeale of religious and learned persons hath afforded thee of whom yet I may truely say as Tully spake of the Emperours that dealt with Mithridates before Pompey Laudandum quod secerunt ignoscendum quod reliquerunt They are to be commended for that they haue done and pardoned for that they left What they haue left I labour to supply and if I cannot supply it yet I thought fit to implie and intimate that the Authors themselues or the Publishers of their workes might adde what they finde wanting First my thinkes I see in their bookes of Deuotion and prayers Salomon's temple without the gate called Bewtifull I meane exquisite meditations and orizons without an entrance thereunto by preparation With that part therefore I begin and it taketh vp the more roome in my booke because it hath beene so scanted for place or rather quite excluded in theirs In it if thou finde some tertnesse I intreate thee Courteous Reader to remember with me the precept of the Lord Iesu Haue salt and haue peace If I haue salt haue thou peace the rather because Hymnes Prayers and other religious exercises are spirituall sacrifices and euery sacrifice by the Law was to be seasoned with salt Et quoniam mel in Dei sacrificijs non offertur nimia dulcedo arte mutata est quâdam piperis austeritate condita apud Deum nil tantum suaue placet nisi quod habet in se aliquid mordacis veritatis It is S. Ierom's obseruation vpon the legall sacrifices that God neuer appointed hony to be offered vnto him And the morall truth vailed vnder that shadow was that in our spirituall oblations nothing pleaseth God that is onely sweete and hath not some smacke 〈◊〉 it of biting truth Next I haue much maruelled what the reason might be that they vndertaking
Man is a worme and the sonne of man is a worme Surely euery man liuing is altogether vanity Psal. 39. 11. All nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanity Isa. 40. 17. He knoweth our frame hee remembreth that wee are but dust Psal. 103. 14. Man that is borne of a woman hath but few dayes and is full of misery Iob 14. 1. Is not mans life a warfare vpon earth Are not his dayes also as the dayes of an hireling Iob 7. 1. O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. Euery imagination of the thoughts of mans heart are only euill continually Gen. 6. 5. There is no man that sinneth not 1 Kings 8. 46. Who can bring a cleane thing out of an vncleane Iob 14. 4. They are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psalme 143. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue mee Psal. 51. 5. Who knoweth how oft hee offendeth Cleanse thou me from my secret finnes Psal. 19. 12. If thou Lord shalt marke what is done amisse who may stand Psal. 130. 3. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing bee iustified Ps. 143. 2. We are al as an vncleane thing and all our righâ—eousnesse is as filthy raggs Isa. 64. 6. Who can say I haue made my heart cleane I am pure from my sinne Pro. 20. 9. For the Scripture hath concluded all vnder sinne Gal. 3. 22. In many things wee offend all Iames 3. 2. If we say that we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and there is no truth in vs. 1. Iohn 1. 8. Without me ye can do nothing Ioh. 15. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues but our sufficiency is of God 2. Cor. 3. 5. The Lord is nigh vnto all them that call vpon him yea all such as call vpon him faithfully Psal. 145. 18. All things whatsoeuer ye shall aske in prayer beleeuing ye shall receiue Math. 21. 22. Let him aske in faith nothing waâ—ering Iames 1. 6. Thou hast bene pretious in my sight and I haue loued thee Isa. 43. 4. God so loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten Son that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Ioh. 3. 16. As the Father hath loued mee so I haue loued you Ioh. 15. 9. After that the kindnesse and loue of God our Sauiour towards man appeared c. Tit. 3. 4. To him that loued vs and washed vs from our sins in his owne bloud Ren. 1. 5. The Lord the Lord God mercifull and gratious long-suffering abundant in goodnesse truth Exod. 34. 6. The Lord your God is gracious and mercifull and will not turne away his face from you if you returne to him 2. Chro. 30. 9 For thy great mercies sake thou diddest not vtterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and mercifull God Nehe. 9. 31. The Lord is mercifull and gracious slow to anger and plentifull in mercy Psal. 103. 8. ver 11. 13. 17. Who is a God like vnto thee that pardâ—neth iniquitie and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage hee retaineth not his anger for euer because he delighteth in mercâ—e Micah 7. 18. He will turne againe he will haue compassion vpon vs hee wil subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depths of the sea ver 19. Despisest thou the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodnesse of God leadeth to repentance Rom. 2. 4. God is not slacke as some men count slacknesse but is long-suffering to vs ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2. Pet. 3. 9. The seed of the woman shall bruise thy head Gen. 3. 15. He forgiueth all thine iniquities and healeth all thy â—iseases Psal. 103. 3. He will not alway chide nor keepeth hee his anger for euer ver 9. His anger endureth but for a moment in his fauour is life weeping may endure for a night but ioy cometh in the morning Psal. 30. 5. They that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Psal. 126. 5. Though your sinnes be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll Isa. 1. 18. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer Isa. 54. 8. If the wicked will turne from all his sinnes which he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do all that which is lawfull and right he shall surely liue he shall not dâ—o Eze. 18. 21. Haue I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die saith the Lord God not that he should returne from his wayes and liue ver 23. As I liue saith the Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue Eze. 33 11. I will betroth thee vnto me foreuer yea I will betroth thee vnto me in righteousnesse in iudgement and in louing kindnesse and in mercie Hos. 2. 19. A bruised reede shall hee not breake and smoking flaxe shall he not quench Math. 12. 20. Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie laden and I will giue you rest Math 11. 28. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus Rom. 8. 1. To him that is able to do exceeding abundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke be glorie c. Ephes. 3. 20. I am God all-sufficient walke before me and bee thou perfect Genes 17. 1. Abraham being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to performe Romanes 4. 21. God is able to make all grace abound towards you that you alwayes hauing sufficiencie in all things may abound to euery good worke 2. Cor. 9. 8. The same Lord ouer all is rich vnto all that call vpon him Rom. 10. 12. Thus it becometh vs to fulfill all righteousnesse Math. 3. 15. Which of you conuiâ—ceth mee of sinne Ioh. 18. 46. As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 5. 19. He hath made him to be sinne for vs who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2. Cor. 5. 21. He was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sinne Heb. 4. 15. Such an high Priest became vs who is holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners Heb. 7. 26. He did no sinne neither was guile found in his mouth 1. Pet. 2. 22. With the Lord is mercy and plenteous redemption Psal. 130. 7. The chastisement of our peace was vpon him Isa. 53. 5.
sheweth knowledge Psal. 19. 2. Let the Saints bee ioyfull in glory let them sing alowd vpon their beds Psal. 149. 5. Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleepe Psal. 121. 4. The Lord is my keeper the Lord is my shade on my right hand verse 5. The Sunne shall not smite me by day nor the Moone by night verse 6. The Lord shall preserue mee from all euill he shall preserue my soule verse 7. I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest for thou Lord makest mee dwell in safety Psal. 4. 9. Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not the sleepe of Death Psal. 13. 3. With thee is the fountaine of life In thy light shall I see light Psal. 36. 9. Thou wilt light my candle and wilt make my darknesse to be light Psal. 18. 28. A Prayer for the Euening GLorious Creator eternall infinite and incomprehensible God whose face obscureth the Sunne and darkeneth the Moone and shadoweth the Starres and dazeleth the eyes of the Cherubims to whom the light it selfe if it be compared is but a darke shadow and the darkenesse is no darkenesse but the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike Enlighten the darkenesse of mine vnderstanding that I wander not in the night of errour and ignorance but continually walke as becommeth the childe of the day in the light of thy truth and the wayes of thy Commandements And though the Sunne hath withdrawne his comfortable light from my bodily eyes yet let the light of thy countenance and the bright beames of thy fauour still shine vpon my soule in the middest of thickest darkenesse and the shadow of death Saue me ô Father of lights from the powers of darkenesse Receiue me into thy gracious tuition and giue thine holy Angels charge to pitch their tents about me that being secured on euery side from all dangers and feare I may quietly rest in thee in whom I liue and moue And whilest my bodily sences are surprized with sleepe keepe my soule still awake that I may be alwayes readie to meete the Bridegroome with my lampe in my hand Let the last trump sound shrill in mine eares to driue away from me the spirit of slumber and carnall securitie O thou the keeper of thine Israel who doest neuer slumber nor sleepe watch ouer me this night Behold into thy hands I commend my soule and bodie and all things else wherewith thou hast blessed me being assured that the thing cannot perish thou vouchsafest to take into thy custodie Grant me I beseech thee safe quiet and comfortable rest voyde of cares feares free from distempers and diseases as also all dangers dreames fancies pollutions and temptations And make it I pray thee as profitable to my soule as it is necessarie to my bodie that it may not onely refresh strengthen my bodie to the better performance of my daily labours and trauels in my calling but also settle and quiet my soule in the remembrance and continuall expectation of that sweete repose and blessed rest which they enioy that die in thee Let my sleepe put mee in minde of my death my bed of my graue my lying downe of my buriall my vncloathing of putting off this tabernacle of flesh my rising againe of my resurrection my apparelling of putting on the Lord Iesu. Like as the night couereth and hideth all things from the eyes of men so let thy mercy couer and hide my sinnes that they neuer come to light either to confound mee in this life or condemne me in the life to come Finally as it is the nature of sleepe to tye the outward senses and make fast and shut vp the organs of my body so let thy grace restraine my inward senses and barre vp all the passages of my soule that the diuell may finde no place to enter into me Close vp the eyes of my minde that they behold not vanitie stop my eares that they heare not follie and my spirituall smell that it let not in the sauour of death Set a watch before my mouth and seale vp the closet of my heart that nothing enter into the one or go out at the other that may defile me Thus keepe me and guard me from my bodily and ghostly enemies this night and as long as I abide in the darke prison of my bodie and when thou deliuerest me out of it by death make me partaker of the glorious inheritance of thy Saints in light in the heauenly Ierusalem which needeth neither Sunne nor Moone nor Starres to shine in it for the glorie of God enlighteneth it and the Lambe is the light thereof To whom with the euerlasting Father and most sacred blessed Spirit be rendred thankes and praise now and for euer Amen The close out of Scripture Remember me ô Lord with the fauour thou bearest thy people ô visite me with thy saluation that I may see the felicitie of thy chosen and reioyce in the gladnesse of thy people and glorie with thine inheritance THE CHRISTIAN Sabbaths or Lords dayes Deuotion Thou who intendest to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath to thy Creator and Redeemer must aduisedly consider that the fourth Commandement which enioyneth this dutie with a speciall Memento hath in it somewhat 1 Ceremoniall not now in force as 1 Keeping the precise seauenth day on which God rested 2 The strict rest according to the rigour of the letter 3 The legall manner of hallowing it by sacrifices and ceremoniall rites 2 Morall now and for euer in force as 1 The dedicating of a certaine day to the true and essentiall worship of God 2 The keeping holy of a seauenth day i.e. one at the least in seauen 3 The hallowing that day of the seauen which God appointeth that was Vnder the Law the seauenth from the Creation Vnder grace now the first day of the weeke See the ensuing Admonition THE ADMONITION for the Sabbath THE ANALYSIS To stirre vp thy selfe to sanctifie the Christian Sabbath meditate vpon 1 GOD 1 The Father his Precepts for it Promises to it 2 The Sonne his resurrection on this day 3 The holy Ghost his comming downe on this day 2 The Apostle's guided by the Spirit Iniunction Practise For the hallowing the Christian Sabbath REmember the Sabbath day to keepe it holy sixe dayes shalt thou labour c. Exodus 2◠8. Yee shall keepe the Sabbath therefore for it is holy vnto you Euery one that despiseth it shall be surely put to death Exodus 31. 14. Ye shall keepe my Sabbath and reuerence my Sanctuarie I am the Lord. Leuit. 26. 2. Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall bee as signes betweene me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Eze. 20. 20. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting and keepeth his hands from doing any euill Isaiah 56. 2. If thou turne away thy soote from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on the Holy-day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the
come then that which is in part shall be abolished 1 Cor. 13. 10. Loue doth neuer fall away though that prophecying be abolished or that tongues cease c. ver 8. I pray that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs c. Ioh. 17. 21. An Hymne for the Sabbath Euening REturne to thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt graciously with thee Psal. 116. 7. In Gods Word will I reioyce in the Lords Word will I comfort me Psal. 56. 10. The words of the Lord are pure words like as siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seauen times in the fire Blessed are they that dwell in thine house they will bee alway praysing thee They will goe from strength to strength and to the God of Gods appeareth euery one of them in Sion Psal. 84. 47. I will giue thankes to the Lord in the Congregation from the ground of the heart Psal. 68 26. Vnto thee ô God I will pay my vowes vnto thee will I giue thanks Psal. 56. 12. Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant and teach me thy Statutes Psalme 119. An Euening Prayer for the Sabbath HOly holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which art and which art to come hallow my nature that I may hallow thy Name As thou impartest thy goodnes to me whereby I liue and moue in thee so I beseech thee communicate to mee some measure of thy holinesse that I may liue and moue to thee Let thy Spirit of grace possesse my body and soule that the desires of my minde and thoughts of my heart and words of my lipps may be holinesse vnto thee Sanctifie me that I may glorifie thee And first with ioy and thankfulnesse I acknowledge it a special testimony of thy loue that thou hast giuen me liberty and meanes to keepe a holy Sabbath vnto thee to meete in thy House to offer vp my ioynt-prayers and thanks-giuing with thy holy congregation to confesse my sinnes to professe my faith to lay open my wants to cheere vp my selfe by singing the sweete songs of Sion to heare thy sacred Word read and Preached whereby my faith hath beene strengthened in the misteries of saluation my hope established in the promises of thy Gospell and my life set forward in a setled course of holinesse and righteousnesse whereby the Kingdome of sinne and Satan is beate down and destroyed and the Kingdome of Christ built vp in me By this thy Word the carelesse sinner is admonished the ignorant instructed the presumptuous terrified and the penitent comforted the power of sinne is abated the force of temptations weakned the motions of the spirit quickned grace reuined and my Election assured by these insallible Marks and tokens thereof set before me in holy Scriptures Blessed bee thy Name for it this day thy Word hath dwelt with me richly in all wisedome The dispenser of thy misteries hath scattered many Doctrines like so many pearles among thy people Lord grant that with Mary I keepe these and all thy sayings in my heart and make vse of them in my life and receiue comfort from them at my death And here I would proceed to intreate at thy hands the continuance and increase of thy spiritual and temporall blessings vpon mee but my sinnes lye at the doore of my conscience and affright mee My heart smites mee for my failings in the performance of the duties of thy Sabbath My deuout Meditations haue bin stefled in the wombe that bare them my prayers haue not beene without distractions my hearing without wearisomenesse nor my almes-deeds without grudging Pardon deare Father my want of preparation before I come to thine house of intention and Zeale at thy seruice and want of Meditation and Application of those things which I heard there since I came thence Bury I beseech thee these slips and all other my sins especially of this weeke and day in the night of eternall obliuion Ease me of the burden of them that I may more securely repose my body and soule vpon thy gracious protection to take their naturall refreshing by sleepe whereby I may bee enabled and strengthened to doe thee better seruice the next day in walking carefully diligently conscionably and constantly in the waies of thy commandements and the duties of my calling The close out of Scripture Now the very God of peace sanctify mee throughout and I pray God that my whole spirit and soule and body may bee kept blamelesse vnto the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ Amen THE PRACTICE of Extraordinarie DEVOTION In the Religious obseruation of Christian Feasts as namely our Lords Birth Circumcision Epiphanie Resurrection Ascension Sending downe the Holy Ghost Fasts as namely Ashwednesday Good friday By Daniel Featly Doctor in Diuinity LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Royall Exchange 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE and Religious Ladie the Countesse of DENBIGH May it please your Honour YOur conference with me about my conference with the Iesuites and your gracious acceptation of the relation and defence thereof left in me such an impression of the Character of your Noble and Religious disposition that I euer since desired the aduantage of some good opportunitie to testifie my dutifull respect to your Honour The truth of God receiueth not onely support but great honour from the patronage and countenance of great Personages and she much glorieth in finding so strong a Champion euen in the weaker sexe Albeit the Sun-beames are alwayes most bright in themselues yet they neuer appeare so glorious to vs as when they fall vpon crystall glasse or pretious stones In like sort Religion and vertue the raies of diuine light in the soule although they shine alwayes brightly in themselues yet they neuer seeme so conspicuous and resplendent as when they receiue some luster from the subiect when Nobilitie of birth and minde concurre when ornaments of bodie and soule meete when eminencie of grace eminency of conditions toyne in one and reflect mutually each on the other And verily if your more then or dinarie fauour and respect to the Ministers of the Gospell and to my selfe in particular had not made this my voluntarie oblation a necessarie obligation to your Ladiship yet your constancie in the truth and loue to Sion and her solemne and sacred assemblies might iustly challenge to your Honour the Dedication of this part of my HAND-MAIDES Taske which is to furnish Christian fastes and feasts with proper MEDITATIONS HYMNES and PRAYERS As our bodie liues to the soule by which it liueth so our soule should liue to God by whom it liueth And no otherwise is the life of the bodie preserued by heate and moisture then the life of the soule is maintained and kept by the heate of diuine loue and radicall moisture of teares bedewing the heart
come and offer thy gift Mat. 5. 24. Yea tithe Mint and Rue c. These things yee ought to haue done and not left the other vndone Luke 11. 42. Let him that is taught in the word make him that taught him partaker of all his goods Gal. 6. 6. If we haue sowed to you spirituall things is it much if wee reape of you carnal things 2 Cor. 9. 11. Abraham gaue him Tithe of all that he had Gen. 14. 10. Of all that thou shalt giue me will I giue the tenth vnto thee Gen 28. 2. Then Dauid said behold I dwell in Cedar trees but the Arke of the Lord remaineth vnder the curtaines 2 Sam. 7. 2. Then euery one whose spirit made him willing came and brought an offering to the Lord for the worke of the Tabernacle Exod. 35. 21. I will not come within the Tabernacle of mine house nor climbe vp into my bed Psal. 132 3. I will not suffer mine eyes to sleepe nor mine eye lidds to slumber nor the Temples of my head to take any rest verse 4. Till I haue found out a place for the Temple of the Lord an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob verse 5. I giue Tithe of all that I possesse Luke 18. 12. So should thy barnes bee filled with abundance and thy presses shall burst with new wine Prou. 3. 10. Bring all the tithes into the store-house that there may bee meate in mine house and proue me heerewith sayeth the Lord. Mal. 3. 10. He will multiply your seede and increase the fruits of your beneuolence 2 Cor. 9. 10. You looked for much and loe it came to little and when yee brought it home I did blow vpon it Why saith the Lord of Hosts Because of mine house that is waste and yee runne euery man to his owne house Hag. 1. 9. Therefore the heauen ouer you is staied from dew and the earth is stayed from her fruit verse 10. Yee say wherein haue wee robbed thee In tithes and offerings Mal. 3. 8. Ye are cursed with a curse for yee haue robbed mee euen this whole nation verse 9. He that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly 2 Cor. 9. 6. Be not deceiued God is not mocked Whatsoeuer a man soweth that shall he reape Gal. 6. 7. A Psalme for Twelfe-day O Praise the Lord of heauen praise him in the height Psal. 148 1. Praise him all yee his Angels praise him all his host verse 2. Praise him Sunne and Moone praise him all yee starres and light verse 3. Thy seate ô God endureth for euer the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter Psal 45. 7. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou ruler euen in the middest among thine enemies Psal. 110. 2. In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free will offerings with an holy worship the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning verse 3. Thy dominion shall bee from one sea to the other and from the floods vnto the worlds end Psal. 72. 8. They that dwell in the wildernesse shall kneele before thee thine enemies shall lick the dust verse 9. All Kings shall fall downe before thee all nations shall doe thee seruice verse 11. Thy name shall endure for euer thy name shall remaine vnder the sun among all posterities which shall bee blessed through thee and all the heathen shall praise thee verse 17. Blessed bee the name of thy Maiesty for euer and all the earth shall bee filled with his Maiesty Amen Amen A Prayer for Twelfe-day FAther of lights who didst guide the heathen Sages by a starre to seeke after and find thy sonne the true light which enlighteneth euery man that commeth into the world giue mee grace to giue eare to the more sure Word of Prophecie in the Scriptures til the day dawne and the day starre arise in my heart As thou calledst the wise men obseruers of the starres by a star the sheepheards lying abroad by an apparition in the fields Zachary the Priest by a Vision in the Temple Peter the fisher by a draught of fishes Mathew the Publican at the receipt of custome and Saint Austin enamourd with eloquence by the lustre of Saint Ambroses stile and enticing eloquence I beseech thee take the aduantage of such seasons and apply such meanes for my vnfeigned conuersion vnto thee as are most agreeable to my inclination disposition and condition So will I come vnto thee and fall downe before thee and present vnto thee gold frankinsence and mirrh gold in acknowledgement of thy kingdome frankinsence of thy Priesthood and mirrh of thy death I will offer willingly freely vnto thee incense of praise thanksgiuing for thy benefits the mirrh of bitter teares for my sinnes and gold according to my ability for the maintenance of thy seruice and adorning thy Temple Lord who by this rich present prouidedst for the virgins wants to supply them in her iourney to Aegypt extend thy goodnesse to mee in al necessities and establish my faith and confidence in thee in al dangers and difficulties whatsoeuer For thou hast promised neuer to leaue nor forsake them that trust in thee The stony rocke shall yeeld a fountaine of water and a dry crâ—re a spring of oyle the loaues shall multiply by spending nay the Clouds shall be Store-houses of Bread and the winde serue in Fowle and the Rauens bring in prouision the Fishes pay tribute of money and Heathen Sages from the East by the conduct of a Starre bring in costly presents and New yeeres-gifts before thy children shall want their necessary maintenance or sustenance Blessed Babe who at thy birth didst presage thy death and assayedst the Crosse in thy Cratch and being excluded as it were from all men wast constrained to take vp thy lodging with beasts in a Stable teach me what I am to looke for in this world If it giue me course and base and beastly entertainment it gaue thee worse and the seruant is not to expect better respect then the Master O King of glory who hadst no Palace in this world but an Inne no Chamber of Presence but a Stable no Tapestry but Straw no Chaire of estate but a Cratch no Scepter but a Reede and no Crowne but a wreath of thornes worke in me an holy high-mindednesse to despise this world which so despised thee Make the worldly greatnesse seeme small honour base estimation vile and pompe vaine vnto me Let not the glittering shew of gold siluer or precious stones or the luster of eminent conditions dazell the eyes of my minde but let the beames of this starre light and guide me rather to honour thee in a Stable then leaue thee to follow Herod in his Palace vpon any hopes whatsoeuer The wise men after they had seene thee neuer returned backe to Herod but went another way to their owne home so let me after thou hast called me to the knowledge of the
truth and redeemed mee from my vaine conuersations neuer returne backe to my worldly courses but take another way to my true home in heauen The wise men when they saw thy starre in the aire were exceeding glad I see thy starre in the Scriptures nay I see the bright morning starre in my heart O let my ioy exceede theirs as my knowledge doth The starre still lighted them till they came to the place where thou layest and entered into thy bed-chamber So ô Lord let the light of faith guide me all the way of this life euen till I come to see thee not in a stable on earth strawed with litter and dung but in a pallace in heauen built with Saphyrs and founded vpon pearles not receiuing a present of gold from men but wearing a crowne of gold put vpon thee by thy Father not hauing a quantity of frankinsence or mirrh in thy hand but a golden censor full of sweete odours which are the prayers of Saints Among which I beseech thee offer vp the prayers of mee a sinner that I may bee a Saint after thou hast purged mee from all my fil thynesse in the royall bath of thy blood Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S RESVRRECTION OR Easter-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old Testamēt Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Lords rising from the dead PARALELL Prophecie Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell or graue nor suffer thine holy One to see corruption Psal. 16. 11. He spake of the Resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh see corruption Acts 2. 31. Historie The Angel said to the women Feare yee not for I know that yee seeke Iesus that was crucified Mat. 28. 5. He is not here for he is risen as hee said come see the place where the Lord lay verse 6. Thy dead men shall liue with my body shall they rise Awake sing yee that dwell in dust for thy dew is the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out her dead Isa. 26. 19. And the graus did open thēselues and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose Mat. 27 52. And came out of their graues after his resurrection went into the holy City and appeared to many v. 53. O death I wil be thy death ô graue I wil bee thy destruction Hos. 13. 14. Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion ouer him Rom. 6. 9. Death is swallowed vp into victorie 1. Cor. 11. 14. O Death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie ver 55. Type And the Priest shall shake the sheafe of the first fruites before the Lord that it may be acceptable to you the morrowe after the Sabbath Leu. 23. 11. Accomplishment Now in the end of the Sabboth when the first day of the week began to dawn MARY MAGDALEN came to see the Sepulcher Mat. 28. And behold there was a great Earth-quake for the Angell of the Lord descended from heauen and came and rolled away the stone from the dore and sate vpon it c. ver 2. He is not here for hee is risen c. 6. Christ is risen from the dead the first fruites of them that sleepe 1. Cor. 11. 20. The first fruits is Christ ver 23. And Ionah was in the belly of the Fish three dayes and three nights Ion. 1. 17. The Sonne of man three daies three nights in the heart of the earth Mat. 12. 4. The third day God spake vnto the Fish it cast out Ionah on the drye land Ion 2. 10. Destroy this temple and in three dayes I will reare it vp againe Ioh. 2. 19. Hee spake of the temple of his bodie ver 21. As soone as he was risen from the dead his disciples remembred and belieued the Scriptures and the word which he spake vnto them ver 22. For thine instruction meditate on the Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's resurrection For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit thereof For thy correction examine thy spiritual resurrection from dead workes Quicken Thy faith by the Hymne Thy repentance by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion by the prayer ensuing An Hymne for Easter day OPen mee the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe into them and giue thankes vnto the Lord. Psal. 119. 19. This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it verse 20. I will thanke thee for thou hast heard me and art become my saluation verse 21. Thou wilt shew me the paths of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore Psal. 16. 11. The same stone which the builders refused is become the head Stone in the corner v. 22 This is the Lord 's doing and it is maruellous in our eyes v. 23 This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will reioyce and be glad in it ver 24. Why doe the heathen rage continually and the people imagin a vaine thing Psal. 2. 1. Then shall hee speake vnto them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure saying Euen I haue set my king vpon Zion mine holy Mountaine verse 5. 6. The Lord vpon thy right hand shall wound euen kings in the day of his wrath Ps. 110. 5. Hee shall iudge among the heathen hee shall fill their places with the dead bodies and smite in sunder heads ouer diuers countries verse 6. He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall hee lift vp his head verse 7 Be wise now therefore ô yee kings bee learned yee that are iudges of the earth Ps. 2. 10. Serue the Lord with feare and reioyce vnto him with reuerence verse 11. Kisse the sonne least hee bee angry and so ye perish from the right way if his wrath bee kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him verse 12. THE ADMONITION for Easter-day THE ANALYSIS Wee must pray and striue for repentāce from dead workes and newnes of life because a 1. It is God's commandement b 2. It is the Saint's practise c 3. It is the euidence of our new-birth d 4. It is the end of our resurrection e 5. It is the end of our redemption f 6. It obtaineth remission of sinnes g 7. It auoideth GOD'S temporall iudgements h 8. It is the onely means to shun eternal death i 9. It maketh vs blessed euen in this life THE TEXTS a CAst off concerning the conuersation in times past that old man which is corrupt through deceaueable lusts Eph. 4. 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mindes verse 23. And put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse ver 24. b Yee haue put of the old man with his workes Colos. 3 9. And haue put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him verse 10. c Being borne
anew not of mortall seede but of immortall 1 Pet. 12. 2. As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. New wine must bee put into new bottells Mat. 9. 17. d As Christ was raised from the dead to the glory of the father So also wee should walke in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. e We are deliuered from the Law being dead to it wherewith we were holden that wee should serue in newnesse of spirit Rom. 7. 6. Purge out the old leuen that ye may be a new lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 7 If any man be in Christ let him bee a new creature Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 1 Cor. 5. 17. In Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but a new creature Gal. 6. 15. According to his mercy hee hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. f Returne and liue Eze. 19. Cease to doe euill learne to do well c. Isa. 1. 16. Though your sinnes were as crimson they shall bee made white as snow verse 18. g Vnlesse yee repent yee shall all likewise perish Luke 12. 3. h Repent and doe the first workes Reu. 2. 5. Repentance vnto life Acts 11. 18. i Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection for the second death shall haue no power ouer him Reu. 10. 5. A Prayer for Easter-day GLorious Sonne of righteousnesse who this morning didst preuent the dawning of the day by sending forth the beames of thy glorified body out of the pitâ— of darknesse and A shadow of death shine vpon my soule by the light of thy grace Inlighten my darke apprehension of the misteries of thy resurrection Inflame my cold affections and reuiue my heart euen deaded with pensiue thoughts vpon thy bitter passion O how did the surest ground of faith shake the fastest Anker of hope loosen ' at the earthquake at thy death what smiting together of knees what wringing of hands what knocking of brests what fainting of hearts what hanging downe of heads were there at giuing vp of the Ghost when thy head hung downe on the Crosse with thee the faith with thee the hope with thee the ioy with thee the life of thy dearest Disciples expired What should or could the prisoners of death euer expect when they saw him whom they thought to haue bin their redeemer the Lord of life arrested by death and kept close prisoner in the graue so long O death how sharpe was then thy sting O graue how fearefull was thy seeming victory But blessed bee the angell which remoued the stone and thereby made way that the stone which the builders refused might be preferred to bee the head stone in the corner Blessed be the right hand of thy Father who in raising thee out of the graue raised our hope out of the dust For where is our hope Our hope is euen in thee ô Christ and thy resurrection Thou art the life and the resurrection of all that belieue in thee Death like a Hornet by stinging thee hath lost his sting and now may make a buzzing noise to affright me but can thrust out no sting to hurt mee The graue by thy lying in it is turned to a bedde and a withdrawing roome to retire my selfe a while to put off this ragged flesh and attire my selfe with robes of glory Now I dare insult ouer death and hell since thy triumph ouer them O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory O my soule where is all thy comfort If in this life thou art most miserable if thy life bee hid with Christ in God then when Christ which is thy life shall appeare thou shalt also appeare in glory What though I mourne here I shall be comforted What though I fast here I shall bee satisfied What though I am disgraced here I shall bee glorified What though I am here trampled vnder feete I shall there be crowned What though my flesh be eaten with wormes and these wormes turned into dust and that dust blowed by the winde ouer the face of the earth Yet after thou turnedst man to destruction againe thou sayest Come againe yee children of men I know thou my Redeemer liuest and shall stand vp at the last day and I shall see them in my flesh with these eyes and no other Lord establish this beliefe in me beate downe all the forts that naturall reason reareth against it Grant that I may euery day more and more feele as the power of thy birth in my regeneration and of thy death in my mortification so also of thy resurrection in my rising from the death of sinne to the life of Grace Lord thou restoredst life to three men to one in his bed to another on the beare to the third in the graue They who conceiue sinne in their hearts are like him that was dead in his bed they who bring it forth into action are like him that was brought forth dead on his beare but they that continue in sinne and all impurity and putrifie in the custome thereof are like him that was foure dayes dead and stanke in the graue Such a one or worse am I for I haue layen not foure dayes but scores of yeeres in this loathsome graue and am euen deuoured of the worme of conscience Yet Lord this day of thy glorious resurrection say vnto mee as thou didst to him Come forth awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and I will giue thee light Make this day of thy resurrection from the death of nature the day of my rising from the death of sinne and corruption first to the life of grace and after to the life of glory Amen THE FEAST OF OVR LORD'S ASCENSION OR Holy-Thurs-dayes Deuotion The ground of this Feast In the old TestameÌ„t Prophecies Types In the new the History of our Sauiours going in triumph into Heauen PARALELL Prophecie Thou hast ascended vp on high thou hast ledde captiuity captiue Psalm 68. 18. Historie And when he had spokeÌ„ these things while they beheld him hee was taken vp Act. 1. 9. Hee rodde vpon the Cheâ—ubims did flye yea he did flye vpon the wings of the wind Psa. 18. 10. For a Clowd tooke him out of their sight Act. 1. 9. Sit thou on my right hand Psalm 110. 1. Hee was caried vp into heauen and he sate on the right hand of God Mar. 16. 19. Type Eliah was taken vp with a fierie Charet 2. King 2. 11. Accomplishment While hee blessed them he was parted from them and caried vp into heauen Luke 24. 51. For thine instruction meditate vpon Prophecie Types Storie of Christ's Ascension For thy comfort apply the benefit thereof to thy selfe For thy correction examine thy desires and affections check thy earthlinesse and worldlinesse Thy faith and ioy by the Psalme Thy loue and hope by the exhortation Thy Zeale and Deuotion
by the prayer ensuing The Hymne for Ascension-day Wherein all parts of Christ his glorious returne in tryumph into heauen are prophetically expressed as 1 His lifting a vp himself from the earth 2 The cloudes receiuing b and carrying him 3 The Angels c meeting him 4 The heauens d opening to him 5 God the Father's enthronizing him into his euerlasting kingdome GOD is gone vp with a merrie noyse and the Lord in the sound of the Trumpe Psal. 47. 5. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own strength So will we sing prayse thy power Psal 21. 13. Set vp thy selfe ô God aboue the heauens and thy glory aboue al the earth Ps. 108. 5 b O sing vnto God sing praises vnto his Name magnifie him that rideth vpon the heauens or cloudes by his name IAH and reioice before him Psal. 68. 4. In thy Majestie ride prosperously because of truth meeknes and righteousnes and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things Psal. 45. 4. The Chariots of God are twentie thousand euen thousands of Angells the Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place Psal. 68. 17. d Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be yee lift vp yee euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in Psalm 24. 7. Who is the King of glory It is the Lord strong and mightie euen the Lord mighty in battel ver 8. Lift vp your heads ô yee gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting dores and the King of glorie shall come in ver 9. Who is the King of glorie Euen the Lord of Hosts he is the King of glorie ver 10. e I haue set my King vpon my holy hill of Sion Psal. 2. 6. Aske of mee and I will giue thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession ver 8. The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion bee thou Ruler in the middest among thine enemies Thou shalt bruise them with a rodde of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessell The exhortation for Ascension DAIE Wee ought to set our affections on things aboue 1 Because there is the source of our Soule which is of a heauenly and diuine nature 2 Because there is our Head 3 Because there is the nobler better part of our bodie 4 Because there is our abiding Citie 5 Because there is our mansion house 6 Because there is our hope inheritance 7 Because there are no true ioyes nor durable riches but there GOD created man in his own Image Gen. 1. 27. God formed him of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life Gen. Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was Eccles. 12. 7. The spirit-returneth to God that gaue it Ibid. We had fathers of our flesh which corrected vs shall we not be much more in subiection to the Father of spirits and liue Heb. 12. 9. Exceeding great and precious promises are giuen to vs that by these wee might bee partakers of the diuine nature hauing escaped the corruption that is in the world 2 Pet. 1. 4. He was caried vp into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mat. 16. 19. Whom the heauens must containe Acts 3. 21. I saw the â—eauen opened and the Sonne of man standing at the right hand of the Father Acts 7. 56. I goe out of the world to the Father Ioh. 13. 1. Go to my Father Ioh. 15. 10. Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also we look for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Phil. 3. 20. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things that are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Col. 3. 1. Set your affections on things that are aboue and not on things on the earth ver 3. Yee are come to the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen and to the spirits of iust men-made perfect Hebrewes 12. 23. Now yee are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshould of God Ephesians 2. 19. For here we haue no continuing Citie but wee seeke one to come Heb. 13. 23. For this we groane earnestly desiring to bee clothed with our house 1. Cor. 5. 2. Arise and depart for this is no rest for you Mic. 2. 10. They confessed that they were strangers and sought a Citie whose builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 13. I beseech you as strangers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lusts 1. Pet. 2. 11. I am a stranger and soiournet as all my fathers were Ps. 39. 14. In my Fathers house there are many mansions I goe to prepare a place for you Io. 14. 2. If our hope were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable 1. Cor. To an inheritance incorruptible and vndefiled and that sadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 1. Pet. 1. 4. Lay vp your treasure in heauen c. Mat. 6. 19. Look not on things which are seene but on things which are not seene for the things c. 2. Cor. 4. 18. Vanitie of vanities c Eccles. 1. 2. Whom haue I in heauen but thee c. Psal. 73. 24. The Prayer for Ascension Day GLorious and gratious Redeemer Lord Iesus Christ who humbledst thy selfe didst become obedient to death euen the death of the Crosse and therefore thy Father highly exalted thee aboue the graue in the resurrection aboue the earth in thy Ascention aboue the heauens in thy session at his right hand and then he gaue thee a name aboue al names that at the name of Iaesus euery knee shall bow both of things in heauen and in earth and of things vnder the earth I humbly bow the knees not onely of my body but of my heart and soule vnto thee I neuer heare of thee or remember neuer thinke or speake of thee but with greatest reuerence and loue that heart can conceiue or tongue expresse I admire the mystery of thine incarnation I tremble at the horror of thy passion I adore the power of thy resurrection and I triumph in the glory of thine Ascension My God and my Lord make me wholly thine as thou art mine Thy birth was my life thy life my merit thy death my ransome thy resurrection my deliuery out of the prison of death when thy father layed thee vp for my debt thy Ascension my assurance and takingp ossessioÌ„ of an incorruptible and vndefiled inheritance reserued in the heauens O Sauiour if thou haddest not been born I had neuer been borne anew if thou hadst not dyed for my sins I had dyed in my sins If thou hadst not risen from the dead my soule might haue bin with thee in Paradice but my body should not haue rested in hope neither should I haue euer seene God in my flesh if thou hadst not ascended I might haue bin freed from hell but I should neuer haue
of Martyrs since the worlds beginning were put in one skale and thine in the other thy Passion would beare them all down for thou barest the full weight of thy Father's heauiest hand Neuer were there sufferings like thy sufferings because neuer such a Sufferer the torments being infinitely improued by the Bearer Neuer sweat like thy sweat because neuer any had a burthen like to thine Neuer teares like thy teares because shed for them who thirsted for thy bloud Neuer torments like thy torments because neuer flesh so pure and tender as thy flesh Neuer horrour like to thy horrour being forsaken of thy Father because neuer loue like to thy loue of him Neuer sorrow like to thy sorrow because neuer sense and apprehension like to thy sense and apprehension of the infinite displeasure of God for the sinnes of mankinde O my most bountifull Redeemer who bestowedst largely and wast bestowed liberally for me it concerneth mee to know how much I stood thee in For how should I estimate thy loue if I cannot cast the totall of the Debt thou diddest discharge for mee But no heart can conceiue what sorrow thou conceiuedst no tongue can expresse what griefe thou diddest expresse by thy bloudy teares and those thy strong cries when thou complainedst that thy soule was heauy vnto death prayedst thy Father if it were possible to let this 〈◊〉 passe from thee I am appaled at thine agony I am astonished or thy feare I am amazed at thy patience I am rauished at thy loue My heart riseth my veines swell my bloud boiles within me against thy Persecuters If it were in my power I would put them all to millions of torments I would inflict a thousand deaths vpon Iudas that betrayed thee and Pilat that condemned thee and the enuious Scribes and Pharisees that layed snares for thee and the periured witnesses that gaue false euidence against thee and that execrable rout that preferred a murtherer before thee and the barbarous Souldiers that spit vpon thee and buffeted thee and the bloudy executioners of the Iewish malice and Romane cruelty that hanged and nayled and goared thee But when I diue deepe into thy bloudy passion I finde my selfe as deepe in the guilt of thy bloud-shedding as they They were in that but accessaries but I by my sinnes was a principall in the death of the Lord of Life My sinnes by their tongues and hands did all this villany outrage vpon thee Their nailes and speares pierced but the flesh but my sinnes pierced thy very soule My sinnes my sinnes O Lord by their hands crucified thee wherefore I condemne mine eyes to continuall teares my heart to perpetuall sighs and my thoughts to euerlasting pensiuenesse What shall I doe to wash away the guilt of thy bloud which alone can take away the guilt of my sinnes Verily I should bee vtterly swallowed vp in this gulfe but that the price of thy bloud hath satisfied as for all other sins so for the guilt of spilling it selfe And now my anger and feare and trouble anguish are all turned into ioy and comfort and loue admiration of the infinite wisdome of thy Father in prouiding such a remedy and his iustice in requiring such a satisfaction but most of all thy infinite loue making so full payment of the infinite debt of my sinnes What can I do what can I suffer enough for thee Gracious God to all the rest of thy blessings spirituall temporall conferred vpō me purchased by thy sufferings adde this one aboue the rest the special gift of the remembrance of these thy sufferings that wheresoeuer I am whatsoeuer I doe I may haue thy passion in my heart and thy wounds bleeding afresh in my mind with an infinite hatred of sinne that procured them and loue of thy goodnesse who induredst them for me Thy Church since thou leftest her is a widdow and I am as one of her dead children not as the Samaritan was halfe dead but whole dead in my sinnes and transgressions Thou Lord art the true Elias who raisedst and doest raise from death this Widdowes children to life by stretching thy body ouer them O my gracious Lord apply thy Body stretched this day on the Crosse to me Lay thy head to my head thy hands to my hands thy feet to my feet and thy heart to my heart that I may receiue warmth from thy bloud and ease from thy stripes and health from thy wounds and spirit from thy breath and strength from thy grace to stand vp from the dead and walke with thee from hence forth in newnesse of life So bee it Amen The weeke dayes Deuotions THe first day being the Christian Sabbath preceded the Festiualls whither I referre thee The others here follow in their order Munday's Deuotion being the second day from the Creation The Father worketh The worke of Creation on this day AGaine God said Let there be a Firmament in the middest of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters Gen. 1. 3. Then God made the Firmament and separated the waters that were vnder the Firmament from the waters that were aboue the Firmament and it was so and God called the Firmament Heauen ver 7. So the euening and the morning were the 2. day ver 8. And I worke THe worke of redemption this day prophesied of in the Epistle Isa. 50. 6. I gaue my backe vnto the smiters my cheeks to the nippers I hid not my face from shame spitting c. Related in the Gospell Mat. 27. 1 2. When the morning was come all the chiefe Priests and the Elders of the People tooke counsell against Iesus to put him to death For thine instruction meditate In the morning vpon the worke of Creation In the euening vpon the worke of Redemption For thy comfort apply the Vse of the one Benefit of the other For thy corrction reproue thy Abuse of the one Vnthankfulnesse for the other Quicken Thy thankes by the Hymne Thine obedience by the admonition Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing THE HYMNE HAue I not remembred thee in my bed and thought vpon thee when I was waking Psal 63. 7. Because thou hast beene my helper therefore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce ver 8. My soule hangeth vpon thee thy right hand hath vpholden me ver 9. Saue me O God for the waters are come in euen to my soule Psal. 69. 1. I stick fast in the deepe mire where no ground is I am come into deepe waters so that the flouds runne ouer me ver 2. My misdeeds preuaile against me O be thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Psal. 65. 3. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vnto thee he shall dwell in thy Courts and shall bee satisfied with the pleasures of thine House euen of thy holy Temple ver 4. Thou shalt shew vs wonderfull things in thy righteousnesse O God of our saluation thou that art the hope of all the ends of
correcting and liberally prouiding for me euer since the day thou breathedst into me the breath of life Giue me yet more O Lord. What wilt thou giue me Giue mee a thankefull heart for all these inestimable fauours of thine infinite loue that I may continually blesse thee for thy continuall blessings with the dew of thy grace descending vpon me alwaies beginning the day with thy mercy and ending it with thy praise Blessed Redeemer who wert this day sold for thirty pieces of Siluer redeeme me from the thraldome of sinne and neuer suffer mee with Ahab to sell my selfe to worke wickednesse against thee Let the heinousnesse of Iudas his sinne and the horrour of his punishment deterre me from betraying thy truth for any worldly aduantage whatsoeuer O Bread of Life which hungredst for my sake O Source of the Springs of Libanon who thirstedst for my sake O Ioy of all mankinde which sorrowedst for me O Truth it selfe and fidelity which wast by false trechery betrayed for my sake O the true Wedding garment which wast stript for mee O the Redemption and ransome of the world who wert sold for my sake O the Life and Resurrection of all that hope in thee who dyedst for me imprint thy loue so deepe into my heart that neither hunger nor thirst nor sorrow nor nakednesse nor trechery nor thraldome nor hope of reward nor feare of persecution nor life nor death may race it out Was it not enough O Lord to become man for mee but thou must become a seruant Was it not enough as a seruant to bee scourged for me but must thou also like a bondslaue bee sold for me that am a bond-slaue of Satan sold vnder sinne Was it not too much to be sold but must thou bee sold at so vile a price as thirty pieces of siluer Was no means thought meane enough to abase thee The cheaper thou wert sold the dearer I cost thee for thou gauest not onely thy liberty and life but thy estimation also for mee The lower thou wert abased the higher thou hast exalted mee The lesse was giuen for thee the more I owe thee who wert content to bee prized solow and made of no reputation for me O strange ransome The Redeemer is sold that the sold bond-slaue may be redeemed O admirable iudgement The righteous is condemned that the vnrighteous may righteously bee acquitted O wonderfull cure The Physician is sicke and dyeth that the Patient may liue Meâ—ke Sauiour thou foresawest that the Diuell would enter into Iudas before hee entered Thou knewest that hee would betray thee yet thou chosest him that hee would lift vp his foot against thee yet thou shoddest him with the preparation of the Gospell of peace that hee would sell thee yet thou trustedst him with thy Purse that the poyson of Aspes was vnder his lip yet thou sufferedst him to touch thy Lips in which there was no guile and seale them with a kisse and gently vnsealing them thou saidst no more to him but Friend how camest thou hither Doest thou betray the Sonne of man with a kisse Sweet Sauiour how wilt thou entertaine thy friends when thou thus intreatedst thy trecherous seruant Thou who wert so good to him that was so bad as worse neuer was how will thy grace and goodnesse abound to them that excell in vertue If thou sufferedst a Traitor to kisse thee thou wilt neuer resuse to cheere vp the drooping countenance of a penitent sinner with a kisse Thy Espouse emboldneth me to beg that kindnesse of thee which she did Let him kisse me with the kisses of his lips Kisse thou me with a kisse of loue but let me neuer kisse thee with the kisse of Iudas Let mee neuer draw neere to thee with my lips and be farre from thee in my heart but first draw â—y heart then my body soule vnto thee Thou requirest the heart and searchest the heart and 〈◊〉 the heart and acceptest of no seruice or sacrifice without it Lord giue me a cleane heart and 〈◊〉 a right Spirit within me that I may giue thee such a heart as thou requirest Clense the thoughts and affections and intentions of my heart from all impurity impiety iniquity in-sincerity fraud and hypocrisie Let all the thoughts of my heart bee pure the desires holy the intentions sincere the affections vnfained and let all my words and works be hearty O let my heart be alwaies fixed vpon thee possessed with thee established in thee true vnto thee vpright towards thee and sincere for thee that in the great Day when the secrets of all hearts shall bee manifested my heart may not condemne mee but thou approue it and accept it and fill it with such ioyes as neuer entred into the heart of man So be it Amen The close out of Scripture Thanks bee giuen to the Father which hath made me meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. Who hath deliuered me from the power of darknesse and hath translated mee into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne ver 13. In whom I haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes ver 14. Thursday's Deuotion being the fifth day from the Creation The Father worketh Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Creation on this day SO afterward God said Let the waters bring forth in abundance euery creeping thing that hath life and let the Fowle flye vpon the earth in the open Firmament of the Heauen Gen. 1. â—0 Then God created the great Whales and euery thing liuing and mouing which the waters brought forth in abundance according to their kinde and euery feathered Fowle according to his kinde and God saw that it was good ver 21. Then God blessed them saying Bring forth fruit multiply fill the waters in the Seas and let the Fowles multiply in the earth v. 2â— So the Euening and the Morning were the fifth day And I worke Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Redemption on this day THen came the Day of vnleuened bread when the Passouer must be sacrificed Luke 22. 7. And be sent Peter and Iohn saying Goe and prepare vs the Passouer that we may eat it ver 8. And they said c. v. 9. Then he said vnto them Behold c. v. 10. And say to the goood man of the house The Master saith vnto thee Where is the lodging where I shall eat my Passouer with my Disciples ver 11. Then he shall shew you a great high Chamber c. ver 12. So they went and found as hee had said vnto them and neade ready the Passouer ver 13. And he tooke Bread and when he had giuen thankes hee brake it and gaue to them saying This is my Body which is giuen for you doe this in remembrance of me ver 19. Likewise also after Supper hee tooke the Cup saying This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you ver 20. And he came out and went as he was wont to
our Lord Rom. 8. 39. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Iesus nor of mee his prisoner but bee partakers of the afflictions of the Gospell 2 Tim. 1. 8. As the sufferings of Christ abound in vs so our consolation abounds through Christ 1 Cor. 1. 5. Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Whom he fore-knew he predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne Rom. 8. 29. I was hungry and ye gaue me no meate I was thirsty and yee gaue me no drinke c. Mat. 25. 43. In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not vnto me ver 45. He that despiseth you despiseth me Luke 10. 16. Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Ioseph said Feare not for am not I vnder God Gen. 50. 19. Naked came I out of my Mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thither againe the Lord gaue and the Lord hath taken away and blessed be the Name of the Lord Iob. 1. 21. Shall wee receiue good at the hands of the Lord and shall wee not receiue euill In all this did not Iob sinne with his lips Iob 2. 10. But I was a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes Psal. 38. 14. For thy sake are we killed all the day long c. Psal. 44. 22. It is good for a man that hee beare the yoke in his youth Ier. 3. 27. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because hee hath borne it vpon him ver 28. He putteth his mouth to the dust if so bee there may be hope ver 29. Hee giueth his cheeke to him that smiteth him he is filled full with reproach Others were tortured and would not bee deliuered that they might receiue a better resurrection Heb. 11. 35. And others haue beene tryed by mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bands and imprisonment ver 36. They were stoned they were hewen in sunder they were tempted c. verse 37 38. And they departed from the presence of the Councell reioycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name Act. 5. 41. Then Paul answered What meane you to weepe and to breake mine heart for I am ready not onely to be bound but to dye also at Ierusalem for the Name of the Lord Iesus Acts 21. 13. In labours more abundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more frequent in death often 2. Cor. 11 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 verses Remembring without ceasing your worke of faith and labour of loue and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ 1. Thes. 13. God hath set forth vs the last Apostles as it were approued to death for wee are made a spectacle to the world and to Angels and to men 1. Cor. 4. 9. Ye endured a great fight of afflictions Heb. 10. 32. Partly while ye were made a gazing stocke both by reproches and afflictions and partly while ye became companions of them that were so vsed ver 33. I know thy workes and thy labour and thy patience Reue. 2. 2. I know thy faith and thy patience and thy workes ver 19. My bonds in Christ are manifest in that place and all other places Phil. 1. 13. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are made more bold to speake the Word without feare Phil. 1. 14. And they cast Stephen out of the City and stoned him and the Witnesses laid downe their clothes at the young mans feet whose name was Saul Act. 1. 58. And they stoned Stephen calling vpon God and saying Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit ver 59. And he kneeled downe and cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sinne to their charge and when hee had said this hee fell asleepe ver 60. Sauls conuersion Act. 9. They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you deliuering you vp to their Synagogues and into prison being brought before Kings and Rulers for my Names sake Luk. 21. 12. And this shall turn to you for a testimony against them ver 13. And you shall be brought before Gouernors and Kings for my Names sake for a testimony against them and against the Gentiles Mat. 10. 18. Others had tryalls of cruell mockings and scourges yea moreouer of bonds and imprisonment Heb. 11. 36. The trying of your faith worketh patience Iam. 1. 3. Ye are in heauinesse through manifold tentations 1 Pet. 1. 6. That the triall of your faith being much more precious then Gold though it bee tryed with fire might be found vnto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ ver 7. Brethren account it exceeding great ioy when ye fall into diuers tentations Iam. 1. 2. I reioyce in my sufferings Col. 1. 24. Your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy 10. 16. 20. As many as I loue I rebuke and châ—sten Reu. 3. 19. Whom the Lord loueth he chasteueth and hee scourgeth euery son that he receiueth Heb. 12. 6. No chastening for the time seemeth to bee ioyous but grieuous Neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse to them that are exercised thereby ver 11. He chasteneth vs for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse ver 10. Let patience haue her perfect worke that ye may be perfect and entire lacking nothing Iames. 1. 4. By patience ye shall inherite the promises Heb. 6. 12. By your patience possesse your soules Luke 21. 19. Because thou hast kept the world of my patience I will keepe thee from the houre of tentation Reu. 3. 10. Whosoeuer confesseth me before men I will confesse him before my Father which is in heâ—uen Luke 12. 8. Verily I say vnto you that no man that hath forsaken house or lands for my sake but he shall receiue an hundred fold and in the world to come life euerlasting Mark 10. 29. If ye suffer for righteousnesse sake blessed are ye yea feare not their feare neither be troubled 1. Pet. 3. 14. But sanctifie the Lord in your hearts ver 5. If we suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him Rom. 8. 17. The afflictions of this present life are not worthy the glory that shall be reuealed ver 18. Blessed are they that suffer for righteousnesse sake for their is the Kingdome of heauen Mat. 5. 10. THE PRAYER FOR Thursday euening consisting of Petitions sutable to the workes of redemption on this day Motiues to patience agreeable to the precedent exhortation GRacious Lord and Sauiour who this day didst eate the Passeouer and went eating in thy Supper Suppe with me in the Euening of this life and grant that I may Dine with thee in thy day of eternitie Gracious Redeemer who this day gauest thy selfe to me in the Sacrament first instituted by thee and
the day following gauest thy selfe for mee on the Crosse giue me a speciall saith to receiue thee and retaine thee and applie continually thy feare to embolden me thine Agonie to comfort me thy nakednesse to cloathe me thy cōdemning to quit me thy bloud to clense me thy wounds to heale me and thy death to quicken me O let not the worke of thy hands bee plucked out of thy hands Let not the purchase of thy bloud be morgaged to the diuell Let not thy teares and bloud bee shed in vaine Let not thy sighes and groanes be breathed out to no purpose Let not thine agonie and sweate let not thy taking and binding let not thy arraigning and condemning let not thy stripping and scourging let not thy buffetting and being spit vpon let not thy pricking and goaring let not thy crucifying dying want their effects in me What should I not do or suffer for thee who wert martired in all parts of thy body and faculties of thy soule for me In thy minde by apprehension of thy Fathers wrath in thy affections by feare and sorrow euen vnto death in thy inward parts by thine agonie in thy outward by thy torments in thy head by thornes in thy cheekes by buffets in thy face by spettle in thy eares by blasphemies in thy smell by the stench of Golgotha in thy taste by gall and vineger in thy handes and feete by nailes in thy bodie by stripes in thy side by the launce and in thy ioynts by the crosse O Lord who hast called me to the knowledge of thy truth and by thy Spirit imprinted thy loue in my heart by those nailes which fastened thee to the Crosse. Let nothing euer be able to separate me from thy loue not tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor height nor depth nor things present nor things to come nor life nor death for I know that all things worke for the best to them that loue thee I cannot suffer the thousandth part of that for thee which thou hast suffered for mee I cannot suffer the least part of that which I deserue for my sins I cannot suffer any thing which the Apostles and Prophets haue not suffered before me I cannot suffer so much as may any way counter-ballance the massie crowne of glory prepared for me for my light and momentarie afflictions are no way worthy the glorie that shall be reuealed vpon me hereafter And for the present what are afflictions or crosses or persecutions or mockes or disgraces but the common lot of thy children the discipline of thy schoole the physicke for my soule the pledge of thy loue the badge for my profession the incentiues of my deuotion the triall of my faith the exercise of my patience the testimonie of my constancie the marke of my conformitie with thee When I am thus chastened I am iudged of thee that I be not condemned of the world Shall tribulation therefore or anguish or bands or imprisonment or stripes or banishment separate me from thy loue Nay sith I know they befall me by thy prouidence and are mitigated by thy mercie and directed by thy loue for my greater good they shall rather vnite me faster to thee How shall I denie thee who art the Lord that bought me◠How should I grieue thy Spirit which comforteth me in all my griefes How should I set that bloud at nought which was the price of my redemption How shold I euer willingly offend thee who art my peace hast reconciled me to thy Father and payed my ransome with thy dearest hearts bloud How can I euer forget thee who remembrest me at all times in all places in my iournies by thy conduct at home by thy safe-guard in my prayers by thy assistance in my afflictions by thy comforts in my board by thy bountie in my bed by thy protection and in all my wayes by thy support To this thy gracious prouidence and care which continually watcheth ouer all thine Elect I commend my sleepe and rest this night beseeching thee so to order it and me that whether I sleepe or wake whether I labour or rest whether I lye downe or rise vp all may be done vnder thy protection in thy feare to thy glorie So be it Amen The close out of Scripture TO him that is able to keepe me that I fall not and to present me faultlesse before the presence of his glory with ioy Iud 24. That is to God onely wise my Sauiour be glorie and maiestie and dominion and power c. ver 24. The Deuotion for Friday The Father worketh The work of creation on this day MOreouer God sayd Let the earth bring forth the liuing thing according to his kind cattell and that which creepeth and the beast of the earth according to his kind and it was so Gen. 1. 24. And God made the beast of the earth according to his kind and the cattel according to his kind and euery creeping thing of the earth according to his kind and God saw that it was good ver 25. Furthermore God sayd Let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenes and let him rule ouer the fish of the Sea and ouer the Fowle of the Heauen and ouer the beasts and ouer all the earth and ouer euery thing that crcepeth moueth on the earth ver 26. Thus God created the man in his Image In the Image of God created hee him hee created them male and female ver 27. And God blessed them and God sayd to them Bring forth fruit and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule ouer the fish of the Sea and ouer the fowle of the heauen and ouer euery beast that moueth vpon the earth ver 28. And God sayd Behold I haue giuen to you euery herbe bearing seede which is vpon all the earth and euery tree wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed that shall be to you for meate ver 29. Likewise to euery beast of the earth and to euery sowle of the heauen and euery thing that moueth vpon the earth which hath life in it selfe euery greene herbe shall be for meat and it was so ver 30. And God saw all that he had made and loe it was very good So the Euening the Morning were the sixt day ver 31. AND I WORKE The worke of Redemption on this day Matth. 27. the whole Chap. as also Luke 23. Mar. 15. Ioh. 19. When he was reuiled he reuiled not againe when he suffered hee threatned not but committed himselfe to him that iudgeth righteously Who his owne selfe bore our sinnes in his owne body on the tree ver 24. For thine instruction meditate In the Morning on the worke of thy Creation In the Euening on the work of thy Redemption wrought on this day For thy comfort apply to thy selfe the benefit of both For thy correction check thy selfe for thy Defacing Gods Image stamped in thee at thy Creation Trampling vnder foote Christ's blood the price of
I belieue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Is it not as easy for thee to raise mee out of ashes as at the first to reare me out of the dust to send backe my Spirit into my body as at the first to breathe it in I see the seede in the ground the plants in the garden dye before they rise and spring vp I see wormes and flies and diuerse other creatures that spend the winter season in a kinde of death reuiue in the Spring I see my selfe dead euery night and aliue in the morning Why then should I call in question this Article of my beliefe of all most comfortable Lord who this euening dist cast Adam into a dead sleepe and thy selfe fellest asleepe on the bedde of thy Crosse and awakedst him againe and raisedst thy selfe out of thy sleepe of death sanctifie my rest and sleepe this night vnto me that I may by it not only be strengthened in my body and reuiued from my bed of slumber to rise to my labour and trauell the next morning but also more confirmed in my faith touching the resurrection of this my body out of the bedde of the graue at the last day So bee it Amen The close out of Scripture To him that loued vs and washed our sinnes in his blood and made vs Kings and Priests to God euen his Father bee glory and dominion for euermore Amen Reu. 1. 5 6. Saturdayes Deuotion The Father resteth from the workes of Creation IN the seauenth day God ended his worke which he had made and the seauenth day he rested from all his worke which he had made Gen. 2. 2. So God blessed the seauenth day and sanctified it because that in it hee had rested from all his worke which God had created and made verse 3. The Sonne resteth in the Sepulcher ANd when the euen was come there came a rich man of Arimathea named Ioseph who had also himselfe bin Iesus's Disciple Mat. 27. 57. He went to Pilate and asked the body of Iesus And Pilate commanded the body to bee deliuered verse 58. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane linnen cloth verse 59. And put it in his new Tombe which he had hewen out in a Rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the Sepulcher and departed verse 60. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting ouer against the Sepulcher verse 61. Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation the chiefe Priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate verse 62. Saying Sir we remember that that deceiuer sayed while hee was yet aliue After three dayes I will rise againe verse 63. Command therefore that the Sepulcher be made sure vntill the third day left his Disciples come by night and steale him away and say vnto the people He is risen from the dead so the last error will bee worse then the first verse 64. Pilate saide vnto them Yee haue a watch goe your way make it as sure as you can verse 65. So they went and made the Sepulcher sure sealing the stone and setting a watch verse 66. For thine instruction meditate In the morning on the Father's rest from works of Creation In the euening on the Sonn's works of Redemption For thy comfort apply the benefits of both to thy selfe which are A holy rest here and happy rest hereafter Euerlasting For thy correction reprooue thy prophaning God's holy Sabbath by First Worldly businesse Secondly Carnal pleasures Thirdly Omitting holy duties Fourthly Performing them Negligently Vnwillingly Quicken thy Preparation to holy duties by the Psalme Constancy in life and death by the Admonition Zeale Deuotion and resolution by the Prayer ensuing The Hymne for Saturday Morning I Haue remembred thy Name ô Lord in the night season and haue kept thy Law Psal. 119. 57. I thought on my waies and turned my feete to thy testimonies verse 59. I preuented the dawning of the morning and cryed I hoped in thy Word v. 147. Heare my voice according to thy louing kindnesse ô Lord quicken mee according to thy iudgements verse 149. Seauen times a day doe I praise thee according to thy righteous iudgement v. 164. Great peace haue they that loue thy Law and nothing shall offend them verse 165. I haue longed for thy saluation ô Lord thy Law is my delight verse 174. Deliuer me ô Lord from the wicked which is a sword of thine Psal. 17. 13. From men which are thy hand ô Lord from men of the world which haue their portion in this life and whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasures verse 14. My heart is pained within me and the terrors of death are fallen vpon me Psal. 55. 4. Fearefulnesse and trembling are come vpon me and horror hath ouerwhelmed me v. 5. O that I had wings like a Doue for then would I fly away and be at rest v. 6. I would hasten my escape from the windy storme and tempest v. 8. An Admonition for Saturday Morning being an exhortation to perseuerance the twelfth BEATITVDE All that expect the reward of Pietie must striue and pray for perseuerance and abhorre and shunne falling away from grace because in Scripture The one is Commanded by God Commended in his Saints Encouraged vnto by promises of Certaine reward Saluation Assured cōfort An incorruptible Crowne of glorie The other is Vehemently disswaded Seuerely censured Dreadfully threatned Eternally punished THE TEXTS VVAtch yee therefore and pray continually Luk. 21. 36. Continue yee in loue Ioh 15. 9. Take heede to thy selfe and to thy Doctrine continue in them 1 Tim 4. 16. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast bin assured of 2 Tim 3. 14. Let vs hold fast our profession Heb. 4. 14. Hold fast till I come Reu. 2. 25. Reioycing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer Rom. 12. 12. Dearely beloued and longed for my ioy and crowne stand fast in the Lord Phil. 4. 1. Paul and Barnabas perswaded them to continue in the grace of God Acts 13. 43. Confirming the soules of the disciple◠and exhorting them to continue in aith Act. 14. 22. But ye brethren be not wearie in well doing 2. Thess. 3. 13. Let brotherly loue continue Heb. 13. 1. Stand fast in one spirit with one minde striuing together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 17. Therefore my brethren be ye stedfast vnmoueable alwayes aboūding in the worke of the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 28. Watch ye stand fast in the faith acquit you like men 1. Cor. 16. 13. Stand fast therefore in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made vs free Gal. 5. 1. Wherefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the euill day and hauing done all stand fast Eph. 6. 13. Brethren stand fast hold the traditions which ye haue beene taught 2. Thess. 2. 13. Whom resist steadfast in the faith 1. Pet. 5. 9. Ye therefore seeing ye know these things beware lest yee also
being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your owne stedfastnesse 2. Pet. 3. 17. He spake a parable that we ought alwayes to pray and not to faint Luke 18. 1. Shall not God auenge his Elect which crie vnto him day and night though he beare long with them ver 7. He after he had patiently endured obtained the promise Heb. 6. 15. O Lord God of my saluation I haue cried day and night before thee Psal. 88. 1. I haue called daily vpon thee I haue stretched foorth my hands vnto thee ver 9. He kneeled vpon his knees and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 10. And they which went before rebuked the blind man that he should hold his peace but he cried so much the more Sonne of Dauid haue mercie on me Luk. 18. 39. And behold a woman of Caanan cried vnto him saying Haue mercie on me c. Mat. 15. 22. But he answered her not a word and his disciples besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after vs ver 23. He answered I am not sent c. ver 24. Then came she and worshipped saying Lord helpe me ver 25. But he answered It is not meete c. ver 26. And she said Truth Lord yet the doggs eate the crummes c. ver 27. Then Iesus said Woman be it to thee as thou wilt ver 28. Ye are they which haue continued with me in my tentations Luk. 22. 28. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplications with Marie the Mother of Iesus Act. 1. 14. We will giue our selues continually to prayer c. Act. 6. 4. There were added to them about three thousand soules c. Act. 2 41. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer ver 42. By the space of three yeares I ceased not to warne euerie one night day with tears Act. 20. 31 Since the day we heard we ceased not to pray for you Col. 1. 9. For this cause we thanke God without ceasing 1. Thess. 2. 13. A deuoute man which gaue much almes to the people and prayed to God alwaies Act. 10 2. And the foure beasts had each of them sixe wings vpon them and they were full of eyes within and they ceased not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God almightie which was and is and is to come Reu. 4. 8. I declare vnto you the Gospel which ye haue receiued and wherein ye stand or continue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Then said Iesus to those Iewes that beleeued on him If ye continue in my word then are ye indeede my disciples Ioh. 8. 31. Who so looketh into the perfect law of libertie and continueth therein he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer shall be blessed in his deede Iames 1. 25. They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would no doubt haue continued with vs 1. Ioh. 2. 19. Whosoeuer abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God Ioh. 2. 9. So runne that ye may obtaine 1. Cor. 9. 26. Let vs not be weatie in well doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not Gal. 6. 9. Hold that thou hast that no man take thy crowne Reu. 3. 11. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast to the end Heb. 3. 14. He that endureth to the end shall be saued Mat. 10. 22. Continue therein for in doing this thou shalt saue thy selfe and them that heare thee 1. Tim 3. 8. Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling Phil. 4. 12. Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end Heb. 6. 11. To him that ouercometh I will giue to eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the garden of God Reuel 2. 7. Let vs labour therefore to enter into that rest lest any man fall after that same example Heb. 4. 11. Let vs feare lest a promise being left vs of entering into his rest any of you should seeme to come short of it Heb. 4. 1. Ye haue continued with me c. Luk. 22. 28. And I appoint vnto you a Kingdome as my Father hath appointed vnto me ver 29. Be faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee the crowne of life Reuel 2. 10. I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course c. 1. Tim. 4. 7. Hencefoorth there is laide vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue me at that day and not to me onely but to them also that loue his appearing ver 8. Take heede lest there be in any of you an euill heart of vnbeleefe in departing away from the liuing God Heb. 3. 12. If after they haue escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Sauiouâ— Iesus Christ they are againe intangled therein and ouercome the latter end is worse then the beginning 2 Pet. 2. 20. For it had beene better for them neuer to haue knowne the way of righteousnesse then after they haue knowne it to turne from the holy commandement deliuered vnto them ver 21. But it is happened vnto them according to the true Prouerbe The dogge is turned to his vomit againe and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ver 22. When the vncleane spirit is gone out of a man c. Mat. 12. 44. He taketh to himselfe seuen other spirits and they dwell there and the last state of that man is worse then the first ver 45. Let him that standeth take heede lest he fall 1. Cor. 10. 12. Are ye so foolish hauing begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect with the flesh Gal. 3. 3. Haue ye suffered so many things in vaine it it be yet in vaine ver 4. Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence of reward Heb. 10. 35. If any withdraw himselfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him ver 38. We are not of them which draw backe vnto perdition ver 38. In the latter dayes some shall depart from the faith 1. Tim. 4. 1. Hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron ver 2. Holding faith and a good conscience which some hauing put away concerning faith haue made shipwrack 1. Tim. 1. 19. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander whom I haue deliuered to Sathan ver 20. Hauing forsaken the right way they are gone astray following the wayes of Balaam the son of Bozor c. 2. Pet. 2. 15. But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousnes and committeth iniquitie c. All the righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespasse that he trespasseth and in his sinne that he hath sinned in them shall he die Eze. 18. 24. It
thee the fruite of my lippes Now I haue felt thy strength in my greatest weakenesse I haue tasted thy goodnesse in my bitter pangs I will therfore cal vpon thee in my troubles and will praise thee in my deliuerances and depend vpon thee as well in want as in plentie in sicknesse as in health in death as in life Thou mightest most iustly haue depriued me of the benefit and my infant of the hope of life Thou mightest deseruedly haue cut off the roote and the branch in the same moment for both were at thy mercie and liable to a curse But thy mercie is ouer all thy workes thou art good to them that are bad gracious to them that are vngracious mercifull to them that are most sinfull Thou desirest not the death of a sinner but of sin Thou wouldest that all should liue and here sowe the seedes and in heauen reape the fruite of immortality For to this end thou breathedst into vs the life of nature to make vs capable of the life of grace that thereby we may attaine the life of glory Therefore doest thou bring vs into the light of this world and set vs in the way that walking the paths of thy Commandements we might in the end ariue at our country in heauen This life of nature thou hast now giuen to my childe and continued to me adde now I beseech thee grace to nature and glory to grace hereafter that as we now liue in thee by nature so wee may liue to thee by grace and hereafter for euer liue with thee in glory Thou hâ—st ordained strength out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings and iustly maist expect praise from them Gracious Lord first giue my infant strength and then receiue praises from it The hidden treasure which for many moneths thou layedst vp in me is now safely taken out of me and deliuered me therefore I now offer it to thee in thy holy Temple Accept that from mee which thou hast giuen to me Receiue that into thy hands which thou hast put into mine armes Wash it in the Font of Baptisme regenerate it by thy holy Spirit feede it with the sincere milke of thy Word till it haue knowledge to choose the good and refuse the euill As it groweth in yeeres and stature strength so grant that it may grow in thy grace and fauour and increase in wisedome and in the knowledge of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it Amen The close out of Scripture NOw vnto the King immortal euerlasting inuisible vnto God onely wise be honour and glory for euer and euer Amen 1 Tim. 1. 17. The Sicke-mans Deuotion when there is yet hope of recouerie In his Sicknes After his Recouery When thou art smitten with sicknesse ô deuout Christian 1 ENter into thy priuate Chamber and commune with thine owne heart and search out diligently the cause of thy Fathers displeasure Psal. 4. â— 2 Confesse the particular sin or sinnes for which thy heart smiteth thee most with sighs and teares Psal. 32. 5 6. 3 Promise and fully purpose amendment through the assistance of grace Psal. 39. 1. 4 Aduise with the Physitian of thy soule and follow his godly direction and desire him to pray for thee and minister a word of comfort vnto thee and if thou find thy selfe fit for it in the beginning of thy sicknesse when thou art in perfect sence and memorie participate of the blessed Sacrament rather then when thy faculties are more enfeebled Iob. 33. 23. Iam. 5. 14. 5 Vse carefully all good meanes of Physicke and dyet for thy recouerie yet rely not vpon the meanes or instrument but vpon God Eccl. 38. 1. 2. Chr. 16. 12. 6 Pray to God instantly continually First absolutely for the health and saluation of thy soule Secondly conditionally for the health of thy bodie 7 Settle thine estate and make thy Will that thou mayest bee more free for holy and heauenly meditations Isa. 38. 1. 8 Submit thy self wholly and absolutely to God's good wil and pleasure concerning thee whether for life or death 1. Pet. 4. 19 9 Reade if thou be able or appoint to be read vnto thee at seasonable times select Chapters of Scripture and deuout Sermons and Prayers Rom. 8. Philippians 1. 1. Corinth 15. 1. Thes. 4. 2. Cor. 5. Ioh. 5. 6. 17. Hâ—b 12. Iob. 19. Reu. 2. 3. 21. 22. Iob 14. Isa. 38. 40. Among other helpes in this kind Open thy sorrow and griefe by the Hymne Strengthen thy faith patience by the exhortation Quicken thy Zeale and Deuotion by the Prayer ensuing A PSALME FOR the sicke wherein The deuout Soule Expresseth her Maladie affection Hope in God Experience remembrance of his former goodnes Meek patience Prayeth for Ease Helpe Recouerie Quickning grace Pardon for sinne Wisedome to make good vse of sicknesse THE TEXTS HAue mercy vpon mee ô Lord for I am weake O Lord heale mee for my bones are vexed Psal. 6. 2. My soule also is sore troubled But Lord how long wilt thou punish mee v. 3 My Spirit vexeth within me and my heart within mee is desolate Psal. 143. 4. Yet I doe remember the time past I muse vpon all thy workes yea I exercise my selfe in the worke of thy hands verse â—5 I stretch forth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirsty land v. 6. Heare me O Lord and that soone for my Spirit waxeth faint Hide not thy face from mee â—est I bee like vnto them that go downe into the pit v. 7. Thou art he that tooke me out of my mothers wombe thou wast my hope when I hanged yet vpon my mothers brest Psal. 22. 9. I haue bin left vnto thee euer since I was borne Thou art my God euen from my mothers womb v. 10. Though I walke in the shadow of death I will feare no euill thy rod and thy staffe comfort me Psal. 23. 4. Lord what is my hope Truly my hope is euen in thee Psal. 39. 5. I became dumbe and opened not my mouth for it was thy doing v. 10. I will patiently abide alway and praise thy name more and more Psal. 71. 12. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger nor chasten mee in thy heauy displeasure Psal. 6. 1. The sorrowes of my heart are enlarged O bring me out of my trouble Psal. 25. 16. Heare ô Lord and haue mercy vpon me Lord bee thou my helper Psal. 30. 11. Turne thee ô Lord and deliuer my soule ô saue mee for thy mercies sake Psal. 6. 4. For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thee thankes in the pit v. 5. What profit is there in my blood when I goe downe to the pit Psal. 30. 9. Shall the dust giue thanks vnto thee Or shall it declare thy truth v. 10. Take thy Plague away from me I am euen consumed by the meanes of thy heauy hand Psal. 39. 11. Quicken mee ô Lord for thy names
the Lord ô my soule and all that is within me praise his holy Name Psal. 103. 1. Praise the Lord ô my soule and forget not all his benefits v. 2. Which forgiueth all thy sin and healeth all thine infirmities v. 3. Which saueth thy life from destruction and crowneth thee with mercy and louing kindnes v. 4. Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things and maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle v. 5. The Lord is full of compassion and mercie long suffering and of great goodnesse v. 8. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Psal. 34. 8. The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my saluation Psal. 118. 14. The voice of ioy and health is in my dwellings the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe v. 15. The right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe v. 16. I will not dye but liue and declare the workes of the Lord v. 17. The Lord hath chastened and corrected me but hee hath not giuen me ouer vnto death v. 18. Open me the gates of righteousnesse that I may goe in and giue thankes to the Lord v. 19 A Thanksgiuing for recouery O Lord God of my health saluation who hast knowne my soule in trouble and diddest make my bed in my painefull dangerous sicknes and hast now raised me out of it to stand before thee I offer now vnto thee the calues of my lippes and the sacrifice of my body and soule which thou first gauest and now hast restored vnto me Because I employed not the faculties of my soule and members of my body as I should haue done thou bereauedst mee of the strength and vigour and vse of them for a season But now because thy compassioÌ„ failes not thou hast returned them to me againe Wherefore I consecrate and deuote them perpetually to thy seruice no longer desiring the vse of them then they may bee seruants vnto me of righteousnesse vnto holinesse What I vowed in my sicknesse by the helpe I will carefully performe in my health As I am in the state of my body so by the power of thy renewing grace I will become in the estate of my soule a new man My broken heart which thou hast healed shall now entirely loue thee my feeble knees and loose bones which thou hast setled shall day and night bowe vnto thee My enthralld meÌ„bers which thou hast set free shall cheerefully serue thee My weake hands which thou hast streÌ„gthened shal continually be lifted vp vnto thee My tyed tongue which thou hast loosened shall vnfold thy mercies My deafe eares which thou hast opened shall heare thy voice My harsh and hoarse and faint voice which thou hast cleared shall sing alowde a song of mercy and iudgement For in thy former mercies thou forgottest not iudgement to make mee know mine euil and in the latter iudgement thou remembredst mercy to make me know thy goodnes By thy iudgement thou hast taught me to know my self and by thy mercies to know thee Before I was troubled I went wrong but now sith thou hast set me right I will run the way of thy Commandements I will perpetually renew and refresh the memory of this singular benefit whereby thou hast renewed and restored me and by the smart of my paine made mee vnderstand wisedome secretly Thy rod and thy staffe as they haue comforted and supported mee so they haue beate many profitable instructions into me By thy scourge which peirceth the flesh and entereth into the heart and bowells I learne that thou requirest truth in the inward parts and searchest the reines and the heart By thy rod which at once striketh all the parts of my body though it fall heauiest vpon one particular I learne that though sinne reigneth and rageth in one kinde more then another yet that my whole soule is diseased The whole head is sicke and the whole heart is faint My fits were many because my sins were multiplyed My paine increased because my sins were aggrauated My wounds stanke and were corrupt through my foolishnesse the insufferable anguish whereof as it gaue me a quicke touch of my sin so also a liuely sence of the benefit of health By my confining to my chamber thou taughtest me what is the benefit of liberty by the weakenesse of my limmes what is the benefit of strength by my want of appetite what the benefit of a stomacke is by the missing my friends what the benefit of society is by my continuall watching what the benefit of rest and repose is by the stupidity and deadnesse of al my parts what the benefit of the senses is Alas what is a crowne beset with rubies to a man that hath a carbuncle in his head What is a chaine of pearles to one that hath a squinsie in his neck Or a collar of Esss to him that hath an impostume on his brest Or a diamond ring to him that hath the gowte in his finger Or the golden garter to him that hath the crampe in his leg What are melodious songs to the deafeâ—â— Beautifull pictures to a blinde man Dainty dishes to a man that hath lost his taste What are large reuenewes to him that possesseth nothing but his bed What are all to him that is tormented in body with the pangs of death or troubled in minde with the horror of hell I confesse vnto thee ô Lord that in my health I often read in the Scriptures and heard this note from the sweete singers of Israel that worldly delights and comforts were vaine and much like flaggs and bulrushes which men in danger of drowning catch to beare them vp but they sinke downe vnder water with them I cannot denie but the golden bells of Aaron in thy Sanctuarie haue often rung this lesson in mine eares that the true Heart's ease groweth onely in thy Paradise that the contents of the large volume of this world is nothing but vanitie that one little fit of an ague can dispossesse the happiest man aliue of his temporall felicitie Yet till I learned by that which I suffered till thy rod had imprinted it euen in my flesh I neuer deepely thought of it nor so throughly assented thereunto but I held the world though not in admiration yet in too great esteeme I secretly repined at the wealth of the couetous and honour of the ambitious and pleasure of the voluptuous and accounted the liues of thy Saints miserable in comparison of them so foolish was I and ignorant and euen as it were a beast before thee But in this schoole of my sicknesse I haue perfectly gotten by heart that which I did but slubber ouer before and learned by rote In my fearefull visitation finding by mine owne experience that all earthly delights and comforts leaue vs in our extremities and cannot steed vs when we most neede nay they rather increase then asswage our
paines I beganne to distaste them all I grew out of loue with this life and entertained death in my most serious thoughts and I perswaded my selfe that those thoughts of death shall neuer dye in me but still liue in my memory and vpon euery good occasion bee stirred vp and reuiued to prepare and dispose mee to my last end that so I may see that Basyliske first and kill it before it see and kill mee O death how bitter is thy remembrance in the pride of health O life how bitter is thy remembrance in the misery of sicknesse Verily I had vtterly fainted vnder my Crosse and my soule had bin put to silence I had sowned and giuen vp not onely my Ghost but thy holy Spirit of comfort if thou hadst not stayed me with flagons and comforted mee with apples and in my hottest fits cooled me with the sweete gales of thy grace I had fallen not onely with Iob to curse the day of my birth but to question the truth of thy Promises But euerlasting thanks bee vnto thee who gauest me victorie ouer that fearefull tentation and by thy holy Spirit didst call to my mind all those sweet promises of thy Gospell whereby I receiued comfort and recouered strength And now I am assured and more then euer before perswaded that neither height nor depth nor principality nor power nor paine nor pleasure nor sicknes nor health nor life nor death nor things present nor things to come shall euer be able to separate me from thy loue in CHRIST IESVS The close out of Scripture I Said in the cutting off of my dayes I shall goe to the gate of the graue I am depriued of the residue of my yeeres Isa. 38. 10. I sayd I shall not see the Lord in the land of the liuing I shall behold man no more with the Inhabitants of the world ver 11. Behold for peace I had great bitternesse but thou hast in loue to my soule deliuered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast my sins behind thy backe ver 17. For the graue cannot praise thee death cannot confess thee they that goe downe to the pit cannot hope for thy truth ver 18. The liuing the liuing hee shall prayse thee as I doe this day verse 19. The dying-mans deuotion Suppart vlt. The Admonitions The man that is breathing out his last gaspe needeth◠1 MEeke patience to endure God's good pleasure Of which see the Admonitions for Good-Fridaie for Thursday Euening and for the sicke before 2 Godly sorrow for all the sinnes of his life wherby he hath grieuously displeased his heauenly Father Of which see the Admonition for Tuesday morning 3 Assured confidence to commit his Soule to God as a faithfull Creator Of which see the Admonition for the Child-bearing woman after her deliuery 4 Constant perseuerance to hold on to the end Of which see the Admonition for Saturday morning 5 Liuely apprehension of the ioyes of heauen and powers of the world to come Of which see the Meditation for the Sabbath Euening 6 Christian resolution cheerfully to lay downe his Tabernacle and go willingly to the Father of spirits Of which see the Admonition for Saturday Euening 7 A peaceable disposition to forgiue all his enemies and depart in peace as with God so also with all men Of which see the Admonition for Thursday Morning 8 A charitable and compassionate aflection to consider the poore and destitute according to his estate and wealth to help and succour them that so by their prayers he may be receiued into euerlasting habitations Of which see the Exhortation for Wednesday morning In the extremity of bitter pangs consider ô deuout Christian 1 Thy sins deserue a sharper scourge yet 2 All thou sufferest is nothing to what Christ endured for thee 3 Other Saints and holy Martyrs haue abided a harder tryall and more grieuous afflictions many more terrible conflicts and yet haue been more then Conquerours through Christ. 4 It is a thousand times better to be corrected here though neuer so seuerely then eternally tormented in hell 5 God wil not lay more vpō thee thē he will giue thee ability to beare therfore will vndoubtedly asswage thy paine or increase thy patience 6 The extremity of thy paines wil be but a short time for God wil either take them from thee by recouering thee or thee from them by deliuering thee out of the body 7 The more grieuous thy paines are the greater thy reward shall be if thou patiently endure them THE TEXTS IT is the Lords mercy that wee are not vtterly consumed because his compassion fails not Lam. 3. 20. If thou Lord shalt marke iniquities O Lord who shall stand or who may abide it Psalm 130. 3. He hath not dealt with vs after our sinnes nor rewarded vs after our iniquities Psal. 103. 10. Like as a Father pittieth his children so the Lord pittieth them that feare him ver 13. For he knoweth our frame he remembreth that we are but dust ver 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid fearfulnes hath surprized the hypocrites who shall dwell with the deuouring fire who among vs shall dwel with euerlasting burning I◠33. Topheth is ordained of old yea for the King it is prepared Hee hath made it deep and large the pile therof is fire and much wood the breath of the LORD like a streame of Brimstone doth kindle it Isa. 30. 33. A fire is kindled in mine anger and it shall burne to the lowest hell Deut. 32. 22. The Sonne of man shall send his Angells and they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and them which doe iniquity Mat. 13. 41. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth verse 42. Whose fan is in his hand and hee will throughly purge his floore and gather his wheat into his garner but burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire Mat. 3. 12. Suffering the vengeance of eternall fire Iud. 7. Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and coole my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Luk. 16. 24. Where the worme dyeth not and the fire is not quenched Mar. 9. 44. 46. In flaming fire taking vengeance of them that knowe not God 2. Thes. 1. 8. Binde him hand and foot cast him into vtter darknes there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22. 13. To whom the mist of darknes is reserued for euer 2. Pet. 2. He hath reserued in euerlasting chaines of darknes vnto the iudgement of the great day Iud. 6. 〈◊〉 same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lambe Reu. 14. 10. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth vp for euer and euer ver 12. These both were
haue sinned against heauen and against thee c. v. 20. And he arose went to his Father but when he was yet a great way off his Father sawe him and had compassion came fell on his neck and kissed him v. 20. And he said to Iesus Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome Luk. 23. 41. And Iesus said vnto him Vetily I say vnto thee This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise v. 43. Him ye haue taken and by wicked hands haue crucified and slaine Act. 2. 23. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Iesus whom yee haue crucified both Lord and Christ v. 36. Now when they heard this they were pricked in heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall wee doe verse 37. Then Peter said Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins v. 38. Then they that gladly receiued the Word were baptized and the same day were added vnto them about three thousand soules verse 41. This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe 1 Tim. 1. 15. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in mee Iesus Christ might first shew forth all long suffering for a patterne to them which should hereafter belieue on him to eternall life v. 16. A Psalme for the sicke lying at the point of death wherein The humble and faithfull Christian 1 Layeth open his affliction In body In minde 2 Confesseth his many and grieuous sins 3 Earnestly prayeth for Audience Sence of Gods fauour Pardon for his sinne 4 Acknowledgeth God's great mercies through his whole life 5 Professeth his Trust in God Ioy in the holy Ghost Peace of conscience Desire of Death Assured hope of eternall blisse 6 Commendeth his soule to God O Lord God of my saluation I haue cryed day and night before thee ô let my prayer enter into thy presence Psal. 88. 1. For my soule is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh vnto hell v. 2. I am weary of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares Psal. 6. 6. I am accounted as one that goeth downe to the pit I haue bin as a man that hath no strength Psal. 88. 3. Free among the dead like vnto them that bee wounded and that lie in the graue which be out of remembrance and cut away from thine hand v. 4. Thine indignation lyeth hard vpon me and thou hast vexed me with all thy stormes v. 6. I am powred out like water and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart also in the middest of my bowells is like melted waxe Psal. 22. 14. My strength is dryed vp like a potsheard and my tongue cleaueth to my gummes and thou shalt bring mee into the dust of death v. 13. The sorrowes of death compasse me and the ouerflowings of vngodlines make me afraid Psal. 18. 3. The paines of hell come about me the Snares of death ouertake me v. 4. Thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth mee sore Psal. 38. 2. There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither any rest in my bones by reason of my sin v. 3. For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head and are like a sore burden too heauy for me to beare v. 4. If thou Lord wilt bee extreame to marke what is done amisse ô Lord who may abide it Psal. 130. 3. Out of the deepe haue I called vnto thee ô Lord Lord heare my voice v. 1. O let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint v. 2. Lord why abhorrest thou my soule and hidest thy face from me Psal. 88. 14. I am in misery and like to him that is at the point to dye from my youth vp thy terrors haue I suffered with a troubled minde v. 15. Thy wrathfull displeasure goeth ouer me and the feare of thee hath vndone me v. 16. Haue mercy vpon mee ô God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Psal. 51. 1. Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense me from my sinne v. 2. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me v. 11. O giue me the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish me with thy free Spirit v. 12. Neuerthelesse I am alwaies with thee for thou hast holden me vp by thy right hand Psal. 73. 23. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsell and after that receiue me with glory v. 24. Whom haue I in heauen but thee ô Lord and I desire none in earth in comparison of thee v. 23. Returne to thy rest ô my soule for the Lord hath rewarded thee Psal. 116. 7. Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then theirs whose corne and wine and oyle increaseth Psal. 4. 8. I will lay me downe and take my rest for it is thou Lord onely that makest mee dwell in safety v. 9. I will behold thy presence and when I awake vp after thy likenesse I will bee satisfied with it Psal. 17. 16. I shall be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thine house and thou shalt giue mee drinke of thy pleasures as of the riuers Psal. 36. 8. For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall I see light v. 9. Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is fulnes of ioy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for euermore Psal. 16. 12. Into thy hands I commend my Spirit for thou hast redeemed me ô Lord thou God of truth Psal. 31. 6. A Prayer for the sicke lying at the mercy of God and ready to depart AETernall and omnipotent infinite incomprehensible God Lord of my life and determiner of my dayes My body now is resoluing into dust and my soule returning to thee that gauest it O Lord most holy ô God most mighty draw neere vnto me who make hast to come vnto thee Giue mee a cleerer sight of thee by how much the neerer I am out of the darke prison of my body Giue me also a quicker taste of the powers of the life to come that I may more comfortably passe ouer these last troubles of this present life O Lord my soule is heauy euen vnto death for the weight of al my sins aggrauated by the diuel is at once vpon me and I sink and faint vnder this burdon which is too heauy for me to beare Neither is there any meanes vnder heauen to ease mee of it but by laying it vpon him that hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes O Father of mercy and God of all consolation let not the guilt of my sins or horror of thy iudgements or Sathans suggestions or the feare of death or terrors of hell driue me to desperation I confesse that for
my vnmindfulnesse of thee and vngratefulnesse to thee all my life I deserue that thou shouldest vtterly abandon and forsake me now at my death But thy thoughts are not like our thoughts nor thy affections like mine Though a woman could forget the fruit of her wombe yet thou wilt not nor canst not forget those that trust in thee Thy gifts and graces are without repentance and whom thou louest thou louest to the end Thou wilt not breake a bruised reede nor quench the smoking â—lax Though thou hast seuerely corrected me in this thy fearefull visitation yet thou hast not and I know wilt not giue me ouer to eternal death Deare Father shew thy strength in my greatest weakenes confirme thy mercy to me in my greatest misery apply thy comfort to me in this my last extremity Asswage the paines of my body with ghostly comforts and diminish the feare of death by the assured hope of a better life Call to my minde whilest yet I breathe all the errors of my vnderstanding that I may timely reuoke them all the sins of my will that I may heartily bewaile them all the testimonies of thy loue that I may gratefully acknowledge them all the promises of thy Gospell that I may comfortably embrace them all my holy vowes and purposes that I may finally confirme them and gracious Lord accept the will for the deede O let me that am now returning to dust and ashes speake but this once to my Lord maker With all my heart soule and strength I beseech thee by all that my Sauiour Iesus Christ hath done and suffered for mee I intreate thee speake peace to my soule at her departing and say vnto her I am thy saluatioÌ„ Make my election sure by my true repentance perfect charity assured confidence constant patience comfortable perseuerance vnto the end and in the end To the TRINITY GLorious Creator gracious Redeemer euerlasting comforter Lord God Almighty send me ayde helpe from heauen in this my last and most dreadfull conflict with all the powers of hell darknes Arme me with thy compleat armour and endue mee with power from aboue to vanquish Sathan and his infernall bands and to quench all the fierie darts of the wicked in the bloud of my Redeemer I am thine ô God the Father by the right of creation I am thine ô God the Sonne by the right of thy purchase I am thine ô God the Holy Ghost by the right of thine inhabitation and possession Saue me Father by thy power saue me Sonne by thy merits saue me holy Spirit by thy grace O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie whose power no creature is able to resist Rebuke confound thine enemy that goeth about to deface thine Image in me to spoile thy creature to destroy him for whom thou ô Sonne offeredst thy self on the Crosse by the eternall Spirit to the Father O Father be now to me a father in my greatest need O Iesus be to me a Iesus in my greatest danger O Comforter bee to me a Comforter in my greatest afflictions Holy Righteous Iudge eternall Sathan taketh aduantage of thy fatherly chastising me he grows strong against mee by this my great weaknesse Now hee rageth most furiously because his time is short He assaulteth mee euery way by subtill suggestions by fearfull visions and apparitions Hee terrifieth my flesh with the vgly shape of death he affrighteth my conscience with the horror of the last iudgement and scorcheth my soule euen with flashes of hell fire O Father of spirits deliuer not the soule of thy Turtle Doue that mourneth to thee day and night as a prey vnto him Though neuer so deformed yet I am thy worke O God my Father though neuer so vile yet I am thy purchase ô God my Redeemer though neuer so polluted yet I am thy Temple O God my sanctifier Faithful Creator preserue the worke of thine hand faithfull Redeemer preserue the purchase of thy bloud faithfull Sanctifier preserue the Temple of thine honour I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and I conceiue more grief then I am able to expresse for abusing thy workes ô Father thy Word and Sacraments ô Sonne thy gifts graces ô Spirit Father forgiue me all sinnes of infirmity against thy power Sonne forgiue me all sinnes of ignorance against thy wisedome Holy Ghost forgiue mee all sinnes of malice against thy grace Most mighty Father giue mee thy protection Most mercifull Son giue me thy peace Most gracious holy Spirit giue me thy comfort that I may safely peaceably and cheerfully leaue this vale of teares Father possesse me of the kingdome which thou O Sonne hast purchased and thou O Spirit hast sealed vnto mee Into thy hands O Father who breathedst into mee the Spirit of life Into thy hands O Sonne who breathedst out thy Spirit for mee Into thy hand ô Holy Spirit who renewedst a right spirit within mee and hast comforted my spirit to the last gaspe I now commend my spirit Amen To the Lord IESVS at the howre of death VVElcom blessed houre the period of my pilgrimage the terme of my bondage the end of my cares the close of my sighs the bound of my trauels the gole of my race and the hauen of my hopes I haue fought a long fight in much weaknes I haue finished my course though in great faintnesse and the crowne of my ioy is that through the strength of thy grace I haue kept the true faith and now I dye in it I willingly resigne my flesh I despise the world and I defie the diuell who hath no part nor share in mee And now what is my hope My hope Lord Iesu is euen in thee For I know that thou my Redeemer liuest and thou wilt immediatly receiue my soule and raise vp my body also at the last day and I shall see thee in my flesh with these eyes and none other My heart fainteth my strength faileth my tongue faltereth Lord let thy Spirit of comfort helpe mine infirmities and make supplication for mee with sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed I submit my selfe wholly to thy will I commit my soule to thee as my faithfull REDEEMER who hast bought mee with thy most precious bloud I professe to all the world I know no name vnder heauen by which I may be saued but thine my IESV my Sauiour I renounce all confidence in merits saue thine I thankfully acknowledge all thy blessings I vnfeinedly bewaile all my sinnes I stedfastly belieue all thy promises I heartily forgiue all mine enemies I willingly leaue all my friends I vtterly loath all earthly comforts I entirely long for thy comming Come Lord Iesu come quickly Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit The Hand-Maide's Posie written in the end of her Manuell Birth is a bragge Glory a blaze Honour's earths pompe Riches a gaze Fame is but winde Beauty a flower Pleasure a dance the world a bower In heauen with thee Lord let me be On earth my heauen 's alone in