especially in the last houre when all worldly comforts shall flie from vs and vtterly forsake vs As Rahabs threed was better vnto her then all her goods and substance wheÌ„ the sword came so wil this be better vnto vs theÌ„ all the world when death comes assailes vs which we know not when or how soone it will O mercifull God I beseech thee make me wise to consider of these things that so I may finde comfort both now and hereafter when I shall most want it most desire it and when as without it I cannot but bee exceeding wretched and miserable Grant me thy grace to serue thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all my daies yea to walk before thee in truth and sinceritie with a perfect heart and to doe alwaies that which is good in thy sight and pleasing vnto thy Maiestie that so hauing my coÌ„uersation in this world in simplicitie and godly purenes I may haue the testimonie of my conscience to be my reioycing and as it were a continuall feast vnto me al my life long in all troubles miseries and afflictions whatsoeuer yea and that when this short and transitorie life shall draw to an end and al worldly comforts become vaine and no waies auaileable vnto me I may haue the sweete comfort and solace hereof following and accompanying me vnto death and resting and remaining with me in death that so when at length I shall send foorth my last breath calling to minde and recounting my sinceritie in thy seruice and resting vpoÌ„ thy gracious promise for the couering of my manifold defects and infirmities with thy sonnes righteousnes I may then euen lift vp my head with confidence and boldnes and taking my farewell of this wearisome world depart hence with ioy and reioycing knowing assuredly that I shal not die but liue being clothed with glorie and immortalitie for euermore This is my life my hope They â—hat liue not thus they die whiles they liue and wheÌ„ they once die they die for euer Oh therefore that all would so liue that thus they might haue peace and comfort whiles they liue and in the end die the death of the righteous and be made partakers of their glorie which many wish for few seeke after but fewest of all attaine vnto Sinne exceeding dangerous though pleasant for a time SInne is sweet and pleasant for the present at least it seemeth so to the wicked who neuer tasted of any sweeter delicates But certaine howsoeuer they relish it for the present yet doubtlesse they shall finde to their griefe and sorrow that in the end it will bee as bitter as gall or wormewood yea as death it selfe O Lord let me neuer delight in those deceiuable pleasures of sinne which last but for a season the end whereof is bitternes and destructioÌ„ let mee neuer willingly take down no nor so much as once taste of those poysoned morsels which the wicked vngodly swallow with so much greedinesse as though they could neuer bee satisfied or glutted with them but let me bee alwaies carefull to auoide all sinne as I would doe the rankest poyson which being though neuer so little but once tasted of present death must needes followe except there be a speciall recouerie by that sole and soueraigne medicine of Christs righteousnes which is neither giuen nor can be applied to any of those who wilfully and desperatly drinke downe any of that deadly poyson though they be oft forewarned of the danger of it The vsuall euent of Satans practises against the Church of God IT hath alwaies been and it is diligeÌ„tly to be obserued that by what plots and practises soeuer Satan hath attempted the vndermining of the Church of God and the finall subuersion and ouerthrow of the same they haue turned in the end if not to the ruine yet to the weakning of his owne kingdom so that he receiued the greatest foile where hee thought he should haue most preuailed Especially wee of this nation haue seene this more apparaÌ„tly in later yeers and as it was the Lords doing and wonderfull in our eyes so ought wee neuer to forget it but to bee alwaies mindfull of it yea to make report of it vnto those that are a farre off and to rehearse it hereafter to those that are yet vnborne that so the goodnes of the Lord the care which he hath ouer his Church may bee knowne and acknowledged and due thankes praise and glorie be returned vnto him by many for the same in all ensuing ages O Lord remember thy wonted mercies and continue still good and gracious vnto thy Church chosen O be thou fauourable vnto thy Sion and build vp the walles of Ierusalem make vp the breaches and repaire the ruines and the desolate and decaied places thereof disappoint Satan in al his mischieuous counsell and diuellish policies deuices wherby he seeketh the ouerthrow of it Cast out all the cursed Iebusites which disturbe the peace and are enemies vnto the prosperitie of it keepe it as thy little flock which hath alwaies been tender and deare vnto thee loue it and delight in it as in thine owne spouse which thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe out of all the nations of the earth blesse and sanctifie it with thy grace defend it alwaies with thy mightie power Compasse it with a wall of fire round about and fight thou from heaueÌ„ against theÌ„ that fight against it Thus O Lord bee thou gracious to thine owne inheritance thy chosen Sion Let peace bee within the walles and plenteousnesse within the palaces thereof that so thy Gospell may florish thy name be glorified thy seruants comforted thy Saints repaired the number of thy children on earth accomplished these sinfull daies finished and finally the glorious kingdom of thy Son fully established for euer in the heauens Amen Christians ought to keepe continuall watch in regard of Satans assaults SEest thou not how carefull those that are besieged assaulted of their enemies are to haue their Centinels and to make their defence sure and to fortifie those places especially where the enemie giueth the fiercest onset or where there is more danger that a breach should be made for his entrance Behold thou art coÌ„tinually enuironed with many spirituall enemies the powers of darknesse which haue beset thee round about on euery side They haue laid a strong siege against thee and assault thee euery houre euery moment seeking by all meanes to make a breach into thy soule and to bring both thy soule and bodie to perpetuall ruine and desolation and wilt thou then be secure wilt thou bee carelesse nay wilt thou foolishly set open the gates consenting vnto sin in the temptations thereof that so Satan may enter in and make a spoile of thee O Lord though many bee so foolish and vnwise yet suffer not me to bee like vnto them but since so many and so dangerous enemies those spirituall wickednesses doe bend their forces and intrench themselues about me continually grant
eye of his soule that vnspeakable glorie and those endlesse riches and treasures of euerlasting felicitie and blessednes which to the eye of the bodie are inuisible and cannot be seene of any but of those onely which are spirituall O blessed Lord what is there on this earth wherein my soule can finde any pleasure or vnto which I should giue the affections of my heart On euery side I see nothing but miserie and vanitie continuall occasion of griefe and mourning My treasure my ioy and happinesse is in heauē euen in the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where thou hast prepared such things for me as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or comprehend O therefore let mine eye neuer be fixed vpon any earthly obiect but let me alwaies be looking vp vnto thee and to that heauenly mansion where such glorious things are reserued for me Especiall fauours of God towards vs often and more especially to bee remembred of vs. IT is a good thing to be often meditating vpon the goodnesse and louing kindnesse of the Lord towards vs in those speciall fauours and blessings whereby hee hath chiefly and most euidently manifested his loue vnto vs and his fatherly care ouer vs yea the least of his mercies ought daily to be remembred of vs that so in all things wee might stirre vp our selues vnto true thankfulnes which is a thing wherewith he is greatly delighted and for which hee extendeth his louing fauour in a more plentifull encrease of his blessings and benefits O mercifull Lord how great is thy goodnesse towards me how exceeding gratious hast thou been alwaies vnto me The mercies which thou hast freely vouchsafed vnto mee are infinite and innumerable I am not able to recount thē O let me euer be thinking of them and lifting vp my heart continuallie with vnfained praise and thankes vnto thy Maiestie for them that so it may please thee to cause the light of thy grace and fauour to shine still vpon me euen vnto the end of my daies How the conscience is disquieted and wounded HE is a happie man that doth alwaies carefullie auoide euery thing whatsoeuer it be that may be either a staine or a burthen vnto his conscience he shall surely enioy the benefit of a quiet and of a peaceable minde with much freedome and libertie of spirit whereas on the other side he that hath little or no care of this dutie that regardeth not how hee defileth his conscience or what loade hee laieth vpon it by doing those things which are either altogether vnlawfull in themselues or else vnlawfull vnto him because either hee hath no warrant for the doing of them or else faileth in the maner of the doing of them hee thereby brings a greater miserie vpon himselfe then for the present hee can thinke of and for which hereafter hee shall meete with much vntimely griefe and sorrow and taste of much bitternes in his soule and spirit O Lord let me bee carefull alwaies to vse all meanes whereby I may keepe a cleere and a pure cōscience doing that good with all diligence which thou hast commanded and abstaining with all my strength from that euil which thou hast forbidden and from whatsoeuer I cannot haue resolution out of thy word for the lawfulnes of it that so I may haue comfort both in life and in death The dulnes and sottishnes of worldlings O The dulnes of the hearts of men who minde only those things which are present neuer regarding those which are to come How sottish is the nature of man that delighteth only to lie groueling on this earth and to satisfie his carnall his sensuall appetite in the enioying of these things which are but vaine and corruptible yea that neglecteth euen heauen and happinesse it selfe so that hee may haue his fill of them O Lord let me alwaies be far otherwise affected then the men of this world are who sauour onely of those things which are carnall and earthly vaine hope of a long life vpon earth as many doe When it is morning let me think that I shall not liue vnto the euening and when the euening is come let me not promise vnto my selfe assurance of life vntill the next morning sith there is no power thereof in my hands But let me liue so continually as if death were to seize vpon me presently yea let me so liue alwaies as if I were to die the same instant euen whē death might seeme to bee furthest off from mee that thus hauing death alwaies present before mine eyes I may learne daily to die vnto the world esteeming the things thereof as nothing though neuer so highly prized of the men of this world and to aspire daily more and more vnto that spirituall and heauenly life in thy Christ that so when bodilie death shall close vp these eyes of mine I may not rest in darknesse and be as those that are cut off from their hope and lost their comfort but depart in peace into that light of glorie where I shal enioy thy blessed presence and behold thee face to face for euermore to my vnspeakable happinesse and felicitie As is the life of a man so is his death and finall estate AS is the life of man so is his death and as it is with him in death so shall it bee in the last and dreadfull iudgement Hee that hath a care to liue well it cannot be but that he should die well and he that dies well shall assuredly finde the iudgement day to bee a maruellous refreshing vnto him On the other side he that liues ill how can he haue any hope that he shall die well and if hee be miserable in his death how much more in the day of iudgement Oh what a terror shal that day be vnto him who is able to conceiue what a sea of miserie and horrour shall then suddenlie ouerwhelme him in most fearfull manner O my God thou who art my strength my hope and my saluation giue mee both an earnest desire and a carefull endeuour to direct all my waies and to order the whole course of my life according vnto the rule prescript of thy holy word let it bee my care to haue a good conscience in all things and to liue so that my life being approoued of thee my death may bee blessed and my appearance before thee in the day of thy comming with ioy and comfort when as the wicked shall not bee able to stand in thy presence but call to the mountaines and to the rocks to fall vpon them and to hide them from the fiercenes of thy wrath which shall be as a consuming fire to deuoure all the vngodly of the earth Iudgement day how terrible it will be to the wicked THe angrie countenance of a seuere Iudge how dreadfull is it vnto the malefactor that stands endited at the barre before him what a terror doth it strike into him how doth it astonish and amaze him
or worthinesse of mine owne but onely in thy mercie O Lord and in the al-sufficient merits of thy Christ my Lord and blessed Sauiour who hath giuen himselfe to death for me and powred foorth his pretious blood vpō the crosse to make full satisfaction for me and to reconcile me vnto thy Maiestie Loe therefore I doe humbly prostrate my self O Lord before the throne of thy grace and mercy in Christ Iesus I doe renounce my self and vtterly disclaime mine owne righteousnes acknowledging it to bee but as a stained and polluted cloth and desire only to appeare before thee in that righteousnesse of thy Sonne and to be found in him whom alone thou hast made vnto mee wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Were it not that I had comfort in this I should be of all creatures the most miserable yea had I not trusted herein I had long since perished and bin vtterly confounded Behold mee therefore O gracious God and louing Father behold me with the eye of thy mercie Looke vpon mee not as I am in my selfe all stained and defiled with sinne and iniquitie but in thy Sonne euen that iust and holy one who only is my righteousnesse and my saluation and in whom alone I do and will trust both in life and in death Accept therefore of me graciously in him Clothe and couer me with the pure and spotlesse garments of his righteousnes and holinesse that so the filthinesse of my pollution may neuer appeare in thy sight who art of so pure eyes that all sinne is an abomination vnto thee let the merit of his obedience of his death and passion whereby he offered himselfe a sacrifice pleasing and acceptable and of sweete smelling sauour vnto thee for all thy chosen and redeemed ones be a full satisfaction for me and for all my sinnes though neuer so many and so grieuous Let me through faith in him be made partaker of his puritie of his innocencie of his righteousnes of his holinesse and of his perfection that so howsoeuer I am in my selfe vncleane sinfull vnrighteous vnholy and full of manifold infirmities and imperfections yet in him and through him I may appeare in thine eyes pure as he is pure innocent as he is innocent righteous as he is righteous holy as hee is holy and perfect as he is perfect and being accepted into thy grace and fauour through him in this life may haue cōfort and confidence in death and in the day of iudgement and liue with thee in glorie in the life to come together with Christ my Sauiour redeemer and with thy blessed Spirit and with all thy Saints and elect Angels in that kingdome which thou hast prepared and of which I rest in cōtinuall hope and expectation desirous of the accōplishment of thy promise which is endlesse blessednes and felicitie A comfort for afflicted consciences THere is none that receiueth a great measure of spirituall comfort and diuine consolation whereby his spirits are cheered and his soule refreshed and filled with inward ioy and gladnes but he hath vsually some grieuous temptation either going before or following after it Thus the Lord doth ordinarily deale with his children there are none of his Saints but haue experience of it in themselues The Lord doth not alwaies cause the ioyfull light of his cheerfull countenance to shine cleerely vpon them he doth not alwaies fill their hearts with that peace which passeth all vnderstanding or rauish their soules with that inward and spiritual ioy and comfort which is vnspeakable and glorious neither doth hee alwaies absent himselfe or hide the brightnes of his face from them but sometimes he doth graciously visite them and causeth them to taste abundantlie of the sweetnes of his kindnesse his mercie and goodnesse so that they are exceedingly refreshed and feele such diuine and heauenly comfort and inward solace as that they are not able outwardly to expresse it and sometimes again as though hee had forgotten them he seemeth to hide and to absent himselfe from them and suffereth them to be assailed with some grieuous temptation so that their day is turned into night their light into darknesse their ioy and gladnes into sorrow and heauinesse And this the Lord doth that he may cause them to acknowledge this to be his gift euen that inward spirituall comfort wherewith their spirits doe reioyce before him and therefore to be thankfull vnto him whē they receiue it or haue a more especiall sense and feeling of it as also to make them to depend wholly vpon him who is the life of their soules and without whom there can bee no true solace no found ioy and withall to exercise their faith their hope and their loue the proofe whereof is seene in those spirituall desertions O Lord God if it be thy will let thy spirit of peace and cōfort alwaies rest vpon me let me taste cōtinually of the sweetnes of thy mercies wherewith thou art wont to refresh the soules of thy seruants after that they haue been wearied and oppressed with any grieuous affliction or temptation but if it seeme good vnto thee for the triall of my faith and for the exercise of the graces of thy spirit in me to withhold at any time this blessing for a while from me and to depriue me of the liuely sense and feeling of spirituall and diuine consolation yet let me not faint but rest in hope and expect with patience the time of thy gratious and heauenly visitation with which according vnto thy promise thou wilt refresh and comfort me giuing vnto me the oyle of ioy for mourning and the garment of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse that so thy name may bee glorified of mee in the thankfull acknowledgement of thy goodnes towards me The Christians glorious conquest THere is none that can attaine vnto so great a conquest in this world as a true Christian Hee through the grace which hee receiueth from Christ who daily assisteth him and is alwaies present with him sustaining him with his effectuall power is able to doe more then all the greatest Monarchs or mightiest Potentates in the earth can possibly doe of their own strength yea though they gather all their forces together For he doth not only conquer himselfe and subdue his own lusts which rebell against the spirit of his minde but also he ouercommeth this world yea the prince thereof euen Satan himselfe with all those spirituall wickednesses which raigne in others and haue thē continually in subiection vnder them O Lord without thee I am able to do nothing with thy helpe there is nothing but shall bee easie vnto me Let it please thee continually to assist mee with thy grace and to strengthen mee with thy mightie power that so I may daily see all mine enemies more and more subdued vnto mee and hauing gotten the victorie and conquest of them in this life may hereafter receiue that crowne of life which thou hast promised vnto all thē that ouercome liuing
it were continually with manifolde vexations and distractions The only way to liue peaceably and ioyfully is to leade a holie and a religious life in al sinceritie and vprightnes This bringeth with it that sweete peace and that inward solace and ioy which the world cannot giue O blessed Lord the daies of this my pilgrimage are few and euill make them comfortable vnto me I humbly pray thee by leading me forward in the waies of righteousnesse and true holinesse grant that I may alwaies endeuour my selfe to haue faith and a good conscience before thee and before all men and to walke continually in simplicitie and godlie purenes without al guile hypocrisie that so my heart may reioyce in thee vnfainedly yea euen be filled with that ioy which is vnspeakable and glorious How they are to liue that are redeemed by Christ IT is a shame for the Lords free man to make himselfe a seruant a drudge and a slaue to the world to sinne and Satan Hee that Christ hath redeemed must liue like one set at libertie being alwaies very carefull and warie that hee be not intangled nor ouercome with any lust with any corrupt and vnlawfull affection lest thereby he bring himselfe into that bondage and seruitude then which there can be nothing more wretched and miserable O Lord since it hath pleased thee of thy infinite goodnes and mercie to redeeme me with so great a price euen with the pretious blood of thy deare Sonne that immaculate Lambe graunt that being freed from that estate of corruption vnto which before I was in bondage and hauing escaped froÌ„ the filthinesse of the world wherewith I was formerlie stained and polluted I may be carefull to renounce all those vngodly courses euen that vaine conuersation wherein I walked and delighted before I knew thee and that sauing grace of thine which thou in the riches of thy mercies hast reueiled and manifested vnto me and that I may daily more and more labour and striue after spirituall libertie and freedome liuing as thy seruant as thy redeemed one and shewing foorth the vertues of thee my God and Sauiour who hast called me out of darknesse into that maruellous light of thine Gods loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things and his wrath feared IF wee bee out of fauour with men of no esteeme no reckoning amongst them If despised and disgraced of the world and made as such as are vile and of no reputation If wee bee but in daunger to lose our goods our riches our lands and liuing or to haue our outward estate by any meanes impaired and decayed or in any sort diminished If any of our dearest friends and nearest kinsfolke die and depart from vs for a while or if we our selues be in any perill of death loe then we are very sad and heauie we are exceeding pensiue and grieued out of measure as though no greater euill could befall vs. But if we be cleane out of the loue and fauour of God then which there can be no greater miserie if we be not regarded of him but are vile in his sight such as by reason of our sinnes hee doth lothe and abhorre more then wee doe the vgliest and the loathsomest creature in the world and doth many waies testifie the signes of his hatred and the deepe displeasure which hee hath taken against vs If wee be in continuall danger to hazard the most desireable goods which are better then all things which this whole world can affoord euen those pretious things of God wherin onely true happinesse and felicitie consists If wee be in neuer so great and apparent danger and ieopardie to lose the vnspeakable riches of that glorious and immortall inheritance reserued for the Saints in that heauenly kingdome that celestiall Canaan the Paradise of God where there are such ioyes such pleasure such blessednes as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or to comprehend If our neerest and inmost friend which resteth continually in our bosome and in the secretest lodgings of our hearts vnto whom wee professe the greatest loue and friendship that may be in briefe to whom wee are ioyned and vnited with so neere and strait bands that it is death for vs at any time to bee seuered and separated for the least while for one moment euen our owne soule if that bee dead in vs whiles it seemeth to liue dead in trespasses and sinnes whiles it liueth according to the flesh delighting in those things which are vnlawfull dead in regard of the life of grace whiles it liueth the life of nature yea continuallie in extreame danger to die eternally euen that second death which of all euils is the most fearfull most wofull aboue that any man doth thinke or can imagine though he haue â—resented vnto his minde the most dreadfull things and fullest of horror that can possibly enter into the heart of man yet behold such is the sottishnes of mans nature though wee knowe these things yet wee are not inwardly touched nor moued with them as we ought to be though we reade of them our selues though wee heare of theÌ„ oft by others yea though the Lord from day to day and from time to time causeth them to sound in our eares by the ministerie and preaching of his word in the mouthes of his faithfull seruants whom he sendeth and by the inward and secret voice of his spirit which suggesteth these things vnto vs yet our hearts are not affected with the consideration of them wee haue almost no sense or feeling of these euils and miseries wee make no account of them we are little seldome or neuer troubled with the meditation and remembrance of them The feare and danger of them doth not strike our soules with griefe and sorrow nor make vs so pensiue and heauy as the feare and dread of farre lesser euils doe Wee grieue more at the losse of the fauour and countenance of men yea of carnall and worldly men then of that glorious and immortall God whose louing fauour is better then life and the want of it worse then death we grieue more at the losse of the things of this world which are vaine earthly and transitory and such as can neuer make the owner of them trulie blessed and happie though he had them in greater abundance then his heart albeit neuer so vnsatiable could desire theÌ„ of the things of the world to come which are most excellent heauenly and enduring for euer in the hope and expectation whereof there is ioy and comfort vnspeakable and glorious euen whiles they are not seen but beleeued and in the full fruition and possession whereof there is entire and absolute felicitie and blessednesse We are grieued more at the death and departure of our friend then at the death and destruction of our owne soule more troubled with the feare of the losse of this temporall life which is alwaies fading and whereof wee can haue no certaintie or assurance one houre no not
whom I am able to doe all things The folly of worldlings and wickedmen WE are ready to laugh at the follie of him that we see make more account of toies and trifles then of things of greater worth and moment that will be better pleased with a gay feather then with a rich iewell with a garded and partie coloured coate then with a costly raiment and goodly attire And yet behold such is the follie and simplicitie euen of those who seeme to be the wisest in the world both in their own eyes in the eies of others who neuer knew the wisdome which is from aboue but that onely which is earthlie and sensuall with Heuah they preferre an Apple before Paradise with Esau a messe of pottage before the inheritance of that celestiall Canaan the land of promise which floweth with milke honie with the prodigall sonne the huskes of swine in a strange countrie before the best fare in their fathers house in briefe the toies and trifles of this world euen the vaine and sinfull pleasures and delights and the transitorie profits and commodities thereof before those hidden treasures those inestimable riches of ioy glorie and euerlasting happinesse and felicitie prouided for the Saints in the highest heauens euen the pretious things of God which can neuer be ouer prized or set at too high a rate Can there be anie greater follie then this Is not the simplicitie of those that are thus strangely besotted to be laughed at by those that know what true wisdom is yea rather to be pitied euen bewailed with teares although they in the meane while see not their foolishnesse but reioyce in it accounting it wisdome and themselues the onelie wise and prudent men whereas if their eyes were open that they might discerne rightlie of things which now by reason of their blindnesse they cannot they could not but see plainly and acknowledge freely as the truth is that of all men they are the most vaine the most vnwise and extreame foolish Lord giue me not ouer to the follie of mine owne heart but indue me with true spirituall wisdome and vnderstanding that so I may not with the men of this world whose mindes are darkened and depriued of the light of grace and knowledge choose death rather then life shame rather then glorie hell rather then heauen vanitie and miserie rather then endlesse and vnspeakable happinesse the seruice of sinne and Sathan and the fruits and deceiuable pleasures and profits of this world rather then the seruice of thee the euerliuing and most glorious God and the blessed hope of the enioyment and full possession of that rich inheritance of thy chosen euen those inualuable treasures of glorie blisse and happinesse but that my iudgement being cleared and my heart sanctified I may now and alwaies make greatest account of those things which are most pretious and chiefly to be desired and sought after of all those that will be the sonnes of true wisdome The bondage and slauerie of the wicked WE would wonder at him that being laden with manie irons chained and fettered hand and foote so that he were not able to mooue from the place where he lay should notwithstanding perswade himselfe that he were a free man and none more at libertie then he This is the estate of the wicked they are bound hand and foot yea all the parts and powers of their soules haue manie heauie chaines and irons lying vpon them whereby they are euen pressed downe and brought into great miserie and bondage and yet they poore wretches such is their blindnesse though plunged into the verie depth of that wofull miserie and hellish thraldome yet neither see nor perceiue the same but thinke themselues as free as the best and reioyce in their estate when as they are the seruants of corruption the slaues of Sathan subiect to the power of darkenesse Lord giue me daily more and more to see that wofull miserie and feareful bondage and slauery which Sathan by sinne bringeth vpon the soules of men yea both vpon their soules and bodies And grant that seeing it I may bewaile it both in my selfe and others and labour to be restored vnto perfect libertie and freedome being truly thankfull vnto thee for this that thou hast in part freed me alreadie making those bolts lighter and those bonds looser and earnestlie desiring and expecting the time when that which is in part shall be fullie perfected euen the day of redemption which I pray thee to hasten The fond and preposterous course of the wicked in preferring the health of their bodies before the saluation of their soules IF any be in danger but to lose a finger he will presentlie with all diligence and carefulnesse seeke vnto the Physition or Chirurgion for to saue one ioynt of it if it may be possible But to lose their soules how small reckoning doe most men make what a preposterous course is this Is the bodie of more worth then the soule is the life and safetie of this corruptible bodie yea of one little member thereof to be more esteemed more carefullie prouided for then the eternall life and saluation of the soule yea of soule and bodie Is anie so destitute of reason and vnderstanding as once to imagine this And yet behold such are the liues and practises of most men that either they doe or at least would so perswade themselues or else how could they be so carefull for the maintenance and preseruation of their bodilie health and outward estate and so carelesse yea desperate neuer regarding the present and future estate of their soules but passing awaie their daies most securelie in the sinfull pleasures and delights of this euill world euen bathing themselues therein whiles in the meane time they willinglie if not wilfullie depriue themselues of euerlasting life and saluation and hasten forward vnto that endlesse perdition and destruction which is prepared for them Blessed be thy name O mercifull Lord that thou hast not giuen me ouer to the foolishnesse of the wicked who shall perish for euer but vouchsafest thy grace vnto me whereby thou hast made me more carefull to seeke for the assurance of the good estate of my soule in this life and the eternall saluation thereof in the heauens after this transitorie life is ended then for the procuring of the life and safetie of this mortall corruptible body of mine which shall be turned into dust and rottennesse Increase this grace in me and in all thine that so we may haue full assurance that we are thine and that when the earthlie house of this our tabernacle is destroied we may liue with thee in glorie for euer euen in that heauenly kingdome that celestiall mansion which thou hast prouided and prepared for vs and for all thy Saints The forwardnes of the wicked in the way to hell ought to prouoke the godlie to make the more speede in the way to heauen IS it not strange to see the wicked runne faster to
soule and seeke by all meanes the vtter ruine and subuersion thereof yea there is scarce one day but that I passe thorow many deaths so many are the grieuances whereunto thy children are continually subiect whiles they haue their abode in this place of vanitie of death and miserie How therefore should not that day be pleasant and not bitter vnto me how should I not haue a feruent desire to be dissolued so to remoue from earth to heauen since that as long as I liue here in this world I cannot be freed from all miseries nor attaine vnto full and perfect blessednesse which is onelie to be expected in the world to come where I know that I shall enioy it and haue the fruition of it for euer in thy kingdom All the daies of my appointed time will I waite vntill my changing shall come euen the time of refreshing which I desire and hope for and which thou O Lord when it pleaseth thee wilt vouchsafe in mercie and goodnesse to grant vnto me Lord I haue longed for thy saluation Of whom death is most feared HE that alwaies feares death excessiuely neuer made conscience to liue well He that is carefull to liue well will neuer be ouermuch afraid to die though death in it selfe be of all things the most fearefull and terrible or if he doe feare it when it first looks vpon him with a gastly countenance yet when the vizard which it hath put vpon it be plucked away with the due and serious meditation of it the feare and dread of it will vanish away presently Lord let it be my care and earnest endeuour so to liue and to passe the time of my dwelling here euen these short and euill daies which thou hast measured out vnto me that the remembrance of ensuing and approching death may neuer be bitter or grieuous but ioyfull and pleasant vnto me Sathans craft and guilefulnesse in deceiuing men THe Diuell goes alwaies masked vp and downe in the world in a disguised manner and neuer or seldome sheweth himselfe in his owne likenesse because then he knowes well enough euery one not without cause would be afraid of him flie from him and haue nothing to doe with him for who would not shunne his deadly aduersarie whom he saw nothing but plotting his owne destruction and ouerthrow but vsually he comes like a false friend with the pretence of a seeming good he appeares and offers himselfe vnto men in the shape of pleasure profit honour euen those things which are pleasing vnto their nature and whereby they may most easily be enticed and drawne away after him How many thousands hath he by these slights and policies of his deluded and deceiued how doth he hereby preuaile against men till he secretly work their irrecouerable ruin and that many times before they be aware of any such matter but feede securely greedily vpon those things which he profereth vnto them not seeing the snare which is laid for them O Lord let me alwaies suspect and feare the deceitfulnesse of Sathan in the things which are most pleasing vnto me which with the shew of pleasure profit worldly cōmodities and aduantage do most allure me and draw my heart after them or cause me to set my affections inordinatly vpō them that so in what counterfait forme soeuer that deceiuer shall seek cunningly to insinuate himselfe into me I may discerne his craft take heed by all meanes that I be not at any time beguiled and deluded by him Sathans seuerall baites for sundrie persons THe Diuell hath a baite for euery age for euery place and person and according to the occasions and opportunities he fitteth them all to their seuerall natures dispositions and inclinations For the couetous he hath a siluer hooke and a golden baite the riches and commodities of this deceitfull world for the voluptuous sinfull pleasures and sensuall delights for the ambitious honour and bewitching preferments to such as are cholericke he ministers those things that may kindle their wrath and inflame their furie for the melancholick he laies the baite either of vnprofitable solitarines or of pining enuy And thus by one meanes or other he seekes continually to entice them to swallow his baite which he so guilefully profereth vnto them that being once taken with it they can hardly escape the danger which he laboureth to bring them vnto except the Lord be the more mercifull to pull the hooke out of their nostrils and to set them at libertie againe Blessed Lord giue me to see vnto what sins I am either by nature or otherwise most addicted and whereby Sathan seeketh chiefly to insnare me and to draw me vnto perdition and hauing grace to see them let me also haue wisdome and strength to shunne and auoide them that so I may not be deceiued by Sathan nor perish with the multitude whom he hath taken in his snares with those baites which he hath laid for them The occasions of sinne carefully to be auoided HE that saith that he is loth to offend God through the commission of any sinne and doth not carefully auoide the occasions whereby he may fall into the same is like to him that telleth vs that he is loth to be burnt and yet dreads not the fire when he is neare vnto burning yea rather will needs runne into the flame wihch is readie to scorch him or that he is loth to be drowned and yet goes so neere the pits brinke that it is almost impossible for him not to fall into it and to perish in it O Lord let me not be so vnwise as to deceiue my selfe as many doe by taking too much libertie vnto my selfe in those things which though lawfull in themselues yet may be a meanes through the corruption of my nature the temptation of Sathan to draw me to sin against thee But giue me wisdome in all things to foresee and preuent the danger that may come vpon me for want of due prouidence and watchfulnesse and make me euer as carefull to auoide the occasions of sin as sinne and death it selfe So shall it neuer haue power or dominion ouer me whereas otherwise it cannot be but that I should fall oft and dangerously Respect of persons IT is a great fault and yet ordinarie to respect men more for the outward trappings of the bodie then for the inward graces and vertues of the mind If one be of a goodly personage or richly apparelled and attired he shall be regarded and much set by although his mind be neuer so deformed destitute of all grace and goodnesse euen those inward endowments which are the greatest excellencies If another be more base or meane in these outward respects howsoeuer he be inwardlie decked and adorned yet there is no reckoning or very small account made of him What is this but to preferre the body before the soule that which is terrene earthly and coruptible before that which is spirituall heauenly and immortall Salomon the
our best friends and louingst companions who expect looke continuallie for our comming into that heauenly citie that celestiall mansion the place where they we are to rest remain with our Sauiour in the presence of that glorious God for euer to be partakers of that felicity blessednes which is vnspeakable and glorious Why then doe we not weane our selues from the world why do we settle our selues here where our rest is not yea why are we so loth to leaue this drie and barren wildernesse where we liue among strangers that know vs not yea amongst many wild and sauage creatures who seeke to do vs all the mischiefe they can O Lord raise vp my thoughts and the affections of my heart vnto those things which are aboue vnto those things which concerne my future estate in thy kingdom let it be continually the earnest desire of my heart to be with thee my God in the heauens there to behold thy face in glory for euer and to haue the full fruition of that sweet and comfortable fellowship and communion of my Sauiour and of all the Saints Angels wherein consists true happinesse and blessednesse Death alwaies to be remembred MAny liue as if they shold neuer die they remember not the euill daies that shall come vpon them and the yeares which shall approch wherein they shall say We haue no pleasure in them They consider not how their eyes shall waxe dimme their eares deafe their tongues speechles yea how their spirits all their senses shall faile them and all those worldlie helpes wherein now they rest and comfort themselues vtterly forsake them O Lord teach thou me to number my daies that I may applie my heart vnto wisdome Let me alwaies be mindfull of my end consider seriously of my frailetie mortalitie that so when death cōmeth which continually waiteth vpon me it may not find me vnprepared but that in the last houre the verie remembrance whereof is bitter vnto many I may find sound comfort and be translated out of this vale of teares this place of mourning where I am compassed about with sinne and miserie into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne and my blessed Sauiour and so be made partaker of that glorious and immortall inheritance which thou reseruest for vs euen for all thy Saints in the highest heauens the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where we shall liue and raigne with thee eternallie What maner of life it becommeth Christians to leade THe heathen could say that if men as it is meet they should would haue this alwaies in their minds that they were made of God himselfe in regard of the better part which is the soule and spirit that God was their father he doubted not but they would leade a life beseeming their estate and condition that they would do nothing whereby they might shew themselues to be base degenerate such as in whom there were no resemblance of that diuine and heauenly nature Me thinks many that are Christians at least in name and profession should blush when they reade when they heare this They call God father and thinke themselues much wronged if any should tell them that they were not his children and that not onelie by creation as the heathen are but also in a more speciall maner by grace and adoption through Christ and yet behold many of them are not ashamed of that vilenesse and basenesse in their behauiour their actions liues and practises which the pagans and heathen themselues were ashamed of and haue condemned as by their liues so also by their writings thereby setting a brand of iust reproch and eternall infamie vpon the foreheads of such fained counterfet Christians who are the staine of true religion and christianity such as though they think that of right they may claime this title to themselues to be the chosen people of God those to whom he hath giuen the name priuiledge of his owne sonnes yet in verie deed are the children of the diuell seuen-fold more then the heathen themselues who knew not God in Christ O mercifull Lord grāt I humblie beseech thee that as I call thee father and beleeue and acknowledge my selfe to be thine owne adopted sonne through thy Christ in whom thou hast freely loued and elected me from eternitie so also I may haue grace from thee for thy gift onelie it is not to fashion my selfe like vnto the wicked and vngodly the men of this world that I may not be like vnto them in those vaine courses wherein they walke and delight themselues but that I may alwaies do those things which are beseeming my calling and profession as acknowledging thee to be my father and glorying in this that I am thy sonne so liuing and ordering my selfe as it becommeth thy sonne euen shining forth in all holinesse of life and godly conuersation to the glory of thy name the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience and to the good example of others whom thou hast aduanced vnto the same profession which is so glorious Gods patience in bearing with sinners IT is a wonder that the Sunne which is a witnesse of so many and so enormous sinnes and wickednesses as are committed vpon the earth standeth so long in the heauens and giueth light vnto the world that the heauens are not dissolued and that the elements melt not that the waters ouerflow not and ouerwhelme vs yea that Christ that iust and righteous Iudge of the whole world commeth not in flaming fire to burne vp this earth with all the workes therein which are polluted defiled with our sins It is thy mercie O Lord that we are not consumed O be thou patient towards vs who cease not to prouoke thee daily Let thy good spirit still striue with vs yea draw vs vnto thee with the consideration of thy lenitie and the riches of thy bountifulnesse that so thy long sufferance may be vnto vs saluation euen an effectuall meanes to winne vs vnto the loue and obedience of thy maiestie and so in the end to bring vs to eternall life and happinesse in the heauens The soule how it is to be fitted and prepared for the entertainment of so glorious a guest as the holy Ghost is IF thou wert to entertaine some honourable personage how carefull wouldst thou be to make such preparation and prouision for him that he might be receiued in that maner that were fit for his place and estate how much more carefull sollicitous then oughtest thou to be to prepare the secret lodgings of thy heart and soule to see that nothing be out of order in thy whole man that no vncleannesse nor any thing which is any way polluted remaine within thee who art to receiue and to entertaine so honourable a guest euen the holy spirit of the most high God and to become a temple for so great and so glorious a presence to dwell in for euer O heauenly Father purifie my
that I may bee wise to preuent the mischiefe which they intend to bring vpō me make mee alwaies watchfull and carefull to stand for my defence and safetie against them especially let me seeke and endeuour by all meanes to fortifie my soule against those sinnes whereby Satan doth most assaile me and to get strength against those weaknesses whereby hee may soonest haue aduantage of me and bring me into danger yea O Lord doe thou watch ouer mee doe thou strengthen me Heale all my infirmities repaire the ruines of my soule make vp the manifold breaches therof Compasse me about with thy grace and fauour that so none of those spirituall enemies may euer haue power ouer me but that I may be defended from them in the time of this my warfare heere on earth and hereafter triumph gloriously ouer them in the heauens for euermore Greater care is to be had of things to come then of things present O How carefull are most for their bodies how carelesse for their soules For the things of this world what paines what labour doe they willingly vndergo for those of the world to come how remisse how exceeding negligent are they Lord grant that I may be alwaies most carefull of that which is most necessarie that I may preferre heauen before earth those things which are spirituall before those that are corporal things which are permanent and euerlasting before the lying and deceitfull vanities of this world endlesse and vnspeakable glorie and happines before vaine and supposed felicitie Gods all-seeing presence THe eyes of the Lord are open vpon all the waies of men hee seeth and obserueth them euen those things which they doe in greatest secrecy are most cleere and manifest vnto him they are naked discouered in his sight and he taketh notice of all of them O therefore how great is the boldnes and audaciousnes of such as dare presume willinglie and wittinglie to commit so grieuous and so odious sinnes whiles they are in so glorious a presence who is so prophane and so gracelesse that should not be ashamed of this yea that should not bee euen astonished in himselfe to consider that all his sinnes whereof some one of them if it should bee made knowne vnto the world would make him blush and hang downe his head for shame lie open and vncouered before the face of almightie God euen the cleere eyes of that infinite and glorious Maiesty who is so pure that he cannot abide any vncleannes yea that hee cannot once endure the sight of any thing which is spotted and stained with the filth of sin O Lord let me alwaies see thee present with me viewing marking and obseruing the whole course and carriage of my life not only how I compose my selfe outwardly before men but how euen the thoughts of my heart are framed within me that thus I may not onely bee restrained frō the commission of outward actuall wickednesses which euen the shame of the world causeth many that are altogether voide and destitute of thy sanctifying grace to refraine themselues from but also may feare to giue entertainmēt to any motion vnto the least sinne and striue after holinesse and puritie that so I may bee approued of thee and finde grace and fauour in thy sight A motiue to patience vnder the crosse ALthough it be grieuous vnto vs yet it is good for vs to bee vnder the crosse It is no small benefit which we receiue by afflictions if we looke vnto the end and issue of them for thereby wee are humbled more then we were made more earnest and feruent in prayer readier to seek vnto the Lord to cleaue faster vnto him and to depend solely and wholly vpon him making him our hope our stay and onely refuge yea thereby our faith hope patience and all other graces of Gods spirit are exercised and increased and that inward man of ours daily more and more renued whiles wee are outwardly oppressed and afflicted In briefe thereby we are weaned from the world and the vaine and transitorie things thereof and made not onely mindfull but also desirous of the day of death and of the time of our dissolution whenas being freed from all those miseries wherewith we are and shall be compassed on euery side as long as wee liue in this wretched world and carrie this bodie of sin about with vs wee shall enter into that resting place where wee shal want nothing which may make for our blessednesse and felicitie Let nothing then be distastful vnto me which thou seest to bee good for me O Lord but let me euer be content if it so pleaseth thee to drinke downe willingly the bitterest cup of the most grieuous affliction which thou shalt offer vnto me seeing that in the end thereof I shall find much sweetnes None euer free from the temptations of Satan THere is none that is not often assailed by the tēpter euen the most holie and righteous men that liue vpon the earth when one temptation is resisted and passed ouer they are to expect another and to prepare themselues for it vnlooked for blowes are most dangerous O Lord I see how busie that enemie of mine is how many waies he laboureth to vndermine me and that especially when I am least aware of him O let me be alwaies readie to meete him in the gate before hee enter too farre vpon me let me not be secure and carelesse but very watchfull and vigilant euer prepared to encounter with him and to resist him especially in the beginning of his assaults wherein if I withstand him with faith courage and resolution I doubt not but with thy grace I shall in the end easilie get the victorie of him and see him flie before me Satans temptations sometimes more grieuous and dangerous then at other times SOme haue more grieuous temptations presently after their first calling and conuersion vnto God some long after some throughout their whole life haue that euill one vncessantly casting many fiery darts at them thereby if it were possible to wound them euen vnto death almost euery moment or at least to make their liues wearisome irkesome vnto them These are not to faint or to despaire whiles they are thus tempted but to be the more carefull to bee alwaies well appointed and readie furnished with the whole compleate armour of God whereby they may bee able to defend themselues frō the rage and malice of that furious enemie and deadly aduersarie of theirs who thirsteth after the blood of their soules and desireth nothing more then their vtter ruine and confusion Since hee is so fierce and eager vpon them they are to bee thus armed continually and withall to pray vnto the Lord and that oft and more earnestlie that he would shield and safegard them and giue vnto thē a ioyfull issue out of all their temptations and then no doubt at length they shall see the saluation of the Lord in the ouerthrow of that malitious enemie by whom heretofore they haue