prayor to God in his Sonne Christ who shed his blood for thee and thereby able to wash thee from thy bloody sinne if thou truely repent and doest faithfully and feruently praye for pardon and if thou be destitute of the power to pray of thy selfe thou maist vse the former prayer made for a man grieued in conscience for the hainousnesse of his sinnes or this short confession and prayer following and that often vntill thy conscience become at peace with God and then howsoeuer both the Lawe of God and men condemne thee for the facte and that thou suffer death for the same take it with godly patience for better it is for thee to suffer here a temporall death for thy sinne then to carrie the burthen of a tormenting conscience not suspected to thy graue which though man doe not shall accuse thee when it will be too late to crye for mercie A Prayer for a man imprisoned guiltie of murther O Lord God whose mercies are aboue all thy workes and yet I wretched creature haue not deserued the least part of the same but rather vtter confusion both of body and soule not onely for my manifold and grieuous sinnes committed euen from my youth but aboue all other of my grieuous sinnes I feele the heauy burthen of this one sinne this capitall and crying sinne in thy seuere Iustice impardonable the wilfull taking away of the life of thine innocent creature whose blood cryeth against mee as did that guiltlesse blood of Abel crye against his murtherous brother Kayne who was reiected by thee by reason of his impenitency deale not so with mee deare father I praye thee I am heartely forty for my wicked facte and doe acknowledge it to be most hainous yet not exceeding thy mercy which as farre as the heauen is aboue the earth so is thy mercie aboue thy Iustice and as farre as the East is from the West so farre canst thou put this my grieuous sinne from mee which though it be as red as blood yea blood it selfe yet is the blood of that Lambe Iesus Christ of more then sufficient efficacie and vertue to make it white as snowe O cast mee not vtterly out of thy fauour though I be a most grieuous sinner for my soule is heauy within mee my heart is cast downe I dare not looke vp vnto heauen where thou sittest a seueate Iudge and I tremble to thinke how grieuously I haue offended thee I am fallen O Lord I am fallen into the hands of my most deadly enemie Satan that pursues mee with deadly hatred he he O God prouoked mee to this vngodly deede and now he seekes to draw me to dispayre of thy mercie into whose hands O Lord I cast my selfe knowing that there is yet mercie with thee and in Iesus Christ perfect Redemption I am also fallen into the hands of men whose Lawes I haue by this mine vngodly facte wilfully broken by whose Lawes I am condemned and that worthily and there is none to comfort me but thou alone against whom especially I haue committed this bloody sinne for which as I doe acknowledge to haue deserued the death not onely of my wretched body but also of my most sinfull soule so I beleeue that the death of my body shall be a sufficient satisfaction to the Lawe of man and the griefe and sorrowe of my truely repenting heart through the preuayling death of my Sauiour Iesus Christ shall bee a satisfaction to thy Iustice. And as I doe acknowledge that I haue deserued to dye so I beseech thee Lord to prepare me therevnto with Patience faith firme and constant assurance of thy mercy that I fainte not at my approaching death but may bee assured that as thou forgauest the Theef vpon the Crosse receiuedst him into Paradice so thou wilt receiue my soule in the merites of Christ my Sauiour when through death it shall leaue my sinfull body which graunt gracious Lord God for his sake that dyed for penitent sinners among whome I cannot but confesse I am the greatest and the greater shall thy mercy appeare Lord confirme my faith in thee to the end and in my end Amen For such as are imprisoned for committing any offence against the Lawes of the Kingdome deseruing death AS the Lawes and Ordinances of Kingdomes are many to meete with the sinnes and transgressions of men which are infinite so the causes of mens restraynts imprisonments and punishments are not to bee named or numbred yet euery man commonly knowes the offences that deserue the same and haue not yet the grace or power to auoide the committing of them Thou art in prison knowne or vehemently suspected of some grieuous facte committed against the Lawes deseruing the executing sword of the Magistrate vpon life or member thy case is hard and dangerous deserued death or some other seueare punishment hangeth ouer thy head at the pleasure of the Iudge It behoueth thee therefore to looke into thine owne heart and to examine thine owne conscience strictely whether thou be guiltie or not of the cryme laid vnto thy charge or of any other grieuous cryme which thou hast long concealed for God many times doth punish an offender for some wicked facte formerly committed and neuer discouered by the suspition of a cryme and punisheth it as the acte done and therefore if thou feele thy selfe guiltie of any grieuous offence commited against God by the breach of the Lawes of man which thou hadst cleane forgotten if thou be after vniustly accused or suspected of another which if thou were guiltie of it deserued as seueare punishment as the former and thou receiue it though in that thou be innocent yet in Gods Iustice this thy punishment is for thy former offence iust He that wittingly or wilfully disobeyeth the Lawes of man is guiltie of the breach of the Lawe of God by whom Magistrates that establishe Lawes for ciuile gouernment of their subiects are set and appointed and haue their authoritie and power to punish offendors from God and therefore should euery soule submit it selfe to the powers ordained by God And seeing thou hast highly offended these Lawes fit it is that thou shouldst be apprehended restrained of thy raunging libertie whereby thou maist not onely offend others but bee a meane to intice others to thy example of sinning Receiue therefore thine imprisonment and punishment with patience murmure not against the Magistaate that thus in Gods steed and as his Minister correcteth thee who if hee had let thee runne on further in thine impieties the greater had beene thy sinne and the greater would haue beene thy finall punishment whereas now thou mayst haue time to examine thy life past and to repent thee of thy sinnes and to seeke to God in Christ for pardon and therefore hast thou rather cause to thanke God for thine imprisonment then to grudge that hee correcteth thee so shalt thou make profit of thy restraint in redeeming thy former ill spent time and learne
it is decreed it must Thou must forgoe it all and giue account for all If thou voluntarily leaue them for Christes sake thou shalt finde a farre greater treasure in heauen If thou haue some beneficiall Office or place of dignitie in the world and for the profession of Christ thou bee thrust from it and lose thine honour and reputation among men what losest thou seeing thou art sure of a more high and excellent place and of farre greater honour in heauen If thy Parents thy friends contrarily minded disdaine thee discountenance thee and cast thee cleane out of their fauour and societie and seeme to be ashamed of thee vndergoe it with godly patience for Christ for whose sake thou endurest these things will not be ashamed of thee but will acknowledge thee to be his adopted brother and coheire with him of the Kingdome of his Father Thinke it therfore an honour and no shame vnto thee to be brought forth in the open view and vpon the publick stage of the world to be a witnesse of the truth of Christ and to suffer for the same Thou shalt be esteemed in the sight of good and godly men aboue those that onely preach it and barely professe it when there is no feare of troubles for it and in the time of persecution will not auowe vnto the world by their suffering what they haue taught and outwardly professed in the world for it is one thing to professe and publish the truth of Christ with the mouth in time of peace and another thing to auouch it boldly seeing trouble and euen death it selfe before their faces for the constant perseuerance in the same It is commonly reputed an ignominious thing to be imprisoned and a more reproachfull thing to be put to death after the manner of wicked men But let not this at all daunt thee for Christ at his death whose cause thou maintainest contented himselfe to be hanged as a Thiefe and a Murtherer for such were the companions of his death yet was the Crosse whereon he suffered a more triumphant Chariot of honour then the most pompous triumph of the greatest Monarch of the world for his greatest victories And be thou assured that if thy lot in the wisedome and loue of God be such towards thee as to number thee among his faithfull witnesses constantly suffering death for his sake thou shalt be crowned among the victorious Martyrs Remember the most honourable title that St. Paul giueth vnto that constant seruant of Christ Stephen stiling him the Martyr of Iesus Christ And of Antipas whom St. Iohn calleth a faithfull Martyr of Christ Then which there cannot be a more glorious remembrance of the dead Thinke not therefore that thou art the first that hath suffered for Christ but if thou look into the eleuenth of the Hebrewes thou shalt see such a cloude of like witnesses that haue professed and suffered as thou doest as will encourage thee to stand fast vnto the end And if thou consider the times not farre past thou mayst vnderstand of an infinite number of thine owne Country men and women euen the weakest sexe who haue gone the same way before thee with vnuanquishable patience euen to death and therefore with like patience runne the same race looking vnto Iesus Christ the Author and finisher of thy faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the bitter death of the Crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the Throne of God where thou shalt behold him and his glory and be pertaker of it after thou hast endured a little speaking against of sinners persecution and death it selfe which is the most glorious liuerie of Gods dearest children whereby they are fashioned to the image of their Redeemer and which shall giue an end to all thy sorrowes and shame and bring thee to endlesse ioy and glory which not onely the Apostles of Christ but euen late Martyrs vnderstoode reiâ—yâ—ing that they were accounted wâ—rthy of the honour to suffer for their Masters sake What canst thou then less conceiue but that it is the meere loue of God in Christ towards thee to make choyse of thee among and aboue many others to afford thee this honour to be a maintainer of the glory and authority of the truth of Christ against the falshood and false authority assumed by Antichrist Therefore let it not trouble thee neither be thou the more fearefull to stand fast in thy profession because thou seest a million of Newters on euery side of thee who for the loue of their riches pleasures and carnall commodities the nicenesse of their owne dainty flesh their affection to father mother wife children and esteemed friends to be content to runne with the time and in steede of renouncing the things of this world for Christ rather to renounce Christ for the world In what a miserable case are these poore people poore be they neuer so rich that hold it a thing indifferent to follow God or Baal Christ or Antichrist forgetting that Christ dyed for them and that they shold acknowledge him whose bloud not Antichristian Bulls and Pardons must clense them from or to dye in their sinnes The reason of this their luke-warmenesse is for that the spirit of God by whom the faithfull haue power and strength to maintaine the truth to death dwelleth not in them who worketh mightily in the children of Saluation so that persecution for the same daunteth them not scourgings whippings scossings mockings stonings burning or whatsoeuer death cannot remoue their constancie in the profession of what they beleeue To conclude therefore with thee who art now vnder the crosse of persecution not knowing what end the Lord wil make with thee submit thy selfe to his will vndergoe with godly patience whatsoeuer the aduersaries of the Gospel of Christ shall lay vpon thy body thy soule they cannot touch and commend both thy body and thy soule into the hands and good pleasure of GOD thy heauenly Father in Christ in whom thou art blessed for whom thou sufferest and for whose sake thou shalt receiue a glorious reward In hope of which reward all the former Martyrs that haue beene content to spend their liues for Christ were willing to lay downe their liues desiring to be dissolued and to see the face of him for whom they suffered Feare not therefore if occasion so require to yeeld thy body to the mercilesse enemies of Christ they may kill the body the soule they cannot touch But if thou shouldest forsake him he will forsake thee and hee it is that can kill thy body and thy soule too and cast both into hell If a man take away thy life for Christ they doe thee a fauour against their willes they depriue thee of a mortall that thou maist immediatly receiue an immortall and a most glorious life from their tyrannie thou shalt be transported to the louing imbracements of thy
mentall vertues and therefore he that in euery iniury crosse or affliction grosly bewrayeth his impatience howsoeuer he may otherwise seeme not moued he is neither rightly religious nor truely vertuous No man indeed can be truly knowne to be a religious or a vertuous man vnlesse hee meete with the contraries of both and therein shew his valour constancie and patience in maintaining the one and shewing testimonies of the other for the man that is carried away or shewes himselfe newter betweene true and false Religion or betweene vertue and vice hath neither Religion nor vertue Men are not knowne to be truly vertuous but by tryall for as there are certaine minerals that seeme to be the very mother of gold or siluer which being cast into the fire appeare onely sulferous euaporate and turne to smoake so is there a kind of meeke and ciuile behauiour in some men that giueth a certaine outward faire lustre and show that it will beare the teste but when it is tryed by the fire of affliction crosses troubles iniuries reproches and the like it will appeare a meere shadowe without any true shew of that substantiall approued vertue Who is not a vertuous and valorous man before he be tryed and who is not a patient man before he be crost there be many seeming very valiant stout and strong men not dismaid or daunted at any perill yet if but a feauer take them the goute possesse them sickenesse befall them or any affliction crosse them they will either shewe their impatience by murmuring or grudging hanging downe their heads like a Bul-rush or sigh and groane vnder the burthen as if Maluerne hils were fallen vpon them and this for want of patience A rich man as long as he enioyeth health wealth and honour wished successe in all his affaires nothing crossing him how can he but be patient in shewe But when his wealth turneth into want his health into sickenesse his honour into disgrace when aduerse successe crosses his hopes and affliction seize vpon him as hee is a man without patience he will change his countenance and by his gesture and cariage shewe himselfe ashamed of the change of his estate fretting himselfe in the gall of his bitter impatience as if God did him iniurie thus to correct him whence also ariseth to the increase of his impatience diuersities of mens censures as they did of holy Iob. Surely sayes one he is a wicked man that God doth thus punish him Another Hee was very prodigall hee was proude vaineglorious ambitious the like and therefore hath God laid this heauie crosse vpon him as though they had liued in the very bosome of the man were priuie to the very counsell of God in punishing or correcting him In like manner doth the vnaduised multitude commonly censure all men afflicted be it by sorrow for sinne sickenesse and some lingring disease pouertie imprisonment banishment enemies shipwracke losse of goods by whatsoeuer meanes stubbornnesse of children disquietnesse betweene maried couples and in what sort soeuer a man is afflicted and visited by the hand of God though in his speciall loue hee must looke for censures according to the peruerse cenceits and opinions of such as seeme to knowe the very cause of Gods punishing and correcting men here belowe and yet neither looke into themselues nor knowe nor thinke of the cause of causes Seeing then that the best and dearest children of God are subiect to afflictions crosses and troubles of infinite kindes and consequently to the rash censures of the braine-sicke vulgar haue they not all good cause to flie vnto God for this heauenâ—y vertue Patience to support and sustaine them not onely in their proper crosses but in the vniust scandals of idle men But iudge thou no man hee standeth or falleth he is comforted or crossed according to the good pleasure of God and receiue thou thy lot whatsoeuer it be prosperous or aduerse as sent of God for thy good If he visit thee with sickenesse accept it as his fatherly chastisement to reforme thee before thou goe hence thereby summoning thee shortly to appeare before the Throne of his Maiestie If thou become poore bereft of all thy goods and haue little or nothing left content thy selfe consider thou hast yet more left thee then thou broughtest into the world with thee and were thou neuer so rich hadst thou neuer so great possessions neuer so high place of dignitie in the world thou must be taken from all thou must leaue all and all must leaue thee and as thy life is short so are thy pleasures crosses and patience of no long continuance If thou be backe-bitten and slaundered thinke thy selfe no better nor more worthy the applause of the world then Christs owne Apostles and Christ him selfe who were scoffed at railed vpon and scornefully reuiled yet reuiled not but with patience endured buffetings stripes and death in greatest meekenes If thou be banished thine owne natiue Countrie and from thy dearest friends inforced to wander from Countrie to Countrie from Citie to Citie remember wee are all strangers and pilgrims in this world and nothing better resembleth our earthly pilgrimage then doth banishment which may moue vs to thinke seriously and continually of a permanent Citie promised after our long and tedious exile which endureth but a little season and then wee returne ariue and shall be receiued into the Countrie of peace and Citie of perpetuall freedome If thou be troubled with disobedient and refractarie children haue patience remember Adam had a Kayne Abraham an Ismaël Izaacke an Esaii Dauid an Absalon It is the case of many a godly and religious father to haue an vngodly sonne If thou be troubled with a disquiet proude sullen tarte and taunting wife be patient vnder thine vnpleasant yoake looke into the Scriptures and thou shalt finde many good and godly men to haue gone before thee that haue shewed thee the way to beare this erosse with patience as Moses his Zipporah Dauid his Michal and others and if thou looke neere at home thou shalt finde many of thy good neighbours sicke of thy disease and nothing can ease it but patience prayer good counsell in the feare of God These are the salues for euery sore the phisicke for euery disease and Antidotes against euery poysonous and pestilent passion of the minde And for thy better help I haue though indeed weakely in this Treatise endeauoured briefly to touch many of the crosses that may befall thee wherein if thou be ignorant thou maist therein learne in some measure how to prepare thee to the patient bearing of them wayting the Lords leisure and his good pleasure with prayer in a liuely faith in true repentance of all thy sinnes which are the cause of all thy troubles crosses and calamities whatsoeuer and thou shalt finde the burthen of them light and the yoake which the Lord layeth vpon thee easie And be assured that if God correct thee here he loueth thee and doth it to
of my corrupt heart that though they may begin to worke sin in me Lord suppresse them before they come to execution Disperse Lord and dispell all the clouds of ignorance and errors that darken mine vnderstanding and giue me wisedome rightly to know thee and thy Sonne Christ and what he hath done for my soule and through thy grace restraine me this day from that thou hast commanded me to shun and let me doe nothing but what may please thee then whatsoeuer I shall thinke speake or determine shall be to thine owne glorie profitable to my selfe and others Preserue me from the secret and hidden snares of Satan who is restles to allure me to sinne inticing me to imbrace the vanities of the world and to yeeld to the lusts of mine owne corrupt nature But Lord as I haue by thy prouidence past the darkenesse of this night doe now enioy the joyfull benefit of the light of this day so let me this day auoide all the workes of darkenesse and as the day doth administer light vnto my corporall eyes the better to doe the works offices of my calling so let the light of thy Spirit O Lord shine in my soule that I may walke in the light of thy truth in true obedience to the good example of others Thou hast allotted me a calling in this life giue me power wisedome rightly to performe it my best endeuours can little preuaile without thy blessing and direction and therefore I humbly pray thee to prosper whatsoeuer I take in hand this day Blesse mine vnderstanding O Lord that I may rightly know and be able truely faithfully to performe what belongeth vnto my place and calling Blesse the health of my body the strength and continuall vse of my limbes senses which of them selues are weake and may soone decay without thy blessing Increase O Lord and confirme my faith grace wisedome and obedience euerie day more and more that I may euerie day more and more dye vnto sinne and be made stronger and more perfect in righteousnesse Heale O Lord all my corporall and spirituall infirmities and dispose my heart that I may be euerie day more and more mindfull that this my life is short and that this day may be my last day and let me so walke this day as if it should be the last day of this my mortall life that I may be assured of the immediate entrance into that life which is eternall with Christ my Redeemer And vntill that last day shall come O Lord I intreate thee in the name of Iesus Christ that this day and all the rest of my daies and nights may be prosperous and blessed vnto me the day for the performance of my calling the night for my rest vntill I come to my finall and perpetuall rest with thee and thy Sonne to whom with thy blessed Spirit I ascribe all honour praise and glory Amen Lord◠euermore increase my faith A Prayer to be said before a man goes to his nightly rest O Gracious Lord God heauenly Father the keeper and preseruer of all that come vnto thee for succour I haue been through thy great mercie and prouidence kept preserued defended fed sustained and relieued this day now come to an end and now as the night succeedeth the day and the darkenes the light so I knowe O Lord that death will succeede my life and the graue my bed Lord thou madest in the beginning light and darknes night day morning euening and all to thine own glorie to the vse of wretched man who in the beginning turned his light into darkenesse that darkenesse hath ouershadowed al that haue proceeded of his corrupt seed among whom O Lord I am so bemisted and blinded with that originall darkenes as I cannot see nor truely conceiue the light of thy most sacred word without that spirituall light shining from thine illuminating Spirit Thou madest two lights O Lord to endure for euer the Sun to gouerne the day and the Moone to giue light in the night yet doe not these lights O Lord direct our feete in the wayes of righteousnesse nor our pathes in obedience but rather lead vs to the occasions to sin but it is the supernaturall light O Lord that proceedeth from the brightnesse of thy louing countenance that directeth aright those that are thy children of the light By this light O Lord guide me that the night of ignorance ouer shadowe me not from beholding thy louing countenance which is more pretious more sweete vnto me then all earthly delights The day-light wherein I should onely followe with godly diligence in my calling to serue thee turneth into the darkenes of my minde without thy spirituall light how much more will the darkenesse of the night miscarrie my corrupt hart into idle and vngodly thoughts especially by the temptations of the Prince of darkenes when thy light faileth me For such O Lord is the nature of my polluted heart that it neuer resteth to infuse euill imaginations into my mind especially in my night wakings and in my sleepe to trouble me with sundrie euil vngodly dreames wicked phantasies showing thereby the fruites of my sinfull nature Therefore gracious Father I finding in my selfe thou knowing mine imperfections better then my selfe I come in all humblenesse praying thee to assist me with thy grace that I may conuert my heart from the euils whereunto it is enclined and onely incline and frame it to the sincere seruice of obedience to thee and to dedicate my mind will and affections in my night wakings either to meditate of thy word or in making my faithfull prayers vnto thee I cannot O Lord through the weakenesse of my corrupte nature subsist without cōpetent rest sleep yet I know thou slumbrest not nor sleepest but with thee the day and night are alike light and in thy prouidence and loue hast an eye ouer all that are thine whether they sleep or wake Giue therefore command O Lord vnto thy heauenly watchmen to keepe me and all that I haue from danger this night so will I lay mee downe vnder the shadowe of thy protecting winges to take my rest this night faithfully cōmending my soule and body and all that belong vnto me into thy most powerfull and fatherly tuition so shall I not feare what Satan or any malicious instrument of his shall practise or plot against me And in this assurance O Lord confirme my faith from night to day and from day to night that all the dayes and nights of my life may be rightly spent in a holy and sanctified conuersation to thy glorie and mine own comfort vnto the end of all my nights and dayes through Iesus Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Lord encrease and confirme my faith this night and euermore A PATH-VVAY TO GODLY PATIENCE IN all manner of Afflictions AFliction heere in this life is vnto the Godly as it were a Schoole to learne them Patience A most
lets which you shall finde in your selfe and many blockes Sathan will lay in your way therefore what you purpose to doe doe it speedily willingly faithfully and fully There is no meanes for you to be eased of the burthen of your sinnes but to cleaue vnto God in the merites of his Christ whome God the Father hath sent into the world to saue all those be they neuer so great and grieuous sinners as doe truly confesse hartily repent and faithfully beleeue the pardon of their sinnes and that they shall be saued through him If therefore thou truly beleeuest in Iesus Christ and appliest his death and merites vnto thy selfe in a full assurance and a setled perswasion that he dyed euen for thee then were thy sinnes neuer so great and haynous in quality neuer so many in number were they as red as scarlet or coloured as purple his bloud euen the bloud of that Lambe shall make them as white as snowe And therefore did Dauid crie wash mee O Lord wash mee and make mee cleane And what should hee wash but his sinnes And wherewith but with the meritorious bloud of Iesus Christ And before you can be thus washed and cleansed before you can haue the terror of your conscience eased and appeased You must confesse and lay open your sinnes before the Lord and say with a feeling and faithfull heart Against thee against thee O Lord onely haue I sinned and done euill in thy sight It must not be a lip confession as to acknowledge thy sinnes with thy mouth and to retaine them in thy heart Such a confession is hypocriticall and encreaseth thy sinnes were thy sinnes neuer so small in thine owne opinion yet oughtest thou to thinke them great and grieuous and so they are for the least sinne that a man commits is the breach of the Law and he that breaketh the least is guilty of the greatest It seemeth thou dost in deede feele already the grieuousnesse of thy sinnes by thy heauinesse and mourning which is a good beginning of repentance but vnlesse thou doe therewith conioyne Faith in the merites and bloud of Iesus Christ and dost truly purpose and endeuour to leade a new life thy repentance will be still imperfect Thou mayest also feare God and yet little profit thee except thou beleeue in the mercies of God in Christ for the deuils themselues feare and tremble at their finall sentence of vtter condemnation To feare God as a Sonne is in deede a most heauenly vertue and is found in none but in the very sonnes and daughters of God for their feare is not so much of the punishment for sinne as for that they haue offended so louing a God by their sinnes But to feare God for the first is to feare him as a Slaue that feares more the whip then to abuse his Maister And this feare proceedeth of the suggestion of Sathan who tempts and allures thee to sinne perswading thee that thy greatest sinnes are but veniall and easily pardoned by saying onely Lord haue mercie vpon me or by some superficiall and light confession And when the sinne is committed he tells thee that thy sinnes are so great and haynous as they can not be forgiuen Agrauating that seruile feare which often drawes silly weake soules to dispaire of Gods mercies Thou grieuest that thou hast sinned because thou hearest that euery sinner shall die And yet thou thinkest it sufficient to thinke yea and to confesse thou art a sinner and Sathan would haue thee goe no further And so farre he will permit thee to goe without hindering thee as he did Kayne and Iudas but when hee sees thee begin to leade a life contrary to that he hath led thee and lulled thee in when he obserueth thee to shew any fruites of true repentance hee will then tell thee it is a needlesse labour for thy sinnes are so great as God will neuer forgiue them though thou repent neuer so mâ—ch Beleeue not this auncient lyer though hee doe perswade thee that thy sinnes are so great as the bloud of Iesus Christ can not preuaile to heale thee of them beleeue him not I say for he himselfe knoweth though to the agrauation and â—ncrease of his owne torments 〈◊〉 Iesus Christ came into the world to saue greatest sinners that repent and beleeue in the merites of Christ of which number because hee knoweth he cannot be he laboureth and vseth his infinite infernall Ministers to draw as many as hee can to his disobedience and condemnation Beleeue him not nor feare him not hee is a lyer in his suggestions and weak in his power and though he doe perswade thee that thy sinnes are so great as cannot be pardoned in the bloud and by the merites of Iesus Christ beleeue the contrary for he himselfe knoweth and hath confessed Christ to be the Sauiour of the faithfull and he that shall finally condemne him and all vnbeleeuers Art thou come to torment vs before the time saith he foreshowing that there is a time appointed for his vtter condemnation at the last day Hee knoweth that Christ came to saue sinners and that without exception of any sinne the sinne against the holy Ghost excepted of which sinne hee is highly guilty and therefore neuer to be forgiuen Take vnto thy selfe therefore a spirituall courage and defie this reprobate lyer this malignant aduersary to his face and tell him in a liuely feeling of the spirit of God in a true and firme faith that thou beleeuest in Christ thy assured Redeemer and hee shall not onely not preuaile against thee but he shall flie from thee And for thy more strength put on the whole armour of God and he will buckle it vnto thee that armed Christ against this common and mortall aduersary who ouercame him and triumphed ouer him hee will arme thee so on all parts that thou shalt not feare to encounter him hand to hand as Christ did Thou shalt combate with him and conquer him as Dauid did Goliah and therefore yeeld not to his tentations feare not his suggestions Looke vp vnto Christ thy Sauiour though hee be in the heauens glorified and hath his Throne of glory there hee will yet be thy safe second here hee will be euer on thy side therefore if through frailty thou shouldest be in some measure foyled as it seemeth thou art be not discouraged he will enter the List for thee and in thy behalfe And as soone as that infernall Champion doth but obserue that thou art seconded by him that hath alreadie conquered him he will not abide the field he will flye and forsake any further pursuit of thee Yet remember that this enemie will seeke and spie all occasions to take thee at any aduantage and will marke whereunto thou art still enclined and according to thy coÌ„mon course of siuning hee will feede thee with occasions to moue thee to offend thy louing God
a blessing Beware thou seeke not to the reputed cunning men and women who are supposed to heale by their Charmes and Spels who if they preuaile in any cure it is by the permission of God by the deuill The surest remedie is to haue thy recourse to God and not to Baalzâ—bâ—b as Ahaziah who dyed the death for running to Witches and Wizards the limbs of the deuill but put thy trust in the all-sufficient God alone vsing such lawfull meanes as hee hath appointed both for the ease of thy soule and health of thy body and then recommend the issue to him with godly patience committing thy will to his will If he restore thee to thy former health be thou thankfull to him and let thy thankfulnes appeare by a new and godly course of life and true obedience If he haue otherwise determined of thee namely to call thee out of this miserable mortall life reioyce and be glad for thy soule now sicke in sin shall suddainly receiue a new and glorious life thy body now oppressed with griefe shall be at rest though it perish and rot in the graue it shall rise againe and meete the soule and be thereunto again vnited with farre greater glory then thy hart can thinke In the meane time seeke or thinke of nothing but of the things that are aboue and endeuour to haue thy heart thine vnderstanding thoughts and affections so qualified and the Lampe of faith in the merits of Christ so liuely enlightned that thou mayest ioyfully meet the Bridegrome Christ in soule and body when hee shall appeare in the cloudes in glory and maiestie to giue euery man according to his works Be not afraide therefore of Death it is but the seperation of the soule now as in a prison from the body which is but a carkasse full of naturall infirmities which the soule possesseth for a little time fraught onely with miseries with griefe and feare which being dissolued shall bring end to all thy cares dangers feares miseries and afflictions and bring thee to the Paradise of God where thou shalt feele no more of these vnsauourie things of the flesh for the Lord will transforme this thy vile base and corrupt body and make it like vnto his most glorious body Then shalt thou be no more subiect to sinne or sicknesse no aduersity nor anguish shall afflict thee no enemies shall trouble thee no slanders disgrace thee And where thou art here mortall subiect to all the former euils thou shalt be there immortall The face of God which is the fountaine of light shall there shine vpon thee and no darknesse shall ouershadow thee all perfection of ioy glory and gladnesse thou shalt finde there and be so plentifully filled with the contemplation of the aboundance of those heauenly pleasures that you will or can delight in nothing but in the beholding of the most glorious face of Iesus Christ and onely delight in the association of that heauenly company which ioyes if thou truly knewest here as thou shalt enioy them there Thou wouldest be content rather to endure a thousand deaths then to be depriued of them Prepare thy selfe therefore with all diuine furniture with faith hope loue and all other holy and heauenly affections to goe the way of all flesh Lay willingly downe thy carnall part in the graue to become dust whereof it was made and commend thy soule into the hands of God that gaue it and of Iesus Christ who redeemed it And according to the counsell that God gaue to Hezekiah set thy house in order And aboue this thy corporaâ—l habitation set thy soule in order and as much as in thee lyeth haue peace with all men Depart in the loue of and to thine enemies And as farre as the possibilitie of thy earthlie substance will extend owe nothing to any man when thou departest hence but loue and thinke not much neither let it grieue or trouble thy minde to leaue thy worldly wealth which was but lent thee thy father mother wife children lands possessions siluer gold and the things that haue beene or are most deare vnto thee to hasten to this heauenlie habitation where eternall glorie shall bee thy wealth the eternall God thy Father Iesus Christ thy brother all the Saints and Angels and all the holie and most glorious heauenlie companie shall bee far more comfortable vnto thee then all the former who were both mortall and inconstant And in steede of the base and vncertaine possessions in the earth thou shalt possesse a Kingdome for euer In steede of thy gold and siluer and thy most precious Iewels thou here for a moment enioyest thou shalt enhabite a Citie whose walls are gold garnished with all maner of precious stones farre excelling the rarest and richest that euer the earth yeilded whose beauty and excellencie the tongue of man no not of an Angell can truly expresse to our apprehension But shadowed out vnto vs vnder these most precious ornaments incomprehensible Should any carnall consideration therfore hinder thee from a willing minde to change this thy mortall and miserable life as short as euill for a life so glorious and permanent The longer thou continuest here the more cause thou hast to desire to be dissolued for that thou here doest augment daily thy sinnes and euery day brings new griefe Prepare thy selfe therefore without delay make thee readie that when GOD shall call thee thou mayest be willing to goe And for thy better preparation vse prayer often in a liuely faith and if thine infirmitie will permit thee vse this prayer following or any other godly prayer with holy meditation to season thy soule through the holy Ghost commending thy spirit vnto God in Iesus Christ. A Prayer to be often said of a sicke man or woman O Lord my GOD and my most louing and mercifull Father in thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ I thy most vnworthy creature heauie laden with the burthen of my manifold and grieuous sinnes much oppressed with the infirmity and sicknesse which thou hast iustly inflicted vpon my corrupt and weake body doe humbly pray thee to pardon my sinnes and giue me patience to beare this thy gentle correction in which I doe heartily submit my selfe vnto thy heauenly will whether it be thy pleasure to permit me yet a little while to enioy the health of my body to serue thee or to take my soule out of the lothsome prison of my sinfull carkasse into thine owne hands where I know it shall be safe and not perish And therefore Lord giue me a godly contented minde to suffer my body to returne vnto the earth from whence it was taken there to rest vntill it shall please thee to raise it againe at the last resurrection and to make it of a mortall an immortall and of a corruptible to make it a perfectly glorious body In the meane time O Lord I doe beseech thee to fortifie and strengthen my soule against all
not that God corrects them in this place for their sinnes and that the Maiestrate punisheth them for their offences but in steed of acknowledging their faultes they seeke to cleere themselues by the malice of some enemie some false accuser some cruell creditor when indeede their owne sinnes haue beene the cause of their restraint And therefore such as feare God will take it as a fatherly correction and attribute it to the loue of God that by this meanes seeketh their reformation and saluation Submit thy selfe therefore vnto his will and doe not think that this befalls thee by chance or through the malice of an enemie or the hardnesse of the heart of a Creditor If an enemie haue accused thee or a Creditor arrested thee thinke they were but Gods Ministers though peraduenture thou bee not guiltie of the thing for which thou art accused and imprisoned yet remember what thou hast formerly done for God many times punisheth a man and that seuerely for a sinne formerly committed and long concealed vpon an accusation whereof the Partie is not guiltie yet being guiltie of a former hainous crime that deserueth like punishment the Lord is not vniust to punish him how and by what meanes soeuer God is prouoked by sinne to inflict the least correction vpon man and as there is no man but he is a sinner so there is no man is free from one crosse or affliction or other to put him in minde that God is displeased with his sinne and yet he permitteth some men to runne on long euen to their last gaspe free from any seene crosse or calamitie but these not the happiest men for whom soeuer God chasteneth not here hee reserueth for them a more seuere punishment in the end a prison farre exceeding any worldly restraint for he that is in this world a prisoner is at length deliuered liuing or dead but from that future is no time limited or permitted to be freed through all eterniâ—ies Thinke not therefore this easie restraint grieuous whereof so good vse is to be made for by this thou maist learne if a temporall and momentanie imprisonment be so loathsome and irckesome vnto thee where thou hast yet some though small libertie what will that bee where thou shalt haue no freedome no intermission of torment and horror besides thou hast here some companions and friendly fellow-prisoners whose company thou maist frequent to thy comfort but the companions which they shall there finde are hideous fearefull such as haue no other qualitie but to torment and suffer and be tormented Know therefore that God in his singular prouidence and loue restraineth thee here a prisoner that thou shouldest here learne to auoid that which is prepared for the rebellious and obstinate wicked ones hereafter For if thou reforme thee not being restrained and become obediente what may be thought of thee being at libertie But vsing thy restraint as thou maist oughtest thou art in farre better case then are many Libertines Heere thou maist read the worde and meditate thereon heere thou maist pray and excercise holy duties without such varietie of occasions as the freedom of the world affordeth to distract thee Yet I would not that I should be vnderstood that because corporall restraint is a meanes to haue the minde at libertie when the body is in Prison that any man should wilfully occasion or voluntarily seeke his owne restraint but rather that being thus restrayned to consider duly the cause why you are restrayned for the cause much importeth the ioye or griefe the hope or feare of a Prisoner Pharaohs Baker and Butler were both in Prison the one hanged the other restored to his Office yet both deserued Imprisonment for offending their Maister But Ioseph and Iohn Baptist were Imprisond the one through the false accusasion of his vnchaste Mistresse the other through enuye in telling Herod of his Incest The first had his freedome made Cheef vnder Pharaoh in Egypte the other lost his head to please a Whore There are many causes of imprisonement and many causelesse imprisoned and both haue cause to reioyce the first that God in his fauour calles him to knowe himselfe by the consideration of his offence for which hee is committed the other may the more reioyce that he is punished being an innocent as was Michaiah the Prophet of God who was cast into prison for telling Iehosaphat and Ahab that they should not prosper in fighting against the King of Siriah The deerest children of God haue suffered imprisonment for diuers causes especially for speaking the truth from God as Paul Peter c. whose imprisonments tended to their euerlasting freedome for to suffer for righteousnesse sake is a blessed thing but to suffer as an euill doer hath no promise of inward comfort or outward releefe especially if he continue impenitent for the euill he hath done yet all hope is not taken from a sinner who for the offending of the Lawes of God or men is imprisoned especially if he truely repent and with a liuely faith returne vnto God were he as guiltie as the Theefe vpon the Crosse who from the prison was brought to the Crosse at the Crosse to Christ and from the Crosse to Paradice with Christ. It behoueth therefore to consider the cause of thine imprisonment for as there are seuerall causes so are there seuerall councelles and comforts to be applyed If thou haue offended the Lawes of thy Soueraigne which may be done by diuers forbidden actions deseruing death or some other seuere punishment as treasons rebellion murther theftes and the like Some againe are punished for debte for slandering their neighbours or doing such iniuries against them as the Lawe of man grounded vpon the Law of God hath power to punish with imprisonement in all which is required Patience to beare it prayer in faith to God to be eased with true hearty acknowledgement of thy fault to God against whome euery sinne is committed and to seeke reconciliation with the partie offended so shall restraint for what cause soeuer become the more easie to bee borne And first I will touche the most capitall and most hainous offences such as if thou haue committed or any of them and bee restrained for them there remaineth for thee in the seueritie of Iustice nothing but the expectation of the censure and Sentence of death and therefore fit for thee to learne how to prepare thee that though thy body perish thy soule may be saued Against Treason for which a man is worthily imprisoned ABoue all other sinnes that can be committed against the Lawe of man there is none so great so grieuous capitall hainous as is Treason against the person of a Soueraigne of whome no man ought to moue his tong no not in his most priuate chamber but to what may tende to the welwishing of his welfare and prosperitie much lesse ought any man to moue his hand
at the iust proceeding of the Magistrate whose Lawes I haue offended nor against them by whome I was found guiltie nor against the Iudge by whose Sentence I am condemned for they are all thy Ministers O Lord and haue done nothing but what thy good pleasure is they should doe And therefore I impute vnto thee O Lord all equitie Iustice and righteousnesse to my selfe nothing but sinne shame confusion O God though thy Iustice requite that sinners should here be punished yet thou reseruest mercie to them that are sorie that they haue offended thee I am sorie O Lord I am sorie that I haue committed the least sinne against thee but this grieuous sinne for which I am inforced to suffer I lament and repent more then death it selfe because I haue thereby dishonoured thee wronged those to whome I rather should haue done my best dutie I haue caused others to sinne by the example of my sinne and haue inticed them that otherwise might haue liued without the danger I haue drawne them into so that I may be said to be guiltie not onely of mine owne blood but of theirs also that haue sinned by my meanes or with mee and deserue like punishment O Lord remember that all men are sinners and there are great and crying sinnes and there are sinnes of infirmitie but Lord the sinnes that I haue committed haue cryed and thou hast heard them they cryed vnto thee for this punishment which thou hast determined iustly to be inflicted vpon me and as the censure is already past vpon me which I cannot auoid so doe I expect the time beseeching thee in the aboundance of thy mercies to giue me constancie to perseuere in a liuely faith vnto the end If my lot Lord be vntimely death and that I see I must suffer for the guilt of my trangressions here let me finde fauour with thee as that Theefe did who suffered for his sinnes and was receiued into Paradice not of desert but of thy free mercie O deale not with me Lord after my merit for then the death of my body or what soeuer corporall punishment were no satisfaction to thy Iustice Haue mercie therefore vpon me O Lord and what course soeuer man taketh with my body receiue thou my soule into thine eternall Paradice My heart is prepared O God my heart is prepared and into thy hands Lord I commend my body to be punished and my soule to be glorified in the merits of Iesus Christ my Redeemer Amen O Lord encrease my faith and confirme it to the end For such as are imprisoned for debte THe Law of equitie which is the Lawe of God requireth that a man should owe nothing to man but loue and good will which is hard at all times for the most of men to performe there must bee as there euer hath bin lending borrowing buying and selling Debitor and Creditor some debters would but cannot paye some haue wherewith will not paye the first may be pityed the other exacted For the same Lawe of equitie giueth lawfull power to a Creditor vpon conuiction to cast him into prison and there to detaine him till he paye it Many thinke that what is lent them is as if they found it making no reckoning to repaye it and so in steed of satisfaction and thankes they bring griefe vnto the Lender But in the same Chapter ver 3. men are aduised that haue occasion to borrowe to keepe their word to deale faithfully and kindely with the Lender so shall their necessities bee alwayes releeued But Men of euill conscience as is there further said standing in neede of another mans helpe will kisse their hand and humble themselues vntill they haue gotten what they desire and when they should repay it they prolonge the time and giue a carelesse answer and though they bee able yet scarse giue the halfe againe or deceiue him of his mony and insteed of thankefulnes and loue they giue him curses rebuke euill words for the good hee hath done them And this is the cōmon course of politicke and wilfull Banckeruptes and euill disposed persons that get what they can into their hands of others mens goods and either voluntarily take shelter in one prison or another intending a forceable moderation and qualification of their debts or else conuey away their goods and estates secretly and fleeth the Country intending to pay nothing at all though their estates be able to discharge their debtes and to leaue competent meanes of the rest to maintaine and releeue themselues by which sinister and too common a dishonest practise many haue vniustly inriched themselues But such fraudulent getting goods come little short of if it equalize not meere roberie though for a while they may smile at and reioyce in their impious pollicie If thou therfore haue or intende thus subtillie to defraude thy Creditors hauing sufficient to satisfie them and in the meane time sufferest thy Creditors to want who peraduenture haue as much need as thy selfe there is not onely no pitie to be had of thine imprisonment but fit a more seuere punishment were inflicted vpon thee especially if thou be of the number of them that will rather spend that in prison or in standing out in Lawe to defraude a Creditor knowing that in equitie it is due then with the same money to make him honest satisfaction or in part But if thy debt haue grown by meere necessitie of borrowing and thou at the time of receiuing it hadst a true sincere and godly purpose to repaye it by probable expected meanes and in the meane time some crosse by the finger of God hath befallen thee whereby thou art indeed preuented of thy true meaning of the performance of thy faithfull promise thou art to bee excused in thy breach and pityed in thine imprisonment not hauing conueniently wherewith to pay and if thy Creditor able to forbeare doe continue the hardnesse of his heart towards thee still detaining thee thinke it a fatherly chastisement vpon thee to inure Patience in thee wherein if thou submit thy selfe to Gods will in working for thee by faithfull prayer thy Patience shall produce the experience of the loue and fauour of God towards thee so shalt thou not need to bee so much ashamed of thine imprisonment as he may be iustly condemned that detaines thee thou maist reioyce seruing the Lord when he shall be sorie that hee dealt so vncharitablie with thee It behoueth thee yet to examine thy selfe and thy life past whether thou haue liued in the feare of God and in godly diligence in thy calling or whether thou hast past thy time in idlenesse in ryoting gaming and company keeping according to the course of too many in this corrupt age and hast beene compelled through thy deserued necessitie to supplie either thine owne vanities or thy poore family to borrow not knowing any meanes nor hauing a godly purpose to repay it if it be so and thy Creditors haue
haue any iust cause against me wherein I cannot iustifie mine innocencie being by nature fraile and may erre yet giue mee not ouer vnto their wills but according to mine vnfained hearts desire to be reconciled vnto them work their hearts to embrace peace with me and loue towards me as thou knowest I vnfainedly desire to show towards them If their hearts be so hardened as no submission nor my sincere affection towards them can obtaine reconciliation with them but that they will still continue to insult and as it were to triumph ouer me I shall euer as I doe appeale vnto thee for iustice to deale with them as thou wilt whose iudgement betweene them and me I acknowledge most iust And therefore Lord though they by their greatnes wealth wit in some thinges preuaile against mee and insolently make their boasts that they haue surprised me and gotten their wills of me so farre as they may say in their hearts that thou hast forsaken mee giue me euer a strong and constant faith in thee that I faint not nor be afraide for when they thinke most to triumph ouer me thou art able to frustrate their hope and to enforce them to sue to me for peace whereunto my heart is truly enclined But Lord thou seest that the more I seeke for peace the more they seeke to vexe mee and to oppresse mee with actions at law diuersly troubling me and that vniustly that heartily desire to liue in peace Their hearts are in thine hands O Lord and if thou thinke it fit to keepe mee yet vnder their tyrannie more to humble me I am in thy hands doe with me what thou wilt for I know that what thou doest or permittest to be done vnto me is in loue and I know thou seest my troubles and when thou in thy wisdome shalt thinke mine afflictions sufficient thou wilt be pleased to restore me to comfort and peace In the meane time while mine enemies are in my sight and I in theirs guide me in my wayes protect and keepe mee vnder the safe shadow of thy wings then shall I not feare what man can doe vnto me Lord euermore encrease my faith Counsell and comfort for him that is persecuted for his constant profession of the Gospell of Christ. KNow this thou that art afflicted and persecuted for the profession of the Gospell of Christ and for thy faith in him that hee doth not suffer thee to be punished as if hee were angry with thee as hee sometimes sheweth himselfe in some other afflictions which hee inflicteth vpon men for their sinnes whereof no man is free but herein hee sheweth thee an extraordinarie fauour First in illuminating thee by his holy spirit whereby thou knowest him and his truth which thou canst not comprehend by thy naturall wisedome were it neuer so profound and deepe in carnall vnderstanding And secondly in making â—hee a constant witnes of that truth which it hath pleased him to reueale vnto thee and in that he giueth thee strength and godly courage to stand constantly and resolutely in the open and publick acknowledgement of thy faith in him and patiently to suffer persecution for his sake which grace and mercie is giuen thee of God first to know then to beleeue and consequently to suffer for his name which patient sufferings are the fruites of his loue towardes thee Christ himselfe approueth thee blessed if thou suffer for righteousnesse sake If thou be but rayled vpon for the name of Christ thou art blessed If thou hadst no further testimonies of his loue then these short assurances and comforts it were sufficient But he further addeth If thou thus suffer the Kingdom of heauen is thine by promise and if thou be truly faithfull thou canst not but feele the truth of this promise and therefore doubt not but hold fast by the promises of Christ be constant be not dismayed at whatsoeuer threats of thine aduersaries not thine but the enemies of Christ Iesus himselfe as Paul sometimes was when hee persecuted those that professed the name of Christ. They were but men he persecuted Christian men and in them hee persecuted Christ. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me If then thou be persecuted for Christ remember that Christ is persecuted in thee What an honour then is this vnto thee to be persecuted for thy Maister who is Lord of heauen and earth Doest thou thinke that if thou suffer for him he will not freely reward thee for thy fidelitie Will an ordinarie Maister of a silly seruant suffer him to be beaten wounded and abused for him and in his cause and will he not reward him If his Master assigne him a seruice wherein hee trusteth his fidelitie and constancie and hee like a coward denie his Maister reuolt and take part with his Masters enemies will hee not thinke him a perfidious seruant and punish him How much more will Christ reward thee if thou stand stoutly and in a Christian constancie in the defence of his cause though hee can without thee defend and maintaine his owne but that hee will make thee a witnesse of the truth which all that shall be saued doe stedfastly beleeue But if for feare of or for the enduring of a little temporall punishment thou shouldest reuolt forsake him and denie him before his enemies hauing such a royall and rich reward set before thee as the Kingdome of heauen and eternall glorie if thou perseuere vnto the end and contrarilie perpetuall shame and ignominie if thou denie him He that for feare of trouble persecution or death it selfe for Christ will denie Christ he is not worthie of his merites by which and by no other meanes thou and all beleeuers are to be saued Denie him not therefore before men that must acknowledge thee before his Father in heauen If thou faint and forsake him here it is a denying of him and he will denie thee to be one of them hee hath redeemed when he shall giue vp vnto God his Father those that he hath chosen out of the great masse of mankinde by his all-sufficient sufferings to bring them to glorie which is the free reward assured to be giuen to as many as constantly professe his name and for his sake patiently endure here persecution and troubles The sufferings that thou here endurest are short and momentanie they endure but a small time they are quickly past ouer were it that thou shouldest be burned or to vndergoe anie other torment for thy faith in Christ If imprisoned suffering hunger colde nakednesse and stripes what were thy suffering to the eternitie of blessednesse If thou be depriued of thy goods and of the dearest things thou enioyest in this world consider what things they are are they not such things as come and goe inconstantly If thou haue lands and possessions thou art but Steward of them If thou haue wealth thou art but the disposer of it and if an ordinarie death befall thee as
Psal. 51. Ver. 3. What confession wee must make Iam. 2. 10. Sorrow for sin a good beginning of true repentance yet not perfect without perseuerance in wel doing Sathans illusions 〈◊〉 4. 14. Not to beleeue Sathans suggestions Sâ—â— Iusiâ— Math. 8. 29 Sathan guilty of the sinne against the holy Ghost 1. Ioh. 4. 14. Iam. 4. 7. As Christ triumphed ouer Sathan so shal all beleeuers Euery faith full Christian combating with Sathan hath Christ his second Sathan noting whereunto man is enclined feedes him with occasions to offend Eph 2. We are neuer free from trials Sathan hath swift wings to follow and to tempt sinners Most worthy men haue beene guilty of great sins If there were no sinne there needed no Redeemer None can loue God but such as he loueth Christ is the truth the way and the life Pray God accepteth inward sighs for sinne Sicknes of the soule sicknes of the body great afflictions The soule and body feele one the others sicknesse Sathan in our health tempteth vs to sinne and in sicknesse presents it vnto vs. Sathan is most busie to tempt vs to distrust God when wee are neerest our death The true childe of GOD is most tempted of Sathan wherby he may know that sathan hath no share in him When wee are wâ—akest and Sathan busiest God in Christ is strongest for vs. God sheweth great fauour by drawing vs out of the power of Sathan by sicknesse Exo. 15. 26. The neglect of the word and seruice of GOD a great sin Ioh. 11. 4. 15. Prayer an argument of the child of God The effects of true repentance Fit signes of repentance in a sicke man A sick man may inwardly pray thogh standers by obserue it not Wee may pray for health in our sicknes and seek to the Physician so we depend not more vpon his â—rt theÌ„ vpon Gods blessing To abandoÌ„ cunning men and women so reputed 2. Kings How thankfulnesse should appeare vpon recouery Comfort against death Not to fear death for it frees vs from many troubles and brings vs many blessings How to prepare vs for death How to disâ—ose of worldly things before we die and how to leaue all The ioyes of heauen are inexpressible Why wee should desire to dye Pouerty and want a great affliction Riches and pouerty variable Easier to fall then to rise Riches and pouerty may both proceede of Gods mercie The ground of true prosperity The cause and meanes are to be examined how a man comes poore To get and ryotously to spend is idlenesse it selfe Idlenesse the cause of many sinnes God sends pouerty want to weane vs from sinne that fulnes procured Great difference betweene the rich gluttoÌ„ aud poore Lazarus God dealeth well with vs to take away the meanes that make vs proud Pouerty nor riches make men good or euill Pouerty to some better then riches Men iâ—dged happy and vnhappy according to their welth and want God iudgeth not according to the outward appearance Foode and cloathing a sufficient portion Superfluous foode and rayment haue vndone many God is ready to receiue a prodigall God neuer faileth the faithfull Math. 15. 33. 34. Math. 14. 17 Mar. 6. 38. God can satisfie his children with little Deut. 29. 5. It is a great dishonour to God to thinke he cannot doe now as he did of old for the reliefe of his Before corporall wee are to aske spirituall things Math. 6. 13. God as he was so he is and will be for euer Why God depriueth men of their libertie The Prison a place of libertie to serue God It is a death to a carnall man to bee preuented of his pleasures The minde may bee at libertie when the bodie is imprisoned Many are worse after then before they were imprisoned None is restrained of his liberrie but by Gods Prouidence though man may bee the meanes As all men are sinners so all men deserue câ—rrection If a corporall prison be irksome what may we thinke of the infernall God restraineth men here to giue theÌ„ libertie hereafter The cause of imprisonment is to bee considered Gen. 39. 14 Math. 13. 4. He that is imprisoned without iust cause may reioyce 1. King 22. 27 Most godly men haue beene imprisoned As the cause is so ought the counsell to be Diuers causes of imprisonement What is required of a man imprisoned Treason the most capitall sin A Traytor worthy of most cruell death The Maiestie of a King daunteth a Traitor Traytors bewray their intentions by outward gesture No good subiect will pitie the death of a Traytor Murther a crying sin Act 28. 4. The blood of the murthered cryes against the murtherer The prison is a fit place for a murtherer to repent if he haue any grace It is not sufficient for a murtherer to confesse the fact to God but to men The guiltlesse maybe suspected and suffer for the fact of another not confessed Euery man knowes the offences against the Lawes that deserue death God sometimes punisheth an offendor for some former sin by the suspition of a fault he did not commit The offeÌ„ce of mans Lawe is the offence of Gods The sooner an offender is preuented of his sinne the happier is he Better to suffer here then hereafter Though the Law of God commandeth to owe to men nothing but loue yet there must bee lending owing but there ought to be no defrauding by owing Eccl. 29. 4. Ver. 5. 6. The picture of Bankrupts They that can will not pay are worthilie punished They that willingly would and cannot pay are to bee pityed Fit to examine the cause that driueth a man to borrow A good man may be indebted imprisoned for it and that no argument of Gods displeasure The pleasures whervpon men spend their meanes are nothing but drosse The last fit refuge for a poore man that cannot pay his debts Gen. 39. 14. to 21. Math. 7. 12. Luk. 6. 31. Math. 4. 24. Men ought to doe as they would be done vnto Charity begins at home a prouerbe often ill applied The course of cruell men Some brag to make dice of their poore debtors bones The policy of some creditors How can a cruell creditor pray forgiue me as I forgiue A godly rich mans best vsury They are deceiued that thinke goodnes to consist in goods Pro. 10. 15. 16. If the rich change robes with the poore the poore will be the Gentleman the rich the begger The rich Glutton and poore Lazarus Luk. 19. A worthy example for rich men to follow Good counsell for the rich A dead maÌ„ hath no goods Rich credicoâ—s must not wâ—rke all extremities that humane lawes permits Wilfull able debtors may be enforced Enemies are necessarie Psal. 55. 19. Enemies are better then flattering friends The way to trye a true friend from a flatterer It is a mischiefe not to knowe a friend from a flatterer Rom. 16. 18. The best meanes to auoid slander is to liue vertuously Math. 18. 7. To giue no cause of offence If
Sauiour Christ and enioy the most amiable sight of him and the societie of the whole company of heauenly Angâ—ls and of thy fellow Martyrs gone before thee and be pertaker with him and them of that glorie that so farre passeth all humane apprehention here as cannot be conceiued or vttered O loose not this most blessed recompence for a little suffering but stand fast and Christ that before thee and for thee suffered infinite greater torments then thou canst suffer or that man can inflict vpon thee shall sende that comforter the holy Ghost to strengthen thee in thy greatest agonies and spirituall distractions he will stand by thee and will show thee his louing and amiable countenance as he did at the death of his faithfull Martyr St. Stephen Wherefore faint not flie not vnlesse thou without breach of thy faith maist auoide the daunger by the prouidence of God by flying from one place or Citie vnto another alwayes commending thy spirit vnto him that gaue it so where soeuer thou bee persecuted hee will receiue it and glorifie it and both thy soule and thy bodie shall be made eternally glorious when all men shall bee iudged according to their faith in Christ. This exhortation I doe confesse may be thought superfluous in this blessed time of peace and freedome of the Gospell for that Gods name be glorified there is neither seene felt or heard of any persecution among vs for the profession of the Gospell of Christ and let all men pray for the continuance of it and for the long life and preseruation of him a succeeding religious Dauid vnder whome by the mercy of God we at this day doe so freely enioy it They are the greatest blessings that God in earth can bestowe vpon vs the free vse of his word and a King so religiously inclined as it alreadie appeareth all his studie and endeauour is to further and to maintarne the true profession and preaching of the heauenly word which his most worthie and religious father left inuiolate Yet it may offende none that this exhortation which may seeme out of date is inserted among other troubles requiring patience for though our generall libertie be such that euery man at his libertie may freely professe the word and vse the meanes for the increase of his knowledge faith and zeale yet may there bee among so great a people of diuers opinions and practises of Religion some priuately oppressed scoffed at and mocked and it may be violently constrained to renounce the truth which in it selfe is a persecution who meclitating on this exhortation may peraduenture bee comforted nothing fearing but by the helpe and prouidence of God any alteration or change of that most holesome and heauenly doctrine which is here amongst vs freely taught and plentifully preached but shall be maintained and defended which God graunt it may be as long as the Sunne and Moone endureth A Prayer for a man persecuted for his faith and profession of the Gospell of Iesus Christ. OEternall mercifull powerfull and euer-louing Lord God in Iesus Christ the onely keeper Protector and maintainer of thy children that suffer here in the world for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ looke downe I humbly beseech thee and behold what man doth vnto me for thy name sake for thou hast assured those that sincerely professe that truth which thou hast taught in thy word in their sharpest and seuerest persecutions to bee either preserued and defended from their tyranny or to be so strengthened by thy grace that they shall be able to beare what soeuer they shall be inforced to suffer In hope and assurance of this thy mercie I reioyce that thou accountest me worthie to bee one though the simplest of the witnesses of the truth of thy word though I acknowledge my selfe to be weake and by mine owne strength vnable to beare what is laid vpon mee for thy sake But as thou hast promised Lord so let me feele the effectuall working of thy holy Spirit in giuing me wisedome to answere the aduersary patience and power constantly to vndergoe whatsoeuer thou shalt admit to bee laid vpon me for thou hast promised that no more shall bee imposed vpon me but by the strength of the same Spirit I shall be able to beare it euen vnto death for thy Christs sake If therefore deare father thou haue so determined that death shall be the end of my tryalls here giue me a willing minde to imbrace it and leaue mee not vnto mine owne power for the flesh is weake but thy Spirit shall ouercome the weakenesse of my carnall parts then shall my spirit and inward faith with patience passe ouer whatsoeuer torments of my outward body Thy presence shall be so sweet as shall swallow vp the sense of my bodies sufferings or so mitigate the same as I shall indure it with patience in hope and assurance of that future glorie promised in Christ prepared with thee in heauen My flesh is dust whereof all the limbes and lineaments of my body are made and as they are dust so I know in thine appointed time they shall againe returne to dust and that by the course of Nature but if thou haue decreed it vntimely to perish by suffering for the profession of thy name it shall bee but for a season and then be restored and my soule redeemed by his blood for whose sake through thy grace I shall bee ready to lay downe my life shall not perish but passe euen from the fire to felicitie from the Crosse to a Crowne from sorrow to ioye from the hands of malicious mortall men to the custodie of louing and eternall Angels O fortifie and strengthen me in the assurance of his merites for whose sake I suffer here which I confesse is nothing worthie of the glorie prepared for them that constantly suffer for the testimonie of a conscience cleare of vaine glorie in suffering yet is this suffering glorious to him whom thou makest truely godly for I confesse Lord it is not the suffering but the cause and mannet of suffering that make the man that suffers a true Martyr indeed The cause thou knowest O Lord is for that I truely and faithfully professe thy name graunt that I may suffer what thou hast determined in perfect patience and true humilitie and that I faint not at whatsoeuer punishment or affliction shall be presented to my weake heart to terrifie me from suffering for I know that thou art then neerest when all worldly comfort seemeth farthest off Let mee not therefore in thy cause bee affraid of the faces of men that set themselues against thee in me for it is not mee they persecute but Christ my Sauiour in me for what aduantage can they haue in taking from me a worme this my wretched life which if they spare it cannot long endure and what is my death O Lord vnto thee if they take it from mee but the weakest witnesse of thy truth the defence whereof
alas I cannot maintaine of my selfe and therefore according to thy promise teach mee euen at the instant of my greatest accusation that through my ignorance in a zeale which I cannot maintaine by thy word I should giue aduantage to the aduersaries Lord giue mee wisedome strengthen and confirme my faith maintaine thine owne cause in me and by me touch my tongue with that celestiall coale from thine Altar then shall I be able to giue a good account to them that shall question me for the hope I haue in thee hold mee by thy right hand that I starte neither backe nor a side for feare Thou art stiled the Eternall the Almightie who hast said thou wilt not giue thy glorie vnto Images nor thy praise vnto any other for thine owne sake therefore for thine owne sake O Lord looke vpon the afflictions not which I suffer onely but what and wheresoeuer thy poore children persecuted doe suffer for thy sake euen by his meanes that makes himselfe euen drunke with the blood of thy Saintes and that thirsteth euen for the blood of Kings thine annointed that honor him not Thou seest it O Lord and feelest the miseries of thy poore children afflicted here for thy names sake by his mercilesse ministers O represse the rage and furie of these mercilesse men that falsly conceiue of the sauing blood of Christ and yet are neuer satisfied with shedding the blood of those whom thou hast chosen to bee witnesses of the truth of it as thou hast reueiled it in thy word Thou art the God of glorie glorifie thy name and make perfect thy praise in strengthening thy weake children to witnesse thy truth with faithfull boldenesse euen before and to the faces of thy greatest aduersaries make perfect thy power in our weakenesse thy wisedome in our ignorance and thy great glorie in our deiected basenesse and giue mee wisedome and strength to vndergoe with all spirituall patience these and all other my troubles and meanes if it please thee to auoyde the danger which seemeth neere vnto me submiting my selfe willingly to vndergoe what thou hast determined for me Lord euermore encrease and confirme my faith in Christ my Redeemer Comfort and encouragement for such as are banished or enforced to liue out of their own natiue Countrie either for feare of persecution for Gods word or the feare of enemies that pursue them without iust cause IT is a heauie crosse for a man to be banished the Countrie wherein he was borne from his parents friends and alies But in such a case the cause is most especially to be considered for which thou art abandoned or dost abandon thy selfe If thou be banished by authoritie it is for that thou art an vnprofitable member of the Common-wealth wherein thou hast beene bred and brought vp and then is thy banishment iust and fit for as one infected sheep couchant with the sound may indanger many it may be the whole flocke and to preuent it a good Shepheard will cull it out from the rest he will tarre it dresse it and vse his best meanes to heale it but if his art and industrie cannot preuaile he either abandons it from the flocke or knockes it in the head Euen so a politicke State finding an infectious member in the Common-wealth by whose wicked lewde and vngodly example and inticements other good subiects may be indangered to be seduced after admonition and threates of the Lawe which not preuailing it thinketh and is fit in policie either to banish him which is the least punishment or to extende the seueritie of the Laws vpon him If therefore thine exile proceede of thine owne vngodly merite take it with patience and thinke it a fauour of the State to hold it satisfied for thy transgression when it might in seueritie haue taken thy life It is also one thing to be banished from and another thing for a man to flie his Countrie Banishment presupposeth some great offence committed suspected or conceiued to be done by a man against the Lawes of the Kingdome from whence he is abandonned or against the Religion therein professed And a man to flie his Countrie argues either a guiltie conscience for some offence done for which hee dares not stand to the rigour and tryall of Iustice a common refuge for malefactors and often attempted also by some that stande fearefull of the furie and violence of some great and vnresistable enemie It is not alwayes vnlawfull for a man to forsake his Countrie as if he be persecuted for the true profession of the Gospell of Christ in a mans owne natiue Countrie hee may by Christs owne warrant seeke refuge in another Hee that is persecuted in one Citie let him flie to another Paul and Barnabas Christs worthy Apostles being oppressed by the malicious Iewes in Iconium for the profession of the name of Christ fled to Listra Derbe where they more freely preached the Gospell Neither is it vnlawfull to flie the furie and rage of a malicious enemie Eliah fled by Gods command from the furie and threates of Ahab that sought his life and after from Iezebel when Pharaoh sought to kill Moses Moses fled to the land of Mydian Iaacob was enforced to flie out of his natiue Countrie to Haran for feare of his brother Esau. Beware that thou in flying mistake not the cause as to flie from the truth and from the true worship of Christ to falshood and Idolatrie If for the profession of the truth thou be accused and restrained before thou canst make lawfull escape though thou be assured to dye for Christ vse no sinister practise to auoide it as distrusting God as the Disciples did that fled from forsooke Christ when he was taken neither flie thou as an euill doer as a Theef or a Murtherer or as guiltie of any other grieuous offence for which thou darest not to abide the tryall though for a time thou maist escape the sword of the Magistrate but the guilte of thine offence will followe thee into what remote Countrie soeuer thou goest and wheresoeuer thou carryest the guilt of thy crying sinne there also followes the Iudgement of God as it followed Kayne that slew his brother who ranne and ranged from place to place but still the Iudgement of God as a Blood-hound found him out Thy best refuge is to flie vnto God by repentance and prayer for mercie Many euilly disposed persons presuming to escape the Lawe by flying the Kingdome haue perpetrated most impious actions murthers treasons rebellious theeueries and the like and haue escaped but could neuer escape the Iudgement of God which hath either enforced them to returne and then to receiue their condigne punishment or haue endured greatest miseries disgraces and shame where they haue thought to be in most securitie and ease for howsoeuer runnagate traytors thinke that by committing some capitall mischiefe against their Soueraigne or State wherein they liue to fulfill