and if not for a small time much less for Eternity and if not for the Torment of one part much less of the whole And as one that floateth half choaked and wearied in the Sea ceaseth noâ— to wrestle with the Waves to cast forth his Hands every way altho' he graspeth nothing but thin and weak Water which continually deceiveth his pains so they that both swim and sink in this depth of Death shall always strive and struggle therewith altho' they neither find nor hope for any help O deadly Life O immortal Death what shall I term thee Life wherefore then dost thou kill Death and wherefore dost thou then endure There is neither Life nor Death but there is some good in it for in Life there is some Ease and in Death an End but thou hast neither Ease nor End What then shall I term thee Even the bitterness of both for of Death thou hast the Torment without any End of Life thou hast the Continuance without any Ease God hath taken away both from Life and Death all that which is Good the rest he hath mixed together and therewith tempered the Torments of Hell O unsavoury Composition of the Cup of God's wrath a death always living and an end ever in beginning a Death which shall not devour but tear and eat but not consume And as this Death can never die so shall it never be satisfied or weary in gnawing upon every part of his most miserable Prey O Intolerable Vengeance and equal with Eternity which no means can moderate no patience can endure no time can end but so long as God shall live so long shall the damned die and when he shall cease to be happy which can never be then shall they cease to be miserable A Star which is far greater than the Earth appeareth to be a small Spot in comparison of the Heavens much less shall the Age of Man seem much less the Age and Continuance of the World in regard of these eternal Pains The least Moment of Time if compared with Ten-Millions of Years because both terms are definite and the one a part of the other beareth althâ— a very small yet some Proportion but this or any number of Years in respect to Eternity is nothing less than just nothing All things that are finite I may be compared together but between that which is finite and that which is infinite there is no comparison Neither is it any piece of Injustice to inflict Eternal Punishment for sins that were done but for a time because the just and severe Judge doth not weigh the Actions only but the Hearts of Men For therefore do the wicked sin for a time because they have but a time to live but they are desirous to live for ever because they are desirous to offend for ever being more desirous to sin than to live and not regarding life but only to enjoy the Pleasures of sin and therefore it is just that they shou'd never want punishment who ever had a will to offend that they should never find an end of Revenge who would never have made an end of sin Again as God is infinite both in Majesty and Mercy it followeth that every Offence against that Majesty is also infinite and therefore worthy infinitely to be punish'd And surely if a Man that is sharply pinch'd with some one particular Pain be it but the a king of one of his Teeth doth think one Night exceeding long tho' he lieth in a soft Bed well applied and cared for for if he tur'neth often and telleth the hours and thinketh every one long till it be Day how tedious can we think Eternity will seem to those that shall be continually perplexed and torn with those Eternal torments not only the Body but primarily the Soul in a dark Babylonian Furnace foaming forth most horrible Heat And if Forty Days Rain driven with the Tempest of God's Wrath was sufficient to destroy the whole World what shall we conclude of the full Storm and Stream of his Rage wherein the fiery Darts of his Fury shall never cease to beat upon his Enemies O dreadful Fire kindled by the breath of God's Eternal Wrath more exceeding the fire of this World than can be imagined O ugly Darkness cursed by the Mouth of God O Eternal Night both inward of the Soul and outward of the Body in regard whereof the palpable Darkness of Aegypt was scarce a Day which light Clouds over cast O long and loathsome Night wherein the Morning will never appear wherein the hope of Light is no less desperate than the desire violent Is this O Lord the wages of Sin is this the punishment of wicked Doers of whom I am one in so deep a degree that it is no wonder if my Conscience tremble and my Soul cleave with Sighs and my Eyes drowned with Tears The Penitent Sinner's Holy Resolutions to a thorough Reformation IS it so is my Case so deplorable and desperate must my sinful Life end in the entring into those eternal Flames must my Frolicks die into everlasting Burnings must my jolly Hours be turn'd into bitter Weepings and Wailings must my breaking of God's Holy Commandments cause me to be fetter'd in Chains and that forever in utter Darkness where there is nothing but hideous and fearful cryings and groanings Is it so Hath God told me that cannot lye and shall I not have the Faith to believe him Yes I will If this be the Exit of a sinful Life tell me no more of those Dalilah's of those Pleasures I have formerly taken a delight in There is no playing with Sin I will get clear of it whatever it cost me I will give ear to its bewitching Enchantments no more I will not for a few merry hours hazard my eternal Safety Heaven is not a thing to be lightly esteem'd it is of more value than a thousand Worlds and I believe it to be so and why should I be so foolish and careless as not to take any care to fit my self for an Admittance into it I know not how soon my Change may come and if it should come and I not prepar'd I am undone and that for ever therefore I will bid my old Friends farewel farewel fine Clothes and farewel all delicious Living farewel Carding and Dicing Hunting and all manner of Revelling whatsoever that I have taken any delight in for my Delight shall be for the future in fearing and serving of God and in keeping of his Commandments which was the chief End of my being made a rational Creature therefore away with your Enâ—icements your Traps and Snares whereby you would delude and deceive me till you drag me into Hâ—ll's Everlasting Flames for I see what all Lewdness will come to which is dreadful to me therefore molest and trouble me not I will run the pleasanâ— ways of God's holy Commandments I wilâ— ascend God's holy Hill I will make haste to Mount Sion I will be kept in the Tents of
Licens'd and Enter'd according to Order Maâ—thew 25. ve 3â— Come ve Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdomâ— prepared for you c â—â—â—thew 25. ver 41 Depart from me ye Curse◠〈◊〉 Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devâ—â— HELL's Everlasting Flames AVOIDED AND Heaven's Eternal Felicities INJOYED The First Part. Containing the Penitent Sinner's Sad Lamentation for the Deplorableness of his impious Life With a short View of the Terrors of the Damned in Hell and his Holy Resolutions to a thorough Reformation with some Considerations upon the Glory of the Saints in Heaven Also holy Preparations to a Worthy Receiving of the Lord's Supper With Devout Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions with Graces before and after Meat To all which are Added Hymns and Spiritual Songs of Praises to Almighty God for our happy Deliverance from Popery and the horrid Cruelty and Barbarity of Blood-thirsty Men With an excellent Prayer for King William By that eminent Divine Mr. John Hayward The Tenth Edition London Printed for Robert Gifford and are to be sold at his Shop in Old-Bedlam without Bishopsgate 1696. Price bound 1s TO THE Christian READER AS you tender the Everlasting Welfare of your Precious and Immortal Souls cease from doing Evil learn to do well and with this humble Penitent take a view and look back upon what you havâ— been a doing ever since you came in to the World to this day and I doubâ— not but that you will find you havâ— been too much like him in doing thâ— which you ought not and leavinâ— that undone which you ought to do Therefore let him be your Pattern and take up with him in his Resolutions which is fully to leave hâ— old course of Life and to follow on hard after the Lord and to seek him while he may be found and to call upon him while he is near and to press forward towards the Mark of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord for which end this small Piece is Published And that you may reap this Benefit by it of finding Acceptance with the Lord Jesus and by his Merits be received into Glory is and shall be the Constant and Hearty Prayer of Your Soul 's Cordial Friend JOHN HAYWARD THE PENITENT SINNER Bemoaning and Bewailing the DEPLORABLENESS OF HIS IMPIOUS LIFE PART I. Psal xi 6. Upon the Wicked he shall rain Snares Firâ— and Brimstone and a horrible Tempeâ— This shall be the Portion of their Cup. O Christ the Son of the most Hâ—â— God the Saviour of most miâ—rable Men who for us Men aâ— for our Salvation left thy Glorious Haâ—tation in the highest Heavens whose Bâ—fed Body was buffetted with Fists to with Whips stretched upon the Cropierced with Nails and Spears and bath in the sweet Streams of thy own preciâ— Blood for the Redemption of all 〈◊〉 kind O Father O Restorer O Preserver of Life to thy Majesty to thy Mercy my sinful Soul full of fresh bleeding Wounds full of old corrupted Sores sick to the Death with the surfeit of Sin would willingly present it self and send a few faint Groans unto thy heavenly Ears But alas the greatness of my Disease haâ—â— almost taken away the sense thereof and so horrible is my corruption that I fear I shall offend thy pure Presence and altogether turn thee from regarding me thine Ear from attending me and thy Compassion from relieving me for I have a sharp Testimony within me which accuseth which condemneth that altho' in words I have profess'd thy Service yet my Actions have charged my Tongue with Untruth For I have never subdued my own Will and â—elinquisht the Prey whereon it hath fed which Conquest is a necessary part of Christian Duty to obey the Pleasure But I have remain'd Proud Ambitious Angry Cruel Rash Vain-glorious Envious Covetous Deceitful Delicate Sensual Idle Light a great lover of my self of my Flesh of my Estimation of all wordly both Advantages and Deâ—â—ghts I have added Folly unto Blindness Malice to Ignorance and Obstinacy to Offence I have sinned with a high hand against thee and more impudently should I have sinned if as I had ended with my Conscience I had ended also with my Shame In a word all my Passions have been so lively and strong that I cannot cast my trembling thoughts into any corner of thy Commandments but my Conscience giveth me a sharp conviction and crieth out guilty against me Adam did once taste of one forbidden Fruit but I have often tasted of all I have broken every Branch of the Tree of Good which thou hast commanded and of the Tree of Evil which thou hast forbidden I have taken delight in all sorts of sins not always for pleasure but either in meer Licentiousness or depraved Custom and many times not without great trouble and toil even as the Prophet said Jer. 9. 5. They have taken great pains to do evil Behold O gracious Lord the Guides which I have followed the Friends which I have affected the Counsellors which 〈◊〉 have credited and the Masters which I haâ— obeyed with these have I lovingly livâ— with these have I loyally kept my Faiâ— even wiâ—h the Appetites of my filthy Fleâ—â— with the Transitory Treasures of this World bathing my unhappy Soul in the soul and foolish Pleasures of this Life These have been my Gods these have been my Idols but now they are my Accusers now Witnesses against me now my Judges now my Tormentors I am far more wretched than I can possibly imagine and altho' I think that I am at the very bottom of my Misery yet do I find my self to sink daily more deep in the Mire I am one of the most poor and wretched Creatures in the World I am one that hath most abused thy benefits and if thou hadst wrought so much both by secret Inspiration and by outward means in them of Tyre and Sidon even in other great Sinners as thou hast wrought in me they would have converted unto thee in Sackcloth and Ashes I am unworthy of the service and use of any of thy Creatures I am unworthy to lift up mine Eyes towards Heaven and more unworthy to speak unto thee but most of all to â—eceive from thee those Comforts and Consolations wherewith thou usest to cherish thy Children O Sin the very Bane and Death of my Soul was it not enough for thâ—e to infect a heedless Creature with thy Poyson buâ— thou must make it so ugly and loathsomâ— that the Eye of Mercy should not enduâ—â— to behold Was it not enough for thee â—â— crush it in pieces with thy weight but thoâ— must also go to stop the Ear of Pity witâ— Horror and the Mouth of Praye◠〈◊〉 Shame Was it not enough for thee to draw me to destruction but thou must all so take from me both the sense of my Grief and the sight of my Danger anâ— consequently the Cure of the one and the Care of the other I was wounded and I felt it not
I wâ—â— wounded unto death and I perceived â—â— not I was bound I was beaten an◠〈…〉 garded it not yea my deadly 〈…〉 were a delightful tickling unto 〈…〉 I took pleasure in satisfying the 〈…〉 my Lusts and like Solomon's Fool I laugâ—ed when I was lashed for I was not mâ—self when I was without thee neither desiring nor discerning that which was good nor yet shunning nor yet seeing thaâ— which was evil I became in the Passage of all my Actâ—ons not only foolish but altogether sensless for thou are truth and I was 〈◊〉 out thee and thou art Life and I was 〈◊〉 out thee and as one that always continues in places of unsavoury smells perceiveth no annoyance or as a brutish and savage Life seems civil to him who hath continually been brought up in the same because Custom changeth into Nature and one Contrary is not known but by the other even so I did not think my self in Misery because I never knew what Felicity meant and because I never knew either the Beauty or Stability of a vertuous Life I did not think that vice had made me so unseemly and so unsound continual use confirmed Impudency and took from me the Opinion of Sin True it is that I found a few Sparks of thine Image within me but they were few indeed and of little force which I did so continually quench or abuse that thro' them I can expect no profit at all but rather to be made inexcusable before thee Alas how am I deformed how am I defiled O Almighty God and Everlasting Father My fainting Soul groaneth and gaspeth for thy Grace but it is abashed at thy Glory I would fain intreat thy Mercy to heal me but I am loth to offend thy Majesty in beholding me I am ashamed to lay open my Iniquities and yet woe is me I cannot appear before thee withouâ— them Ah these my sins how do they distress how do they distract me they desire to be seen but they are unwilling to be shewn lest they should be detested they are not healed without Confession and they are not heard without Confusiâ—â—â— If they be covered they cannot be cured and if they be opened they must needs be abhorr'd In the mean time their sharpness pierceth and their weight pressetâ— me they torment me with Grief the astonish me with Fear they confound mâ— with Shame What shall I say or what shall I do Wretch that I am whither did I bend my pace and to what pass am I now come what have all my Pleasures been unto mâ— but as Fruit eaten before it be ripe which will set the Teeth on edge and posseâ— the Body with dangerous Diseases What have I been in all my Travels in the Affairs of the World but as a sick Man tumbling and tossing in his Bed he expecting ease in his change and contentment yeâ— both of us deceived alike because whitheâ— soever we turn our selves the cause of ouâ— disquiets remaineth within us O Christ I did not set thee before my Eyes and 〈◊〉 I dare not appear in thy sight I rejoyced but not in thee I am troubled but thou art not with me Alas better it were to be nothing than to be without thee without whom all things are nothing better it were to be dead than to be without thee our Life Therefore O my Soul wicked wretched Soul shake off this death of Sin wherein thou wallowest and wherein thou wanderest raise up rouse up thy self from this dangerous dulness call to thy consideration unhappy Creature from whence thou runnest where thou art and whereto thou hastenest the favour which thou forsakest the horror wherein thou abidest and the terror whereto thou rendest Thou wast once wash'd clean with the Heavenly Fountain of Baptism with the pure Robe of Righteousness endowed with the Joys of Heaven and espoused to thy Saviour Christ but now thou hast by impurity of Life soiled thy self with sin defiled that glorious Garment broken those sacred Bands and made thy loving Spouse both thy great Enemy and severe Judge O Christ how can I forget thy Goodness and yet how dare I remember thy Greatness since I have denied thee with Peter betrayed thee with Judas and run from thee with the rest of thy Disciples nay more with the cursed and cruel Jewâ— I have mocked blasphemed buffered and scourgâ—d thee spit upon thy glorious Facâ— and torn open thy tender Wounds Ther since I have committed their cruelty what hope can I have to avoid their Curse that thy Blood be not upon me and my Posterity Alas miserable Wretch in what Patâ— have I walked In what Pollutions have wallowed and in what perplexities an now plunged wherein the consideration both of Good and Evil tormenteth me a like of Good with grief of that which have lost of Evil partly with sense oâ— that which I sustain and partly with feaâ— of that which I expect I have lost Glory I feel Shame I feaâ— Punishment the loss is by me irreparable the shame inexcusable the fear inconsolable O miserable Estate O uncomfortable Condition not only to be depriv of unspeakable Joys but also to be aflicted with intolerable Pains O Sin the defiler the deformer the destroyer of Souls from how high a pitch â— Happiness hast thou dejected me 〈◊〉 how deep a Gulf of Misery hast thou depressed me with what a World of Woes hast thou inclos'd me here Woe and there Woe and a very Hell of Woes is heaped upon me Justly Lord justly am I thus tormented for I have been faint yea false in the charge thou hast committed unto me I have thrown away my spiritual Weapons I have forsaken the Field of Christian Combate and not only cowardly yielded but Traitor-like I have turned to the Prince of Darkness my greatest Enemy I have cast off my Saviour and cast away my self I have forsaken the Society of Saints and joyned my self to a company of the Damned O Hellish Companions I have abandoned the Palaces of Heaven and built me a Nest in the loathsome Den of Hell I am altogether become an Abject from God and a Subject to the Devil What hast thou done O mad Man O mischievous O monstrous Man what hast thou done what a woeful exchange hast thou made what a lamentable loss hast thou incurred O perverse Will O miracle of madness How O God hath Corruption depraved me How O God â—hall Satisfaction restore me Cast thy self forlorn Wretch into the uncomfortable Dungeons of Sorrow overwhelm thy self with Mountains of bitter Mourning come Grief come Horror come Anguish come Fear heap your selves upon me wrap me in weigh me down I have impudently contemned you I have desperately provoked you and now do miserably call for you So so it is just afflict the Wicked torment the Guilty revenge the Injuries revenge the Perjuries which I have committed against God give me a touch of the Tortures which I have deserved give me a taste of the Banquet which I have prepared
Comfort Peace Security Joy keep away I will I have none of you except you bring a pardon with you As to many that are sick all things seem bitter so all your pleasures are distasteful unto me I account you my deceitful and flattering Enemies Disquiet shall be my Rest Mourning my Mirth sowre Sorrow my Comfort Alas how shall I present my self before the Majesty of the most righteous and upright Judge how shall my fearful Face behold him how terrible will he cast his Countenance upon me his Eyes far brighter than the Sun have narrowly observed all my Actions he hath weigh'd my Words he hath examin'd my Thoughts he hatâ— fealed up all my Sins he hath hitherto been silent hither patient but alas he wilâ— one day cry out and call me to a reckonâ—ing for all O my heart O poor heart a heart fuâ— of miseries never able to sustain these Firâ— brands of Conscience alas Wretch that â— am comfortless and forsaken Wretch whither shall I go to whom shall I seeâ— for succour who shall have pity and compassion upon me If I behold the Heaveâ— I am justly excluded because I have griâ—vously sinned against them If I look upoâ— the Earth it is weary of me because I haâ—â— been noisome unto it on the one side I sâ— the Good I have declin'd on the other siâ— the Evil which I have pursued before â—â— is Death ready to arrest me behind me my wicked Life ready to accuse me aboâ— me thy Justice ready to condemn me bâ—neath me Hell fire ready to devour me â— am altogether unworthy that the Eaâ—â— should bear me that the Light and Aâ— should refresh we that any Creature shouâ— serve me my eyes are not worthy to loâ— towards thee yea they are most wortâ— to be extinguished with Tears If then I â— ashamed to be seen how shall I be assur'â— to be received I have no Heart to ask what hope can I have that I shall obtain Go to then O sinful Soul enter again into the Closet of thy Conscience turn over the Books of thy Accompts cast up thy Reckoning set down thy Sum see what thou hast done and what thou hast deserved O Lord I must confess I have been guilty of abusing many Creatures in desiâ—ing seeking and embracing them above and before thee I have been guilty of Blasphemy guilty of Swearing guilty of Lying guilty of vain and foolish Talking guilty of Covetousness guilty of Cruelty guilty of Pride guilty of Ambition guilty of Riot guilty of Gluttony guilty of Drunkenness guilty of Lightness guilty of Looseness guilty of Lust guilty of Envy guilty of Hatred guilty of Anger guilty of Unquietness guilty of Frowardness guilty of Obstinacy guilty of Rashness guilty of Violence guilty of Idleness guilty of Sloth guilty of Hypocrisie guilty of Flattery guilty of Curiosity guilty of Detraction guilty of Oppression guilty of Slander and to sum up all guilty of breaking of all thy Commandments The penalty is eternal Banishment from thy presence and intolerable and endless Pains in Hell-fire Out upon me Wretch alas what shall become of me O my Lord I know not what to do I cannot tell what answer to make and being now in Extremity both of danger and fear my Cogitations trouble me my Conscience tormenteth me every Thought is a Thorn unto me insomuch as that I may conclude of my self with that of Judas It had been good for me that I had never been born Nay go on then a little further look down into Hell before thou leap into it observe there who expects thy coming what shall be thy entertainment look down into Hell I say over which thou now hangest by the slender twined thread of Life which if it should happen suddenly to break thou art in danger therein to be devoured if it doth noâ— break yet the turning of the Heaven is instead of a Wheel which continually windeth some part towards thee A short View of the Horrors and Terrors the Damned in Hell O Good God! what do I behold in thâ— Infernal Lake nothing but Horroâ— Tumultuous and Eternal Horror Fieâ— Chains Flaming Whips Scorching Darness tormenting Devils and burning Souls howling roaring and lamenting Woe and alas with a mad Rage blaspheming God in despair for ever to be received into his Favour and for despite in being fetter'd by him in those Eternal Flames with a desperate Impenitency cursing all Creatures and especially themselves tearing in a manner their own Substance and inviting the furious Fiends to torment them All the Pains of this Life are singular vexing some one sense or member of the Body or if many be affected at once yet never all but here every Pore and Part of the condemned Prisoner as well inward as outward hath both a full and fit charge of Punishment without either intermission or change for as he hath offended God with every part of his Soul and part of his Body so must every one of them receive his peculiar Punishment the Memory is tormented with Pleasures that are past the Apprehension with Pains that are present the Understanding with Joys that are lost and Miseries that are to come the Will with a malicious and envious Disposition at the Glory of God and his Elect and above all the Conscience is griped with a bitter despite and raging fruitless Repentance for every particular Offence the Sinner hath committed which once seem'd â—oft and sweet but then like Serpents cruâ—lly and restlesly gnaw upon him never â—â—asing to rub into his remembrance how â—â—ase were the Causes of his Calamity what Warning was given what Means was preâ—ented for the avoiding of it how effectuâ—lly he had been persuaded how earnestly â—ntreated to change his choice and accept â—he offer of eternal Happiness how easily â—e might and many times how nearly he â—ad apprehended the occasion and yet â—ow negligently how foolishly how madâ—â—â—he continued in his careless course Further the Sight is affected with fearâ—ul Darkness and ugly Devils the Hearing with terrible and hideous Cries the Smell with poisonous Stink the taste with bitâ—erness far exceeding Gall the Feeling â—ith intolerable Fire A Fire which as nothing does feed it so â—t consumeth nothing that it doth burn a Fire which hath no Light to comfort but Heat to torment no Light but to shew â—hem their own Miseries and the Miseries â—f those they did inordinately affect A 〈◊〉 whose force shall never be spent or â—â—â—inguished or yet abated but so long as â—d is God so long it shall torment the â—cked and that with such vehement rage at one drop of Water to be applied to â—â— scorched Tongue will be of greater â—luation than a Thousand Worlds O unhappy Bodies which are to be baâ—ed in this burning Lake speaking nothing â—t Curses seeing nothing but Miseries â—aring nothing but mourning and gnashâ— of Teeth O silly Souls which passed â—ay the time of this Life either in Idleness in Evil what an endless Chain of Calaty have your
Wickedness no longer therefore lift up your Head O ye Gates and be ye lifted up ye Everlasting Doors I will force my way thro' I will enter and all that ever Men or Devils can do unto me shall not hinder shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness Peril or Sword these can but kill the Body but I have an immortal Soul that is of greater value if I save that I save all and shall I fear dangers in striving to be abundantly satisfy'd with the Fatness of God's House I see a City which hath Foundations whose Builder and Maker is God I see a-far off a House made without Hands eternal in the Heavens farewel deceitful Heart I will give Ear to your false Suggestions no more I have a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto I resolve to take heed how often hast thou taught me to hide my Sins and call them by wrong Names that I might excuse my self for departing from them But dare I presume to think to deceive the all-wise God No God will not be blinded he will not be mocked he is not asleep like Baal or gone a Hunting No Canst thou draw a Curtain before the Eyes of Infinite Wisdom No he sits and sees and observes all the Actions of Men therefore I am ashamed knowing what I have done I have called my Pride Decency my Covetousness Frugality my Drunkenness Good-Fellowship my Lasciviousness Impossibility of resisting the Dictates of Nature my slandering others but saying what I hear And thus I have deceived my self but I will for the future be deceived no more but I will hearken unto what the Lord will say unto me and not to my base and deceitful Heart's Lust I have seen enough of Impiety I will stay no longer in Sodom these flowery Meadows these pleasant Fields shall make me lie down no more I see there 's Death in the Pot and the great Day of God's eternal Wrath is hastening therefore I come Lord I will stand off no longer I have staid in the service of Sin and of the Devil too long already I will give ear to what thou shalt be pleased to say to me I will turn my back no more upon thee I will harden my heart no more It is the voice of my beloved that knocks I will arise and let him in Awake up my Glory Awake I have slumbered too much get up my drowsie Affections the Lord is at hand O my God! wilt thou spread forth thy blessed Arms to embrace and receive such a wretched Creature as I am filled with all manner of wickedness and Deceit and having known the Judgment of God that they who commit such things are worthy of Death have not only done the same but have had pleasure in them that do them is there Mercy in store for such a Rebel then I heartily renounce the Devil and all his Works therefore arise O Lord and let thy Enemies be scatter'd and appear for me with thy Almighty Power and out stretch'd Arm and deliver me from this Slavery this hard Bondage that I am under Deliver me from these my Enemies that seek my utter Destruction Methinks I see them quaking and trembling before God's Tribunal that thought it below them while upon Earth to make Religion their business Methinks I see them how they are ashamed of their Madness and Folly and methinks I hear them caâ—l and cry to the Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the Face of him that sits upon the Throne Direct me O Lord and teach me by thy holy Spirit draw me and I will run after thee teach me to sing the Song of Sion guide me in the Path of Life Leave not my Soul in Hell pull it out I have made a solemn choice of God for my Portion leâ— me know how I must love him I will obey your Counsel I will act according to your Directions be not afraid of me I will not turn my back in the day of Battle I have done with these fading deceitful Pleasures I find no Comfort no enjoyment in them they may please for a while but they cannot satisfie for ever Nay they are destructive both to Soul and Body Solomon took a tryal of them all and found them so and so all Men are forc'd to confess at last and too often when it is too late I see most Men of another Mind when they come to die to what they are in the time of their strength and health and Liberty But O my Soul come not then into their Secret unto their Assembly my Honour be thou not united Take warning by these sad Examples There are many Snares laid I am beset with temptations but I will hug those Monsters no more but will resist and overcome them by thy Power Come my Soul ascend to higher Thoughts Hopes and Labours and away with thy soft Wishes and dull Endeavours are these fit for seeking Eternal Joys doth a slow pace become a Man that is resolv'd for Eternity The Voice of the Lord is powerful the voice of the Lord is full of Majesty the Voice of the Lord breaks the Cedars and art thou the only Creature he cannot shake it's done I am sensible and I am resolved Resolution will go far as I may see by these Examples Resolution made David run thro' a Troop and leap over a Wall Psal 18. 29. It was his Resolution made him say thus Psal 119. 46 106. I have sworn and will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments I will speak of thy Testimonies before Kings and will not be ashamed and I will delight my self in thy Commandments My hands will I lift up unto thy Precepts which I have loved and I will meditate in thy Statutes It was Resolution made Shadrach Meshech and Abednego go voluntarily into the Fire It was Resolution made St. Paul ready not only to suffer but to die at Jerusalem for the Name of Jesus Resolution made David's Worthies draw Water out of the Well of Bethlehem Resolution made Ignatius despise Fire Sword and wild Beasts Resolution made Empedocles give himself to the Flames and Artalus to sit down as one unconcern'd in the fiery Chair his Enemies had prepared for him and Resolution made Job bear his great Losses Shall I be faint-hearted shall I be a Coward shall these and others resolve to part with anything so much as their very Lives for their Saviour's Sake Lord I am resolved with these Worthies to undergo any thing for the advancement of thy Honour and Glory My heart is ready to obey all thy Commands therefore Lord make me clean help me to put a way the evil of my doingâ— and learn me to do well that so I may siâ— no more against thee or grieve thy Holy Spirit I am convinced that thy service iâ— perfect freedom he that enters upon it is under the Government of a good and a lawful Prince he feels nothing that iâ— burthensome unto him
Pious Godâ—y and Charitable Action Grant this O Lord and whatever more thou seest I stand in need of for thy dear Son's sake To whom with thee O Father and the Holy Ghost be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for one that is going to Sea O Lord God Eternal who made the Seas and the Fountains of Waters at whose Commands the Winds are I beg of thee to go along with me and preserve me by thy Power and Outstreched Arm from the Perils of the â—reat Deep and carry me safe to my desired Haven and Lord forgive me all â—y Sins heal all my Back-slidings and â—e me freely grant me thy Grace â—hat I may live in thy Fear and walk â—â—rightly before thee with singleness of â—eart that so I may live to the Praise â—â—d Glory of thy Great Name and the â—verlasting Salvation of my precious and â—â—mortal Soul And Lord as I have â—gged of thee to carry me safe to my â—â—sired Haven so bring me home again â—at so I may have an occasion and opâ—ortunity with my Friends and Relatiâ—ns to sing Praises to thy great and glorious Name for all thy Mercies but more especially that thou hast kept me from the merciless Waters and the Raging of the great Deep So begging thy Protection for my Preservation I resign up my self to thee who art the God of all Power and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer in distress of Weather at Sea either by Storm or Tempest O Lord God Eternal maker of Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that therein is We miserable Offenders who have justly pull'd down thy Vengeance upon our Heads by the greatness of our Sins we have provoked thy Wrath we have deserved to be swallowed up quick by these raging Waves O Lord the Floods come over us and even enter into our very Souls O Lord the Sea rages and rises up against us Here we see thy woundrous Judgments in the greaâ— Deep which unless thou preserve us wilâ— swallow us up in a Moment Lord wâ— cannot but confess we have sinned againâ— thee with a high hand and therefore justlâ— is thyfierce Anger kindled upon us aâ—â— thy intolerable Judgments come up again us there is none to help us Therefore O Lord for thy tender Mercy sake appear for us and save us Cease these Storms and Tempest Cease we beseech thee these swelling raging Billows Command these blustering Winds and they shall obey thee for we are at the pit of Destruction just ready to be swallowed up Save us Master or we perish Lord increase out faith Merciful Father we beseech thee to take us into thy Protection and if thou hast appointed Death for us O Lord be thou present we beseech thee to receive our Souls into thy Bosom till the general Resurrection of our Bodies and then receive our Souls and Bodies into thy Kingdom If thou dost design us for Life grant that these Afflictions may be so sanctified unto us as to cause us for the future to live a Godly Righteous and Sober Life all our Days Grant this O God for thy dear Son's sake Amen A Thanksgiving for a safe Return from Sea FAther of all Mercies and God of all Consolations I cannot but must confess that I am obliged to return thee hearty thanks for all thy Mercies But more especially at this time I am and do return thee my humble and hearty Thanks for thy great Mercy in bringing me safe over the great Waters tâ— roughâ— many Perils and Dangers to my own Habitation and to the Enjoyment of all my Friends and Relations for which singular Mercy O Lord do thou give me a Heart to live answerable to it that thou may est have the Praise and I reap the Everlasting Comfort of it and I will sing Praises to thy Great Name for thou art my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence and Praises wait for thee O God in Sion for thou art worthy to be praised both now henceforth and for evermore A Prayer for one that is going a long Journey O Lord God lead me in the Paths oâ— Righteâ—â—sness and direct my Goings in thâ—â—ay of Truth We are boâ—â— to Travel and many have no certaiâ— place of abode our Days are like a Spaâ— and our Laves pass away swifter than Post O what is Man that thou art 〈◊〉 ful of him or the Son of Man that tâ—â— hast any regard for him We are like to Bubble a Blast we go hence and are seen no more Teach me Lord to number my days that I may apply my heart unto Wisdom Direct myâ—steps in the way of truth and guide and govern me in my Travel that I may go on with Comfort in this my Journey Be thou my God my Help and Guide to direct me in my way and Business Keep me from all danger of Thieves or other Mischief and Trouble that I may have no disturbances in my Journey no lets or hindrances nor sorrow nor heaviness bâ—â— for my Sins O Lord keep and bless all my Friends and Relations at home and abroad in Health and Peace O Lord let me have the comfortable enjoyment of thy holy Spirit upon the way that so it may assist me that I may think discourse and act nothing but what is well pleasing to thee And all this I bâ—g for Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for a sick Person O God of all Comforts who art a present help in time of Trouble to them that faithfully rely upon thee for thy help and assistance in their Troubles Lord 〈◊〉 hast laid me upon a Bed of Languishing and upon a rowling pillow where I cannot find relief or ease or comfort for my Body Lord do thou sanctifie this sore affliction unto me I cannot but confess I have sinned and done wickedly and grieved thy holy Spirit from time to time yet merciful Saviour return unto me that I may have a feeling of thy good Spirit Let not the sins of my Youth nor the iniquity of that time be upon me But Lord as thou hast laid thy afflicting Hand upon me arm me with â—â—atience that I may endure this Visitation patiently If thou art pleased to dispose of me for another life then make me fit for thy Kingdom Arm me and strengthen me to bear the But then without mourning against thee but make me to undergo this Affliction willingly and to fight it out manfully What am Iâ— a poor worthlesâ— Worm â— I have noâ— Comfort but from thee Restore me â—â— Health and amendment of Life or else take me into thy Kingdom of Glory Lord cease my Pain ease my Grief Lord I intreat thee to grant that neither the Devil nor the World may ever have power over me any more to make me disobey thee Send thy good Angels both to keep me in Sickness and in Health and grant that I may be always fitted and prepared for death that I may not be afraid of it if it
of this Sacrifice of Thanks giving for thy great Mercy in appearing so wonderfully for me to my great Ease and Comfort in that dreadful and painful Hour of Child-bearing that thou hast been pleased safely to deliver me from the Perils of it and to lengthen out my Days in the Land of the Living and to see the Fruit of my hard Labour and Travail Lord grant that it may prosper and grow up in thy Fear to thy Glory and both our Comforts And grant Lord that I may live worthy of this Mercy and make thee some grateful Returns for all thy Mercies Pardon and forgive me all my Sins and preserve me from sining against thee any more And all I beg upon the account of thy dear Son To whom with the O Father and with the blessed Spirit be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Christian Vertues as Love Faith Hope and Charity c. O Lord Father of all Mercies and God of all Consolations bless me with all thy Spiritual Blessings and Heavenly Graces make me rich in Love strong in Faith full in Assurance of Hope and abound in all Charitable Actions according to that Sufficiency thou hast been pleâ—sed to bless and entrust me with that I may have nothing to answer for at that great and terrible Day wherein the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened and every one rewarded according to their Doings Lord grant that thy Graces may all flourish in me as the Bay-Tree that so by my good Example others may return to thee their Lord and Saviour and so have cause to sing Praises to thy Great Name for all thy Wondrous Works Lord keep me from Insolence and Pride and grant me true Humility and Zealousness of Mind and give me a true Consideration of my own Vileness that so I may tremble and stand in Awe before thee as a sinful Man having always a better esteem of others than my self Gracious Lord when the Devil shall accuse my own Conscience bear Witness against me and the whole World forsake me for my Sins do thou be my Strength my Salvation my Rock and strong Tower of Defence against these potent Enemies of my Soul Enflame my Dead Heart with the Heavenly Affection of an unseign'd Love that I may love and adore thee above all and my Neighbour as my self Grant me a good Mind to help and succour all to my Ability to forbear and forgive all that ever any did against me Let not the least Spark of Envy or Wrath lodge within my Breast nor never let the Sun go down upon my Anger but let me be satisfied that Vengeance is thine and that thou art so just that thou wilt send it upon the Heads of those that fear thee not and call not upon thee but that live in Envy and Malice and Implacableness of Spirit against thy Children Give me Grace O Lord to follow the Example of all good Men and keep me from that hateful Sin of Sloath and Iâ—leness which is the High-way to Want and Beggary Grant me a contented mind and moderate my Desâ—res towards the Things of this World and Lord be with me at the Hour of Death and when I go hence and be no more seen I may be admitted into thy Kingdom of Glory that I may eternally sing Hallelujah's to thy great Name Grant this O God and whatever else I stand in need of for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Glory both now and for evermore A Prayer for all Earthly Blessings O Lord God Eternal which causeth the Sun to shine upon the Just and the Unjust satisfie the Desires of thy Servants with thy bountiful Goodness we cannot but must humbly acknowledge that we are not worthy of the least of thy Favours but that it is of thy Eternal Goodness we are living Monuments of thy mercy all this Day Lord do thou supply our daily Necessities and give us this Day and every Day our daily Bread Bless the manuring of our Ground prosper 〈◊〉 Corn and bless the Seed-time with the Former and Latter Rain in their due Seasons Keep our Fruits while they be upon the Earth from Haâ—l and Thunder from excessive Droughts over much Raâ—o and Mildews and send us a joyful Harvest O Lord bless and increase our Cattle and keep them from those Casualties they are obnoxious to amd bless our â—â—skeâ— and our Store and keep our Granaries Barns and Store Houses from Fire and boisterous Winds Thieves aâ—d sudden Inundations Prosper all our Undertakiâ—gs whether by Sea or Land Be thou a present Hâ—lp in time of Trouble and turn our Dearâ—â—s into Cheapness and Scarcity into Pleâ—ty And Lord open the Hearts of those to whom thou hast dealt liberally that as thou hast been to them they may be to their poor Fellow-Creatures that are in Want Help us O Lord in all our Straits and oppress us not with too much Poverty neither let us be puffed up in the Day of Prosperity but keep us in Evenness of Temper in either extreme that we may live in thy Fear and die in thy Favour And all this we beg upon the Account of thy dear Son and our blessed Redeemer to whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit be all Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Graces before and after Meat Grace before Meat O Lord God Maker of Heaven and Earth who hast created â—ll things for the use and service of Men Bless these thy Creatures which thou hast provided for us and set before us at this time that they may strengthen our Bodies so that thereby we may be the better able to live to thy Praise Honour and Glory both now and for evermore Grace after Meat ALmighty God and Everlasting Father who out of thy infinite Goodness hast most plentifully fed us for which and all other Mercies we return thee hearty Thanks begging of thee so to direct and guide us as that we may in some measure live answerable to thy Goodness to us All which we beg for Jesus Christ his sake To whom with thee O Father and the holy Spirit be Praise Honour and Glory henceforth and for evermore Grace before Meat MOst Gracious Father we crave thy Blessing upon these good Creatures that thou by thy good hand of Providence hast bestowed upon us grant that they may give Nourishment to these our mortal Bodies and sanctifie them so unto us as that we may live to thy Praise to thy Honour and to thy Glory both now henceforth and for evermore Grace after Meat MOst Bountiful and Gracious Lord God whose Goodness is extended to the uttermost Parts of the Earth what cause have we to praise and magnifie thy holy Name for this great and singular mercy of daily taking care for us and plentifully feeding of us with the best and choicest of thy Creatures As thou hast filled our Bodies with them so fill