could not bee called a CommunioÌ„ as the Masse-Priest taketh it alone Thirdlie They differ in the Elements the one being receiued in Water the other in Bread and Wine Fourthlie in the manner of receiuing in Baptisme the receiuer is meere passiue doing nothing himselfe but offering himselfe and suffering himselfe to bee washen by another In the Supper the receiuer is actiue and that which is offered vnto him hee taketh eateth and drinketh The superstitious Papist would put it into his mouth for holinesse And finallie Baptisme is ministrated but once Luk. 22.19 1. Corin. 11 25 Simil. and cannot bee reiterated the Supper as often as wee doe it sayeth our Sauiour There is a reiteration for as a childe is once infested in his fathers heritage but hee is fedde daylie at his fathers table so once baptized may often communicate The necessitie of the Word and SacrameÌ„ts But now God willing wee shall speake something of the necessitie of the Word and Sacraments The Word is necessarie to saluation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simplie those who are come to age without the which they cannot bee saued The Sacramentes are necessarie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conditionallie they may bee had So I say with Augustine August Non carentia sed contemptis Baptismi damnat that is Not the want but the contempt of Baptisme condemneth men Iosh 5. For as in the Wildernesse many died who were not circumcised Circumcision then being more strictly vrged than Baptisme is now Exod. 4.24 and of a like power and signification yet vve vvill not judge those who so died to be damned no more reason is it that those who are preuented by death or excluded by necessity bee in danger of damnation lacking Baptisme Preparation to the Sacrament is necessarie A man should not set himselfe to any graue action without deliberation much lesse vnto this which is the grauest of all others the Supper of the Lord he should first try and examine himselfe First let vs try our repentance next our faith and thirdlie our loue Our repentance must bee tryed by the Lawe How to try thy repentance without the which there is no knowledge of sinne Examine our selues and judge our selues that God doe not judge vs. Spare not to search all the corners of thine heart that there be no hid leauen therein try what sorrow thou hast for thy former life and in what measure for manie sinnes doe craue many teares Luke 7.38 as the Magdalen washed Christs feete with her teares and Dauid his bed Next Psalm 6.6 try the trueth and sinceritie of thy repentance for God doeth loue the trueth in the inward parts And be sorrowfull Psal 51.6 not for any paine which hath befallen thee for thy sinnes but for offending God thereby Try thy faith see that thou haue knowledge to vnderstand what is giuen thee How to try thy fayth for ignorance secludeth thee from the Sacraments And next that thou canst apply to thy felt that which thou doest receiue externally in the elements and internally by faith in Christ Finally try thy loue that it be without hypocrisie for there is no conjunction with the head How to try thy loue vnlesse there bee communion with the members of the bodie Therefore purge your selues from the leauen of maliciousnesse and bitternesse 1. Cor. 5.7 yea pardon your enemies heartilie and pray for them if ye desire that at this holy SacrameÌ„t God should be mercifull vnto your sinnes The honourable receiuing of the SacrameÌ„ts Both the Sacramentes craue a like reuerence as they are of a like substance and weight and therefore we ought to come with all humilitie and reuerence to that most holie Supper both in bodie and soule praying that God Almightie would blesse this his ordinance and make it steadable to our saluation and then receiuing it in all deautifull reuerence let vs apply it to our owne comfort rendering thanks to God for this inestimable benefite in giuing his Sonne to the death for our redemption A PRAYER BEFORE THE RECEIVING OF THE LORDES SVPPER O Lord God most gracious most holy most glorious I thy poore creature most filthie and vnworthie most graceles and ingracious most contemptible and vilde worme doe heere present my selfe before thine holy Majestie crauing at thine handes that I may bee worthily prepared to receiue the body and blood of Iesus Christ to mine eternall saluation and to this effect I beseech thee that thou wilt remooue from me all impediments which might hinder me from the right receiuing of the same namely ignorance which blindeth my minde infidelitie and damnable hypocrisie O merciful father replenish me with thâ—ne holy Spirit that I may know and vnderstand the mysterie of my redemption and truly apply it to mine owne soule and in all sinceritie and singlenesse of heart render all praise honour and glorie to thy Majestie for the same O Lord the blinde dulnesse of my minde will not suffer me sufficiently to acknowledge these thy most ample benefits the height the length the breadth and the deepnesse whereof neither man nor Angel euer was able to sound yet I am perswaded that all my saluation consisteth in the death and passion of thy Sonne IESVS CHRIST who died for the sinnes of the world and therefore I humbly beg at thy Majesty that as I receiue these outward elements at thy commandement eat and drinke thereof in rememberance of him Nota. so it will please thee secretlie to communicate the vertue of his blood to my soule which may feed the hidden man of mine heart to eternall life by whose power also and force of his death all my wicked and sinfull affections may be crucified and finally by the aide protection of his blood I may bee defended from all my spirituall and temporall enemies from all temptations and dangers and by the selfe same his bodie blood I may be strengthened to fight my spiritual battels and to goe forward in my spirituall journey to that Land of Canaan in the which battell and journey helpe me good Lord by the precious merite of thy deare SONNE CHRIST IESVS to whom with thee and thine holy spirit bee all honour glorie and dominion for euer AMEN A THANKESGIVING AFTER THE RECEIVING OF THE COMMVNION O Most gracious God I heartilie thanke thee for this thy most excellent benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee euen the bodie and blood of thy Sonne Christ Iesus for the saluation of my soule I beseech thee most mercifull father that thou wouldest bestowe thine holy spirit vpon me that I may honour and serue thee all the dayes of my life that the corruption of my nature may be beaten downe and the Image of God may bee more clearely seene in me that I may cast off the olde man Colloss 3.9 with the lusts thereof and put on the newe man which is formed after God in holinesse and righteousnesse
Gates of Hell by Stripes and Wounds our Lord weÌ„t before vs. The feare of Death springeth of the weaknesse of faith and our great loue of the world begets in vs great desire of life and our little sight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death RemeÌ„ber that there are two Deaths and feare the greater There are two deaths Rev. 20.14 the first Death is the separation of the soule from the bodie but the second Death is the euerlasting separation of God froÌ„ the soule If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sinne the second Death shal haue no power ouer thee therfore thou needest not to be afraid of the first Death if thou be deliuered from the second 2. Thou needest not to feare the first Death Death is vniuersall for it is a fatall necessitie laide vpon all Flesh Kinges Prophets People c. all must depart A profitable exchaunge by death 3. There is great gain by the exchaÌ„ge for wee get a Palace for a Prison rest for labour libertie for bondage God for men the companie of Angels for the companie of sinners and finallie the Heauens for the Earth 4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death Present joy by death without delay Luke 23.43 NOTA. Sinne is taken away Simil. The-paines of death are short because thy soule shall not bee holdeÌ„ in suspense nor stand at the gates of HeaueÌ„ nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise 5. The sting of Death is taken froÌ„ it which is Sinne then Death can doe thee no more harme than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting 6. The pangues of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall but thy joyes shall be eternall as Paul saith to the Romanes Chap. 8. Vers 18. Inward comfortes The soule shall shortlie returne 7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses 8. Thy bodie shall sleepe a little thy soule shal returne shortlie the Comforter shall assist thee Christ is praying for thee in Heauen the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer the Angels are readie to conuoy thy soule to eternall blisse 9. Heere is thy comfort Christ thy Sauiour suffered the pangues of Death in the highest degree Christ suffered death Matth. 10.24 Shall the seruant be aboue his Master And as he died so he rose againe and ouercame Death in his owne denne Then if the Head bee risen will hee not raise after him all the members of the bodie Yes surelie Lastly The right desire to liue or die Psalm 6.5 Isa 38.7 if thou find a desire in thee to liue longer let the cause of thy desire be that thou mayest liue better as Ezechias and Dauid saide Shall the dead prayse thee And What signe shall I haue to goe to the House of the Lord And if thou desire to die Christ aduantage in life and death see that it be not for thine earthlie burdens but for sinne which thou weariest to beare and for the desire of the fruition of the glorie of God A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH EVerlasting God and my most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore Prisoner bound by the Chains of Sicknesse to this Bed vpon whome the bondes of Death are seasing and taking holde I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy beseech thee to giue me thine holie Spirite that seeing I am going the way of all flesh I may rightlie resolue 1. King 2.2 with solide judgement and perfect memorie anent my departure that as thou hast prepared a place for mee Iob 14.2 so thou wilt prepare mee for it that I being purged by the blood of Iesus sanctified by thy Spirit may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to mee And because manie times I learned by thy Worde that I must die by daylie experience in the death of others thou gauest mee warning as also I haue carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by diuerse diseases yet Lord nowe at last I learne by mine own proofe that which I would not learne by others Nowe therefore O Lord when I looke backe to my former life and consider the sinnes of my childhood and mine age what things I did ignorantlie and what I did against mine owne conscience my forgetfulnesse of thy mercies and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodnesse mine open sinnes and my secret sinnes my presumptions mine injuries to others mine intemperancie my slouthfulnesse and neglect of thy worship all these sinnes so oft committed by mee beeing put in a masse and manie moe with them I beseech thee most mercifull Father that thou wouldest vouchfase to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion and make mee nowe quite of them that they burthen mee no more and I beseech thee that now in this my last battell thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelitie and distrust that as by thy power I haue ouercome the maine hoste of sin so by thy grace these remnants of a defeated Armie those stragling Souldiours who are shaking their weapons vpon mee they may bee scattered by thine hand that the work of my saluation may now in mercie bee crowned and finished that now I may cry with my Sauiour at his death Consummatum est It is finished Ioh. 19.30 He finished vpon the Crosse the worke of saluation for me now O Lord finish it in me vpon this bedde I acknowledge ô Father that I am infinitlie obliedged vnto thy Majestie for thine innumerable benefits which I haue receiued at thine handes in the time of my life for thou euer didst loue me with a Fatherlie affection thou caredst for mee thou prouidedst in due season to my necessitie thou fedst me thou defendedst mee thou nurturedst me c. Simil. Exod. 19.4 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones so hast thou carried mee in the armes of thy mercie But in speciall thou broughtest mee from ignorance to the knowledge of the trueth madest mee to be borne in the bosome of the Church gauest me that eternall life Iohn 17.3 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the Worlde Yea when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wildernesse the perils of waters of fire of pouertie of sicknesse of decietfull and wicked men c. thou deliueredst mee from them all by thy mightie and out-stretched arme and hast giuen me this time to resolue with thee to repent and thanke thee for thy benefits For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites both spirituall and temporall I render vnto thee moste heartie thankes praise and glorie to continue for euermore As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee it is not of mee O Lord but thy grace working in mee who makest thy power to bee knowne in my weaknesse And if thou wouldest look narrowly to my best actions thou wouldest finde in them a thousand imperfections Therefore I couch vnder the Garment of my Lordes righteousnesse oh spreade the Mantle of thy Mercie ouer mee And as for the Worlde I disclaime and renounce it as a false and deceitfull friend which promiseth faire things to those that seeke it but for golden offers it crowneth them with thornes I bid good-night to all my Friends Acquaintances and good Christians and I exhort all you who would haue peace in your latter ende and die the death of the Righteous Numb 23.10 Mat. 7.13 that ye would treade the footesteps of Iesus Christ goe thorowe the straite way keeping faith and loue with the Sainctes to the ende 2. Tim. 4.8 that seeing I haue gone before you and run my race and shortlie shall receiue the Crowne of Righteousnes yee would rejoyce in my victorie and not bee forâ—e for my remoouing And I pray God to bee with you all and to conuoy you safely vnto his Kingdome that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie And seeing I feele all the members of my bodie decaying and giuing ouer their office my grinders sailing my sight and hearing decaying Eccl. 12.3 my strong men trembling let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace that I may haue a cleare sight of my Lord and Sauiour and so depart in peace with olde SIMEON thy Seruant Now my Soule returne to thy rest for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee Psa 116.7 I commit my spirite into thine handes O LORD take it and by the conuoy of thy moste holie Angels carrie it vnto thy Kingdome And for my bodie I commit it to the dust from whence it came to sleepe there till the Day dawne and my LORD returne and rayse it vppe againe that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vs thorow Christ Amen FINIS THE PRINTER TO THE READER BEcause it is vnpossible that Bookes of any quantitie in the first Impression should escape all Faults and especially in the absence of the Author therefore it shall please the Christian Reader to auoyde partialitie judge charitablie and correct diligentlie such errours as on our behalfe vnwillinglie haue escaped our correction all which God willing at another time wee shall amende most attentiuelie
before the Organes letting vs see how GOD bindeth not his works to instruments Life out of Death Honour out of Infamie c. whereby his owne Glorie may appeare the greater Next the Light was made without anie Organe where from it should proceede For the Sunne and Moone were made vpon the fourth day by which God would teach vs that we should not binde his operation to anie instruments for hee can worke by them and without them against them Therefore it is naturall Idolatrie to binde the actions to the creatures and to spoyle the Creator of his due honour Light excellent for fiue respects Now the Light is most excellent in fiue respects First because it is necessarie for the direction of our actions for he that walketh in darknesse 1. Necessarie Iohn 8.12 knoweth not whither hee goeth Secondlie the Light is moste pleasant for it addeth beautie vnto all inferiour creatures 2. Beautifull who if they had no light shining vpon them they vvould bee vnder disgrace Thirdlie the Light is moste comfortable for Darknesse is the Image of Hell 3. Comfortable and a little light vvill greatlie comfort those that are in darknesse Fourthlie the Light is most pure simple 4. Pure and simple and can admit no corruption for albeit it shine vpon filthie places yet it neither receiueth nor admitteth anie infection therefrom but it illuminateth them that they seeme to bee purged And fiftlie the Light is most coelestiall 5. Coelestiall because it proceedeth not from the Earth but from the Heauens Our Sauiour CHRIST is compared to the Light Christ the true Light in all respects for all these fiue reasons following First Without him vvee must vvalke in darknesse Secondlie He is most pleasant and beautifieth vs. Thirdlie He onlie comforteth vs. Fourthlie Hee receiueth no corruption of our flesh And fiftlie He came from aboue Christ exceedeth the Light in four things But there are other foure thinges vvherein our Sauiour exceedeth this materiall Light First The Light is created and he is an vncreated Light Next The Light cannot pierce thorow all things for there are secret places in the Earth to the vvhich it can neuer attaine But there is no darknesse if it were as palpable as the darknesse of Egypt Ex. 10.20 to which Christ cannot shine Thirdlie The Light can shine to a seeing eye but it cannot giue light to a blinde eye and it offendeth a soare eye But Christ is the Light of our minde and giueth vs light to see And last the materiall Light altereth and changeth vnto darknesse but Christ is vnalterable when hee is become the Light of the soule he cannot depart finallie and totallie vntill the time he bring thee to that Light where thou shalt be with him for euer A PRAYER Vpon the Lordes first Dayes Worke. O Pure and Euerlasting Light vvho dwellest in a light vnaccessable I beseech thee to looke blink into my darkened minde with the gracious beames of thy countenance Psal 36.9 that I may looke vp and see light in thy light O Lord I reuerence and worship thee for all thy workes of wonder which thou hast made for the profite and pleasure of man Gods works a cleare myrrour wherein to behold himselfe Genes 1.3 There is not one of thy works which is not a liuelie myrrour to represent thy glorie thy wisedome thy power and thy goodnesse But my minde is blinde and caÌ„not see thee in them Thou createdst the Light on the first day by the word of thy mouth and it sprang out of darknes That senseles creature obeyed the voyce of thy mouth but alace thou hast manie times cried vnto me Arise from the workes of darknesse and I did not obey thee I am not woorthie that the light shoulde shine vpon mee which will bee a witnesse against mee When I beholde the Light how pleasant and beautifull it is and that it giueth an ornament to all other creatures who If light bee beautifull farre much more the Father of Lights if they were wrapped vp in darknesse were vtterlie disgraced But O Lord how much more art thou beautifull in thine holie Temple when thou hast put onelie a little sparke of thy glorie into this creature Our Sauiour saieth Blessed are those who haue cleane heartes Matt. 5.8 for they shall see GOD. As thou hast giuen mee the benefite of this present light so let mee see thy selfe with a pure heart Thine enemies yea the Beastes see this light but Lord let mee see thy selfe the Father of Lightes As this Light is glorious so it is verie comfortable vnto mee O my God for this night I was couered with darkenesse I turned to and froe and mine heart was sore perplexed and my â—ones sore vexed but when thou didst blinke in earlie in the morning then I reuiued mine heart was comforted and I saide vnto thee If the light be comfortable much more is God Ex. 15.23 O Lord is there such great comfort to mee in this little light abstract not thy presence from my soule All the comfortes of thy creatures will bee like to the waters of Mara which were bitter if thou season them not with thy presence and make them sweete by the Crosse of Christ Breake open the doores of my soule that thou mayest enter in and lighten the eye of mine vnderstanding that I may see thy will thy glorie and the excellencie of thine House But Lord bee mercifull vnto mee that I haue enjoyed so manie lightes and haue abused them vnto sinne Misspent time repented I spent them ydlie profanelie and wickedlie Thou mayest justlie close mine eyes that I should neuer see anie newe light who haue thus mispent so many Thou mayest cast mee into the bedde of Sicknesse or into a Prison where I should see no light But O Lord I was blinded by ignorance mine affections did blinde-folde mee Haue mercie vpon mee that I haue spent so long a light in the workes of sinne 1. Thes 5.5 Ephes 5.8 Let mee walke as the Childe of light and let mee put on the workes of light that I bee like thee and shine here and walke in light that from light I may goe to light for euer Oh let thy word and thy law bee a light to my feete Psal 119.105 that I may see to doe thy will and to keepe thine holie Commaundementes Let mee bee a Lampe of light and not a lumpe of darknesse O God I haue this one coÌ„fort God an vnchangeable Light that albeit this present light be alterable yet Thou art an vnalterable GOD and thy presence shineth at all times Therefore I beseech thee let not the light goe out of the Tabernacle Ex. 30.25 but nourish it continuallie by the fresh and new Oyle of thy Spirite that thou mayest dwell in mee and mayest delight to abide in thine owne Building and keepe in thine owne light which thou hast brought in and
nourish it within thy Sanctuarie that I beeing brought through this shaddowe of the darke worlde by thine externall and internall light may come to that place where there shall bee no night and where there needeth no Candle Rev. 21.23 neither the Sunne nor the Moone to giue light euen where thy glorie shineth and where the Lambe himselfe giueth light To whome with thee O Father and the holie Spirit bee all honour praise power and dominion now and euermore So bee it A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDES second dayes vvorke THE Heauens were created the seconde Daye The worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the natiue language is taken frō the Waters because the Waters are there and descende from thence The Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato takes as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conspicable because it is objected to the sight of all men The Latine Coelum because it is Coelatum carued with goodlie Ornaments and Firmamentum from the surenesse of it and Expansum because GOD hath spred it foorth as a Curtaine Ps 104.2 The Heauens haue three significations in the Scriptures First it is taken for the Aire wherein the Fowles and Birdes doe flie Mat. 6.26 Heauen hath three significatiōs Secondlie for the Firmament And thirdlie for the Seate of the Angels and blessed Soules Paradise the Bosome of Abraham the third Heauens wherevnto the Apostle Paul was rauished These three were made this day God created a faire Theatre to himselfe this daye wherein there should bee innumerable Quiristers neare vnto his Throne of pure Seraphims and Cherubims euerie one prouoking other to his prayse and saying Holie Revel 4.8 holie holie LORD GOD Almightie c. And againe there are infinite Aëriall Quiristers who fill the ears of men with their pleasant Songs by their example prouoking men to laude their Creatour And there is a Parpane and middle inter-stise which is the sole and grounde of his vpper House and the Roofe of his neather House to couer the Worlde by an admirable manner I marke three thinges in the Creation of the Heauens Thre things obserued First the order which GOD vseth in the making of them for seeing Man was to bee made of an Heauenlie Soule and an Earthlie Bodie and was to dwell in Heauen for euer and on the Earth onlie for a little time hee maketh the Heauen first If Heauen was first made then seeke it first setting it aboue the Earth and making Man to bow vpwardes looke vnto it and not downward towards the Earth as the Beasts doe being the place of his abode perpetuall remaining The consideration wherof should make vs to vse that same order in our actions which God did in his Albeit our bodies be on the Earth let our hart bee in Heauen Let vs put Heauen in our heart before the Earth let vs looke vnto it and haue our conuersation in it albeit our bodies be captiuate in the earth let our hearts be in our owne Countrey where wee shall dwell for euer Next God grounded the Heauens vpon the second day and perfected them vpon the fourth day God worketh by degrees This is his common forme both in his Spirituall works and in his naturall he worketh by degrees he layeth the foundation of his benefit and after he finisheth it Therfore let vs not hasten nor precipitate but attend Gods will who will perfect our earthly and heauenlie comfort in his owne time Last yee see he bindeth vp the Cloudes in the Aire that they cannot drowne the Earth as he wardes the Seas by the sands By weake meanes God preserueth man to teach vs how God by these weake meanes doeth preserue Mankinde Which if he doe to his enemies what should his Elect Children looke for at his hands A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES second Dayes Worke. O Almightie GOD Thou who created the Heauens the second day inspire my soule I beseech three with heauenlie Meditations inlarge mine heart and loose my tongue to thy praise Ouer-shadow mine heart with thy grace as thou couerest the Eearth with the Heauens that I may consider thy power and goodnesse towards me in this thy workmanship Thou needest not the Heauens O Lord for before the Heauens were thou wast the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but thou madest them for me Therefore lift vp my minde by a spirituall meditation that with heart and minde I may seeke for thee in them and loue them for thee who is in them Thou dwellest in a light vnaccessable I cannot enter into thy Throne to see but I prostrate my soule before the gates of thy grace wrapped in the beggersie clouts of my sinne and at thy commandement I knock Long for Heauen where thou mayest see God Cant. 5.12 Cast the crumms of thy mercie to me that I faint not in this wildernesse Looke with the eyes of the Doue out of thine holie Temple Heare the voyce of my prayer and gather my teares into thy Bottle who am in a strange countrey and so long absent from my Lord and Husband who is now dwelling with thee Looke foorth at the grates of thy Fathers window Cantic 2.9 O thou whom my soule loueth and cure the griefe of mine heart by thy gracious countenance Should wee dwell sundrie so fare I here thou in the heauens hasten thy comming in the Cloudes or hasten my departure by death that I may enjoye the sight of him whome my soule loueth O Lord the Heauen is full of thy glorie when thou commest out of thine Yourie Palaces Psal 45.8 and out of the moste holie places and shewest the signes of thy presence amongst thy Sainctes then the foundations of the Heauens shake then the innumerable legions of the Coelestiall Spirites rayse vp their voyces Psal 18.7 sounding thy prayses they fill al thy Temple speak words which cannot bee expressed Thine holie Armie of twentie thousand thousandes of Angels Revel 7.4 9. and of euerie Tribe of Israel twelue thousand and of all the Nations vnder the Heauens innumerable thousandes Their voyces are like the sound of the Thunder Rev. 14.2 or as the noyse of manie Waters O our God howe glorious art thou in thine holie Temple O that Spirituall Musicke and the Harpes of God wherevpon thy Sainctes doe play both daye and night The twentie and foure Elders Rev. 7.14 15. and the rest who made their long Robes white in the bloode of the Lambe thou leadest them to the pure Fountaines of Waters thou hast wyped away all teares from their eyes They sing Prayse Glorie and Wisedome Thankes Honour Power and Might bee vnto our GOD for euermore The foundation of that Citie is of precious Stones The Iasper the Saphyr Rev. 21.19 20.21 27 and the Emarald the Topaz and the Hiacinth The twelue Gates are twelue Pearles The Streete of the Citie is pure Golde as shyning Glasse There is none vncleane thing
quikneth and comforteth all the inferiour creatures by his comming to the Earth in Sommer Psal 19.6 By his remouing they are as it were comfortlesse and dead So Christ is both the light and life of the world by whom wee haue not only our naturall beeing but also the life of our soules I am the Way the Life and the Trueth Iohn 14.6 sayeth hee So that without him there is nothing but death Therefore as wee see light and heate in the Sunne Light and heate together let vs followe these two qualities of the Sunne that we haue light and heate saith and loue And as the High-priest carried in his Ephod his Vrim Simil. Ex. 28.30 and his Thummim that is Illumination and Perfection So should all Christians haue the true knowledge of God and faith working by loue As for the course of the Sunne he is in continuall course The course of the Sun without interruption since his creation But in the dayes of Ioshua when he stood and in the dayes of Ezekiah Iosh 10.12 2. king 20.2 when he stayed his course came backe ten degrees By which his constant course we are taught to runne forward in that good race of Christianity without wearying Learne at the Sunne to run a constant course NOTA. and we must stay neuer except it be to see the exterminion of Gods enemies and turne backe vnlesse it be from sinne to Gods obedience The course of the Sunne is through the Zodiacke which deuydeth the Aequinoctiall in two equall parts the one halfe to the North the other halfe to the South painted vnder the figures of Beasts the twelue signes coelestiall the Lyon Bull Ramme c. It is called Zodiacke from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What the Zodiacke is a Beast The Sunne in his course passeth monethly through one of these twelue signes whereby he compleateth his course in twelue moneths He knowes his apointed times giuen him by God Ps 104.19 which he transgresseth neuer He ariseth dayly in his proper time to giue light to vs let vs then rise earlie out of the bed of sinne Simil. It riseth early let vs rise earlie from sinne that as he goeth forward euerie houre of the day in light so wee may goe after him to doe the works of light which God hath commanded vs. This way made Dauid his Progresse at Morning Noonetide and at Euen in the Night he arose with the Sunne went forward and when he sate he ended with the praising of God Ordinarie defectes of the Sonne His defects are some ordinarie by the inâ—erposition of the Moone betwixt him and the Earth which are rare and sometimes prodigious presaging the eclipsing and death of some rare Prince as the eclipse in the yeere of God 1596. presaged the death of the most Christian King HENRIE the fourth of FRANCE HENRIE the Pearle of France Prince Henrie of Britane and the eclipse of the Sunne the yeere 1612. wherein that excellent Prince HENRIE the Prince of Great BRITANE the Pearle of the World died and was remooued to all our griefes Some defectes are extraordinarie as that which was at the death of Christ for the space of three houres Extraordinarie defects of the which Dionysius Areopagita sayde Aut Deus Naturae patitur aut Mundi machina dissolvitur that is Either the God of Nature is suffering or else the Worlde is dissoluing The Moone is compared to the Church as the Sunne is to Christ The Moone This is a prodigious thing wheÌ„ the Church which shoulde bee the light of the darksome worlde shee goeth betwixt Christ and vs and hideth his beautifull face from vs the which truelie the Church of Rome hath done manie yeeres The Lord let her see howe shee hath beene the cause of that great Ignorance wherin our fore-fathers were plunged for a long season yea shee still hath a desire to nourish Darknesse and calleth Ignorance the Mother of Deuotion The Moone is the other great light but inferior to the Sunne first in place secondly in qualitie thirdly in light because it hath lesse light than the Sunne and some doe thinke that shee borroweth her light from the Sunne Fourthly in honour for she gouerneth the Night but not the Day And fiftly in that the Sunne is constant shee mutable hee hote shee colde hee dry and shee moyst As the Sunne doth represent Christ so doth the Moone the Church which shines in the dark night of this world The comparation of the Moone with the Church being ruled by Christ who can rule and gouerne his Light When the Moone is in the point nearest the Sun then her light is darkened and hidde from the worlde and shee is in her change NOTA. But when shee is farthest from the Sunne then shee is in her greatest perfection The Moone the nearer the Sun the lesser light the Church the nearer Christ the greater farre differing from Christ and his Church For when the Church is nearest Christ then shee shineth in her perfect glorie and shee decreasseth when shee flieth farthest off from him But heerein shee resembleth the Church for that part of the Moone which is toward the Sunne is euer illuminated the rest of her bodie being darkned The Church as farre as shee looketh to Christ is light so likewise the Church so farre as shee looketh to Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shee is light in the Lord but so farre as shee is turned from him shee is nothing but darknesse The Eclipse of the Moone happeneth when the Earth is interponed betwixt her and the Sunne Eclipse of the Moone And so the Church of Christ alace suffereth this Eclipse when the earthlie cares of this life goe betwixt Christ her whereby it doeth come to passe that the world is spoyled of light as we see in the Romish Church which was so long glorious as in her Martyrdome she contemned the world but after when she enjoyed peace and was promoted to honour and wealth she became earthlie minded and her Godlinesse was soone turned into Greedinesse The Starrs As for the rest of the Starres they are innumerable and yet I will affirme that there is not one of them which is ydle but hath a speciall vse for which it was created For as in the Earth the Lord made nothing in vaine for hee sawe that whatsoeuer hee did it was good Then if it was good Gen. 1.10 it behoued to serue for some good vse So in the Heauens likewise hee saw that all was good Some fixed For the Starres there be some fixed as their name Stella à stando beareth So wee should studie to bee fixed Starres in the right hand of CHRIST Rev. 1.16 20. Some of these are remarkable whereof GOD himselfe speaketh vnto Iob as the Hyades Iob 9.9.38 3. Pletades and Orion The Planets haue their name from erring for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doeth
benefires O Lord and I haue beene a great abuser of the same Thou didst make the Light vpon the first Day I haue abused it yea when thou sent mee a better Light for my soule I continued still in the workes of darknesse Thou vpon the second Day didst create the Heauens but I haue sinned against the Heauens Luk 15.18 and against thee and am not woorthie to looke vpwardes Thou didst make the Earth vpon the thirde Day but I am an vnprofitable burthen vnto it Thou didst make the Sunne and Moone vpon the fourth Day to shine but whilest they were shâ—ning I was sinning as though those glorious Vessels were appointed to carrie light to let mee see to commit iniquitie And nowe vpon the firth Daye thou furnishest two extraordinarie great Commodities for mans vse the Sea is prepared with Fishes and the Aire with Fowles and Birdes vnto my necessitie O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisedome hast thou made them all the Earth is full of thy Riches thou hast commaunded the Sea to giue mee Fishes and the Aire Fowles thou hast put life into them and they are appointed to die for the maintenance of my life God letteth his creaturs die that we may liue Is not then my life precious vnto thee who makest so manie to die that I may liue But I am not onelie fed with them but am the price of thy Sonnes Bloode O Lord what am I that thou shouldest haue made them al to die that I might liue Then I beseech thee let my life serue to thine honour yea if my death might honour thee I desire to liue no longer Thou giuest me daylie Fishes out of the Seas and out of the Râ—uers Manie are steruing with Hunger and yet thou feedest mee Oh forgiue mee that sometimes I haue loathed those thy good creatures and abstract them not from mee although I haue contemned them heeretofore O Lord what prooues of thy deliuerie haue I had Thou broughtest mee to the Hauen and I forgot the Vowes which I promised vnto thee in the bitternesse of mine heart Nowe Lord I prayse thee for thy notable deliueries whereby thou hast kept mee and hencefoorth let me not doe what I will but what thou wilt and commaund mee as long as I liue Thou mightest haue made mee a baite and foode for the Fishes but yet thou hast made them foode for mee Let it bee O God to thy glorie and for the good of thy people for thou sendest them to the Nette of thy prouidence Let me therefore depende vpon thee I cast me ouer vpon the knees of thy fauour The Lyon shall be hungrie Ps 34.10 but those that feare thee shall lacke nothing which is good for them Oh that if I could be allured by these thy loue-tokens to praise thee aright and that I might bee stirred vp vnto a duetie to the Poore who are in necessitie O liberall God why should I receiue so aboundantlie and giue backe so niggardly and sparingly Open enlarge mine heart O Lord Psal 119. that mine hand may distribute these thy creatures to the hungrie poore and needie as a sure token which thou requirest of my thankfulnesse towardes thee Faythfull Fishers O Lord sende foorth vnto the Sea of this Worlde faythfull Fishers who may drawe manie soules from it vnto thine heauenlie kingdome Purge thine holie Church O God from all Hyrelinges and such as are not fishers of men And againe O Lord as thou hast prepared the Fishes in the Seas for my sustenance so hast thou likewise commanded the Aire to furnish all manner of feathered Fowles to my vse Therefore I giue thee thanks with my whole heart that thou sacrificest thy creatures out of al places for me beseeching thee that I may sacrifice the corruptions of my nature Further O Lord I learn by the Fowles that they flie in the Firmament but they feed on the earth Simil. Lord howsoeuer that I must seeke my foode here yet let my conuersation be in the Heauens When that in the Sommer I heare the sweet voyce of these Birdes which by their Angelicall Harmonie may justlie bee called the Ministers of Musicke I beseech thee to haue mercie vpon me thy poore creature and open my Lips and loose my Tongue that I may sound foorth thy praises and that by these thy creatures I may still finde newe prouocations to bee stirred vp to proclaime thy goodnesse that I being initiate entered into thy praise here may glorifie thee eternallie in Heauen through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES Sixth Dayes Worke. VPon the sixth Day the LORD openeth the Earth and maketh it to bring foorth his Treasures and bringeth foorth Beastes of all sorts for Mans vse and last of all hee made Man Gods power out of the dead Earth bringeth Man and Beast First yee see the power of the worde of God which of that dead and colde bodie of ehe Earth brought foorth so manie liuing creatures which were not before This is a great Argument for the affirmance of the resurrection of our dead bodies Argument for the resurrection of the body for if hee brought out of the bosome of the Earth and gaue life which was not how easie is it then for him to raise out of the Earth the bodies which were liuing and to cause the Sea the Aire and the Earth render an account of the Bodies consumed in them The Lord created Kyne and Sheepe for his Rayment the Oxen to labour his Ground and the Horses for Carriage yea and the Worme to decore him with Silke As for the Lyon and other wylde Beastes which are enemies to Man it is to bee vnderstoode that it was not so at the beginning for at the first the Lyon the Tyger c. were as obedieÌ„t to Man as the Lambe Sinne hath inaâ—med MaÌ„ aganst God the Beastes aganst Man 1. King 13 24. 2. King 2.23 Nota. Creeping thinges not created in vaine Exod. 8.6 but alace sinne stirred vp and inarmed Man against God and the Beastes against Man as the Lyon against the young Prophet and the Beares against the young Children which mocked Elisha Therefore when wee get anie injurie by the creatures let vs call to minde that it is for our sinnes studie to bee reconciled to our Creator As for the innumerable creeping thinges let vs not thinke that God hath created them in vaine for he hath vsed them as great Hostes to punish his aduersaries whensoeuer he pleased as the Frogges for Pharoah and the little Vermine for Herod yea Act. 12.23 the Worms to sease vpon the Bodies of all Flesh which although neuer so daintilie fedde must bee a Prey vnto them And againe Men are compared to Beasies whâ—se nature is beastlie Psal 10.9 Psa 17.12 Psa 22.12 13.16.20.21 c. Isa 56.10.11 Gen. 49.14 16. let vs remember that Men are often times in the Scripture compared vnto diuerse
last at afternoone meditate vpon the word which thou hast heard harow the ground by conference and visit the sicke breake thy Bread to the hungrie thou shalt find such infinit occasions of spirituall exercises vpon the Sabbath that thou hast no neede to spende it ydlie for lacke of better exercise Great differance betwixt Rest and Ydlenes But it is to be vnderstoode that there is a great difference betwixt Rest and Ydlenesse for ydlenesse is euer taken in an euill part and is the foster-mother of all sinne and there is no day in the weeke wherein God hath permitted it Sixe dayes shalt thou labour sayeth the Lod. Exod. 20.9 2. Thess 3.10 And the Apostle Paul dischargeth to giue foode to those who worke not But Rest is euer taken in a good sense when we are commanded to cease from one sort of exercise that we may be occupied in a better for the thornie cares of this world wil impede deuotion therefore God willl that we lay them aside for a while to the ende we may the better waite and attende vpon Gods diuine Seruice Wherevpon vpon it followeth necessarilie that the Sabbath is not only abused by such as worke their earthly businesse thereon but also by such as cease in bodie and their mindes and mouthes are filled with worldly affaires Then this Rest consisteth in two things ceasing and working must be the most diligent day in the whole weeke Spirituall rest both in regard of the soule that hath her principall operation that day and the ende of her labour which is God his kingdome which only wee should seeke that day This Rest must be totall and not partlie The Sabbath dayes rest must bee totall and not parted for the soâ—le all the faculties thereof and the bodie with her members must bee put to worke for Gods glorie Wee must not employ our cogitations to think vpon these earthly thinges Haue not our mindes beene worne as Milstones grinding gaine to the world these dayes bygone The Beast careth but for things present Simil. but thy care hath bene for things to come thou wilt serue God this day with thy mouth and thy god Mammon with thy mind God esteemeth and judgeth thy seruice from the inwarde disposition of thine heart as he doeth all things for he looketh not as man doth God judgeth of maÌ„ by his heart 1. Sam. 16.7 If with thy heart thou drawest neare vnto him then thou hast obserued his Sabbath for the heart will carrie thy body which the bodie cannot for thy soule will goe where she pleaseth albeit the bodie be in the Temple of God Next vpon the Sabbath it is required that our hearts and affections be spirituallie disposed with a delight and pleasure in the Lord. Heerefore the Lord craueth by his Prophet that his Sabbath should be a day of delight Isa 58.13 for there is none action which a man inteÌ„deth with hope of gaine or pleasure albeit it bee painfull that hee hath not delight into but specially in the works of sinne which Sathan baiteth with wonderfull delights If we haue taken such pleasure in the seruice of sinne whose ende is death shall we not rejoyce when we goe to the house of our God seeing only that seruice which is done with joy of the heart on the Sabbath is acceptable to God and profitable to thy soule What shall we thinke of such Recusants who will not heare the voyce of their Bridegroome Recusants damned such as for feare come to the Church Simil. neither will come to the Sanctuarie of God or of such who for feare of lawes for shame or custome doe come I will compare them to a shrewde wife married to an Husband who refuseth to him cohabitation and if sometime she be enforced to come to his societie she signifieth by her countenance and outward behauiour that her heart is not with him and therefore is not worthie that he should delight in her As also those Christians of whatsoeuer estate they bee which vse their games and pastymes on the Sabbath Gamesters rebuked whether in the house or in open albeit the one is more offeÌ„siue thaÌ„ the other yet in themselues they are both sinful for in so doing they declare howe little delight they haue in things which are better 1. King 3.24 Simil. Then yee would cut the child in twaine as the whoore would haue done but the Lord to whome the Sabbath belongeth sayeth Either giue me the whole day or take it all to thy selfe The Lord is the Lord of the Sabbath it is his owne day the rest he hath giuen to thee take of thy sixe dayes and robbe not him of his one As the Rod of Aaron swallowed vp the Rod of the inchanters of Egypt Simil. Exod. 7.12 so let the delight of God deuoure all other pleasures And as wee must make conscience of our thoughts and all actions so wee must beware of ydle speaches on his Sabbath Ydle speaches on the Sabbath for if the tongue bee a most noble member when should it bee occupyed in his seruice if not on the day of his rest will not thy tongue finde in that infinite God Nota. infinite matter of speach of the proofes which thou hast had of his power fauour wisedome justice patience c that thou needest not for lacke of spirituall purpose to talke ydlie Besides that his word is an Ocean of matter furnishing thy tongue so well to sing his prayses And so on the Lordes day let vs speak the language of Canaan Further Isa 19.18 we must not goe our owne wayes or doe our will the way which hee hath prescribed vs to goe is to his House and to visit the sicke indigent and not to goe make our merchandise vpon this day The people of Israel went out to seeke Manna vpoÌ„ the sabbath Exod. 16.27 but they found nothing neither shal our Sabbath erraâ—ds find any benediction So on the Lords Sabbath let our mindes our members On the Sabbath let all our members bee occupied in Gods seruice cease from the world and much more from sinne that wee may meditate vpon the Lawe of God Our eyes may beholde his works glorifie him in them our eares may heare his word our tongue may proclaime his praise our knees may bow downe and worship him we may lift vp our hands to heauen our feete may goe to his house so all may concurre in his majesties Sabbath to his honour The promise which God giueth if we obserue it is That we shall mount vp to the high places of the earth Isa 58.14 this is temporall and he will feede vs with the heritage of Iacob our father this is spirituall Godlinesse then hath the promise of this life and the life to come Godlinesse hath a twofolde promise for there is no doubt but the diligent seruice of God vpon this day shall procure a
blessing vnto all the rest of the weeke Seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Mat. 6.33 and all other thinges shall bee casten vnto you vvhere by the contrarie there are Curses denounced aga nst the profanators of the Sabbath Ier. 17.27 that God shall curse the workes of their handes and the Land shall enjoye manie Sabbathes of yeeres euen as it did in the Captiuitie of Babylon Now Three kinds of Sabbaths 1. Of Creation 2. Of Redemption Reuel 1.10 there are three kindes of Sabbathes the first of the Creation as a memoriall that GOD ceased from his worke vpon the seuenth day this lasted till Christes death and resurrection The second Sabbath beganne vpon the day of his resurrectiō which is called THE LORDES DAY in rememberance of a newe Creation of the worlde 3. Of Perfection Isa 66.23 and this will ende with the worlde And the thirde Sabbath shall be eternall when as the sixe dayes of this miserable life shall bee finished vvee shall rest from all our earthlie businesses and trauels that our continuall exercise may bee to glorifie him in minde heart and with all our strength in his Kingdome Then let vs occupie this Sabbath whollie in his prayse vvhich shall bee a sure pledge of that in the Heauens A Prayer vpon the seuenth Day MOst mightie Lord and mercifull Father distill I beseech thee and powre downe into mine earthlie heart thy diuine Dewes vvhich may moysten it together with such heauēly meditations as may stirre vp mine heart vnto thy prayse and glory that as vpon these sixe dayes I haue beene musing and meditating vpon all thy most glorious workes so I may repose my selfe vpon the day of Rest and finde quietnesse to my soule in thee for all the rest of the creatures albeit they be glorious yet they be subject vnto a curse not because of themselues but for man who hath defiled them I haue trusted to the pleasures which I saw in the creatures and I see that it is true that Salomon saide All is but vanitie and vexation of the spirit Eccles 1.2 as Ritches increase so Care groweth But O Lord let me come to thine Arke as the Doue did which found no rest till shee came backe to Noah Genes 8.9 Pull in thine owne doue O my Lord vnto thee for the floods of sinne haue ouerflowed the face of the Earth that I finde no rest heere I am wearie and loadned Lord giue me rest to my soule in thee This day is joyfull to me because that my Lord rose this day from death I beseech thee my God Nota. raise vp my soule from the graue of sinne that I may be partaker of the first Resurrection and make my thoughts spirituall this thy Sabbath day banish from my minde all earthlie cares this day forgiue me in that I haue so many times abused these thine holie dayes Oftentimes when I was praying to thee or thou preaching vnto me Sathan did cast into my mind carnall cogitations which interrupted that communication betwixt my soule thy majestie O Lord forgiue me and fill my soule with thy reuerence and feare in all the dayes of my life to come that all such ydle purposes may be dispatched by thine holie Spirit shut the doore of my soule when thou art speaking vnto me or when I pray to thee that none get entrie to vnquiet me and stay my joy for alace mine heart was casten open vnto many of thine enemies I will close the doore of mine eare to the voyce of all others that thou mayest speake to me Alace my God I finde a great decay of that spirituall joy in me that I haue not that sparke of delight and that inward spirituall joy which I should haue or had sometimes I loath the exercise which I loued mine hands are wearie and fallen downe I haue lost my first loue it was sweeter to me thā the honey Reuel 2.4 now it is loathsome vnto me as the Manna was vnto the Isralites therefore I beseech thee Numb 11.6 kindle vp an holie fire of thy loue in my soule as was in the Disciples going to Emmaus and that the zeale of thine House may eate me vp Luk 24.32 Psal 69.9 and 52.8 and 27.4 Let me flourish as a greene Oliue in the house of my God O would to God I could abide in thine house all the dayes of my life that I might praye with good Anna 1. Sam. 1.13.16 out of the bitternesse of my soule making my supplications to thee O Lord I craue thee pardon for the earthly and ydle speaches which I spake vpon the Sabbath I will holde mine hand vpon my mouth speake no more Iob 39.37 Luk 24.15 The Disciples which went to Emmaus were speaking of Christ he came vnto them alace when I spake of the world he went from me and my heart was colde Lord forgiue me for it was a great sin which I did yea I made no matter to deale in mine earthly businesse on thy Sabbath All mine excuses are nowe accusations against me they burne me when I am trying mine heart But Lord I found neuer any blessing in those mine actions which I enterprysed vpon thy Day I haue sinned I will doe it no more let the world be crucified to me and me to it vpon thy Sabbath I haue resolued in mine heart that I shall spende my dayes while I liue to thine honour Helpe my resolution by thine holie Spirit that neither the corruption of my nature my weaknesse and forgetfulnes Nota. neither the euil example of these wicked and profane people among whom I liue suffer me to break my promise which I doe make vnto thee but that thou mayst be my speach my thought and my delight vpon the Sabbath dayes Let me be feruent in prayer and supplications to thee vpon the day of thy rest Let me heare what thou speakest to me by the mouth of thy seruant Let me gather thy Manna when it is rained downe from the clowdes of Heauen Ex. 16.15 as the people gathered Manna in the Desart that I may heare it as thy word I may gather it and lay it in the store-house of mine heart against the yeere of famine Gen. 41.48 and giue me thy grace that vpon thy holy day I may proclaime thy prayses with the rest of the Saincts This day let me breake my bread to the hungrie seeing thou satisfiest me with thy spirituall graces let me cloathe them that are naked visit those that are sicke and that I may so rest from earthly vanities this day that I may moste diligently worke the workes of God that I may gather out the flowrs of thy most holy Scriptures that I may studie to practise which I heare in a godlie life and conuersation so I may redeem the time which I haue spent in vain Eph. 5.16 that I now getting mercie for the abusing of thy
hast nurtured me by thy Rod and that thou hast not suffered my spirituall enemies to triumph ouer mee and forsooke me not neither left me to my selfe nor to be a prey to them O Lord pardon me all the sinnes of this day and purge me from my secret sinnes euen those which are hidden from my selfe Who can know or vnderstand them no doubt I haue sinned this day My conscience may erre and deceiue me but thou searchest the depth of the heart But I praise thee that thou kepedst me from presumptuous sinnes this day Psa 19.13 Forget O Lord my negligence in thy seruice Alace I haue beene wearied of thy worship And seeing thou art and hast begun to bring darknesse vpon the face of the earth breake in O Lord with the glorious beames of thy presence and illuminate my darknesse Psal 16.7 When the bodie is at rest let the soul be busie with God Instruct my reines in the night season and speake familarlie vnto my soule when I sleepe in my bed then open mine eares when my senses are asleepe then let my soule enjoy thy presence without interruption Let thy Spirite teach my spirit and informe her ignorance rebuke my spirit correct her sinfulnesse strengthen my spirite and help her weaknesse comfort my spirit and cure her sorrowes Giue me sleepe and rest to my bodie if it may make me the more able to serue thee But if it may stay thine honour Nota. I will be content to want it And if thou hast appointed this night that I shall awake Lord hold the eyes of my soul waking that I may repent for the abuse of that great rest which I haue receiued alreadie without rendering thankesgiuing vnto thee Lord let mee lie with a peacable minde vnder the hand of a reconciled God Suffer not my soule this night to bee disquieted with the cares of this world which bereaueth worldlings of their rest but I cast my burthen vpon thee all mine affaires vnto the bosome of thy prouidence for thou wilt beare them Why art thou troubled my soule Psal 42.5 and 43.5 and why art thou disquieted within me trust yet in thy God and he will be thy reliefe Ly downe in peace and sleepe Psal 4.8 for he will care for thee And againe O Lord deliuer my soule from the fearfull terrours of this night Giue me faith with Dauid Psal 3.6 and I shall not be affrayde of ten thousand for thy presēce is a sufficient defence to me against all mine enemies But O Lord especially deliuer mee from the feares of thy wrath when Sathan laieth my sinnes in order before me and that they stand in the sight of thy countenance then thou makest me to mourne like a Doue Isa 38.14 and chatter like a Swallow Mine eyes were lifted vp on high I reckoned till the morning Psal 58.6 but thou brake my bones like a Lyon From day to night thou wilt make an ende of me Then I cryed My sinnes haue opressed me cōfort me O Lord remoue the clowd of my sinnes which interueaneth betwixt thy mercie and me let me see thee this night sitting vpon thy mercie seate stretching out the poynt of the golden Scepter Hest 5.2 and retreating the sentence of death giuen out by thy justice against me Cast my sins behind thy back drown them in the bottome of the Sea of thine obliuion that this night I may lodge in the Fort of thy grace as in a Citie of refuge and finde rest to my soule Keepe me O Lord from the curse threatned by thy Prophet against such as in the night are plotting euil things against their neighbours Mica 2.1 Let me remember O Lord that darknesse is to thee as light Psal 139.12 and thou hast an eye of fire whose light can pierce the most hard places Where can I hide any thought from thee for thou who plantedst the eye doest not thou see most clearly Psal 94.9 Therefore keepe my soule this night that I admit no purpose therein whereof thou wilt not be content Be thou my Counseller my Witnesse and Judge that by thy presence my soule may be kept in that holy reuerence to thee that it consent to no vncleane or injust action to offende thee Thou hast tryed and proued mine heart in the night and hast found nothing for I was purposed not to displease thee And because my Lord wil come as a thiefe in the night and I doe not knowe what houre he commeth let me watch and pray 1 Thess 5.2 Matth. 24.43 and 25.13 that at the voyce of thine Angel I may be watching with mine oyle in my lampe Let me praise thee in the night with feruencie Keepe me from the Arrow which flyeth in darknesse and from the temptations of the Prince of darknesse Preserue me O Lord and my familie euerie thing which thou hast giuen me I doe resigne all to thy keeping who art a faithfull keeper of all things which are committed to thy custodie Thou wilt suffer nothing to be taken out of thine hand O GOD be thou a pillar of fire to giue light to me this night and carrie thy child in the armes of thy mercie through all perils of bodie and soule I leaue my soule into thine hand and when I awake I will seeke my soule in thee And finallie O Lord this bodily sleepe teacheth me to die and when I lie downe in my Bed I remēber that I shall once be casten into the bed of my graue that I may sleep there til the day dawne and the Sunne of Righteousnesse arise that then I may arise also and praise thee O my God together with the Sonne and the holie Ghost for euermore AMEN A MEDITATION VPON THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL EVen as it is necessarie vnto Saluation to belieue in GOD our Father so it is necessarie to belieue the holie Church our Mother Belieue the Church but not in the Church that she is the Queen the Spouse of Iesus Christ Wee must belieue in God put our whole trust and confidence him Wee must belieue also that the Church is his Spouse and belieue whatsoeuer shee speaketh vnto vs of him out of his own mouth for if shee bee his Spouse shee will not adulterate inuert or corrupt her Lords speaches And if an Angel taught another Gospel let him bee accursed Gal. 1.8 In the Nicene Councell and in Athanasius his Symbole the particle In is added But yee must vnderstand that the Apostolicke Symbole which is called the Creede must bee a Rule of perfection and antiquitie vnto all the rest Then God willing I shall define the Vniuersall Church vnto you that yee may know her The Vniuersall Church is the Members of the Elect whom God hath called by his word vnto Life euerlasting What the Church vniuersallis Shee taketh not her name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to elect but from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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