thee and done to them that trust in thee but sinners are affraid a feare doth come vpon hypocrites who can dwell with the deuouring fire Who shall dwell with euerlasting burningss wee conceiue chaffe and bring forth stubble our breath as fire shall deuoure vs and we shall be as the burnings of lime as thornes cut vp shall they bee burnt in the fire for wickednesse shall not deliuer the possessor thereof thou armest thy creatures to be reuenged of thy enemies and the world shall fight with thee against the vniust which haue kindled a fire in thy wrath which shall burne for euer thou art wise in heart O Lord mighty in strength who hath beene fierce against thee and prospered who shall stand in thy sight when thou art angry alas my silthinesse shall bee discouered and my shame shal bee seene Lord. I will goe and returne to my place till thou acknowledge thy offences and seek my face in thy affliction if thou wilt seeke mee earely feare not thou shalt not be ashamed neither shalt thou be confounded for thy maker is thy husband the Lord of hoasts is his name and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel the God of the whole earth am I called for I haue called thee being as a woman forsaken and grieued in spirit and a wife of youth when thou wast refused saith thy God for a small moment haue I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face frō thee for a moment but with euerlasting kindnesse will I haue mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For this is as the waters of Noah vnto mee for as I haue sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more goe ouer the earth so haue I sworne that I would not bee wroth with thee nor rebuke thee for the mountaines shall depart and the hills be remooued but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the couenant of my peace be remoued saith the Lord that hath mercy vpon thee this is the heritage of my seruants and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord nowe then encline thine eares and come vnto mee heare thy soule shall liue and I will make an euerlasting couenant with thee euen the sure mercies of Dauid behold I haue giuen him for a witnesse to the people and for a leader and commander to them therefore goe thou out with ioy and be lead forth with peace the mountaines and hills shall breake forth before thee in singing and all the trees of the fielde shall clap their hands it shall bee to mee for a name and for an euerlasting signe that shall not be cut off Soule I confesse thy saluation shall bee for euer and thy righteounesse shall not bee abolished though I saide in my haste I am cast out of thy sight yet thou heardest the noyse of my prayer whē I cryed vnto thee and am fully assured that thou which hast promised art also able to doe it Lord. Thou doest well beloued soule to acknowledge thy sin to deale with them as thou hast done and as a iudge doth with malefactors to apprehend raigne and condemne them for he that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper but hee that confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy for as thou hast declamed against thy sinnes so haue the Saints before thee for they acknowledged their sinne vnto mee neither did hide their iniquity for they thought they would confesse against thēselues their sinnes vnto mee and I forgaue the punishment of their sinnes and so also my seruant said vnto mee surely thou art iust in all that is come vpon vs for thou hast dealt truely but wee haue dealt wickedly So did another protest against himselfe and his people wee sinned and haue committed iniquity haue done wickedly yea haue rebelled haue departed from thy precepts and from thy iudgements Vncouer thou thy sinne and I will couer it declare thou it and I will heare thee in the worlde confession is confusion but with mee it is farre otherwise for if thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am faithfull and iust to forgiue thee all thy finnes and to cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse and truly deare soule it is of my grace begun in thee that thou breakest out in confession of them willingly opening them and stripping them naked before my Maiesty for he that is penitent before mee and my Angels with whom there is greater ioy in heauen for one that repenteth then for ninty and nine that need not repentance I will not sticke to confesse before the face of men It is not of nature for Adam whilst I pushed his conscience couered himselfe with figge leaues I send a noyse and voyce hee betooke him to the thicke wood and last I vrged him with questions yet hee shifted off his sinne to Euah and this confession that the sight of misery and feare of punishment haue taken out of thee is a heauenly preparatiue to a greater measure of my grace to be wrought in thee Soule If one man sinne against another the Iudge shall iudge it but if a man sinne against thee O Lord who will pleade for him yea he must be swallowed vp with heauinesse If wee say wee haue a couenant with death or with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe through it shall not come at vs for wee haue made falshoode our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid O but how innumerable haue beene punished for their trespasses euen here in this worlde Adam cast out of paradise the world destroyed by water Sodome and Gomorrah by fire Pharaoh by the Sea Amaleck rooted out 3 thousand killed for the worship of the golden Calfe Nadab and Abihu burnt with fire Myriam stricken with leaprosie for incredulity three hundred thousand beside young ones and seruants that came out of Egypt except Ioshuah and Caleb fell in the wildernesse Corath Dathan swallowed quick into the earth Moses and Aaron excluded the Land for murmuring the Princes of the people hanged Achan stoned the tribe of Beniamim ouerthrowen for the Leuites wife Eli for not correcting his children Saul for sacrificing and after him all his house punished What shall I say of those that died of the pestilence in Dauids dayes the disobedient Prophet rent by the Lion the forty children by the bores for mocking Elizeus of Geetze or Hosiah the King willing to burne incense with many more as Ananias and Saphyra Elimas the sorcerer Iudas and Theudas and some of them for very meane sinnes to the iudgement of men yea and the Galileans whose sacrifice Pilate mixed with their blood and the builders of the Tower of Shiloh which fell vpon them which were not the greatest sinners and vnlesse I repent I
laughter be turned to mourning and your ioy into heauinesse grieuous sins must be repented of with great griefe a sore disease must be cured with sharpe medicines for men must mourne for their sins as one mourneth for his only sonne and and be sorrowfull for them as one is sorrowfull for the death of his first born there must bee in them a great mourning as the mourning of Hadradimmon in the valley of Megiddan for the death of the good King Iosiah euen so must thou mourne because thou hast pierced my Sonne thorough with thy sinnes and wounded him with thy by-past abhominations and thus thou must rent thy heart for a sa man that looks vpon the Sunne if hee turne his face away remaineth turned vntill he turne himselfe againe so hee that turneth himselfe away by sinne maketh himselfe a sinner and so remaineth vntill he turne himselfe againe by hearty repentance and therefore thou must diligently examine thy sinnes not onely in acknowledging of them but also in sense and feeling of them for that will make thee not to change one sin for another but forsake all not as Herod who was contented to relinquish some but not to seperate from his incestuous whore and the young man would rather depart from me albeit that I loued him then from his riches So did Ananias and Saphyra it must then bee a totall not partiall forsaking for whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guiltie of all for the keeping of sinne in part is the losing of grace in whole ye must not forsake sinne for a moment or short time but for euer and not returne with the dogge to the vomit and with the sow to the wallowing in the mire least hauing escaped the filthinesse of this world thou bee yet again intangled in the same for sinnes not truely repented of are meanes to fall vnto them againe thou must not harbour secret sinnes in thy heart and breast but rather desire to be religious then to seeme to be for be assured there is nothing so secret but shal be reuealed whether it bee good or bad thou must not then begin in the spirit and end in the flesh and not only art thou thus to deale with thy grosse sinnes but also with the inwarde corruption of thy nature and the fruits thereof which although thou canst not altogether blot out yet beat it downe and keepe it short for while the tree remayneth in the earth there wil alwaies spring foorth some buds rest neuer from emptying this fountaine from which these mudde springs are deriued Soule By reason of my inward corruption good God I am impoysoned for I see another lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe af my minde bringing me vnto captiuity the lawe of sinne which is in my members oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death for if Satan who neuer ceaseth should do nothing to me yet this would pull and drawe mee from thee vnlesse it be suppressed oh that bondage of sin to bee at the commandement of euery vile wretched lust oh the master the seruice and reward of sinfull persons Satan that God of this world and Prince that ruleth in the children of disobedience hee putteth his vassailes to carry heauier burthens and to toile themselues in baser workes then the cruell taske-masters of Egypt imposed on the poore Israelites impenitent sinners are enthraled to euery bruitish lust they must defile their bodies corrupt their soules consciences and pollute all their works and wayes when and in what manner soeuer the diuell will haue them runne vp and downe like dregges to followe euery vaine delight neuer peaceable by day nor quiet by night euermore labouring to work out their owne ouerthrow possessed with a spirituall phrensie and led by the suggestion of Satan and then the wages of sinne it death to endure endlesse torments in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death now Lord free mee from this slauery of sinne that beeing translated from glory to glory and hauing thy image renued in mee daily more and more I may purifie my selfe euen as thou art pure oh that I might be fenced armed against all enticements it is a blessed thing to worke no iniquity what should it profit a man to win the whole worlde and lose his owne soule it is better to suffer affliction with thy people then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season it is a ioy to liue a holy life euen the life of thee the Lord God the life of Christ the life of Angels to bee zealous of good workes to feele spirituall ioyes in the inward man to looke for a crowne of glory after I haue died the death of the righteous Lord. And so it is true therefore I say search thy corruptions whether thou grow in grace or art consumed in some I giue grace in measure sometime more and some time lesse but they that liue in ignorance and sinne are deade for they sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death for the life of sinne is the death of the man when they sinne with pleasure and delight the best flesh is most tender and where it is most corrupt there it is most hard and where the flesh is nearest to healing there it will more speedily and more freshly bleed the more neare thou art to me the more fearefull thou wilt bee the more pretious thy conscience is the more tender it is for it is a quickning grace of my spirit whē thou feelest peace in conscience and ioy in the holy spirit when thou hast accesse vnto me and reioycest vnder the hope of my glory for blessed is that people which can reioyce in mee they shall walke in the peace of my countenance vnto this peace of minde sincerity must bee linked for blessed is the man to whom I impute no iniquity and in whose heart there is no guile yea blessed are those that are vpright in the way thou must make knowne thy faith by fruits and feeling by sweete effects for loue is carefull to please mee and fearfull to displease and blessed is that man that feareth mee and walketh in my wayes this feare will breed a care of obedience of the word and therefore blessed is hee that heareth the word of God and keepeth that thy heart may stand in awe of mee let mee bee thy feare and dread where my feare is wanting there is no tentation nor sin so great but thou wilt fall in it but remember I beholde all thy wayes and tell all thy steps hee that feareth not me shal feare the least of my creacreatures liue in feare and feare in loue for tasting how gracious I am in all my Saints feare least thou lose so good a Lord this feare will make thee search thy owne corruption the godly
art thou that sufferest for righteousnesse sake then feare not the wickeds feare neither bee troubled but count it exceeding ioy when thou fal into diuerse temptations that the tryall of thy faith bringeth forth patience let patience haue her perfect worke that thou may bee perfect and intire wanting nothing that thou may say O Lord thou knowest remember me and visit mee reuenge me of my persecutors take mee not away in the continuance of thine anger for thy sake I haue suffered rebuke to such belongs the kingdome of heauen for it is better if it be the will of God that thou suffer for well doing then for ill doing Thou maiest know and discerne hereof by the sicknesse of thy heart arising of the guiltinesse of sinne which maketh thee suspect all thy waies for the wicked man is continually as one that trauelleth with childe and the number of yeares is hid from the tyrant a sound of feare is in his eares and in his prosperity the destroyer shall come vpon him for thus the wicked may say the thing that I feared is come vpon mee and the thing that I was affraid of is come vnto mee I haue no peace neither had I quietnesse neithr had I rest yet trouble is come thus the sinners feare commeth like sudden desolation and their destruction like a whirlewinde for ease slayeth the foolish and the prosperity of fooles destroieth them impatient they are in aduersity and proud in prosperitie yet that they haue is as a bird in captiuitie which beeing let loose will returne to her owne liberty againe the righteous are escaped out of trouble and the wicked shall come in his steed yea the godly account that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed when as the wicked man dieth his hopes perisheth all afflictions end in death and can pursue the Saints no further but I will bring an euerlasting reproach vpon the wicked and a perpetuall shame which shall neuer bee forgotten for sinne not beeing cured in this world endeth not in death for what was in hope recurable finite measurable here becommeth in hell incurable infinite vnmeasurable which makes the godly say how excellent is thy mercie O God therefore the children of men trust vnder the shadowe of thy wings they shall bee satisfied with the fulnesse of thy house and thou shalt giue them drinke out of the riuer of thy pleasures for with thee it is the well of life and in my sight shall they see light and yet neuerthelesse for their manisolde good and because I loue them I chastise them but the wicked are not in trouble as other men are neither are they plagued as other men and when they are raised vp I will despise their image but the godly are alwaies with me I will holde them by my right hand I will guide them by my counsaile and and afterwardes receiue them to glorie Soule Now I clearely perceiue Lord my misery from that corrupt fountaine in mee O what a blessed estate haue I fallen from what a woefull and miserable condition hath the transgression of Adam brought vpon mee a generall infection and corruption of all the powers and faculties of my soule and body my soule alas spiritually 〈◊〉 my minde through ignorance vaine in all the discourses and imaginations thereof the vnderstanding blinde not sauouring the things of God my conscience wounded and neuer soundly peaceable my memorie fit to reckon euill and forget good my will altogether gaine-standing either to chuse or doe good and my affection led by it my conuersation loathsome to God and man my thoughts both infinite and insatiable to euill my members weapons of vnrighteousnesse my best actions the greatest abhominations that minde can thinke or tongue expresse All the mischances of that hereditary pollution and actuall transgression which I am so propense and naturally willing vnto as is the foule to flie or the stone to goe downewarde thou art I know a iust and righteous God who will not iustifie sinners Lord. Be of good comfort sin is transgression of the law I haue decreed a remedy from all eternity promised immediately after the fall and exhibited in the fulnesse of time my Son Iesus Christ to performe a full redemption for thee and all the elect which hee performed in obedience to mee the Father in comming to redeeme and take thy nature vpon him made obedient to the lawe in fulfilling it perfectly which thou hadst broken and in vndergoing the punishment due vnto thee in obedience I say in humility at his natiuity and whole life suffering all the miseries that sin had drawne vpon thee in his body hunger colde pouerty c. in soule ignorance temptation faintnes and then his death the paines wee had deserued but specially in his soule griefe for the sinnes of the worlde when hee pleadeth himselfe before my iudgement seate as guilty for thee who had neede of his owne creatures the Angels to comfort him withdrawing of the Diety for the present my curse vpon him for sinne the power of Sathan preuailing for a time the horror of beeing ouerwhelmed with my heauy wrath for thee his detaining vnder the power sorrowes of death these and much more done in his humaine nature accompanied with the merit and efficacie of the diuine nature made them meritorious for thy saluation beleeue in him and thou shalt passe from death to life Soule O well is mee that the curse of the lawe is deriued from mee vnto Christ that my nature beeing crusifyed with him corruption in it may bee abolished not to serue sinne hereafter that hand writing of my sinne is cancelled and shall not come to remembrance before thee the spots of my soule purged by his blood by the which the eternall testimony of grace is ratefied vnto mee now sin and death and the diuell that hath the rule of death is destroyed thou hast deere Iesus not onely not beene holden by the sorrowes of death but also hath obtained a glorious conquest by thy resurrection ouer all thy enemies Satan power of hell and sinne in taking away his sting and guiltinesse thereof the rage and fury of the same in weakening the force and eating out the corruption thereof death it selfe also and the dominion thereof by the same meanes are subdued and in the place of these there is recouered vnto vs the fauour of our GOD whose children we are become in Iesus Christ who giueth faith peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost vnto them whereby they become fruitfull to all good works and in the end ceasing from all sinne by him do attaine eternall glorie in the heauens Lord. Yea and in heauen thou shalt be deliuered from all sorrow haue perfect knowledge with me perfect righteousnesse and holinesse neuer to be changed
election before thou wast created his gifts before thou camest to knowledge and his preseruation of thee vntill now from deserued plagues of of pestilence sworde famine fire and water in place whereof hee prolongeth thy life giueth thee food rayment and health of body giueth his presence in his word and Sacraments for thy soule his spirit to thy effectuall calling to grace benefites publicke and priuate generall and particular which are so infinitely and vndeseruedly poured on thee while thou refusest thy loyalty to thy soueraigne reuolts confederates with his greatest enemies 5 Meditate the paines of Christ in his whole life what hee was before his incarnation and what he became after looke vnto his crosse passion and bitter death and for whom he did vndergoe the same and how wee rewarde him with despighfull vnthankefulnesse distrusting his goodnes altogether or else too much presumptuously re-lying thereon in continuation of our sinnes and postponing of repentance 6 Consider that without hearty and zealous remorse neuer any shall attaine to life euerlasting that it is not a gift may bee had at all times yea it is often refused because the pretious time of visitation was neglected than it is seldome true liuely when it is to late that very often impenitency is tyed to sin with the wages thereof 7. That death is a faithfull doore-keeper which will not suffer thee to haue more with thee out of this world of the goods thereof but so much as thou bringest in with thee which is nakednesse crying and griefe the goods of faith hope repentance and charity shall onely accompanie and follow the conscience after death which shall neuer be seuered from the soule either in well or euill doing but supplies in wickednesse all the offices of a Court cites arrests presents iudgeth beareth witnesse condemneth or iustifieth executeth tormenteth eternally for it is that worme that dyeth not 8 Death as our shadow attendeth vs in euery place which as it is most certaine so the day and houre is most vncertaine to vs for who knoweth the time houre or place thereof 9 Looke that the longest liuer hath beene gathered to his fathers and hath gone the way of all flesh our life being but a sleepe or shadowe of longer or shorter continuance 10 Pause vpon the inesteemable good we lose by sinning hardly recoueraable the infinite and vnspeakeable euill wee incurre thereby how short pleasure is requited with vnmeasurable torment 11 Remember the companions which euer attend vpon sinne Gods high displeasure the losse of the right which we haue to his creatures the grieuing of his spirit the banishing of his good Angells from vs confusion storme and torture of minde a fearfull expectation of Gods insupportable wrath the sparkes whereof doe beginne but to be kindled here beside the loath somenesse wearisomenesse and anxiety wee haue in the sweetest fits of sinne 12 Consider the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles Martyres and all the godly how wisely they haue daunted and bridled their vitious willes and affections and couragiously ouer-throwne the strong holde of sinne within them for the crown of glory that was set before them died in Gods fauour and liued all their time in his feare left testimony and cōmendation behind them to the end of the world of their strong and inuincible faith but the memory of the wicked doth rot and his posterity is plagued FINIS Psa. 30. 6. 7 Cant. 3. 4 Hos. 14 4 Hos. 5. 2. 7 Luk. 22. 13 1. Pet. 2. 11 Psal. 22. 51. 77 Act. 1. 6 Cal. 2 2. Sam. 11 1. Tim. 4. 3 Psal. 19. Psal. 44. Psa. 49. 12 Psa. 7. 3 Eph. 2. 3. 7 Iob. 42. 6 Rom. 3. 5 1. Cor. 10 Heb. 13. 18 Eph. 1. 17 18. 19 Gen. 4. 6 7 Iam. 5. 9 Psa. 32 9 Ier. 38. 26 Eph. 4. 17 Tit. 1. 16 Ier. 28. 12 Ro. 2. 4. 5 Iam. 5. 5 Iob 11. 20 Iob 18. 7 Iob 20. 5 Iob 38. 15 Psa. 9. 16 Ps. 11. 5. 7 Psa. 32. 10 Ier. 33 3 Ier. 13. 23 Hag. 1. 2 Iam. 6. 3 Psa. 68. 2 Psa. 15. 8 Pro. 4. 19 Pro. 5. 22 Eccl. 4. 1 8. 9. 10 Ezek. 18 Psa. 14 19 Ier. 17. 1 Hos. 5. 4 Ier. 13. 27 Zach. 13. Can. 2. 10 11. 12 Ier. 18. 5 Ier. 33. 11 2. Pet 3. 9. Heb. 6. 17 18. Na. 2. 10 Eccl. 1. 15 Esay 3. 9 Ier. 50. 15 Deut. 4. 24 Ier. 23. 19 20 Hos 10. 7 15. Ioh. 8. 34 Rom. 8 13 Psa. 32. 1. 2 1. Iohn 18 Gen. 3 Gen. 9 Gen. 12 Gen. 20 Gen. 27 Gen. 34 Gen. 37 Exod. 2 Num. 20 2. Sam. 11 1. Kin. 11 Mat. 20 Luk. 19 Ioh. 18 Act. 9 Ioh. 3. 8 Eccl. 7. 22 Pro. 29 Esa. 53. 7. 8. 9 Mark 10 Luk. 17. xo Rom. 3. 23 24 Iob. 20. 27 Psa. 31. 19 Esa. 33. 12 13. Eecl 8. 8 Wis. 5. 17 20. Ier. 37. 4 Iob. 9. 4 Psa. 76. 7 Hos. 5. 15 Esa. 54. 5 6 7 8 9 10 ver 17. Esa. 55. 3 12 13 Esa. 51. 6 Psa. 31. 22 Rom. 4. 21 Pro. 28. 13 Psa. 32. 5 Psa. 51 Neh. 9. 33 34. Dan. 9. 5. Luk. 15 Gen. 3 2. Sa. 2. 25 2. Cor. 2. 7 Exod. 32 Num. 10 Num. 12 Num. 16 Num. 20 Num. 25. Iud. 19. 20 1. Sam. 15 2. Kin. 11 2. Sam. 24 1. Kin. 13 1. King 2 2. Chro. 26 Act. 12 Ezek. 11. 21 Ioh. 4. 8 Pro. 28. 1 Psa. 32. 4 Rom. 8. 39 Rom 5. 1 Ier. 23. 29 Luk. 24 32 Rom. 4. 17 Luk. 24. 25 Gen. 6 Mic. 2 Ier 17. 9 Pro. 4 15 16 Psa. 51. 3. 5 Ps. 119. 80 Ioh. 13 Pro. 14 2. Kin. 20 18 Ier. 42. 6 Reuel 3. 15 12 22 Ger. 42. 14 15 Heb. 12. 6 1. Cor. 11 32 Iob. 31. 1. 7 Ps 42. 11. 9 Iam. 1. 13 2. Pet. 3 Pro. 14. 9 Rom. 2. 4. 5 Pro. 15. 15 Iud. 17 Mat. 51 Dan. 5. 27 Psa. 101. 8 Ps 119. 133 Psa. 19 13 Heb. 3 Psa. 95. 8 Iam. 4. 8. 9 Mar. 10. 24 Act. 5 Iam. 2. 10. Rom. 7. 23 Ephe. 2. 2 Pro. 4. 16 2. Cor. 3. 18 1. Ioh. 3. 3 Luk. 9. 21 Heb. 11. 25 Rom. 6. 2 Luk. 1 Rom. 5. 5 Psa. 89. 13 Psa. 32 Psa. 119. 1 Ps. 119. 161 Es. 8. 12 Iob 31 Ps. 119. 120 Pro. 28. 14 Heb. 11. 7 Hab. 3. 16 Pro. 3. 5. 6 Ro. 12. 16 Ps. 105. 3. 4 Psa. 33. 21 Psa. 2. 11 Psa. 33. 6 Ps. 9711 Hab. 1 11 Zeph. 1. 12 Iob. 21. 9 Ier. 12. 2. 3 Mal. 3. 15 Psa. 31. 17 Eccl. 21. 7 Pro. 15. 15 Pro. 14 10 Pro. 15. 3 Eccl. 30. 21 Eccl. 3. 27 Eccl. 37. 12 Lam. 1. 20 Iob. 20. 11 11. 12 2. Pet. 3. 9 Eccl. 25. 13 Ps. 119. 23 Eccl. 7. 8 Eccl. 5. 5. 6 Mar. 13. 19 Mat. 15. 8 Luk. 1. 66 Pro. 4. 23 Pro. 2. 8 Eccl. 8. 5 Mat. 26 Gen. 3. 6 Pro. 14 15 Pro. 33. 17 Ephe. 5. 11 Psa. 15. 4 Gal. 6. 10 Phil. 1. 27 2. Pet. 2.
I will answere and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe and I will guide thee with my eye Soule Can the blacke Moore change his skin or the Leopard his spots then may I also doe good that is accustomed to doe euill I did say alas it was not yet time that the Lords house should be builded in mee but did put farre away the euill day and approached to the seate of iniquity as the smoake vanisheth so driuest thou sinners away as waxe melteth before the fire so shall the wicked perish at the presence of God how shold I then lift vp my horne on high or speake with a stifnecke for thou art iudge and in thy hand is a cuppe and the wine is red it is full of fury mixed and thou pourest out of the same surely all the wicked of the earth shall wring out and drinke the dregges thereof thus the way of the wicked is as the darknesse they knowe not wherein they shall fall their owne iniquities shall take the wicked themselues and they shall be holden with the cords of their owne sinne woe be vnto the vngodly therefore which haue forsaken the lawe of the most high for though they increase yet shall they perish if they be borne they shall be borne to cursing and if they die the curse shall be their portion so shall they goe from the curse to destruction for the soule that sinneth it shal die the death Lord. I will not giue the soule of my turtle doue vnto the beast what is thy sin written with a pen of iron and with the poynt of a Diamond and so grauen vpon the table of thy heart wilt thou not giue thy minde to turne vnto mee thy God is the spirit of fornication in the middle of thee and wilt thou not knowe mee thy Lord wilt thou not poore soule be made cleane when shall it once be I will answer thee with good words and comfortable wordes arise my loue my faire one and come thy way for beholde the winter is past the raine is ouer and gone the flowers appear on the earth the time of the singing of birds is com and the noyse of the turtle is heard in our land arise my loue my faire one and come away withdrawe not thy heart from mee let me be thy hope in the day of aduersity I create the fruite of thy lips to be peace as well to him that is farre off as to him that is neere As I liue I desire not the death of the wicked but that the wicked turne from his way and liue turne thee turne from thy euill waies why wilt thou die silly soule I am patient towards thee and would that all men should bee saued and none perish but would all men should come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth yea and more aboundantly to shew the stablenesse of my counsell I haue thus bound my selfe by an oath that by two immutable things wherein it is impossible that I should lie thou mightest haue a strong consolation who hast fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before ihee Soule I am empty void and waste the heart melteth and the knees smite together and sorrowe is in my loynes and my face gathers blacknesse for that which is crooked can none make straight and that which is wanting cannot bee numbred woe vnto me miserable soule for I haue rewarded euill vnto my selfe It is the vengeance of the Lord thou wilt take vengeance vpon mee as I haue done thou wilt doe vnto mee thou art a consuming fire a iealous God can my heart endure or can my hands be strong in the day that thou shalt haue ro doe with mee thy tempest goeth forth in thy wrath and a violent whirle-wind shall fall down vpon the head of rhe wicked thy anger shall not reaurne vntill thou hast exeted and untill thou hast performed the thought of thy heart in the latter dayes I will vnderstand it plainely I am but as foame vpon the water I haue plowed wickednesse and reaped iniquitie and eaten the fruits of lies I haue trusted in mine owne waies in seruing sinne and liuing according to the flesh and must die for I cannot please thee Lord. Blessed is he whose wickednesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whom I impute no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile If any man say he hath no sinne he deceiueth himselfe and there is no truth in him If thou acknowledge thy sinnes I am iust and faithfull to forgiue thee thy sinnes and cleanse thee from all vnrighteousnesse If thou say thou hast no sinne thou makest mee a lyer thou maiest see Adams fall and feele it in thee Noahs drunkennesse Lots incest Abrahams double deniall of his wife Rebecca her lie and deceit Iacobs lie Simeon and Leuie's murder Rachels theft the whole Patriarches bloody deuise against their brother Moses slaughter Moses Aarons murmuring Dauids murther and adultery Salomons idolatry and finally Mathew a publican all the Apostles ambitious Magdalen a notorious sinner Zacheus an oppressor extortioner the Theefe on the Crosse a notorious malefactor Peter a denier Thomas a doubter Paul a persecuter of Christ. But to this purpose appeared the Sonne of God that he might loose the workes of the diuell for surely there is none iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not for who can say I haue made my heart cleare I am cleane from my sinne all like sheep haue gone astray euery one hath turned to his owne way yet I haue laide vpon my Sonne the iniquity of you all For the trangression of my people was hee plagued though hee had done no wickednesse neither was any deceit in his mouth hee was counted with the trespassers and he bare the sinne of many and prayed for the trangressors there is none good but I when thou hast done all is commanded thee yet art thou an vnprofitable seruant thou hast but done that which was thy duty to doe now then there is no difference betwixt thee and others for all haue sinned and are depriued of the glorie of God and are iustified freely by grace thorough the redemption that is in Christ Iesus my Son whom I haue set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse by the forgiuenesse of thy sins that are passed through the patience of God hast thou laid vp these things in thy poore soule Soule The heauen alas doth declare my wickednesse the earth doth rise vppe against mee great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laide vp for them that feare
THE ANATOMIE of a distressed Soule Wherein The faults of the elect are discerned from the sinnes of the wicked spirituall defections cured confused consciences resolued all meanes of presumption and desperation remoued the sicknesse dulnesse and deadnesse of the spirit releeued crosses and temptations inward and afflictions outward remedied for the benefite of all that groane vnder the burthen of sinne and feeling of Gods anger thirsting for the sense of reconciliation in the blood of the Lambe ROM 8. 38. 39. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come Nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to seperate vs from the loue c. LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes for Daniel Speed and are to be sold at his Shop vnder S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry 1619. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Sir Robert Nanton Knight one of his Maiesties principall Secretaries and of his Royall Priuie Councell grace and peace in Iesus Christ. GOd leaues his own children oft to themselues to driue them from the weake holde of their owne strength to relie on himselfe yet doth he heale their backeslidings and loues them freely notwithstanding their reuolting and treacherous dealing against him There is Satan also sifting them and fleshly lusts warring against their soules They may fall in their faith by doubtting of Gods fauour and assurance of their saluation erre in som maine points of religion yea dwell in that ignorance for a season and maintain the same They may fall also in their life in some grosse sins yea sleepe in them vntill they be roused vp and then fall into them againe and so commit rebellion against God and yet remaine in the state of grace For they are not senslesse nor doe continue in their fals hauing their conscience seared with a hot iron without resistance feare or griefe nor becomes in the ende a very beast as doth the hypocrite who falls as the Dromedary that cannot rise againe but their corruption and temptation ouer-ruling them doth mislead them cōming to themselues condemnes thēselues for it and cleares the Lord iustifies him in his iudgements and magnifies the riches of his mercy who neuer forsakes his children but will with the tentation also make a way to escape that they may be able to beare it Of the which both inward and outward temptations and afflictions for keeping of the conscience tender and sensible of the least sinne wilfull fechting againe the light therof of the checkes feares distractions anguishes horrible terrours and swoundings with remedies to the same according to the measure of the Lords grace bestowed vpon mee I haue written here I say which I most humbly dedicate to bee sheltered vnder the protection of your Worshippes fauour And I beseech the God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glory to establish your heart in his holy feare rectifie your iudgement sanctifie your conscience and giue vnto you the spirit of wisedome and reuelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your vnderstanding beeing inlightened that you may knowe what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saincts and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs ward who belieue according to the working of his mighty power To whose euerlasting blessing I leaue you and rests Yours Worships in all Christian duties Barthol Robertson To the Christian Reader SInce it hath pleased God of his mercy to giue so good a passage vnto my former trauailes I haue made bolde in confidence of thy fauour to let this also see the light I haue been moued thereunto by sundry of my friends and truely I detest and abhorre idlenesse with all my heart yet a brother who was in great confusion of conscience to whom I resorted daily looking if God would put his minde at greater libertie from the thraldome pangs of conscience his case I say spurred mee to vndertake this taske In the method I haue not beene curious for the answere is paralelled to the interrogation so proportionably as I could to the which I haue added prayers for euery day of the weeke to season thy reading which strike most vpon the the cord of thy conscience and because the two extreamities presumption and despaire doe most of all misleade men I haue seasonably subioyned a short meditation of the infinit mercy and iustice of God that to the perfecting of thy saluation thou maiest sayle with an euen and plaine course swaying neither to the left nor right hand and I beseech God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to sanctifie these to thy vse and thee to his glory Amen Thine B. R. The Anatomy of a distressed conscience Containing the discouery of spirituall assaults with the particular remedies thereof in Dialogue-wise betwixt the Lord and the Soule Lord. WHy art thou angry thy countenance cast downe if thou doest wel shalt thou not be accepted and if thou doest euill sin lyeth at the doore and the Iudge standeth before the dore Soule I haue been like a Horse or like a Mule alas which vnderstandeth not and am made like vnto beasts that perish I haue wallowed in my owne vomit in the vanity of my mind haue I euer walked hauing my cogitations darkned being a stranger from the life of God through the ignorance that is in me because of the hardnesse of my heart yet somtime I doe professe I did knowe God but by my workes I deny him and am abnominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke a reprobate I haue walked after my owne imaginations and after the stubbornesse of my wicked heart I haue despised the riches of thy bountifulnsse and patience and long suffering not knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth mee to repentance but after my hardnesse of heart that cannot repent haue heaped vppe vnto my selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God thus haue I liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantonnes and haue nourished my heart as in a day of slaughter and what shall now become of mee Lord. Thou hast cause poore soule to bemoane thy selfe for the eyes of the wicked shall faile and their refuge shall perish and their hope shall be sorrowe of minde his owne counsell shall cast him downe his reioycing is but short and the ioy of an hypocrite is but a moment for the wickeds light shall be taken away they are snared in the worke of their owne hands thus I will try the righteous but the wicked and him that loueth iniquity doth my soule hate for I the righteous Lord loue righteousnesse and my countenance beholdeth the iust man many sorrowes shall come to the wicked but thou wretched soule call vnto mee and
shall also be punished Saue mee O Lord and take the glory thereof to thy selfe for for not giuing it thee Herod was consumed of wormes thus thou doest lay the wickeds way vpon their owne heads Lord. The cause of all terrours and troubles in thy minde are thy sins I see and thou knowest it for they doe infect thy minde and conscience with their guilt from which guiltinesse proceedeth a fearfull expectation of these punishments thou hast spoken of to the which thou perceiuest thou art iustly liable neither canst thou be freed from this guiltinesse and fearefull pangs vntill thou thy sinnes beeing done away be reconciled to me for then and not before shalt thou haue peace of conscience boldnesse and confidence when thou art assured that I loue thee and thou mee and so canst rest on my promises and prouidence for there is no feare in loue but perfect loue casteth out feare for feare hath painefulnesse and hee that feareth is not perfect in loue the wicked flye when none pursueth but the righteous are bolde as a Lion and thouh thou shouldest walke through the valley of the shadow of death thou wouldest feare no euill because I am with thee and with my rod and staffe comfort thee So being iustified and assured once of my loue thou maist be fully perswaded that nothing is able to seperate thee from my loue which is in Christ Iesus where innocency is there is security for where iustification and assurance of remission of sinnes is there is peace with mee with the creatures and ioy in the holy Ghost Vse the meanes for obtaining of faith as hearing receipt of the Sacraments prayer meditation conference if thou bee not wanting to thy selfe I will not be wanting vnto thee and next approue thy faith by repentance for I haue bound my selfe by promise that all that turne from their sinnes shall in my Son be reconciled vnto mee for I craue no more but that thou beleeue onely and bring foorth fruits of a new life for this is thy part in the couenant with mee for sinnes repented of are forgiuen in my estimate as though they had neuer been committed because thou by these meanes art receiued vnto the protection of my prouidence thou maist be vndoubtedly assured that all things whatsoeuer yea in thy iudgement the worst also shall make together for thy good Be strong and of a good courage it is I that am with thee who can be against thee Soule Is not thy worde euen like a fire O Lord doth not my heart burne within me while thou talkest with me openest to me the Scriptures and manifesteth the word which is like a hammer that breaketh the stone thou onely canst quicken the dead in sinne and call those things which be not as though they were but alas how slow am I to beleeue and how hard is my heart Lord. The occasion of thy euill may bee outward but the cause is inward else neuer should Satan flesh or the world preuaile my Sonne was assaulted but Satan found nothing in him neither was there guile in his lips Satan doth offer thou doest yeelde to tentations if thou canst bee aduersary to thy corruption Satan shall be but as a Chyrurgion which launceth thy impostumation to preserue life howsoeuer hee purposeth to haue wounded to thy heart Ioseph by grace restrained his corruption concerning Putifars wife Dauids eyes opened the vaile to his corrupted heart so sin in him with Bethsheba grew to age in what measure thou withstandeth thy corruption in that measure thou art regenerate and assured to preuaile against strongest tentations thou maist easily espy thy corruption best by thy afflictions or by affections for such is a man as hee is in tentation the heart of man carrieth commonly all the other senses for by it they are moderated and ruled and therefore thou shouldest diligently keepe it againe it marres or makes all thy actions for if it bee pure thy affections are pure yea though some defects bee mixed therewith whatsoeuer commeth from a sound and sincere heart in my eyes is accepted and in my Christ accounded righteousnes vnto thee if for sins sake thou leaue sin though the lees thereof remaine in thee though thou doe not all the good thou louest but in loue desireth to doe it though thou leaue not all the sinnes thou hatest but in hatred of them I accept the good thou doest the euill thou desirest to leaue shall not bee imputed thus striue to haue thy heart right within thee with a purpose to approue thy selfe to mee labouring to kill sinne though the whole body of sinne be not slaine in thee There is a wickednes in thy heart cannot easily be espied the subtilty thereof is vnsearchable which should bring thee out of loue with thy selfe watch diligently ouer it it is like a mill euer grinding thou must circumcise it and make it to bleed to emptie it for there is so much superfluous matter in it Soule Wash mee thoroughly from my iniquity cleanse mee from my sinne O Lord beholde I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceiue mee create in mee a cleane heart O God and renew a right spirit within me I feele alas in my corrupt heart such a world of sinnes and in euery one of them a fault against thee my God a guilt binding my conscience to the punishment of of eternall death and a staine or blot imprinted in mee as the fruite thereof which is my inclination euill disposition prouenesse and aptnesse of heart to offend which causeth me delight and liue in sin which lying in sinne and woe is mee therefore is a greater cause of damnation then the sinne it selfe Lord. Thou must beware of thy thoughts which are the feet and wings the soule walkes flies by yea the waggon and boate it is caried and failed in for an euil thought if it long tarry in the mind it will hardly be restrained before it come to the outwarde act and such monsters of the minde should make thee affraid suspect thy falling in the action of sinne by the affection of it thou must therefore search thy heart which is a bottomlesse pit of corruption and it is a speciall grace to gage it to the deepe for hee that maketh conscience of his thoughts will make conscience of his deeds for if thy heart be found in my my statutes thou shalt not bee ashamed Keepe thee from thoughts iniected as was Iudas his cast in his heart by Sathan and of thoughts arising out of it beware of staying in them by taking pleasure in these immaginations and delight in the sent of them for consent of will with mee is a full action Iudas thought but to doe euill and it is said that thou doest doe quickly after commeth deuise to bring to passe the act that followeth whence ariseth a benummed conscience after diuerse actions
then defence or excuse then boasting of it and this is the wickeds chayre and steps to hell then be ashamed to thinke that thou art ashamed to speake for I see thy heart and thoughts know what thou art striue against them and if they yet remaine haue indignation of them feare and cry to mee that thou art troubled with them and I will ease thee for iustly doe I challenge thy heart who gaue my Sonnes heart to be pierced for thee thus thou must obey against thine inclination and naturall reason For what is faith but a contrariety to reason and hope to experience and lay not downe thine owne conclusions I am wel pleased with thy intents which prepare thy heart to seeke mee the seeds of all sinnes are in euery mans heart which would appeare if I suppressed them not the tongue is a worlde of wickednesse what is the heart then out of whose aboundance the mouth speaketh Soule I know that in mee that is in this flesh there dwelleth no goodnesse but euery good and perfect gift is from aboue from thee the father of lights open my eyes I beseech thee that I may see the maruellous things in thy law I cannot leaue alas my sinne I haue vsed it so often and so long it is so plyable to my nature that I would rather lose my life hauing long accustomed it then now cease from it and yet I am now and then tormented with the memory of it my conscience is a snare to mee yea an assize a bench a iudge a iaylour yea a hangman it selfe to me and whither shall I flie poor wretch Lord. It is good to learne thy inward corruptions by thy outward senses thy sense leades thee to sinne because thy heart leadeth thy sense thy corruption hath stolen away thy heart for outward senses bewray thy inward affections therefore Christ will neuer bee sweet vntill thou see yea and feele in experience thy naturall corruption for none can hunger for righteousnesse except hee feele himselfe empty and wanting thereof and where there is an exceeding hunger there must bee an exceeding feeling as a feeble and small hunger had the like feeling comforte then thy selfe in that thou feelest the impurenesse of thy heart and want of vprightnesse and deadnesse to all goodnesse for the feeling of their wants is quicknesse and liuing and this quicknesse and life is by my spirit in thee and where my spirit is there is life euerliuing which is regeneration or life euerlasting the more thou doest feele the one the more deepely doest thou weigh the feeling of thy confused estate by which thou findest comfort in sorrow great light in darknesse and in this that thou both sighest and groanest for the hardnes of thy heart it is a testimony that thy hart is not altogether hardned for if thou feelest this in thy selfe that thou desirest to loue mee and to bee better being wearied and toyled with sinne comfort thy selfe for it is in earnest of regeneration for difference betwixt a motion to euill and consent to it for the body of sinne wicked motions and affecons shall neuer bee out of thee while thou liue thou must not onely striue to presse out the breath of sin and close vp the eyes of it at the death of it but to follow it to the graue and couer it that it neuer rise for this is to ouercome and receiue the crowne not that the life of sinne can be here destroyed but may well be weakened as the mangled part of a Serpent cut in peeces haue not that power to hurt as when it was whole so corruptiō hath not siercenesse to preuayle against thee how-soeuer the reliques thereof remaine but like a mighty Prince which is become a poore prisoner Soule I by reason of my olde custome in sinne doe often yeelde to tentations I doe not abound more and more in wisedome and goodnes but rather perseuere in sinne and rebellion Lord thou knowest and I feare vnlesse thy mercy be the greater the sentence of my conscience which is thy register and my remembrancer the wicked may bee secure but neuer in safety Lord. Custome is worse a hundred folde then nature and doth greatly preuaile with my dearest children Ioseph a good man beeing among prophane men had some smell of their wordes and lied The Sodomites by their vniust conuersation vexed Lots righteous soule yet hee could haue found in his heart to liue still amongst them therefore there is nothing more fit then to auoid all occasions of sinne and to procure honest things both in the sight of God man and then in all actions to auoide euill thou must learne to keepe that which is good and abstaine from all appearance of euill bee sure it be good thou doest but if it haue but a shew of euill auoide it and if it be an ill fauoured thing to see to flie it If thou heare threatnings and tremble heare promises and beleeue pray in wants be thankfull for mercies and with reuerence receiue Sacraments they keep thee from falling and recouer thee when thou art fallen it goeth wel with thee to prosper and thriue in sinne is a signe of my wrath as the childe that the father hateth is giuen ouer to be ruled by his owne pleasure but I chastise my children whom I loue that they should not be condemned with the world again thou wilt neuer leaue sinne vntill thou knowe sinne to be sinne and be truely sorrowfull for it presse to resist the first motions of sin for one breedeth many it is hard to get out of the clawes of the diuell thou canst without great danger touch the young thorne dallie with the young bore and carry a young Serpent but if these bee olde thou knowest the danger cut the thorne in the roote mussle the boare bruise the head of the Serpent yea destroy it in the very egge before it be hatcht by the fall of others in sinne thou maist be taught to stand and rise if thou be fallen and as cōcerning the accusation of thy conscience thou speakest of thou shalt neuer labour to leaue sinne so long as thou art quiet in minde vntill thou be stricken with feare or cast downe with iudgements then if thou looke to my highest maiesty offended by sinne the benefits which bound thee to doe my will how neare thy sinnes pierce mee the purpose and ende thou tendest to in sinne the time and place of transgression last if thou see the loathsomenesse and deformity of sinne for that a stinching carrion is more tolerable to the sent then a sinfull soule vnto me if thou narrowly consider how huge and detestable thy sins will seeme for by them thou art made like vnto the diuell himself I haue imprinted naturally in all a condemnation of sinne that euen committing it thou shouldest condemne it in thy selfe and be ashamed of it before others wo vnto them that are depriued
thy owne counsell leaue off from sinne order thy hands aright a stubborne heart shall fare euill at the last and hee that loueth danger shall perish therein Now this disordered discerning of sinne commeth of ignorance of my lawe and selfe-loue whereby thou art ashamed to manifest sinne and rip it vp to the quick seeke to a faithfull sound friend or Pastor to whom thou maiest offer thy heart to bee searched deeply by the lawe bee continually with a godly man whom thou knowest to keepe the commandements of the Lord whose minde is according to thy minde and will sorrowe with thee if thou shalt miscarry and let the counsell of thy owne heart stand for there is no man more faithfull vnto thee then it for a mans minde is wont sometimes to tell him more then seuen watchmen which set aboue in an high Tower and aboue all thus pray to the most high that he would direct thy way in truth Soule What shall I doe if my griefe arise of any certaine or knowne sinne Lord. Then vnderstand if thou hast done that sinne already or else not yet committed it but whereunto thou art tempted for olde sinnes are represented oft to sinners as not truely repented of that they may the more mislike them that their particular sinnes may bring them to their grosse greater and generall sins that there may bee a sense of both least their griefe shold passe away without any fruit and reason thus with thy selfe if I bee so angry for this or that sin whereof thou art troubled thy bowels swell thy heart turneth within thee and thou full of heauinesse how vexed may thou be the wickeds bones are full of the sinnes of his youth and it shall lie downe with him in the dust though wickednesse bee sweete in his mouth though hee hide it vnder his tongue though hee spare it and forsake it not but keepe it still within his mouth yet his meate in his bowels is turned it is the gall of aspes within him I would therefore haue thee know poore soule that I would haue no man to perish but all men to come to repentance Soule How shall I then eschew sinne and how shall I be acquited frō that sin which hath passed me Lord. I haue oft admonished thee of thy corruption to make account to suppresse it labour to espy thy secret sinnes with truth and not in shew so hard a matter it is to search thy heart to the bottome for there is not a more wicked heade then the head of the Serpent and giue any plague but the plague of the heart and therefore in respect of sinnes past sinnes present priuie pride hidden wants secret corruptions euer accuse thy selfe of some lurking hyprosie for the godly tremble at the least motion of sinne and say I will runne the way of the cōmandements when thou shalt enlarge my heart bind not two sinnes together for in one sinne thou shalt not be vnpunished and because thy sinne is forgiuen be not without feare or heape sinne vpon sinne say not the mercy of God is great hee will forgiue my manifolde sinnes for mercy and wrath commeth from him and his indignation commeth downe vpon sinners the two fountaines and grounds of sinnes are the inward motions of the heart and the outward occasions of the senses especially the eyes for whensoeuer a man heareth the word of the kingdome and vnderstandeth it not the euill one commeth and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heare neither must thou drawe neare to mee with thy mouth and thy heart farre off from me and the things which proceed out of thy mouth come from thy heart and they defile the man keepe thy heart therefore to lay vppe good and pretious things therein as in a store-house keepe it I say diligently for thereout commeth life againe vertue vice dwell very neare together learne to bee holily scrupelous fearefull and suspicious for preuenting of sin to come the heart of the wise shall know the time and iudgement thirdly keep thy selfe from foolish venturing vpon the occasions which are the borders of sinne when thou mayest beholde many of my children better fenced with grace then thou art to haue beene snared for the foolish will beleeue euery thing but the prudent will consider his steps let thy heart bee therefore in feare of God continually set no wicked thing before thy eyes hate the worke of them that fall away let it not cleaue vnto thee Soule Alas good and mercifull father I doe euer finde in mee so many allurements intisements to sinne which often I would eschew but cannot which offer themselues to mee at euery minute neither can I retire me selfe from them albeit I doe sometime protest against them and abhorre them eyther before or soon after the sinne is committed with a very perfect hatred and loathsomnes Lord. Thou must seriously obserue first of the company to discerne good from euill for good company hate the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse and in their eies an euill person is contemned but honoureth them that feare the Lord with sound iudgement labour to holinesse and sincerity of life in all things haue a sight of thy corruptions mourne for them doe good to the houshold of faith which continue in one spirite and in one minde fighting together thorough the faith of the gospell longeth for the appearance of Iesus Christ but these are euill that denie the Lord that bought them bring vpon themselues swift damnation by whom the wayof truth is euill spoken of and are of a prophane life and hate to bee reprooued but rather grow worse and worse which persecute the Saints of God and make choyce of the pleasures of sinne for a season who are affraide of death and set vp their heauen and rest in this life which put farre away the euill day and approach to the sight of iniquity to these thou must fay with Dauid away from mee yee wicked for I will keepe the commandements of my God my eyes shall bee vpon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with me and therfore thou must beloued soule bee rather wearie of them because they run the broad way following first examples secondly multitudes thirdly time fourthly custome fiftly opinion Soule I hate vaine inuentions but thy law doe I loue thou art my refuge my shield and I trust in thy worde teach me good Lord these things particularly that I may ingraft them in my heart Lord. Follow the godly but so farre as they followe mee their guide in the word and Iesus Christ the author and finisher of their faith which through faith and patience haue inherited the promises for it is a signe thou art in the wrong way if thou doe nothing but that the greatest part of the world doe for how
tabernacles we may receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules now the very God of peace sanctifie vs throughout and wee beseech God that our whole spirit soule and body may be kept blamelesse both this day and vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom with thee and the holy Spirite three persons in one Godhead we ascribe all honour maiesty dominion power for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for Wednesday Euening LOrd God heauenly Father wee are come here to worshippe and fall downe and kneele before thee our Maker doe heere acknowledge with quaking and trembling soules our wickednesse to be very great and all the imaginatiōs of the thoughts of our hearts are not only euill continually but also wee doe commit sinne in transgressing thy holy law yea the least sinne breaketh the whole law and maketh vs guilty of the wages therof which is eternall death endlesse condemnation O how filthy and loath some is sinne in the greatest pleasure and most ioyful actions thereof by birth wee are altogether tainted defiled and polluted with corruption and vncleanesse who can bring a cleane thing out of filthinesse we are prone and desperately set to commit sinne with greedinesse wee reioyce in doing euill alas we delight and repose our chiefe contentment therein although all the day long thou O deare Lord stretchest forth thy hand vnto vs disobedient and gaine-saying people who hate to bee reformed and pluckt out of sin yea our best actions are but beautifull sinnes wee are all vncleane things and all our righteousnesse is as filthie clouts and wee all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the winde haue carried vs away and we know good Lord that hee that committeth sinne is of the Diuell for the Diuell sinned from the beginning but for this purpose appeared thy Son O God that hee might loose the workes of the Diuell who was to that effect decreed from all eternity promised immediately after our fall in Adam but when the fulnesse of time was come thou O most mercifull father sent forth thy Sonne made of a woman and made vnder the lawe that he might redeeme vs that were vnder the lawe that wee might receiue the adoption of thy sonnes who for vs hath obtained a glorious and meritorious conquest his humaine nature being accompanied with the efficacy of that his diuine ouer the curse dominion and rigour of the lawe chaining vppe Satan and destroying for euer the power of hell sin death and condemnation O Lord our God what can wee render vnto thee for so great graces and benefites wee will take the cuppe of thanksgiuing and call vpon thy name O Lord for thy mercies sake grant vs a full assurance of our acceptation into thy fauour through Iesus Christ a constant desire of the promised happinesse that wee may hunger and thirst after righteousnesse a cheerfull expectation and wayting for all these ioyes spirituall blessings thou hast blessed vs with in heauenly places that wee may willingly resigne our selues vnto thy holy obedience embracing those meanes which thou hast offered for our saluation that wee may trust in the and doe good commit our way vnto thee and cast our selues vpon thee when all meanes shall faile and rest in thee yea euen hope in death reuerently depend vpon the truth of thy promises although wee cannot see them as yet accomplished albeit they seem against all sence and reason that this following night wee may not onely meditate of the true life of God day of resurrection and our arising to iudgement to render account for the workes done in our flesh whether they bee good or bad but also may rest in the sweete bosome of thy portection desiring at all times to bee loosed and to bee with Christ euer thinking the time of our departure to be at hand and therefore to fight a good fight to finish our course and keepe the faith that henceforth there may be laid vppe for vs the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteuos iudge shall giue vs at that day and not vnto vs onely but to all them also that loue his appearing which shall bee cloathed in white array and whose names are written in the booke of life purchased by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ who treadeth for vs the vine presse alone to whom with thee and the holy Spirit our comforter be all praise power honor and glory Amen A Prayer for Thursday Morning O Eternall God and euerlasting Father we from the bottome of our hearts do thanke thee for thy blessings spirituall and temperall common particular that thou hast predestinated vs before the world begā elected vs to be in thy Christ adopted sons called vs by thy spirit to this light of thy Gospell and giuen vs assurance in faith of thy vnchangeable fauour renewing in some measure this corrupt nature and framing thy image in true righteousnes and holinesse in our inwarde man not making vs not onely capable of grace in the soule of wisedome and spirituall knowledge but also making some conformity in vs to thy will in life and conuersation these blessings wee haue receiued of thee freely beside thy continuall prouidence and ouer-sight ouer vs this night by-past and all the daies of our life Lord enlighten our mindes that wee may know all things in thee and nothing any otherwise then as it commeth from thee and as it hath relation to thee for thou art all things in all all things do exist in thee therefore euery thing may be knowne in thee thou most merciful father known yea seene and felt in euery thing euen in the least and basest creature grant therefore that we doe neuer rest in any thing till wee come to thee and now beholde wee approach to renew that soundnes wherewith wee laide downe that no roote of bitternesse breake out at the first of this day and to prouide for holy and setled courses in our callings all the day after and so begin a-new to liue the daily life of grace that thy kindnesse and mercy may follow vs all the dayes of our life and now haue we laid our selues downe in peace which was thy gift doe awake with the comfort there of thy mercies are renewed euery morning if we should count them they are more then the sand when wee awake we are still with thee good Lord assist vs that wee may daily weaken the olde man in vs with the vitious lusts and sinneful concupiscences thereof giue vs comfortable experience of this our corruption that wee may be the more and more humbled in our selues euer hungring and thirsting for that righteousnesse which is in Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour weane vs from the loue of this world and distrustfull cares for temporall things cōfirm our faith stedfastly in the prouidence of
thee our God for outward benefites giue vs confidence and boldnesse euen to sue to thy presence that wee may finde our life and powers quickned in holy duties especially in prayer zeale of thy glory humility patience feare loue that hauing liuely experience of the power of Christ raigning in our mortall bodies wee may haue strength to perseuere vnto the end for this cause quicken our desires and purposes for well-doing that wee may be humbled for our outwarde faylings and sinnes and inwarde vnreasonable lusts labouring more and more to discerne the deceitfulnesse of the heart and vnsearchablenes thereof that wee may bee euer enflamed to redresse the same grant O heauenly Father that in our calling this day aboue all wee may desire to glorifie thee ayme onely at thy loue that wee may be stirred vp cheerefully to prosecute heauenly things and euer renew our estate in Christ by constant repentance that beleeuing thy promises and applying thē to our selues wee may follow hard after the accomplishment of them by our obedience to thy commandements root out of vs incredulity and couetousnes that setting bonds to these earthly desires by true contentation we may haue our eyes fixed continually vpon heauenly purge out of vs hypocrisie spiritual pride keepe vs from the raigning sinnes of this our time that wee may follow constantly after the mark for the high price of our calling in Iesus Christ knit our hearts vnto thee that we may fear thy name giue vs a hatred of all euill and loue of righteousnesse preuent in vs presumption that wee may worke out our owne saluation with feare and trembling that henceforth wee doe not liue to our selues but to him that died for vs and rose againe and therefore resigning our selues bodies and soules into thy hands O God wayting for thy blessings vpon vs in all humility and lowlinesse not sacrificing to our selues but giuing all glory to thee our God for we are not worthie of the least of all thy mercies and all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto vs thy seruants vpon thee is our fruit found who is like vnto thee that taketh away iniquities and pas-by the transgression of thy heritage thou retaynest not thy wrath for euer because mercy pleaseth thee thou wilt turne againe and haue compassion vpon vs thou wilt subdue our iniquities and cast all our sinnes in the bottome of the Sea that onely for the merits of thy dearly beloued Sonne Iesus Christ on whom thou hast laid the chastisements of our peace and doest giue thy selfe in him who is thy loue and in whom thou art well pleased to whom with thee and the holy Spirit one very God immortall inuisible infinite and mercifull wee render praise and glory both now and for euer Amen A Prayer for Thursday Euening O Eternall God and euerliuing Father wee here abase our selues before thee in regarde of our vilenesse and also of the vnworthinesse of the seruice wee doe performe for wee haue not subdued euery imagination in vs that exalteth it selfe against thee neither cut off the power and cords of sinne our zeale is full of ignorance and self-loue our religion replenished with hypocrisie our profession with vaine-glorie our well-doing accompanied with weariesomnes our faith with carnalnesse and our afflictions with impatiency how sluggish remisse are wee in our callings how haue wee been withdrawne in our vntamable lusts wee haue not brought our thoughts in captiuity to thy obedience wee receiue thy blessings with vnthankful hearts neuer returning vnto thee praise how haue wee wasted and neglected this so gracious a time of visitation wherein we might haue builded vppe our selues in thee and practised good vnto others how carelesly haue wee kept our hearts giuing occasion to Satan thereby against vs how much lycence haue we yeelded to the tyrany of the flesh in not liuing soberly and righteously and godly in this present worlde how weakely and feebly haue wee wrastled against our corruptions and which is most miserable custome hath made vs so senslesse past feeling that wee cannot bee moued to beleeue that thy anger is so great or our iniquities so hainous or condition so wretched as truely it is and therefore wee are not affraid of thy Maiesty who is a consuming fire wee doe not tremble at thy iustice who will rewarde euery man according to his workes for tribulation and anguish shal be vpon the soule of euery man that doth euill neither doe wee weigh and regard thy plentifull mercies in knowing that thy bountifulnesse leadeth vs to repentance wherefore we humbly beseech thee to create a cleane heart in vs and to renew a right spirit within vs that we may more sensibly apprehend how wretched and miserable and poore and blinde and naked we are and now good God according to the measure of that spirituall feeling wee haue obtayned of thee wee most entirely entreate thee for Iesus Christ thy Sonnes sake to forgiue all our sinnes whatsoeuer whensoeuer and wheresoeuer committed against thee for by faith in his obedience are we made righteous who is the end of the lawe for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beleeueth Lord we beleeue help our vnbeliefe hee suffered for vs such miseries as sin had drawne vpon vs that hee might sanctifie them vnto vs both in the humility of his natiuity his whole life and his ignominious and cursed death O what grief was it to him that he came to his owne and his owne receiued him not but was betrayed by them and placed before thy iudgement seate O deare Father as one guilty for vs let our olde man O deare Father be crucified with thy Sonne that the body of sinne may bee destroyed that henceforth wee doe not serue sin any more abolish for his sake that hand-writing that was against vs that our sinnes may neuer come to remembrance before thee who by his death hath ratefied the eternall testament of his grace vnto vs for he was deliuered to death for vs and is risen againe for our iustification for thine owne annoynted sake O Lord let the ioyfull light of thy fauour and countenance shine vpon vs and be reconciled vnto vs grant vs true faith in thy Sonne that beeing iustified thereby before thee wee may haue peace of conscience with thee and our neighbours thereby that wee reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorie in the holy Ghost and become fruitefull in all good works and so by thee our God be made meete to be partakers of thee inheritance of the Saints in light who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknesse and hath translated vs to the kingdom of thy deare Son in whom wee haue redemption thorough his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes now the same Iesus Christ our Lord and our God euen the father which loued vs hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace comforte
the godly man only and his name doth euer indure who hath it and himselfe also written in heauen and registered in the booke of life for all consuming oblusion hath no place your vertues and graces make you liue longer then any of these post-running records but your goodnes for euer with the Antient of daies to whō I heartily pray that after your period shall bee faithfully finished here you may be partaker of glory thus I rest euer your Worships In all Christian duty to be commanded Barthol Robinson A. Meditation of the infinite Mercy and Iustice of God against declining either to the left or right hand in presumption or despaire that we may lead an euen course in Christianity II is certaine Caine his offence in his speech in extenuating the Lords mercy was greater then that trespasse done by his hand in shedding his brothers innocent blood for he might haue obtained pardon for the same if hee had beene capable of it for although mans heart be deceitfull aboue all things and that all the immaginations of his thoughts be euill continually and desperately wicked so that none can knowe it so deepe it is yet infinitly more deepe yea insearchable are the riches of the mercies of Christ for what proportion is there betwixt a sparke of fire and the great vast gulfe of the Ocean to quench it hee will turne againe saith the Prophet hee will haue compassion vpon thee hee will subdue thy iniquity cast all thy fins into the depth of the Sea for he retaineth not his anger for euer because he belighteth in mercy yea there is no Sea so large but the Lord hath set a bound that it may not passe ouer but as the heauen is high aboue the earth so great is his mercy towards them that feare him as farre us the East is from the West so farre hath hee remoouer our transgressions from vs this then so ample a depth of his mercy easily doth swallow vp the shallow profundity of sin how deep soeuer it be for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption beholde hee doth not abhorre the confessing theefe the weeping sinner the hūble Cananite the lately taken adultresse the wrongfull customer the contrite Publican neither yet his disciple that denyed him nor that bloody persecutor of the disciples yea not thē that crucified him but prayed for them how great then is thy goodnes O Lord which thou hast laide vppe for them that feare thee and done to them that trust in thee euen before the sonnes of men for the earth is full of the goodnes of the Lord taste then see how gracious the Lord is his louing kindnesse is better then life his mercy is aboue all his works as oyle swimmeth aboue water wherefore the Lord takes this stile in commendation specially to himselfe that hee will bee called the Father of mercy and God of consolation for it doth lye as it were in his bosome and is vnto him as his daughter euen the bowels of compassion hee accounteth his riches not to consist in kingdomes heauens or Angels all which although he possesse yet he can create better if it were his pleasure but hee is rich in mercy for there is nothing better nothing greater for his mercy is not onely aboue all his workes but also it reioyceth against iudgement and gloriously triumpheth ouer it The mercy seate which was a type of Christ in whom God is well pleased was without the Arke but the testimony of the Tables of the lawe were within the same mercie compassing and shutting vp iustice within it Indeede the Cherubins with a fiery sword debarred Adam from accesse to the garden again but in this mercy-seate the Cherubins stretch out their wings on high and couers the mercy-seate with their wings so Christ stretcheth out his hands all the day long vnto vs gathering vs as the henne doth her chickens yea and the lawe it selfe which is a proclamation of Gods iustice in the second cōmandement doth visite iniquity vnto the third and fourth generation but extendeth mercy vnto the thousand of them that loue him herein therefore doth mercy glory and as is were boast it selfe for where mercy is mentioned there is no speech made of iustice but when iudgement is denounced there is euery place left for mercy which is promised to the penitent so the Lord is gracious and full of compassino what can hee deny vs that hath giuen his owne Sonne for vs and hee that hath giuen his life for vs cannot refuse to giue vs his mercy so maiest thou say vnto thee O my strength will I sing for God is my defence and the God of my mercies for thou Lord hast not failed them that seeke thee for as thy Maiesty is so is thy mercy yea and to the sinfull hee doth say thou hast rauished my heart my sister my spouse thou hast rauished my heart turne away thine eyes from me for thou hast ouercome mee yes truely that true and liuing Sampson for the loue hee did beare to thee was crucified of the Iewes as that other Sampson was put to death by the Philistims And what can more liuely portrait out his mercy then when hee saith I am pressed vnder as a cart is pressed that is ful of sheaues yea Lord great is thy pitty in delaying and prolongging thy wrath thy mercie and moderation in inflicting it great is thy goodnesse in remouing thy anger and iudgements procured thereby Dauid after he had slept as long as women vsually goe with child or there about when hee had trauailed with iniquity and had conceiued mischiefe and brought forth falshood for when lust was conceiued it brought forth sinne and sin when it was finished broght forth death yet the Lord such is euer his clemency desired him to make choice of punishment although Dauid had prouoked him to wrath against the lawe of armes wherein the weapons shold be in the election of him that is offended and not in his that prouokes O that wee were wise and vnderstoode this that we would consider our later end and so albeit we grieue his spirit often and diuerse times yet so manifold are his tender mercies that as about the time of forty yeares God suffered the Israelites manners in the wildernesse so hath hee euen to this day sparred vs what could he haue done any more to his vineyard that he hath not done to it let vs now at the last search and try our waies and turne againe to the Lord let vs lift vp our hearts with our hands vnto our God in the heouens whom wee haue pressed with our sinnes as with a talent of leade for hee is not slacke concerning his promise as some men count slacknesse but is patient toward vs and would haue no man to perish but would all men to come
which delay from time to time to turn to the Sauiour of mankinde which haue made a couenant with death and with hell are at agreement though a scourge run ouer and passe thorough it shall not come say they at vs for we haue made falshood our refuge and vnder vanity are wee hid but what followeth hereon hey falling from the bridge of their vaine hope and Satan that deceiued them shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone then shall they with great griefe say to the mountaines and rockes fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who can stand yes truely they will wish any thing fall rather vpon them then that they should fall into that lake O but can a Lambe wax angry yea the more patient and slow the Lord is to punish sinne the more irefull he is when in spite hee is prouoked to his face which the very Saincts of God haue wisely fore-seen O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger saith hee neither chastise mee in thy wrath and the Prophet Lord correct mee but with iudgement not in thy anger least thou bring me to nothing and no maruell for euen the Angels in that vision had the face of a man and of a lion euen as they were taught of the Lord hee had the face of a lambe to take away the sinnes of the world yea and the face of a lion to punish the sins of the world for this is the day of grace and acceptable time wherein mercy is offered to the penitent which being neglected and contemned in his day the day I say of the Lord hee will vtter cruelty wherefore the Prophet saith woe be vnto them that desire the day of the Lord what haue you to doe with the day of the Lord it is darknesse and not light but the godly contrarily desire the time to bee at hand and therefore doe earnestly craue the appearance of the Lord Iesus saying euen so come Lord Iesus come and tarry not which the wicked doe tauntingly and scornefully vtter but as Sampson was reuenged on the Philistims who iested at him so beholde here is a stronger one then Sampson for now by mercy hee is a man that is sometime to be a lyon and the man is that lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the repentant but then the lyon shall be to the wilfull and stubborne sinner a boare to teare them in peeces And thus God suffereth with long patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and to declare the riches of his glory vpon the vessels of mercy which hee had prepared vnto mercy Cast not away therfore beloued thy confidence which hath great recompence of rewarde for thou hast need of patience that after thou hast done the will of God thou maiest receiue the crowne and be not one of them which with-drawe themselues to perdition but be of faith to the saluation of thy soule if thou cast thy selfe downe humbly at his feet water thy couch in thy earnest repentance with teares if thou shalt with all thy soule aske mercy and forgiuenesse God cannot deny himselfe hee is faithfull and will forgiue euen for his owne Sonnes blood as of a lambe without ipot and blemish let all them which are redeemed thus refuse all things in regarde thereof and cast downe their crownes before his feete confessing them to haue beene and now are most vnprofitable seruants and hee will put away their transgressions as a clowde and like a mist O turne vs vnto thee O Lord for thou art our Sauiour waken vs that we may strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die before our wickednes be full and time of recouery past so shalt thou redeeme our life from the graue and crowne vs with mercy and compassions and thereafter bestow on vs the crowne of righteousnesse layed vp for vs which the Lord the righteous iudge shall giue vs at that day not to vs only but vnto all them also that loue his appearance wee shall euen receiue I say that incorruptible crowne of glory at the appearance of of our chiefe shepheard not for the works of righteousnesse which wee haue done for our best are but glistering sins but for his owne bountifulnesse and loue of his meer mercy fauour and grace to vs which walke in the spirit and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for he that soweth in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reape life euerlasting let vs then bee renewed in the spirit of our minde and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnes and holinesse haue the worlde crucified to vs and vs to the world yea that we may liue vnto God bee crucified with Christ and may in all soundnesse of minde say I liue yet not I now but Christ liueth in me and in that I now liue in the flesh I liue by faith in the Sonne of God who hath loued mee and giuen himselfe for mee O that once to conclude wee might thinke all things but losse for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Iesus our Lord and iudge them but dung that wee may winne Christ setting alwaies our affections on things that are aboue and not on things which are on the earth that beeing dead to sinne our life may bee hidde with God in Christ that when hee that is our life shall appeare we may also appeare with him in glory to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost we render all glory praise maiesty and dominion both now and euer-more Amen A Heauenly Christian caueat whensoeuer or wheresoeuer the Diuell by suggestions the flesh by the corruption thereof or the world by wicked example would allure or entice thee to sinne then seriously bethinke thee and guard thee with these few Articles 1 VVEigh diligently the eternity both of life which is a reward of well-doing as also of death paine for yeelding to the contrary which both are such as the eye hath not seen the eare hath not heard neither yet can enter into the heart of man and shall rather by sense be felt then by iudgement bee vnderstood 2 Remember the nobility worth and dignity of the nature of man how gracious it is in the sight of God while it standeth in grace how abiect vile it is subiect vnder sinne 3 Consider the value of the rest tranquillity and peace of a good mind both with God thy selfe and thy neighbour for while thou sinnest God is against thee to punish thee in doing well Satan is against thee to assault thee 4 Make euery day a recitall of the Lords blessings vpon thee in thy predestination and