on any earthly thing for nothing brings true content to the soule but God Delight thy selfe in him this will both purifie thy heart and assure it before God In thy carnall delight there are or may be losse of crosses in curses for them They are broken cisternes In the end of every day aske thy selfe What have I done What have I done amisse What have I left undone Thus summe up thy accounts and make all streight twixt God and thee Keepe a Catalogue of all thy g 〈…〉 knowne sinnes nor balking any but dealing truely with thy selfe and then falling downe on thy knees disburden thy conscience of them by humble confession to God carrying this thy owne inditement and spreading it before the Lord and pleading guilty drag thy sinfull lusts to the crosse of thy Saviour and there crucifie them 2 Pray for a soft and tender heart as for life Lord thou hast promised to take out the heart of stone to give an heart of flesh 3 Get the particular promises which thou desirest to have fulfilled to thy soule without booke yea into thy heart as well as thy head Mr. Byfield Mr. GEORGE FLETCHER in Christs victory and triumph pag. 50. VVHo is it sees not that he nothing is But he that nothing sees what vveker brest Since Adams armour faild dares warrant his That made by God of all his creatures best Straite made himselfe the worst of all the rest If any strength we have it is to ill But all the good is Gods both povv'r and vvill The dead man cannot rise though he himselfe may kill Mr. QVARLES Historie of SAMPSON Medit. 21. LOrd if our Father Adam could not stay In his upright perfection one poore day How can it be expected we have povver To hold out siege one scruple of an houre Our armes are bound vvith too unequall bands We cannot strive vve cannot loose our hands Great Nazarite avvake and looke upon us Make haste to helpe the Philistims are on us Medit. 22. ibid. Lord shouldst thou punish every part in me That does offend what member would be free Each member acts his part they never lin Vntill they joyne and make a body of sinne Make sinne my burthen let it never please me And thou hast promis'd when I come to ease me Medit. 19. idem ibid. Thou great Chirurgion of a bleeding soule Whose soveraigne balme is able to make whole The deepest wound thy sacred salve is sure We cannot bleed so fast as thou canst cure Heale thou our wounds that having salv'd the sore Our hearts may feare and learne to sinne no more And let our hands be strangers to those knives That wound not fingers only but our lives Some particular formes of PRAYER 1. For the Sacrament of the LORDS Supper WOnderfull art thou O Lord in all thy works towards the sons of men but more especially wonderfull in that great worke of our redemption by the death of thy Son Hadst thou left us to have perished in that estate of damnation into which wee desperately had implunged our selves by the wilfull disobedience of our first parents it had beene but just with thee so to have done for wee were the clay thou wast our Potter and we all are the work of thine owne hands and hadst thou taken no delight in us to doe us good thou mightest easily have made us dishonourable vessels of thy wrath as well as thou didst the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation whom thou hast reserved in everlasting chaines under darkenesse under the judgement of the great day But thou in love to our soules wouldest not that wee should perish and therefore out of thine own incomprehensible wisedome foundest out a meanes of rasoming and redeeming man from hell by causing thine own sonne God equall for ever with thy blessed selfe to bee made sinne for us that so wee might bee made the righteousnesse of God in him who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the tree and the more to confirme us in the assured hope of everlasting salvation which he once purchased for us by his bloody passion did institute for his Church the blessed Sacrament of his body and blood in which I see him againe crucified and freshly bleeding before mine eyes in the outward elements of bread and wine which he hath appointed to bee often celebrated in remembrance of him Blessed bee thy holy name therefore my daily sinnes have made mee unworthy of daily bread much more of this bread of life yet seeing thou callest and invitest mee at this time to the Supper of the Lambe to eate of that Manna that came down from heaven to partake of those divine mysteries O let not mee suffer my selfe to bee needlesly detained from so blessed a feast by any pretended occasions whatsoever as those did that made excuses and set light by their invitation to the marriage of the Kings sonne Math. 22. 5. left thou sweare in thy wrath that I shall never taste of thy Supper nor enter into that rest which my Saviour is gone to prepare for thy beloved ones For if those in the law that did neglect to eate the Passeover and to worship at Hierusalem at the times appoynted were to bee cut off from the number of thy people of how much sorer punishment shall I bee worthy if I refuse to partake in thy blessed Sacrament and neglect so great salvation which thou tenderest unto mee hereby O therefore make me to come as a guest invited comming prepared unto thy table having on my wedding garment because thou thy selfe the great master of this feast art present in the assembly eying and observing thy guests Let mee therefore first wash my hands in innocencie my heart from wickednesse and so compasse thine Altar O Lord that seeing Christ my Passeover is sacrificed for mee I may purge out the old leaven and become a new lumpe keeping this feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth feeding on him with the sowre herbes of godly sorrow and unfained repentance for all my former sins O make the very remembrance of them to be grievous and the burthen of them intollerable unto mee O wash mee Lord wash mee not onely the feete but even the hands also and the head for I am uncleane I am uncleane a very Leper a sinke of sinne whom thou mighest shut out of the congregation of thy people for ever but yet O Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee cleane Thy blood O sweet Iesus is able to cleanse more throughly than the waters of Iordan did Naomans leprosie and to wash away all my pollutions and make my Ethiopian skin my leopards spots to be white as snow in Salmon Now the good Lord pardon me and every one that prepareth himselfe to seeke thee in the truth of his heart though wee bee not cleansed and prepared according to that exact purification of thy Sanctuary O Lord make me to search
omitting good particular failings frailties distractions indisposednes to serve God our ignorance Atheism infidelitie hypocrisie inconstancie pride vaine-glory envy uncharitablenesse putting off our repentance forgetfulnesse distrustfulnesse unthankefulnesse dulnesse unchearfulnesse felfe-love strife wrath flattery idlenesse gluttony uncleannesse covetousnesse all inordinate desires and all the evill of our good workes c. may never bee imputed or layd to our charge As likewise the Nationall unthankfulnesse heresies schismes swearing oppression security which crye open mouth'd against us may not enter into the eares of the Lord of hosts Secondly That we may from on high be indued with power over those corruptions and lusts to which pleasure allures profit provokes sinfull custome most of all swayes us the plague of our own heart that the lusts of our flesh may be crucifyed and the whole body of sinne abolished and we leade our captivity captive 2 Victory over all the deceits of the whole world which lieth in wickednesse and all the temptations thereof that neither the persons nor things therein may become our suare 3 Over the Devill that arch-enemy of our salvation and his fiercest and eraftiest assaults that he may never finally prevaile over us that the God of peace would tread downe Satan under our feete and so make us more than conquerors through our Lord Iesus who hath loved us Secondly Deprecation of the evill of Punishment 1. All those dreadfull curses due to our sinnes that they may not be inflicted on us 2 Deliverance from all plagues which we now feele or hereafter may feare viz. 1 Iudgements nationall which the whole Land mournes under Plague of the pestilence famine warre sedition conspiracie 2 Afflictions personall that lie on our selves either in soule body or in estate troubles and terrours of conscience griefe of minde scandalls and offences imprisonment banishment sicknesse poverty disgrace losse of friends or any other afflictions of what kinde soever preservation from and in all dangers Death it selfe the king of terrours the day of judgement from Hell and chaines of darknesse from Gods wrath and everlasting damnation c. Secondly We petition for others which is Intercession and thus here wee pray for the Catholike Church of Iesus Christ militant every where on earth which is either 1 Uncalled yet belonging to the election of grace that they may be converted as 1. Iews our elder sister which was in the covenant before us 2 Pagans and Infidels that they may heare the glad tidings of salvation and that the Sunne of righteousnesse may arise on them with healing in his wings that they may enjoy Gods Word Sacraments Sabbaths that God would bring home them that goe astray instruct the ignorant and forgive them that rebelliously transgresse Heretickes yea the Enemies and Persecutours of the Church that they all may bee converted or if implacable confounded beseeching God to forgive our Enemies Persecutors and Slanderers and to turne their hearts 2 Already called that the Lord would purge it from Schisme and Heresie and appease all unhappy differences in the Church making all Christians keepe the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and that he would warme and enliven the setling and cooled affections of these secure and earthly-minded times To watch over it for good whether in the transmarine parts and forraigne countries abroad or our owne nation at home herein especially our gracious soveraigne King Charles and his Highnes Dominions with all his sacred Stocke and Lineage the Queene young Prince Princesse Duke the Lady Elizabeth the Kings onely sister and her Progenie The Lords spirituall and temporall those of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell the Nobility Majestraâ—ie Ministrie the two Universities the Gentry and Commonalty our Parents Kindred Friends Benefactours all such as we stand obliged unto by nature desert duty or any speciall relation Thirdly Afflicted in soule body or in estate being oppressed and persecuted under Popish tyranny or Mahumetan cruelty those that bee destitute of all comforts of this life that want foode rayment harbour liberty peace health that grone under poverty famine nakednesse c. that all the Israel of God may bee delivered from all their troubles 3. THANKSGIVING THe third and last Part of our Prayers is Thankesgiving that God would give us thankefull hearts for all his Blessings First Positive Secondly Privative in Temporall spirituall and eternall good things towards his whole Church 1 Triumphant for providing for it Heaven a place of rest and happinesse for the glorious Martyrs godly Bishops Preachers and Confessors that out of their ashes he hath wondrously raysed up beleevers 2 Militant for giving â—â—â—m 1 Christ to be their Saviour captaine and leader 2 Holy spirit to bee their comforter 3 God himself to be their father 4 His Gospell Sacraments c. Secondly For his blessings to our selves for that eternall unchangeable infinite everlasting undeserved love of his to us in our Election in and Redemption by Iesus Christ our vocation our Adoption Iustification Sanctification inchoate with assured hope of future Glorification That we were borne of Christian and beleeving Parents in a land of righteousnesse in a time of knowledge planted in religious families towns undergodly and painfull Ministers and gracious Governours that we enjoy Gods word and Sacraments in the power and purity of them for the many great and precious promises made to us therein Which are either performed already towards us or shall be hereafter in due time accomplished For all the Graces of the holy spirit for the gracious and free pardon of our many sinnes Faith Repentance some care of sincere obedience and tender hearts desiring to feare God for power against and prevailing over any sinne that we are not given over to Heresies and Errours in opinion nor to those base and fleshly Lusts that some others are in our lives nor to a hard heart reprobate minde benummed conscience and finall Apostasie for victory in any temptation over subtle Satan the alluring world and our own selfe-deceiving selves Secondly Temporall Blessings viz. of Creation Providence 1 Creation after Gods own image not being made a Beast Toad Foole c. 2 Gods providence Nationall Personall in those wonderfull Deliverances of the nation Preservation peace plenty towards us and fatherly care over us in our birth and infancie ever since we hung upon the â—rests in our childe-hood youth mans estate unto old age and gray haires for our health continued so long or restored of late for understanding judgement and discretion peace liberty prosperity food raiment same and good esteeme among Gods people for wealth friends Godly parents carefull â—utours masters and governours good education quietnesse of minde contentment c. Daily preservation manifold deliverances from imminent and apparent yea unseene and unfeared dangers For his fatherly chastisements and corrections for sanctifying to our everlasting good our afflictions
idlenesse nor brawling nor quarrelling with my fellow servants but make me to be peaceable gentle easie to bee intreated Let me not be sloathfull in businesse or indammage my master by my neglect but desirous to promote his good and to please him in all things not answering againe not purloyning but shewing all good fidelity that I may adorne the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things And though my master should become a hard man and should make my life bitter with sore bondage making me serve with rigor yea though he make me a hewer of wood or drawer of water or imploy me even to the basest offices yet let not my proud heart swell and repine hereat Grant that I may submit my selfe under his hand not onely when hee is good and gentle but also when he is froward even when I am buâ—feted for my faults remembring my blessed Saviour that tooke on him the forme of a servant who though he was our Lord and Master yet willingly gave himselfe an example and patterne of all patience and humility And although with One simus I have beene sometimes unfaithfull and unprofitable heretofore yet make me profitable to my master for the time to come that he may receive me not now as a servant but above a servant never suffer me like Iudas in a religious family to be ungodly to betray my master or bewray his secrets nor a lying covetous and dissembling servant as Gehezi nor as Ziba slandering my master but counting him worthy of all honour that he being a beleever I may not despise him because he is a brother but rather doe him service because he is faithfull and beloved pertaker of the benefit of thy Sons redemption Let my behaviour be as becommeth holinesse grant that with patience I may beare his threatnings chidings revilings because thou hast taught mee that a soft tongue breaketh the bones Make mee wisely to forbeare and in my patience to possesse my soule referring all my wrongs and injuries to thee though he should not doe unto mee that which is just and equall knowing that even hee also hath a Master in heaven neither is there respect of persons with thee O Lord I beseech thee let now thy eare bee attentive to the prayer of mee thy servant who desires to feare thy name and prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant me grace instantly to serve thee that so thou who hast the hearts of all men in thy hands as the rivers of water maist give me favour in the sight of my master that my worke and labour may bee accepted O Lord I beseech thee free me from sinne that I may become a servant of righteousnesse â— alasse I have made thee too long to serve with my sinnes I have wearied thee with mine iniquities pardon I pray thee all my transgressions and enter not into judgement with thy servant for in thy sight no flesh living shall bee justified let mee not henceforth serve sinne any longer but grant that I may serve thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life Amen Lord Iesus Amen A thankesgiving to our Saviour Iesus Christ MOst loving Lord and blessed Saviour the mighty God everlasting Father Prince of peace and life the rocke of my salvation the fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse the Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world who now art set downe at the right hand of the Majestie on high and yet hast respect unto thy poore members here on earth O Lord heare O Lord forgive O Lord accept the groanings of my humbled soule which followeth â—aâ—d after thee which thirsteth longeth for thee in a dry and barren land where no water is O my sweet Saviour very loving hast thou beene to me thy love to me was wonderfull passing the love of women at the which so infinit so unconceivable unchangable everlasting and undeserved love of thine to me a miserable sinner the very Angels stand amazed desiring to prie into the mysterie of thy incarnation and admire to see thee the brightnesse of thy Fathers glory and the expresse image of his person assuming a nature inferiour to theirs who though thou wert Lord of Lords King of Kings the image of the invisible God the first borne of every creature heire appointed of all things by whom also the worlds were made yet tookest upon thee the forme of a servant and wast made in the likenesse of men being delivered to death for my sinnes and made a curse for mee Was there ever love like this love of thine that one should dy for his enemies from the beginning of the world was it ever heard before that God should become man to save man from the wrath of God due to mans sinne But thou art that good Shepherd that givest thy life for thy Sheepe and thou hast loved me and washed me from my sinnes in thy owne bloud and delivered me from the wrath to come O Lord Iesus Christ thou thou onely art the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee without thee and out of thee there is nothing amiable worthy the setting my heart upon Let the world love it selfe let men be Idolaters of their owne concupiscences of their goods lives wisedome reputation c but cause thou me to forsake and to hate all things for thee and to count them dung that I may winne Christ Let my heart take no greater pleasure than to see thee glorified in the world and enthronized in my owne soule Thou art my portion for ever hee whom my soule loveth whose love to mee is better than wine the Lord my righteousnesse Who shall now lay any thing to the charge of thine Elect seeing thou dost justifie who can condemne I desire to know nothing but thee crucified to love nothing more than thy sacred selfe I desire onely to be found in thee not having mine owne righteousnesse which indeed is none but to bee clad with the garments of thy salvation O sweet Iesus spread thy skirt over me for thou art my neere kinsman true Immanuel God with us God for us Never I beseech thee suffer me to bee unmindfull of unthankfull for that wonder of all thy wondrous workes my eternall redemption and salvation by thy precious bloud Order my conversation aright to the pleasing of thee in all my desires thoughts words actions that I may not henceforth live to my selfe but unto thee which hast dyed for mee and rose againe Guide mee Lord with thy counsell whiles I live on earth and afterward receive me to thy glory Amen A thankesgiving to God for his wonderfull deliverance of our King and state from the Gun-powder Treason Novem. 5. 1605. LOrd God Almighty glorious in holinesse working wonders alway for thy poore Church and in
Scripture 2 Ki. 17. 17. the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger Alas Head Excuse how shall I Scripture Gen. 44. 16. cleere my selfe concerning these my overspreading abominations Scripture Dan. 9. 27. how shall I lift up my face before thee my God for though I should Head Purge wash my selfe with Scripture Iob. 9. 30. snow-water and make my hands never so cleane yet Head Disclose Scripture Ier. 2. 22. mine iniquitie is marked before theeyea the heaven shall Scripture Iob 20. 27. reveale mine iniquitie and the earth shall rise up against me woe unto my Scripture Isay 3 9. soule for I have rewarded evill unto my selfe But if thou Lord be extreme to mark iniquities if thou enter into judgement with the servant Lord who who shall stand for so detestable and Scripture Ier. 16. 18. abominable are my doingâ— that for the â—einousnesse therof thou mightest let death seaze upon me Scripture Psal 55. 15. and make mee goe downe quicke into Head Damne hell where the Scripture Isai 66. 24. worme shall never dye and the fire shall never be quenched But thou hast in love to my soule Scripture 38. 17. delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy backe thou hast ransomed Scripture Hos 13. 14. me from the power of the grave thou hast redeemed mee from death by the mediatour betwixt Scripture 1 Tim. 2 5. God and man even Iesus who Scripture 1 Thess 1. 10. hath loved me and given himselfe for me and hath washed mee from my sinnes in his blood and delivered mee from the wrath to come O that I Head Repent Scripture Ezek. 36. 31 could loath my selfe in mine owne sight for all mine iniquities and abominations O that they might grieve me at the heart O that Scripture 21 6. I could sigh even with the breaking of my loines wailing Scripture Mic. 1. 8. as the dragons and mourning as the owles because I have sinned against the Lord and have Scripture Psal 18. 21. departed wickedly from my God Amen A Letter consolatorie to his friend perswading to patience in his afflictions Faithfull and beloved brother Scripture Col. 4. 9. GOd that comforteth Scripture 2 Cor. 7. 6. Head God those that are cast downe Scripture 1 Cor. 16. 18. 2 Scripture Thess 2. 16. refresh your spirit and give you everlasting consolation Head Comfort and good hope through grace for he hath torne and he Scripture Hosea 6. 1. will heale you hee hath smitten and he onely can bind you up I indeed faine Scripture Iob 16. 5. would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should asswage your griefe But alas miserable Scripture 2. comforters are wee all if the comforter that should relieve your soule bee farre from you It grieveth mee Head Grieve Scripture Ruth 1. 13. much for your sake that the hand of the Lord is gone out against you that the Scripture 20. Almighty hath delt so very bitterly with you making Head Afflict Scripture Eze. 20. 37. you to passe under the rod and to Scripture Iob 13. 26. possesse the iniqui-quities of your youth you were at â—ase but hee hath broken you asunder hee hath also taken Scripture Iob 16 12. you by the necke and shaken you to pieces and set you up for his marke It is good for a man Scripture Lam 3. 27. saith Ieremy that he beare the yoke in his youth for whom the Lord loveth Scripture Hebr. 12. 6. he chasteneth and scourgeth every sonne whom he receiveth but if you be without chastisement Scripture 8. whereof all are partakers then are you a bastard and not a sonne Assure Scripture Isai 1 25. Head Purge yourselfe when God shall have purged away your drosse and taken away al your tin when he hath tryed you you Scripture Iob 23. 10. shall come forth as gold Therefore in your Head Murmure Scripture Luk. 21. 19. patience possess your soule looke unto Scripture Hebr. 12. 2 Iesus the author and finisher of your faith Hee was oppressed Scripture Isay 53. 7. and hee was Scripture 10. afflicted yet he opened not his mouth Behold and see if Scripture Lam. 1. 12 there were ever any sorrow like to his sorrow O then Scripture Mar. 10. 21 take up the crosse and follow him Be dumbe and open Scripture Psal 39. 9. not your mouth for it is his doing Bee you partaker of the Head Afflict Scripture 2 Tim. 1. 8. affliction of the Gospell Take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches Scripture 2 Cor. 12. 10. in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for this light affliction Head Patient which is but for a Scripture 2 Cor. 4. 17. moment worketh for you a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory Though you Scripture 1 8. bee now pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that you dispaire even of life yet unto Scripture Psal 68. 20. God the Lord belong the issues from death Wherefore lift Scripture He. 12. 12. up the hands which hang downe and the feeble knees look Scripture Isa 17. 7. to thy Maker and let Head Rely thine eyes have respect unto the Holy one of Israel and Scripture Hos 12. 6. waite on thy God continually and he will turne for thee thy mourning into dauncing hee will Scripture Psal 30. 11 put off thy sackcloth and gird thee with gladnesse Amen The Lord doe Scripture Ier. 28. 6. so Farewell and Head Requite according to the Scripture Gen. 21. 23. kindnesse that I have done unto thee in this day of thy distresse thou shalt likewise doe unto me who also am Your Brother and Scripture Rev. 1. 9. Companion in tribulation and in the kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ L. M. If thou wert to disswade thy friend from keeping bad company thou mightst find here happily some prevailing arguments nay were I to preach on such a text as I might find sufficient footing to ground this point of Doctrine that A godly man must avoid the company of the wicked If I doe but turne to some of these heads Godly Regenerate Righteous Christian live Godly Sanctifie Hate Fly Abborre Wicked Vngodly Prophane live Wickedly Company c. I shall t is likely in â—t with good matter and savourie expressions suiting to my purpose for example suppose my text were Psal 26. 5. I have hated the congregation of evill doors It might bee confirmed by Pro. 1. 10. 15. Psal 97. 10. or 2 Cor. 6. 14. or Eph. 5. 7. 11. c. For what should a godly man doe in the wickeds company seeing 1 Vngodly men are Gods enemies Psal 92 9. for loe thine enemies O Lord God himselfe sayes of them Zech. 11. 8. my soule loathed them and their soule also abhorred me Now every Godly man is on the Lords side Exod. 32. 26. yea are the friends of God Ioh. 15. 15. Lam. 2 23. Shouldst thou then helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord as Iehu the Seer reproved Iehoshaphat â— Chron. 19.