in flaxe soone inkindled and soone extinct soone hot and as soone cold And no other foundation haue those affections that are set vpon carnall and vanishing things A man may as is often obserued affect and hate as it were in one breath things variable and interchangeable for as all naturall things are inconstant so is mans heart Saul seemed so highly to affect Dauid as he was content to giue him his daughter in marriage yet how soone was his loue turned to deadly hatred It was not grounded vpon that loue that proceeds from the Spirit of God But Ionathans loue and affection to Dauid was grounded vpon a more diuine and setled opinion hee saw that God was with Dauid And vpon this ground whosoeuer foundeth his affection towards any man namely as hee findes him to be a man beloued of God his affection is approued of God O that wee could rectifie our loue in this point and learne to affect the best things and not to set our affections on things of the world which when wee haue them they steed vs nothing beyond necessity how superfluous soeuer they bee And when wee seeme to haue them in best assurance either they leaue us before the time or wee must leaue them in time Let us make choice therefore as Mary did of the better part namely to affect things permanent which are aboue and they most excellent Then need wee not to feare bee wee poore or rich high or low noble or base wee shall be able to set our houses both domestick of our soules in such compleate order as shall witnesse our godly care in our liues when wee are dead A preparatiue to Prayer LEt the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be now and alwayes acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer Let my prayer come before thee as Incense and let the lifting vp of my hands be as an Euening sacrifice like a morning obligation a sweet smelling sauour in thy nostrils Heare my prayers and answer me graciously for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Morning O Lord God Almighty euer-liuing and euer-louing Father in thy well-beloued sonne Iesus Christ who art father of all and rich vnto all that call vpon thy name in truth and sincerity to thee I call and cry together with thy forme and holy spirit three distinct persons in the vnity of essence who hauing made all things of nothing sustainest them in thy good prouidence by the word of thy power that thy name by all men and by all meanes might bee glorified Lord I acknowledge this day to be thine as consecrated and set a part for thy worship and service and to be obserued not only as a holy day but a glorious day vnto thee wherein I ought to pay my vowes vnto thee present my person and my prayers before thee heare thy word and meditate vpon the same to thy glory and mine owne good To this end remoue farre from me all wandring thoughts and worldly affections and worke in me a desire of studying thy Law and of walking in the truth that thy word may not bee vnto mee the sauour of death vnto death but of life vnto life I present not these my supplications trusting to my owne righteousnesse but in thy manifold mercies grant me therefore I beseech thee gratious audience and mercifull acceptaâ—ce euen for my redeemers and sanctifiers sake And as duty obligeth mee principally and aboue all other things and primarily in the first place and before all other things I extoll thine infinite goodnesse together with thine eternall wisdome and truth that thou hast protected mee all this night past and made me to rest and sleepe so quietly vnder the shadow of thy wings And I beseech thee from the bottome of mine heart to protect me this day with thy mighty hand from all dangers both of body and soule giue thine holy Angels charge ouer mee to guide me in all my waies to keepe mee from euils both bodily and ghostly that keeping my faith and a good conscience I may haue thy witnesse and testimony within my selfe that thou hast not ordained me to wrath but to obtain eternall life and saluation To this end remoue farre from me the offences of this present euill world mortify and kill in me the concupiscense of the flesh crucifie all carnall lusts and affections that vice being supplanted vertue and grace may bee established liue and grow in mee Let not since haue dominion ouer mee reigne and beare rule in my mortall body to ouer-sway my soule and incline it unto euills but let thy loue possesse my soule that grace may incite and stirre vp the same vnto all holy duties which may be soe pleasing vnto thy maiesty as may procure thy fauourable kindnesse blessing and protection Giue mee a contrite heart to bewayle my former life and let mee finde comfort in thy mercy for the remission of my sinnes Sanctifie me O blessed and holy trinity this holy day with thine especiall grace that I may honour thee as a Creator loue thee as a redeemer and expect thee as a Sauiour that I may haue a modest carriage in my behauiour true deuotion in my prayers and reuerent attention in thy presence to heare thy word Vnlocke the cares of my body that I may heare those things which thou shalt teach me that hearing I may vnderstand them vnderstanding I may remember them remembring I may practice them to adorne that profession which I haue made in thy name and confirme mee in the faith of thy sonne Iesus Christ whereto I was baptized Raise mee O Father by the power of my sauiours resurrection from sinne and iniquity and giue me spirituall rest peace of conscience ioy in the holy ghost and fellowship in the communion of Saints that when I shall leaue this world I may keepe an euerlasting Sabbath with thee in the kingdome of heauen Behold O Lord I knock at the dore of thy mercy withall the power of my soule and strength of my minde for all these graces and fauours beseeching thee to continue vnto mee the right vse of the same that thy spirit may witnesse vnto my spirit that I am thy sonne and shall bee heire of thy kingdome of glory and that I may be partaker of the inheritance with thy Saints in light where are pleasures that last for euermore Grant this O Father for Iesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Sunday Noone O Lord my God great in maiesty and infinite in mercy wonderfull in thy goodnesse vnto thy Church and children who hast commanded mee to make prayers and supplications for those that shall enter into the ministery and stand before thee to waite at thine Altar the harâ—est being great and the painefull and conscionable labourers but few I beseech thee that thou wouldest bee pleased to send able ministers into thy Church and set such ouer particular congregatiâ—ns as like Iohn the Baptist may
The ways of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Pleasure for evermoâ—â— A GOOD Companion For A CHRISTIAN Derecting him in the way to God being Meditations Prayers for every day in the Weeke and Graces before after meate London Printed by G.P. for Rich Collins 〈◊〉 his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at y e 3 Kingâ— 1634 A GOOD COMPANION FOR A CHRISTIAN Directing him in the way to God being Meditations and Prayers for euery day in the weeke and Graces before and after meate Call vpon me in the day of Trouble and I will heare thee and thou shalt praise me Psal. 50. LONDON Printed by G. P. for Richard Collins and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Three Kings 1632. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD LORD GORGE Baron of Dondaulk MOST noble my good Lord My deceased Father very ofteÌ„ suruaied the Kings Lands but now by me he humbly tenders himselfe to be suruaied by you This small Treatise the issue not of his body but his braine he left with vs his children to assure vs and al men that himselfe chiefly studied and shaped his courses so to dye that he might neuer dye that he prepared himselfe so to depart froÌ„ the earth that when he did leaue the Earth he had no other busines but to leaue the Earth for his actions were but an example of his precepts Now my very noble Lord my poore selfe being a dependant vpon your honored House hauing nothing in me to expresse my obliged duty no not so much as aduise or wishes since your being good performance of goodnesse makes all my wishes vaine I beseech you but to read and suruay not what you should doe but what you haue done that your sanctified discreetnesse may be a mirror to others and an inforcement to me euer to remaine Your vertuous honorâ— humbly deuoted seruant I. NORDEN To the Reader IT is the word of the Word One thing is necessary many are troubled about many things but did any euer repent that he had set his house in order Did euer any liue the worse in that they were euer prepared to dye Indeed in our Age desperate Security makes many foole-hardy but those which are so much men that they know they haue a Soule and so far Christian men that they belieue they must giue an account of their steward-ship will entertaine this Treatise as right vsefull The world knowes my Father in his life time wrot many Meditations but God only knoweth that this he composed at his end for his death time for before he could bring it into the world himselfe went out of the world In naturall duty therefore to the memory of my deceased Father and in a Christian Charity to the common good J haue set forth this Booke with my hearty prayers to God that we may so set our house in order that whensoeuer the Bridegrome shall call we may not only haue lamps in our hands but oyle in our Lamps and Lights in our oyle that is not only a profession but a perseuering expression of true Christianity I. NORDEN A COMPANION FOR A CHRISTIAN to guide him in the way to God Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye Isay 38.1 No difference in the naturall substance of poore and rich HEZECHIAH that good King of Judah being sick supposed of a plague sore was commanded by God To set his house in order for he should die wherby it appeareth that as all men are borne to dye so are they subiect to that pestilent infirmitie To show that there is no difference of men in respect of their naturall bodies Kings Princes and Poorest people are all made of one and the same substance and subiect to all like and the same infirmities and therefore none but such as forget wherof they are made will scorne as many doe such as are in respect of themselues basely attired or poore in substance as the rich man in the Gospell did poore Lazarus No cause why the rich should disdaine the poore ANd as the rich proud amongst vs at this day doe foolishly conceiuing an opinion of theÌ„selues that in regard of their riches and reuenues their outward attire and vaine brauerie they are made of a more delicate matter than the poor and that the meanely attired are not fit to come neere them much lesse to touch them But let the richest and the brauest robed be rest of his riches and the poore man enioy it and let the poore man be attired with his glorious garments and then it will appeare that the difference is only in riches and pouertie not in the beautie or basenesse of either Poore and rich incident to equall infirmities AND as touching their infirmities what sicknes is it that befalls the poore that is not incident to the rich And what priuiledge hath the rich to preuent death more than the poore man hath Only the means of physicke which preuaileth not when the time set by the almightie is come And the like set time hath the poore before which time though he take no physicke though necessarie he shall not dye Rich and poore must dye and come to iudgement BVt it is appointed equally to rich and poore that they shall dye and come to iudgment And therfore it is a dutie required by God And fit in Christian discretion and policie not only that Kings and men of great estates the rich and wealthy Men are to set their house in order while they are in health BVt that all men of what estate condition or degree soeuer they be not only in the time of my common plague or infectious disease yet then especially and when they be sicke but rather in their best health and strength should not only haue continually in their mindes that they must dye but at all times to set keep and continue their houses hearts and senses and members of their bodies in order knowing they must dye yet not knowing the time that when the time commeth be it neuer so sudden they may dye in peace with God and with all men in a good conscience Men of meanes are so to settle their possessions and goods as may reserue peace after their deaths ANd as much as in them is so to dispose and settle their worldly possessions and goods as peace may be preserued and continued amongst such as they intend shall enioy them when they are dead for although all men know that it is appointed that they must dye yet are not all men of like watchfulnes or preparation against the time of death Many are slacke in setting their houses in order SOme liue long and many years and become not bodily sicke at all and therefore it seldome or neuer commeth into their mindes that they must dye and so put off the setting of their houses in order and to reforme their liues vntill many of them be preuented And when they would they cannot either for want of time or of
that my father left me Sayes another I haue possessions indeed which I haue purchased as mine owne proper inheritance wherin who can pretend interest but my selfe Should I forgot that which I haue dearely paid for to them that I know not Men ought not to be prodigall in giuing away their goods IT is not meant that any man should be prodigall and consume the inheritance of a Father though many haue wantonly consumed honorable and inferior estats to their dishonour and shame without doing that which God requireth of all men to be done to his glory and their owne future assured comfort Neither is it vnlawfull for any man to purchace so it be by his mony lawfully gotten But neither he that hath it by descent nor he that doth purchace possessions but is bound both to lend and to giue especially to the needie members of Christ. But thou wilt say who are they how shall I know them Surely they that beare but the outward image of Christs humanity must be supposed to be of the number of them to whom thou oughtest to doe good for if thou giue to any poore man whose heart thou knowest not if thou doe it in the name of one of the members of Christ though he be not thy worke is accepted of God as done to himselfe And thou shalt not thereby diminish but procure a blessing vpon the rest of thy lands and goods for God hath promis'd it Euery man is but a steward vnder God of his lands and goods ANd deceiue not thy selfe but know that though thy possessioÌ„s came by descent or purchace and thy goods by gift or by thine owne industrie thou art but steward of them vnder God to feed the hungry to clothe the naked to lend vnto and to releeue the poore And not to conuert them totally as most men doe to thine owne priuate pleasures or worldly profits Say not with Nabal what is Dauid or who is the Sonne of Ishai who are the children of God that I should giue or lend them my siluer and gold my bread or my victualls that J haue prouided for mine own children my seruants and friends Shall I giue it to beggers or lend my monie to poore snakes that will neuer pay me againe Some rich men seeme to loath the Poore IT grieueth such Nabals indeed to look vpon the poore but with disdaine much lesse to giue or lend vnto them wherewith to releeue and comfort them And yet they thinke God loueth them dearely because he heapes vpon them daily more and more this worlds Mammon yet care not for the poore like Iudas that bare the bag Therefore cry the poore vnto the Lord against such hard stonie and couetous hearted miserable rich men And the Lord heareth in heauen and will reward them as they reward the poore for as the poore cry and the rich will not heare them so shall the rich cry and the Lord will not answere them and hence it comes that Christ himselfe affirmes it to be as hard a thing for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of Heauen as for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle this is no skarre-crow Why there are poore and rich in the world HOw can these men set their houses in order before they dye when their hearts are hardened and out of order while they liue nothing regarding Christ in his members There shal be euer some poore in the land saith Moses And Christ saith the poore shall you alwayes haue with you And why only to try the charity of the rich If you releeue them you releeue Christ in them If you afflict them Christ is afflicted by you in them What reward they shall haue that helpe the poore members of Christ. GOd will repay whatsoeuer man giueth or lendeth vnto his distressed members Giue therefore to him that asketh and from him that would borrow turne not away And your reward shal be great And ye shal be called the children of the most high Yet notwithstanding this assured reward and this most glorious title What say the rich to the poore that begge or would borrow This is no giuing age and worse of lending The time indeed is in euery string out of tune harpe where a man will or can he shall find a most harsh discord and all out of order in poore and rich the poore will not worke and the rich will not giue And now begins the Lord to see whether it wil be brought into better order by his fauourable chastisements the body is sicke and the members droope and drop away and yet are men slacke to set their houses much lesse their soules in order before they dye Men seeke to runne from death but carry the infection of sinne with them MEn that are affraid to stand the aduenture of the dissolution or their bodies at home are fled to hide themselues from Gods correcting rod. Let them bewaâ—e that they carry not with them a more pestilent infection in their soules than they seeke to escape in their bodies Some aduenture their soules where they dare not aduenture their bodies IT is strange that many men that are valorous and aduenturous that for the getting of a little mucâ— of the world will aduenture their soules and yet of so faithlesse fearefull and cowardly hearts as they will not aduenture their bodies in the place where they haue laid their soules already to pawne Death finds men euery where DIscretion indeed it is to auoid infection of the body But he that seekes to saue his life may lose it and he that flies farthest off may find death as neere him as at his owne house when he returns for he that flyes in a desperate distrust of Gods power prouidence and protection may preuent the danger but assuredly as great a danger attends him yet if he seek to auoid it in the faith and feare of God in hearty prayer referring himselfe to the will of God for his dissolution or preseruation whether he liue or die he is safe and more happy in his death being the Lords than ten thousand that remaine out of order aliue abroad or at home The loue of this world make men feare death BVt what makes men chiefely to flye death only the loue of the world and the glory and riches thereof because these in the vaine conceit of themselues are most happy of all men and so they are reputed but only of the worldly minded because God suffers them to grow great and rich and glorious and full of the meanes to make them to thinke themselues the deare children of God blessing themselues in the increase of their riches and therfore is the very name of death bitter vnto them Who then dares say vnto such a great man in these dayes as Esay did to Hezekiah Set thy house in order for thou shalt dye would he not spew such a plaine dealing friend for euer out of his good conceit Riches make the better man TAke heede whosoeuer
graces of thy Spirit that appearing in thine Image thou mayst know mee and acknowledge me for thine owne-Lord heare my prayers and let my praises be acceptable in thine eyes For vnto thee O Lord vpon the altar of mine heart doe I offer vp all possible praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings both spirituall and temporall heauenly and earthly in great abundance coÌ„ferâ—ed vpon mee and aboue all for Iesus Christ the fountaine of them all by whom I haue redemption through his bloud and accesse through his life I thanke thee likewise for the sweet influence of thy gracious well guiding holy Spirit for the manifestation of thy selfe and sacred will by thy word read and preached for the confirmation and strengthening of my faith by those sacred signes and pledges of thy loue which thou exhibitest and giuest to mee and vnto euery beleeuing soule in the Sacraments I thanke thee for my life liberty food and rayment health wealth peace and plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded vnto me from time to time for keeping mee now and euer from sudden death and sundry dangers whereinto I might haue fallen by reason of my manifold sinnes And I beseech thee to continue this thy prouidence ouer me and mine and thy whole church as thou hast hitherto beene a Sâ—nne to comfort me so bee thou now a shield to protect me keepe me in soule and body goods and good name vouchsafe mee this night peace vnto my soule rest and quietnesse to my body that therein being refreshed I may bee cheared vp in my minde and made the more prompt and ready to doe thee laudable seruice the day following and all the dayes of my life and that for Christ Iesus sake the Sonne of thy loue Amen Tuesday A Morning Prayer MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holinesse I thy poore and miserable creature being but dust and ashes doe here humbly present my selfe soule and body before the throne of thy maiesty confessing and acknowledging from the bottome of my heart that I am a most vile sinner conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity and am by nature backward vnto that which is good and prone vnto all manner of euill By meanes of this originaâ—l corruption drawne from the loynes of my first parents mine vnderstanding is full of all blindnesse and darkenesse my memory of forgetfulnesse my will of perversnesse mine affections of disorderlinesse my heart of hardnesse yea there is within mee a distemperature of all parts so that from the crowne of the head vnto the soule of the foote there is no soundnesse within mee wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinnes enrich my barren heart with the sanctifying graces of thy spirit that growing in knowledge fructifying in faith loue charity and abounding with all other holy vertues and heauenly qualities I may be washed iustified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of my God and haue the witnes and euidence within my selfe that there remaineth no condemnation to me being in Christ Iesus walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Lord I confesse I am vtterly lost and haue no hope of saluation left vnto me having walked after the vanity of my mind and liued in al lust lewdnes riot reuelling vncleannes sinfulnes so that if thou shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not therefore into Iudgement with 〈◊〉 seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing bee iustistified Though my sinnes haue magnified themselues in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy mercy which passeth all vnderstanding farre exceed them And howsoeuer by reason of my sinnes I haue iustly deserued to be not only depriued of thy blessings but for euer deserted forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by holinesse bring me to happinesse Behold O Lord how I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand-maid O grant mee grace that I may liue with thee for euer Thou hast redeemed me oh let me not fall into captiuity and bondage vnto sin and Satan because I weare thy cognizance liuery but so confirme and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine that I may neuer draw back vnto perdition or forsake thee the euer-liuing God or renounce my Christ who hath the words of eternall life yea who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in prosperity and aduersity abiding by thee I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and raigne with thee in thy glory Amen Tuesday An Euening Prayer O Lord God euerlasting and full of pitty I am a sinner yet thy seruant not hauing transgressed through wickednes but much weaknesse and infirmity spare me therefore good Lord according to thy usuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thee and according to thine old vnchangeable nature of thy kindnesse and long suffering Thou mightest haue taken me away in my sinnes but thou hast giuen me space of amendment and grace to returne vnto thee to seeke thee whilst thou maist be found and call vpon thee whilst thou art neare O Lord be not farre from me but draw neere vnto my soule make haste to deliuer me and helpe me Nay Lord thou art euer with and neuer failest those who seeke after thee and call vpon thee with words of deuotion and contrition to such thou art a present helpe in trouble their shield and buckler their rocke and strong hold their castle and fortresse the horne also of their saluation Instantly doe I knocke at the gate of thy mercy Lord open vnto me and receiue me to thy protection this night as thou hast safe-garded and guided me this day past so keepe me now and euer because I trust in thee Lord preserue mee in health wealth and godlinesse if it be thy gracious pleasure voâ—chsafe mee peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost guide me here by thy counsell and after that receiue me to glory And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon mee wherein thou hast ordained man to take his rest keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye saue and defend mee from all annoyances fond dreames strong fantasies and delusions Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee and keepe watch ouer my soule and body that I may not if it bee possible sinne in either word or deede but may persist and goe forward in mine innocency and integrity vntill the appearing of my Lord and Sauiour vnto iudgement Good Lord deliuer mee from suddaine death feares and affrightments casualties by fire water or tempestuous weather disturbance by theeues or any other danger whatsoeuer Let my lying downe