bin so greatly vexed and so much endangered O Lord thou art the God of my strength I flie vnto thee alone for succour and for aide in these great extremities euen in these grieuous temptations assaults wherby Satan my maine aduersarie doth seeke daily to oppresse my soule Doe thou arme and so strengthen mee with thy grace that through the power of thy might I may preuaile against him and put him to the greatest foile when hee intendeth the greatest mischiefe and thinketh to haue the strongest hand ouer me the most aduantage against me so shall I sing praises vnto thy name both now and euer and teach others to resort vnto thee in their greatest dangers and hardest conflicts euen then when the powers of hell shall set themselues most against them Sathan more dangerous in lesser temptatious sometimes then in greater MAny are free from the danger of greater tentations who are often ouercome of lesser to the ende that they might be truely humbled and haue no confidence in themselues or their owne strength seeing of themselues as they finde by experieÌ„ce they are so weake that the least tentation is too strong for them and therefore could not possibly but fainte presently vnder the greatest and yeeld without any resistance if they were not sustained and supported by the speciall assistance of that powerfull God against whom no emnitie is able to resist yea to whom the very gates of hell are subiect and able to doe nothing without his permission and sufferance who is absolute Lord of all things O Lord thou hast manifested thy power vnto me in deliuering me from the danger of the most grieuous assaults wherewith Sathan hath sought my ouerthrowe and wherby I feared that he would haue soonest preuailed against me thou hast giuen me sufficient proofe of mine own weaknes in suffering me to be foyled where there seemed to be least feare of any such danger O let me alwaies acknowledge mine owne weaknes and impotencie and extoll thy grace and power that so I may not repose any trust or confidence in my selfe or in mine owne streÌ„gth for the resisting of the least emnitie the least assault that at any time is made against me but may wholly at all times rest and depend vpon thee who alone art able to doe all things Whom Sathan tempteth most SAthan is alwaies most busie where he hath least to doe His assaults are strongest where he is most encountred where he hath all things in possession he is quiet Lord I am not ignorant of his continuall enterprises his great forces his dangerous stratagems his mischieuous counsell and diuellish will To whom shall I flie but to thee for helpe for succour and for aide Of my selfe I am weake feeble fainthearted neuer able to meete much lesse to withstand and vanquish so strong an enemie so great an aduersarie I make thee O Lord my onely refuge thou art my strength through the helpe of thy Christ who hath triumphed gloriously ouer Sathan and al spirituall enmities I am able to do all things Strengthen me O my God with thy might through that glorious power of thine wherunto hell it selfe is subiect strengthen me in the houre of tentation Couer my head in the day of battell put thy spirit into my heart and that two-edged sword of thine into my hands and aboue all things giue mee the shield of faith and the helmet of saluation yea put vpon me that whole compleaâ—e armour of thine that I may be able to resist in the euill day when the rage and furie of the enemie shall be greatest and to ouercome yea euen to tread down Satan vnder my feete and so in the end hauing finished all things and kept the faith through hope and patience at length receiue that crowne of righteousnesse which thou hast promised and which as I expect so I know thou the righteous God wilt giue vnto me at that glorious appearance of my blessed Sauiour whose comming as I dailie looke for so I desire thee to hasten Come Lord Iesus come quickly Amen The wonderfull workes of God in heauen and earth STand and consider lift vp thine eyes to heauen and after that cast them downe to the earth and behold the workes of God shalt thou not haue cause to admire at the wisedome thou shalt finde in them and to giue glorie to the Lord the Creator preseruer of them Looke vp and consider the light of the Sun euen that noble and swift giant which is appointed of the Lord to runne his race euerie day and to be his messenger to shew forth to the world the glorie of his Maker Consider the Moone the number and order of the Starres that faire and excellent curtaine which the Lord hath drawne ouer vs. Consider also the power and changes of the wind the store-house and treasuries of the raine haile snow lightning thunder the multitude and huge heaps of the waters in that vast depth that great Leuiathan which taketh his pastime therein with innumerable creatures else which liue and moue there Consider likewise the earth thou treadest vpon the natures and kindes of beasts the fruites of the trees the varietie of flowers the properties of stones the vertue of herbes of plants and roots In brief the whole earth the sea the heaueÌ„s with all their rich and glorious furniture Haue they not written and engrauen vpon them in great and text letters Praise and glorie to the Lord Yea do but looke vpon thy selfe and into thy selfe and shalt thou not find in thee a little world of strange admirable works of God Yea O Lord al things are full of thy wisedome and of the glorie of thy mightie power O let me delight in the consideration of them let my minde bee raised vp by them to the meditation of the excellencie and great renowne of thee the Creator and maker of them yea let my heart be drawne thereby to a holie and reuerent feare of thy glorious Maiestie and to an earnest desire and entire affectioÌ„ to sing praises continually vnto thee A shame it is for me to bee dumbe or silent since all thy creatures are so loude neuer ceasing to speake of thy praise and to shew foorth thy glorie in that excellent workmanship which thine owne hand hath framed in the heauens the earth the seas and all places A caueat for rash censurers of the weaknesses and infirmities of others IT is a thing incident to the nature of men to bee very curious in prying into the faults of others very carelesse in searching into their owne waies or taking a view of those sins and corruptions which lie lurking in their owne bosomes Experience euery where giueth too cleere euidence of this It is a vice which euery one that hath any care or conscience to order his life according to the prescript and determinate rule of Gods word must labour diligently to reforme himselfe of And sure it were wisdome for men rather to bee curious
THE EXERCISE OF TRVE SPIRItuall Deuotion Consisting of diuers holy Meditations and Prayers Seruing for the inflaming of mens benummed affections the quickening and increase of sauing grace and the better ordering of the whole course of the life of a Christian in a manner acceptable to God profitable vnto others and comfortable vnto his own soule The first Part. AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man 1610. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR EDVVARD LEVVKENOR Knight grace and happines SIR I here offer vnto you a small present yet my first fruites in this kinde and therefore such as I hope will find some acceptance with you That which moued me to the bringing of them to open light was not any priuate or sinister respect but mature and aduised deliberation First I obserued the great neglect of those two maine duties of meditation and prayer how farre most were from the daily practise thereof how much vnacquainted therewith then which notwithstanding nothing should bee more ordinary with Christians I heard oft complaints of the scantnes of writings of this nature as much as of superfluitie in others yea euen our aduersaries haue not spared to fasten this as a reproch vnto our profession and religion though indeede they haue least cause to complaine of vs what colour soeuer they may seem to haue seeing the greatest part of their labours herein is farre from that holy exercise of true deuotion sauouring in many things too much of superstition and carnall affectation and not that onely but also as may easily appeare to those that are of sound iudgement right discerning exceeding defectiue in the main points and maimed in the principall parts euen in those which should bee the very life of deuotion I considered also how necessarie it was for men to haue many helps and furtherances at hand whereby they might bee inured to the due and frequent performance of this dutie so requisite for the taking away of that drines of hart and that deadnes of affection which is oftentimes in the best and for the remedying of that spirituall distemper which not seldome doth preuaile too much with them who otherwise are well disposed desire to approoue theÌ„selues vnto the Lord in truth and sinceritie as also for the quickening of the fainting soule and languishing spirits which without the daily exercise of this and other holy duties are soone ouertaken with a kinde of chilnesse and want of spirituall life and motioÌ„ Besides that which more nearly concerned me I remembred how God hath placed all men in the world for a time not to be idle and vnprofitable but to be helpful and seruiceable vnto others whiles they liue by what meanes they can yea how straitly euery one is bound to imploy any talent that God hath betrusted him withall during his life here vpon earth vnto his glorie and to the benefite of others lest when the day of accounts shall come he be found blame-worthie and so depriued of the ioy of his master euen the glorie of that celestiall Kingdome the losse whereof can neuer be recompensed with the greatest abundance of the fading pleasures and fruitles vanities of this alluring and deceitfull world I saw also how fast my dayes did slide away with a swift foot and how the harbingers of death had oft summoned me to my last end giuen me warning to prepare for his comming yea how my candle was much spent whiles I had giuen but little light vnto others Eccle. 9.10 Psalm 115.17.18 and thought vpon that of the wiseman that there is neither worke nor inuention nor knowledge nor wisedome in the graue whither I was going and making hast euery houre and therefore considering oft and seriously with my selfe the shortnes vncertaintie of my fading life the line wherof God of his mercie and goodnes hath drawen out longer then I either did or could promise vnto my selfe I was desirous that this short course of mine might not be without profite but that according vnto that poore talent which the Lord hath giueÌ„ vnto me I might in any sort be beneficiall vnto the least of the saints of God and be a meanes of spiritual good vnto any though not in such maner as those whom God hath inabled for greater performances This it was that preuailed with me and at length moued me beeing also moued thereunto by some who hauing interest in me made me more forward in this businesse to publish that for the benefite of others which I had first vndertaken for mine owne priuate exercise the exercise I meane of my minde in the duties of true spirituall deuotion The reasons why I haue made choice of you among others vnder whose name to communicat vnto others these slender labours of mine are these especially First that knowing you haue bin so well seasoned in your younger yeares by meanes of the religious and godly care of your worthie parents who as while they liued they were lights vnto others so now being dead and at rest with the Lord their example may well be a paterne and president vnto those of that ranke and order I might hereby stirre vp your pure minde in this your riper age vnto the daily exercise of those duties which were so vsuall and ordinarie with theÌ„ as doubtlesse they haue left few behinde them who deserue the like praise herein As the remembrance hereof may be a ioy and comfort vnto you so the imitation of the same wil be comfortable and exceeding profitable both vnto your selfe and others Againe I was drawen hereunto in priuate respects both in regard of that ancient frieÌ„dship first begun whiles we liued in the same Colledge vnder the same gouernment as also of that kindnes which you haue since shewed me and which being desirous to make acknowledgement of I thought good to take this occasion Accept therfore I pray this as a testimonie of the vnfained loue Christian affectioÌ„ which I deseruedly beare towards you in many respects And if it please you at your vacant houres to bestow some time in the perusing of it I hope you shall finde that which maybe some waies profitable which is the only thing I desire and aime at The Lord increase his graces in you and multiply his blessings vpon you and vpon that whole familie that it may be as it hath bin a light vnto others in this darke and sinfull age wherin the examples of those that should goe before others in the practise of pietie and godlinesse are so rare and precious Your Worships in all christian dutie and affection I. ALLISTON Emman Coll. in Cambridge August 30. 1610. The Preface MEditation praier these ought to be the daily exercise of euery true Christian. Ne ther can I see how he should deserue the name of a Christian who dâ—th altogether neglect either or both of them Both of them are necessarie as seuerally in themselues so especially iointly together although indeede the one neither may nor can be well
that I may bee wise to preuent the mischiefe which they intend to bring vpō me make mee alwaies watchfull and carefull to stand for my defence and safetie against them especially let me seeke and endeuour by all meanes to fortifie my soule against those sinnes whereby Satan doth most assaile me and to get strength against those weaknesses whereby hee may soonest haue aduantage of me and bring me into danger yea O Lord doe thou watch ouer mee doe thou strengthen me Heale all my infirmities repaire the ruines of my soule make vp the manifold breaches therof Compasse me about with thy grace and fauour that so none of those spirituall enemies may euer haue power ouer me but that I may be defended from them in the time of this my warfare heere on earth and hereafter triumph gloriously ouer them in the heauens for euermore Greater care is to be had of things to come then of things present O How carefull are most for their bodies how carelesse for their soules For the things of this world what paines what labour doe they willingly vndergo for those of the world to come how remisse how exceeding negligent are they Lord grant that I may be alwaies most carefull of that which is most necessarie that I may preferre heauen before earth those things which are spirituall before those that are corporal things which are permanent and euerlasting before the lying and deceitfull vanities of this world endlesse and vnspeakable glorie and happines before vaine and supposed felicitie Gods all-seeing presence THe eyes of the Lord are open vpon all the waies of men hee seeth and obserueth them euen those things which they doe in greatest secrecy are most cleere and manifest vnto him they are naked discouered in his sight and he taketh notice of all of them O therefore how great is the boldnes and audaciousnes of such as dare presume willinglie and wittinglie to commit so grieuous and so odious sinnes whiles they are in so glorious a presence who is so prophane and so gracelesse that should not be ashamed of this yea that should not bee euen astonished in himselfe to consider that all his sinnes whereof some one of them if it should bee made knowne vnto the world would make him blush and hang downe his head for shame lie open and vncouered before the face of almightie God euen the cleere eyes of that infinite and glorious Maiesty who is so pure that he cannot abide any vncleannes yea that hee cannot once endure the sight of any thing which is spotted and stained with the filth of sin O Lord let me alwaies see thee present with me viewing marking and obseruing the whole course and carriage of my life not only how I compose my selfe outwardly before men but how euen the thoughts of my heart are framed within me that thus I may not onely bee restrained frō the commission of outward actuall wickednesses which euen the shame of the world causeth many that are altogether voide and destitute of thy sanctifying grace to refraine themselues from but also may feare to giue entertainmēt to any motion vnto the least sinne and striue after holinesse and puritie that so I may bee approued of thee and finde grace and fauour in thy sight A motiue to patience vnder the crosse ALthough it be grieuous vnto vs yet it is good for vs to bee vnder the crosse It is no small benefit which we receiue by afflictions if we looke vnto the end and issue of them for thereby wee are humbled more then we were made more earnest and feruent in prayer readier to seek vnto the Lord to cleaue faster vnto him and to depend solely and wholly vpon him making him our hope our stay and onely refuge yea thereby our faith hope patience and all other graces of Gods spirit are exercised and increased and that inward man of ours daily more and more renued whiles wee are outwardly oppressed and afflicted In briefe thereby we are weaned from the world and the vaine and transitorie things thereof and made not onely mindfull but also desirous of the day of death and of the time of our dissolution whenas being freed from all those miseries wherewith we are and shall be compassed on euery side as long as wee liue in this wretched world and carrie this bodie of sin about with vs wee shall enter into that resting place where wee shal want nothing which may make for our blessednesse and felicitie Let nothing then be distastful vnto me which thou seest to bee good for me O Lord but let me euer be content if it so pleaseth thee to drinke downe willingly the bitterest cup of the most grieuous affliction which thou shalt offer vnto me seeing that in the end thereof I shall find much sweetnes None euer free from the temptations of Satan THere is none that is not often assailed by the tēpter euen the most holie and righteous men that liue vpon the earth when one temptation is resisted and passed ouer they are to expect another and to prepare themselues for it vnlooked for blowes are most dangerous O Lord I see how busie that enemie of mine is how many waies he laboureth to vndermine me and that especially when I am least aware of him O let me be alwaies readie to meete him in the gate before hee enter too farre vpon me let me not be secure and carelesse but very watchfull and vigilant euer prepared to encounter with him and to resist him especially in the beginning of his assaults wherein if I withstand him with faith courage and resolution I doubt not but with thy grace I shall in the end easilie get the victorie of him and see him flie before me Satans temptations sometimes more grieuous and dangerous then at other times SOme haue more grieuous temptations presently after their first calling and conuersion vnto God some long after some throughout their whole life haue that euill one vncessantly casting many fiery darts at them thereby if it were possible to wound them euen vnto death almost euery moment or at least to make their liues wearisome irkesome vnto them These are not to faint or to despaire whiles they are thus tempted but to be the more carefull to bee alwaies well appointed and readie furnished with the whole compleate armour of God whereby they may bee able to defend themselues frō the rage and malice of that furious enemie and deadly aduersarie of theirs who thirsteth after the blood of their soules and desireth nothing more then their vtter ruine and confusion Since hee is so fierce and eager vpon them they are to bee thus armed continually and withall to pray vnto the Lord and that oft and more earnestlie that he would shield and safegard them and giue vnto thē a ioyfull issue out of all their temptations and then no doubt at length they shall see the saluation of the Lord in the ouerthrow of that malitious enemie by whom heretofore they haue
stand together the one of theÌ„ doth exclude the other the more the one of theÌ„ doth increase the more the other must needs decrease and bee diminished Is there any therefore that with a greedie and ambitious minde doth hunt after the praise of men and the glorie of this world sure it cannot be but that he should exceed in charitie who shall thinke him to bee truly religious or well affected towards God or vnfainedly desirous of his glorie O Lord let not my heart bee set vpon the glorie which is froÌ„ earth and from men but vpon that which is from heauen euen that which commeth from thee alone Let the glorie of this world though neuer so glittering in the eyes of men seeme vnto me as indeed it is in it selfe but vaine vanitie yea more vaine then vanitie it selfe but let the glorie of thy name bee deare and pretious vnto me aboue al those things which are most desired of theÌ„ that know thee not yea O Lord let it please thee to inflame this chill and this cold heart of mine with a greater loue and zeale thereof dailie more and more and to increase in me an earnest desire and endeuour to seeke and to set it foorth to the vttermost of my power and by al means and vpon all occasions which thou shalt offer vnto me In this onely let me alwaies be very ambitious A singular priuiledge belonging vnto all the children of God THe Lord doth cause all things to work together for the best vnto his children It is good for euery one of the godly to labor to see and to finde this by experience in himselfe and in his owne estate The diligent obseruation hereof cannot but make him both patient cheerefull and vnfainedly thankfull in all miseries and afflictions either outward or inward whether it be sicknesse of bodie or distresse of minde or whatsoeuer else may befall him throughout the whole course of his life euen to his last houre O gracious father whose exceeding loue and vnspeakable goodnes all thy children doe daily tast of in so great and abundant measure giue me I humbly pray thee not onely to see and acknowledge the same with al thankfulnes but also to haue a liuely sense and feeling thereof at all times in all things Let me assuredly perswade my selfe that thou doest loue me and hast loued me eternally in thy sonne and in thy loue towards me doest and wilt cause euery thing which betideth me in this world to tend vnto my greatâ—st good and let the assuraÌ„ce together with the continuall experieÌ„ce hereof cause me to rest quietly contentedly and thankfully in all estates howsoeuer it shall please thee to deale with me Iustification by faith onely IS it not strange that any should be so blind so extreamly deluded with a vaine and fond conceite of their owne goodnes and inherent holines as to thinke or once to imagine that they may stand iust before God thorough their owne righteousnes that they should perswade themselues that by the merit and worthinesse of their owne workes they haue right and interest vnto life and saluation yea that they should challenge and make claime thereunto as vnto that which is due vnto them as a iust recompence and reward which they haue well deserued and which God himselfe cannot without iniustice detaine and withhold from them nay that they should goe so farre as to affirme boldly that they may doe workes of supererogation more then God hath commanded or could require at their hands such as wherby they may merit great things not onely for themselues but for others also Had they euer the spirit of Christ or did they euer receiue the annointing of that holy one who teach maintaine or beleeue this doctrine so directly crosse and contrarie vnto the Scriptures so exceeding derogatorie from the free grace and mercie of God and from the merit of the death and passion of Christ Iesus our onely sauiour and redeemer by and for whose satisfaction obedience and righteousnesse alone we receiue the promise of the Gospell through faith without any deserts of our owne Alas what is man or what are the workes of the best men that they should present them vnto God and plead with him for the obtaining of so great a reward for the righteousnes and worthinesse of their owne deedes Nay certaine it is that if God should make inquiry into the best actions of the most holy and sanctified men that liue vpon the earth or that euer were most pure most perfect and most spotlesse and blamelesse in this world as great is the commendation wherewith God hath honoured many of his Saints if he should marke and obserue them and enter into iudgement with them for the same there is none no not one of them as the best and holiest of them haue freelie acknowledged that should bee iustified yea that should not be condemned and perish euerlastingly being neuer able to endure his presence so pure and so holy is his Maiestie so iust and so righteous are his iudgements that no flesh can abide the triall thereof O Lord most glorious and most righteous God when I looke vp vnto the throne of thy iustice and set my self before thy tribunall and iudgement seate I feare tremble am ready to flie froÌ„ thy presence as not able to stand before thee nor to answere for one of a thousand of those things whereby I haue most grieuously offended thy most glorious Maiesty and for which thou mightest iustly condemne mee for euer if thou shouldest once call me vnto a straite account of the same yea euen of the least of them and deale with me therein not according to thy great mercie but according vnto mine owne deseruings When I looke back vnto my life past take a view of the whole course therof how sinfull how vnfruitfull vnprofitable it hath been I am confounded in my selfe and dare not lift vp mine eyes to heauen for the multitude of my offences and transgressions whereby I haue continually displeased prouoked thee When I consider my present estate how many weaknesses and infirmities I am subiect vnto how sinne cleaueth fast vnto me and inuironeth and compasseth me round about on euery side yea how defectiue my best endeuours how corrupt and sinfull my best actions and seruices are and haue been yea how much my whole life hath swarued from that perfect and exact rule of iustice which thy law requireth I am astonied and strickeÌ„ with a great feare knowing that the time will shortlie come when I must appeare before the tribunall of thy iustice to answere for all my actions euen for all those things which I haue done in the flesh the workes of my hands the words of my mouth and the most secret thoughts and imaginations of my hart and to receiue accordingly What therefore is my hope vnto whom shall I flie wherein is my trust Surely my hope my trust and my confidence is not in any merits