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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	bear_v	father_n	son_n	766	5	4.9151	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B01127	Salomon's pest-house, or tovver-royall. Newly re-edified and prepared to preserve Londoners with their families, and others, from the doubted deluge of the plague. Item, a laudable excercise [sic] for those that are departed, or shall depart out of the city into the country, to spend their time till they returne, a handfull of holy meditations usefull and requisite for Gods people, men and women, of all estates and degrees, in these doubtfull dayes, whether troubled in body or minde, and whether Gods visitation of the plague increase or decrease. / By the reverend, learned and godly divine I.D. preacher of Gods word. ; Whereunto is added Mr. Holland's admonition, and Mr. Phaer's prescription for bodily physicke. Also London looke-backe: a description or representation of the great and memorable mortality ann. 1625. in heroicke matchlesse lines,.	I. D.; Holland, Henry, 1583-1650?	1636 (1636)	STC 6176.5; ESTC S91591	52,813	78

Soueraignes here infected die And for themselues could finde no remedie The brute Beasts now which Nature to bestow The Excellence on Man did make with low Downe-looking Postures first did feele the rage Of th' Earth-borne Plague and died before their age The long-liu'd Hart this time to die began Before it reach'd vnto the age of Man The faithfull Spaniell by his death did trie The mischiefe of his well-nos'd Facultie And ranging with quicke Sent did soonest proue Th' infectious Malice of the Dogge aboue The lustie Steed scouring in 's Game apace Lights on Deaths Gole in middle of his Race The nimble Fowle as th' ayre it flyes around Flags his sick wings and sinkes vnto the ground Not long before to the remorselesse Skie In sillie Notes haue sung his Elegie The lucklesse Night-Rauens which vs'd to grone The death of others now might Dirge their owne The Snow-plum'd Swan as it did gently ride Vpon the siluer Streame sung forth and di'de Anon the Damp dares breake into the Walls Making a way by thousand Funerals Who can expresse th' astonishment and feare Which doth at entrance of a Plague appeare Euen so the fleeced Heard doth tremble when An Aburne Lyon hungry from his Den Breakes in among 'em then you may behold The pale-look'd Shepheard gaze vpon his Fold With helpelesse pitie the poore Lam-kins creepe Vnder their Dams the sillie trembling Sheepe Stand full of cold amazement at the sight Small hope for mercy and lesse hope in flight Expecting onely which of all shall scape The readie horror of the Lyons rape Other Diseases warning giue before That we may reckon and acquit the Score Of our sinnes Prodigalitie in this We scarce can be resolued whether 't is Sicknesse or Death it selfe so quicke it tries The strength of Nature so soone poore Man dies That many to repose in th' Euening lying Haue made their sleepe true kin to Death by dying Before the Morne Ah! who would then deferre A preparation for this Messenger Of bless'd or curs'd Eternitie What man Would still presume to sinne that knowes the span Of short vncertaine Life Yee gracious Powers That measure out the minutes and the houres Of this our wandring Pilgrimage restraine These sodaine slaughter-men or good God waine Vs from our sinnes that wee may neither feare The rape of Death nor couet to be here O curbe this raging Sicknesse which with sense Bereaues vs of the meanes of Penitence When a dire Phrensie seizeth on the Braine Full of resistlesse flame and full of paine That Madnesse which no cure can well appease Is but a Symptome vnto this Disease Our bloud all fire as if it did portend We were not here to stay but soone ascend When streames of sulphur through our veins do glide And scarce the sense of sorrow doth abide This time how miserable may we guesse Where want of sense is chiefest happinesse When the distracted Soule can scarce deuise How to supply the weakest Faculties Of the disturbed Body but presents Vnto the Eye strange obiects strange portents And antique shadowes when the feuerish rage Sets vs on Iourneyes oft and Pilgrimage And entertaines our wild and wandring sight With monstrous Land-schips able to affright A man in 's wits when the deceiued Eares Doe apprehend what ere the Fancie feares The grones of Ghosts and whispering of Sprites The silken tread of Faeries in the Nights The language of an ayrie Picture howles Of funerall Dogs and warnings of sad Owles The Tast distasteth all things and the same Is sweet and bitter when the inward flame Furres the swolne tongue the quick Feeling marr'd Knoweth no difference betweene soft and hard Such a confused Error doth distract The labouring senses so is the Fancie rackt By the dire sicknesse when from place to place The Bodie rolleth and would faine embrace Some Icie cooler but alas the heat Asswaging there ensues a Marble sweat 'Twixt Death and Nature wrestling then appeare Those deadly Characters which th'Ensigne beare Before approching Fate which notice giue None spotlesse die how euer they did liue A sicknesse comfortlesse when we doe feare To see those friends whom we doe loue most deare The Ministers Deuotion here doth sticke By leauing Visitation of the sicke Making the Seruice Booke imperfect when We see a crossed Doore as 't were a Den Of Serpents or a Prodigie we shun The poore distressed Habitation The Death as comfortlesse where not appeares One friend to shed some tender funerall teares Blacke Night 's the onely Mourner No sad Verse Nor solemne flowers doe decke the drearie Herse Some few old folke perhaps for many a yeere Who haue forgot to weepe attend the Beere Such whose dry age hath made most fit to keepe Th' infected without feare but not to weepe Whose kin to death made them not feare to die Whose deafenesse made them then fit companie Vnto the sicke when they were speechlesse growne A miserable Consolation But had you look'd about you might haue seene Death in each corner and the secret teene Of angry Destiny No sport dispels The mists of sorrow a sad silence dwels In all the streets and a pale terrour seizes Vpon their faces who had no Diseases So vsuall 't was before the morne to dye That when at Night two friends left company They would not say Good Night but thus alone God send 's a ioyfull Resurrection If two or three daies interpos'd betweene One friend by chance another friend had seene It was as strange and ioyfull as to some When a deare friend doth from the Indies come Throgh the nak'd town of death there was such plenty One Bell at once was faine to ring for twenty No Clocks were heard to strike vpon their Bels Cause nothing rung but death-lamenting Knels Strange that the Houres should faile to tell the Day When time to thousands ran so fast away Time was confus'd and kept at such a plight The Day to thousands now was made a Night Hundreds that neuer saw before but di'de At one same time in one same Graue abide That our weake Fancies if we did not hold It Profanation here to be too bold Might wonder what being strangers they would say To one another at the Iudgement Day Some by their feare to goe to Church debarr'd Anon are carryed dead vnto the Yard The Church-yards gron'd with too much death opprest And the Earth rests not ' cause so many rest And Churches now with too much buriall fed Fear'd they should haue no meeting but of Dead Death fell on death and men began to feare That men would want to carry forth the Beere The Bearers Keepers Sextons that remaine Surpasse in number all the towne againe Friends here kill'd friends womb-fellowes kill their Brothers Fathers their Sons and Daughters kill their Mothers By one another strange so many di'de And yet no murder here no Homicide A Mother great with Childe by the Plagues might Infects to death her childe not borne to light So killing that which yet ne're liu'd the wombe Of th'aliue Mother to th'dead Childe was tombe Where in the fleshy graue the still Babe lying Doth kill his mother by his owne first dying Her trauaile here on Earth she could not tend But finishes in heauen her Iournies end To others frolicke set vnto their meales Secure of Death slie Death vpon them steales And strikes among 'em so that thence in speed With heauy Cheere th' are borne the wormes to feed To some at worke to others at their play To thousands death makes a long Holy-day Death all conditions equally inuades Nor riches power nor beauty here perswades Old dye with young with women men the rage Of the dire Plague spares neither sex nor age Most powerfull Influence of ruling Starres Which with blinde darts kill more than bloudy Wars Resistlesse Famine greedy time or when The threatfull hand of tyrants striketh men Into pale terrour more than all diseases Ah happy he who heauen least displeases FINIS Some principall Contents THe Colledge of bodily Physicians and Galen Prince of them their prescript in time of Plague Page 1 Rules for fleeing or departing in time of Plague p. 2. The yeeres 1603 and 1625. alleadged p. ibid. The Romanists and their S. Sebastian confuted p. 7. Their execrable and blasphemous deuotion and superstition in Plague-time confuted p. 15. 16. Augustine alleadged for prayer p. 7. 13. Whereunto Dauid and his family fled in Plague-time p. 8. Obiections against moderate fleeing in time of Plague answered p. ibid. Beza alleadged for lawfulnesse of fleeing p. ibid. Touching the Magistrate and Ministers fleeing p. 9. Tertullian concerning prayer p. ibid. Dauids Conscience Humility Memory Wisedome in Plague-time and other affliction p. ibid. Famine Wars and Pestilence Gods Trinitie of punishments p. 11. Chrysostome alleadged for prayer p. 12. Philip of Macedon his answere to a Widow and her memorable reply to him p. 13. Bowing the bodily knee to Angels forbidden p. 16. Hilary cited against the Papists p. 17. Pliny cited for Locris and Crotone that neuer were infected with the Plague p. 19. Comfort for a weake Conscience of a conscious sinner visited with the Plague p. 23. King Dauids Physician in time of Plague p. 24. In time of Plague or any other affliction we must pray for others as well as our selues p. ibid. Faith in prayer like a beautifull Queene p. 30. Cyprian cited for Faith in prayer p. ibid. Seneca cited for confidence in asking p. 31. Meere vocall verball and formall prayers likened to the Prince of Saxonie and Cardinall Ascanius their Parrats the one rehearsing the Pater-noster the other the Creed and Ascanius his deuotion like to his Parrats p. 34. Gods will holy iust equitable not like earthly Princes p. 36. The high commendation of faithfull prayer p. 37. 38. 39 40. The Londoners laudable Exercise p. ibid.

prayer 2. Sam. 24.25 and the plague ceased from Israel Comfortable is the saying of Dauid Psal 91.3.15.16 in which sixe things prooue the happie successe of the righteous that runneth vnto it First Gods ready answere Secondly his presence Thirdly his deliuerance Fourthly his aduancement to honour Fiftly length of dayes Sixtly fruition of saluation O the excellent riches pleasures and ioyes which the righteous there shall enioy As Lot there fled vnto little Zoar to be preserued from the fire of Sodome Gen. 18. So let vs flie to the name of Iehouah to be safe from the fire of the plague The earthly places whereunto men run do want this propertie they are not warranted to be safe there either from danger or from the plague and the experience of this yeere doth declare it vnto vs all Some haue returned and some haue died there but as for the name of Iehouah thy soule is certaine to be preserued if thither shee taketh her recourse and as they onely escaped the flood that entred into the Arke of Noah So likewise they that enter into this incorruptible and immortall Arke shall only be safegarded from the deluge of afflictions The Doue of Noah at her first flight from the Arke although shee mounted aloft and fetched many retires yet shee could finde no resting vntill shee returned againe to the Arke So the poore soule may flie where shee will but yet shee shall not haue any sure footing to rest except shee returne to the heauenly Arke let vs therefore be wise as Serpents and simple as Doues for as they being persecuted flie vnto the rockes so let vs in our calamities take our recourse to the rocke of Dauid Psal 18.2 neuer haue there bin holes in the rockes so open for the doue as the name of Iehouah for the righteous soules There are two renowmed places mentioned by Plinie Locris and Crotone where the plague was neuer as he writeth lib. 1. cap. 96. and without doubt many resorted thither but although we should flie at this day to Locris and Crotone if wee carrie within vs the plague of sinne the inward cause of the bodily contagion we haue no warrant to bee safegarded But me thinkes I heare a controuersie Obiection Many righteous haue fled to the name of the Lord and yet haue not beene safe from the deluge of the pestilence or from the snare of the hunter but thousands and thousands are fallen in former visitations yea some of the chosen of Israel Answer The answer is that they haue first obtained either that which they prayed for secondly or that which is better or thirdly that which is sufficient And the Lord heareth vs alwayes although alwayes he granteth not our petition this seemeth a Paradox and yet the trueth thereof is manifest for in steed of that we asked he giueth vs a better thing and a better place thou askest the earth saith Augustine and the Lord giueth thee heauen temporall life he giueth thee the eternal The Surgion that saweth off the arme or legge of the Patient who crieth for impatience apprehension heareth him Non secundū voluntatem sed sanitatē not according to his wil but according to his health 4. A place where they haue friends so the Lord dealeth with his Patients Fourthly to proceed men make choice of places where they haue their friends the children resort to their parents the parents to their children brethren to their brethren and one friend to another The name of the Lord is a place of refuge where we haue our best friends there we haue our Father our eldest brother Christ Iesus the holy Ghost our comforter and therefore Dauid in the time of Plague went to this comfortable place Experience hereof Anno 1625. In earthly places vnto which the sonnes of men resort either we haue no friends or they are farre off and therfore we seeke other or sometimes although we haue friends yet they will not receiue vs for feere of infection but in this holy temple and vpon this holy mountaine we are sure to finde at all times the aforesaid friends 5. A place accessible for all men Fiftly we haue regard to choose a place which is lawful for all men to come vnto which is not prohibited or forbidden by the Lord of the soyle and Magistrate of the place and where we know we shall be receiued This place of refuge is such accessible for all men for whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saued Ioel. 2.32 Neuer a citie of refuge so free for all manner of transgressions hither may come the King and the subiect the rich and the poore the learned and the vnlearned the merchant and the tradesman the sound and the sicke yea the infected with the plague In the time of infection it is not lawfull for them that dwell where the contagion reigneth to com vnto the Princes Court they are forbideē by Proclamation to resort thither But the court of heauen is open for all men yea the for infected for they cannot infect the Court of heauen The King of heauen his proclamation the King of heauen hath made a Proclamation in the 50. Psal that we should resort thither the Prince of glory Iesus Christ who keepeth his residence there will not keepe vs backe If the Prince had made a Proclamation that the infected should resort to his court to bee healed who would not hasten thither It was not lawfull for all men to come to the inner Court of King Ahassuerus Esth 4. none might approach but they to whom hee held out his golden Scepter except he would die the death that was appointed for such as durst come neere no such kind of punishment is appointed for those that goe vnto the Courte of the King of heauen we may approach boldely to the throne of grace Heb. 4.16 the scepter of our King I meane not that yron scepter of his iustice but the golden of his mercie is euer held forth to man woman children bond or free stranger or Citizen infected or not infected whether they be called or not called and they all may safely approach I name not neither inward or outward court but euen to the throne of grace where the King himselfe sitteth and if there we craue of him I say not to the halfe of his Kingdome as Ahassuerus spake vnto Ester but to the whole it shall not bee denied vs. Feare of punishment keepeth vs from the Princes court Let not feare keepe vs from the court of heauen Nehem 2. Nehemiah although hee held the cup to the King yet how fearefull hee was to make a request vnto him But as for you O ye righteous soules feare yee not O you little flocke for it is your fathers pleasrue to giue you a Kingdome Luk. 12. Further in time of contagion not only the court but also the other cities townes and villages will not often lodge them

that the righteous onely goe to this place the name of Iehouah is not like vnto the earthly places vnto which in the time of infection resort both good and bad The vngodly may make a shew to goe into it but yet they connot come thither for there is the spirit of prayer Zach. 12. which is giuen onely to them that bring with them this spirituall furniture As for weapons to safegard our selues wee neede none for this houshold-stuffe are spirituall weapons Ephes 6. This shall suffice for the Arke of Noah A trusty friend and seruant appointed by the Magistrate of heauen to aide the sicke in the time of Plague Now because the Ciuill Magistrate appointeth in euery Parish trustie men to aide the infected and to prouide them with necessaries Giue mee also leaue to shew vnto you beloued a trustie friend and seruant to ayde the sicke appointed by the Magistrate of heauen If yee are desirous to know who it is Prayer is his name Psal 50 Call vpon mee c. Dauid hath vsed this faithfull friend in the time of the plague he hath sent it as an Embassadour into the Court of heauen to sue for peace he sent not merites distrustfulnesse impatience or blasphemies but prayer the surest and effectuallest Embassadour happy for successe Wee are all desirous if the Lord visite vs with the rod of Dauid to haue some trustie and faithfull friend or seruant to keepe and ayde vs to dispatch our businesse to send here and there and to prouide vs with necessaries and wee make much of such that will assist vs in such a fearefull sicknesse Wee can haue no better seruant then King Dauids friend who hath many good qualities we desire in the time of plague a seruant or friend 1 Faithfull in whom wee finde these good qualities The qualities of this friend First Faithfulnesse for many haue beene robd by their keepers as experience teacheth Prayer is a messenger of especiall trust it wil trauaile with vs by day awake with vs by night it will not forsake vs by land by water in weale in woe liuing or dying it is our last friend and indissolublest companion Secondly 2 Quicke wee desire one quick of speed Prayer is able in a minute to mount aboue the Eagles of the skie into the heauen of heauens and is a chariot of fire bearing vs aloft into the presence of God to seeke his assistance hee knoweth to addresse himselfe in waies vnknowne in the stillest silence of the night till he come to the secrets and chamber of the Lord King Dauids Physician Thirdly wee seeke one who is willing and is not afraid 3 Willing for they are scarce to be found prayer is such a friend he is not afraid to be with thee neither the tediousnesse of the way or difficultie of the passage can hinder him from his purpose Fourthly 4 Learned we are desirous to haue one that can speake language which the Physician can vnderstand if need were to send him thither and who can prouide vs of necessaries such one is prayer for what language soeuer it speaketh the Physician of heauen can vnderstand it Fiftly one that is able to comfort vs in our distresse 5 A comforter such a comforter is praier it is the life of the soule if thou art perplexed with such griefe of heart as neither wine according to the aduice of Salomon nor strong drink can bring ease vnto thy spirit melting like waxe finding no comfort at all either in light or darkenesse pleasures or riches kinsfolkes or friends wishing with Iob 4. O that thou wouldest hide mee in the graue and keepe mee secret vntill thy wrath is past yet then this friend is our comfort hee will speake for vs vnto the Lord King Dauids Physician by this we may flie into the bosome of Gods mercies If any then be afflicted amongst you let him pray Iam. 5. The reason why we desire a friend with all these qualities is that he might both aide and prouide vs with all necessaries prayer is a friend who is able to dispatch all our businesse Desirest thou a Physitian in thy sicknes to cure thee send this friend praier to King Dauids Physician dwelling in heauen and he will bring him with him If thou needest physicke to heale thee and which is good for thy disease send prayer into heauen to fetch the hearbe of patience which groweth not in our owne garden If thou desirest necessaries for thy soule send him to the Lord he will fetch for thee all that thou wantest the bread of life that heauenly Manna the bloud of Christ the waters of mercy Needest thou a comforter send praier vnto the Lord and he wil bring with him the best comforter of the sicke the holy Ghost it is his name Iohn 14. he will not feare to come to thee as often the bodily Physician Lastly if we desire our friends to come and visite vs send prayer for them and they will come God the father God the sonne God the holy Ghost No friend then better then prayer There are some bad seruants of which we must take heed and as in the time of plague there are some bad seruants who robbe and bereaue the sick of that he hath so there are some wicked friends who will depriue vs of spirituall comforts if we be not ware of them First if we should vse the aide of merits and send them vp 1 Bad seruants Merites the starres in heauen would disdaine it that wee which dwell at the footstoole of God dare to presume so farre when the purest creatures in heauen are impure in his sight Ephes 6 4. Secondly if we send vp feare and distrustfulnesse 2 Feare the length of the way will tire them out they are as heauy and lumpish as gaddes of yron they will sinke to the ground before they come halfe way to the throne of saluation Thirdly if we send vp blasphemies and curses 3 Blasphemies all the creatures betwixt heauen and earth will band themselues against vs. The Sunne and Moone will raine downe bloud the fire hote burning coales and the ayre thunderbolts vpon our heads And therefore let vs not vse the ayde of these three bad seruants As prayer is a seruant to ayde the sicke so it is a trustie friend or seruant to keepe your housen and families O ye Londoners that are departed in the Citie yee vse the ayd and trust of others but they are not the best for they are mortall and corruptible exhort them therfore to vse this friend towards the Lord both for you for themselues for except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that build it except the Lord keepe the citie the keeper waiteth in vaine saith Dauid Thus I haue shewen you that be at London beloued of God called to be Saints Salomons Pesthouse Psal 127.1 to enter in with your families I come now to you beloued that haue

delight to goe vp and down and see their friends our bestfriends at this time at altimes who can do vs the most good are God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost let vs visite them therefore continually by our prayers Others in writing letters what is prayer else but as it were a letter sent to God in which wee declare our neede and as a letter is an amiable discourse and conference of one friend with another as if they were both present So is our prayer as a friendly letter or discourse of vs which are absent from home with our bestfriend the Lord as if wee were present with him in heauen Send this letter and letter vpon letter yee that are now exiled shew vnto the Lord your need pray vnto him that hee will bring you home againe and remooue that in his mercy which keepeth you backe Lastly some in running of Races or in Hunting but yee beloued in this afflicted time runne the way of Gods Commandements as Dauid Psal 119. runne to the name of Iehouah with the righteous Prou. 18. runne the race which is set before you and that with patience looking vnto Christ Iesus Hebr. 12.1 and so runne that yee may obtaine that which you sue for Hunt not after the pleasures of this life but after the liuing God and as the Hart brayeth for the riuers of waters so let your soules pant after the liuing God Psal 42.1 That the Lords Hunter Psal 91. hunt vs not but that the Lord may deliver vs from the snare of the Hunter and from the noysome pestilence Psalme 91.3 Vse therefore this comfortable Exercise the childe is neuer better but when it is in his fathers and mothers lap So shall you neuer be better but when by prayer you creepe as it were in your heauenly Fathers bosome it will kindle your loue toward him as the loue of louers is kindled the more they come together and if yee remaine there the next ensuing Winter feruent prayer will bee in stead of fire to kindle in your hearts the loue of God Fourthly the profit of this Exercise commendeth it much 4 Profitable it is not onely delectable but also profitable Some which are in the Countrey at this time spend their time I doe confesse profitably 1 To vs. riding vp and downe to buy commodities against the future but prayer is a farre profitabler Exercise for this time for it is not onely profitable to our selues but also vnto others yea to the whole Realme And as the Apostle speaketh of Godlinesse that it is profitable for al things so I may say of prayer that it can obtaine any thing profitable for vs in two respects First to obtaine that we haue not Secondly to keepe that we haue obtained First if thou lackest knowledge and wisedome prayer is the meanes to obtaine it Iames I. If thy vnderstanding bee darke pray with Dauid Psalm 119. Open mine eyes O Lord that I may see the mysteries of thy Law If thou lackest zeale pray with Dauid Psal 119. Lord incline my heart vnto thy law c. And because this world is a desart where we may easily erre pray with Dauid Psal 50. Leade me in thy pathes c. If our soules be infected with the plague of vanitie and couetousnesse the meanes to remooue it is prayer Psal 119. O Lord remooue farre from me vanitie and encline not my heart to couetousnesse The meanes to obtaine a contented minde is also prayer Prou. 30. Pouertie nor riches giue mee not c. If thou desirest to thinke vpon thy mortalitie by the subiect which now is presented to thee pray with Dauid Psa 90. Teach vs O Lord to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts to wisedome If yee desire to returne it is not your sports and delights but your praiers that must bring you backe 2 Sam. 24. If yee desire the ceasing of the begun plague it is your prayer that must remooue the cause that the effect may cease As praier obtaineth so it keepeth that you haue already obtained such are not your Exercises which ye your selues haue inuented O sonnes of Adam for by them you often loose that which you had purchased ryotously which Alexander blamed in his friends wasting and consuming your whole ability 2 The others There is another thing which ought to perswade you to this Exercise which is that it is profitable to others prayer doth more good then Almes for by our Almes we can helpe but a few but by our prayers wee can helpe thousands and thousands yea those which are farre off Prayers are the almes of the rich as well as of the poore for Pharaoh did as well begge for prayers as poore Lazarus for crummes Yee rich men that are in the Countrey bestow these almes vpon the poore as well as the almes of your purses and in this afflicted time seeke more to profite the whole Realme by your prayers then by your commodities I end this point with the saying of Augustine Plus profeci orando quā legendo 5 To strengthen vs. I haue more profited by praying than by reading Fiftly this Exercise is commendable because it is able to strengthen vs. Some in the Countrey doe spend their time in Exercises by which they may maintaine their health and strengthen their bodies that they may bee able to doe any thing the Exercise of praier is good to make vs recouer the health of our soules which was waxen weake as this present begun plague and your present exile both doe witnesse Yea it is able to make vs doe admirable things Was it euer heard that mightie Potentates as there haue beene many Alexander the great Iulius Caesar and the rest could make the Sunne or the Moone to stand still in the firmament And yet this hath done the praier of Iosuah Haue there euer beene any armies so great and mightie which could make the Earth to tremble vnder their feet No beloued the mightie armie of Xerxes could not doe it and yet this hath done the praier of the Apostles Act. 4. Who hath euer heard that it hath been possible to mortall man to raise the dead and to giue life to the deceased The Physicians doe acknowledge their impotencie and yet this hath done the praier of Elizaeus Heb. 1● As the Apostle then in the commendation of faith rehearseth the wonders which they haue wrought by faith So it may bee said of praier which is done in faith by praier Moses diuided the red re● by praier Iosua beat down the wals of Iericho by praier Sidrach and Abednago quenched the fire Daniel stopped the Lyons greedie and deuouring throates the Apostles opened the prisons and brake their bands And I will yet adde one thing by praier brethren you shall be able to ouercome him who is inuincible The Lord hath besieged and beguirt your Citie by his destroying Angell the onely meanes to resist him and to make him retire are

left your mother Citie for a time which hope to returne An exercise for the Londoners that are in the Countrey your departure I will not disprooue nor wiser then I if ye haue vsed it lawfully remembring in your exile the affliction of Ioseph And spending the time in those things which make for the peace of your Citie To refresh your minds and spend your time there because the workes of your vocation you cannot exercise diuers other exercises I know are vsed perhaps not so well as ye might all of them I doe not condemne but it is to be feared that the exercises of some haue been are friuolous game some quarrellers and that carding dicing and that Cup challenging Profession by which many drinking to health drinke themselues out of health haue beene to others as vsuall pastimes as the fields to walke in Giue me leaue beloued to shew you a better Exercise and another pastime the pastime of King Dauid a royall exercise which he vsed in the time of plague his prayer and inuocation with the elders of Israel spend herein your time beloued till ye returne when your Mother mourneth will you sport when the head smarteth shall the members be senselesse pray with the Prophet for the peace of your Ierusalem It is the Apostles precept to pray continually which if it euer was time to practise it is at this present The praise of Prayer Suffer mee to enter into the praise of this exercise diuers things doe adde commendation to it which ought to perswade you to the vse thereof 1 It is Diuine The first argument of praise may be taken from the author thereof Not Moses or Samuel Prophet or Apostle Patriarke or Martyr but God the father God the sonne God the holy Ghost the blessed Trinitie haue beene the authors which make it diuine and heauenly exercise 2 Honourable The second argument from the persons which haue vsed it we delight in Exercises which are accounted honorable which men of credite and good account doe commonly vse this Exercise is honorable yea royall not base and contemptible onely haue spent their time with it but Kings and Princes King Dauid Manasses Ezechiah and the rest The blessed Prophets Patriarks yea the Prince of glory the sonne of the immortall God Christ Iesus It is so heauenly and honourable that by prayer we doe approach neere vnto God and doe as it were conioyne our selues with him while we are in the body we are absent from home but by prayer we doe ascend into heauen prayer being as it were the band of our internall coniunction with God Further it is honourable not only in regard of the persons which haue vsed it but also to God and vs. To God for thereby we honor and glorifie him Psal 50. acknowledging that all might glory felicity health and saluation belongeth to him and that from him alone we must receiue it To vs for thereby we are familiar with the Lord if it be an honor for vs to be familiar with earthly Princes which are but dust and ashes O what an honour is it then to be familiar with the King of Kings and Monarke of the world It is the chiefest honour whereunto he can aduance vs when hee giueth vs the spirit of prayer If we desire the valour of Knighthood by prayer wee may stand in place where Gods hand hath made a breach and doe as much as all the chariots and horsemen in a kingdome If you esteeme it an honour to be in the seruice of the Prince giue your selfe to prayer it is one of the chiefest parts of Gods seruice Yea it is so excellent that the sacrifice of praier is offered alone to him Christian whom Salomon calleth excellent and glorious It is an honor to be a christian let vs therefore vse the christian exercise two things doe admonish vs our name and the example of Christ Christians we are called annointed also to be Priests and Prophets and that royall Priesthood in Christ Iesus As the Priests offered the sacrifices of bullocks and rammes so let vs offer the sacrifice of prayer which hath also beene Christs exercise Mercy hath praied and shall not miserie Charitie hath praied and shall not iniquity pray the Physician prostrated vpon the ground praieth and shall not the sicke and the patient call vpon the Lord the innocent and he in whose mouth there is no fraud praieth and shall not the sinner the Iudge prayeth and desireth that the Lord would be mercifull and spare his people and shall not the guiltie bee suppliant to receiue mercie The pleasure of it 3 Delectable may bee the third argument of commendation this exercise is pleasant and delectable To spend the time in the Country diuers vse pleasant and delectable Exercises this is both acceptable to God and pleasant to man to God for the sweet odours of our prayers ascend into heauen Apoc. 8. 1 To God And as the sent of incense Odoriferous things is pleasant to the nostrils of mortall man So the prayer of the righteous saith Chrysostome is pleasant to the immortall God It is not then the lamentation of men eiulation of women and children mingling heauen and earth together with a confusion of out-cries that is acceptable to God and which can enforce him to giue vs audience but it is humble prayer the voyce of repentance which as Iesus Syrach speaketh Eccl. 35.16 shall bee accepted with fauour 2 To man and reach vnto the cloudes Secondly to vs all that our heart desireth is in this Exercise Some being in the Countrey spend their time in discourses prayer is a discourse with our beloued If it was a pleasure to Iacob to speake vnto Rachel and to Ionathan with Dauid O what a recreation is it for our soules that they may familiarly speake with him whose loue vnto vs is better then gold or pearle If wee delight to speake languages by prayer wee may speake the excellentest language which hath euer beene the language of Canaan let vs not feare to discourse with the Lord by our prayers for hee is not like vnto the spruce and finicall sonnes of men feare not saith Chrysostome he seeketh not at thy hands painted eloquence an angelicall tongue filed phrases but beholdeth only the beauty of thy soule Others take their pleasure while they are in the Countrey to ride vp and downe in their Coaches and Chariots being carried therein betwixt heauen and earth Let prayer bee your Coach beloued it is as one saith as a Chariot of fire bearing vs aloft in the presence of God able to mount vs aboue the Eagles of the skie to seeke the Lords assistance In the time of plague there was heretofore appointed a Waggon or Coach to carry the sicke to the Pest-house there to bee healed there is no better Chariot to carry our soules vnto the house of heauen to bee healed by that heauenly Physician then humble prayer Some