most glorious and renowned Prince that euer was in regard of his outward glory wherewith he was inuested and arraied yet he was not like the lilie of the field or the withering and fading grasse whereas all things that are most flourishing on earth no not those celestiall creatures the starres of heauen nor the Sunne and Moone themselues those excellent and glorious lights are comparable to one soule it being of a farre more diuine and excellent nature then they are Good Lord giue me to discerne of things aright let me alwaies esteeme more of those that are inwardly beautified with those vertues graces of the mind wherewith thou hast enriched them and which are the things that are most precious in thy sight and which thou dost much set by then of such as wāting these do most flourish in the world and are most eminent for their externall dignities and excellencies Gods speciall prouidence ouer his children HE that takes care for the watring of his garden the growing of his hearbes and plants and the feeding of his cattle will he not much more be carefull for the feeding and preseruing of his own children whom he loueth and regardeth farre more then all those Seeing therefore God our heauenly father watreth this great garden of the world causeth trees hearbes and plants of all kinds to grow and flourish therein cloaths the fields with so glorious array that great Princes with their shining traine are not like vnto them and seedeth and preserueth continually by his speciall prouidence the beasts of the earth the fowles of the aire and the fishes of the sea will he not doe much more for his owne children who depend vpon him and whom he loueth so deerely and most tenderly regardeth farre aboue all these earthly things Can it be that he should not feed them preserue them and prouide all things for thē which may be for their good estate in this world O the faithlesnesse and infidelitie of man who will not rest on Gods prouidence nor credit and beleeue those promises which he hath made vnto them if they be his O Lord God most gratious and heauenly father grant that whiles I behold the birds of the aire the flowres of the field and all things which thou hast created I may not onely see and acknowledge thy power that made them but also thy prouidence in preseruing feeding and apparelling them and that I may vse them as so many seales to confirme me in the truth of thy gratious promises and in the certaintie of that speciall prouidence of thine ouer me continually euen that thou wilt preserue me cloath me feed me and helpe me in all my necessities supplying all those things vnto me which thou in thy wisdome knowest to be most expedient and requisite for me Herein I rest this is that onely which can make me in all things truly contented and in nothing too carefull and without this my life would be irkesom and burdensome vnto me through that carking care and those manifold distractions which I see in others euen in those that are vnfaithfull O Lord and distrust thy prouidence Contentednes in all estates LOrd I know not what is good for me or which I should desire rather prosperity or aduersity health or sicknes plentie or penurie Thou onely seest thou onely knowest what is euery way best for me Deale therefore gratiously with me do vnto me that which is good in thine eyes and which thou who iudgest and discernest of all things aright seest to be best for me And grant that I may rest contentedly and thankefully in those things which thou according to thy good pleasure shalt bring to passe howsoeuer thou disposest of me Coueteousnes a dangerous disease THe couetous man is like vnto those that haue the dropsie for they that are falne into that disease do desire to drinke continually and yet the more they drinke the more drie the more thirsty they are So it is with the couetous who through the distemper of their minds haue drawne that spirituall dropsie vpon them which is so much worse then the other as the soule is better then the bodie They haue a perpetuall and inordinate lust after riches and the profits and commodities of this world and yet the more they haue them the more they feele and complaine of the want of them the more they increase the faster they come in the more doth their desire of thē increase the greater is their lust and longing after them They are vnsatiable and like the two daughters of the horsleach neuer thinke they haue enough This is an euill sickenesse and yet common and ordinarie amongst men yea many are so farre gone in it that except they seeke to preuent the danger of it in time it will proue incurable and so in the ende become mortall deadly vnto them O Lord giue me grace to couet after the better things euen those which are spirituall heauenly let me neuer be carried away with an immoderate and inordinate desire of these things here below which are earthlie and transitorie but let me alwaies be content with that portion which thou shalt giue vnto me If it be much let me blesse thee for it and be ready to distribute according to the necessities of others If it be little let me blesse and praise thee also knowing that it is sufficient and withall that thou hast prouided better things for me euen that rich inheritance and that induring substance in the heauens of which after this life thou wilt giue me hauing already made me a grant thereof the full fruition and possession for euer And in the meane while howsoeuer my estate is or shall be hereafter in this world giue me a quiet and contented mind which may alwaies rest in thee wholly depend vpon thee who hast promised that thou will not faile nor forsake me nor denie any thing vnto me which thou who knowest what is best for euery one seest to be good for me All must suffer afflictions in this life HE deceiueth himselfe that looketh for a continuall calme whiles he liueth in this world There was neuer man that attained vnto this neuer shall in this life Let him thinke that it is well with him that is not alwaies in a storme that hath not alwaies rough and heard weather whereby that weake and small barke of his is much tossed and troubled but some times though seldome finds the benefit of a pleasant calme whereby he may be refreshed and the better inabled with strength and patience both to expect and to vndergoe the future imminēt troubles which shall betide him O Lord I looke not for my rest whiles I saile in this troublesome sea for thou hast said it and I beleeue it and all thy Saints and seruants haue seene the truth of it in their own experience euen that thorough manie troubles by many afflictions we must haue passage and entrance into thy kingdome when it pleaseth thee O
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
whom I am able to doe all things The folly of worldlings and wickedmen WE are ready to laugh at the follie of him that we see make more account of toies and trifles then of things of greater worth and moment that will be better pleased with a gay feather then with a rich iewell with a garded and partie coloured coate then with a costly raiment and goodly attire And yet behold such is the follie and simplicitie euen of those who seeme to be the wisest in the world both in their own eyes in the eies of others who neuer knew the wisdome which is from aboue but that onely which is earthlie and sensuall with Heuah they preferre an Apple before Paradise with Esau a messe of pottage before the inheritance of that celestiall Canaan the land of promise which floweth with milke honie with the prodigall sonne the huskes of swine in a strange countrie before the best fare in their fathers house in briefe the toies and trifles of this world euen the vaine and sinfull pleasures and delights and the transitorie profits and commodities thereof before those hidden treasures those inestimable riches of ioy glorie and euerlasting happinesse and felicitie prouided for the Saints in the highest heauens euen the pretious things of God which can neuer be ouer prized or set at too high a rate Can there be anie greater follie then this Is not the simplicitie of those that are thus strangely besotted to be laughed at by those that know what true wisdom is yea rather to be pitied euen bewailed with teares although they in the meane while see not their foolishnesse but reioyce in it accounting it wisdome and themselues the onelie wise and prudent men whereas if their eyes were open that they might discerne rightlie of things which now by reason of their blindnesse they cannot they could not but see plainly and acknowledge freely as the truth is that of all men they are the most vaine the most vnwise and extreame foolish Lord giue me not ouer to the follie of mine owne heart but indue me with true spirituall wisdome and vnderstanding that so I may not with the men of this world whose mindes are darkened and depriued of the light of grace and knowledge choose death rather then life shame rather then glorie hell rather then heauen vanitie and miserie rather then endlesse and vnspeakable happinesse the seruice of sinne and Sathan and the fruits and deceiuable pleasures and profits of this world rather then the seruice of thee the euerliuing and most glorious God and the blessed hope of the enioyment and full possession of that rich inheritance of thy chosen euen those inualuable treasures of glorie blisse and happinesse but that my iudgement being cleared and my heart sanctified I may now and alwaies make greatest account of those things which are most pretious and chiefly to be desired and sought after of all those that will be the sonnes of true wisdome The bondage and slauerie of the wicked WE would wonder at him that being laden with manie irons chained and fettered hand and foote so that he were not able to mooue from the place where he lay should notwithstanding perswade himselfe that he were a free man and none more at libertie then he This is the estate of the wicked they are bound hand and foot yea all the parts and powers of their soules haue manie heauie chaines and irons lying vpon them whereby they are euen pressed downe and brought into great miserie and bondage and yet they poore wretches such is their blindnesse though plunged into the verie depth of that wofull miserie and hellish thraldome yet neither see nor perceiue the same but thinke themselues as free as the best and reioyce in their estate when as they are the seruants of corruption the slaues of Sathan subiect to the power of darkenesse Lord giue me daily more and more to see that wofull miserie and feareful bondage and slauery which Sathan by sinne bringeth vpon the soules of men yea both vpon their soules and bodies And grant that seeing it I may bewaile it both in my selfe and others and labour to be restored vnto perfect libertie and freedome being truly thankfull vnto thee for this that thou hast in part freed me alreadie making those bolts lighter and those bonds looser and earnestlie desiring and expecting the time when that which is in part shall be fullie perfected euen the day of redemption which I pray thee to hasten The fond and preposterous course of the wicked in preferring the health of their bodies before the saluation of their soules IF any be in danger but to lose a finger he will presentlie with all diligence and carefulnesse seeke vnto the Physition or Chirurgion for to saue one ioynt of it if it may be possible But to lose their soules how small reckoning doe most men make what a preposterous course is this Is the bodie of more worth then the soule is the life and safetie of this corruptible bodie yea of one little member thereof to be more esteemed more carefullie prouided for then the eternall life and saluation of the soule yea of soule and bodie Is anie so destitute of reason and vnderstanding as once to imagine this And yet behold such are the liues and practises of most men that either they doe or at least would so perswade themselues or else how could they be so carefull for the maintenance and preseruation of their bodilie health and outward estate and so carelesse yea desperate neuer regarding the present and future estate of their soules but passing awaie their daies most securelie in the sinfull pleasures and delights of this euill world euen bathing themselues therein whiles in the meane time they willinglie if not wilfullie depriue themselues of euerlasting life and saluation and hasten forward vnto that endlesse perdition and destruction which is prepared for them Blessed be thy name O mercifull Lord that thou hast not giuen me ouer to the foolishnesse of the wicked who shall perish for euer but vouchsafest thy grace vnto me whereby thou hast made me more carefull to seeke for the assurance of the good estate of my soule in this life and the eternall saluation thereof in the heauens after this transitorie life is ended then for the procuring of the life and safetie of this mortall corruptible body of mine which shall be turned into dust and rottennesse Increase this grace in me and in all thine that so we may haue full assurance that we are thine and that when the earthlie house of this our tabernacle is destroied we may liue with thee in glorie for euer euen in that heauenly kingdome that celestiall mansion which thou hast prouided and prepared for vs and for all thy Saints The forwardnes of the wicked in the way to hell ought to prouoke the godlie to make the more speede in the way to heauen IS it not strange to see the wicked runne faster to
one minute then of that which is eternall and shall neuer haue an end but continue for euer in such glorie the enioying whereof one moment is better then all the glorie pleasures and delights of this life whereof any man is or can bee made partaker in this world yea though hee liue long and see many daies and wants nothing of those things heere below which seeme most pretious and glorious in the eyes of men What should I say more We are more troubled with the feare and dread of our naturall death the death of our bodies which if our liues were such as they ought to be would be more desired then feared of vs being the entrāce into that promised rest and happinesse then of the death of our spirits yea of our soules and bodies euen that fearfull most dreadful death which is the second death when as the soule presently after the dissolution and separation of it from the bodie in the end of this life and both soule and bodie euen the whole man immediatly after the day of iudgement hauing receiued their finall doome shall bee deliuered vp vnto eternall death and condemnation in hell where they shall be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power Surely many such there be in al places who haue so small sense and feeling of the greatest euils both present and imminent that are more grieued and troubled for the approching of some lesser euill then of the greatest miserie that can possibly befall a man the very remembrance and consideration whereof were enough to breed a horror and astonishment in the minde of the hardiest the most obstinate and impenitent sinner if he should haue a right apprehension of it Oh the follie of such men who seeth not how Satan hath blinded and besotted them that they should bee as those who haue no vnderstanding no discerning of things that differ so exceedingly O blessed Lord open their eyes that they may haue a sight of their greatest miseries touch their hearts that they may haue a feeling of that which should bee their greatest griefe and wherewith they should be most affected And keepe thy seruants from falling at any time into that vaine and foolish opinion and imagination of theirs Let vs alwaies feare thy displeasure more then the angrie countenance of any mortall man whatsoeuer let vs be more afraid to be despised and reiected of thee or to bee such as thou takest no pleasure no delight in then to be disgraced and contemned of the whole world esteemed the filth and ofscouring of all things men vnworthie to liue vpon the earth let vs chuse rather to incurre the daunger of the losse of our goods lands substance and to bee content to haue our outward estate in this world much impaired yea altogether wasted and brought euen to nothing rather then once willingly to hazard our euerlasting estate in the world to come by bringing our selues into daunger of the losse of those vnsearchable riches and treasures of life glorie and endlesse felicitie euen those farre more excellent and glorious things which thou hast promised and prepared for all thy Saints in that heauenlie kingdome Let vs not feare the death of these mortall bodies of ours which are but dust and shall returne to the earth of which they are framed let not the remēbrance thereof trouble vs or bee any waies grieuous and bitter vnto vs nay rather let vs reioyce in it and long for it and that with an earnest desire seeing it shall be a passage vnto vs from this life vnto a better but let vs feare auoid those things which might cause the death of our soules yea let vs so feare hell death and destruction that we may be full assured we shall escape them and when this life of ours is ended be translated into that place where thou dwellest in fulnes of glorie and maiestie and liue and raigne with thee in the heauens for euermore Amen The Lords seruice the greatest freedome TO be in the Lords seruice is the greatest freedome yea the greatest priuiledge and most excellēt prerogatiue that men can attaine vnto in this world It is a verie honourable and glorious calling no earthly dignitie office or prehemencie whatsoeuer to be compared vnto it The Angells of heauen those celestiall creatures account it as it is indeed their crowne and their greatest glorie that wherein they finde cause of continuall ioy and reioycing Why then should any man a worme of the earth esteeme so meanly of it as many do yea thinke it to be a burden which he is loth to take vpon him a bondage which it is grieuous to him to vndergoe yea a disgrace and reproch which he is vnwilling to sustaine Oh that vaine man should be so degenerate and base minded as to haue so meane a◠conceite of that which he ought so highly to prize that he should suppose the seruice of the great king and monarch of the whole world the most high God wherein the most excellent creatures do glorie to be base and contemptible that he should thinke it a dishonour and disparagment vnto him to professe himselfe to be a dutiful and obedient seruant vnto the Lord of heauen the mightie possessour of all things to whom all knees are to bowe and whom all creatures must adore when as he accounteth it an honour and a grace vnto him to be reputed an inferior seruant vnto his minister and vicegerent vpon earth and no small priuiledge to be in any office vnder him yea that he should be such a miscreant as to despise that which if he were not strangely blinded and extremely besotted he would think himself happie that he might haue it once vouchsafed and granted vnto him O blessed Lord how great is thy goodnesse and thy mercie towards me in that it hath pleased thee to take me into thy seruice how much am I bound vnto thee for this fauour which thou hast shewed vnto me who by reason of my sinnes whereby I haue from time to time dishonoured thee am altogether vnworthie to be called thy seruant or once to be reckoned amongst the least and meanest of those vnto whom thou hast vouchsafed this so great a priuiledge so glorious a dignitie and prerogatiue Oh that I were able to performe that seruice which is due vnto thee and which thou requirest of me Thou art my Lord and my God vnto whom I owe all dutie all homage and loyaltie thou onely art worthie to be serued worshipped and glorified of all creatures both in heauen and in earth I acknowledge that all that I can possible doe is lesse then that which my dutie and thy loue and goodnesse bindeth me vnto and which thou mayest well expect of me It is the desire of my heart to be found euery way obedient and faithfull vnto thee yea to serue thee with al my strēgth with all my might and that vnto the end of my
dayes O Let it please thee who art able to doe all things to make a gracious supplie of that which thou seest to be wanting in me and wherein through weakenesse and infirmitie I am subiect to faile most to helpe and to assist me through the powerfull working of thy blessed spirit without which I am able to doe nothing The extreame follie of men in hazarding the eternall estate of their soules for the enioying of the vaine pleasures of this world O How vaine how momentarie and deceitfull are all earthly pleasures and delights euen then when any enioyeth all that his heart can wish or desire or whereunto his minde standeth most affected They are all as smoake or as a shadowe they vanish suddenlie and come to nothing and when they are gone they are as if they had neuer been euen the remembrance of them doth perish and passe away And whiles that a man hath the vse of them yet doth he not finde any true delight or contentment in them yea it may well be doubted whether he tasteth of more sowre or sweet more honey or gall more pleasure and delight or griefe and vexation whiles he drinketh theÌ„ downe with a greedie appetite and in an vnsatiable maner For thus the Lord vsâ—ally puts much bitternesse into their sweetest cup and mingleth trouble anguish and vexation with their chiefest delights which they most inordinatly desire and seeke after And yet loe such is the follie sottishnes of many vnto whom the Lord otherwise hath giuen vnderstanding whereby to iudge and discerne of things that differ that like vnreasonable men nay like brutish creatures that are destitute of all wisedome and knowledge for the gaining of these fruitlesse and fading vanities they sticke not to lose their owne soules then which nothing should be more deare or pretious vnto them O Lord let me not be taken in the snare of the wicked at any time let me not haue a longing and inordinate desire after those things which please them and with the loue whereof they are drawne away from that wherein their happinesse consisteth if they had eyes to see it but grant that seeing and considering daily more more the vanitie the vncertainty deceitfulnes of these earthly pleasures and worldly delights wherein most are drowned I may haue a true contempt and holy disdaine of them in comparison of those things which concerne thy kingdome and that beeing weaned from the immoderate loue and sinful desire of them I may delite my selfe in thee continually yea solace my selfe in thee alone that so I may be filled with true inward and spirituall ioy reioycing alwaies in thee who onely art the fountaine of all heauenly comfort and contentment and of all diuine consolation Deniall of a mans selfe how necessary MAn is alwaies to rest in the will of God and to yeeld himselfe in all things to be ruled and directed thereby Thereunto must he frame his will his desires yea all the affections of his heart and actions of his life he must in euery thing be swaied wholly and only by that or else he shall neuer performe acceptable obedience vnto God that wherein he is most delighted and best pleased O Lord giue me grace alwaies to denie my selfe and mine owne will and to resigne my selfe vnto thy holy and heauenly will in all things Let me will those things onely which thou willest and affect desire and enterprise nothing but that which thou hast either commanded or warranted the lawfulnes of it that so I may doe it of faith and without sinne Behold Lord I am thy seruant desirous to approue my selfe vnto thy maiestie and to please and obey thee in all things Teach me daily both to know and to doe thy will better then I haue done heretofore euen with all readines willingnes and cheerefulnes as those celestiall creatures doe which alwaies attend vpon thy presence as ministring spirits ready with all diligence and alacritie to execute whatsoeuer thou commandest Frame my heart more and more vnto the obedieÌ„ce of thy lawes and let me with all reuerence and humble submission both of soule and bodie subiect my selfe vnto thee following thee whithersoeuer thou shalt leade me and being content to be ruled directed and gouerned according vnto thy will and good pleasure in all things yea O Lord deale with me as thou pleasest and as thou knowest may be most for thy honor and glorie and for my greatest good in this life and the furtherance of my happines and saluation in the life to come through Christ my only Lord and blessed Sauiour Amen The Lord is the light and the guide of his EXcept the Lord doe inlighten the minds of meÌ„ they are as those that walk in darknes yea euen the best are ready continually to erre and to go astray if he be not their guide if he be not present to direct them and to leade them forward as it were with his hand in the right way Daily experience and obseruation maketh this so cleere and euident that none can either denie it or doubt of it O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walke and to direct his steps but if thou leaue him he starteth aside wandreth like a straying sheepe O therefore be thou mercifull vnto me let thy grace and thy truth alwaies shine foorth cleerely vnto me Be thou my guide in all things going before me and directing me aright so that I may neuer bee plucked away with the error of those that fall froÌ„ thee and from thy trueth Giue mee knowledge giue mee vnderstanding teach me to doe thy will and to walke in all the pathes of thy precepts with a right foote and with all sinceritie of heart and affection yea let thy good spirit bee alwaies present to assist me and to leade me in the way wherein I should goe that so I may continue stedfastly and constantly in the knowledge and obedience of thy trueth and doe those things which may be pleasing and acceptable in thy sight and bring comfort vnto my soule and conscience both in life and in death The Lord neuer forsaketh his in the day of affliction or temptation IF the Lord at any time doth expose his children vnto any kinde of miserie or affliction if he suffer them to fall into diuers and grieuous temptatioÌ„s he meaneth them no hurt therein neither is hee therefore to be thought an enemie or to haue lessened his care and louing affection towards them but rather he doth all this for their good yea for their great benefite though they for the present cannot easily discerne it not beeing so well acquainted with the Lords dealings and proceedings with whom it is an ordinarie and no vnusuall thing to proue and exercise his euen his most beloued ones sundrie wayes and in diuers maners His loue is as great towards theÌ„ when he seemeth to be their enemie as when he carrieth himselfe most friendly
fulnesse of thy presence and drinke abundantly out of the riuers of thy pleasures for euermore The old man neuer dies in this life EVery Christian as long as hee liueth in this world hath the old man liuing in him hee is in part but not wholly crucified and slaine hee hath receiued his deadlie wound and lieth a dying euery day but will not bee quite dead till the soule be separated by death from this earthly this sinfull and this corruptible bodie O Lord subdue and mortifie daily more and more I humbly pray thee the corruption of my nature let mee feele the power and strength thereof weakened and decaying in me put thy spirit into my hart wâ—ich may striue continually against it and suppresse the force of it so that although in some sort it liue in me yet it may not raigne at any time nor haue dominion ouer me And when it pleaseth thee make an end of these wretched and miserable daies and deliuer me from this bodie of sinne and of death which I carrie continually about with me that so being wholly freed from the bondage vnto which I am now subiect and restored vnto perfect libertie I may serue thee with all cheerefulnes and alacritie as thy holie Angels and Saints in glorie now doe and shall for euermore A free minde how to be obtained THere cannot bee a free minde where the heart doth not continually rest vpon God and stay it selfe vpon him only Hee that doth this shall quickly finde all sinfull and immoderate feare and the excessiue and inordinate loue of all earthly things much diminished and abated in him yea flying quite away and vanishing in such sort as if hee had neuer bin annoied or encumbred with them He that doth it not it cannot bee but that he should liue and spend his daies in coÌ„tinuall disquietnes yea in great miserie and vexation of minde and spirit by reason of many distracting thoughts superfluous cares and vaine desires which will euen pierce his soule with many sorrowes and oppresse his minde with much griefe anguish and perplexitie Ah Lord thou knowest the secret thoughts and desires of my heart thou seest what it is that my soule longeth after how faine I would serue thee with that cheerefulnesse of minde and that freedome of spirit which is the sacrifice wherein thou art so much delighted Haue regard vnto me I humbly intreate thee consider my request which I powre out vnto thee from a heart vnfained Giue me daily a greater measure of thy grace whereby I may breake thorow those snares which are laid for me and wherewith I am readie continually to bee intangled and grant that I may resigne my selfe wholly vnto thee and rest yea set and fixe my heart euen roule my selfe vpon thee that so I may passe the rest of my pilgrimage heeâ—e on earth peaceablie cheerefullie and comfortably as one that is set at libertie from all sinfull and inordinate affections from the vaine desires and the needlesse and troublesome cares of this euill and wicked world Amen An effectuall motiue to true humilitie and lowlines of minde OH how meanly ought euery one to esteeme of himselfe How little ought he to be in his owne eyes seeing that in himselfe he is nothing notable of himselfe no not so much as once to thinke that which is good If he were as wise as Salomon so famous for his wisedom and vnderstanding yet if the Lord did not continually guide his heart and direct his stâ—ppes there would be much follie aâ—d vanitie sound with him If he were aâ— râ—ghteous as Dauid â— man after Gods owne heart yet if the Lord did not alwaies preserue him and strengthen him through the assistance of his gracious spirit he would fall most dangerously yea if he were as pure and as holy as the Angels themselues those heauenly spirits yet if the Lord should not sustaine him with his especiall grace and continue him in that estate but withdrawe his hande from him he would quickly fall as it were a starre from heauen and all his glorie being lost and his light dimmed yea quite extinguished become like vnto Sathan the prince of darkenes nothing but sinfulnes and impuritie There is no wisedom no righteousnes no holines no stedfastnes but onely in God and of God who is the fountaine of all grace and goodnes and from whom the streames thereof are to be deriued into the hearts of men or else there wil be nothing but barrennes and emptines in them God is all in all the best without him are as nothing hauing no power no ability to do any thing which is good What is it then that men should glorie of in themselues Or how should they not alwaies haue a verie meane conceite and esteeme of themselues yea euen annihilate themselues and giue the glorie of all vnto God vnto whom alone it is due O blessed God giue me that meekenes of spirit and that true humblenes of minde which as it is a thing rare and pretious in it selfe so of thee verie much set by Teach me considering mine own weaknes of which I haue daily experience and my insufficiencie of my selfe and of my owne strength to doe to will or to thinke any thing which is good to be lowly vile and abiect in mine owne eyes yea to esteeme my selfe as nothing without thee and alwaies acknowledging mine owne feeblenes and manifold fraileties and infirmities to depend wholly and onely vpon thee yea to cleaue fast vnto thee and to ascribe the praise and glorie of whatsoeuer good is wrought in me or by me vnto thee alone who art the God of my streâ—gth the author and giueâ— both of grace and glorie and the beginner and finisher of euery good thing which is wrought in any of thy children Another THE more that any one doth emptie himselfe of his owne worth and goodnes the more will the Lord fill and replenish him with the abundant riches of his diuine and heauenly grace The lower that he doth abase and cast downe himselfe the higher wil the Lord aduance him and lift him vp euen farre aboue that which he did either desire or expect Thus his gaine wil be exceeding great in that wherein to others he may seeme to suffer some losse much to preiudice himself O Lord grant I beseech thee that I may euery day be more humbled with the sight of mine owne vnworthines of my spirituall pouertie and beggarlines that so it may please thee to inrich me with the greater measure of thy grace let me yet be more vile in mine own eyes that so I may at length be exalted of thee aboue that which I deserue and be crowned with honour and glory in thy kingdome for euermore Vainglorie what a vanitie and follie it is VAinglorie as it is a common disease in the world so the greatest vanitie that can be yea meere follie and madnesse itself It argues euidently that he that is carried away with it
soule and seeke by all meanes the vtter ruine and subuersion thereof yea there is scarce one day but that I passe thorow many deaths so many are the grieuances whereunto thy children are continually subiect whiles they haue their abode in this place of vanitie of death and miserie How therefore should not that day be pleasant and not bitter vnto me how should I not haue a feruent desire to be dissolued so to remoue from earth to heauen since that as long as I liue here in this world I cannot be freed from all miseries nor attaine vnto full and perfect blessednesse which is onelie to be expected in the world to come where I know that I shall enioy it and haue the fruition of it for euer in thy kingdom All the daies of my appointed time will I waite vntill my changing shall come euen the time of refreshing which I desire and hope for and which thou O Lord when it pleaseth thee wilt vouchsafe in mercie and goodnesse to grant vnto me Lord I haue longed for thy saluation Of whom death is most feared HE that alwaies feares death excessiuely neuer made conscience to liue well He that is carefull to liue well will neuer be ouermuch afraid to die though death in it selfe be of all things the most fearefull and terrible or if he doe feare it when it first looks vpon him with a gastly countenance yet when the vizard which it hath put vpon it be plucked away with the due and serious meditation of it the feare and dread of it will vanish away presently Lord let it be my care and earnest endeuour so to liue and to passe the time of my dwelling here euen these short and euill daies which thou hast measured out vnto me that the remembrance of ensuing and approching death may neuer be bitter or grieuous but ioyfull and pleasant vnto me Sathans craft and guilefulnesse in deceiuing men THe Diuell goes alwaies masked vp and downe in the world in a disguised manner and neuer or seldome sheweth himselfe in his owne likenesse because then he knowes well enough euery one not without cause would be afraid of him flie from him and haue nothing to doe with him for who would not shunne his deadly aduersarie whom he saw nothing but plotting his owne destruction and ouerthrow but vsually he comes like a false friend with the pretence of a seeming good he appeares and offers himselfe vnto men in the shape of pleasure profit honour euen those things which are pleasing vnto their nature and whereby they may most easily be enticed and drawne away after him How many thousands hath he by these slights and policies of his deluded and deceiued how doth he hereby preuaile against men till he secretly work their irrecouerable ruin and that many times before they be aware of any such matter but feede securely greedily vpon those things which he profereth vnto them not seeing the snare which is laid for them O Lord let me alwaies suspect and feare the deceitfulnesse of Sathan in the things which are most pleasing vnto me which with the shew of pleasure profit worldly cōmodities and aduantage do most allure me and draw my heart after them or cause me to set my affections inordinatly vpō them that so in what counterfait forme soeuer that deceiuer shall seek cunningly to insinuate himselfe into me I may discerne his craft take heed by all meanes that I be not at any time beguiled and deluded by him Sathans seuerall baites for sundrie persons THe Diuell hath a baite for euery age for euery place and person and according to the occasions and opportunities he fitteth them all to their seuerall natures dispositions and inclinations For the couetous he hath a siluer hooke and a golden baite the riches and commodities of this deceitfull world for the voluptuous sinfull pleasures and sensuall delights for the ambitious honour and bewitching preferments to such as are cholericke he ministers those things that may kindle their wrath and inflame their furie for the melancholick he laies the baite either of vnprofitable solitarines or of pining enuy And thus by one meanes or other he seekes continually to entice them to swallow his baite which he so guilefully profereth vnto them that being once taken with it they can hardly escape the danger which he laboureth to bring them vnto except the Lord be the more mercifull to pull the hooke out of their nostrils and to set them at libertie againe Blessed Lord giue me to see vnto what sins I am either by nature or otherwise most addicted and whereby Sathan seeketh chiefly to insnare me and to draw me vnto perdition and hauing grace to see them let me also haue wisdome and strength to shunne and auoide them that so I may not be deceiued by Sathan nor perish with the multitude whom he hath taken in his snares with those baites which he hath laid for them The occasions of sinne carefully to be auoided HE that saith that he is loth to offend God through the commission of any sinne and doth not carefully auoide the occasions whereby he may fall into the same is like to him that telleth vs that he is loth to be burnt and yet dreads not the fire when he is neare vnto burning yea rather will needs runne into the flame wihch is readie to scorch him or that he is loth to be drowned and yet goes so neere the pits brinke that it is almost impossible for him not to fall into it and to perish in it O Lord let me not be so vnwise as to deceiue my selfe as many doe by taking too much libertie vnto my selfe in those things which though lawfull in themselues yet may be a meanes through the corruption of my nature the temptation of Sathan to draw me to sin against thee But giue me wisdome in all things to foresee and preuent the danger that may come vpon me for want of due prouidence and watchfulnesse and make me euer as carefull to auoide the occasions of sin as sinne and death it selfe So shall it neuer haue power or dominion ouer me whereas otherwise it cannot be but that I should fall oft and dangerously Respect of persons IT is a great fault and yet ordinarie to respect men more for the outward trappings of the bodie then for the inward graces and vertues of the mind If one be of a goodly personage or richly apparelled and attired he shall be regarded and much set by although his mind be neuer so deformed destitute of all grace and goodnesse euen those inward endowments which are the greatest excellencies If another be more base or meane in these outward respects howsoeuer he be inwardlie decked and adorned yet there is no reckoning or very small account made of him What is this but to preferre the body before the soule that which is terrene earthly and coruptible before that which is spirituall heauenly and immortall Salomon the