in heart and mind with the sweetenesse of thy word wherein the comfortable promises of life saluation are conteined that wee may exercise our selues therein day and night that wee may reuerently vse it as the healthfull foode of our soules that we may bring vp our children seruants in the knowledge of the same being fully perswaded that there is nothing in the world comparable thereunto for it exceedeth al treasure whē al things are consumed thy word shall continue in glory brightnesse perfection O Lord heare our praiers and for the honour of thy name heare the suites of thy poore seruants euen for thy beloued Sonne his sake Iesus Christ our Sauiour vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghost one Deitie in Trinitie be all laude honour prayse dominion power glory and maiestie both now and world without end Amen The Contemplation of a Christian. The misery of euery man Through Satans guile by sinne began But Christ vouchsaft mans thrall t' asswage His power supprest old Satans rage WHen Sinne had blemished the happy estate of our first Parents their whole race felt the smart of their punnishment and are at this day subiect vnto miserie Iniquitie made a gappe for many calamities sundry kinds of sicknesses manifold maladies infinite tribulations which we had neuer tasted if our first Parents had not offended Lamentable is our case by theire meanes for the Lord of life hath punished their sins in their posteritie by degrees of generaons throughout many ages Little hope of health is in our selues nay there is in vs no hope of saluation at all for by the subtiltie of Satan sinne got dominion ouer vs by sin death Iustly therefore are we subiect to so many miseries in that we feele the heauy hand of God laying load vpon vs it is for our offences and our disordered life According as our deserts haue beene so GOD hath dealt with vs nay he hath handled vs far better then we deserued who by nature are the children of wrath and confusion Most mercifully hath he looked vpon vs and of his plentifull compassion hee sent his boloued Sonne Christ Iesus into the world that he by his bloodshed might worke our releasement Like reprobates and condemned persons wee had been plunged into the déep pit of hell had not the death of Christ made full satisfaction for vs wrought our Redemption A Lion of the tribe of Iuda a brāch springing from the stocke of Iesse pittying vs poore desolate soules by the vertue of his power suppressed Satans rage Maruelous mightily did he vanquish the Diuel our mortall enemy who intended our destruction and vtter ouerthrow had not he in time brought our deliuerance to passe Be ioyfull therefore all nations and lift vp your heads extoll this Lambe of God whose innocencie tooke away our iniquitie and whose heauinesse was our hapinesse Euerlasting prayse and thankes be ascribed vnto his name by whose death we are receiued to life yea to eternall life O prayse his glorious name for euer Amen Death ouer vs possest such power That meanes he sought vs to deuower But Iesus Christ did set vs free To whom all prayse and thankes giue wee WEe are iustly subiect vnto death for death is the reward of sinne and iniquitie Iniquitie hath changed our order of creatiō which was perfect and Angeilcal Life vnto vs through sinne is turned vnto death and the mercy of God into iudgement Lord haue mercy vpon vs for in vs there is no hope of health for Death hath power ouer vs. Increase of new calamities doe light vpon vs dayly and we see our selues forsaken Among our enemies we walke continually euen in the face of the Flesh the World and the Diuell Miserable were wee if Iesus Christ with the shield of safetie should not ouershadow vs. Little should wee differ from the children of wrath nay our case were as comfortlesse as theirs A most mercifull Sauiour art thou O Christ A most mercifull Redeemer and Aduocate Make vs thankfull vnto thee for thy goodnesse for thou didst set vs free from all misfortune Blessed be thy name and great be thy glory through out all the world for this thy kindnesse Early late thou art to be praysed yea in the assemblies cōgregations of the faythfull righteous thou in thy greatnes O God shalt be gloryfied Amen The World is vaine and all therein Yea man is vile because of sinne Yet Iesus Christ redeemed all To Death and Hell that were in thrall WOe be to this world for it is as vaine as smoke yea it is more vaine then vanitie it selfe In riches there is shame and in pleasure there is punishment because of sinne and iniquitie Like a dreame is the life of man his dayes are but a spanne long and his time tarryeth not Like a Fansie or a May-game which hath but an houres delight recreatiō In the world there is nothing more common then wickednesse in the world there is no goodnesse Al are bent vnto mischiefe and villanie the sonnes of men haue set their heartes vpon euill Mightie men and poore slaues all haue troden the path of sinne and vanitie is in all their wayes Like Sheepe without a Shepheard they are gone astray and had beene lost if Christ had not holpen All were in the mouth of Hell gates and had sunke in their owne shame and destruction Miserably had they perished if that good shepheard of our soules had not taken vpon him our deliuerance Bring Frankinsence vnto his Altas O ye people prayse him who is prayse worthy for his power and magnificence Enter into his Temple and Sanctuary sing songs all with one consent to the honour of his name for all the benefits and goodnesse which hee hath plentifully bestowed vpon vs at all times let al the faithfull answer and say Amen Gods prouidence is wonderfull He shewes himselfe most merciful In all our wayes defending vs And by his grace amending vs. WIthout th' assistance of Gods spirit miserable were the condition of all mankind yea most miserable In sinne we are conceiued in sin we are brought vp and the whole course of our life is full of iniquitie Like a menstruous cloth so is our conuersotion in the sight of God and his holy Angels Like a filthy and loathsome Sinke so is our behauiour before the face of the faithfull Iudgment is more méete for vs then mercy yet it hath pleafed God to deale with vs in mercy And that doth daily experience testifie for we sée manifest proofes of his prouidence Meate and cloathing and whatsoeuer is necessary toward the maintenance of man he hath giuen vs. Like a Father he tendereth vs and esteemeth vs as Children begotten a new by free Grace As a Henue hoouering ouer her Chickens so doth he defend vs in all our wayes day by day Mercie is on his right hand Mercie goeth before him and vpon Mercy is the seate of his Maiestie built Be glad therefore
the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort 2. Cor. 1.3 Thou Lord in the begining hast stablished th' earth and the heauens are the works of thine hands Psal. 102.25 Heb. 1.10 Haue we not all one Father Hath not one GOD made vs Malach. 2.10 By the word of the Lord were the heauens made and all the hoast of them by the breath of his mouth Psal 33.6 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. THere is but one GOD which is the Father of whom are all things and we in him And one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him 1. Cor. 8 6. If we walke in the light as he is in the light we haue fellowship one with another Christ with vs and we with our selues the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne cleanseth vs from all our sinnes 1. Ioh. 1.7 Who hath deliuered vs from the power of darknes and hath translated vs into the kingdome of his deare Sonne in whom wée haue redemption through his blood that is the forgiuenesse of sinnes Colos. 1.13.14 This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am wel pleased Math. 3.17 3. Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary BVt when the fulnesse of time was come God sent foorth his Sonne made of a woman made vnder the Law or subiect to the law that he might redéeme them which were vnder the Law that wee might receiue the adoption of the sonnes Galat. 4.4.5 And the Word was made flesh Christ was formed and made man by the operation of the holy Ghost without the working of man and dwelt among vs and we saw the glory thereof as the glorie of the onely begotten sonne of the Father full of grace and truth Ioh. 1.14 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thée This was spoken to Mary and the power of the most high shal ouershadow thée it shall be a secret operation of the holy Ghost therefore also that holy thing which shall be borne of thée shall be called the Sonne of God Hee must be without sinne which must take away sinne Luke 1.35 Behold a Virgin shal be with child and shal beare a Sonne and they shall call his name Emanuel which is by interpretation God with vs. Matth. 1.23 Esaie 7.14 When Marie was betrothed to Ioseph before they came togeather before he tooke her home to him she was found with Child by the holy Ghost Math. 1.18 4. Suffred vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead buried and descended into Hell FOr Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his body on the trée that we being deliuered from sinne should liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed 1. Pet. 2.21.24 They scourged Iesus they stripped him they put vpon him a Scarlet robe to deride and mocke him because he called himselfe a King they gaue him Vineger to drinke mingled with Gall to open his veines so to hasten his death this was giuen him hanging vpon the crosse they crucified him betwéen two théeues they cast lots for the parting of his garments they set a scornefull writing ouer his head they reuiled him ceassed not till he gaue vp the Ghost Matth. 27.26 28 29 30 34 35 37 50. So Ioseph tooke the body and wrapped it in a cleane Linnen cloth and put it in his new Tombe Christs burying doth so much the more verifie his death and resurrection which he had heawen in a rocke and rolled a great stone to the doore of the sepulchre and departed Matth. 27.59 60. I know that ye seeke Iesus which was crucified he is not heere for he is risen as he sayd Come see the place where the Lord was layd c. Matth. 28.5.6 God made him to be sinn for vs which knew no sinne a sacrifice for sinne that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him By inputation when wee shall bee clad with Christes righteousnesse 2. Cor. 5.21 Hee destroyed through death him that had the power of death that is the Diuell and that he might deliuer all them which for feare of death and Gods anger were all their life time subiect to bondage Heb. 2.14.15 Christ hath abolished death brought life and immortalitie to light through the Gospell 2. Tim. 1.10 Death is swallowed vp in victory O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.55 5. And the third day he rose againe from the dead IEsus Christ was deliuered to death for our sinnes and is risen againe for our iustification to accomplish and make perfect our iustification Rom. 4.25 Goe quickly and tell his Disciples that he is risen from the dead and behold he goeth before you into Galilie there ye shall see him loe I haue told you The Angell assureth the women that come to see Christes Sepulchre of his resurrection Math. 28.7 Mark 16.6.7 Luke 24.6 Joh 1 20.1 Act 1.21.22 But now Christ is risen from the dead was made the first fruites of them that sleept by his resurrection being the first we are all assured of our resurrection 1 Cor. 15.20 Destroy this Temple and in three dayes I will rise it vp againe This he meant of his body which should die and did rise againe the third day after his death Iohn 2.19.21 First of all I deliuered vnto you that which I receiued or learned by Gods worde how that Christ died for our sinnes according to the scriptures and that he was buried rose againe the third day and was seene of Cephas then of the twelue though Iudas wanted yet they were so called still after that of more then fiue hundred brethren at once c. 1. Cor. 15.3.4.5.6 6. He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie ANd it came to passe that as he blessed them he departed from them and was caried vp into heauen Luke 24.51 So after the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into Heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mark 16.19 And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he was taken vp whereby they knew certainely whither he went for a cloude tooke him vp out of their sight Act. 1.9 It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request for vs. Rom. 8.34 7. From thence he shall come againe to iudge the quike and the dead THis Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as ye haue séene him go into heauen euen the true Redeemer to gather vs vnto him Acts. 1.11 And when the Sonne of man commeth in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall hee fit vpon the throne of his glorie Math. 25.31 And then shall they see the Sonne of man comming in the cloudes with great power and glorie Mark 13.26 And when these thinges begin
increase the same making thy glory the marke wherat to direct all my doings and thy word the rule to kéepe me within the compasse of thy will O Christ heare me O heare me sweet Sauiour which art the Well of life whereof whosoeuer tasteth hee shall neuer see Death Heare me O gracious Redéemer and let me féele inwardly the fruits of my faithfull prayer Amen A Prayer for Loue and Vnitie with all men To liue in loue all men among Giue grace O Christ to old and young LOrd Iesus thou Patterne of true and vnfeined loue yea of loue leading to life euerlasting without whom there can bee no loue or concord amōg men I beseech thee to heare the prayer of me thy poore seruant and that which I aske in spirit vouchsafe to giue me of thy free mercy And because loue is the fulfilling of the Law and the seale of saluation to the consciences of all Christians Furthermore for so much as thou hast commaunded vs to doe good to all men which cannot be vnlesse loue be the lampe to giue vs light I beséech thée to fill my heart with that loue yea to poure that loue abundantly into the hearts of all both old and yong that we may first and principally loue Almightie God the Father thée O Christ the Sonne and the holy Ghost with such a loue as is loath to turne the fauor of God into displeasure his gentlenesse into rigour his mercy into iudgement and his forbearance into vengeance Secondly to loue my Soueraigne Prince whom I am bound in conscience to obey to loue my superiors to loue mine equals to loue mine inferiors to loue mine enemies Finally to loue all and hate none that by this meanes I may dwel in God the Fountaine of loue who of méere loue for the saluation of the soule of man sent thee O my Sauiour into the world to suffer death vp on the crosse euen in the face of his enimies and persecutors Grant this O Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all praise and glory for euermore Amen A Prayer for the hearing and true vnderstanding of the word of God To heare thy word and liue therein Vs to renew O Lord begin LIghten my heart O Lord GOD with the lampe of thy holy and blessed word which is the weapon of euery true Christian souldier and the sword of the spirit to cut off all the temptations of the Diuell the world and the flesh if it be vsed according to thy wil O Lord which art the giuer and author of the same And for so much O Lord as thy worde is the rule whereby wée are bound to direct all our doings and the square whereat to frame the whole course of our life I beséech thée to circumcise my heart that all carnall cogitations and thoughtes expelled and driuen out I may betake my selfe wholy vnto the reading hearing studying folowing of thy word which is the food of our soules the comfortable bread which killeth hunger and the pleasant drinke which quencheth thirst not the hunger thirst of the body against the which it hath pleased thée to prouide most healthfull remedies but the hunger and thirst of the soule which are no way else asswaged but by the vertue and heauenly working of thy word This word O Lord vouchsafe to make florish and fruitifie in vs that thereby wee may bée wonne to the worshipping of thée in true feare vnfained faith and perfect holinesse of life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen A Praier to God for forgiuenesse of manifold and grieuous sinnes My heart vncleane Lord circumcise And make my soule thy sacrifice IN sinne O Lord was my conception in sinne my education in sinne the whole course of my life Nothing is cleane and vnspotted in mée nothing is sound nothing perfect nothing holy nothing sanctified I am full of sinne and iniquitie my thoughts desires are attainted with sinne my labours and handy works are defiled with wickednes my words and communications are tempered with the leauen of iniquity my hart is corrupt putrified there is nothing sound in me but all mine entrails are infected and poysoned with sin the high way to euerlasting shame death and condemnation O miserable wretch that I am to whom shall I run for succour To whom shall I make my sorrowes knowne Before whom shall I powre my plaintes Art not thou the Samaritane which with the oyle of mercie souplest my festered woundes Art not thou the good Sephearde which bringest home the straying Shéepe to the shéepefold Art not thou the good Captaine which fightest in defence of thy Souldiers O yes Lord thou art euen he and doubtlesse had not the oyle of thy mercy healed my filthy Botches had not thy hand fetcht me home to the flocke had not thy loue and grace ouer shadowed me in danger I had rotted in my filthinesse I had perished in my wandering and I had béen vtterly ouerthrowne in combate O Lord my God circumcise my heart and clense it from all euill thoughts deuises imaginations consentes to sinne Sanctifie my soule renew my spirit and garnish mée with the garment of regeneration that I may become a swéete smelling sacrifice before thée a sacrifice of acceptable incense a sacrifice of holines righteousnes so shall I prayse thée in the assemblie of the iust extoll thy glorious name among thy people Amen A Prayer for to be setled in the Truth Thy Truth send downe Lord from aboue And giue me grace the same to loue ACcording to thy louing kindnesse O Christ heare the praiers of thy seruant that request which Hope inboldeneth mee to make vouchsafe in mercy to grant And because the Deuill is the father of all falshood and lying and thou the fountaine of all truth and righteousnes as thou saiest of thy selfe I am the Way the Truth and the Life therefore I beseech thee O gracious God Sauiour to plant in me the Trueth without the which all entrance into heauenly ioy is stopt vp to banish out of my heart which by nature is a nest of wickednesse all maner of sinne resisting the Truth And for so much as Truth is a pearle of price and a Iewell of great value to the godly the ornament of the faythful and the treasure of the true Christian therefore I beséech thée O Christ giue me grace to thirst after truth to hunger after the taste of that heauenly foode that my desiring soule may be succoured my longing heart refreshed euen with the fulnes of the same And wheras by nature we are bōdslaues of sinne and by that meanes vtter enemies of truth we beseech thee notwithstanding to make vs partakers of mercy and not of iudgement remembring that thy death and bloodshed paid the price of redemption for all mankinde Thou God of truth heare my prayer and let the suite of me thy poore Seruant come before thy presence and that which I haue asked with