from the Eagle to the flie from the Cedar of Libanus to the Hyssope that groweth vpon the wall from the starres of heauen to the dust of the earth and from the Angels of God to the wormes that creepe vpon the ground Who is there that considereth of them aright or is so affected with them as he ought Lord let me alwaies delight to be searching into them and in them as in a glasse see cleerely thy wisdome and mightie power and learne to know thee the Creator of all things both in heauen and in earth and in all places and knowing thee to worship and serue thee in spirit and truth lest I be like vnto the heathen who when by the frame and workmanship of the world and the creatures therein wherein thy maruellous wisdom is ingrauen they knew thee to be God and yet glorified thee not as God became vile and abominable and altogether inxecusable forsaking thee their Creator who art blessed for euer Amen Worke of Redemption OF al the workes of God that of the Redemption of man-kind is most wonderfull and glorious whether we consider the person of the Redeemer the persons redeemed or the meanes and manner in and by which it was effected and brought to passe It passeth all knowledge all vnderstanding The Angels â—et 1.12 those heauenly creatures doe admire at it and desire continually to haue a more cleare and perfect insight into it as being so great and vnsearchable a mysterie that no creature is able fully to comprehend the breadth the length and depth and height of it Oh the maruellous blindnes of men for whom it was wrought that they can see and discerne so little of it their great forgetfulnes that they so seldome remember it their extreame sottishnes that they scarce euer admire it in that holy maner that they ought yea rather little regard it and esteeme very lightlie of it O merciful God farre be it from me to sinne so great a sinne against thy maiestie by prising so inestimable a benefit so much vnder the worth and value of it and by being so meanely affected with it as the most are yea let me and al thy redeemed ones alwaies cleerely behold and faithfully remember this great and gratious worke of thine towards vs let vs highly esteeme of it reioyce continually and glorie in it and vncessantlie praise and magnifie thee for it for euer What can be rendred vnto thee O Lord for so great loue for those exceeding riches of thy grace towards vs in Christ Iesus what can be rendred vnto thee worthie of that infinit goodnesse of thine sufficient for so vnspeakable mercie and bounty All that we can returne vnto thee for it is honour glorie and thanksgiuing O let vs neuer be found wanting in this seeing we owe vnto thee much more although there is nothing that thou more desirest of vs and yet euen this is thy gift also yea thy especiall grace O doe thou make me truly and vnfainedly thankefull Mercies of God WE can neuer be sufficiently thankfull vnto the Lord for the least of those blessings which he daily and most freely vouchsafeth vnto vs health peace libertie maintenance and continuall protection preseruation c. and yet who is there almost that is heartily and vnfainedly thankefull for those great and wonderfull mercies of his which coÌ„cerne our eternall happinesse saluation in the heauens euen that glorious estate which of his free grace and bountie he hath promised vnto vs and will in due time giue vs full possession of for euer O the exceeding dulnesse of the hearts of men that are no more mooued with the consideration of these things yea that esteeme more of those ordinary kindnesses which are shewed vnto them by men then of all those infinit and vnspeakable blessings and benefites which are vouchsafed vnto them by so gratious a God so kinde and louing a Father O Lord let me neuer be vnmindfull of the least of thy mercies and fauours which thou hast shewed vnto me from the beginning of my life vnto this present giue me a thankful heart for them especially lift vp my heart and soule vnto a due and serious meditation of those great and inestimable mercies of thine wherein thou hast in a speciall maner shewed thy selfe so exceeding good and gratious vnto me in electing me vnto life and saluation in freeing and deliuering me from that wretched estate and that wofull miserie whereinto I was so deeply plunged by the sin of my first parents in redeeming me therefrom by so deare a price euen the death of thine own Sonne my blessed Sauiour in adopting me into the number of thy children by faith in him and in prouiding that glorious mansion for me in the heauens there to liue and raigne with thee for euer O giue me a liuely sense and feeling of thy goodnesse thy loue and vnspeakable mercies so gratiously vouchsafed vnto me so vile and vnworthie a creature Inflame my heart with an vnfained and most entire loue of thy maiestie and let my mouth alwaies praise thee yea let me in heart in soule and with all the powers of the same praise thee continually and yeeld that glorie which is due vnto thee both now and euermore Amen The folly of the wicked to be wondered at I Maruell much when I reade how the Israelits being in the way to Canaan a type of heauen for the goodnesse and pleasantnesse of it desired so oft and so earnestly to returne againe into Egypt a figure of hell it selfe where they had been so hardly intreated yea so cruelly and vnmercifully handled But much more do I maruell can neuer sufficientlie wonder at those who when the Lord offers to bring them out of the house of that spirituall bondage and not onely to free them from the power of darknesse and the tyrannie of sinne and Sathan but also by the light of his word spirit to leade and conduct them safely into that heauenly Canaan which floweth with the milk honie of his rich and plentifull graces euen the inheritance of his chosen the place where his honour dwelleth desire rather notwithstanding still to be vnder the hands of their cruel taske-masters in the kilnes among the bricks and in the yron fornace and to indure the most seruile and the most wofull and wretched thraldome and slauery that euer was or can be possibly that so they may fill themselues with the Onions and Garlike of Egypt Lord let the couÌ„sell of the wicked be farre from me suffer not thy seruant to delight in the waies of such a foolish generatioÌ„ who know not thee nor regard that which should be their happines But let me euer praise thee with ioyfulnesse that thou hast deliuered my soule out of the hands of my cruell and deadly enemies and brought me from the house of bondage the kingdome of darknesse and death it selfe into the wayes which leade vnto thy heauenly and glorious kingdome And although I
glorious He hath set vp the scepter of his kingdome in his heart so that all his enemies shall fall downe before him euen Sathan the chiefest of his aduersaries who fighteth continually against him and seeketh by all meanes to bring him into bondage and thraldome vnder him What should I say more Beeing vnited vnto Christ his redeemer and made bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh he is also ioyned and nearly allied vnto God the Father and so being ioynt-heire with the Sonne hath that crowne of immortal glory belonging vnto him and shal at length euen when this short life is ended liue and raigne in that celestiall kingdome with God himselfe and with all his holy Saints and elect Angels for euermore And in the meane-while euen whiles he liueth here crawling as it were vpon the earth hauing the place of his abode heere below where he is as one of no reputation in the world which knoweth him not he hath his life his conuersation and his chief abode in heauen being alwaies looking vp vnto that place of his glory which is aboue where Christ Iesus his sauiour sitteth at the right hand of his father his eyes are euer lifted vp vnto heaueÌ„ and set vpon those things which are within the vaile where his hope yea his heart is so that euen whiles he liueth with his bodie on earth in minde and in soule he is transported in a maner into heauen it selfe and seeth those things in spirit which are vnutterable and which flesh and bloud or the senses of a natural man can neuer reach vnto neuer be able in any sorte to comprehend O Lord who can expresse the honor which thou hast giuen vnto thy Saints who is able to declare the speciall grace which thou in thy infinite goodnes and mercie hast vouchsafed to euery one whom it hath pleased thee to giue vnto thy Christ and in him to elect and chose vnto life and saluation according to the good pleasure of thy will before the world was Oh with what glorie and honour hast thou crowned them how highlie hast thou aduanced them being moued thereunto by nothing that was in them but only of thy free loue and mercie that therby thou mightest cause thy infinite grace and glorie to shine forth vnto the world to the praise of thy name throughout all generations O blessed God whose mercy and kindnes vnto mankind is so infinit and incoÌ„preheÌ„sible seeing it hath pleased thee in the exceeding greatnes of thy loue and riches of thy grace towards mee in Christ to chuse mee vnto life and glorie and to make mee euen me so vnworthie a creature one of that small number whom thou hast so highly honored in this world and wilt for euer glorifie euen with that exceeding measure of glorie in the world to come O let my heart and my mouth neuer cease praising and magnifying thy great and glorious name and howsoeuer I may seeme vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world which doth neither know thee nor thine but hath alwaies hardly intreated those whom thou hast chiefly honored esteeming them as the scumme and ofscouring of the earth the very abiects of men yea men vnworthie to liue in the world yet let me neuer passe any thing at all how the blinde world doth iudge or esteeme of me or how it is affected towards me but let me alwaies reioyce in thee and glorie in thy saluation and rest continually in a comfortable hope and ioyfull expectation of all that goodnes of thine which thou hast treasured vp in store for mee in thy kingdome and whereof thou hast giuen mee the first fruits already as a pledge and assurance of that which I shal haue the full fruition of hereafter for euer An humble heart most pleasant vnto God a proud most vile and abominable AN humble and a lowlie hart is a mansion wherein the Lord delighteth to dwell he filleth and replenisheth it with the riches of the graces of his spirit but as for the proud and high minded they are an abomination vnto him His soule doth loath them and his spirit will neuer rest nor remaine with them they are no fit mansion for him yea they are meete only to be an habitation for Satan that euill and vncleane spirit who being the father of the children of pride can take no pleasure where hee findeth true humilitie but seeketh for lodging in those especially who are of a proud and hautie spirit These are his darlings in these is his chief delight in them he hath a roome alwaies ready trimmed prepared for him euen in the closets of their hearts where he dwelleth and raigneth continually from whence he will neuer depart as long as hee findeth so fit a mansion for him The onely way to cast him out of the heart and soule of man is to emptie it altogether of pride and to haue it garnished with that excellent grace of humilitie and lowlinesse O Lord who art the fountaine of all grace giue vnto me I earnestly desire thee a contrite spirit a meeke and an humble heart Banish all pride and vanitie of minde far from me and make me lowly yea base and vile in mine owne eyes that so that wicked spirit being vtterly dispossessed and finding no abiding place within mee I may bee fit to entertaine that good spirit of thine thou maist delight to dwell and remaine with me and to fill my emptie soule with those pretious riches and treasures of thy heauenly graces which are the things which my heart desireth and longeth after Oh doe thou heare me and satisfie me as my trust is in thee who I know assuredly wilt neuer faile me nor withhold thy goodnesse from me whiles I seeke vnto thee with a heart vnfained Confidence in any creature a most vaine thing WHat a vaine thing is it to put any trust or confidence in man or in any creature what is this but to rest vpon a broken reed How greatly do such deceiue themselues how oft doe they faile in their desires and misse that which they hoped for O Lord God who art glorious and wonderfull in power and strength nothing is or can be hard vnto thee thou only art my hope all my trust confidence is in thee Whom haue I in heauen or in earth but thee vpon thee thee only I rest and depend continually O doe thou neuer forsake me Suspition THE best man is alwaies leâ—st suspitious But hee that is giuen euer to mistrust and to suspect the worst of others as it may be iustly feared that hee hath a very corrupt and vnsound heart himselfe so it may bee vndoubtedly affirmed that he is very offensiue and displeasing vnto God very vnquiet in himselfe and most vncharitable towards his neighbour whom notwithstanding he hurteth not so much thereby as himselfe O Lord increase the grace of true charitie daily more and more in me Let me alwaies be looking into mine owne hart considering the
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
hell then the godlie do to heauen to make more speed greater hast in the waies which leade vnto death and destruction then the righteous in the wayes which leade vnto life and saluation As we are to pitie their rashnesse and headinesse yea rather their bold and desperate presumption who whiles they walke in so slipperie a way rush forward or rather are carried headlong with the violence of Sathan and their own corrupt and vnsanctified nature not considering what is before them and whereunto they tend vntill they fall into that deepe gulfe out of which there is no recouerie so we ought to be prouoked by them and stirred vp by their example to walke in the wayes of godlinesse and to runne that race of Christianitie with more swiftnesse cheerefulnesse and alacritie then hitherto we haue done yea to blush and to be ashamed of our former backwardnesse and vntowardnesse in going forward so slowly and so heauilie in the pathes which will bring vs to life happinesse seing the vngodly doe make such haste and walke on so fast in those broad and pleasant yet most dangerous and deceitfull waies which leade directly to endles woe and miserie euen the place of the damned as though they were afraid they should not come thither soon enough O Lord if it be thy will open their eyes that whiles they haue time they may be wisehearted to turne out of that broade way seeing that the issues thereof are death and confusion and enlarge my heart that I may with more libertie and alacritie hereafer runne in all the waies of thy commaundements and in the end hauing finished my course with ioyfulnesse receaue that incorruptible crowne of life of glorie and happinesse which thou hast promised vnto all those which continue faithfull and constant in thy seruice vnto the end of their daies More care ought to be had of the soule then of the bodie MAnie are exceeding carefull that their bodies may be clothed in costly yea in verie curious maner who are altogether carelesse what cloathing or couering they haue for their soules nay though they be clothed with the filthie ragges of sinne and Sathan and quite stripped of all the graces of Gods spirit those pretious ornaments yet it neuer troubles their minds it neuer grieues them or goes to the heart of them but they are well content therewith and desire no better yea they are not once ashamed although their filthie nakednes lie open continuallie and appeare to the eyes of all that see and behold them but rather reioyce and glorie therein we wonder at this and not without cause but would we know the reason thereof Alas they are starke blinde they see not their owne nakednesse their basenes and extreame beggerie they see not how the glorious image of God which standeth in righteousnesse and true holinesse is vtterlie defaced in them and in steade thereof the image of Sathan stamped in them in such sort that they are become vile and abominable exceedingly disfigured and deformed in all the powers and faculties of their soules and most lothsome in the eyes of God his Saints O Lord giue me to see my nakednes my spirituall pouertie beggerlinesse let me daily seeke by all meanes to cast off the old rotten ragges of sinfull and corrupted nature and to be clothed thoroughout anew with the graces of thy sanctifying spirit with righteousnesse holines euen according vnto thine owne image wherein thou didst at the first create man that so thou maist take pleasure and delight in me and hauing vouchsafed vnto me thy grace here maist receiue me vnto glory hereafter The vnfruitfll hearing of the word of God verie dangerous IF good seede be oft cast into the ground it brings forth no fruite but briars thornes and thistles it is a signe that it is either a naughtie or a barren soile and therfore in vaine to spend time cost and labour in tilling and manuring it If the word of God that immortall seed be often sowen by the sincere preaching of the word by the Lords owne husbandmen whom he imployeth in that worke if it doth not bring forth much fruite in those that are the ordinarie hearers thereof but either no fruite or else that cursed fruite of a corrupt life and vngodly actions it is a certaine signe that they haue bad harts and such as are barren of all grace and they may iustlie feare that the Lord will cause his ministers to labour no more amōg thē but take both them and his word from them and bring such a heauie iudgement and fearefull curse vpon them as shall cause them to mourne for their former vnfruitfulnes and vnprofitablenes vnder so many and so great meanes as in former times haue bin so gratiously offered vnto them O Lord suffer me neuer to receiue thy holy word in vaine but let it take deepe roote in my heart and bring forth much fruite in my life and cōuersation euen the plentifull increase of grace godlines to the glory of thy name the good example of others mine owne comfort and eternall saluation in Christ Iesus Different degrees of grace in the godly THe Lord hath not measured out the same portion of gifts and graces of his spirit vnto all alike but hath giuē this grace vnto one that vnto another and the same grace in this maner vnto one in that vnto the other to some more to some lesse yea to diuers different portiōs both for the graces themselues as also the number the kinde the qualities measure and degrees thereof and yet all are his gifts and graces proceeding from one and the same spirit which worketh in all euerie one as it pleaseth it Lord giue me to see and discerne aright what grace thou hast vouchsaued vnto me and the measure of it and as to be truely thankfull vnto thee for the same and to glorie in thee who art the author and giuer of it as of euerie other good and perfect gift so likewise to be carefull to imploy it vnto the setting forth of thy glory in the performāce of those duties which thou requirest of me that so when thou shalt call me to a reckoning for the vse of that talent which thou hast committed vnto me hauing bin faithfull in the improuement of the same I may willingly appeare before thee to giue in my accounts and be plentifully rewarded of thee by entring into that ioy and glorie which thou hast promised and prepared for all thy faithfull seruants Another of the same THou O Lord art verie liberall in disposing of the heauenlie graces of thy spirit vnto thy children whom thou louest and in whom thou delightest To some thou giuest more to some lesse to all some there is none of thine that hath not tasted of thy goodnesse herein yea that hath not receiued the measure of grace for which he can neuer be sufficiently thankfull vnto thee O heauēly father increase thy grace in me grant that I
our best friends and louingst companions who expect looke continuallie for our comming into that heauenly citie that celestiall mansion the place where they we are to rest remain with our Sauiour in the presence of that glorious God for euer to be partakers of that felicity blessednes which is vnspeakable and glorious Why then doe we not weane our selues from the world why do we settle our selues here where our rest is not yea why are we so loth to leaue this drie and barren wildernesse where we liue among strangers that know vs not yea amongst many wild and sauage creatures who seeke to do vs all the mischiefe they can O Lord raise vp my thoughts and the affections of my heart vnto those things which are aboue vnto those things which concerne my future estate in thy kingdom let it be continually the earnest desire of my heart to be with thee my God in the heauens there to behold thy face in glory for euer and to haue the full fruition of that sweet and comfortable fellowship and communion of my Sauiour and of all the Saints Angels wherein consists true happinesse and blessednesse Death alwaies to be remembred MAny liue as if they shold neuer die they remember not the euill daies that shall come vpon them and the yeares which shall approch wherein they shall say We haue no pleasure in them They consider not how their eyes shall waxe dimme their eares deafe their tongues speechles yea how their spirits all their senses shall faile them and all those worldlie helpes wherein now they rest and comfort themselues vtterly forsake them O Lord teach thou me to number my daies that I may applie my heart vnto wisdome Let me alwaies be mindfull of my end consider seriously of my frailetie mortalitie that so when death cōmeth which continually waiteth vpon me it may not find me vnprepared but that in the last houre the verie remembrance whereof is bitter vnto many I may find sound comfort and be translated out of this vale of teares this place of mourning where I am compassed about with sinne and miserie into the kingdome of thy deare Sonne and my blessed Sauiour and so be made partaker of that glorious and immortall inheritance which thou reseruest for vs euen for all thy Saints in the highest heauens the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where we shall liue and raigne with thee eternallie What maner of life it becommeth Christians to leade THe heathen could say that if men as it is meet they should would haue this alwaies in their minds that they were made of God himselfe in regard of the better part which is the soule and spirit that God was their father he doubted not but they would leade a life beseeming their estate and condition that they would do nothing whereby they might shew themselues to be base degenerate such as in whom there were no resemblance of that diuine and heauenly nature Me thinks many that are Christians at least in name and profession should blush when they reade when they heare this They call God father and thinke themselues much wronged if any should tell them that they were not his children and that not onelie by creation as the heathen are but also in a more speciall maner by grace and adoption through Christ and yet behold many of them are not ashamed of that vilenesse and basenesse in their behauiour their actions liues and practises which the pagans and heathen themselues were ashamed of and haue condemned as by their liues so also by their writings thereby setting a brand of iust reproch and eternall infamie vpon the foreheads of such fained counterfet Christians who are the staine of true religion and christianity such as though they think that of right they may claime this title to themselues to be the chosen people of God those to whom he hath giuen the name priuiledge of his owne sonnes yet in verie deed are the children of the diuell seuen-fold more then the heathen themselues who knew not God in Christ O mercifull Lord grāt I humblie beseech thee that as I call thee father and beleeue and acknowledge my selfe to be thine owne adopted sonne through thy Christ in whom thou hast freely loued and elected me from eternitie so also I may haue grace from thee for thy gift onelie it is not to fashion my selfe like vnto the wicked and vngodly the men of this world that I may not be like vnto them in those vaine courses wherein they walke and delight themselues but that I may alwaies do those things which are beseeming my calling and profession as acknowledging thee to be my father and glorying in this that I am thy sonne so liuing and ordering my selfe as it becommeth thy sonne euen shining forth in all holinesse of life and godly conuersation to the glory of thy name the peace and comfort of mine owne conscience and to the good example of others whom thou hast aduanced vnto the same profession which is so glorious Gods patience in bearing with sinners IT is a wonder that the Sunne which is a witnesse of so many and so enormous sinnes and wickednesses as are committed vpon the earth standeth so long in the heauens and giueth light vnto the world that the heauens are not dissolued and that the elements melt not that the waters ouerflow not and ouerwhelme vs yea that Christ that iust and righteous Iudge of the whole world commeth not in flaming fire to burne vp this earth with all the workes therein which are polluted defiled with our sins It is thy mercie O Lord that we are not consumed O be thou patient towards vs who cease not to prouoke thee daily Let thy good spirit still striue with vs yea draw vs vnto thee with the consideration of thy lenitie and the riches of thy bountifulnesse that so thy long sufferance may be vnto vs saluation euen an effectuall meanes to winne vs vnto the loue and obedience of thy maiestie and so in the end to bring vs to eternall life and happinesse in the heauens The soule how it is to be fitted and prepared for the entertainment of so glorious a guest as the holy Ghost is IF thou wert to entertaine some honourable personage how carefull wouldst thou be to make such preparation and prouision for him that he might be receiued in that maner that were fit for his place and estate how much more carefull sollicitous then oughtest thou to be to prepare the secret lodgings of thy heart and soule to see that nothing be out of order in thy whole man that no vncleannesse nor any thing which is any way polluted remaine within thee who art to receiue and to entertaine so honourable a guest euen the holy spirit of the most high God and to become a temple for so great and so glorious a presence to dwell in for euer O heauenly Father purifie my
eye of his soule that vnspeakable glorie and those endlesse riches and treasures of euerlasting felicitie and blessednes which to the eye of the bodie are inuisible and cannot be seene of any but of those onely which are spirituall O blessed Lord what is there on this earth wherein my soule can finde any pleasure or vnto which I should giue the affections of my heart On euery side I see nothing but miserie and vanitie continuall occasion of griefe and mourning My treasure my ioy and happinesse is in heauē euen in the place where thou dwellest in glorie and maiestie and where thou hast prepared such things for me as the heart of man is not able to conceiue or comprehend O therefore let mine eye neuer be fixed vpon any earthly obiect but let me alwaies be looking vp vnto thee and to that heauenly mansion where such glorious things are reserued for me Especiall fauours of God towards vs often and more especially to bee remembred of vs. IT is a good thing to be often meditating vpon the goodnesse and louing kindnesse of the Lord towards vs in those speciall fauours and blessings whereby hee hath chiefly and most euidently manifested his loue vnto vs and his fatherly care ouer vs yea the least of his mercies ought daily to be remembred of vs that so in all things wee might stirre vp our selues vnto true thankfulnes which is a thing wherewith he is greatly delighted and for which hee extendeth his louing fauour in a more plentifull encrease of his blessings and benefits O mercifull Lord how great is thy goodnesse towards me how exceeding gratious hast thou been alwaies vnto me The mercies which thou hast freely vouchsafed vnto mee are infinite and innumerable I am not able to recount thē O let me euer be thinking of them and lifting vp my heart continuallie with vnfained praise and thankes vnto thy Maiestie for them that so it may please thee to cause the light of thy grace and fauour to shine still vpon me euen vnto the end of my daies How the conscience is disquieted and wounded HE is a happie man that doth alwaies carefullie auoide euery thing whatsoeuer it be that may be either a staine or a burthen vnto his conscience he shall surely enioy the benefit of a quiet and of a peaceable minde with much freedome and libertie of spirit whereas on the other side he that hath little or no care of this dutie that regardeth not how hee defileth his conscience or what loade hee laieth vpon it by doing those things which are either altogether vnlawfull in themselues or else vnlawfull vnto him because either hee hath no warrant for the doing of them or else faileth in the maner of the doing of them hee thereby brings a greater miserie vpon himselfe then for the present hee can thinke of and for which hereafter hee shall meete with much vntimely griefe and sorrow and taste of much bitternes in his soule and spirit O Lord let me bee carefull alwaies to vse all meanes whereby I may keepe a cleere and a pure cōscience doing that good with all diligence which thou hast commanded and abstaining with all my strength from that euil which thou hast forbidden and from whatsoeuer I cannot haue resolution out of thy word for the lawfulnes of it that so I may haue comfort both in life and in death The dulnes and sottishnes of worldlings O The dulnes of the hearts of men who minde only those things which are present neuer regarding those which are to come How sottish is the nature of man that delighteth only to lie groueling on this earth and to satisfie his carnall his sensuall appetite in the enioying of these things which are but vaine and corruptible yea that neglecteth euen heauen and happinesse it selfe so that hee may haue his fill of them O Lord let me alwaies be far otherwise affected then the men of this world are who sauour onely of those things which are carnall and earthly vaine hope of a long life vpon earth as many doe When it is morning let me think that I shall not liue vnto the euening and when the euening is come let me not promise vnto my selfe assurance of life vntill the next morning sith there is no power thereof in my hands But let me liue so continually as if death were to seize vpon me presently yea let me so liue alwaies as if I were to die the same instant euen whē death might seeme to bee furthest off from mee that thus hauing death alwaies present before mine eyes I may learne daily to die vnto the world esteeming the things thereof as nothing though neuer so highly prized of the men of this world and to aspire daily more and more vnto that spirituall and heauenly life in thy Christ that so when bodilie death shall close vp these eyes of mine I may not rest in darknesse and be as those that are cut off from their hope and lost their comfort but depart in peace into that light of glorie where I shal enioy thy blessed presence and behold thee face to face for euermore to my vnspeakable happinesse and felicitie As is the life of a man so is his death and finall estate AS is the life of man so is his death and as it is with him in death so shall it bee in the last and dreadfull iudgement Hee that hath a care to liue well it cannot be but that he should die well and he that dies well shall assuredly finde the iudgement day to bee a maruellous refreshing vnto him On the other side he that liues ill how can he haue any hope that he shall die well and if hee be miserable in his death how much more in the day of iudgement Oh what a terror shal that day be vnto him who is able to conceiue what a sea of miserie and horrour shall then suddenlie ouerwhelme him in most fearfull manner O my God thou who art my strength my hope and my saluation giue mee both an earnest desire and a carefull endeuour to direct all my waies and to order the whole course of my life according vnto the rule prescript of thy holy word let it bee my care to haue a good conscience in all things and to liue so that my life being approoued of thee my death may bee blessed and my appearance before thee in the day of thy comming with ioy and comfort when as the wicked shall not bee able to stand in thy presence but call to the mountaines and to the rocks to fall vpon them and to hide them from the fiercenes of thy wrath which shall be as a consuming fire to deuoure all the vngodly of the earth Iudgement day how terrible it will be to the wicked THe angrie countenance of a seuere Iudge how dreadfull is it vnto the malefactor that stands endited at the barre before him what a terror doth it strike into him how doth it astonish and amaze him
stand together the one of theÌ„ doth exclude the other the more the one of theÌ„ doth increase the more the other must needs decrease and bee diminished Is there any therefore that with a greedie and ambitious minde doth hunt after the praise of men and the glorie of this world sure it cannot be but that he should exceed in charitie who shall thinke him to bee truly religious or well affected towards God or vnfainedly desirous of his glorie O Lord let not my heart bee set vpon the glorie which is froÌ„ earth and from men but vpon that which is from heauen euen that which commeth from thee alone Let the glorie of this world though neuer so glittering in the eyes of men seeme vnto me as indeed it is in it selfe but vaine vanitie yea more vaine then vanitie it selfe but let the glorie of thy name bee deare and pretious vnto me aboue al those things which are most desired of theÌ„ that know thee not yea O Lord let it please thee to inflame this chill and this cold heart of mine with a greater loue and zeale thereof dailie more and more and to increase in me an earnest desire and endeuour to seeke and to set it foorth to the vttermost of my power and by al means and vpon all occasions which thou shalt offer vnto me In this onely let me alwaies be very ambitious A singular priuiledge belonging vnto all the children of God THe Lord doth cause all things to work together for the best vnto his children It is good for euery one of the godly to labor to see and to finde this by experience in himselfe and in his owne estate The diligent obseruation hereof cannot but make him both patient cheerefull and vnfainedly thankfull in all miseries and afflictions either outward or inward whether it be sicknesse of bodie or distresse of minde or whatsoeuer else may befall him throughout the whole course of his life euen to his last houre O gracious father whose exceeding loue and vnspeakable goodnes all thy children doe daily tast of in so great and abundant measure giue me I humbly pray thee not onely to see and acknowledge the same with al thankfulnes but also to haue a liuely sense and feeling thereof at all times in all things Let me assuredly perswade my selfe that thou doest loue me and hast loued me eternally in thy sonne and in thy loue towards me doest and wilt cause euery thing which betideth me in this world to tend vnto my greatâ—st good and let the assuraÌ„ce together with the continuall experieÌ„ce hereof cause me to rest quietly contentedly and thankfully in all estates howsoeuer it shall please thee to deale with me Iustification by faith onely IS it not strange that any should be so blind so extreamly deluded with a vaine and fond conceite of their owne goodnes and inherent holines as to thinke or once to imagine that they may stand iust before God thorough their owne righteousnes that they should perswade themselues that by the merit and worthinesse of their owne workes they haue right and interest vnto life and saluation yea that they should challenge and make claime thereunto as vnto that which is due vnto them as a iust recompence and reward which they haue well deserued and which God himselfe cannot without iniustice detaine and withhold from them nay that they should goe so farre as to affirme boldly that they may doe workes of supererogation more then God hath commanded or could require at their hands such as wherby they may merit great things not onely for themselues but for others also Had they euer the spirit of Christ or did they euer receiue the annointing of that holy one who teach maintaine or beleeue this doctrine so directly crosse and contrarie vnto the Scriptures so exceeding derogatorie from the free grace and mercie of God and from the merit of the death and passion of Christ Iesus our onely sauiour and redeemer by and for whose satisfaction obedience and righteousnesse alone we receiue the promise of the Gospell through faith without any deserts of our owne Alas what is man or what are the workes of the best men that they should present them vnto God and plead with him for the obtaining of so great a reward for the righteousnes and worthinesse of their owne deedes Nay certaine it is that if God should make inquiry into the best actions of the most holy and sanctified men that liue vpon the earth or that euer were most pure most perfect and most spotlesse and blamelesse in this world as great is the commendation wherewith God hath honoured many of his Saints if he should marke and obserue them and enter into iudgement with them for the same there is none no not one of them as the best and holiest of them haue freelie acknowledged that should bee iustified yea that should not be condemned and perish euerlastingly being neuer able to endure his presence so pure and so holy is his Maiestie so iust and so righteous are his iudgements that no flesh can abide the triall thereof O Lord most glorious and most righteous God when I looke vp vnto the throne of thy iustice and set my self before thy tribunall and iudgement seate I feare tremble am ready to flie froÌ„ thy presence as not able to stand before thee nor to answere for one of a thousand of those things whereby I haue most grieuously offended thy most glorious Maiesty and for which thou mightest iustly condemne mee for euer if thou shouldest once call me vnto a straite account of the same yea euen of the least of them and deale with me therein not according to thy great mercie but according vnto mine owne deseruings When I looke back vnto my life past take a view of the whole course therof how sinfull how vnfruitfull vnprofitable it hath been I am confounded in my selfe and dare not lift vp mine eyes to heauen for the multitude of my offences and transgressions whereby I haue continually displeased prouoked thee When I consider my present estate how many weaknesses and infirmities I am subiect vnto how sinne cleaueth fast vnto me and inuironeth and compasseth me round about on euery side yea how defectiue my best endeuours how corrupt and sinfull my best actions and seruices are and haue been yea how much my whole life hath swarued from that perfect and exact rule of iustice which thy law requireth I am astonied and strickeÌ„ with a great feare knowing that the time will shortlie come when I must appeare before the tribunall of thy iustice to answere for all my actions euen for all those things which I haue done in the flesh the workes of my hands the words of my mouth and the most secret thoughts and imaginations of my hart and to receiue accordingly What therefore is my hope vnto whom shall I flie wherein is my trust Surely my hope my trust and my confidence is not in any merits
and raigning with thee and with all that heauenly and victorious host of thine in glorious and triumphant manner for euermore Amen The difficultie of conquering a mans selfe and his owne affections A Man must striue along while and that with great earnestnes and continuall exercise and endeauour before he can ouercome himselfe and hauing mastered his owne will and waiward affections giue vp himselfe wholly vnto the obedience of God in all things with humble submission both of body and soule So great resistance and opposition shal he finde within himselfe by reason of his corrupt nature euen that treacherous enemie which lieth lurking continually in his owne bosome haling and drawing him from that which is good and hindring him in euery godly purpose and in euery holy action and religious enterprise in such sorte that except he euen offer violence as it were vnto himselfe and to his sinfull nature and labor with a strong hand to subdue corruption within him he cannot preuaile O Lord my strength without thee I can doe nothing vnto thee therefore do I stretch forth my hands Thou knowest how weake and how fraile I am how vnable of my selfe to resist that secret enemie which continually opposeth himselfe against me in euery thing which is good thou seest how hard a matter it is for me to bring euery thought of my heart euery motion desire and inclination of my will and euery action of my life vnto that subiection and obedience which thou requirest how difficult to frame my selfe wholly vnto thy will and to submit my selfe vnto thee in all things according vnto that rule and commandement which thou hast giuen vnto me O therfore let it please thee to strengthen me with thy grace which alone is sufficient for me let it please thee to helpe me in all my weaknesses and to giue vnto me a greater measure of Christian fortitude and of spirituall courage and resolution withall to giue good successe vnto all my actions enterprises and endeauours in the way of godlines and saluation yea O Lord let it please thee to leade me forth in the constant and continuall practise and exercise of pietie and true religion and in the resistance of all enmitie whatsoeuer that so when the time of this spirituall warfare is ended I may receiue that incorruptible crowne of life and glorie which thou hast promised vnto them that ouercome The worlds esteeme of Gods children IF one comes into the presence of a kings sonne or some great or noble personage hee no sooner seeth him but he is moued with reuerence and sheweth that according to the worthines of his person he doth regard and honour him But as for the sonnes of God who haue God to their father Christ their elder brother all the Saints and Angels their companions and fellow-bretheren and the kingdome of heauen it selfe their inheritance for euer where they are to liue and raigne as kings in that glory which is vnspeakeable how little are they regarded in the world how meanly accounted of What small honour is shewed vnto them whom the king of heauen doth and will honour so greatly Nay are they not of all men the most base and contemptible in the eyes of men The nearer they are vnto God the more they are loued and honoured of him are they not the more hated despised of the world Euen holy Dauid a man after Gods owne heart is but a worme and not a man in the account of men Iehoshua and his followers monstrous persons Paul and the rest of the Apostles as the filth and of scouring of all things men vnworthie to liue vpon the earth In briefe all the saints who are deare and precious in the eyes of God euen made signes and wonders amongst men Cease to wonder at this It is no newe no strange thing The world knoweth and hath alwaies knowen his owne and maketh much of them but those that are Gods it neither knowes nor regardeth And no marueile since it knoweth not God himselfe but hateth and despiseth him euen whiles in a false and counterfaite maner it professeth loue vnto him Behold we euen all the faithfull are now the sonnes of God such loue such honor hath our heauenly Father vouchsafed vnto vs but yet our glory and dignity doth not appeare but when Christ our hope our life and glorie shal be reuealed and made manifest then shall we be changed into the glory of his image we shal be like vnto him and then shall the blinde and contemptuous world both see and know him and vs to their owne shame and confusion Lord let me neuer regard the railings of the wicked Shemeis of this world nor the mockes and scoffes of those prophane Ishmaelites who could neuer abide thy chosen people the sonnes of the promise for whom thou hast prouided the inheritāce yea let me passe very little to be iudged of mans iudgement euen of those who are carried whither their owne blinde and corrupt reason or fancie leadeth them But let me alwaies know and consider that thou seest not as man seest that thy thoughts are not as their thoughts but that I am deare and precious in thy sight and shal be glorious hereafter for euer euen with the same glorie wherewith thy Christ my sauiour is glorious Let mine eyes alwaies be fixed vpon that blessed estate wherein I shall continue for euer in the heauens and let the hope thereof cause me to purge my selfe that I may be pure euen as he is pure vnto whom then I shall bee made conformable in righteousnesse glorie and happines Another THe sonne and heire of a Noble man or some great personage whiles he liueth obscurely in a strange and farre country beeing not knowne is not regarded but lieth open to the contempt and abuse of the meanest and vilest persons who if they knew his estate would more highly esteeme of him Lord let me not care how vile or base soeuer I seeme whiles I liue heere in a strange place vnknowen vnregarded since thou hast assured me that I shal be so glorious at my returne into mine owne countrey the habitation of thy saints that heauenly paradise that celestiall Ierusalem the citie of thee the euerliuing God the glory whereof is vnspeakeable God and the world of a different iudgement GOd seeth not as man seeth They are many times of great esteeme amongst men who are vile in Gods sight such as he hath reiected And on the other side they are highly in Gods fauour oftentimes who are very meanly esteemed of among men yea despised and accounted as the refuse of men and the ofscouring of the world Those which seeme the least and most contemptible in the eye of men are oft the greatest and most honourable in the sight of God and those which seeme the very abiects of men such as in whom nothing is to be desired appeare as glorious before him O Lord seeing thou dost iudge so differently from that which the world
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
is not onely much distempered in his soule but euen out of his right minde and destitute of true wisedom and vnderstanding seeing that it bereaues a man of true glorie vnto which that is no waies comparable and depriues him of diuine and heauenly grace the most pretious iewell in this world and most to bee desired and sought for farre aboue all fading and earthly vanities For whiles that any seeketh to please himselfe ouermuch in receiuing honour of men he cannot but displease God verie highly and want that honor which is from aboue whiles he couets and hunts after the praise and applause of this world and desires to lift vp himselfe in the pride and vanitie of his heart aboue others the Lord resisteth him and denieth his grace vnto him so that of all others he is herein through the iust iudgment of God most barren and fruitlesse hauing perhaps the shadow and outward appearance of some morall vertues but wanting that which is the life and soule of them O Lord how little cause haue I to glorie of any thing that is in me except it be of my infirmities my weaknesses and manifold imperfections vnto which I feele my selfe continually subiect What is it for which I should esteeme my selfe to be any thing or to bee once worthie to bee accounted amongst the meanest of thy seruants For behold I am but a fraile and a sinfull man full of wretchednes and miserie nothing without thee not able to doe the least good but as I am strengthened and assisted by thee readie to faile and to sinke right down if I bee not continually sustained and supported by thee What shall I say If I haue any thing it is only thy gift and thy gratious blessing for the which I can neuer be sufficiently thankfull Farre bee it from me therefore to bee so misled with the vaine conceit of wicked and vngodly men that I should lift vp my selfe aboue that which is meete or glorie in any thing of this world lest it displease thee and cause thee in iustice to bring shame and dishonour vpon me but grant that I may reioyce and glorie alwaies and only in thee yea that I may extoll and magnifie thy name continually who art worthie of all praise and glorie both now and euermore The Christians Paradise in this life THe children of God liue continually in a paradise euen whiles they remaine in this world and seeme to others to be wretched and miserable subiect vnto manifold afflictions and diuers kinds of calamities They taste daily of the fruite of the tree of life and are refreshed with those inward spirituall ioyes and heauenly delights which are aboue all other ioyes and in comparison whereof all the pleasures and delights which this deceitfull and enticing world can affoord them are but meere vanitie They are certified of their saluation they know themselues to be elected redeemed by Christ their Sauiour and that none can take thē out of his hands who is so mightie and powerfull in himself and so gratious and louing vnto them yea by faith and hope they are ascended into heauen and in spirit behold that mansion place prouided for them and that glorie which he who neuer deceiued any that trusted in him hath promised vnto them the remembrance and ioyfull expectation whereof doth euen rauish their soules and cause them to glory in the Lord and in the riches of his goodnesse and mercie so gratiously bountifully vouchsafed vnto them when they were most vnworthie of it O blessed Lord open mine eyes that I may see the excellencie of that estate whereunto thou hast called mee of thy free grace take away that vaile which Satan seeketh to spread before me that so I might not see into that glorie which thou of thy endlesse loue and vnspeakable goodnesse hast made me partaker of euen in the middest of those weaknesses those infirmities and afflictions wherewith I am compassed about on euerie side Thou hast giuen me thy spirit to bee my comforter in all my sorrowes yea my faithfull guide to leade me along safely by the waters of diuine and heauenlie consolations and to conduct me with much peace and ioy thorow this vale of miserie vnto that promised rest that heauenly Canaan Euery day thou causest me to taste of thy goodnesse yea fillest me with thy hid treasures such as the world is not acquainted with Euen in the depth of miserie thou makest me to see and to enioy the blessednesse and glorie of thy Saints and chosen ones And after that I haue been for a while tossed in this sea wilt cause me speedily to arriue at that hauen where I would be yea thou wilt stretch forth thy hand and receiue me into thine owne presence cause me to behold thy face in that brightnes of glorie for euermore How the life to come ought to be desired of euery true Christian in regard of the excellencie and glorie of it THat heathenish pagan as is reported of him reading Platoes discourse of the soules immortalitie estate after this life was so rauished therewith that with the desire thereof he cast himselfe into the sea ended his life His act was sinfull and no waies to be imitated by any for no man is to cut off the threede of his life vntill the Lords appointed time but yet his vehement desire and earnest affecting of that glory which he apprehēded conceited in his minde may teach euen vs that are Christians to blush in our selues when we finde our hearts so dull and senseles that the remēbrance of that promised glorie and happine swill no more affect vs then ordinarily it doth the most Oh it should wholly possesse our soules and rauish our mindes and cause vs to labour by all meanes to get assurance vpon good euidence that we shall at length haue our part and portion in it being gathered togeher with all the Saints into that glorious kingdome those heauenly mansions O mercifull God how great is thy goodnes how vnsearchable are the riches of thy grace and fauour towards thy Saints and chosē ones those whom in Christ Iesus thou imbracedst before all worlds Oh how blessed and glorious is that estate which thou reseruest for them in the heauens and which thou wilt giue thē possession of as soone as these fraile and sinfull daies of theirs are ended Thou wilt cause them to shine as the starres yea as the sunne it selfe when it is in the greatest brightnes All kinde of impuritie and vncleannes beeing done away thou wilt clothe thē with the glorious robes of innocencie righteousnes and holines thou wilt adorne them with those pretious iewels of all diuine and heauenly graces and cause thy name to be written in their foreheads yea thou wilt set them vpon thrones with thy Christ with scepters in their hands and crownes on their heads and giue vnto them for an euerlasting inheritance that celestiall kingdome of endles blisse happines Thou wilt euery way
heart how much more the earnest supplications of the assemblies of the Saints and seruants of God euen his faithfull and beloued ones no doubt they pierce the cloudes open heauen-gates and enter into the presence of God himselfe and so preuaile with him that they cause him as to keepe backe his iudgements where they are feared so to powre down his blessings in abundance where they are desired O Lord grant that I may be frequent and earnest in praier both publique and priuate for my selfe and for others euen for thy Saints especially thy afflicted and distressed ones either in bodie or in mind and let it please thee as to make me carefull daily to pray and powre out my suits and supplications vnto thee for others so also in goodnesse to vouchsafe this grace and fauour vnto me that I may enioy the fruite and benefite of the prayers of thy seruants wheresoeuer or whensoeuer they shall be assembled in thy name crauing for thy blessing vpon thy Church and chosen children Heare O Lord from heauen and be mercifull vnto all and euerie one of thine that cals vpon thee in truth and faithfulnes let them taste of the sweetnesse of thy mercies yea let their emptie soules be satisfied and filled with thy grace and goodnesse that so they may praise thee with ioyfulnesse and both with heart and mouth sing vnto thy glory all their daies Blessings of God are not the lesse to be regarded because they are common EVen that glorious creature the Sunne because it riseth euerie day vpon vs is little thought of or regarded of the most The wondrous and admirable works of God because they are ordinarie and daily set before our eyes how meanely are they accounted of the greatest mercies and blessings of God because we heare of them and enioy them continually how slightly are they passed ouer by many of how few so highly prized and esteemed as they ought to be Lord let not thy workes thy mercies and fauours wherein thou hast shewed thy selfe so exceeding gratious vnto me aboue all deserts of mine let not them seeme the lesse in my eyes because it pleaseth thee in great kindnesse to make them ordinary vsuall vnto me let me not be the lesse mindfull of them the lesse thankfull vnto thee for them because in the riches of thy loue thou vouchsafest to make them cōmon by the continuall supplie and increase of them yea rather let me as it is meete I should be moued and drawne to be so much the more frequent in the daily and conscionable performance of those ordinarie duties and seruices which thou requirest of me and as thou enlargest thy hand in the continuance and increase of thy mercies towards me so inlarge my heart I humblie beseech thee that I may daily more and more increase in true thankefulnesse vnto thee vnto whom I owe my selfe and all things that I haue for in thee I haue all things without thee I can neither enioy nor hope for any thing which is good or to be desired The Angels watch ouer the godlie O How strongly are Gods children continually garded Lo what multitudes of those heauenly souldiours doe attend vpon them daily hourely euerie moment watch ouer them yea compasse them round about on euerie side so that they can haue no hurt but liue and end their daies in peace safety and happinesse O how blinde are the eyes of men that they doe not see and behold them yea rather how weake is their faith that will not beleeue this because they cannot see them with the eyes of their bodies Foolish and faithlesse people who will be perswaed of no more then they can see with the eye of flesh and haue an external view of by their outward sense why doe they not as fondly doubt whether they haue soules within them since they are spirits also which they neuer saw neither can see Lord open mine eyes that I may see that heauenly guard of thine wherewith it hath pleased thee to compasse me euen those celestiall Angels and ministring spirits which are set continually to attend vpon me that so I may be comforted in my greatest feares and encouraged with vndanted resolution to goe forward with constancie in thy wayes notwithstanding the opposition of the enemies of thy grace and truth knowing assuredly that they that are with me are more mightier then they that are against me The danger of security WIll that man be secure and carelesse of himselfe that knoweth certainly that his enemie lieth continuallie in waite for him seeking his vtter ruine euen the spoiling of his estate and the spilling of his blood yea will he not if there be any wisdome or prudence in him be verie watchfull verie circumspect and exceeding carefull to foresee and preuent all his dangerous attempts enterprises whereby he might haue the least aduantage at any time against him Few there are but are wise inough thus to procure the safetie and securitie of their bodily life and outward estate in this world and to safe-gard it that no enemie or aduersarie may impaire or hurt the same at any time And shall any then be so foolish so vnwise as not carefully by al meanes to prouide for the life and welfare of his soule yea to procure the safety both of soule and body and not onely his present but also his future estate in the heauens and yet loe such is the follie of the most yea euen of many of those who otherwise are wise and prudent men men of iudgement and vnderstanding Sathan that subtile that wilie and most malicious enemie lieth continually in waite for vs he omits no opportunity no occasion whereby he may get any aduantage against vs he neuer leaues tempting assaulting and assailing of vs but seekes continually by all meanes possible to vndermine our estate to worke our ruine and vtter ouerthrow both of our soules and bodies for euer yet most men how carelesse how secure are they as though they had no heart no vnderstanding yea do they not euen wilfully and willingly giue themselues to sleepe in greatest securitie when they are in greatest and most apparent and eminent danger euen then when the enemie is ready to make a spoile of them and eternall destruction and confusion to seize vpon them without all recouerie or hope of redemption O mercifull Lord thou seest how busie Sathan is in tempting me how many and how forcible meanes he vseth to preuaile against me O let me not be so carelesse and secure as others are but doe thou of thy especiall grace giue me wisdom from aboue to fore-see the dangers which may befall me carefulnesse and diligence with watchfulnesse and aduisednesse to preuent them and finallie grace and strenghth not onelie to encounter and resist but also to vanquish and ouercome that cruell and malicious enemie and aduersarie and in the end gloriouslie to triumph ouer him by the power and might of thy Christ in whom and through
and the ofscouring of all things and so to become euen fooles for Christs sake praying for those that both speake and doe euill vnto thē and blessing them that persecute them yea and not this onely but also euen hating their owne liues and giuing vp themselues vnto death the most bitter and cruell deaths that can possibly bee deuised by the most bloodie tyrants that euer were or can bee rather then to bee once drawne from the loue the faith and obedience of Christ and from the profession of that trueth which they haue receiued Alas how farre doe wee come behinde those Worthies that haue gone before vs whose example the Lord hath set vp as a light amongst vs that we might see how to tread in their steps and to imitate thē in those graces for which their memorie shall bee blessed for euer how vnlike are our liues vnto theirs if we lay them both together looke vpon them with an equall view How few are those that shine in those excellent vertues of zeale deuotion faith sinceritie pietie charitie brotherly loue patience constancie and perseuerance in all which they haue been so eminent that the very remembrance of them may shame this age wherein we liue and cause many to blush who thinke that they haue great wrong done to them if they may not haue the name for good Christians and be so reputed and esteemed amongst men how little soeuer they deserue it indeed Nay so degenerate are the most in these latter times and their liues and manners so much swaruing from the vertues and religious courses and practises of our forefathers those whō God hath made examples for our imitation that euen hee according to the common rate shall bee accounted honest religious enough and one that hath made sufficient proceedings in the schoole of Christianitie that is no open notorious and hainous offender not tainted with any grosse and capitall crime theft adulterie drunkennes extortiō oppression no common railer or slanderer of others no malitious detracter no troublesome contentious person but one of a free and ingenuous disposition of a ciuill carriage and commendable behauiour one that liues quietly and friendly among his neighbours and is carefull of outward obseruances which either law or some other sinister respect draweth him vnto and which a meere pagan heathen might performe as well as hee though he bee farre from the truth of religion neither fearing God nor working righteousnesse but altogether neglecting those maine and especiall duties both of the publike and priuate worship and seruice of God which hee requireth and hath expressely commanded as prayer due and diligent reading hearing meditating and conferring of the word and those things which might tend to spirituall edification sanctifying of the Sabbath instructing of his familie yea although in reregard of zeale he be of a colder temper then the luke-warme Laodiceās euer were euen almost ashamed of that forwardnes and feruencie in the discharge of those duties which the word of God doth prescribe vnto him and of that strictnes and precisenes which the Scripture exacteth of him This is the estate of our times thus haue most declined and gone backward in this last and worst age of the world wherein wee see that verified which the trueth it selfe long ago foretold and which now is most apparent to all that haue any discerning viz. that the loue zeal of many is growen cold men generally are lesse feruent and more defectiue in the duties of pietie and godlinesse then they haue been heretofore although the meanes were neuer more plentifully afforded vnto any then they are now and through the grace and mercie of God haue been a long time It is wofull to see and cōsider the great change and alteration which now if we haue eyes wee cannot but see almost in euery place amongst all sorts and degrees of men what a generall defection as it were is there from the pietie deuotion innocencie simplicitie and godlie purenes the holie conuersation and religious practises the zeale integritie sinceritie vnfained loue and charitie and al those excellent vertues and graces of the holy men of God that haue bin before vs O blessed Lord as thou hast set the liues of many of thy Saints and seruants as an ensample before mine eyes that I should be a follower of thē and walke as they haue walked according to the rule of thy word so grant I beseech thee that I may bee excited and prouoked whiles I looke on them to imitate them in their vertues and to labour to frame my life according to that paterne which thou in them hast prescribed vnto me and carefully to endeuour proceeding by one and the same rule according vnto which they haue walked to attaine vnto that perfection of diuine and spiritual graces which it pleased thee to vouchsafe vnto them euen because they chose the way of wisedome and delited in the waies of thy commandemēts Let the example of their zeale for thy glorie make me more zealous and earnest in those things which are good and whereby thou maist be glorified Let the example of their true and godly deuotiō make me more deuout and religious Their vprightnes sinceritie and godly simplicitie let them stirre me vp vnto the same vertues Their diligence cheerefulnes and alacritie in the works of thy worship and seruice let them draw me vnto the same duties The example of their patience in so many and so great afflictions and trials let it be an especiall motiue and inducement to make mee the more patient the example of their meeknes to make me the more meeke of their humilitie to make me the more humble of their kindnes long sufferance and brotherly loue and affection to make me the more tender hearted louing and charitable vnto all men of their contempt of the world and the vanities thereof to make me the lesse to regard them of their holy and heauenly conuersation to make mee the more heauenly minded the more heauenly affected hauing my heart continually lifted vp farre aboue all these earthly and transitorie things to the serious consideration and meditation of those most excellent and glorious things which are aboue euen those vnsearchable vnspeakable riches and treasures of that glory and endlesse blessednes and happines which thou hast prepared for thy children in that celestiall kingdome that thus being carefull to follow the example of thy chosen seruants whom thou hast set vp as lights to shine vnto me for my better direction in the way of godlinesse which leadeth vnto life and saluation I may hereafter enter into that ioy and be made partaker of the same glorie of which they haue now the fruition in that heauenly mansion Heauenly mindednes THE eye of a Christian should be alwaies in heauen euen when hee is most busied in these earthlie affaires he is to haue his minde lifted vp vnto those things which are aboue and to bee euer viewing and beholding with the
especially if he bee not only guiltie of the fact to himselfe but perceiues that the Iudge hath certain knowledge and cleere euidence of the same and of all the particular circumstances thereof Oh thē what a horrible feare shall possesse the hearts and minds of all sinful and vngodly wretches when they shall stand before that iust Iudge when they shall bee brought vnto their answere for al their vnrighteous wicked deeds which they haue committed in the whole course of their liues when that glorious God that seuere and mightie Iudge the Iudge of the whole world hauing a perfect register of all their actions words and workes yea of the secretest thoughts and imaginations of their hearts and hauing all things which euer they haue done as cleere as the Sunne or as crystall before him shall looke vpon thē with a fierie eye and with a frowning and irefull countenance and shew such signes of his wrathfull indignation against them as that the heauen shall shake and the earth tremble yea both heauen and earth flie away from his face and moue out of their places for the greatnes of his wrath which shall be more dreadful then the heart of man is now able to conceiue O then what an astonishment shall come vpon them how shall shame and confusion couer their faces how shall feare griefe and anguish euen rend their hearts and soules Neuer was Belshazzar so perplexed so amazed and astonished at the sudden appearing of the hand writing ouer the wall the forerunner of his speedie destruction as they shall then bee The chaunging of his countenance the troublesome thoughts of his minde the loosing of his ioynts and the smiting of his knees one against the other was but a shadow of that vnspeakeable dread horror and fearefull amazement wherewith all vngodly persons shall be then stricken and vtterly confounded in themselues Seeing O Lord that appearāce of thine in that day wherein thou hast appointed to iudge the world shall be so terrible vnto all the wicked that would not obey thee nor hearken vnto thy voice to walke in the waies of thy commandements O let the remembrance thereof make me alwaies carefull to refraine my foote from their paths and to endeuour my selfe vnto righteousnesse that so when their feare commeth I may haue cause to reioyce and be glad in thee yea euen to looke vp vnto thee with ioyfulnes and to glorie in thy saluation who then wilt shew thy selfe to be maruellous and exceeding glorious in all thy Saints euen al those that haue beleeued in thy name and waited for that blessed comming of thine which as thou hast promised so let it bee thy pleasure to hasten The excellencie of a true Christian O How great is the excellencie of euery true christian euen of euery one that is such a one not onely in name in title or outward profession but in deede and in trueth Surely his honour is great his estate is glorious yea the grace and dignity which he hath receiued is such as that the spirit of a mā is not able fully to discerne or to comprehend the same Although by nature he was the childe of wrath subiect vnto wretchednes and all miseries as well as others yet by grace he is become the sonne of God euen of the most high God and so partaker of endlesse blisse and happinesse He is borne againe by the spirit of God through the incorruptible and immortall seed of the word and so made a newe creature in Christ more excellent and glorious then those celestiall creatures the sunne the moone and all the starres of heauen Beeing thus inwardly renued in his whole nature which before was so much corrupted and decayed he is in a mysticall wonderfull maner ioyned and vnited vnto Christ and made a member of his bodie Beeing so ingrafted into him he receiueth spirituall life grace and strength from him vntill he come vnto a ripe and perfect age euen vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ his heade He is made partaker of the diuine nature then which there can be no greater excellencie sith therby he becommeth like vnto God and hath the liuely printe of his image stamped in his soule euen in those graces of renued knowledge wisedome righteousnes and true holines which shine therin Beeing created in this maner of God in Christ and framed vnto the similitude likenes of his owne image he is beloued of God as his chiefest treasure and chosen substance on earth more deare vnto him and more pretious in his sight then all these visible creatures his hearts delight is set vpon him He blesseth him daily with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things He hath giuen him right and interest vnto all things whether it be the world or life or death whether things present or things to come euen al things whatsoeuer There is not any thing but God causeth it to work for the best vnto him and turneth it vnto his profite and greatest good yea such is his wisedome and goodnes that by a speciall dispensation of his diuine prouidence he causeth poison to become wholesome vnto him making the very sinnes which man committeth to turne rather to his good then to his hurt in that by them beeing humbled in himselfe he bringeth him to renounce himselfe and to cleaue faster and nearer vnto him depending wholly and onely vpon him for the supply of all spirituall graces and strength and to be more carefull and watchfull ouer all his wayes and more circumspect and heedefull in auoiding all sinne and the occasions therof He hath those glorious creatures the Angels of God as ministring spirits continually seruing him as it were and attending vpon him yea garding him and compassing him round on euery side though to the eye of flesh they are inuisible and so not onely keeping and preseruing him from all dangers which might befall him but also beeing meanes from God to conuey much good vnto him as the experience of many faithfull seruants of God giueth cleare and euident proofe These euen these celestiall creatures are not onely his familiars and companions continually accompanying him but also his attēdants sent forth of God to watch ouer him and to waite daily vpon him He hath furthermore acquainted him with his will and reuealed his secret counsell vnto him as farre as is meete and conuenient for him euen that secret purpose of his which he had decreed in himselfe before all worlds he hath made manifest vnto him and giuen him a cleare sight of those hidden mysteries wherin is blessednes and true happinesse he hath made knowen vnto him the secrets of the kingdome of heauen He hath giuen him also his spirit that blessed spirit of grace and comfort to refresh and to cheere him vp in al his griefes and sorrowes and to leade him forth into greene and pleasant pastures so that he is fulfilled with that spirituall delight and heauenly ioy and solace which is vnspeakable and
paths of mine owne feete let me feare mine owne waies and suspect the worst of my selfe in all my actions being priuie vnto those secret corruptiōs which lie lurking within me and both thinke and hope the best of others because I know not what thy worke is or may be in them yea let me alwaies be ready to iudge accuse and condemne my selfe and euen in my thoughts to excuse and acquit others by making a fauourable interpretation of all their doings vntill such time as thou doest manifest giue cleere euidence that they are such as are not to be approoued Thus I shall please thee and not sinne against those towards whom I ought alwaies to bee charitably affected and free from all ill suspition and wicked surmizes Why the Lord suffereth oft times the infirmities of his children to be knowne to others IT is a meanes oft times to make a mā the more hūble to know that others are priuie vnto his wants his weaknesses and infirmities which hee was desirous to keepe secret to perceiue that the sores and blemishes of his soule lie open vnto the view of others which hee could wish rather were couered and kept close And for this end the Lord many times in mercie and goodnes doth suffer the shame and nakednes of his children to bee discouered before the face of others when as they would gladly haue it hid frō the eyes of all and not seene of any yea hee doth suffer them to fall by many weaknesses and infirmities euen such as are no waies pleasing but grieuous and irksome vnto them that so he may cause them to be the more humble and lowly and not to lift vp their hearts at any time aboue their brethren but so to demeane themselues that it may appeare that they esteem better of others then of themselues which is an excellent and a singular grace whereunto all that are yet defectiue herein should labour by all meanes to attaine O Lord if it seeme good vnto thee at any time to make others to see the weaknes of thy seruant to cause my wants imperfectiōs and infirmities to be knowne and discerned of others as thou knowest how readie I am to faile if thy grace doth not continually sustaine me let it not grieue me so much that others behold that in me which may cause me to be ashamed as make me euery day more carefull to vse al meanes to bee healed and cured of those diseases whereunto my soule is subiect and inclinable through sinne and to increase as in all other graces so especially in true humilitie and meeknes of spirit without the which I can neuer please thee nor haue the light of thy coūtenance shining vpon me The heauen of the godly and the hell of the wicked in this life IF there be a heauen in this world it is the true Christian onely that enioyes it in whose heart that blessed spirit doth dwell comforting and refreshing him continually in an vnspeakable maner If there be any hell in this life it is in the soule and conscience of the wicked and vngodly man whom Satan that euill spirit hath possessed and bereaued of that which should bee the ioy and comfort of his life and not that onely but also euen oppressed with many feares and sorrowes and with much anguish and horrible amazement arising from his hellish and guilty conscience O blessed God who hast giuen me to see the great difference which is betweene the estate of thy children and of the wicked and vngodly euen in this world how that the one is blessed and happie the other wretched and miserable grant that I may not at any time desire to haue the same lot with the wicked though it seeme outwardly to fare well with them but let me alwaies rest in thee and reioyce in that portion which thou hast giuen vnto mee knowing that on earth there can be no better inheritance nor any estate more to be desired The cares of this world what hindrances they are to the sincere and entire worship of God HE that is insnared and intangled with the things of this world or that is not free from all inordinate affectiōs whatsoeuer cannot haue a perfect and an vpright heart before God nor freedome of spirit in his worship and seruice The soule onely that is emptied of the troublesome cares and sinfull desires wherwith most are surcharged and the minde that is set at liberty from all earthly vanities is fit to come before God with truth vprightnes and sinceritie and to offer such sacrifices with which he is well pleased and wherein he most delighteth O Lord let not the excessiue and inordinate desire of any earthly thing cleaue vnto me emptie my heart of the cares of this world banish farre from me the loue of all those things whereby I may any waies bee hindred from the performāce of those duties which thou requirest of me and grant that I may be carefull to vse all meanes whereby my affections may be so rightly ordered that I may serue thee with a good heart in integritie and sinceritie all my daies True zeale THey that are trulie zealous are more zealous against themselues then others As they doe not when iust occasion and opportunitie is offered suffer the open sinnes of others to passe vnreproued so they are least partiall towards themselues but are readiest to check themselues euen for their inward and most secret corruptions As they haue an eye vnto the actions of others are carefull to discountenance sinne by fastening a seasonable rebuke and iust censure vpon it wheresoeuer it doth apparētly shew and manifest it selfe so especially they are alwaies chiefly prying into their own actions and hauing espied a fault are most seuere censorious in iudging and rebuking themselues for it They are grieued at the offences of others but their owne sinnes they doe most gall them yea they cā neuer be quiet whiles they see the relikes remainders of them abiding in them but euen groane daily vnder the burthen of them and vse all means to haue their hearts purged and freed from them Good Lord increase true zeal daily more and more in me let me not through childish feare nor any other sinister respect bee too slack and remisse in shewing my dislike of the sinnes which others doe commit against thy Maiestie and yet let me not be so readie to censure others as to reprooue and reforme my selfe A dangerous thing to affect the glorie of the world HE that loueth God and seekes his glorie cannot bee altogether carried away with the vaine glor e of this world but will either despise it or at least set very light by it He that loueth the glory of this world and doth not only affect it but is also very eager in the pursuite of it thirsting after the praise and applause of men it is a signe that there is little or no loue of God or of his glorie in him These are things that cannot
iudgeth hauing so precious an esteeme of those whom that maketh no account of and accounting those as vile yea abominable and to bee abhorred of all whom that doth chiefly magnifie and most esteeme of let me haue this resolution alwaies to passe very little what corrupt men or this blinde world deemeth and iudgeth of me and let it be my speciall care to labour alwaies by all meanes to be approued of thee and to be assured that howsoeuer others shall seeke to cast shame reproch and dishonour vpon me yet that I am good in thine eyes and pretious in thy sight one whom thou dost iustifie and wilt glorifie The willing and ioyfull bearing of the crosse a signe of a well growen Christian HE that doth finde sweetnesse in drinking of the bitter cup of afflictions which God daily offereth vnto him it is a signe that hee is a good proficient in the exercise of Christianitie and true religion For to beare the crosse patiently willingly and comfortably to endure wrongs and iniuries to denie himselfe and to die daily vnto the world yea to be crucified vnto it and to haue it crucified vnto him is more then a carnall and naturall man can possibly doe or he that hath not through a daily practise of humilitie and true obedience learned whollie to subiect himselfe vnto Gods will and pleasure Good Lord seeing it pleaseth thee to cause me to taste of the bitternes of many afflictions grant that they may not seeme grieuous but pleasant vnto me knowing that it is thy will thereby to humble me and to make me more fit for the receiuing of a greater measure of thy heauenly grace Seeing thou hast appointed me daily to take vp my crosse and to follow my blessed Sauiour who in so many sufferings of his hath gone before me and left his example as a paterne and president behinde him vnto which all that are his should endeuour to frame thēselues that so they may bee conformable vnto him I humbly beseech thee that it would please thee to giue mee patience willingnes and cheerefulnes in vndergoing whatsoeuer it shall seeme good vnto thee to lay vpō me being fully assured that hereby I shall haue entrance vnto glorie euen that glorie into which thy Christ hath alreadie entred and made a way for me and of which all these light and momentarie afflictions are not worthie nor in any sort comparable thereunto The exceeding follie and vanitie of the wicked O The vaine and preposterous courses of men who doth not wonder that beholdeth and considereth them and how should they not blush and be exceedingly ashamed of their follie and sottishnes when they thinke of them Let the flattering and deceitful world call them and allure them with the enticing promises of earthly and temporall things pleasures profits honours euen those things which are fading and transitorie and they are readie to follow it presently and to shew themselues seruiceable vnto it with all willingnes and readinesse that may be yea to vndergoe much labour and toile and to endure great hardship and to passe thorough many difficulties in the earnestnes of their desire to attaine vnto that whereof notwithstāding they faile oft times and come short of their hope and expectation Let God whose word is truth and who neuer faileth any in that which hee promiseth vnto them nor deceiueth thē that rest vpon him and giue credit vnto his word but satisfieth thē most abundantly and returneth more vnto them then they did either expect or could desire let God euen that gratious and bountifull God with whom is the treasurie of all good things call them and promise vnto them the vnspeakable riches of celestiall and heauenly things such as are most excellent and glorious farre passing the most desireable things of this world and such as shall neuer fade nor bee any waies diminished or once subiect vnto any change or alteration yet they haue no heart to come vnto him or to follow him but are exceeding heauie and drowsie yea very vnapt and vntoward vnto that which were so greatly for their good and in which alone consisteth true blessednesse and eternall felicitie and happinesse O Lord let me neuer bee so foolish as the men of this world are in whom there is no vnderstanding let me be more carefull to serue thee then they are to serue the world euen that cursed Mammō which they make their god Let me labour more for spirituall and heauenlie things such as shall remaine and abide for euer then for those things which are carnall and earthly and such as are of no continuance but shall quickly perish and passe away as a shadow and bee quite forgotten euen as if they had neuer been Yea let me alwaies preferre that inestimable price of glorie that chief that vnchangeable and euerlasting good which thou hast promised and prepared for thy Saints in that celestiall kingdome which I daily expect and hope for before all the alluring and deceitfull vanities the seeming and supposed good yea all the most pretious and glorious things of this world whatsoeuer wherwith those that are earthly-minded are so greatly enamoured and wherein they place the height of their false and imaginarie felicitie and happinesse The spirit of God is the life of the soule AS is the bodie without the soule so is the soule without the spirit of God which is the life thereof If there bee a separation of the soule of man what is his bodie but a dead and a liueles corpse or carcase hauing no sense or motion It cannot once breathe or stirre it selfe nor put foorth any power for the performance of the least action So is it with the soule of euery one in whom the spirit of God is wanting or from whom it is departed There is no life no vigour no power or abilitie to doe any thing which is good yea sooner may a dead body moue it self and exercise the actions and operations of a naturall life then the soule which is without the spirit of God and so destitute of the life of grace can shew foorth any certaine signes and effects of a spiritual life O Lord I haue found by experience what a deadnes there is vpon me if thou at any time withdrawest thy spirit and doest not cause it to worke effectually vpon my soule without the continuall presence and assistance thereof I am not able to doe no not to will or desire in any sort that which is good but am euen as a breathlesse and liuelesse creature one in whō there is no life O therefore let it please thee to powre out thy spirit plentifully vpon me let me alwaies finde it not only present but also powerfully working within me quickning me vnto the willing and cheerefull performance of all those things which thou requirest of me yea let it please thee in whō only I liue and moue and without whom I am as one whose spirit is departed from him let it please thee O Lord to
any thing not fearing the feare of those that bee thine enemies and hate thee Feare of God speaking in his word MEn we see oft times are stricken and amazed at the sudden noise of a great thunder-clap they tremble and quake yea this causeth many with the Heathenish Emperour to seeke for couert and to hide and shroud themselues for feare And yet behold such is the corruption of mans nature such is their stupiditie that although they heare daily a greater more dreadfull noise euen the mightie and terrible voice of God which soundeth in his word and whereby he threatneth them in most fearefull manner not only with temporall iudgement but also with eternall perdition and destruction yet they are scarce once moued they feare not they doe not quake and tremble but sooth vp themselues in the wickednesse of their hearts and blesse themselues in their sinfull and vngodlie waies thinking that al is well and dreaming of nothing but of peace and safetie when thir confusion is neerest and sudden destruction and desolation ready presently to seize vpon them O let it be otherwise with me with all them that feare thy name O Lord let me be touched rightly affected with the consideration of thy great and glorious maiestie when I behold thy wondrous and maruellous workes how thou casts forth thy lightnings vnto the ends of the world and thundrest from heauen with a mightie voice at the noise whereof euen the bruit beasts and dumbe creatures doe quake and tremble for feare Let these things cause me to acknowledge the greatnes of thy power to stand in a holie and awfull reuerence of thy presence and to giue glorie vnto thy name who art the mightie and glorious God of heauen and earth but let me be much more moued and inwardly affected when I heare the voice of that mightie and powerfull Word of thine which goeth out of thy mouth and which thou causest to sound in mine eares by the ministerie of men whom thou hast ordained and in and by whom thou speakest both to the eares and to the hearts of men O let this word of thine which in it selfe is mightie in operation and whereby through the working of thy spirit thou doest maruellous things let it strike and break in sunder this hard and stonie heart of mine let â—r cause me to tremble at the hearing of it yea euen to fall downe before thee and to adore thy maiestie to be afraid of thy displeasure and to serue thee with an humble and with a contrite heart all my daies Then according vnto thy promise thou wilt looke mercifully vpon me thou wilt deale exceedingly graciously with me yea though heauen be thy throne and the earth thy footstoole yet thou wilt vouchsafe to dwell with me by the comfortable presence of thy grace and blessed spirit for euermore Knowledge and conscience must goe togther MAny labour for knowledge few for conscieÌ„ce to practise those things which they know Such knowledge is vaine and bringeth no profit to him that hath it â—â—e what if thou couldest repeate all the most pithie sentences of the wisest and grauest Philosophers and the greatest Sages that euer were it were nothing Yea what if thou couldest say ouer the whole Bible without book and with the superstitious Iew tell exactly how oft euery letter were found in the same and withall wert able to expound the hardest and most difficult places therein that could be put vnto thee so that al that heard of thee did admire thee as one very rare and eminent in thy kinde All this were nothing it were in vaine and no waies auaileable vnto thee if thou wert not as carefull to haue thy heart touched thy minde sanctified and thy life reformed as thy head stuffed and filled with varietie and abundance of knowledge learning if thou didst not labour as much if not more for the practise of those things which thou knowest then for the bare and naked speculation it selfe without fruther profit Giue me grace O Lord as to vse all good meanes to attaine vnto all kinde of learning which is necessarie and profitable for me especially the knowledge of thy word and those secret and hidden mysteries which thou hast therein reuealed so much more with all diligence carefully and conscionably to practise those things which I haue learned ioyning to my knowledge vertue faith temperance patience godlinesse and vnfained loue and charitie vnto all men euen mine enemies and those that are most bitter towards me yea most wickedly and malitiously set against me that thus the knowledge which by thy blessing I shall attaine vnto may not bee idle or vnprofitable but I may abound and encrease in the fruits thereof to the praise of thy name the benefit of others among whoÌ„ I shall liue mine owne comfort in this life and the furtherance of my saluation in thy kingdome after this life for euer Another IT is not without cause that the Scriptures make the heart the seate of truth sinceritie and vprightnes and not the head seeing the heart is the seate and subiect of the affectioÌ„s the braine of knowledge vnderstanding iudgment A man may know and vnderstand much and yet be very ill affected he may be of a large capacitie and of a very deepe apprehension euen of the greatest mysteries of Christian religion and yet be of an exceeding corrupt minde and of a most vnsound life Knowledge is good and to be desired and sought for and that with diligence but yet good affection must be ioyned with it and increased by it or else it will not bee profitable but hurtfull and dangerous making the owner of it rather worse then better It is a good thing to know much but it is better and more acceptable to God to affect the good things wee know that wee might practise them and to dislike the euill we know that wee might shunne and auoid them God euer loued and delighted more in the truth and sinceritie of the heart then in the bare speculation and fruitlesse apprehensions of the minde and vnderstanding part Let it be my desire O Lord my care and my earnest endeuour rather to liue well then to know much let me labour for both since both are necessarie yet alwaies preferre this before the other seeing that without this is least profitable and more dangerous not of it selfe but through the fault of him that vseth it amisse making the life more corrupt and bringing with it the greater condemnation in the end The worldly mans Idoll THat which euerie one most setteth his heart vpon that doth hee make his God yea rather his Idol Thus the God of the couetous is riches euen that cursed Mammon The God of the voluptuous pleasure of the ambitious honour O then how many vile and wicked Idolaters bee there in the world Surely as many as doe giue themselues ouer to couetousnesse ambition and voluptuousnes euen the excessiue and inordinate desire of the vaine and
he cannot but freely euen from his heart forgiue others as God for Christs sake forgaue him Either therefore manifest thy loue vnto thy bretheren in freely forgiuing and forgetting the wrongs and iniuries which they haue done vnto thee or else freely acknowledge and confesse as indeed the truth is that thou neuer as yet tastedst effectually of the loue of God in Christ that it was neuer shed into thy heart and that thy sinnes are still vnpardoned that thou hast no assurance of the forgiuenes of them which if thou hast not thou art a miserable and a wretched creature one that canst haue small ioy or comfort of thy life Chuse therefore which of these seemes best vnto thee either to continue in this miserie and to be branded as it were in the forehead for an impenitent sinner one vpon whom God hath shewed no mercie but is still vnder the curse euen the most fearefull curse that can be in a most comfortles estate Or else which thou oughtest rather to desire and to be carefull of aboue all things that thou hast obtained mercie that thou art in the loue and fauour of God and that all thy sinnes are freely and fully forgiuen thee because thou art louing and mercifull in forgiuing others that haue sinned against thee O merciful God cause me daily more more daily to see the exceeding riches of thy grace and to taste of that infinite and vnspeakeable loue and kindnesse of thine in Christ Iesus so freely and so graciouslie pardoning and forgiuing vnto me all my sinnes euen that great debt which no creature was able to make satisfaction vnto thy maiestie for me and those hainous offences for which thou mightst haue iustly condemned me And let the liuely sense and feeling of that incompreheÌ„sible loue and mercie which thou of thy infinite goodnes hast freely vouchsafed vnto me cause me following thy example to put on the bowels of mercie euen those tender affections of loue and compassion that I may willingly and freely forgiue all those that shall any waies offend me euen as thou for Christs sake forgauest me Hereby I shall haue a sure euideÌ„ce of thy loue towards me and an infallible signe and seale to certifie and assure me of the absolute remission and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes which is blessednes it selfe euen the verie gate which leadeth into heauen vnto that glorie and saluation which thy Saints hope for and whereof hauing giuen them the first fruits here thou wilt giue them the full possession hereafter in thy kingdome for euer A comfort for such as are vniustly slaundered of the wicked A Good man that is vniustly slandered and reuiled or any waies wronged of the wicked hath many things to stay his minde to comfort him and to cause him not to bee moued or disquieted but rather to be glad and ioyfull First he is thereby made conformable vnto Christ vpon whom the rebukes of many were laid and who was more vniustly wronged and disgraced and more shamefully vsed then he either is or can be Againe he suffers it of euill and wicked men who alwaies hate them most who God loueth best and hereby hath an argument of Gods speciall loue and fauour to him And he doth not onely suffer it of those which are euill but also for that which is good euen for his goodnes for righteousnes sake yea for Christes sake for Gods sake whom thereby they chiefly dishonour and who will surely therefore take vengeance of them but recompence him with a greater measure of glorie O Lord though the wicked of this world studie how they may vexe and molest me whiles they imagine lies and speake al manner of euill in most malitious disdainfull and despightfull manner against me yea hate and persecute mee without a cause as they haue done thy seruants heretofore nay thine owne sonne whom thou in loue to mankind didst send out of thy bosome yet let not me bee discouraged at any time therewith but rather looking vnto the author and finisher of my faith euen Christ Iesus who endured such speaking against of sinners let me suffer with patieÌ„ce the euill which they speake of me falsely hauing not only mine owne conscience but thee also who art priuie to all my actions yea knowest all things and wilt iudge vprightly a witnes of my cleerenes and innocencie in those things which they would cause to cleaue vnto me let me despise their shame and bee most ioyfull when they seeke most to oppresse me and to cast me downe with ouermuch sorrow anguish and heauinesse knowing assuredly that the shame which they would cast vpon me shall turne to my greater glorie Compassion towards others in their griefes WE should be affected with the miseries of others as with our owne and haue a sense and a feeling of those things which are grieuous vnto them as much as if the same were our griefe as it is theirs or the same burthen lay vpon vs that doth vpon them This is that which God hath commanded and which all of vs must frame our selues vnto if we will not be guiltie of sinne both against God and our neighbour But alas such is the weaknes feeblenes of mans nature that few or none are thus indifferently affected towards themselues and others yea most do little regard the euill which presseth others and lieth heauie vpon them whereas if the same or a lesser be laid vpon themselues they are sore vexed and grieued they complaine much and thinke that none can bee compassionate enough towards them Good Lord I beseech thee to heale me of this infirmitie and to free me from this corruption Grant that I may haue a sympathie and fellow-feeling of the sorrowes and miseries of others as if they were mine owne let me alwaies haue a tender compassion ouer them and be affected vnto them in that maner as I would desire if I were in their estate that they should be vnto me This is that which thy holie and righteous law bindeth me vnto and which therefore I desire to performe that so I may please thee and doe good vnto my neighbour by helping him to beare the burthen which oppresseth him A comfortable life how to be obtained ALL men are desirous so to liue that they may haue ioy and comfort of their liues but few attaine hereunto For either they know not the right way which leades vnto it or if they know it yet they â—â—haled and drawen aside either with tâ—â— violence of the temptatâ—ons of Satan or the strength of their owne corrupt and distempered affections to the seeking of it elsewhere They are in an error and farre out of the way that thinke that either riches health pleasures honour or any earthly or worldly thing whatsoeuer will bring them true constant ioy Nay a man hauing all these as much as his heart can wish or desire may bee in a miserable and comfortlesse estate and condition full of grief and anguish yea euen racked as
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
shewe thy selfe maruellous towards them aboue that we are able to thinke or coÌ„ceiue in this frailetie of ours which is not able to comprehend the brightnes of that heauenly light which thou wilt cause to shine forth vnto them in a wonderfull and glorious maner no more then our bodily eyes are able to behold the glittering beames of the Sunne when it is in the full strength thereof O blessed Lord affect my heart with the due consideration of that maruellous glorie of thine euen that happie and glorious condition which in thy vnspeakeable mercie and kindnes thou wilt raise me vnto as soone as these wretched dayes of sinne and miserie are ended And let the remembrance thereof cause me continually to sigh and to long after it and to rest euer in a ioyfull expectation of it desiring either to be dissolued by death or which I rather desire to see my Sauiour comming in the cloudes with glory and maiesty attended with thousands of Saints and Angels that so I may haue entrance into that heauenly paradise and take full possession of that rich vndefiled and neuer fading inheritance enioying the sweete fellowship and communion of all thy chosen and beloued ones yea liuing continually in thy most blessed presence and beholding that maruellous light wherein thou dwellest who inhabitest eternity Who shall be citizens of that heauenly kingdome THey that will be citizens of the kingdome of heauen must first liue as pilgrims and strangers here vpoÌ„ earth They must passe by all these transitorie and earthly things vsing them when they haue occasion as if they vsed them not They must not set their hearts vpon any thing which is here below but aspire alwaies vnto those things which are aboue desiring and longing with an earnest affection to bee at home euen at that heauenly mansion where the place of their perpetuall rest and abode is and where they shall continue for euer with that blessed companie and society of those glorious and celestiall creatures which now continually desire and expect their comming that so they may reioyce together in the fruition and accomplishment of the same felicitie and happinesse O Lord let my heart I beseech thee bee more and more daily alienated and estranged from this world and the things thereof which are but meere vanitie and let me carrie my self continually as a pilgrime and soiourner heere on earth as all thy Saints haue been not suffering my affections at any time to bee fastened vnto any of these fading and transitorie things but weaning them altogether from the same resting alwaies in a desire and ioyful expectation of my returne vnto that blessed home of mine that so when this wearisome and sinfull course is ended I may be receiued into thy celestiall mansion and liue with thee in glorie for euer Soli Deo gloria AN ALPHABETICAL Table of the chiefe points contaiâ—ed in the seueral Meditations A ACcount of all our actions to be giuen to God pag. 27 Affections ouermastered with much difficultie pag. 263 AfflictioÌ„s the necessitie of theÌ„ 94 the benefit thereof 153. the Ancre of the soule in afflictions 96. A comfort for the afflicted pag. 370 Ambitious mans Idoll pag. 309 Angels watch ouer the godly pag. 36 B BLessings of God not the lesse to bee regarded because they are common 34. especiall blessings and fauours especially to be remembred pag. 201 Blindnesse of minde a great miserie pag. 293 C CAre ought rather to bee had for the soule then for the bodie 49. for things to come then for things present pag. 149 Censurers the danger of their sinne pag. 168 Christians must neuer stand at a stay 30. what manner of life it becomes them to leade 110. 342. their imprisonment in this world 66. their life a pilgrimage on earth 106. God their â—â—ght and guide 368. their glorious conquest 261. 263. Their excellencie 216. their paradise in this life 395. How they are esteemed of in the world 267. 275. what reckoning they are in with God 277. A singular priuiledge of theirs 244. how they are to iudge of their estate pag. 377 Comfort for afflicted consciences pag. 257. 370 Compassion towards others in their griefes pag. 337 Confidence in any creature a vaine thing pag. 230 Conscience the comfort of a good conscience especially in death 125. how the conscience is disquieted pag. 203 Contentednes in all estates pag. 90 Couetousnesse a dangerous disease 91. Idolatrie pag. 309 Crosse seâ—â—fflictions D DEath alwaies to bee expected and prouided for 24. 25. 108. to be desired 65 of whom it is most feared pag. 76 Deniall of a mans selfe how necessarie pag. 365 Desertions of the godly pag. 122 Deuotion hindred first by sinfull lusts 1. secondly by worldly cares 3. thirdly by Satans suggestions pag. 6 E EState of a Christian how to be iudged of pag. 377 F FAith pag. 246 Feare of God pag. 296. 299 Forgiuing of others how necessarie pag. 329 Freedome of minde how to bee obtained pag. 384 Freewill pag. 322 G GOds glorie carefully to bee sought after in all things 26. His truth and faithfulnes 123. His loue and fauour to be sought for aboue all things and his wrath feared 344. his especiall prouidence ouer his children 86. his all-seeing presence how it ought to affect vs. 150. his presence how blessed and comfortable a thing it is pag. 380 Grace different degrees thereof in the godly 61. 63. the decay of it dangerous pag. 100 H HArdnes of heart what a fearfull plague it is pag. 295 Haste of the wicked to hell prouokes the godly to make the more speed to heauen pag. 53 HeaueÌ„ who citizeÌ„s thereof pag. 404 Heauenly-mindednes pag. 199 Holy Ghost how the soule is to be fitted and prepared for the entertainment of so glorious a guest 116. grieuing thereof pag. 118 Humilitie motiues thereunto pag. 227. 386. 390 I INfirmities of others must be borne with 172. Why the Lord suffereth oft times the infirmities of his children to be knowne to others pag. 233 Iudgement day how dreadfull it will be to the wicked pag. 211 Iustification by faith only pag. 246 K KNowledge conscience and practise must goe together pag. 303. 306 L LIfe the shortnes and vncertaintie of it 206. As is the life of man so is his death and finall estate 209. the life of the righteous as well to be sought after as their death wished pag. 315 Life to come how it is to be desired in regard of the excellencie and glorie of it pag. 399 A comfortable life how to be obtained pag. 339 Liues of the Saints of old and men in these daies how different pag. 179 Loue of God by what meanes it decaieth in men pag. 289 Loue of the world a cause of distraction and much disquietnes pag. 374 M MEditation of things holy and diuine by what meanes especially it is hindered and interrupted pag. 1. 3. 6 Mercies of God pag. 15 O OLd man neuer dies in this life pag. 382 P PAtience of God pag. 114 Patience in affliction pag. 153 A signe of a well growen Christian pag. 279 Prayers of the faithfull what benefit they bring to others pag. 31 Prouidence pag. 86 R REdemption pag. 12 Repentance the follie and danger of deferring it pag. 319 Reproches comfort therin pag. 334 Resigning of a mans selfe and al that hee enioyes to Gods will pag. 325 Respect of persons for outward ornaments and indowments more then for the inward vertues and graces of the minde how vnbeseeming a thing it is pag. 84 S Satans guilefull temptations 76. 79. 102. his policie and practises against the Church of God what euent they vsually haue 143. None free froÌ„ his temptations 155. Whom he tempteth most pag. 162 Securitie the danger of it pag. 38 Seruice of God the greatest freedome pag. 356 Sin how hurtfull and dangerous it is 22. 99. the occasions of it carefully to be auoided pag. 82 Sinfulnes of mans nature corrupted pag. 281 Spirit of God the life of the soule 286. See Holy Ghost Suspition pag. 231 T TEmptations Diuers kinds of them in the godly 157 more danger in lesser temptations sometimes then in greater 165. See Satan V VAinglorie 242. the follie and vanitie thereof pag. 392 Vanitie of all earthly things pag. 63. W WAtchfulnes pag. 146 Wicked their follie 18 42. 49. 281. 361. their bondage and slauerie 47. what an vnpleasant and distracted life they leade 312. What difference there is betweene their estate and the estate of the godly eueÌ„ in this life pag. 236 Word of God the vnfruitfull hearing of it dangerous 59. it ought to bee heard with feare and trembling pag. 299 Worldlings their follie 42. their dulnes and sottishnes 205. 281. their miserable estate pag. 310. 574. Worldly mans Idoll pag. 309 Worship what it is that God especially requireth 323. hindrances thereunto pag. 238 Z Zeale pag. 240 FINIS