bemoane thy selfe thus Ier. 31.18 Thou hast chastised mee and I was chastised as a Bullocke and accustomed to the Yoake Turne thou mee and I shall be turned thou art the Lord my God surely after that I was turned I repented after that I was instructed I smot vppon my Knee I was ashamed yea euen confounded because I did beare the reproch of my youth yet if thou shalt be patieÌ„t since I spake against thee saith the Lord I doe earnestly remember thee still therfore my bowells are troubled for thee I will surely haue mercie on thee saith the Lord. The sicke persons Prayer for comfort in affliction Lord Iesus Christ my Redeemer I complayne that my miserie vexeth mee so sore and that my sicknesse endureth so long I request thee thou eternall Word of thy eternall Father thou liuely comforter proclayme Consolation in my heart that I in my greatest infirmitie anguish and pangs of death may vnderstand that I am thy deare child and cast my selfe in thy armes and bosome turn neuer thy gratious countenance from mee yea Lord the time thou diddest hang vpoÌ„ the crosse tookest our rebuke and reproach vpon thee and wast destitute of the helpe of all creatures yet wast thou notwithstanding thy Fathers onely begotten Sonne and shalt so bee eternally When faithfull Ioseph was in Bonds Ge. 41.14 and had no whit of any creatures fauour Yet wast thou with him loued him and deliuered him in due season When Stephan was lead to death Act. 7.55 and stones cast at him didst not thou manifest thy selfe vnto him when replenished with inward ioy and full of the holy Ghost he looked vp stedfastly into heauen and saw the glory of God and Iesus standing on the right hand of God And Lazarus when hee lay at the rich mans gate full of sores Luk. 16.22 yea and the dogs came and shewed greater humanity than man yet was he carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom O my God I am thy vvretched Lazarus heere lie I knocking at thy gate with my pitifull groans naked and full of sores am I my pain is great and my torment will ouercome me but I know assuredly and heereunto 1000. witnesses haue I in mine heart by thy holy Spirit that thou wilt not forsake me thine eyes are ouer mee night and day as one of thine Elect I appertaine to thy euerlasting life therefore thou art with mee in this my distresse Psal. 91.9 I haue made thee my refuge and my habitation ô set not mine iniquities before thee neither secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance for who knowes the power of thine anger Psal. 90.11 euen according to thy feare so is thy wrath O let the beauty of my Lord my God bee vpon me and satisfie mee early with thy mercy that I may reioyce and bee glad all the daies I haue to liue now Lord I loue loue thee therefore deliuer me and shew me thy saluation for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake to whom with the holy Spirit be all honour Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may resist Sathan in my sicknesse or any other temptation Spirit Seuenthly if Sathan insist in assaulting thee with his fiery darts of tentations Eph. 6.16 enter not in deepe cogitations and disputations with him for hee is too craftie and subtil for thee for of thine owne nature Gen. 3.1 thou canst neuer gaine-stand him remember Adam and Eue who were deceiued by him and miserably seduced although they were in the state of innocency and in their pure and holy nature how canst thou then wretched and corrupt sinner encounter him But cast thine eyes vpon Iesus Christ and heerewiâ—hall comfort thy sicke soule that he in all his tentations abideth constant and was not ouercome but ouercame Sathan for thy weale hath giueÌ„ thee freely his victorie to the end that howsoeuer hee shall double his assaults against thee yet hee shall goe confounded Moreouer the weapons which Iesus Christ vsed against him are to bee considered of thee which were places and sentences of Scripture Eph. 6.17 euen so lay thou hand on the holy sword of Gods word the sword I say of the Spirit 1 Pet. 5.9 Iam. 4. and resist him stedfast in thy faith and he will flie from thee If so be hee say thy sins are greater then can bee forgiuen Gen. 4.13 then kill him with the true word of God and constantly affirme thou liest Sathan for where sinne hath abounded Rom. 5.20 there grace hath superabounded If he say that Christs merits belong not vnto thee thou art not of the number of the Elect then exclaime and say thou liest Sathan for Christ hath sayd come vnto mee all yee that are weary and are heauy laden and I will giue you rest and gaine as in Adam all die euen so in Christ shall all be made aliue 1 Cor. 15. 22. If he shall make Gods indignation and wrath for sinne huge and great against thee say without ceasing Ioh. 3.16 God so loued the world that he gaue his only begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not die but haue euerlasting life And in another place God commendeth his loue towards vs in that while wee were yet sinners Rom. 5.8 Christ died for vs and thou hast loued them Ioh. 17.23 as thou hast loued me If hee shall open hell before thee defend thy selfe with this word of God 1 Ioh. 3.8 and say For this cause the Sonne of God was manifested that hee might destroy the workes of the Diuell Hos. 13.14 And againe I will ransom them from the power of the graue I will redeeme them from death ô death I will be thy plagues ô grauâ— I will bee thy dâ—struction Doth hee vpbraid thy weake faith then say thou the Lord will not breake the bruised reede and the smoking flax shall he not quench And againe Esay 42.3 Psal. 51.17 A broken and contrite heart ô God thou wilt not despise And in another place thus saith hee Esa. 57.15 19. 66.2 the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternitie whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to reuiue the spirit of the humble and to reuiue the heart of thâ— contrite ones And therefore hee saith peace peace to him that is farre off and to him that is neere If Sathan obiect thy coldnesse and drowzinesse in prayer thou mayest answer Although I do not speake yet I sigh and groane which is acceptable vnto him If hee affirme that thy crosse sicknes lasts long and that the Lord hath cast thee out of his mind thou mayest answer Caâ— a woman forget her sucking childe Esa. 49.15 that shee should not haue compassion in the sonne of her wombe shee may forget yet will I not forget thee saith the Lord. If hee obiect thy pouerty and that thou art despised of all yea of
teares as a well cease not neither leaue off for the Almighty is angry for thy sinnes Lam. 2. pardon them ô Lord I beseâ—ch thee and grant that when I shall sleepe in death my bodie may rest temporally and my soule may liue with thee eternally for Iesus c. Flesh. Shall man then in such sorrow doubt and despaire for his sinnes Spirit No God forbid but he should embrace the second part of Christian repentance which is faith in our Lord Iesus Christ who hath satisfied for our sinnes and reconciled vs to God his heauenly father Rom. 5. in this case raise vp encourage thy selfe learne comfort after this manner ô most louing Iesus Christ thou most sweet Sauiour and Redeemer how heauy is my hart how sad is my Soule in my brest Ps. 43.5 Esa. 38. My God thou hast broken all my bones like a Lyon I beseech thee that thou wouldest not despise my contrite and broken hart my Redeemer Ps. 51.17 giue mee thy mercifull hand and draw mee out of this heauinesse and suffer me not to sinke and perish of too much sorrow O my God I thanke thee thou hast touched my heart in making mee vnderstand my sinnes and giuing mee thy mercie to bewaile theÌ„ vnfainedly O I am become godly sorrowfull not to my hurt for godly sorrow worketh Saluation 2. Cor. not to be sorrowed for where else might I haue found comfort for my disquieted Soule of what other shold I haue found rest for my broken heart but of thee onely ô most dearely beloued Sauiour for thou camest into the world to saue miserable sinners 1. Tim. 1. therefore is thy name Iesus Mat 1. to saue thy people from all their sinnes Here am I ô Sauiour although a verie great yet a Penitent sinner Loe I heare thy comfortable voyce Mat. 11. Come vnto mee all yee that are laden and we aried I will refresh you Bâ—hold my God I come and bring with mee a sorrowfull broken Ps. 51.17 and contrite heart O reuiue my dead soule O heale my sinfulâ— wounded conscience O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world take from mee my sinne Ps. 51.9 and the guilt thereof and forgiue all mine iniquities Thou art my Redeemer and the onely sacrifice by which God thy Father and I am reâ—conciled Ioh. 3. for as Moyses exalted the Serpent in the wildernesse so wast thou exalted on the Crosse to the end that I and all that beleeue in thee should not perish but haue euerlasting Life Mar. 9. I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeleefe yea Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest I beleeue in thee Ioh. 21. albeit with a weake faith neuerthelesse by the same little small faith I put all my trust and confidence in thee and beleeue doubt not I beleeue and know well that all my bitter and grieuous sinnes are surely and verely satisfied for and remitted by thy bloud and death I know and beleeue I am assured and persuaded ô my Redeemer that thy pure conception cleanseth my sinfull conception thy vndefiled birth purgeth my vncleane birth thy holie life sanctifieth my sinfull life thy humiliation is my exaltation thy hellish sorrowes are my heauenly comforts thy bonds are my freedome thy contempt is my honour thy sores are my salue the expulsion of thee is the in-bringing of mee thy smart and payne is the ioy of my Soule thy desert is my Redemption thy passion and death is a sacrifice for all my sinnes thy obedience is satisfaction for all my wickednesse thy descending into hell is my deliuerance from the Deuill power and force of hell Rom. 4. thy resurrectiâ—on is my righteousnesse and thy ascending into heauen is a seale and assurance that I am heire of eternall Life and that through Thee I haue alreadie right title and possesion of the kingdome of heauen Yea Lord Iesus all these hast thou merited for me giuen and bestowed them freely vpon mee and thy heauenly Father accepts of them and accounts them to mee in such maner as if I had deserued all the same in my owne proper person and as if euerie faithfull ones Redemption had beene purchased by himselfe Mat. 9. bee joyfull therfore comfort thee thy sinnes are forgiuen and thou reighteous before God thou hast a mercifull Father in heauen thou art heire of eternall Life thou hast the earnest of thy inheritance in thy heart which beares witnesse vnto thy spirit that thou art the Sonnâ— yof God Who will craue ought here is Christ that hath payed and satisfied for thee Who will accuse thee Rom. here is God that pronounceth thee Iust and Holie Meditation of the Soule of faith in Christ. Doest thou meditate on that hurt thou incurredst by the first fall doth that corruption deriued vnto thee from Adam grieue thee O giue thankes and praise to the Lords name for thou hast obtayned more in Iesus Christ thy Redeemer than thou hast lost in Adam the trespasser ô miracle of all miracles who can comprehend such things bee glad ô my soule and consider narrowly what thou losest in the first what was gotten in the second Adam againe Behold how Sathan is disappointed of his purpose for hee minded to draw thee altogether and finally from God and to draw thee in the pit of Gods euerlasting displeasure but contrarywise Christ thy Lord hath not onely reconciled thee with thy father quenched his wrath and anger and purchased mercy to thee but also hath aduanced thee to such vnspeakable promotion Heb. 2. that thou art become Gods kinsman for he hath taken thy flesh bloud vpon him thou couldest neuer haue come to higher promotion and preferment vnlesse thou hadest beene euen God himselfe And Sathan bethought him to driue thee out of the garden of Paradise and so bereaue thee of the companie and societie of the holy Angels but quite contrarie Christ thy Sauiour not only brings thee to that healie Paradise and eternall life but exalteth thee aboue all Angels and maketh thee most honourable in that he took not the Angels but mans nature vpon him Heb 2. Sathan also intended to take from thee the food of life and it so happened for the Lord God excluded man by reason of his transgression that he should not eat of the tree of life in Paradise Gen. 3. but now Christ is that nourishment Ioh. 6. and tree of life farre more excellent and good then that first which extends and dilateth his boughes and branches whereby wee come vp to heauen hideth vs vnder him feedeth vs of him and wee are satiate and shall haue vnder his shadow quietnesse and rest for euermore Againe Sathan would haue carried thee from thy righteousnesse cast thee deepely downe into sinne spoyled thee of thy originall justice wherein without sinne thou wert first created to Gods similitude but on the other side Christ thy Lord freely giueth thee a
ones for so saith the Redeemer Take eat this is my body Matth. 26.16 Mar. 14.22 Luk. 22.19 Cor. 11.24 which is giuen for you to the remission of sins and againe Take and eat all hereof this cup is the new Testament in my bloud which is shed for you Meditation of the Soule for the receiuing of the Communion Now heare my Soule what delicates the Lord thy Sauiour presenteth before thee in this his table truely not bare and naked bread and wine but his body and bloud for the bread which wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Christ and the cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the bloud of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 therefore beleeue I and know that my Lord Iesus Christ both God and Man according to his institution is present to my Soule giues his body and bloud to bee eaten and drunke spiritually by a true and liuely faith wrought in me by his holy spirit and applying the merits and benefits of his death vnto mee the manner and way being best knowen vnto himselfe yea Lord Iesus thou thy selfe art here my host and I thy guest heere come I poore creature out of the wicked wildernes of this world fraught with trouble and misery and bring with mee an hungry thirsty and languishing yet a faithfull heart reuiue me my Lord Iesus by this thy table and strengthen mee by this nourishment that I may bee satiate and safe Approach heereunto my Soule to strengthen thy faith and quicken thy heart Ioh. 20.27 and bee not longer faithlesse but faithfull beâ—hold the Lord thy Redeemer assureth thee as with a true token and pawne that thou of meere grace and mercy art appoynted heire of all his blessings and hee imputes vnto thee whatsoeuer he hath procured by the sacrifice of his body and bloud to wit the forgiuenesse of all thy sinnes Rom. 4.8 that righteousnesse which is accepted before God and eternall life all these shall aâ— certainely be thine as if thou in thine own person hadst hung vpon the crosse and there merited them yea and he witnesseth heereby that thou for his sake art counted before God as righteous holy and as beloued as Christ himselfe is and moreouer by the same Sacrament through the holy Spirit he giueth himself vnto thee Reu. 3.20 to dwell with thee and sup with thee neuer to depart froÌ„ thee but worke a new life ioy light yea Lord Iesus so am I in thee Ioh. 17.23 Eph. 5.30 and thou in mee and I will sticke vnto thee my Redeemer as a liuing member to a liuing body as a bride vnto her bridegroome for I am a member of thy body Ioh. 15.4 of thy blood and bones yea I am in thee as the branch is in the vine and as a bough receiueth continuall sap vertue from the trees roote so doe I draw comfort life and quickening from thee and so by a true faith both in soule and body abide in thee and thou in mee by thy holy spirit that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor nor things present nor things to come nor hight nor depth nor any other creature can separate me from thy loue A prayer when thou hast receiued the Communion Praised bee thou O God my Sauiour for thy fatherly care ouer me for preparing this heauenly banquet for me whereby I may quench the appetite of my hungry soule and mittigate the thirst of my heart so that now by this meanes I depart emboldened and established in grace and faith will follow thee my Redeemer with courage Heb. 13.9 will abide constantly with thee and remayne in perseuerance with thee through thy spirit vnto the last gaspe Amen Meditation of receiuing the holie Communion Thou hast said Doe this in my remembrance O my God how holie is the memorie of that how inwardly am I comforted therewith for by this sacrament I call to minde many other Festiual daies and times for in thy Table I remember thy Natiuitie for it testifieth vnto mee that thou in verie deed hast taken my human nature vpon thee and art farre neerer joyned vnto mee than vnto the Angells for thou in no sort tookedst vpon thee the Angells nature but thou tookest the seed of Abraham it likewise represeÌ„teth vnto mee that thou art the true Sacrifice for sinnes and therefore doe I eate the right Pasouer 1. Cor. 5.7 euen Christ which is sacrificed for mee as also I beleeue and trust seeing I am thy member and that thou art risen from the dead and liuest so shall I also so that thou wilt not leaue my Soule in Graue neyther shall death haue power ouer mee but I shall rise and sing vnto the Lord in the land of the liuing and possesse that place where thou my head Iesus Christ liuest world without end And all these things are engrafted and sealed in mee by thy holie Spirit of Promise 1. Eph. 13.14 which is the earnest of my Inheritance for the redemption of that libertie purchased vnto the prayse of his glorie whereby also peace and joy is kindled in my hart for I receiue the spirit of adoption whereby I crie Abba Father the same Spirit bearing witnesse to my Spirit Rom. 8.15 16. that I am the Sonne of God And not onely that but I participate the whole Trenitie the Father Sonne and Holie-Spirit who come vnto mee Ioh. 14.23 and dwell with mee so life euerlasting shall be bestowed vpon mee after this transitorie where I shall continually behold my Lord my God face to face and finally I haue here an vnion and fellowshippe with all the Saints for as hee sayd He that eateth my flesh Ioh. 6.56 and drinketh my bloud abideth in mee and I in him so hath hee sayde also that they all may bee one as thou O Father art in mee and I in thee euen that they may be also one in vs for we that are many are one bread and one bodie because wee are all partakers of one bread how joyfull am I of this heauenlie companie how glad am I of thy Saints to whose number thou hast adopted mee for the which I giue thee thankes honour and prayse for euermore Besides this it is written as oft as you eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup ye declare the Lords death vntill his comming againe wherein deare Soule I am rauished to the contemplation of the Third-heauen with Paule whereof this thy last Supper is as it were an entry and beginning for in thy Fathers Kingdome I shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacob and there feed vpon Thee the Bread of Life eternally and therefore sigh I from the bottome of my heart saying euen so Come Lord Iesus come quickly my Redeemer and tarrie not and therefore I am taught to powre out hartie thanksgiuings for all thy blessings wherewith thou hast blessed mee in heauenly things in
the soule learning to know the cause of sicknesse Hearest thou ô Soule in this poynt thou shouldest bee singularly attentiue for when the Lord shall intend to call thee all outward meanes must obey him for wheÌ„ we his creatures will not know the diseases of our soules then doth the Lord send sicknesse of body that wee might haue greater coÌ„sideration of our soules and bee alwayes in repentance and as our children sometimes meâ—it the rod and correction so do we deseâ—ue sicknesse and punishment at Gods hands ô thou merciful God if thou shouldst visit vs so often with sicknesse as wee deserue wee should not bee one twinckling of an eye in perfect health but it is but now and then that thou chastizest vs to the intent wee should euer remember and feare thy holy name And often it commeth to passe thatinfants and young ones are chastized of the L. so that they make the elder in yeeres sorrowfull and are mooued to lament and pity the poore distressed soules 2 Sam. 12.15 for sicknesse is an Ambassadour sent of God counselling vs to rise from sinne and not to perish in our wickednesse lest it bee sayd Woe vnto their soules Esay 3.9 for they haue rewarded euilto themselues marke deare Soule how insolently and carelesly men lead their liues that are not touched with the crosse or any sicknesse at all they regard not the word of God neither the Sacraments they forget both faith in Christ and prayer then are their soules in greatest danger for the lesse a father corrects the more disobedience groweth in his children so is it with mankinde the greater health and wellfare they haue the more negligent wax they and secure A comfortable Prayer in time of sicknes Lord Iesus Christ here lie I full sicke and acknowledge that it is thy fatherly pleasure that it should bee so for there cannot perish an haire of my head without thy will how then should I lose the precious gift of my health but by thy pleasure behold Lord thou hast euen made me such an one as thou willingly wouldst looke vpon and as thou in thy passion wast a worme and not a man Psal. 22.6 â—uen so hast thou made mee like vnto thee Psal. 39 11. ô my God when thou with rebukes doest correct man for his iniquity like a moth thou makest his beauty to consume away I thank thee my God that thou hast corrected mee for I know that it is for my weale my God thou louest mankinde well and faithfull are the wounds of a friend helpe me my God Pro. 27.6 that I may bee mindefull of this chastâ—zement all the dayes of my life and may feare thee and depart from euill which shall bee the health to my nauell Pro. 3.8 and marrow to my bones make mee circumspect ouer sin that some danger or other a great deale worse then this befall not euen for my Sauiour Iesus Christ sake to whome be all honor and glory now and for euer Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may haue remission of my sinnes and be reconciled to God Spirit Secondly seeing that now thine outward sicknesse affrayes thee and thou art sicker where thou feelest it not giue diâ—igence aboue all things to apply physicke thereto thy true health is repentance and stedfast faith in Iesus Christ by which thou mayest attaine forgiuenesse of sinne and a mercifull father in heauen for by faith thy hart is purified and accouÌ„ted righteous thou receiuest peace and ioy in conscienc so that thou art reuiued although thy body be weak and diseased The sicke persons prayer and confession that his sinnes are cause of his sicknesse I confesse before thee my Lord Iesus Christ with a broken and contrite heart that I haue procured this my sicknesse by my sinnes and am greeued from my soule and heart that I haue offended thy Maiestie and brought my selfe to this mishap yet ô Lord thou settest not light by a sorrowfull soule looke therefore vnto my miserie Psal. 147.3 and heale my wounded heart â—orgiue me all my trespasses and cleanse mee from my wickednesse wherby I haue kindled thy wrath against me ô Lord my Redeemer who speakest alway peace vnto thy pâ—ople and consolation to the perplexed Comfort my Soule say vnto my hart ioyfull words Sonne be of good cheere Matth 9.2 thy sinnes are forgiuen thee how am I thereby refreshed in my soule life marrow and bones Yea Lord Iesus if thy holy word were not my trust then should I perish in my weaknesse I beleeue and am perswaded that by thee Iesus Christ attonement is made for mee reconciliation with thy father purchased and I am ordained to that heauenly blessednesse to which thou of thine infinit mercy bring mee for Christ sake to whom bee glory and honour Amen Flesh. Shew me how I may pray for a gracious departure in time of sicknesse Spirit Thirdly in time of sicknesse we should haue our recourse vnto our God Psal. 41.3 the Lord will strengthen vs vpon the bed of languishing and make our beds in sicknesse and therefore my sonne in thy sicknes be not negligent but pray vnto the Lord as did Ezekiah and he will make thee whole Esay 38.2 leaue off from sin and order thy hands aright and cleanse thine heart from all wickednes and see thou communicate thine inward sorrow and greefe Eccles. 38.9.10 vnto the congregâ—tion of the Saints of God that they may ioyne with thee in praier for many stickes make the greater fire Verily verily I say vnto thee saith our Sauiour that if two of you shall agree on earth Mat. 18.19 as touching any thing what they shall aske shall bee done for them of my father which is in heauen for where two or three are gathered together in my name Vers. 20. there am I in the midst of them and if it be that thy sicknesse bee so vehement and thou so weake that thou canst not pray with thy mouth make then sighes and groanings of a true heart to ascend vnto the Lord for the spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh intercession for vs Rom. 8.26 with groanings which cannot bee vttered perseuer therefore in inuocating on Gods name by thy voice thoughts and cogitations and by the Church and delay not before that the Lord doe looke vpon thee and helpe thee The sicke mans Prayer O LOrd Iesus Christ thou hast sent thy messenger which is sicknesse vnto me to waken vp my repentance be hold my Lord I know it is thy will thou wouldest haue me obedient and conuerted vnto thee I haue nothing to direct vnto thee but my prayers and the poore sinfull and imperfect sighes of my heart out of the deeps therefore I haue cried vnto thee Lord heare my voice let thine eares bee attentiue to the voice of my supplications I wayte for the Lord my Soule doth waite and in
Faith and not by feeling I teach thee humilitie and not to glorie but in infirmiâ—ies 2. Cor. 11.30.31 for Paul for all his Reuelations was afraid of Aretas and let downe in a basket Elias who commaunded as it were the Heauens to rayne and not to raine hid himselfe in a caue from Iesabell 1. â—i 19.9 Iacob was afraid of his brother Abraham of Pharoah and the Philistims in Gerah O how dearly loued I them but when the starre appeareth againe Mat. â— the wisemen reioiced with an exceeding great ioy Rachel had Labans gods which made him more eager to seeke them I may frowne for a while yet not alwaies retaine my anger No truely Ps. 103.9 I am not angrie at all as a Iudge to punish but as a Father to correct a brother to admonish I cannot cease to loue my owne members Doth anie man strike his owne flâ—sh at any time Thou art one of my members ingrafted in my body by my Spirit and a liuely faith I haue said and doe not repent thou that beleeuest in me art deliuered from the power of darkenesse by my Father and art translated into the kingdome of Mee his deare Sonne The SOVLE THe wordes that thou speakest sweet Redeemer of Mankind are Spirit and Life but thou speakest of affections reformed which I find not How cold are my Prayers O how hard is my hart it cannot powre it selfe out like Water before Thee it cannot admit any impression of thy Word or finger of thy spirit my wauering faith is not confirmed by it I lacke that heauenly light to discerne of my troubles and crosses aright Finally I haue little or no comfort in thy Word wanting the apprehending applyâ—â—g faith the hand of my Soule O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me miserable sinner O sweet Samaritan take mee vp which am halfe dead CHRIST THou hast redemption in my bloud Col. 1.14 euen the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes for they shall neuer bee imputed vnto thee neither heere nor elsewhere neither doe they raigne in thy mortall body but thou hast a serious reluctation against them neither thy vnworthines maketh thee vncapable of the greatest mercies they are of my meere and free loue and grace thou art not the obiect of thine owne faith but I my merits obedience who am by faith vnited vnto thee as a head to a member then look vpon mee I am in thee and thou art in me that which God hath conioyned who can separate it or who can plucke thee out of my fathers hand my father and I am one and my Spirit which hath wrought in thee that desire of profiting by the Word whereof thou so heauily complainest will make thee reape manifold fruits of the immortall seed of the Word in due season which is sowed in the furrowes of thy hart I do feed thee for a time with a sparing hand to sharpen thine appetite wait and trust on me and I will comfort thy heart Psal. 27.16 truly flesh and bloud hath not reuealed the hardnes of thy heart vnto thee but my spirit which worketh the sight of thy corruptions Esa. 63. â—7 I which haue begunne this good worke will performe it Phil. 1.6 It is good for thee that thou bewailest thy defects and wants quench not these motions of my spirit in thee prayer is my gift it is I that worke both the will deede Lam. 1.22 it is I that mark thy many sighs the faintings of thy heart yea my spirit doth make request for thee with sighs that cannot bee expressed when thou holdest thy peace or little knowest of it The sacrifice of God are not words Psal. 51.17 but a contrite spirit a contrite and broken heart I will not despise I know thy thoughts before thou thinke them Psal. 1 39.2 thy sighing is not hid from me I doe heaâ—e thy desire Psal. 38.9 Psal. 10.17 it is I that doe put vp as Mediator betwixt thee and my father thy prayers vnto the golden viols which are full of the precious odours of my merits thereby perfumeth and maketh them an offring of sweet smelling sauour vnto him Reu. 5.8 and purgeth their corruptions in my bloud and vnto my throne there is a purple ascent the perfectest bewty is the perfectest mixture of red and white afflictions staineth not but adorneth the beautie of my graces The SOVLE I Am not so washed I see in the lauer of regeneration but that there remaineth in mee slaines of that scarlet engrained die of my corruption I am not wholly spirit as the carnall man is wholly slesh but 〈◊〉 at ciuill wars within my selfe In the spirit I serue the Law of God in the flesh the law of sinne O deare Iesus grant me thy spirit grace 1 Thess. 5.22 that I may auoid the occasions of sinne I may make conscience of my lâ—ast sinnes I may carefully watch ouer my heart that I be not surprized at vnawares I may rest in thy promised assistance and not in mine owne power and haue recourse vnto thee by feruent praier crauing thy ayd that I may bee enabled to stand in the daie of temptations but alas deare Sauiour it vexeth mee greatly that I doe not much Lord thou knowest feele my faith nor the fruits thereof which maketh mee I know not what to thinke that I haue no true faith or if I haue it is yet in the infancy thereof CHRIST FAith is the eye hand and foot of the Soule for by it it commeth seeth and layeth hold on mee seeke light in the Word which is Truth by praier that thou bee not deceiued and follow the same light so farre as thou shalt be warranted thereby the conscience maketh the assumption but examined it by my word lest thou fall in errour and for to learne deere Soule to discerne betwixt the punishment for sinne and trial of thy faith patience and purging of Sinne for I often afflict inwardly the soule with deep sense of sinne and the bodie with crosses outwardly not to prosecute sinne in thee Ier. 51.7 for then it should follow that as the wicked mine enemies exceede in sinne so should they exceed in afflictions also but thee I lead as a louing Spouse with cords of aman Hos. 11.4 euen with bands of loue for whom I loue I rebuke For I am good a strong hold in the daie of trouble and know them that trust in me Nah. 1.7 Nourish this in thine heart it is more certaine and durable then heauen and earth The SOVLE O My sweet Sauiour thou hast taken my feet out of the mire I stucke iâ— Psal. 4.1 Luk. 1.49 and put me at more large liberty of minde thou that art mighty hast done for me great things and holy is thy name thou wilt performe thy worke toward me O Lord Psal. 138.8 thy mercie endureth for euer forsake not the worke of thy owne hands thou hast deliuered me from