thou cursedst and it withered without naturall affections bemoane thee as the stones that clave the veile that rent and the earth that quaked at thy Passion without wil voluntarily offer thee service the Foale to beare thee the Dove to manifest thee the Fish to discharge thee the Sunne to hide thy ignominy among men and here the Cloud to veile thee from mortall eye and transport thee into heaven O Lord my Redeemer how excellent is thy Name in all the world Thou makest the Light thy Garment the Angells thy Messengers the Aire thy race the Clouds thy Chariot and flyest upon the wings of the wind into heaven Thou art ascended up on high thou hast led Captivity captive In thy Passion thou wast Deaths death and killedst it In thy buriall thou wast the Graves grave and destroyedst Destruction And now in thy Ascension thou conqueredst Conquest it selfe and ledst Captivity captive and receivedst Gifts for men for the whole Church and every beleever O Lord bestow these Gifts liberally upon me that I may grow in grace and the knowledge and love of thee This day thou liftedst up thy body from the earth lift up my heart from it This day thou transportedst thy body to heaven transport my desires thither This day thou setledst thy self in thy Throne at the right hand of thy Father fix my thoughts and settle mine affections on thee in heaven and on heaven for thee Amen VENVS OR A Meditation on Whitsunday IN the old Testament I find that two several times fire descended from heaven upon sacrifices prepared for offrings of a sweet smelling savour unto the Lord. The first was when Manoah the father of Sampson at the commandement of the Angel offered a Kid upon a stone Then did he whose name is marvellous do wondrously and ascended in the flame up into heaven for the strengthning of Manoahs faith and for the confirmation of the truth of his promise The other was when Eliah for confirmation of the true religion and extirpation of idolatry called for fire from Heaven which consumed the sacrifice and licked up the water in the Trench round about the Altar Then did the Lord manifest himself to be the only God that all superstitions and will-worship is the invention of mans braine And in the New Testament I reade that as on this day the Holy Ghost the third person in the blessed Trinity descended from heaven and sate upon the heads of 120 men and women assembled and prepared as a sacrifice acceptable to God with unity charity and devotâ—on in the likenesse of cloven fiery tongues then did God the Sonne worke wonderfully in performing his promise by sending his dejected Disciples a holy Comforter by whose comming besides the internall joy and incredible alacrity and exultation of minde they received also fortitude and audacity to goe forth into the world They received the gift of tongues enabling them to converse and deale with all sorts of people They received wisdome and learning with most powerfull illumination in highest mysteries whereby to preach to teach and convince their adversaries They received the gift of prophesie to foretell things to come together with the power of working signes and miracles whereby the whole world remained astonied and for a taste or earnest penny of that which should ensue concerning the infinite increase of that little congregation they saw 3000 of their adversaries converted to them in one day by a Sermon of S. Peter But all the parâ—iculars of this story is so divinely performed by M. Austin that in his work as in a glasse I perceive my gifts of learning and devotion are as farre inferiour to his as the frothy filthy and carnall love in Venus is inferiour to the holy Spirit of Gods love Yet because I have oft found in Scripture that the Lord is pleased for the illumination of mans dark understanding to speake of himselfe as of a man attributing to himselfe eyes nose mouth armes hands feet c. And affections also as anger zeale joy love c. whereas these qualities are not properly in God for he is voide of corporeall habit being of an infinite and incomprehensible essence Therefore I was so presumptuously bold as in my former expressions to demonstrate the meritorious actions of our blessed Saviour by those forenamed Planets so in this day to write of this blessed spirit of Gods love as it hath correspondency with mans but finding my ability to be insufficient for such a work I conclude with the prayer for the day in these words Incomprehensible Spirit the third person in the blessâ—d and glorious Trinity who after the Father had manifested himselfe to the world in the works of creation and the sonne in the works of Redemption finished in the flesh diddest manifest thy selfe on this day in a wonderfull manner by the sound of a â—ushing winde and the light of fiery tongues manifest thy self most powerfully and gloriously in the universall Church by enlarging her bounds and making up her breaches by hallowing her assemblies and furnishing her Pastors and knitting the hearts of all her members in true love the bond of perfection perfect the work of sanctification in thine elect manifest thy selfe also gloriously this day declare thy gifts in the tongues of thy Preachers and eares of the hearers and the hearts of all the congregation Direct the mouthes of thy Preachers that they may skilfully sow the seed and open the eares and mollifie the hearts of the hearers that they may receive it profitably bring forth the fruits of the Spirit abundantly which are love joy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance c. O eternall and infinite Holy Ghost the love of the Father and the Sonne who diddest descend upon our Saviour in the likenesse of a Dove without Gall purge out of my conscience all gall of malice and bitternesse and grant that with meeknesse I may receive the ingrafted word which is able to save my soule O holiest Spirit eternall breath of the Father and the Sonne and former of the word in the womb who camest with a sound come downe upon me in the sound of thy word preached though not in extraordinary gifts of Prophesie tongues and he ling yet in the ordinary graces of faith hope and charity the spirit of supplication and prayer of wisdome and spirituall understanding of power and ghostly comfort O heavenly Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Sonne who descendedst from Hâ—aven like a mighty rushing winde throw me downe to the ground inhumility and prostrate my heart soule before thee Bâ—at downe all strong holds of 〈…〉 nall maginati 〈…〉 and worldly thoughts resisting thy grace chase away all clouds of error out of my understanding cleare my wil from all fogs of noisome desires coole and refresh me in the heat of persecution fill the sailes of my affections and drive me speedily into the faire haven where I would be O divine fire burning continually
divided into foure parts Europe Asia Africa and America And as in the World are foure corners commonly called the foure winds East West North and South so accordingly the yeare is divided into foure parts which I terme the foure corners of the outward court of this rough hew'd building to wit Ver Aestas Autumnus and Hyems First Ver or the Spring like a young lively youth of a sanguine complexion rosie cheeks smooth face of light and nimble motion casteth a cheerefull and lovely look upon the face of the earth and with a greene fragrant and lightsome mantle cloathes her grosse body in variety of wholesome hearbs sweet flowers delicious fruit and nourishing grain for the use of Man and all creatures Now it is that Fowles of the aire couple beasts of the earth increase and fish of the water multiply in abundance and leave the deepe to live in more shallow places The countrey life is most pleasant and the aire most pure and wholesome to which element this season is resembled For as the nature of the aire is hot and moist so is the Spring or sanguine complexion of a cheerefull and comfortable condition Therfore I conclude this season with a prayer to God that as in the spring all vegetative and sensitive creatures begin to grow and increase upon the face of the earth and waters so it would please him to sow in my heart such saving seed that now I may begin to grow and increase in spirituall knowledge and bring forth the pleasant fruit of a holy life and righteous conversation to the glory and praise of God the good of my neighbour and salvation of my owne soule Secondly Aestas or Summer like a man of full growth strong and lusty in the prime of his strength with a fierce and fiery aspect parcheth withereth grasse and graine for now heaâ— is at the highest floods at the lowest the seas most patient and the winds most calme the earth suted in her richest imbroidery distributeth her bounty to the use of living creatures flowers are now in their bravery fruits in their prime and all creatures in their lustre The Sun is now in his chiefest strength and is as hot as fire which is the Metaphor to which I compare this quarter of the yeare for as the element of fire is hot and dry so is the quality of Summer or humour of choler The lesson that I gather from hence is that as the Summer ripens all grains fruits so doe I desire of God to send downe the Son of righteousnesse into my soule to quicken inflame and ripen the graces of his Spirit sowne therein by the seed of his sacred Word that I may seeme beautifull and lovely as a burning and shining lampe in the midst of a froward generation that others of greater gifts seeing some little sparke of goodnesse in me may be incited thereby far to exceed and excell me in vertuous qualities and commendable works Thirdly Autumnus or Harvest like an ancient man with a white head and gray beard of a ripe age full of good workes in his youth and strength performed with an austere solid melancholy and sage countenance looking upon the face of the earth with a favourable aspect renders to the toyling Husband-man the fruits of his former labours for now grasse is mowne corne reaped fruits gathered leaves fall flowers fade and the earth loseth her former beauty floods increase springs decrease and all creatures lose their strength and vigour and the most part of sensible creatures seeke shelter against the stormy ensuing Winter and therefore well compared to the earth being cold and dry of a solid temper grosse body and lumpish disposition though the naturall quality of this quarter is cold and moist as water Now the use that I learn from hence is to pray to God to send his illuminating Spirit into my heart that I may seriously consider and wisely ponder all my former actions from thence gather and receive the comfortable fruit of the good God hath enabled me to performe and truly heartily and unfeinedly repent of those things I have done that I should not against God my neighbour or my selfe that thereby I may prepare and labour to make my selfe ready with such strong and approved furniture as may be able to defend me against the blustrous and stormy assaults of the flesh the world and the devill at the winter of pale fac't death Fourthly Hyems or Winter like an angry old man worne out with cares perplexed with griefe and impatient in suffering with a waspish fretfull and phlegmatick countenance looketh upon the face of the earth for now the blustring winds break forth causing the billowes of the Ocean to swell threatning to swallow the sea-tost Mariner floods are up and the cold aire taketh away the strength and vigour from all creatures The pores of the earth are shut by the extreame coldnesse of the aire beasts and cattell seeke for shelters Monsters Serpents and ravenous creatures for dens fowles betake themselves to the warmest regions and fishes to the deepest waters so that whatsoever the cheerfull Spring and comfortable Summer did bring forth and nourish this quarter doth destroy and vanish In nature it is cold and moist as the waters yet the true naturall quality of this quarter is cold and dry as earth and well likened thereto because of their roaring and turbulent motions for the Winter is for the most part tempestuous and stormy in mighty winds slabby rain thrilling haiel and snow nipping frost and chilling cold Now the use that I draw from hence is the consideration of old age that I having by the enablement of Gods Spirit finished the delightfull and pleasant flower of my age in the growth of piety the flourishing Summer of my dayes in vertuous and commendable actions and the fruitfull contemplation and meditation of the good I have performed may by Faith and Love seeke and provide for my poore soule a safe harbour in the Merits of my blessed Saviour against the approaching winter of old age when the sun of naturall heat declineth the frost of chilling griefs perplex mee and the blustrous stormes of slanderous tongues backbite me And so laying and bequeathing my body quietly and comfortably in the bed of the grave my soule may with joy and alacrity ascend to receive a new growth in eternall glory with God and the rest of his chosen vessels A Flower or a Meditation on the Purification of the Virgin MARY THus having shaped the foure corners of the outward Court of this building I should now let you take a view of the foure sides thereof Therefore as on the East you may be pleased to behold a fragrant and glorious Flower on which or rather in which the Sun of Righteousnesse did arise Now that I may with more pleasure demonstrate the vertues thereof as a praeludium to the following discourse I am bold to make relation of this fancy As I lay musing in my
grace And the duty on our part that we may be fitted for this great benefit is a godly resolution joyned with an earnest endeavour to consecrate our selves to the forsaking of sin and wickednesse and a lively faith whereby we lay hold and feele the power of this inward washing by the Holy Ghost Therefore I conclude with the prayer for the day which I finde excellently framed to my hand in these words Most tender and compassionate Lord now first knowne by thy name Jesus who being the true Vine which yeeldest the wine that gladdeth the heart wast pruned this day with the sharpe knife of circumcision and bâ—eddest for me have pitty and compassion on me who with weeping eyes and a bleeding heart come unto thee beseeching thee that these drops of blood which fell from thee this day may satisfie for the sin of my Birth and the whole streame that ran from all the parts of thy body in the Garden and on the Crosse may expiate all my numberlesse actuall sins whether they be sinnes of lighter tincture or of a skarlet dye sinnes like beames or sins like moats sins conceived in the heart only or sins brought forth into act sins in my beleefe or sins in my life sins once committed or sins often repeated sins before or after my calling sins of impiety against thee or sins of Iniquity against my neighbour or sins of impurity against my owne flesh for of all these I have a great load they are more in number then the haires of my head they are a burden too heavie for me to beare they lye upon my conscience like so many Talents of lead and would presse me downc to hell did not thy mercy take hold of the hand of my faith to support me in hope even above hope How should I hope if I think upon thy greatnesse how should I not hope iâ— I think upon thy goodnesse How should I hope if I weigh my sins How should I not hope if I weigh thy Merits How should I hope if I coÌ„sider my Actions How should I not hope if I consider thy Passions How should I hope if I number my Transgressions How should I not hope if I number thy Blessings and favours towards me How should I hope if I remember how oft I have refused grace after it hath bin offered unto me How can I but hope if I remember how oft Grace hath been offered unto me after I refused it And still hope I will as long as thou retainest thy Name JESUS which this day thou receivedst when thou offeredst the first fruits of thy blood for my sin without which thou couldst not have been my JESUS for so foule and festered were my sores that nothing could heale them but a bloodie knife But why should this bloody instrument be applyed to thy purest tenderest Immaculate flesh made all of Virgins blood There was no superfluity to be pared off in thee nor ranke blood to be let out the superfluous skinne was on me yet the knife is on thee the festered sores were in my body yet the lance is in thy flesh Thou hast the paine I the ease thou the smart I the cure O wonderfull Cure O more wonderfull Love out of the mouths of babes and sucklings as thou hast ordained so maist thou justly challenge Praise who in thy Inâ—ancie madest such an assay of my Redemption and tenderedst the earnest of thy blood for me Not nine dayes old thou sheddest drops of blood for mee far more precious than so many drops of the richest Balsamum to cure my wounds Let all flesh praise thee who healest it by thy wounds eternall thanks be given unto thee for thy Circumcision whereby thou hast abolished Circumcision it selfe and provided me an easier remâ—dy of originall sin the sacred Laver of Regeneration Water now serveth in stead of blood and a gentle rubbing of the flesh for cutting and wounding it By the Circumcision of thy flesh thou hast merited for me the fulfilling of thy Fathers promise and condition of his Covenant to circumcise the fore-skin of our hearts By this thy rasor thou hast fitted the Tables of my heart now write thy Lawes and love in them By receiving this Seale of the Covenant in thy flesh thou hast sealed to me thy care of me in thy nonage First O Lord I am everlastingly to praise thee for taking my flesh upon thee and next for leaving part of it with me as a pledge of thy love thou bearest to me from thy Mothers wombe In thy infancie thou bleddest for me in thy twelfth yeare thou arguedst for me in thy youth thou obeyedst for me and in thy ripe and perfect age thou sufferedst and dyedst for me To thee therefore as it is my bounden duty I offer the buds of my child-hood the blossoms of my youth and the fruits of my age As thou betimes didst set to the work of my Redemption and on those termes acceptedst the Name JESUS So let me betimes give my name to thee and enter into thy service Let me beare thy yoke even from my youth Lord who this day wert circumcised in the flesh Circumcise me in the heart that I may in purity sincerity and uprightnesse of heart walk before thee all the dayes of my life neither circumcise my heart only but my ears eyes hands head and feet that no superfluity of maliciousnesse nor impurity remain in me Now thou hast renewed the face of the earth renew this day and repaire thy decayed Image in me Thou hast begun a new year begin in me a new Reformation make mee I beseech thee a cleane heart and renue a right spirit within me The yeare like the Serpent hath cast off his old skin and put on a new so let mee also cast off my old Man and put on the new Man and from this day to my old age and death walk in newnesse of life That I may be a fit guest to bee admitted into the new heaven where dwellâ—â—h Righteousnesse and to be entertained at thy Table and drink new Wine with thee in thy heavenly Kingdome for evermore Amen MARS or a Meditation on Ashwednesday IN time of the ceremonial Law the Paschall Lambe was commanded to bee rosted with fire dressed and prepared with sowre hearbs to be a fitting sacrifice to God for the people And Christ the true Paschall Lambe in accomplishment thereof throughout the whole course of his life was continually broyled in the fire of affliction and seasoned with the sowre revilings and bitter taunts of malicious men that he might become a pleasant sacrifice to God his Father Now as the Planet Mars is three yeares before he accomplish or fulfill his celestiall race so likewise Christ in the race or circuit of his ministeriall office was three yeares viz. from the one and thirtieth yeare of his age to his death And as Mars though in himselfe inoffensive yet opposed by contrary aspects proves fatall so Christ if well placed in pious hearts