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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77634	Sacred principles, services, and soliloquies or, a manual of devotions made up of three parts: I. The grounds of Christian religion, and the doctrine of the Church of England, as differing from the now-Roman. II. Daily, and weekly formes of prayers fortified with Holy Scriptures, meditations and rules to keep the soule from the common roads of sin, and carry it on in a mortified course. III. Seven charges to conscience, delivering (if not the whole body) the main limbs of divinity, which is the art not of disputing, but living well.	Brough, W. (William), d. 1671.	1649 (1649)	Wing B4991; Thomason E1339_1; ESTC R209131	186,268	487

from our sinnes in his owne Blood and of vassals and slaves of Satan hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father To him be Glory and Dominion and therefore from us Duty and Obedience for ever and ever Amen 3. So then My Soule Take them And Canst thou valew them enough Never too much Thy Bodies Health is worth all the World but thy owne worth more then Ten Thousands of Worlds Ten Millions of Bodies It 's worth as much as Salvation as Eternity comes to beyond all valew As much as thy Christ thy Saviour thy God is worth above Myriads of Salvation For Repentance Recovers thy Sickness * Gods salve for every sore Latimer Tit. 1. 13. Col. 1. 11. Joh. 3. 15. Act. 16. 31 Faith sets thee Sound Obedience keeps thee strong all give a state of good and perfect health and so save from death And my Soule valew faith above all So God doth and therfore ascribes thy health to it alone to shew it the Cheife And so it is Repentance is but a Preparative to it Obedience a Preservative of it Faith is the Royall Grace Repentance the Latimer Ser. 7. before K. Ed Vsher that goes before Obedience that bears up the Train after it The Queen Mother of this the Mistresse to that Regent to both O My Soule The Cordiall is above all because Christ is all in all The Quintessence of Heavenly vertue Col. 3. 11. the Elixar of all Grace the very Sp●rit of Goodnesse and the perfection of all Col. 2. 9. Eph. 1. 23. Col. 1. 15. Perfections both in Heaven and Earth Beare no Heart in thy Body then not this in thy heart O let that pretious Viall never want this Holy Essence Count worldly good grease to this Oyle All Delights death to this Glad Psal 4. 6. Phil. 3. 8. Col. 1. 27. Apoc. 2. 10 Apoc. 3. 11 nesse All Honours shames to this Glory Keep thy Christ as thy Crowne thy Life as the Crowne of Life thy Immortall Crown and Keep thy Faith as Him for thou hast and holdest Him in it Keep Him as thy Saviour and it as thy Salvation Him as thine Heb. 10 19 1 Pet. 1. 3 4 Eph. 2. 18. Jam. 3. 2. Inheritance and this as thine Interest Him as the onely Sanctuary of a troubled Spirit and this as the only Accesse to Him If Defects be in thy Repentance Errors in thy Obedience as there may there will be in both fly by Faith unto thy Sanctuary Hide thy Selfe in his wounds Hold by the Hornes of the Altar Creep under his wings Die within his Armes goe run from the Pursuer of blood to this Heb. 3. 18. 19. City of Refuge Enter in by thy Faith And My Soul Keep the viall clean that the Elixar goe not out Wash it with Repentance and Dry it with Obedience that it be so kept let them doe that Duty to it that doth so much good and help for them And then My Soul thou shalt be healthy and strong and happy in them all Of old all was not enough for thy health but Christ hath Mediated thy Covenant thus New And to doe this Heb. 8. 6. Duty God for his sake will give thee Ability Ability of Grace to doe him acceptable Service Take his Word for it he Promiseth he will And his Command with it for he Saies thou must A New heart will I give you and a Ezek. 36. 26. new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart and give you a heart of flesh And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and you shall keep my judgements to doe them Therefore saith the Lord God Repent Ezek. 18. 31 32. and turne your Selves from all your transgressions So iniquity shall not be your ruine Cast away all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new Spirit For will yee die O House of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God Wherefore turne your selves and live The Summe of this Soliloquie God hath appointed Remedies against our failings in His Service 2. Repentance is the Sinners first Remedie And a most faire and Soveraigne Remedie Experiments of it Taking it by Halves or Deferring it too long makes it not to be Saving To Delay it to future is dangerous till death Desperate 2. Faith is a Sinners Cordiall Most pretious because Christ is cheife yea onely Ingredient of it and taken by it Excellent Spirits begot by the Cordiall of true faith Six counterfeits of faith not truly cordiall 3. Obedience in the New Covenant the Souls Preservative in ●ealth Why it is called New and how it is Preservative of it Some take Poison instead of this Preservative The Proofs of these three Remedies and Prescripts how and when to take them and Pretiousnesse of all and of Faith in Cheife Helps to Heaven and Happinesse OR A Soliloquie acquainting the Soul with such Reliefs and Aids as will facilitate and further her Course and Progresse in the wayes of Godlinesse The second Part. Holy Actions and Cautions great Assistants to Piety MY Soul If good Meditations 3. Division and Motions live in thee the mind may do much But when all that is done there must be more And thy Ear Eye Heart Hand Mouth every one must doe his Part Hear Read Resolve Practice Pray all must be in Action And Conscience must keep a particular watch too and have some things in Holy Caution This will compleat all And the Good is not meane which may be done by The Eare. For my Soul by this Dore Gods Act. 14. 2● 16. 14. Joh. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Joh. 10. 27 Joh. 13. 17 Psal 109. 105. Jer. 23. 29. 2 Cor. 4. 45. Luk. 24 42. 2 Tim. 4. 2 3. 16. Luk. 11. 28. Heb. 5. 11. Isa 28. 10. Heb. 6. 1 2 Heb. 4. 12. Word is received in Baptisme first sets thee Preaching keeps thee on thy feet For what are they but to know and do And in Gods Word is both light and heat and both are Communicated by good Preaching And observe that my Soul to avoid common Errour The work of it is both on minde and heart to informe and enflame Til thou dost as well doe good as know it the Preacher hath not done his nor thou thy work He may tell thee that in an hour which he can scarce teach thee to doe in a life The Principles of Christianity are easie but the Practise is hard And Efficacy as well as Instruction is the work of the Word Even the Preached Word So it be duly Preached For that my Soul thou shalt doe well to eye as another prevailing but most pestilent error The Pulpit doth not make the Word nor Speaking from it Preaching But a Reverend handling of Holy Scripture according to the Truth of Gods Sense and to the aimes

the Devill of more goodnesse wisdome care and power to save then he is able to destroy Thou canst send more succours to me then he can bring forces against me more holy Angels then he hath wicked Spirits Lord give me that strength Lord send me those succours Put upon me the armour of light to fight with the Rulers of darknesse Let the Helmet of hope be on my head and the brestplate of faith and love on my heart that I be not mortally wounded in the fight In my extremity send thy Angels to succour me And let thy holy Spirit be my Leader that the evill one may not be my Conquerour Lord Jesus that knowest what it was to be tempted and didst overcome the Tempter for me relieve my frailty when I am tempted and suffer not Satan to overcome me And let me be sober and watch and pray that I enter not into Temptation that thou mayest relieve me O Lord How shall I not fall into the hand of Hell if I throw my selfe into Temptation From such presumptions O Christ preserve me How many soules have beene left and lost in those bold adventures of their strength make me sadly to consider that such a daring Spirit may never possesse me Let me remember with feare and trembling what great Saints have falne that I may with an humble and holy care and feare seeke for thy strength to stand and being upheld by thy right hand may never fall But let me not cast my self out of thine into Satans hand for if thou Lord doe not uphold and he pull downe how shall I stand And let me keepe my wayes that I cast not my selfe out for thou wilt not protect me but in thy wayes And let me not runne my selfe into temptation for that is out of my wayes and thy protection Thou great Shepheard of the sheep keepe me a poore Lambe of thy fold Thou Lion of the Tribe of Juda that hast prevailed save me from the roaring Lion that he may never prevaile And in and from all his Temptations deliver me in thy mercy that he may not devour my soule for all his roaring Rescue me thou that didst redeeme me Preserve me thou that didst create me my Lord and my God my strength hope deare Jesus Amen TUESDAY A Prayer against the World O Lord The World is a strong Enemy to conquer The great Conquerors of the powers were Captives to the vanities of the World yet by thy strength it may be conquered for thou art greater then he that is the world Thou didst O Saviour conquer it for me and by thy aide I may conquer it for my selfe And by thy will I must conquer it with thee on earth if I will triumph with thee in Heaven O then let me resolutely set and fit my selfe for the conquest of the world And to the forces of reason Lord give me the powers of grace by which I may make a conquest This world is but for a time and will end at last and how soone to me thou Lord onely knowest and did it endure what comfort or contentment can my immortall soule receive in any or all the good of the world O let me not lose my eternall inheritance in the world to come for a poore portion in this present world Thou Lord hast made me in it but me for thy self and it for me O then let me never be of it let my Spirit alwayes be above it Let me not make my Servant my Soveraigne good Assist me by thy grace that I may not O God! And because my senses are so naturall and neare unto me and the world takes my soule captive by the power of my senses O let me watch those gates against the entries of Temptations and looke well to my sense that I lose not my soule That I doe not Lord keepe me from all evill from the men and from the things of the world From Companies and Counsels and examples of the ill set on by the Devill to wooe for the world Lord keep me as so many foes and fiends to my soule and let me rather suffer them as my sorrowes then take solace in such men From the Vanities of the world that they doe not allure me and the miseries of it that they may not deject me The great powers by which the world assaults me defend me O Lord that they doe not overcome me and let me looke well to my soule because I am never free from such assaults From the Vanities of Riches Honours Pleasures the prevailing goods of the world the Heaven she brings And from the miseries of wants scornes ignominies injuries tortures the powerfull ills of the world the Hell she hath Lord keep me that they lead not my soule into the Captivitie of sin lest I feele a worser Hell and lose a better Heaven Let me not lose thy favour for the smiles nor incurre thy displeasure for the frownes of this world Let neither her Sorceries bewitch me to ill nor her Tyrannies fright me from good Let my love and feare be both on thee the good and ill not of this but another life On that be my heart on this my foot Let me love and value and use this world onely as it may helpe me to that Not for the Throne of my Spirit but the footstoole of my soule By whose good my body may be better enabled to serve my Spirit and both to serve Thee and come to the good of a better world For such a Conquest Lord strengthen me and to these Triumphs above bring me even for his sake who hath overcome the flesh the Devill and the World for me Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen WEDNESDAY A Prayer against sudden Death O Thou great Judge of the world I am a child of death by the sentence of the Law for Adams sinne and have deserved it at the hands of thy Justice for my owne yet in thy mercy thou hast not executed that sentence upon me but to this day hast continued my life Yea most mercifull God when the feares and snares of Death and Hell tooke hold on me and my provocations were great against thee in those great distresses I called upon thee and thou didst heare me and deliver me Lord make me ever thankfull for thy goodnesse and take not away thy loving kindnesse from me though since I have not walked worthy of thy mercy Save my soule from the sins that trouble me Save my body from the sicknesses that feare me And save my life from all ill accidents and disasters that may befall me If thou speak the word O Lord I shall be safe body and soule and no ill can touch me Good Lord speake that word and save me Pardon my sins that they doe not destroy me and lengthen my dayes that I may better serve thee For a sudden death by a present repentance and good life Lord ever prepare me And from a sudden death by thy good providence deliver me That I may have

flamma c. Bern. O let my Heart never be so hard as to see those Wounds of so great love to me and have no woundings of affection for Thee for Thee And all in heaven and earth that have Relation unto Thee O Christ I am in love with the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ who would give His Joh. 3. 16. Rom. 8. 32 onely Sonne so to suffer on earth for a time that I might not frie in Hell for ever And I have love t● Thee O Holy Spirit of God who didst Anoint Jesus Isa 61. 1. to be my Christ and give Him Inauguration to his Crowne of Thornes and Blessed though most bloody Function O Holy Trinity I doe adore what I cannot comprehend as your Heavenly 1 Joh. 3. 7. Heb. 10. 7. Persons so your Counsels And with an humble love and holy reverence desire to behold and blesse your Designe for the Salvation of one World by the Passion of Him who is more worth than a Thousand I see and admire your wonderfull Wisdome Goodnesse and Power that could and did contrive such a Decree And next to your Persons that Blessed Trinity of your Perfections I will Ephes 3. 10 11. Col. 1. 27. for ever love admire and adore And next God I have love for thee O Man Son of man who ever thou art by His flesh and blood and bloody Passion made Gods Son and Brother of Christ Thy Heb. 2. 10 12 14. Ephes 2. 13. 19. Crosse O Jesus shall make all Mankind my friends and Thy Blood glue my heart to every man O Christ why should I hate any when Thou didst so love all How dare I slight any when Thou gavest thy Hearts-blood for every one shall he that is Mat. 25. 40. thy Brother be my hate or scorne And of all Mankind I love you ye Saints that are Twice his Brethren Rom. 12. 5 1 Cor. 12. 27. in Spirit and flesh so neer to Him in both as makes you His Limbs as well as Brothers And Thee O Holy 2 Cor. 11. 2. Col. 1. 18. Ephes 5. 23. Church Spouse of Him and Mother and Body of them yea the Body for which with specialty He gave His Blood and Selfe I have Passionate Ephes 5. 25. Act. 20. 28. Love for thee O thou Dearest Body of Christ shall I think any thing too good for thee for whom He gave Himselfe Preferring thee His Mysticall before His Naturall Body And shall I esteem friend or state or liberty or life or any thing or all things before thee And above all the world though no worship I have kindnesse for you you holy Angels of God who though you have no Ransome because no need of a Redeemers Blood nor had wherwithall as it needed not to pay and contribute at all to the Redemption yet for your Zeale to God and Love Luk. 2. 13. to Man gave it the joy as if it had been your Deliverance and Christ the Welcome as if He had come to be your Saviour Messengers of His Birth Ministers in his life Attendants at his Luk. 2. 11. Mat. 4. 11. Joh. 20 12. Luk. 24. 6. Act. 1. 11. Death Heraulds of his Resurrection and Ascension Giving to his Naturall Body all Due Services on earth and paying for him to his Mysticall your Heb. 1. 14. Holy Ministeries now he is in Heaven O you Pure and Holy Spirits of God! though you got not your Blisse you lost not by Him It is made more strong to you and you more High in Mediator Confirmationis it by the Numbers of Glorified Bodies filling the Rooms of Apostate Spirits to vour farre greater joy and Blisse You love Him and His Passion for it and I you for that You love Man above your owne Kind for that and I you for it Thus Lord I love all for Thee and Thee in all And now I will love my self amongst them O Lord I am One in whom is thy flesh a Man I am One in whom is thy Spirit a Christian I am One for whom thou didst Heb. 2. 12. Joh. 3. 5. Heb. 2. 9. Rom. 5. 5. Isa 43. 4. shed thy Blood On whom thou hast shed thy Spirit A Redeemed Esteemed Man by Thee And shall I be so poore as to value dirt to thy Blood the world before thee Shall I quit Phil. 3. 8. thy Spirit for lu●t value thee after the Flesh Shall I be tempted to give my selfe from thee to the Flesh and World love Thee lesse than the Devill O Lord I will value thy Blood more I will keep thy Spirit better I will set a higher price on my Self than to sell thy Blessed Purchase to the Devill for a Base piece of flesh and small portion of the World So am I and let me ever be in love with thee O Lord 2. But O Sinne I am in hate with thee for my owne and for my Saviours sake That didst pose Heaven it selfe and put God to it one of the two to damne my Soule or doe thus to my Saviour O thou Enemy of God Man how execrable art thou more than heart can think that madest Him Lamentable more than Eye saw Lam. 1. 12. And O Devill I hate thee who didst tempt man out of Paradise and so draw Christ to a Crosse And could thy Temptations have prevailed and thy power have matcht thy malice wouldst have cast the Second Adam out too that so nor the First nor His Seed might ever have come in againe And O World I abhorre thee as the Imp of the Devill who of His Jewes and Gentiles couldst find hands for such horrid acts and Sinnes that Act. 5. 27. made those Bloody Passions Sinne Devil World for the Death of my King and Lord and Christ Have as you deserve my hate 3. I long for the Lord My Soule longeth for God even the living God! Psal 42. 1. yea even for the dying God! when shall I come and appeare in the presence of God God dying once yet Apoc. 1. 18. Heb. 2. 8. living-ever when shall I come before the dying-living God! I long for the Chariot which will bring me to Thee and will Kisse it 2 Tim. 2. 12. though it be a Crosse I long for the Inne which will lodge me neare Thee and will embrace Phil. 1. 23. it though it be a Grave I long for the Bed which will raise me to Thee and will climb it though Act. 21. 13. it be a Gibbet O Cup of Salvation I will not refuse Psal 116. 12 thee Though full to Martyrs Mar. 10. 39 measure of blood if from Him thou shalt be drunke and yet deem'd nothing to thy Saviours Blood And till my Soule can come to thy Glorified-Crucified Body in Heaven I long after thy Courts where Thou art present in Spirit on earth To be Psal 95. 6. Mat. 28. 20 in thy Holy Temple which is the Chamber At the Altar and

Dr. J. White p. 122. Dr. F. White pag. 188. Ag. Fisher 2. Eccl. Lutheranorum v. Conf. Ausb c. Et Quae Calvinum sequitur v. Ipsum Alios ut supra 1. De Romanae Ecclesiae Corruptelis in Confessione audi conquerentem Cassandrum in Consult de Confessione p. 108. Salutaris haec confitendi medicina ab imperitis importunis medicis multis inutilibus traditiunculis infecta contaminata fuit quibus Conscientiis quas extricare levare debebant laqueos injecêrunt tamquam tormentis quibusdam excarnificârunt 2. De Angl. Eccl. circae haec Judicio Vide Cas ub Epist ad Front p. 129. Cujus rigidam quidem necessitatem quae apud vos obti●et Ecclesia Anglicana molliendam sibi certo consilioputavit rem quidem ipsam neque sustulit ullâ unquam lege neque damnavit Ib. 5. But whether in or out of these cases if I have any Be sure my Pilot have skill My guide Goodnesse My Judge ability My Physitian experience I will not put my Body into the hands of an Empirike My State to an Ignorant at Law The Key of my House to a Varlets or Ideots hand Take heede then to whose Conduct and Judgement and Counsell and Trust I commit the Key of Heaven and my Heart 2. Be my Confession made to the Coram ipsis confiteantur Dco Conf. Boh. sie Jos 7. 19. Supreame Judge or His Delegate God or his Deputy to Him or Before Him it must be 1. Humble As the Publicans Because I stand as a Prisoner before Luk. 18. 13 the Judge of Heaven and am Suppliant for His Mercy 2. Hearty As the Apostles Because 1 Tim. 1 13 at Gods Barre The Knower and Tryer of the Heart 3. Particular As the Kings Of Psa 51. 14 what doth or should most disquiet the Conscience * Enumerationem quâ gravioraomnia peccata diligenter expenduntur tanquam Spiritualia vulnera Spirituali Medico revelantur retineudam esse dubium non est Protestantes non aspernantur hujusmodi enumerationem Casaub Consult p. 108. Such are Commonly Sins of a more grievous Nature either for their 1. Matter As Sins of a greate Kind which greatly wound and waste the Conscience As Perjury Murder Adultery Blasphemy c. a Rom. 2. 29. Gal. 5. 21 22. 2. Manner As Sins against Vows and Promises b Ezek. 16. 59. 17 18. and Mercies c Hos 7. 15 Isay 1. 2. or against Knowledge d Jam. 4. 17. Joh. 9. 41. and and Conscience Especially Since we last Received the Holy Communion 3. Touching Conversion or Amendment of Life 1. THis is the End and Complement Act. 26. 20 Mat. 3. 8. Act. 3. 19. Jer. 35. 15. Ezek. 18. 30. Dan. 4. 27 of Repentance without which it's vaine and fruitlesse to confesse as touching our Soules health As to bleed is in vaine if we presently fall to distemper our Bloud againe and to vomit ill humours out of the Stomack if we avoid not those things which will fill it up againe So at present to be Sick of Sinne and Bleed the Heart in Contrition and to void it up in Confession * Quasi escam indigestam-Evomit peccata Orig. in Psal 31. 2 Pet. 2. 22. if we amend not our Lives but returne to our old Vomit againe That were but to abuse Gods Ordinances and to make our Confession and the Holy Sacrament it selfe our Sinne if they serve onely to encourage and strengthen our Soules in Sinne and not as God Institues them to Arme and Enable us against it 2. And if the Amendment be not thorough even this is but as withered Fruit and to no end if it be not Jer. 7. 5. Ezek. 36. 25 26. Joel 2. 12. Rom. 6. 17 1 King 9. 4 Heb. 13. 18 Psal 139. 23 24. 1 Tim. 1. 5. 9. Isay 39. 4. Psal 32. 2. Psal 119. 165. Job 27. 6. 1 Joh. 3. 21 Jam 4. 8. 1. Vpright As well within as without and reach not as well to the Heart as Life 2. Absolute Without exempting any Sinne or Lust whatsoever whether in Life or Heart else indeed it is not Vpright This makes a Pure Heart and Quiet Breast Integrity of Life Which ensures our Repentance Seales our Pardon and Pacifies our Conscience and makes us Approach Gods Holy Presence and Table with confidence Which is not to be done without full purpose and some measure of this Integrity 2. How to Demeane our selves at the Holy Communion WIth all Humble and Entire Devotion of Body and Soul 1. The Body cannot be too Reverent Eccl. 5. 2. Mic. 6. 6. Exod. 3. 5. Jam. 4. 8. Psa 132. 7 because the Misteries are so High and Holy in which we draw so near to God 2. The Soul cannot be too Devout Whose faculties are all to be improved to the best and uttermost to discharge her Duty aright in this Great and Holy Service Therefore 1. The Mind must be Elevated to Putasn in ter consis●● Chrys Heavenly thoughts and Contemplations Of the Mystery of Mans Redemption By Gods Miraculous Incarnation In a most Bitter and Bloudy Passion Out of the Bottomlesse Deep of Love and Goodnesse Whereof we are to Receive his Pretious Pledges and ●okens All this of and with and in our Dying Lord and Dear Redeemer we are to have in Actuall Mind and Memory And Him in all to Mat. 6. 26. 1 Cor. 11. 24. Admire and Adore And 2. The Heart is to be Ravished with such Infinite mercy in God to Sinfull miserable Man * Vide quo modo his qui Christi cōmemorant passionem inter sacra officia quasi per qu●sdum can●les de interioribus fontibus oriantur ●orrentes super om●es deli●ias ●●●rymis nectarcis anima delectetur Cypr. de c. D. Psa 116. 11 12. To contrive and give so Glorious a Redeemer and Redemption to save his Soul And now to present him with such Gracious Seales of his Love and Admit him into so near and Holy Communion And for this to be dissolved in love to God and Christ and Man for His sake Psal 116. 11 12. With resolute Vowes of Life and Death to His Service That we will give forgive doe suffer any thing for Him And from that to be filled with Holy Rapts and Joyes and Hopes * Inde sequitur mentis jubilus cbrietas Haec non accendit sed extinguit peccatum Cum sopivit oblivio cuncta caernis ludibria mira sunt quae senti● mira quae videt inaudita quae loquitur Cypr. Rom. 8. 32. Rom. 5. 9 10. in so great a Goodnesse of so Good a God who having done this will deny me nothing And maugre the Rage and Malice of Hell will not see my Soul lost for whom all this is done And for those who need an aide v. Meditation on the Sacrament on the Passion Such Meditations will now be perused well as they have found to move most to give more

of Gods Spirit a that 's 2 Tim. 1. 19 the true Preaching of the Word Tit. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 15. Neh. 8. 8. 2 Chr● 18. 21. 1 Tim. 4. 1 Joh. 4. 1. 2 Pet. 2. 1. 10 11. Mar. 4. 24. Apoc. 2. 11. Act. 17. 11 Jam. 1. 21. Act. 10. 33 Mat. 13. 22 Heb. 4. 2. Errour and Ill are from the Devill though out of a Pulpit And if thou take heed how thou hearest this and have care to harken to that with an humble honest Heart prepossest with neither Errour nor Lust thou canst not chuse but be of better life because well taught by Gods Word Nor wilt thou be worse for giving thy self to Read it For therefore it is Writing as wel as Word to have it in thy Eye But my Soul avoid extremities Theirs who forbid it as a Mote in the Mat. 22. 29. Peoples Eye And theirs who abuse it as Dust under their Foot What is Sacred must not be too Common and Deat 29. 9 2 Pet. 3. 16 Heb. 5. 12. Joh. 5. 39. 1 Joh. 5. 13 Gal. 3. 2. what is Secret must not be Enquired Mysteries are Labyrinths which every Foot may not must not Tread Necessaries every mind ought and may know If thou wouldst not lose thy self then walk not in the Woods but Plaines If thou wilt not drown thy 2 Pet. 1. 10 Heb. 5. 14. Pontifex ●nter Deū homines ●ons cst ●ern self Foard the shallowes not the Deeps And if thou canst not give thy selfe take direction how and where to goe and walk And so thou maist advance much in all Holy wayes The Pavement to Heaven is made there by Gods Phil. 2. 16. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Act. 18. 26. Act. 16. 17. Hand and thy Foot will not goe more wrong because thy Eye sees the pavement Nay of that thou art more sure when thou dost Read then Hear Mans Breath comes in with Gods Word into 1 Joh. 4. 1. the Ear but Gods Pure Word and Spirit into the Eye Into the Eye yes and to the Heart too from it and to the Life from that For my Soul as many Saints have been made better so some have been made Saints by the meer Reading of the Word And the Desk as well as the Pulpit hath begot Converts And sure it is a good Nurse if a happy Mother of Spirituall life Tolle lege made Saint Augustine Saint Mat. 19. 2● Athanas. And a Text read turn'd Saint Antony Angel My Soul I would not have thee make a Chapter keep thee from a Sermon nor a Sermon make thee slight a Chapter Use both right and thou wilt be much bettered by both And if with Eyes on Heaven and Knees on Earth * C. Boromaeus sic c. and Heart on Book thou dost at due times turne the Sacred Volumes thy Reading will be right Yea though leaves not inspiredly Sacred For when thy self readest Scriptures the flowers of Grace thou art the Bee that gettest the Hony by thy own Hand but in Good and Godly Bookes another hath Gathered and thou hast but to Eat the Hony Yea what is far sweeter and wholsomer to Holy and Heavenly Taste O my Soul be given to read Gods and Godly Comparate vobis Biblia animae pharmaca Chrys Bookes Good Aire breeds good Spirit and Gods Aire Holy Breath Where Flowers of Grace and Plants of Paradise grow as on Holy Grounds the Aire is good Nor is it ill to smell a Posie made of no worse Flowers Gods Bible is a Garden a good Book a Posie Take pleasure then and take Psal 1. 2. profit in both And so thou wilt if thou dost digest what thou dost see and hear For my Soul they bring meat into thy Mouth but that doth Prepare 1 Pet. 2. 2. and Distribute it to thy Nourishment They Convey Gods Word to the Dores Rom. 6. 17. Col. 3. 16. of thy House but thou must not let it lie there but lodge it in thy Heart and make it Commander of thy life And to entertain and observe it so is the work which without serious and strong Resolutions will never be done the proper act of The Heart It must resolve upon action for which thou seest reason and determine a Practice when it knowes Gods Will Act. 10. 30. and Word The Counsels of the minde do nothing without the Decrees of the wil. And Ear and Eye can do no more in the Word of God but furnish the minde with good Counsels Execution must come from the Heart the Great Governour of the little world of Man To it therefore is given the power to make such Decrees And my Soul there is nothing which thou canst not doe by virtue of that power It s wonderful what hath been done by a Romane Resolution Miraculous if any thing were impossible to a Christian not only to Scaevola Dan. 3. 28 burne the Hand and not shrink but to set the Body on flames and Smile at it And much more to quench the fire of burning lusts Resolutions are Cords if then weake Temptation if Num. 30. 13. Judg. 15. 13 strong as Sampson breaks them like Tow. But if well twist and made will bind and hold any though never so strong It did David to a Regular life Psal 119 116. to Gods Law because so stedfastly purposed Joshua from strange Gods The Jos 24. 15 Dan. 3. 28 Three Children from the Image-worship There is no good or ill which thou maist not doe or shun if thou resolve for or against it Have not some suffered their Bodies to be Cut their Limbs to be sawne their Throats to be parcht with thirst and their Stomacks Gnawn with hunger when no meanes else were left for saving of their Lives And might not the Intemperate doe as much for Sobriety and Abstinence and the Incontinent against his lusts if they did see and resolve this as necessary to save their Souls Vowes my Soul may be snares Eccles 5. 2 if not considerately made but Holy Purposes are innocent Bonds into which thou maist more commonly enter And bind thy self to better behaviour with them as wel as vowes in Psal 76. 11 Deut. 12. 11. some cases with both And surely God hath given thee that power of will and thy will that power that thou shouldst as a man made for God move by it to Godlinesse and if dull quicken thy self and strengthen it more fastly and firmly to move But when so set it must goe Thou sal 66. 12 sal 116. 6. must determine and doe Put to Practice what thou hast in Purpose and what thy heart doth resolve that must be done by thy Hand My Soul Experiments confirme Precepts much and want of good Attempts makes brave Exploits be thought impossible and left when else they might be done Of the Christian it is most true what glorious Conquests might be got over our lusts were they not thought Invincible To what