the enemy haue none aduantage of him Nor the wicked once approch to hurt him Be vnto him O Lord a strong tower From the face of his enemy Grant that hee may dye the death of the righteous And be made partaker of thine inheritance Receiue his soule O Lord into thy holy hands And place it with thy Saints in heauen Lord heare our prayers And let our cry come vnto thee A pithy Prayer for a Patient being pained with Sicknes IT is thou O Lord onely to whom all power and praise belongeth It is thou that raignest in heauen in glorie in earth in mercy in hel in iudgment It is thy voice O Lord whereunto both the seas and windes are obedient It is thy name O Lord God of Hosts that maketh all the Diuels in hell to tremble and quake and they can doe nothing without thy permission Thou bringest downe to hell and raisest vp againe Thou pluckest downe the mighty from their Throne and exaltest the humble and meeke Thou makest both poore and rich strong weake Thou sendest sicknes and restorest health againe in thy good time Thou giuest life and takest it away at thy pleasure O Lord whose maiestie and might no creature is able to withstand neither in heauen earth or vnder the earth Thou that hast made the Sea and the dry land and all things therein contained Thou that knowest our weaknesse and what metall wee bee made of haue regard vnto the workmanship of thy hands Pierce the heauens O Lord and giue eare vnto our prayers which with sorrowfull hearts trickling teares bowed knees and vnfained lips we powre out before thy presence We acknowledge O Lord our owne frailetie and vnworthinesse and how that all men liuing are but vanitie euen as the grasse in the field which to day flourisheth and to morrow withereth away as the smoke in the furnace the bubble in the water or the could that swiftly passeth away and is no more seene So soone also fedeth away our time and our yeeres come to an end Thou onely O Lord knowest the number of our dayes and appointest vs our bounds which we cannot passe We confesse O most mercifull God that wee haue sinned against heauen and against thee and are no more worthy to be called thy children no nor to tread vpon the earth or to haue the light of the Sunne to shine vpon vs but rather to bee burned with fire drowned in the waters swallowed vp of the earth ouerwhelmed with mountaines or deuoured with wilde beasts fowles of the ayre Our transgressions and sinnes are so great so grieuous and many in number wherewithall wee haue and doe dayly offend thy Maiestie both in thought word and deed that our weake consciences being loden and burthened with the remembrance of them are afraid to approch into thy presence for feare of thy wrath and iust iudgement Yet O Lord forsomuch as thy mercy is aboue all thy workes and because thou art a gentle pitifull God long-suffering and full of compassion and wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that hee conuert and liue We are therefore the bolder not of our selues but in the name of thy deare Son Iesus Christ with whom thou art well pleased to call vpon thee for mercy and comfort That it would please thee of thy gracious goodnes to forgiue and blot out of thy remembrance all our sinnes and wickednes and neuer hereafter to impute them vnto vs. Regard not good Lord our deserts which is death and damnation but be mindfull of thy louing promises in Iesus Christ our Sauiour who in all temptations of the Diuell the World and the Flesh is our onely Rocke and sure stay and defence and neuer shrinketh from those which be wrapped in woe and misery Comfort O Lord this thy Seruant vpon whom thou hast laid the scourge of sicknes and rod of visitation as a sure token and pledge of thy loue and fatherly good wil towards him for whom thou louest those thou correctest not to destruction but to amendment and saluation Thou hast promised that wheresoeuer two or three are gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests We therefore thy humble seruants here assembled according to thy blessed commandement doe cry and call vpon thee with feruant hearts to be mercifull to this thine afflicted creature that it would please thee eyther to release his smart and pain in thy good time and so to restore him to his former health or else to grant him aboundantly the graces of thy holy Spirit that with patience and meeke mind he may abide such tryall as it shall please thy godly Maiestie to lay vpon him That neither the tyrannie of Satan griefe of sicknes loue of the world terrour of hell infirmitie of the flesh remembrance of sinne or feare of death withdraw him from thee and thy sweet promises in his Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who came not for the iust but to call sinners to repentance So guide him good Lord by thy blessed Spirit in his great and last iourney that passing quietly all troubles of this transitorie world and this painefull pilgrimage once ended he may safely by thy mighty power bee conducted to the Hauen of continuall quietnes and rest which is the Kingdom of Heauen there reigne with Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the holy company of Angels and Saints in perpetuall ioy and safety which thou hast prepared and promised for all thine elect children and faithfull seruants from the beginning of the world Grant this O heauenly Father which wee haue prayed for in the behalfe of this thy poore and pensiue prisoner and all other things necessarie for our saluation and thy glory through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ In whose holy name wee beseech thee from the bottome of our hearts saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A comfortable Prayer against desperation O God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ continue thy goodnes towards vs vnworthy wretches which do heere with contrite hearts and bowed knees appeale vnto the height of thy mercy Beseeching thee O Father â—o to remember the contempt and iniury thou hast receiued at our hands but pardon our passed faults and accept the pitifull Passion of thy deare Sonne in full satisfaction of our transgression Let his precious bloud wipe away and wash all our filthines Let his wounds heale the sores of our sinnes and let the holy oblation of himselfe present our prayers acceptable and blamelesse before thy Maiestie Let no sinne bee so great and grieuous in our eyes that it plucke away hope of pardon No offence so ponderous that it may be â—â—le to ouercome thy goodnes All haue sinned and haue neede of thy mercy which thou offerest aboundantly to euery one that faithfully asketh the same of thee Our wickednes O Lord cannot exceed thy merits The greater the sinner is on whom thou bestowest thy compassion so much the greater is thy glory And therefore
humbly beseech thee to deale with vs in mercy stay thy hand and bid thine Angell cease from punishing Looke with a cheerefull countenance vpon thy people Blesse vs O heauenly Father within and without Be thou our guard thy Word our guide thy Spirit our comfort and thy Sonne our Sauiour Stay by vs continually hold vs vp by thy right hand strongly and direct vs by thy counsell wisely So shall we be inwardly comforted though the world conspire Satan rore the wicked rise vp against vs yea though the earth bee moued the pillars of heauen shake the Sea rage plagues fall all creatures frowne Yet shall not wee eyther feare tremble or bee dismayed with any boisterous blast of aduersitie so long as we trust in thee leane to thee serue thee and rest vpon thee as our strong Rocke for thou art mighty in the heate of iudgement and yet mercifull in the middest of miseries Haue pitie therefore vpon vs most miserable sinners mitigate thy fury asswage our pain release our smart and pardon our passed faults Wee confesse O deare Father that wee of our selues are the cause of our owne woe and prouokers of this thy plague and grieuous punishmēt which is fallen vpon vs most worthily Yea our owne detestable deeds committed against thy sacred will our obstinate pride in time of plenty our securitie in time of health our vnthankefulnes towards thy goodnes in time of prosperitie our contempt of thy Word dayly read and preached vnto vs did threaten long before this thy rodde and scourge of sicknes or some greater iudgement Our continuall transgressions as our Idlenes Wantonnesse Whoredome Drunkennesse Gaming Swearing Swilling Slandering Stealing Fighting Quarrelling Polling Pilling Vsurie Extortion and Oppression of the poore our Bribery Couetousnes Defrauding of the Widdow and Fatherlesse with a huge heape moe of such like vices haue beene the causes of this our miserie and smart which now wee feele to our torment and griefe and haue mooued thee the holy One of Israel to powre out the fearefull cup of thy wrath and vengeance vpon vs which thy iustice doth craue and wee dayly deserue Neuerthelesse deare Father of mercie though wee haue through our sinnes shewed our selues enemies vnto thee and vessels of thy wrath and vnworthy to pray vnto thee with our lying lips and polluted mouthes much lesse to obtain our suites at thy hands Yet most mercifull Father we beseech thee be fauourable vnto vs in shewing thy mercy vnto vs that are miserable For if thou O Lord doest strictly marke what is done amisse among men and wilt retaine our iniquitie O Lord who shall then be able to abide it or to stand in thy sight Verily no flesh no not the iustest man that liueth this day vpon the face of the earth Therefore O Lord wee returne to thee with our hearts and come home with the Prodigall Sonne although late at night repenting the rude race wee haue runned and being heartily sorrie for the lewd life we haue led we prostrate our selues and fall downe flat to the ground before the Throne of thy Grace beseeching thee as our tender and pitifull Father to embrace vs with the armes of mercy and compassion to turne away thy face from our lothsome sinnes and blot out of thy remembrance our former offences Reuiue O Lord our sorrowfull penitent spirits after the time of our try all comfort our carefull and contrite hearts for giue vs our trespasses Turne to vs in thy mercy which returne to thee from sinne direct our wayes hereafter in the workes of thy commandements increase our Faith and make these thy iudgements and grieuous plagues which thou hast worthily inflicted vpon vs for our wickednes be a caueat and warning blow vnto vs hereafter that wee neuer fall againe to our former folly nor heape vpon our owne heads thy wrath and vengeance lest a worse thing happen vnto vs but that this our chasticement may worke in our mindes true and vnfained repentance So that when thy heauenly hand shall slake from the execution of thy iust iudgement when thy wrath is appeased and wee safely deliuered acquitted and discharged of this misery wherein we are now wrapped we may indeed amend that which is amisse in vs tread Satan vnder our feet contemne the world mortifie the lusts of the flesh crucifie the whole body of sinne and as new-borne Babes shew our selues hereafter more thankefull for thy benefits powred vpon vs in most plentifull manner as for our health wealth tranquillitie and libertie the preaching of thy Gospell the true knowledge of thy will reuealed in thy Word the outward peace of our bodies and the inward comfort of our soules All which graces with many moe wee haue enioyed a long time in more ample manner then any other People or Nation vnder heauen O Lord wee humbly beseech thee continue thy good blessings towards vs thine vnworthy vnthankefull seruants grant that thy holy Name may be so glorified hereafter in all our thoughts words and workes during this transitorie life that in the end when thou hast wrought thy will with vs we may raigne with thee and al the holy company of heauen in the life euerlasting Grant also deare Father relaxation and release of thy plagues and punishments vnto this thine afflicted towne of and to all other countries townes houses and people which be in the like calamity and distresse for the loue and precious Passion of Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour in whose blessed name wee bow the knees both of our soules and bodies and humbly prostrate our selues heere before the Throne of thy glorious Maiesty praying vnto thee as he hath taught vs and saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. The third Dutie of the Pastor THe third thing pertaining to a good Pastor is his godly counsell or admonition as for example Good Brother you must now in this time of Gods visitation call to minde your former life The more vicious and faultie you haue beene the deeper you ought to sigh and grone in spirit for your offences and whereinsoeuer you haue displeased God consider that amendment of life to come and repentance for your sinnes past is the way and meanes to become friends with him and to be at peace in your owne conscience But this repentance may not bee in mouth outwardly but inwardly in simplicitie of heart continually detesting that which is euill and ardently louing that which is good and acceptable to God And so though vnworthy of your selfe you may be accepted of God by faith in his beloued Sonne with whom the Father is well pleased but with vs and our vnrighteousnes he cannot bee but highly displeased it is good therefore to acknowledge and confesse your sinne to God and to submit your selfe to his Maiestie by true conuersion and sorrow of heart with an inward griefe and lothing of those sinnes which before you tooke pleasure in and crauing of mercy and pardon at his hands whom you haue
hee reuile his enemies Doth hee vvithstand his persecutors or doth hee blaspheme his Maker No no He patiently taketh his Martyrdome He doth not curse or desire vengeance from heauen to light vpon his Aduersaries but most humbly falleth downe vpon his knees praying for his persecutors and saying Lord lay not this sinne Act. 7. 60. to their charge Behold heere an example of a witnesse and true Professor of Christ Iesus a Martyr of such modestie and meekenesse as seldome or neuer hath bin seene This Disciple had both learned and recorded his Masters lesson Resist not Mat. 5. euill but loue your enemies Blesse them that curse you Doe good to them that hate you and pray for them that persecute you See how neere this man followeth his Masters manners Christ cryeth in the middest of his enemies Father forgiue them they wot not what they doe Stephen cryeth in the middest of his Stoners Lord lay not this sinne to their charge Christ said in his Passion Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit Stephen Act 7. 59. said in his stoning Lord Iesu receiue my Spirit Christ beeing crucified meekely gaue vp the Ghost Stephen being stoned sweetly fell on sleepe Here the man followed the Master at heeles yea euen to death Well in the extremitie of their sufferings they both haue patience they both pray they both forgiue they both resigne themselues and their soules to him that smiteth and healeth I say no more but God grant wee may tread in Stephens steps and doe as he did and then wee shall haue that hee had that is in the end of our suffering heere on earth wee shall haue heauen opened vnto vs see the glory of God and Act. 7. 55. Iesus standing at the right hand of God But what should I stand longer to repeat the examples of men who are mortall if I should proceede I should be weary in writing and you in reading the examples of those which were neuer weary of suffering There remaineth one Prophet VVhat did I say a Prophet Yea and more then a Prophet of whom all the Prophets haue prophesied The Prince of Prophets the Prince of Peace and the Prince of Patience VVho as he is most commendable euen so he is incomparable I neede not to name him he was named of the Angell in his mothers womb before he was borne into this sinfull world You know whom I meane the King of Glory the Head of the Church the Sauiour of the VVorld Christ Iesus the innocent Lambe of God who patiently suffered death for our sins Of whom S. Peter reporteth saying Christ suffered 1. Pet. 2. 21 for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps VVho being his Fathers best Beloued in whom Mat. 3. 17. his soule was well pleased yet suffered hee continuall crosses He that did many good deeds suffered many euill He suffered the Diuell to tempt him his owne Disciple to betray him the Iewes to deride him the malicious to blaspheme him and his enemies to slander him Againe beeing spitted vpon beaten backe and side buffeted on his face with fists whipped on his bare body cloathed in purple crowned vvith thorne c. hee behaued himselfe as meekely as the Innocent Lamb or shiftles sheepe vnder the hand of the shearer His aduersaries cry alowd Cruoifie him Crucifie him Christ crieth as fast Forgiue them forgiue them They cry against him Hee prayeth for them Hee that might haue commanded all the Angels and Saints in heauen and haue had them at a beck to reuenge his quarrell and defend his innocencie was so farre from requiting wrong that hee sharpely rebuked the rash enterprise of Peter that drew his sword and gaue but one blowe and hee healeth the partie whom he neuer wounded Hee cured the vnthankefull he gaue place to those that laid in wait for him and refused not to kisse the venemous lips of Iudas that betrayed him Hee despised no mans person were hee neuer so poore he refused no mans house were it neuer so homely and yet for all this his doctrine was contemned and his person persecuted He that giueth victorie to those that ouercome was beaten on the face vvith rods He that gaue heauenly and wholesome meate to others had bitter gall offred to himselfe He that gaue the water of life had vineger giuen to drinke He that was Innocencie it selfe was counted among the wicked Hee that healed others was wounded himselfe Hee that was the Truth was condemned by false witnes And he that must iudge all men was iudged of man And when his blamelesse and innocent life drew neere to an end and he ready to suffer a most shameful and bitter death the death of the Crosse How meekely he tooke it how modestly hee answereth how patiently hee suffereth how feruently he prayeth and how freely he forgiueth it is a matter worthy to be noted and printed in the perpetuall memory of man and to be an example to all posterities Art thou a Christian or follower of Christ in his crosse Art thou slandered and handled as hee was Then follow him looke vpon him and take him for an ensample of suffering aduersitie and of long patience Hee was not crowned before hee was crucified and thou must not be crowned before the victory If the world be iniurious to thee Christ is a rewarder cleaue to him forsake thy sinne and take vp his crosse and follow him Forsake the world and feare neither the Diuell nor affliction set Christ naked whipped crowned and crucified continually before thine eyes See how hee was bought and sold hated slandered and reiected of his owne The Iewes cry Away with him let him bee crucified that is let him bee tormented and hanged What euill hath hee done saith the Iudge I finde no fault in the man He hath committed nothing worthy of death I take him to bee an innocent or simple man Let vs therefore whip him and send him packing O no say they if thou let him goe thou art not Caesars friend The Iudge seeming still to fauour his innocencie maketh another offer You haue saith he a custome to let one prisoner loose vnto you We haue one Barabbas who is in for a Bird and fast in hold a Thiefe a Murtherer and a seditious fellow yee shall hang him and save Christ aliue Ah no say they Barabbas is a good fellow Deliuer him and Crucifie Christ Well if there bee no remedy saith Pilate I will Mat. 27. 24 wash my hands here before you all in witnes that I am innocent from the shedding of the bloud of this Iust Man This protestation of the Iudge and cleering of Christ might haue bridled them and their affected crueltie But alas they were as the world is now and euer will be peruerse and wilfull No reason could rule them no counsell could moue them no words could perswade them They runne headlong on their owne destruction saying His bloud Mat. 27. 25 be vpon vs and