acknowledge with soule heart and conscience if thou saueâ— me it is a miracle and if thou reâ— fusest it were but iust iustice aâ—suring my selfe in forbearing thy chastising affection I shall eueâ— despaire of thy mercy and be confident of permanent punishmentâ— for that the pensill of holy Wriâ— which will not be violated Heb. 12.5 Apoc. 3.19 hath plainely expressed those whom thou receiuest thou chastenest and that their long laughing must be turned into bitter mourning Ioel. 2.12 Luk. 6.25 before they haue any true hope of thy grace fauour or pardon O then deare Mediatour I beseech thee minister dayly on me thy discipline correction Pro. 3. Iob 5. and when thou thinkest it meet let my inward griefe be my ioy the agony of death my comfort but if those will not penetrate my flintie nature to make mee glorifie thy vnspeakeable blessings and apprehend my base ingratitude Grant mee sweet Sauiour a feeling inspiration of torments due vnto the damned that if then I may not without robbing thy Iustice obtaine by thy Mercie a share in thy sufferings Yet I humbly pray thee let me be a second Diues vpon earth for admonishing my poore Christian brethren to preuent the like fall of so fatall a danger and the rather for that thou perceiuest offendours bee not so much terrified by thy iudgements pronounced in holy Writ as they are mollified at the sight of mortall creatures miseries Wherein it makes me feare Sathan by thy permission hath a more predominate power then thou that createst them All which I leaue to thy diuine Sacred will and vnsearchable mercie begging pardon for my bold presumption or if thou please to make intercession Mat. 8.8 and say Amen to my petition The affliction of a Prodigall O Deare and Immortall God! I thy abiects creature haue so highly offended thy Deitie Essence and Glory in prophaning thy Name abusing thy Blessings and slighting thy Sufferings that I dare claime no priuiledge by thy death no comfort in thy promises nor no fauour from thy mercies but the rigour of punishment the wrath of iustice and reward of the damned O miserie of all miseries what haue I lost thy Glory that made mee thy Sonne that dyed for mee and thy Spirit that sanctified me Is there a creature from Adam so wretched was there a child conceiued from Euab more miserable then I that haue lost the ioyes of heauen and purchast the fire of hell O my birth life and death I am wrapt in sorrow hauing small hope but in dispairing no comfort but in grieuing nor any ioy but in lamenting O thou false heart and cursed senses why were yee made to bring my soule in torture and your selues in torment to denie them will not auaile you to expect pardon is vnpossible to confesse them will hardly mitigate them O then deare Sauiour seeing I haue brought my selfe by sinfull presumption to permaâ—ent perdition yet let mee beg at thy hands the agony of indiuiduall sorrow which thou ordainest for the damned that if then the spectacle of my deserued maladie cannot dissolue thy iustice into mercy yet may mitigate my endlesse misery and not die like a stupid dog void of sence knowing thou madest me the image of thy Creature The Contemplation of a Prodigall MY God Creatour and Sauiour of the world was not I made thy image to serue and glorifie none other but thy selfe How falles it out deare Father that I haue beene more contemptible against all thy Lawes Sap. 5. Statutes and Blessings Ioh. 3.5 then a sauage beast I cannot beleeue it proceeded from originall sinne in that thy sacred selfe suffered for sinne nor from my conception Ezek. 33. for that thou desirest my preseruation but altogether by Sathans assaulting the worlds prouoking natures betraying and my owne stiffenecked transgression What reason then can my selfe or mortall man conceiue that thou wilt saue me when I neuer truely serued nor honoured thee Art not thou a iust Iudge Ier. 25. as thou hast beene a mercifull Sauiour To plead weaknesse auailes not wilfulnesse I dare not nor wanting thy assistance I cannot Wherefore then doest thou giue mee longer sustentation when thou knowest I haue deserued damnation Fxod 9.16 Act. 4.27 Is it for that thou wilt exceed in thy mercies to increase my miseries Or else are not my sinnes fully compleat for thy determined sufferings Why thou knowest Sathan offended thee but once I haue euer they both obey and feare thee I haue neuer What madnesse then would it be in mee to presume that thou wilt breake the whole course of thy iustice for my sake knowing in mine owne conscience I haue lost the benefit of thy redemption by my wilfull presumption otherwise I might bee confident through vnfained repentance to haue assurance of saluation by thy death and passion which now grieues the intralles of my soule in that I was such a cursed reprobate to crucifie thee who sufferedst on the Crosse to saue me Mar. 10. â—7 so that according to humane iudgement my talent is eternall torment Howsoeuer I bequeath the disposure of my deiected soule to thee Rom. 9.15 which shedst thy innocent bloud on the behalfe of me But why should I being so base a creature reason with thee that art my maker knowing the clay ought not contest with the potter For it is in thy power and not in mine to make mee a vessell of honour or dishonour Therefore in obedience to thy vnsearchable Deity I will surcease all disputations and endeuour to preuent worldly perturbations that I may haue so much hope to be thy creature as my beleefe assures mee thou art my Creatour The Agonie of a Prodigall MY sacred Creator and celestiall Father didst not thou make me of running water and ruddie earth Doest thou not see how Sathan assaults me how the world insnates me and how my owne nature betraies me O my God how then canst thou but in pittie take compassion vpon me knowing I haue no power to preuent any of these precedent conspiracies but by thy diuine prouidence Wilt thou then leaue mee to my selfe that I might appeare worse miserable than the beast which perisheth O be more charitable for that thou madest mee thy image cast but thine eie vpon mee and turne not thy face from me then trie whether thou wilt denie thy mercy vnto mee were not sweet Sauiour my first parents sinners Did not thy selfe suffer for sinners and protestedst thou desirest not the death of sinners Shall then the iniquities of my onely offences blot out the remembrance of thy immortal mercies When thou art my aduocate I the offender thou my redeemer I the debtor Let mee not then perish for want of thy protection when it is not riches nor honor I would haue O my Father no! or releasement of my miseries I seeke O my Father no! or heauen I beg O my Father I dare not presume no! nor any thing I craue but the increase
THE FIRST PART OF Youths Errors Written by THOMAS BVSHEL the Superlatiue Prodigall Luke 15.18 I will arise and goe to my Father and say vnto him Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne c. Imprinted at London 1628. To the Honourable and right vertuous THOMAS Lord Windsor my very good Lord. Excellent Peere LIttle did I imagine or your Lorship expect to see my name come vnder the Presse which as yet is to me a wonder so likewise it must needs bee to your Honour a miracle that knowes both my life and breeding to haue neither language Latine tongue nor vpon my saluation the helpe of any co-adiutor but as it is written those things which appear vnpossible to mans apprehension Mar 10.27 are nothing to God vnsearchable wisedome Otherwise your Lordshiâ— might suspect the Authour for I mistrusted my selfe vntill I had reade the saying that God is able to make the dumbe to speake Luk. 7.22 the blind to see and the lame to goe wherein he hath shewed the splendor of his diuine prouidence on me base and vnworthy creature to see more clearely through my matchlesse offences for that now I constantly beleeue there is no forgiuenesse without true repentance nor no true repentance without confession contrition satisfaction and amendment which made me presume to patronize the first fruits of my retirednesse vnder your Lordships name as a legasie of my loyall dutie to your honour preuention of others and in my obedience to that good God 〈◊〉 5.16 who requires an open confession for a publique transgression VVherein if I shall verifie our Sauiours words to giue Caesar his due â—at 22.21 I must acknowledge vnder God your noble relation of a monasticke life was the greatest inducement I receiued from mortalist towards my regeneration So that if I haue mounted too high in sheltring my weake â—aboures vnder your Lordships vertues let me beg a fauourable censure and attribute rather forgetfulnesse to â—ngratitude than my forwardnesse to presumption for beleeue me honoured Lord had I not fortunately â—ist your faire hand before departure my zealous fideâ—itie was so mixt with the â—regs of mortalitie that certainly vpon my companion reuolt Pro. 26.11 I had fallen like a doâ— to his vomit and ruinated my owne soule But thanks bâ— to the diuine prouidence by a shorter cut I haue met with contentment ended my trauels discarded my pleasures and circled the earth Foâ— Christ knowes my ambitioâ— was neuer higher then 〈◊〉 poore remote Caue or desert Cell where if these illitterate-deiected lines should reflect a likeing in you Lordships iudicious reading I am confident by Gods assistance future enâ—eauours might edifie oâ—â—ers especially when my â—eregrination shall vnderâ—tand of your religious apâ—robation whose honouraâ—le opinion I esteeme more â—en mortall creature not for â—â—at your noble apprehensiâ—n exceedes all men but by â—eason your internall fidelitie â—quals the best of men which â—ccording to my simple â—udgement carries a greater â—enediction and clearer reuelation of Gods fauouâ— then all other vertues how soeuer if the tributary praieâ— of a sinfull Beadsman caâ—â— encrease your Lordships immortall glory I am confident God multiplies you honours daily Your obliged and deuoted seruant THO. BVSHEL To my Christian Brethren GEntle Reader somwhat I would gladly say in way of admonition as altogether example for that the holy â—postle assures me I was not borne 〈◊〉 my selfe but for others though â—u may perceiue I haue confin'de my â—rson from societie of man yet beâ—ue that I barre not the visitation of 〈◊〉 man but willing to edifie all men farre as God shall enable my weke abilitie and their patience humâ— intreating that the spectacle of yâ—â— sinfull brothers miserie may mortâ— your fleshly desires and take so mâ—â— compassion of your selues as to pâ—uent future perils I haue my rewaâ— you your glory otherwise the dâ—ger's desperate as mine is damnaâ— without Gods vnspeakable merâ— which my fairest hopes cannot as 〈◊〉 beleeue he will so much remember 〈◊〉 to forget his iustice O then geâ— Sirs if your owne consciences accâ—â— you resolue to follow the one and 〈◊〉 the other for assure your selues 〈◊〉 president of my fatall afflictions 〈◊〉 be an occasion to condemne you at 〈◊〉 day of iudgement if you obstinatâ— neglect the same But why shouâ—â— expect you will either read or mâ—â— â—â—e of them knowing the writings of â—â—r Sauiour the laboures of Apostles â—â—d whole liues of ancient Fathers â—â—e cast aside as superfluous garments â—hen a play booke is admitted to â—sse away the time which with inâ—ard griefe I confesse were my libraâ—es and I feare continue too much â—â—ur studies yet for that my inuisible â—rments liuing vpon earth as Diues 〈◊〉 hell and can at any time resolue â—ose which doubts in the same may 〈◊〉 an occasion to extenuate your licenâ—ous appetites that Gods name may 〈◊〉 glorified your soules saued and I â—nsatisfied THO. BVSHEL The Contents of this Booke being the first part THe Prodigall Sinners Confession The Prodigalls Petition The Prodigalls Affliction The Prodigalls Contemplation The Prodigalls Prayer The occasion of the Prodigalls reuolt from 〈◊〉 world The difference of a publique and priuate liuiâ—â— together with his resolution The conference he had with a graue Diuâ— before his departure to a monasticke life His wofull experience of insinuating flâ—terers The confession of his disobedience with a trâ— relation of his Lord and Master The Prodigalls aduertisement concerning The hopefull branches of Vniâ—sities The rights and profits belong the Church The contents of Mariage The crying sinne of murther The crying sinne of Pride The crying sinne of adulterie To his louing Brother Edward Bushel Esquire â—lomon sayth He that couereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall haue mercy Prou. 28.13 IT is not vnknowne to your selfe nor the world that I continued a prentiship the superlatiue Prodigal either I am ashamed to diuulge â—hen God himself commands vpon â—enalty of eternall damnation Iam. 5.16 yet it griues my very soule that euer I gaâ—â— occasion to be recorded But I hoâ—â— this my irrecouerable follie will pâ—uent future ages for falling into fearefull a danger otherwise as thâ— birth was miserable so their deaâ— will be lamentable which to me wâ—â— rather aggrauate my sorow then 〈◊〉 tenuate my torment though in teâ—porall affayres many bearers lessâ— the weight and ease the surchargâ— sufferer but in spirituall none refâ—sheth the oppressed especially yoâ—â— dissolute brother who hath in a mâ—ner searched the records of heaueâ— for a President to make his title 〈◊〉 hell vnquestionable Exod 20. as you may tâ— more perspicuously perceiue by the dreadfull following lines O 〈◊〉 dearest Microcosme in nature wiâ—â— what vnwillingnes do I lay open my disobedience against the first Commandement knowing my own conscience pleads guilty in the highest manner for debasing his name Essence and Glory below the degree of
commended what others out of ignorance may obiect fat bee it from your Lordship so to iudge Phil. 3.6 Socra scho cap. 18. For it hath beene practised by the best sort of Christians euer since Christs time with such precise and strict seueritie as they did not onlie resist all externall acts of sinne but chastised their bodies with corporall affliction 2 Cor. 6.5 which is manifest in the liues of the Apostles by their much fasting watching and praying Likewise Saint Augustines conuersion and Saint Ieromes approbation of Paul and Antony the Heremites besides the discipline he vsed vpon his owne bodie with manie other ancient Fathers which for feare of being tedious I omit So that if these holie men were fain to vndertake such strait captiuitie for gaining of heauen what punishment should I endure for preuenting of hell 1 Pet. 4.17 whose whole course of life hath beene a race of errours especiallie when the spirit of God dailie knockes at my heart to prosecute the same austeritie which giues mee a more cleare reuelation of Gods fauours where now I finde the theorie so much to be true by practise that I call God to witnes I am no more able to expresse the felicities I enioie then remember the catologue of my past offences let therefore other men thinke as they please of this alteration 1 Cor. 4.3.4 it sufficiently contents me that the Saints in heauen reioyce at my conuersion For God hath spoken peace to my soule my soule preacheth peace to my conscience my conscience sings a comfortable sweet All-haile to my sad heart and should the world the flesh or the Deuill sound all their most powerfull instruments to plucke from this my resolution they may sacrifice my flesh vpon the worlds Altar but my faith shal be so sure found hanging vpon the hornes of this Sanctum Sanctorum as my heart is confident that your Lordships former fauour conferd on me was preordaind to be a meanes of sealing your redemption by the death and passion of our Sauiour were your past transgression red as scarlet for that I am bounde to acknowledge vnder God your Honours affable curtesie established my regeneration 1 Pet 4.8 and what the reward is in gaining a soule Ioh. 5.20 beleeue not mee but the promise of Christ exprest in holy writ Humbly intreating your Lordship so farre to continue your respect as when any shall question my fidelitie aduise them to suspend their censure till the fortunate fatall tribunall day of iudgement which will decide the question without malice The rather for that each of vs were baptized with the signe of the Crosse and both endeuouring to hit the same marke though with seuerall shafts But if it should fall out to be knowne that they themselues continue in any one wilfull sinne your Lordship may boldlie giue no more credence to their language in points of Religion then to a periured man in case of a triall For as the Law will not admit of the one certainlie God will not allow of the other wheâ— the pensill of holy Writ confirms that the Diuell holds them as we by one sinne as by a thousand 1 Ioh. 3. Aâ— which I leaue to your Honour graue iudiciall iudgement anâ— rest Your euerliuing Beadsman Thomas Bushel To the onely sonne and bloud of my owne body BEloued the Lord thy God hath commanded me to instruct thee thee to obey me vpon penaltie of eternall punishment that wilfullie breakes the couenant if my aduertisement agree with the pensill of the holie Ghost otherwise thou art free I only bound which to auoid the danger of my part I haue as God hath enabled my illiterate and humane apprehension bequeathed vnto thee by my wofull experience a briefe diuine and morall way how to prostrate thy louing obedience towards God and man for the surer preuenting Natures frailty the safetie of thy owne soule Gods glorie and the discharge of a fathers dutie that thou mightst not curse thy birth I thy being nor diuine prouidence repent of thy making hoping the president of my late erroneous life will cause thine to be religious otherwise my iniquities will bee added to thy transgressions though no ease to each of our sufferings Let therefore thy internall faculties of body and soule be zealous towards thy Creator in keeping his Commandements with a trembling feare of violating the least and a willing desire to performe them all in so doing thy mortalitie is sure to bee ratified with immortall glorie Let his iust iustice euer go before thee and his infinite mercie will not faile to follow thee Let thy meditations be alwaies vpon our Sauiours sufferings then thou canst not be so ingrate as to forget his blessings nor neglect thy duties Giue thankes to thy maker for thy nights sleeping and morne waking with humble desire of his continuall prouidence for the day following and at night call thy selfe to a strict account of what good deedes thou hast omitted and what offences thou hast committed who were the occasions of the one and neglect of the other from such refraine vnlesse thou canst command thy selfe not they thee but if they proceed from thine owne stiffenecked nature condole thy infirmity chastize thy iniquitie with continuall abstinency vntill thou findst reason and religion to master thy passion and affection by this means thou wilt euer after sleepe in peace continue obedient and remaine in safetie but on the contrarie as thy conception was wretched so thy life will bee lamentable thy death miserable and thy torments ineuitable Let therefore thy beleeuing faith bee grounded vpon the rocke Christ Iesus for that is the true Religion the others are tost vpon the waues of time proceeding rather from mens frailtie then any setled veritie Yet lest thy conscience should be eclipsed and thy continuance reuerted into the dreadfull danger of a lukewarme Christian by beholding so many graue Senatours of seuerall Religious opinions I haue held it expedient vpon my death bed and according to my engagement as the soule of mee must answer the same at the tribunall day of iudgement to present vnto thy internall spirits these recited precepts Let thy heart and conscience bee incorporate to the bodie of Christs vniuersal Catholike Church performing so farre as in thee lieth all these prescriptions which he hath enioined thee to obserue obey and keepe in holy writ and when thy conscience together with thy ghostly Father approoues of thy inabilitie to bee capable of the Sacramentall mercie make a true confession of thy life past with an inward repentant contrition that euer thou didst offend and a constant resolution by Gods permission neuer more willing to offend but suffer death rather then violate thy condition as afterwards to commit a hainous sinne or wilfully continue in any other This being zealoushe kept God warrants thee saluation who then will accuse thee thy conscience cannot and Christ hath protested he will not if thou doest thy vtmost endeauor
your owne innocencies will neuer bee tempted to appeare in any spirituall preferment by the way of Sinon Magus Act. 8.18 or helpe of his coadiutors for surely those are neuer consecrated by God nor allowed by Lawes How then gentle Sirs in your owne consciences can they absolue baptise instruct or minister the Sacrament but with a trembling feare of murthering the soule like a tyrants conscience that is imbru'd in blood O then you anointed branches bee not perswaded by a mould of clay to trench in so great a crime knowing your selues as yet vnspotted In so doing Matt. 12.50 Gods Name will bee glorified your brethren edified and your owne dutyes discharg'd which will remaine presidents to others ioy to your parents comfort to your friends and happinesse to your Soules To my wel-wished Christian Brethren the Laitie IF any of you are so infortunate as to detaine the Rights and Profits which was ordained by God for the maintainance of the Church and members therof Let mee beg vpon my knees as with teares I write it that you make restitution contrition to God and man For if your consciences preiudicate they are wrongfully kept backe and yet willfully continues can it bee denied but that you rob God of his Iustice if you expect saluation by the death and passion of our Sauiour though admit you will plead prescription by Act of Parliament and that it was and is lawfull for you to receiue continuing so long in descent from your ancestors Yet my deare Brethren I pittie your weake Right Title and Interest for that it was not warranted from Heauen but by Gods permission confirm'd in Hell So likewise you may plead damnation from your forefathers for foure thousand yeres together which is the more ancienter title and surer to descend if from your hearts proceed not repentance Howsoeuer fearing you should suspect spleene or imbecillitie Let mee intreat you to fearch the records of holy Writ and if there your selues find God pardon any one man that robbeth the church without it were in ignorance or satisfaction by vnfained amendment remaine as you are But on the contrarie looke vpon the dreadfull death of Ananias and Saphira Actes 5.5 for detaining some part of their owne goods by deceit from the Apostles much more you that not onely take your own but other mens when Christ himselfe saith Mat. 22.21 Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars And if God would not spare his owne Tribe for one offence certainly deare Brethren hee will not omit you which obstinately persist in the same Rom. 11.21 for that hee is a iust Iudge as hee is a mercifull Sauiour but peraduenture you will obiect the inducted partie is more vicious then vertuous more wicked then religious howsoeuer it is the sustentation of his birthright and ought not to be diminished But assuredly himselfe and those are accursed that instituted him by how many soules perish with his carelesse neglect O beloued Brethren if you would but ponder with your selues of the strickt account which will be required from you and them at the day of Iudgement I durst engage my life there is not one true Christian but would rather choose to bee fed himselfe wife and family with the almes of charitie then liue wrongfully on the tythes of Laitie for questionlesse as they nourish the bodie they starue the soule All which I leaue to your owne consciences praying daily for reformation To my vnmarried Christian Brethren BEst beloued Sirs if you be not so fortunate as to performe your chaste single liues 1 Cor. 7. â— according to the Apostles words which placeth your selues next vnto God but must of necessitie haue the vnion of second helpers Let mee your wel-wishing Brother aduise each of you to entertaine diuine religious thoughts in the daily contemplation of your choice before you attempt so weightie and great a charge which will be demanded at your hands otherwise it may seeme a hard and ouer-strict captiuitie in being bound and thrall with the cares and humors of another for if it should fall out that any of you doe meete with more bone then flesh more flesh then spirit your liues will alwayes bee most miserable and wretched 1 Cor. 7.28 as by woefull experience diuers of your predecessours can informe you that for one houre of their folly being a fault committed without malice and by meere ouer-sight yea many times to obey the aduice of Parents they broughâ— themselues into a perpetuall bondage Which accustomed misery deare Brethren proceeds from a fraile imbecillitie of nature and want of spirituall discipline they hauing not grounded themselues vpon the fundamentall points of marriage For beleeue me gentle Sirs if that your chiefest and only end bee not to auoid fornication and a desire of procreation to glorifie God by a mutuall societie your Nuptialls were neuer solemniz'd by him nor allowed by his lawes For it were impossible if God had a hand in the coniunction that euer there should proceed either iealousie malice rage or any other miserable condition But it may be some will reply that the Scripture confirmes all marriages are made in heauen So liâ—â—wise you know Christ died for all sinners yet few are the number that shall be saued 〈◊〉 20.16 by reason the one wants either beliefe a good life or true repentance and the other omits performance according to the first institution which makes both dangerous fearefull and infortunate for that humane creature rather depends vpon the weakenesse of his owne strength then Gods promises the allurements of Satan then the blessings of our Sauiour O then my vnited brethren let neither beauty allure honor tempt lust prouoke wealth encourage nor parents compell for they are all both imperfect and fatall without you sweetly â—â—uper them by reducing their extreamities into the chastitie of vertue Likewise deare Brethren there is another charge impos'd greater then the former whereof you must haue an especiall care to edifie your wife children and family in the commands and seruice of God For if any of them perish by your neglect the soule of you must bee sure to answere for it which grieues my very heart to behold so many of our predecessors runne the hazard of eternall perdition by this one transgression in parents For most commonly they neuer thinke so much of the mutuall loue in glorifying God as the reuenue of wordly profit and temporall honor Nay I haue knowne some parents will marry the wise to the foole which makes themselues prooue tyrants to the of-springs of their loynes for a little wealth to binde the liuing to the dead but assuredly howsoeuer it is carried in the sight of men 〈◊〉 5.13 they are accursed before God and those infortunate that must suffer the bondage who at last will cry out vengeance on the parents that begot them which is the greater crueltie but iustly rewarded Wherfore beloued Sirs if I were worthy to aduise there should none
of penitent teares fit for transgressors and sorrowes due to sinners O my Sauiour no! How then canst thou denie me when I sue for no more but what thy selfe hath assured me O my Christ are these the eyes that haue displeased thee let them receiue no light through thee is this the heart which hath dishonoured thee let it bleed to death for thee Is this the flesh which hath offended thee let fire be her fuell by thee Are these the bones which haue brought me woe let them bee burnt and borne no more Or are these the sences which haue sinned against thee let them be a liuing sacrifice to thee O my God I am rackt with griefe that I cannot grieue and perplext in repentance that I know not how to repent For to proceed after the worlds weakenesse I suspect thou seest their wilfull ignorance And if I follow thy Gospels professours I feare thou findst them full of scandall distraction and worldly perturbation What then sweet Sauiour will become of me forlorne creature that haue no reliefe but sinnes to succour me Sathan to assist me and a guilty conscience to comfort mee without thy sacred sufferings make intercession for me and accept thy Saints oblations for sinners to thee I shall be forced to curse my conception and wish my mothers wombe had beene my tombe to haue formed me a lumpe of flesh without life or any creature but thy image for then had I liued according to creation and not liable to eternall damnation Yet most mercifull and immortall father should my agonied soule suspect to suffer shipwracke when thou guidest the sterne or despaire and die when thou art liuing or curse her birth when thou art in being O my God rather let her taste the tortures of hell then be depriued of life and lose her hopes in the ioyes of heauen let then Sathan assay his best and the wicked world her worst my deiected soule hath set vp her rest in thee that made her to saue her Lord I beseech thee to say Amen The Supplication of a Prodigall MY God my refuge my mercy how dare I remember thy greatnesse when the billowes of my crying sinnes haue raisd the wrath of thy Omnipotent person who out of meere diuine loue to pious charitie createdst me after thine owne image redeemed mee being lost and in a word gaue mee all I euer had yet haue I so much dishonoured the Deitie of thy glory that I made the pleasures of this life my Gods on earth and now they are turn'de my tormenting accusers of Death O Sacred Father bequeath the plagues of Egypt for my talent rather then this deceitfull world to my portion which hath not onely bred me disobedient towards thee that made mee a traitour to thy Sonne that dyed for me but sacrific'de my owne soule to be the fuell of hell fire O deadly life of immortall death what shall I tearme thee the shape of a Christian which without thy Sacred intercession for thy neuer dying mercies I shall remaine quickened with the fiend of hell to future ages for euer O do not thou sweet Sauiour forget the pittie of thy goodnes though I haue lost the dutie of my obedience but grant the same fauour to me thou gauest the thiefe vpon the Crosse looke vpon the teares of my miseries with the passions of thy mercies and if neither griefes groanes sighes nor sorrowes can appease thy iust wrath why didst thou make mee wherefore was thy death whom wilt thou saue or art thou another God now then when thou wert mercifull to the oppressed a Father of the godlie and an aduocate for the damned if they repented O then enrich my soule with a diuine sorrow for my ioy the agony of death for my comfort that I may neither presume of thy fauour nor despaire of thy mercie but haue thy great Name glorified thy Sacred death satisfied and thy poore forlorne sinner saued Lord I beseech thee say Amen ¶ The Prodigalles Prayer O Deare and omnipotent God I heere stand guilty of all the barbarous and inhumane sinnes which Sathan can obiect against the cursedst creature liuing For I haue presumptuouslie committed more riots and offences then either Heathen Pagan Turke or Infidell besides treacherouslie made thy name a cloake for my owne villanie Thus deare Sauiour haue I liued a smooth factour for Sathan to the vtter subuersion and depriuation of eternall felicitie and purchased the reward of condemnation with endlesse miserie Breake O my big swollen heart lest a thunderbolt from heauen preuent thee Gush foorth into a flood of teares thou Crocodile by nature in being such a cursed reprobate to forget thy maker a Diuell incarnate for crucifying thy Redeemer Ah sauage beast could neither creation redemption nor dailie blessings mollifie my flintie heart to honour thee as a father feare thee as a God or loue thee as a Sauiour but must so Iudas-like sacrifice thy image to the enemie thy curtesies to crueltie and thy redemption to my dreadfull destruction O indignation of the Almightie fall not vpon mee though I haue sowed the vngratefull seed of Plutarchs aire for Scorpions to bite my flesh and snakes to sucke my bloud Yet most mercifull Father should my miserable soule despaire when thy omnipotenâ— person died for deiected sinners Or can I presume to hope seeing thou hast punished thy dearest seruants for lesse offences Neuer O Lord in my wretched selfe but by the vnspeakable death and passion which is able to releeue the sicke heale the lame restore the blinde and helpe the distressed to thee I submissiue come whose sacred wisedome knowes that man is rottennesse his desires vanitie and life miserie Wilt thou therfore shew thy strength against so poore a worme as man that hath neither creation preseruation nor habitation but by thy diuine prouidence O then dearest Father remit the execution of thy iustice enlarge the liberalitie of thy mercie and extend thy holie spirit on me thy lost sâ—ruant that I may neither curse my birth nor being thou repent of thy creation or redeeming to the end I might liue in thy feare die in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and remaine in thy glorie Lord I beseech thee say Amen To the Right Honourable WILLIAM Earle of Derby MY honored Lord I doe not know how far this my solitary life may trench into the displeasure of your Lordships graue censure Therefore I thought best to recommend those generall reasons which were the occasions of my reuolt from the world assuring your Lordship it was not the foolish fantasie of my wandring thoughts Gal. 6. Pro. 18.13 but a serious consideration of my former transgressions with an inward meditation of the small time that God will stay for mans conuersion or euersion made me bequeath the remainder of my daies to this priuate Cell by your Lordships assisting permission Yet peraduenture some will alleadge to your Honour that this course of retirednesse is neither commanded nor