Wisedome suspects the thoughts of the heart ANd therefore doe many though well grounded in Christianity suspect euery motion that proceeds from their hearts fearing to be deceiued by the deceitfulnesse of them And therefore endeauour to trie them by the touchstone of the word whether they bee sound or sinnefull which is an argument of a good heart The most godly thinke other mens hearts words and works better than their owne THe best man is so farre from iustifing his owne heart to bee cleane as although other commend his words which should be the true messengers of the heart and praise his works that seeme worthy of praise yet hee thinketh euery mans heart wordes and workes better more cleane and more vpright than his Yet such is the naturall pride and securitie of many that they dreame through the grosse corruption that lurkes in their hearts that they are very excellent and innocent creatures of sound and vnpolluted hearts despising others in respect of themselves as the Pharisee did the Publican and yet in heart prophane and wicked Many men deceiue themselues by flattering their owne hearts THere is no man that can rightly iudge his owne heart though hee may as many doe make a faire outward show as if his heart were according to his outward behauiour when yet it is full of hypocrisie spitefull Ambitious full of vices and vncleane desires This man perswadeth himselfe that as long as the world doth hold him holy and innocent how corrupt soeuer his heart be within hee standeth with God as hee doth with men If men iustifie him God cannot nor will condemne him a note of a corrupt heart As no man knoweth his owne heart so much lesse another mans by his outward conuersation BEE not deceiued thou that canst not truly iudge of thine owne heart dost thou thinke that other men can Thou wilt say by the fruits the tree is knowne thy heart is the tree and thy outward workes the fruit if then men see thy good workes they cannot but approue thy heart to bee seasoned accordingly But thinke that man seeth and iudgeth according to the outward shew onely and that there is one alone that seeth and iudgeth the very heart and reines and therefore whether thou iudge thine owne or other mens hearts by thine or their workes thinke of others as of necessity if thou deale impartially with thy selfe thou shalt find in thy selfe a heart corrupt filthy and inclinable to things thou art ashamed to reueile and affraid to commit and were it not for the shame of the world or for feare of punishment thou couldest find in thy heart to commit them and thinkest thou that all men are not of like condition with thee as touching the naturall corruption of their hearts Who then can say his heart is cleane though he may seeme vpright before men Selfe-loue a vice of vices IF therefore thou diligently consider that Vice of all vices Self-loue wherewith euerie man by nature is infected consequently thy selfe thou wilt confesse thy heart to bee vncleane and that it is farre more inclinable to think and conceiue euill than good and more prone to produce sinne than to imbrace sanctity And yet to thinke thy selfe through selfe-loue holy and thy heart cleane Many men couet to couer the filthinesse of their hearts by a disguised conuersation IT is the common fault of most men to please themselues with a conceit that if they can speake well if they can conceale their hidden inclinations and walke disguised so as men cannot see nor perceiue the filthy thoughts and desires that lurcke in their hearts by their outward actions they are as sincere men as any are though for the gaining of a little peâ—fe in the world they will lye sweare and forsweare when the heart if it could speake would accuse them to bee lyers to their faces As if their hearts were truly seene their consciences strictly examined they could not but confesse How then can other men know us according to our inward hearts when we our selues suspect them and for shame seeke to couer and conceale the filthinesse of them with the cloake of hypocrisie to make them seeme full of integrity being indeede full of impiety Our thoughts and purposes of heart ought to be tried by the word and commandements of God NAy It may bee indeed that a man may simply thinke his heart cleane walking honestly and ciuilly before men and find no cause of suspition in himselfe why hee should not bee thought to bee the same indeed that hee seemes to bee and thus no doubt doe many men flatter themselues for want either of true search of their hearts or for not trying their thoughts purposes imaginations and desires by the word of God For there is no man so senselsse but hee can conceiue the most apparent thoughts and purposes of his own heart though concealed to others were hee an Atheist And therefore if there bee in him any sparke of the knowledge of the Word of God especially of the ten Commandements he may be able as soone as any purpose of heart arriseth to examine the equity or iniquitie of it by the same Word And as he findeth it allowable to put it in execution or forbidden to abandon it The most righteous man hath corruption in his heart IT is impossible but that the best man vpon serious examinatioÌ„ of the inclination of his heart shal find it corrupt though many through a slender and sleight search seeme to find nothing amisse Paul knew nothing by himselfe yet did hee not as most men doe iustifie himselfe for in another place he cries out against the corruption of his heart being an elect vessel of Christ saying That which I should doe I doe not but that I should not doe that I doe Many vnfelt sinnes lurcke in the best heart WHereby it appeareth that the best men haue many faults which they themselues can take no knowledge off neither obserue they them in themselues And therefore had all men need to pray as Dauid did Cleanse my heart oh God from my secret faults Many sinnes lye hid in the heart not obserued by him that harbours them yet many men flatter as it were their hearts omitting to rip them up and to try them to the quicke And therefore their hearts flatter them and forbeare as they thinke to condemne them But these are sicke and feele it not their hearts are hardned against the time of a more serious examination when their consciences shall witnesse against them to their finall condemnation the corruption of their hearts Wee ought not to be partiall in the examination of our hearts BEE not partiall therefore but search thy heart in time search it to the bottome call all things as neere as thou canst what thou hast thought spoken or determined if thou find by the strict rule of the Law that it hath bin inclinable to euill and that thou haue committed sinne through the corruption thereof thinke that
graces of thy Spirit that appearing in thine Image thou mayst know mee and acknowledge me for thine owne-Lord heare my prayers and let my praises be acceptable in thine eyes For vnto thee O Lord vpon the altar of mine heart doe I offer vp all possible praise and thanksgiuing for all thy blessings both spirituall and temporall heauenly and earthly in great abundance coÌ„ferâ—ed vpon mee and aboue all for Iesus Christ the fountaine of them all by whom I haue redemption through his bloud and accesse through his life I thanke thee likewise for the sweet influence of thy gracious well guiding holy Spirit for the manifestation of thy selfe and sacred will by thy word read and preached for the confirmation and strengthening of my faith by those sacred signes and pledges of thy loue which thou exhibitest and giuest to mee and vnto euery beleeuing soule in the Sacraments I thanke thee for my life liberty food and rayment health wealth peace and plenty which thou in much mercy hast afforded vnto me from time to time for keeping mee now and euer from sudden death and sundry dangers whereinto I might haue fallen by reason of my manifold sinnes And I beseech thee to continue this thy prouidence ouer me and mine and thy whole church as thou hast hitherto beene a Sâ—nne to comfort me so bee thou now a shield to protect me keepe me in soule and body goods and good name vouchsafe mee this night peace vnto my soule rest and quietnesse to my body that therein being refreshed I may bee cheared vp in my minde and made the more prompt and ready to doe thee laudable seruice the day following and all the dayes of my life and that for Christ Iesus sake the Sonne of thy loue Amen Tuesday A Morning Prayer MOst gracious God and mercifull Father thou that art glorious in power and holinesse I thy poore and miserable creature being but dust and ashes doe here humbly present my selfe soule and body before the throne of thy maiesty confessing and acknowledging from the bottome of my heart that I am a most vile sinner conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity and am by nature backward vnto that which is good and prone vnto all manner of euill By meanes of this originaâ—l corruption drawne from the loynes of my first parents mine vnderstanding is full of all blindnesse and darkenesse my memory of forgetfulnesse my will of perversnesse mine affections of disorderlinesse my heart of hardnesse yea there is within mee a distemperature of all parts so that from the crowne of the head vnto the soule of the foote there is no soundnesse within mee wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse mee from my sinnes enrich my barren heart with the sanctifying graces of thy spirit that growing in knowledge fructifying in faith loue charity and abounding with all other holy vertues and heauenly qualities I may be washed iustified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of my God and haue the witnes and euidence within my selfe that there remaineth no condemnation to me being in Christ Iesus walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit Lord I confesse I am vtterly lost and haue no hope of saluation left vnto me having walked after the vanity of my mind and liued in al lust lewdnes riot reuelling vncleannes sinfulnes so that if thou shouldest be extreame to marke what is done amisse O Lord who may abide it Enter not therefore into Iudgement with 〈◊〉 seruant for in thy sight shall no flesh liuing bee iustistified Though my sinnes haue magnified themselues in infinite length breadth depth and height yet let thy mercy which passeth all vnderstanding farre exceed them And howsoeuer by reason of my sinnes I haue iustly deserued to be not only depriued of thy blessings but for euer deserted forsaken yet for his sake in whom thou art well pleased cast me not away from thy presence of grace here or glory hereafter but by the one lead me to the other by holinesse bring me to happinesse Behold O Lord how I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy hand-maid O grant mee grace that I may liue with thee for euer Thou hast redeemed me oh let me not fall into captiuity and bondage vnto sin and Satan because I weare thy cognizance liuery but so confirme and strengthen me that both in life and death I may continue thine that I may neuer draw back vnto perdition or forsake thee the euer-liuing God or renounce my Christ who hath the words of eternall life yea who is the Way the Truth and the Life but that both in prosperity and aduersity abiding by thee I may liue in thy feare dye in thy fauour rest in thy peace rise in thy power and raigne with thee in thy glory Amen Tuesday An Euening Prayer O Lord God euerlasting and full of pitty I am a sinner yet thy seruant not hauing transgressed through wickednes but much weaknesse and infirmity spare me therefore good Lord according to thy usuall dealing with those which in prayer haue had recourse vnto thee and according to thine old vnchangeable nature of thy kindnesse and long suffering Thou mightest haue taken me away in my sinnes but thou hast giuen me space of amendment and grace to returne vnto thee to seeke thee whilst thou maist be found and call vpon thee whilst thou art neare O Lord be not farre from me but draw neere vnto my soule make haste to deliuer me and helpe me Nay Lord thou art euer with and neuer failest those who seeke after thee and call vpon thee with words of deuotion and contrition to such thou art a present helpe in trouble their shield and buckler their rocke and strong hold their castle and fortresse the horne also of their saluation Instantly doe I knocke at the gate of thy mercy Lord open vnto me and receiue me to thy protection this night as thou hast safe-garded and guided me this day past so keepe me now and euer because I trust in thee Lord preserue mee in health wealth and godlinesse if it be thy gracious pleasure voâ—chsafe mee peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost guide me here by thy counsell and after that receiue me to glory And now seeing thou hast brought the night vpon mee wherein thou hast ordained man to take his rest keepe me O Lord as the apple of thine eye saue and defend mee from all annoyances fond dreames strong fantasies and delusions Cause thine Angels to pitch their tents round about mee and keepe watch ouer my soule and body that I may not if it bee possible sinne in either word or deede but may persist and goe forward in mine innocency and integrity vntill the appearing of my Lord and Sauiour vnto iudgement Good Lord deliuer mee from suddaine death feares and affrightments casualties by fire water or tempestuous weather disturbance by theeues or any other danger whatsoeuer Let my lying downe
violent And yet when his filthy lust was fulfilled hee hated her far more than he seemed to loue her before It is the nature of the corrupt affections of the heart to alter and turne as the wind How many proud men and women haue wee seene obserued or heard off that haue set their affections so egerly vpon new fashions garments women especially who haue beene striken either by the suggestions of Sathan laying their pride before the eyes of their weak consciences to driue them to dispaire or in the mercie of God who hath called them to reformation haue to day worne their proudest attire and that in great conceited glorie that the next day haue especâ—ally cast them all into the fire and consumed them The like change alteration of affectioÌ„s falleth out often between dearest affectionate friends sworne brothers but in euil of whom one hath beene the butcher of the other How dearely doe many times men and their wiues affect one the other one seemeth the better to see the other their loues seeme so mutually intire as there were no possibility that euer a word should passe amisse or in displeasure betweene them and yet within a while they haue falne together like wool-cards tongues fists and nailes haue walked wherâ— before sweetest words seemed not sweet enough The like inconstancy may bee obserued daily amongst our selues in men so hot in religion and following the word as they seeme to affect nothing else and sorrow much if they heare but one Sermon in a day were it possible they would heare tenne such appearance hath their zeale yet when the world offers them some extraordinary commodity or aduancement they will with Demas relinquish Pauls preaching and embrace the world The seede of the word sowne in their hearts fals among thornes that choke it There is no affection truely constant that hath its beginning from any of the outward senses because their obiects bee in themselues inconstant What sees the eye What heares the eare What pleaseth the taste What outward thing affects the mind But things vanishing and variable And therefore as the obiect beginnes to alter so doth the affection But he that affecteth Christ he that aboue all things truely desireth the sincere milke of the Word Hee that thinkes nothing so deare nothing so pretious nothing so delightfull nothing so commodious as the assurance of his glory to come Hee will affect nothing in comparison of it Hee will disaffect Father Mother Wife Children Lands and Life it selfe in regard of it On this he thinks and meditates day and night here is his treasury and vpon it hee sets his whole affection Hee longeth to enioy it as a bride her bridegroome He neuer thinkes his affection perfect enough hee striues by hearing reading meditating on the Word to inflame his affection more and more and stands in continuall feare lest some inferiour delight should worke the least extenuation of it And therefore when he findeth any thing delighting any of his outward senses hee presently suspects it checks it and casts it off as an infected garment knowing that as long as that hangs about him it presseth down his deare affection of things aboue namely of Christ the anchor and finisher of his faith to vnprofitable things below The heart thus affected is euen here rauished as it were with the loue of Heauen heauenly thingâ— reiecting all transitory vanities The purchase of lands the triall of Oxen nor the marrying of a wife shall not hinder or diminish this his heauenly affection What may bee the reason then why most men affect the inferiour fickle and vanishing things that leade to destruction and seeke not nor delight in heauenly the end whereof is glory Surely no other reason but that which lead Eue to affect the Apple because it was faire and beautifull to her eye and pleasing to her taste which made her quite forget the happy estate wherin she was before she tasted it The hearts of carnall men are carryed away and moued for want of the knowledge of the Word of Grace to affect as Eue did things faire to the eye sweet to the taste pleasing to the â—are and profitable to the purse and all but for vaine-glory among worldly men which maketh them to forget not only what they were but which is more dangerous what they shall bee and yet rather than they will giue ouer these worldly trifles yea in respect of good things indeed which are heauenly being more base than dung they will aduenture the losse of heauen and run headlong to hell Some may say if it be not lawfull for men here to affect earthy things but to the indangering of the losse of heaven mens cases are hard It is not denyed but as it is permitted to men to enioy the necessary vse of many earthly things so it is lawfull also moderately to affect one pleasing or profitable thing aboue or before another prouided that they carry not the whole heart with them as the word affection may import which belongeth onely to GOD whom we ought to loue with our whole hearts which is that uttermost extent of affection due to none in the highest degree but to God and his Christ. What profit canst thou reape by thy so louing and affecting things here below which aboue all other ought to bee thy wife that lyeth in thy bosome thy children who are of thine owne flesh and blood thy neighbours as thou art commanded and thy fellow members of Christ These are thy neerest and dearest yet ought not these so farre possesse thy heart as if thou lose any of them thou shouldest grudge at him that gaue them as many weake men and women doe as though their children husband or wife were given either to other in perpetuity And when they dye to shew their affection through immoderate griefe and sorrow to bee more strongly knit vnto these mortall creatures that are not theirs but lent them then to God himselfe This is no vertue but a vice of the heart neither can it be truely called naturall affection though it proceed of nature not of grace for euen naturall affection ought to haue this limitation namely to extend no further than natural life for when the life of him wee doe affect is ended naturall affection should cease Dauid no doubt did intirely affect his son whom he had by Barsheba and shewed the same affection towards him while he was sicke and aliue but as soone as the childe was dead he cast off his affection and sorrow and left mourning for him that he so intirely loued when he was aliue Such affections therefore as are set vpon the transitory and uncertaine things of this life may bee truely termed foolish if they passe the bounds of diuine reason for they onely savour of the corruption of nature and cannot returne any sollid comfort to the heart of the affectionate Where affection is grounded onely vpon carnall opinion without true and illuminate judgement it is like fire
in this one thing that I may count it all ioy when I fall into diuers temptations Let not my heart bee hardned by them as were the Israelites prouoking thee in the wildernesse but sanctifie all thy visitations vnto me that I may be bettered and reformed by them that my faith being tryed patience may bee wrought in mee and that patience hauing her perfect worke I may be perfect and intire lacking nothing Lord I know that in all thy temptations thou euer hast one end and Satan another thou triest me to the end that I being found faithfull thou mightest giue vnto mee the Crowne of Life Satan searcheth to seduce and sifteth to dispoyle and bereaue me of that which is vertuous and good in me Wherefore O Holy Ghost thou preseruer of men keepe mee by thy grace and strengthen mee by thy mighty power and out-stretched arme O blessed Iesu bee not farre from me but present with me and president in mee as thy sufferings abound in me so let thy consolation much more abound In the middest of all mine agonies and terrors of minde let thy comforts reioyce my soule that I being made glad by thee I may bee confirmed vnto the end and alwayes in all dangers of life or death in all tribulations and temptations abide by thee that thou mayest appoynt vnto mee a kingdome as thy Father hath appointed unto thee Grant this not for any worth of mine but thine owne merit and goodnesse sake Amen O Lord let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme bee now and alwaies my defence thy mercy and louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne my saluation thy true and holy word my instruction thy grace and holy Spirit my comfort and consolation Amen The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding keepe my heart and minde in the Loue of God and of his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and the blessing of God almighty the Father Sonne and holy Ghost be with me and remaine with mee and mine and with the whole church of God from this time forth and for euermore Amen God bee mercifull vnto me and blesse me The Lord lift vp the light of his gracious countenance vpon mee bee mercifull vnto mee and grant mee his euerlasting peace Amen A Prayer for the troubled in minde afflicted in conscience groaning vnder the insupportable burden of a wounded Spirit O Father of mercy and God of all consolation vouchsafe I beseech thee succour and reliefe vnto me that am troubled in mind and afflicted in conscience for feare of thy Iudgements and the terrible things which thou writest against mee by reason of my sinnes Lord breake not the bruised reede nor quench the smoaking flax wound not mine humble and contrite heart but reuiue the spirit of mee that goe mourning all the day long Though Satan presume that thou hast smitten and forsaken mee yet frustrate his hopes and expectations leaue mee not destitute of thy grace as a prey vnto him the enemy of my soule but mightily preserue and defend mee that I may neuer bee lost but that in life and death I may bee alwayes thine And albeit my conscience accuse mee my memory giues euidence against mee my reason condemne me though I bee deepely plunged in discomfort and haue lost the voice of ioy and gladnes and haue neither worth to appease thy wrath nor patience to endure thy tryall yet send me deare Father the comfort of thine holy Spirit againe into my heart that I may not be swallowed vp of ouermuch heauinesse but may reioyce in thee with ioy glorious and vnspeakeable Open and set open the gate of thy mercy to the greatnesse of my misery for my deiected countenance witnesseth my distressed and distracted minde my minde is sorrowfull mine heart heauy my Spirit is oppressed my words are stopt with sighes and my complaints watered with teares In execution of thy iudgements Lord remember mercy try not the Law with mee lest I come into iudgement and bee condemned weigh not my merits but pardon mine offences Sanctifie vnto me all these good meanes wherein I seeke reliefe as prayer conference meditation reading and hearing of thy word receiuing the Sacrament of the body and bloud of thy Sonne and my most blessed Sauiour Iesus Christ. Mittigate mine extremities abate my feares moderate miâ—e afflictions and remoue farre from me the vexatious of the night dreames and fantasies let not the visions of mine head like Nebuchadnezzars make mee afraid when I awake stay me with flagons and comfort mee with apples thy most sweet and delightsome promises which are pleasing to the pallate of my soule Rectifie my iudgement and vnderstanding as in the daies of old and drinke no longer vnto me in the Cuppe of affliction but in the chalice of refreshing that I may pledge thee a sauing health pay my vowes vnto thee and call vpon thy name with thanksgiuing in the sight of all thy congregation If it bee thy good pleasure to try me and not take away this Cuppe from me confirme my faith continuing unto me that hope of glory which is to be reuealed To this end cause mee with the eye of faith to looke vp vnto thee who smitest me and waite for the appointed time of my recouery and deliuery out of all my troubles Lord suffer mee not to bee swallowed vp of fearefâ—ll despaire but vouchsafe mee a full perswasion of thy mercy that thou wilt neuer leaue me nor forsake me but wilt be in life my God in death my deliuerer after death mine eternall rewarder Lord hearken and incline thine eare vnto these my requests and grant mee not my deserts but my desires and that for Iesus Christ his sake Amen Our Father which art in heauen c. The grace of our Lord Iâ—sus Christ the loue of God the Father and the most comfortable fellowship of God the Holy Ghost be with mee blesse preserue and keepe mee both in soule and body in goods and good name in life health wealth peace and godlinesse together with thâ— whole church and all that pertaine vnto me now and for euermore Amen A prayer to be said by the sicke O God my creator and preseruer thou madest me in thine owne image in knowledge holinesse and righteousnesse but deare Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee and am no more worthy to bee called thy childe for I haue defaced this Image and superscription of thine in me and hereby mine vnderstanding is filled with ignorance my will with stubbornenesse mine affections with peruersnesse mine heart with sinnefullnesse and my whole life with disobedience and disorderlinesse euer since I drew in my breath I haue drunke in iniquity like water so that I can looke for nothing but death which raigneth ouer all to arraigne me at the barre of thy Iustice to receiue an irreuocable doome I haue no worth to appease thy wrath yet for thy Sons sake doe away all my sinne and be thou pleased to be reconciled vnto me And now