of the wicked but they shall after death never die Yea euery word of the sentence seemes to be most fearfull terrible First what they shall do Depart Secondly how they shall depart Cursed Thirdly from whom From me Fourthly whither Into fire Fifthly into what fire Euerlasting fire Sixtly by what right Prepared Seuenthly with what company The Diuell and his Angels Hitherto and thus farre the wicked must arise and stand in Iudgement but after this sentence is once giuen they shall neuer rise vp to appeare in Iudgement any more But where it is said They shall not stand in Iudgement This is meant onely in respect of Gods fauour For this is proper onely to the godly thus to stand in iudgement who are bold in respect of Iesus Christ their elder Brother in whose righteousnesse they appeare Oh that all men would consider Vse 1 this high low rich poore noble and simple That no wicked man shall stand in iudgement but shall heare the fearefull sentence of eternall vengeance Depart from mee yee cursed O how ready are men to put from them this day of reckoning They seeme to haue made a league with Death Esay 28.15 and to bee at an agreement with the Graue But the Lord will disanull this their agreement and the time will come when these wicked wretches will bee glad to put their heads in an awger hole when they shall cry vnto the rockes and hils to fall vpon them to hide them and to couer them from the wrath of God the angry Iudge whom they are not able to endure Who would buy gold at such a rate or pleasures so deere to loose his soule in hell fire for euer for the pleasures of sinne for a season heere Secondly we are taught here that Vse 2 as all wicked and vngodly men bee wretched and miserable in their life So at the day of Iudgement their estate is much more fearefull for it is said here They shall not stand in iudgement but shall quake and tremble as not being able to endure the angry countenance of the Iudge Reu. 20.14 For now they shal see the books brought forth and their sinnes laid open O good Lord what shall vngodly men do then which way shall they turne them when they shall see the Iudge stand aboue them with a naked sword to cut them off and the deuils ready to execute Gods eternall iudgements on them poore soules what shall become of them How can they stand how can they endure it And yet they must vndergo it and endure it But more then this they must receiue that fearefull sentence of eternall vengeance Depart yee cursed c. So as now they must remaine in perpetuall prison in the darke dungeon of hell for euer where the paines are endlesse easlesse and remedilesse They shall haue no ease no not one drop of water to coole their tongue And this word euerlasting Torment doth euen kill the heart of the damned for if a man in hell torments might lie in torments so many thousand yeares as bee Starres in the firmament or sand on the Sea shoare Esa 30.30 it were some comfort to a damned soule that once there might bee an end thereof But alas when he hath suffered torments so many yeares the number to suffer still will euer remaine infinite God giue vs grace that we may become righteous that so wee may stand in iudgement The second part of the misery of a wicked man in the life to come is Hee shall not stand in the assembly of the Iust IN these words is noted out vnto vs a second branch of the iudgement of the wicked in the life to come That they shall be seuered and secluded from the company of the Iust Heauen is called the New Ierusalem wherein enters no vncleane thing onely this is the place where the iust do abide Heere are all the holy Patriarkes Abraham Isaac and Iacob heere are the Apostles heere are the holy Martyrs and constant witnesses of CHRISTS truth here are all the Saints that sleepe in Christ heere they rest and sing continually Praise honour and glory vnto him that sitteth vpon the Throne heere they enioy the presence of God and see his face continually Now to bee depriued of this place and to be seuered from this company it is a misery with a witnesse And this is that misery heere pointed out in this second place They shall not stand in the Assembly of the Iust The Church is to bee vnderstood two wayes Militant and Triumphant and from both of these the wicked are excluded for howsoeuer the wicked liue amongst the godly as Tares amongst the good Wheate as Cain and Esau and Iudas did amongst the godly yet they were not of the godly They went out from vs because they were not of vs But this is not directly intended in this place But of the Church Triumphant in the kingdome of heauen where the godly enioy Iesus Christ Psal 16.12 In whose presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at whose right hand is pleasure for euermore heere the wicked shall not stand in this Assembly Exod. 3. For if Moses might not stand vpon the holy ground before he had put off his shooes Oh how much lesse shall sinfull wretches stand in the presence of the euerliuing God hauing on the shooes of their sinfull affection Yea it is now most iust with God that such should be shut from Heauen the Church Triumphant seeing they neuer warred in the Church Militant Neither the sinners in the assembly of the iust Doctr. 2. All Mankinde diuided into two ranks HEere then we learne that there are two sorts of men in the world Good and Bad Sheep Goates Elect and Reprobate and heere in this world they liue together but after death in the last iudgement there shall bee two places appointed for them Mat. 25.34 one on the right hand another on the left one in honour the other in shame one in ioy and comfort the other in feare and horror And as wicked men in this life could neuer abide the company and society of the godly but did mock and scoffe at them and shun their company as much as they could so in the great day of account in that great and generall separation The sinners shall not appeare in the assembly of the righteous but shall bee seuered and sundred by the great Shepheard of the sheepe the Iudge of the whole world Now that wicked men shun and auoid the company of the godly and do desire and seeke the company of the wicked it is plaine by experience and therefore it is iust with God that at the last day they should bee seuered and secluded their company and as they loued and delighted in the company of wicked men and such as haue no feare of God before their eyes so now they shall haue their belly full of their company How did Cain hate Abel Pharaoh Moses and Aaron Saul Dauid the
then decaies and declines so fareth it with man let him seeme to bee as tall and as straight as a Cedar Tree hee must become a shrub againe and stoup to age For mans life is well compared to a day whose euening will most certainely follow his morning vntill the night of death cause him to sleepe in the graue For as there is a time to bee borne Eccle. 3.1 so there is a time to die Be it that now thou seemest to bee as strong as the Oake and as tall as the Cedar as flourishing as the Bay Tree yet at last rottennesse will creepe into the strongest Oke and strength and tallnesse will bee abated in thee when the keepers of the house shall tremble Eccl. 12.3 c. 3 In State Thirdly man may bee compared to a Tree in respect of the State of a Tree and that diuers waies First as the talest Cedar is in greatest danger of winde and weather Euen so the man that is tall either in place of authority riches honour or the like Loca quae alijs celsa ipsis prerumpa videntur Seneca is most subiect to the assault of Sathan and the rage of wicked men And men of such excellent places in Church or Common-wealth are more subiect to changes disfauours to enuy insurrections poysonings murtherings as to so many raging winds whereas those that with little Dauid Tend the Ewes great with yong are free from these assaults Secondly it is commonly seene the more tall the Tree is the lesse fruitfull So fareth it with man naturally vnlesse men bee seasoned by grace riches honout dignity or the like are great occasions of an high minde and a high minde is like vnto a Mountaine which the higher it is the more barren it is Whereas if hee bee meane and humble of Spirit hee may fitly bee compared to the valleyes which are euer fruitfull and as the Psalmist saith Stand thicke of Corne For humility is the ground worke of Christian vertues and pride the roote of all euill and the queene of all vice Thirdly and lastly the end of euery tree is to become either timber for building or fewell for burning So fareth it with man this Mysticall tree when death commeth which is Gods Axe by the which hee doth cut vs downe hee becommeth either timber for the Lords house when this earthly tabernacle shall bee destroyed 1. Pet. 2.5 to bee a building not made with hands but eternall in the heauens or else alas but fewell for the fire of Gods wrath Esa 30.33 euen in Tophet where there is fire and much wood and where the Lords wrath as the bellowes shall neuer cease blowing and kindling the same Doctr. 1. Ministers duety to instrct the simplest It is heere first of all to be noted that the Spirit of God sets out the happinesse of a godly man by comparing him to a goodly greene Tree Hence we learne first of all that it is not onely lawfull but a commendable profitable kind of teaching for Gods Ministers to illustrate points of doctrine by similitudes and comparisons so that they bee familiar and fit to make the people conceiue what they teach and to raise comparisons from the Plow and Plow-share to that end that euen the simplest in a Congregation may vnderstand what is said and what is taught This was the course of the Prophets from time to time in their Sermons to the people This was the course of our Sauiour himselfe Iohn 15. Math. 13. Iohn 10.1 who in all his Sermons vseth both Parables and Similitudes comparing good men to good Trees bad men to bad Trees Mat. 3.10 Luke 8.4 comparing Himselfe to a Vine the Father to a Husbandman vs to Branches Himselfe to a Sheepheard wee to Sheepe and the word to twenty things as Seed Mustard-seed c. to teach all those that are Gods Ministers that when they preach vnto their people that they lap not vp their speech in a mist of words but so to deliuer it as that the meanest and shallowest amongest the hearers may vnderstand it Thence came the profession of Paul we preach not our selues but Christ Iesus our Lord 2. Corinthians 4.5 And hence came that worthy resolution of his I had rather in the Church to speake fiue words c. that I might instruct others then ten thousand wordes in a strange tongue 1. Corinth 14.19 In which words by strange tongue we are not simply to vnderstand Hebrew Greeke Latine c. but by speaking of the mother-tong in a strange maner Preachers are fitly compared to a Nurse a Nurse doth halfe chew the meate to the little one and doth babble vnto them in their owne stammering tongue so must Preachers proportion their Doctrine to their hearers capacity and fitte his tongue to their vnderstanding This may serue to reprooue such kinde of Preachers who seeke not to preach CHRIST crucified but preach themselues euen such as in handling the word of God preaching the Gospel seek to shew their owne learning wit art and memory and so indeed preach not Christ but themselues like the old Pharisees Louing the praise of men more then the praise of God But what shall Dauid the Prophet of the Lord or rather the Spirit of God in him stoupe so low as to speake to the vnderstanding of all men by similitudes comparisons and the like And shall sinfull man a worme of the earth exalt himselfe aboue God to seeke only to tickle itching eares with the words of mans wisedome Seeing Gods Ministers must bee Vse 2 faithfull Teachers of the trueth of God and must deliuer the same in the plaine euidence of the Spirit not with the enticing wordes of mans wisedome This serues to direct the hearers in the Art of Hearing They must submit themselues to Gods ordinance and be ready to know the will of God we must not haue itching eares that are not able to suffer wholesome Doctrine like the Gentiles who despised the Preaching of the Apostles because it was not stiled with mans painted eloquence esteeming it foolishnes What is this but to stint the Spirit 1. Cor. 1.21 and to teach the Lord to speake prescribing the Minister what hee shall say and restraining our hearing what we will heare What then will follow but that we shal heare without fruit and the word to bee vnto vs onely a sauour of death vnto death Doctr. 2. Double vse of all the creatures of God Hence wre obserue heere a second point of Doctrine that seeing the Prophet compareth a godly man to a Tree That of all the creatures of God there is a double vse one Naturall the other Spirituall As a Tree in nature signifies such plants of the earth as bring forth fruit according to their kind Now besides this naturall signification it serues to put vs in minde what wee ought to bee Math. 3.10 namely friutfull trees in the Lords orchard lest if we be barren or
Iewes our Sauiour Christ Elymas the company of Paul And on the contrary part how one wicked man doth loue the company of another like himselfe Psalm 50. common experience doth proue it And heere wicked men bee noysome and troublesome to the godly as Goats to sheep they tread downe their pasture they trample in their water Ezek. 34. and they push them with their hornes Christs sheep now sustaine sundry wrongs and iniuries and are much annoyed and vexed by those stinking and vnruly Goates But there will come a day of separation Mal. 3.18 to the horror of the wicked and comfort of the godly Further in these words wee may consider the estate of the righteous at the last iudgement that is of the elect of God such as haue truely repented of their sinnes by faith beleeue and embrace Iesus Christ and are iustified through his obedience in the sight of God surely their estate shall bee blessed and happy and so great that the very wicked shall be ashamed and astonied to behold it First they shall be set on Christs right hand which is no small honour and ioy for poore silly soules to bee aduanced to sit on the right hand of Iesus Christ the Son of God and the great Iudge of the world Secondly they shall heare the blessed sentence Come yee blessed c. Mat. 25.34 Thirdly they shall be put in reall possession of eternall saluation of the kingdome of Heauen and liue in the blessed presence of God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Reuel 21. 13.14 the elect Angels and blessed Saints where there shall be no sorow paine sicknesse c. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours So then after death they haue a sweet quietus est and a generall discharge and freedome from all enemies of soule and body from all trouble paine and griefe Whereas the wicked and vngodly shall bee in a cleane contrary estate and condition for they shall not come into the company of the righteous nor shall haue no part in that place of their Comfort Honour Ioy and Dignity but shall be set on Christs left hand a place of exceeding sorrow and griefe shame and confusion horrour and trembling This might admonish all wicked Vse 1 and vngodly sinners to repent in time to turne to God by true repentance and amendment of their liues to esteeme better of the company of Gods faithfull seruants and righteous Children in this world and to make much of them But if they will still proceed to hate them to set themselues against the godly to shunne their company and to hate them aboue all the things in the world Well yet remember the time will come that yee shall thinke it the greatest misery in the world that they shall be seuered and sundred from their company and in so being they shall be seuered and sundred from the company and society of Iesus Christ himselfe of God the Father and all the blessed Saints and Angels of God in heauen Wis 5.1.2.3.4 Then in that day shall the righteous stand in great boldnesse before him that persecuted him c. Thus yee see the madnesse and extreme folly of wicked men they hate them whom they ought most to loue and loue them whom they ought most to dislike Vse 2 Let men take heed with whom they ioyne themselues in society Seeing with whom they keepe company in this life in death they shall pertake with them and after at the last iudgement shall be ioyned with them Hee that now is familiar and a companion of vngodly men Athiests Papists Swearers Drunkards Scorners c. certainely in death he shall bee punished with them and after death haue his abode with them for euer Reu. 18.4 So he that is now a companion with all those that feare God surely hee shall haue a part with them in death and at the last iudgement shall bee placed with them in ioy and happinesse for euermore Heb. 11.25.26 It is thought to be a matter of little or no moment what company a man keepes to liue amongst Swaggerers Swearers Drunkards Athiests Papists c. But the truth is it is a fearefull signe of a reprobate and he that is now a companion with them in their sins shall after death take part with them in their plagues The first Psalme VERSE 6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous But the way of the vngodly shall perish HItherto the Prophet hath described the wonderfull blessed estate of a godly man The secōd generall part of the Psalme As also the fearefull and cursed estate of the wicked Now in this sixt verse which containes in it the second generall part of the Psalme is laid downe a reason both of the happinesse of the one and also of the misery of the other The godly man is a blessed man why Because the Lord Knoweth that is approueth of the way of a righteous and godly man hee likes it and directs it yea takes care of it and doth blesse the way that is the life and conuersation the actions studies and endeuours of the righteous Secondly the wicked are cursed and miserable why Because the Lord doth not thus Know that is the Lord doth not like nor allow of the wicked man hee doth not loue nor approue of his life nor dealings but rather dislikes him and all hee doth yea hee hates and abhorres his vile and abhominable and wicked life And therefore both hee and his waies that is his studies labours and enterprises shall perish and come to destruction In that the Lord is said to know the way of the righteous that is to like it to loue and to be well pleased with it so as hee will direct and blesse Doctr. 1. A great comfort to the godly that God doth approue of them it Here is matter of exceeding comfort to euery poore childe of God to euery godly and righteous seruant of God that being iustified by faith in Christ Iesus and sanctified by the Holy Ghost liue well and leade a godly and righteous life that howsoeuer the world contemnes them scoffes and scornes them mockes and mowes at them reuile and raile vpon them esteeme them as base and vile yet here we see that the Lord loues them and esteemes highly of them approues them as his delights in them to blesse them and prosper them Touch not mine Annointed 2 Cor. 4.13 Mat. 23.37 Psalm 105 Psalm 17. Ps 142.3.4 Nah. 2.7 1. Tim. 4.8 and do my Prophets no harme yea he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of Gods eye no assaults whatsoeuer shall bee able to hurt them For godlinesse hath the promise of this life and that which is to come And therefore let vs labour to plant godlinesse in our hearts and store them with the true feare of God and in so doing the Lord will both blesse vs and our poore endeuours This may serue to
reproue the cursed practise of vngodly men Vse it is wonderfull to see how bold they bee to abuse Gods Seruants to mocke them and to disgrace them to slander and reuile them they thinke them the worst men that liue in the world they traduce them and bring them on the Stage they loade them with vile and odious names Now what doe they else then set themselues against God himselfe seeing they hate them whom God loues And as this may serue for the terrour of the wicked so it serues to comfort euery poore child of God What though the world hate thee so God loue thee Oh remember that the Lord loues and allowes of thee Now then if God approue of thee what though all men in the world did refuse or condemne thee If the King should grace a man and honour him what would this man care for the contempt of a Scullion boy Well let this be a comfort and encouragement vnto vs that God knowes and allowes of vs For what were the fauour and approbation of men if this were wanting Obiect How a mā may know whether Christ approue of him But how shall a man know whether God knoweth him thus with his speciall knowledge or not I answere First if God know any man for his by his speciall and effectuall knowledge Answere then hee begets in him the knowledge of himselfe As the light of the Sunne falling on our eye by whose light wee behold the Sunne againe Ioh. 10. I know my Sheep saith Christ and they know mee Secondly if God thus know any man with his especiall and effectuall knowledge of his so as hee loues and likes of him it begets the loue of God in a mans heart So as God loues him hee is inflamed to loue God againe 1. Ioh. 4.9 and in loue vnto him is loath to offend him and most carefull to please him And therefore if wee would know whether wee be thus knowne of God let vs labour to finde our hearts thus enflamed with the loue of him Thirdly whom GOD knoweth thus he chuseth to bee his Childe in CHRIST IESVS delights to blesse him Now then this workes in the heart of a godly man another work namely to choose God to bee his God to set his heart on him to delight in him to adore him as his God to loue him feare him obey and cal vpon him and to trust in him as his God Thus you see how a man may know whether God know him with this special and effectual knowledge which is proper to the Elect alone namely by these fruites and effects in our hearts For as we see though euery man cannot come to see the Kings Broad Seale yet can discerne the picture of it in wax and say This is the Kings Broad Seale So though men cannot ascend to Heauen to know the secret counsell of God yet by these fruites and effectes of his knowledge men may know his will whether they be his or not Well to conclude seeing the Lord thus knowes and acknowledgeth yea loues and likes of the life of a godly and righteous man let vs bee encouraged to goe through-stitch and to resolue of this neuer to be daunted or discouraged with the hard measure of vngodly men All our care should bee to please God and to bee approued of him and therefore so long as hee doth approue of vs let vs not care what man can doe against vs. But the way of the wicked shall perish Doct. 2 The Lord hates a wicked man and al he doth Esay 1.11 HEere we learne that the whole life of a wicked man and whatsoeuer he doth is abhominable the Lord hates him and all he doth What haue I to doe with the multitude of your Sacrifices saith the Lord. And againe Esay 66.3 The Sacrifices of the wicked are abhominable vnto the Lord. Now if the best actions of a wicked man his Hearing Reading praying Ier. 7.8 Prou. 15.8 and Receiuing be abhominable to the Lord how much more their swearing cursing banning prophaning the Sabboth drunkennesse vncleannesse lying stealing c. Againe without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Now no wicked man can haue true faith because Faith purifies the heart Acts 15.9 and is neuer seuered from true repentance and amendment of life And therfore the way of the wicked seeme it neuer so goodly and glorious in the world all their studies and endeuours shall perish and come to destruction in the end Pro. 20.17 Iob. 20.29 This is the portion of the wicked man and the heritage that he shall haue from God for his workes This shewes the state of most men to bee miserable and vnhappy Vse For onely those bee blessed whose liues do please God Now alas what delight can God haue in the filthy liues of most men whose whole delight and study is in sin and wickednesse in all kinde of lewdnesse and prophannesse haue no care to please God but euen obstinately rebell against him surely the Lord hates them and all they do O wofull condition of such sinful men that betake themselues thus vnto the way of sinne Not as though they walk therein but for a time but as such as purpose to tread therein for euer From this wofull estate the Lord deliuer vs for his Christs sake Amen A Prayer for the Morning O LORD and our good GOD wee thy poore vnworthy seruants according to our bounden duetie are heere assembled together in thy Name O LORD it is thy owne Commandement that wee should call vpon thee in all our necessities and it is likewise thy promise that thou wilt heare vs in assurance whereof wee are bold now to come vnto thee acknowledging first of all that wee are altogether vnworthy of our selues as of our selues to request for any fauour or mercie at thy hands for from our cradles vnto this present there hath beene in vs nothing else but Apostasie and rebellion yea Lord we haue so added sinne vnto sinne as if there were no other end why wee were sent into the world but to prouoke thee to wrath and to heap vp a great measure of iniquitie against our own soules against the day of wrath Our sinnes of omission our sinnes of commission ô Lord they are many and great and if thou shouldest call vs to a reckoning euen for the least of them we are not able to answere thy Maiesty for one of a thousand yea Lord wee confesse that it is thy mercie that endureth for euer and that hath beene the cause that wee haue not long agoe tasted of thy iudgements O Lord be thou mercifull vnto vs still for thy Names sake separate our sinnes as farre from thy presence as the East is from the West Bury them in the graue of thy Sonne Christ that they may neuer rise vp againe in this world to accuse vs or in the world to come to condemne vs. Teach vs to consider good much lesse to
performe it open therefore the eyes of our minds that we may see what is good put thy good Spirit within vs giue vs fleshly hearts and pliable affections draw our minds from the loue of this present world teach vs to vse it as if we vsed it not that we haue heere no continuing Citie but to seeke one to come that so wee may seeke for that kingdome that cannot bee shaken but eternall in the heauens Lord teach vs to do thy wil knit our hearts vnto thee that we may feare thy name ô Lord heare ô Lord forgiue ô Lord consider the complaint that we make vnto thee and giue a gracious answere vnto our prayers for the Lords sake And now ô Lord we thanke thee euen from the bottome of our hearts for thy inestimable blessings wherwith in Christ Iesus thou hast blessed vs for our Election before the foundation of the world for our Vocation Iustification Sanctification and Preseruation and for that thou hast put in vs a hope of Glorification in the life to come We thank thee more especially for that thou hast defended vs this night past from all perils dangers and hast safely brought vs to the beginning of this day Now Lord wee humbly pray thee keepe vs and all that belong vnto vs this day from al euill that may hurt vs set thy feare before our eyes and let thy spirit so rule our hearts that we may not sin against thee As for outward things we submit our selues to thy wise and fatherly prouidence only we beseech thee to giue vs this day whatsoeuer thou knowest needfull behouefull vnto vs let vs not want those things without which we cannot serue thee blesse vs in our going out and our comming in and grant that whatsoeuer we shall thinke speake or doe may tend to thy glory the good of our brethren and the comfort of our owne consciences when wee shall come to make before thee our last accounts Blesse thy whole Church O Lord and build it vp more and more in perfect beautie disappoynt the hope of the Papists let them perish as many as haue euil wil at Syon comfort them that mourne especially such as mourn for sin fulfil the desires of all that truly long sigh after thee Blesse this good land in which we liue make thy glorious Gospell to shine more more vntil it be perfect day Lord send it where it is not and blesse it where it is that Babylon may fall and neuer rise vp again and to this end strenthen the hand of thine annoynted seruant and our dread Soueraigne Iames Lord make him to see and know euery day more and more what belongs vnto thy glory what belongs vnto his owne peace and safety and Lord giue him a heart that he may duly practise the same Blesse likewise our gracious Queene Anne Prince Charles and rhe Count Palatine of Rhine with the Lady Elizabeth his wife Assist with thy spirit and grace all that are in authority sanctifie all those whom thou employest in the Ministery Be mercifull vnto all that wee are bound in duty to pray for as if we had named them in particular vnto thee Hasten the comming of Iesus Christ make vs euer mindfull of our last end and of the reckoning that one day we are to make vnto thee And in the meane time Lord make vs carefull to follow Christ in the Regeneration during this life as that with Christ one day we may haue our portion in the resurrection of the Iust when this mortall life is ended These graces and all other blessings which thou knowest to bee needfull for vs O Lord we humbly begge and craue at thy hand in the name and for the sake alone of Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne and in that forme of prayer which hee himselfe hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A Prayer for the Euening O Lord God by whose gracious prouidence the night succeedeth the day and the day the night wee acknowledge thy wonderfull power therin forasmuch as day vnto day vttereth thy goodnes and night vnto night teacheth knowledge O Lord amongst other thy mercies with which thou doest euen follow vs most rebellious wretches wee must needs acknowledge that this is not the least that we haue this libertie to come into thy presence O Lord wee come not now to excuse our selues but to accuse our selues yea and to acknowledge that we are worthy of all those iudgements which thy iustice might most iustly inflict vpon vs our sinnes they make vs seeme vile in our eyes how much more loathsome in thy sight O Lord we must needs confesse that we are so farre vnworthy to bee called thy sonnes as that we are not worthy to bee reckoned amongst thy seruants yea were it not that thou wert a God of mercy and that thy mercy were ouer all thy workes and doth extend it selfe euen to poore sinners we should vtterly be discouraged in comming vnto thee considering that our whole life hath been but a life of sinne and that we haue drunke downe iniquity as it were water euer powring in but neuer powring out our filthinesse O Lord teach vs to value this mercy of thine aright that thou hast spared vs so long and giuen vs so large a time of repentance that thou hast not preuented vs with death in the time of our ignorance hardnesse of heart as many haue beene before vs O Lord it is thy mercy not our worthinesse Thus hast thou shewed thy selfe to be a God of mercy one that delighteth in the prosperity of thy seruants Now Lord we humbly entreat thee that thou wouldst pardon and forgiue vs all our sins and offences bathe them in the bloud of thy Sonne naile them to his Crosse bind them in a bundle and throw them downe into the bottome of the sea that they may neuer rise vp against vs either in this world to accuse vs or in the world to come to condemne vs. O Lord wee are heartily sorry that wee haue abused thy blessings prophaned thy Saboths despised thy word and quenched thy Spirit For these and the like blessed father we condemne our selues do not thou therefore marke them nor deale not with vs as we haue deserued but teach vs to rise vp against our sinnes that our warre with them may assure vs that wee haue peace with thee O Lord we abhorre our selues for to vs belongs nothing but shame and confusion of face for euer and we do humbly entreat thee to looke vpon vs in thy Son Christ Iesus O let the chastisement of our peace bee vpon him and heale vs through his stripes Lord let vs euer remember our latter end and the straight reckoning that we must render vnto thee one day and in health and prosperity to thinke of a time of sicknesse and aduersity and especially good Lord deliuer vs in the houre of temptation that when Sathan his assaults shall be greatest as his policy is when wee are weakest and least able to resist him that thy power may then appeare in our weaknesse that these things may not ouertake vs as a snare but that with the wise virgins wee may in some sort bee prepared for the comming of Christ Iesus the sweete Bridegroome of our soules And to that end we may haue comfort both now and at that time goe forward wee humbly pray thee with the worke of our new birth that thou hast begun in vs and neuer take away thy hand vntill such time as thou hast made an end of it And now O Lord hauing in the first place sought thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof giue vs leaue in the next place to seek thy fauour in outward things First according to our duty we giue thee hearty thankes praise for that thou hast this day preserued vs from all euill and danger wee humbly pray thee take care ouer vs this night and defend vs from that roaring Lyon who night and day goeth about seeking whom hee may deuoure Take thou vs this night into thy blessed tuition we know that thou dost neither slumber nor sleepe keepe vs euen in our sleepe from being vnmindfull of thee that whensoeuer thou shalt call for vs by the generall Alarum of thy iudgement whether at mid-night at Cocke-crowing or at the dawning of the day we may bee found ready to accompany the Bridegroome into the Marriage-chamber And to this end Lord sanctifie our sleep vnto vs that by it wee may bee the better enabled to performe the duties of the next day and night and day being guided by thee they may fit vs and prepare vs for that day of thine that shall neuer giue place to night And we beseech thee O Lord to be mercifull likewise to thy whole Church heare the cries of thine elect heare the mourning of all such as mourne in Syon let the cries of thy children cry downe the cries of the sinnes of this land and bee reconciled vnto vs O Lord our God in the multitude of thy mercies that so thou maist continue still a mercifull God vnto this Land the Vineyard which thy own right hand hath planted Preserue our gracious King blesse and prosper the Queene the hopefull Prince Charles Princely Palsgraue of Rhene with the Princesse Elizabeth his wife And as thou hast crowned them with worldly honour vpon earth so direct them vnto that more glorious Crowne in heauen Blesse the Nobility and Magistracy of this Land Prosper the worke of thy Gospell in the hands of thy Ministers And good Lord giue vs all grace to bee one of those wise virgines that our hearts may bee prepared like a lamp furnished with Faith and good workes like Oyle to meete the Lord Iesus Christ the Bridegroome of our soules there to see the felicity of thy chosen and to reioyce with the ioy of thy people To whom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit bee all Honour Glory Might Maiesty and Dominion henceforth for euer Amen FINIS