expect all mercy grace peace comfort strength health safety succour help deliverance and salvation onely from thee oh grant each seasonably and effectually unto me Lord work all thy works iâ— me that I may serve thee as â— ought and work all my work for me that I may prosper a thou hast promised Lord make me as thou would dest have me and require whâ—â— thou wilt of me give me which thou seest best for me and dâ—â— what thou wilt with me Lord be my strength refuge and ready help at hand mâ— sufficiency safety and good successe and when where and how thou pleasest imploy me Lord cleare my innocency stop the mouth of injury faithfully worthily and in-offensively make me to discharge each part of my duty Lord make me wise warned watchfull and well governed by my former folly rashnesse weaknesse and misgovernment Lord let me no more be conformable to the sinfull and unseemly fashions of the world but reforme my whole man according to thy will Lord forgive and keep me from those sinnes whereby I have most dishonoured thee disgraced my Christian profession injured others clog'd my conscience terrified my souse or any way procured my selfe shame or harme Lord make me to make and let me find each part of thy Word my guide and comfort Lord direct governe restore comfort support establish inable protect provide for and blesse me as every one of my especiall occasions doe or may require of thee Lord at one time or other by one meanes or other ere we do part hence work for the effectuall conversion and everlasting salvation of every one of mine and I desire no more for them of thee Lord prepare me to meet the ere thy wrath come upon me in the day of calamity hide me under thine hand till thy indignation be over past Lord in wisdome love and faithfulnesse visit me and deale as thou pleasest with me Lord when all is past hope thou canst most easily help my case is fully knowne and wholy commended to thee thou hast helped remarkably thy hand is not shortned thy mercy never faileth thy truth endureth for ever towards me Lord let not my hope deceive nor thy help faile me oh cause me to make and let me find thy providence my portion continually so shall I be supplied seasonably and never want any thing thou seest good for me Lord prepare me to suffer to dye let every thing draw me neerer to thee let death bring me to life eternall with thee doe then what thou wilt with me call then when where and how thou pleasest for me Lord from sin shame harme in thy feare in a good repute and peace preserve me Lord how shall I behave my selfe in my present distressed estate and how wilt thou therein deale with me oh that thou wouldest dispose and dispatch all my businesse for me Lord all help faileth me none cares for me every thing seemâ— to crosse me yet help thou and all shall goe well with me Lord cause me to goe the right way to work and to submit to thy disposing wholy Lord let it appeare the right way is the best way never of never faile forsake or forget me let them that now for wel-doing scorn me see thou fovourest and releevest me Lord cause me secretly and sensibly to sorrow for my owne sinnes and to mourne for the abominations of the times and this uncessantly Lord affect me with the affections of Joseph rightly dispose me to pray for the peace of Zion seriously in all reforme and pardon me Lord give me feeling feeling feeling of all the good things I know and utter before thee thou knowest and I acknowledge the same to be extreamly wanting in me Lord let no thought of my heart nor word of my mouth be in vain for me but thou that art my strength and my Redeemer accept all my Meditations and expressions continually Lord carry me with wisdome patience comfort and good successe through all my great occasions Lord change my disposition reform my conversation speedily and powerfully wherein I am most averse from good and prone to evill especially Lord that thou wouldest instruct and inable me sincerely and circumspectly to order my lawfull affaires substantially whatsoever others may thinke speake or worke against me and that thine owne seasonablâ— and effectuall working to afforâ—â—n happy issue might according to thy mercy and truth appeare towards me Lord put me not off with outward mercies but vouchsafe me a portion of thy best blessings From sloath lust and carelesnesse from tatling tipling and trifling away time from putting off my private devotions from discontent and discord Good Lord deliver me Grounds of comfort against the nick-name of Puritane and Round-head It is nothing in respect of what hath been objected against Christ and the godly for there hath been objected against them grieuous things (a) Acts 25.7 gluttony (b) Mat. 11.18.19 madnesse (c) Joh. 10.20 blasphemy (d) Mat. 26.65 Mark 9.3 Acts 6.11 13 14. murder (e) Acts 28.4 deceiving (f) Joh. 7.12 2 Cor. 6.8 rebellion (g) Acts 17.6 7. rayling (h) Acts 23.4 babling idolatry (i) Acts 17.18 bringers of strange things (k) Acts 17.20 scisme (l) Acts 28.22 wickednesse of life (m) 1 Pet. 2.12 the abjects abused them (n) Psa 35.15 drankards sang of them (o) Psal 69.12 the basest derided them (p) Job 30.1 they were a reproach of men (q) Psal 22.12 a by-word (r) Psal 44.14 a proverbe (s) Psal 69.11 a wonder (t) Psal 17.7 Isa 8.18 gazing-stocks (u) 1 Cor. 4.9 fools (w) 1 Cor. 4.10 insufficient despised (x) Idem defamed made as filth and off-scowring (y) 1 Cor. 4.13 great men rayle at them (z) Psa 31.13 godly men censure them (a) Jobs friends 1 Cor. 4.4.10 and by slander excommunicate them (b) Isa 66.5 are most fouly scandalized (c) Ps 69.7 44.15 condemned by a whole Counsell (d) Mat. 27.1 Joh. 11.47 48. Acts 6.12 4.6.15 5.27 23.1 yea to suffer as evill doers (e) 2 Tim. 2.9 Psal 37.32 33. Psal 41.8 Isa 53.4 well if God condemnes us not what matters the censures and reproachfull nick-names of others (f) 1 Pet. 3.16 If good bad men both should judge amisse Keep conscience cleare tâ—ou needst not care I wisse Alas this is not to resist unto blood h Heb. 12.4 my Saviour sayes Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and shall say all manner of evill falsly for my sake reioyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets that were before you i Mat. 5.11 12. yea my most blessed Redeemer so have they abused thee and all thy dearest Servants oh then why should I that am not worthy the name of a Servant or Disciple think to be above my Lord and Master and better
16. As many as vvalk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy Gal. 6 16. Let its vvalk by the same rule Phil. 3 16. Finally my Brethren vvhatsoever things are honest vvhatsoever things are just vvhatsoever things are pure vvhatsoever things are lovely vvhatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things Ph. 4 8. 4 Of passion and sobriety We are men of like passions Act 14 15. A man subject to like passions James 5 17. Their Princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue Hosea 7 16. The foole rageth and is confident Pro. 14 16. Cease from anger and forsake wrath Psal 37 8. A fooles vvrath is presently knowne but a Prudent man covereth shame Pro. 12 16. He that is slow to vvrath is of great understanding but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly Pro. 14 29. A soft answer turneth away vvrath but grievous words stirre up strife Pro. 15 1. A man of great vvrath shall suffer punishment for if thou deliver him yet thou must doe it againe Pro. 19 19. A gâ—ft in secret pacifieth anger and a reward in the bosome strong vvrath Pro. 21 14. Proud and haughty scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath Pro. 21 24. A stone is heavy and the sand vveighty but a fools vvrath is 〈◊〉 then both Pro. 27 3. Wrath is cruell and anger is out 〈◊〉 Pro. 27 4. Give place unto wrath Ro. 12.19 Be angry and sinne out let not the Sâ—nne goe downe upon your vvrath neither gâ—ve place to the Devill Eph. 4 26 27. Let all bitternesse and vvrath and anger and claimour and evill speaking be put away from you Epâ— 4 31. Be slow to wrath for the vvrath of â—â—n vvorketh not the righteouâ—nesse of God James 1 19 20. Be â—â—â— hasty tâ— thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosoms of fooles Eccl. 7 9. As vvrathfull man stirreth up strife but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife Pro. 15 18. He that is slow to anger is better then the mighty and he that ruâ—â—oâ—h his spirit then she that taketh a City Pr. 15 32. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to passe over a transgression Pro. 19 11. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly Pro. 14 17. It is better to dwell in the Wildernesse then vvith a contentious and an angry vvoman Pro. 21 19 9 25 24. Make no friendship vvith an angry man and vvith a furious man thou shall not goe least thou learne his vvayes and get a snare to thy soul Pro. 22 24 25. An angry man stirreth up strife and a furious man aboundeth in transgression Pro. 29 22. Not soon angry T it 1 7. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge Isa 32 4. And to doe nothing rashly Acts 19 36. Patient not a brauler Tim. 3 3 No braulers but gentle Tit. 3 2. Put away from thee a frâ—ward mouth and perverse lips put farre from thee Pro. 4 24. He that is of it perverse heart shall be despised Pro. 12 8 He that is perverse in his wayes despiseth the Lord Prov. 14 2. He that hath a froward heart fâ—â—deth no good and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischiefe Pro. 17 20. He that is perverse in his vvays shall fall at once Pro. 28 18. He that perverteth his vvayes shall be knowne Pro. 10 9. The Counsell of the froward is carried headlong Job 5 13. A froward heart shall depart from me Psâ—l 101 4. They are froward in their paths Pro. 2 15. The froward is an abomination to the Lord Pro. 3.32 11.20 A naughty person a wicked man vvalketh with a froward mouth Pro. 6 1â— The froward mouth doe I have Pro. 8 13. The froward tongue shall be out out Pro. 10 31. The vvay of a man is froward and strange Pro. 21 8. Thornes and snares are in the vvay of the froward he that doth keep his soule shall be farre from them Pro. 22 5. Let us vvatch and be sober 1 Thes 5 6. Sober of good behaviour 1 Tim. 3.2 11. Sober just holy temperate Tit. 1 8. Likewise exhort to be sober-minded Tit. 2 6. Gird up the loynes of your mind be sober 1 per. 1 13. Be ye therefore sober and watch 1 pet 4 7. Be sober be vigilant 1 pet 5 8. I speak forth the words of truth and sobernesse Acts 26 25. We should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tit. 2 12. The fruit of the Spirit is meeknesse temperance against such there is no law Eph. 5 22 23. Adde to knowledge temperance 2 pet 1 6. Let your moderation be knowne unto all men the Lord is at hand phil 4 5. Wise men turne away vvrath prov 29 8. 5 Of pride and humility The feare of the Lord is to have evil pride arrogancy pro. 8.13 When pride commeth then commeth shame but with the lowly is vvisdome pro. 11 2. Onely by Pride commenth contentention but vvith the lowly is wisdome Prov. 11.12 Onely by pride commeth contention but with the vvell-advised is vvisdome pro. 13 10. Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall pro. 16 18. A mans pride shall bring him low but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit pro. 29 23. Those that vvalke in pride he is able to abase Dan. 4 37. A perpetuall desolation this shall they have for their pride Zeph. 2.9 10. He smiteth through the proud Job 26 12. Look on every one that is proud and bring him low Job 40 12 11 Him that hath an high look and a proud heart vvill I not suffer psal 101 5. Though the Lord be high yet hath he respect unto the lowly but the proud he knoweth a farre off psal 138 6. A proud look doth the Lord hate pro. 6 16 17. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord pro. 16 5. Better it is to be of an humble spirit vvith the lowly then to divide the spoyle vvith the proud pro. 16.19 An high look and a proud heart and the plowyng of the vvicked is sinne pro. 21 4. He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife pro. 28 25. He that trusteth in his owne heart is foole but vvhoso walketh vvisely shall be delivered pro. 28 26. The patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit Eccl. 7 8 God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble James 4 5. 1 pet 5 5. Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty psal 131.1 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty and before honour is humility pro. 18.12 the haughty shall be humbled Isa 10.33 Thou wilt bring downe high looks Psal 18 28. Boast not thy selfe oâ— to morrow for thou knowest not vvhat a day may bring forth let another prâ—ise thee and not thine owne mouth a stranger and not thine owne lips pro.
performe Rom. 4.18.20 21. And never to cast away 〈◊〉 confidence which hath great recompence of reward He. 10 3â— But as I have great needâ—â— imbrace patience that after have done the will of my God by his grace I may receiâ—â— the promise Heb. 10.36 Being most confident that the hatred envy unpeaceablenesse malice scorne cruelty of Iosephs Brethren against him Gen. 37.4.8.11.19 their purpose to kill him their casting him into the pit their selling him to the Ismalites the Ismalites selling him againe to the Aegyptians Potiphar verse 22.24.28.36 the stander of his Mistresse his hard imprisonment thereupon Gen. 39.19 20. the Butlers Bakers Pharaohs dreames the extreame dearth and all things whatsoever seemed to make never somuch against him wrought in the end most remarkably for him Gen. 41.9 45.5 7 8. 50.24 so my God without doubt will most fatherly powerfully faithfully seasonably carefully constantly work in with and for me being the same God for ever for good to his that all my present and future inward perplexities and outward troubles all that Satan or any of his instruments doe or may doe against me all the malice and scorne of evill men all the oppositions and injuries of any though never so great and many all my instant seares cares and most hopelesse and helplesse miseries yea my folly sinne and misgovernment my felt or lookt for shame and losse my crosses and poverty yea even that intolerable hurthen Lord thou knowest my meaning and necessity that even overwhelmeth me and whatsoever doth or may seem to make most against me that all shall turne remarkably for good unto me Rom. 8.28 Lord thou hast spoken it and will also bring it to passe thou hast purposed it and wilt also doe it and nothing shall let it Isa 46.10 11. Therefore to conclude as Joseph did and to say to my selfe in every crosle and calamity yea though never so grievous and desperate even in my present misery as he did to his Brethren be not grieved nor angry that this or that betides thee it is God that sends it to thee and remaines thy most wise and tender-hearted Father continually howsoever he please to afflict thee and whatsoever by the devil or man may be intended or wrought against thee thy God intendeth and will work all for thy good undoubtedly Gen 45.5.7 50.20 Well then my soule is not all this enough for thee I thus beset with paine and grief did pray to God for grace plaint And he forthwith did heare my out of his holy place Ps 18 6. On me some signe of favour shew that all my foes may see And be ashamd because Lord thou doest help and comfort me Psal 86.17 And now my soul sith thou art safe returne unto thy rest For largely loe the Lord to thee his bounty hath exprest Ps 16.7 See more at large in my collection of Promises these following particulars which will by Gods blessing afford more matter of consolation and setling in any kind of misery as in my booke of the Promises concerning afflictions in generall page 102 to 112 Concerning trouble of mind pag. 116. Concerning a desolate estate pag. 118 Concerning any kind of outward want pag. 135 Concerning Gods blessing pag. 164. Concerning the manner of Gods hearing our prayers pag. 208. A briefe commending all to the LORD Oh Lord helpe mine heart to pray heare my prayers thy Name shall have the praises O Thou that art the onely and alwayes true God whom alone I desire to serve and trust â—ternall al-knowing every where present almighty most wise mercifull faithfull and immutable in Jesus Christ by vertue of thine owne most free and faithfull Covenant my reconciled God most gracious Father and alone al-sufficient helper it is thy will I should call upon thee in every need and hast promised thou wilt deliver me that I may glorifie thee I have never sought thee in vaine thou hast alwayes heard me and that most remarkably in greatest extremity thou hast often done more for me then I desired or expected from thee behold as well as I can though alas at the best exceeding weakly in the sense of my especiall necessities fully known to thee with all circumstances I set my soule to seeke all help at thy hands onely deâ—â—ying all other meanes of reliefe wholly this in obedience to thy will in the assistance of thy Spirit in the name and mediation of thy deare and onely Sonne my alone al-sufficient Saviour and continuall intercessor Christ Jesus founding my prayers on thy promises which I lay before thee with which I urge thee flying to thy mercies building on thy power submitting to thy will wisdome and providence acknowledging all my inward and outward welfare past present and to come to come onely from thee or else woe woe woe unto me and nothing could or can availe me a waiting for thy salvation continually promising all possible praises to thee onely for whatsoever grace or good thou hast pleased to vouchsafe or shalt please to vouchsafe unto me and now thou that art such a God as I acknowledge thee and thou hast revealed thy selfe to be intreated in mercy as thou hast promised by thy unresistable working in due season upon all occasions especially in greatest extremities more particularly in my particular present or future prossing inward and outward necessities to guide to prevent to governe to restore to receive to streng then to comfort to support to establish to relieve to protect to deliver every way to help and prosper me notwithstanding all my horrible ingratitude most hainous sinfulnesse exceeding unworthinesse extreame weaknesse and all other though never so many great impediments you according to all thy great name manifested and magnified to thine for good whereby so freely plainly plentifully infallibly thou hast revealed and assured audience and help to thine to hear and help me even beyond all that I now or at any other time can think or aske that it may appeare thou Lord hast done all for me all this all else as may be most to the glory of thy name the service of thy Zion the gracing of my Christian profession the stopping the mouth of prophanenesse malice scorn and injury the preventing my distasting others or others especially such as most wish and would be glad of my shame and harme having advantage against me the good of those most neare and deare unto me my outward credite and comfort in thy fear with thy favour my soules present peace and everlasting happinesse in Heaven with thee as seemeth best unto thee wherewithall in all good conscience and Christian considence make me contented heartily and it is enough for me and all the glory shall he thine onely to whom alone the same is due wholly and continually Amen Observe HEr Adversary provoked her sore for to make her fret therefore shee wept and did not eat shee was in bitternesse of soule and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore and shee vowed a
of God otherwise he would suffer us to give credite to them as to other Authors 28 That they have been preserved from time to time so that they have not perished whereas other books of great price and estemation have been utterly lost 29 Whereas persecuting Tyrants have sought to suppresse the doctrine thereof they have still more and more flourished and been spread abroad 30 It is an undoubted argument that they are his most facred Truths because God by such weak instruments and silly meanes doth spread abroad the doctrine thereof spite of all oppositions for none but a greater power could subdue a lesser 31 That it is true whatsoever doctrine it revealeth though it make never so much against our pleasures profits and lusts yet till a man be brought to it it never worketh soundly 32 There is an especiall glory in the Truth in the Promises and the conditions of them 33 They teach us to know God in Christ 34 And the Trinity in Unity 35 And the doctrine of regeneration all which are foolishnesse to the flesh yet the power of God to salvation to all that believe 36 The constant deaths of so many wise sober and meeke Martyrs who ever in their sufferings for this truth which no torments could extort from them have had a plain distinction from the death of frantick and witlesse persons declareth the same 37 That the Spirit of God inclineth our hearts to beleeve this and to receive the same as his infallible truth 38 The universall and continuall consent of this Booke from time to time by so many holy humble learned men of divers Nations in all Ages giveth testimony to the same I beleeve Lord help my unbeliefe These for this Some few plaine profitable and pleasing Instructions for all times HEare and be silent be silent and observe observe and remember remember and doe All that you see judge not all that you heare beleeve not All that you know tell not all that ye can doe not Goods lost nothing lost courage lost much lost credit lost more lost Soule lost all lost To serve God hinders not to give almes impoverish not Ill gotten goods enrich not allyar prospereth not No more of this now A seasonable and serious Advertisement concerning the too common and crying sinnes of our calling This Advertisement was written when he was a Captain in the Nether-lands and may not be uselesse here WHich of us does not think and dares not say God loves me Christ is my Saviour and Heaven my hope whereas if we would examine our hearts and wayes seriously and impartially many among us should see our selves shamefully deceived and not to 〈◊〉 about doth not our preserring our pleasing and profitable â—â—s before the will of God our love to Carise and walking in the way of life give us the lye to our faces Wherefore it concernes us highly to labour effectually for some good measure of those infallible marks which may undoubtedly assure us we are in covenant with God doe love the Lord Jesus dearly and shall be saved everlastingly unto which end I commend Master By fields Marrow of the Oracles of God as an especiall help by Gods blessing and because my soule desires we may not deceive our selves and lose our labour in this maisie matter that so much concerne our true peace here and happinesse for evermore I take the boldnesse in zeale to my God in good will towards you my Fellow-Officers of our own nation especially freely and plainly to beseech warne and charge you as I doe mine owne soule to lay to heart somewhat I have to declare unto you that instead of those favours God hath pleased to promise to his we bring not upon our owne heads the contrary curses let us then lay this as an infallible foundation that it is altogether in vain for us to look for any good from the Lord so long as we dare to live in any one knowne sinne with allowance and without repentance which is accompanied with a desire resolution and endeavour to break off the same and to doe no more so for all unregerate men who live in their sinnes without repentance are strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no part in the Testiment they have no hope but are without God in the world Eph. 2.12 Mat. 7.6 15.26 But it may be said this is faire and farre off we know we are all sinners and trust the Lord will have mercy on us c. Well excuse me I meane no harme the next will come neerer home even into our secret bosomes againe I say what I say to any I say to mine own soule The Lord saith Ier. 7.9 10 19. Will you steale murder commit adultery and sweare falsly and come and stand before me and say we are delivered although ye doe all these abominations you provoke the Lord to anger to the confusion of your owne faces I pray then what shall we gaine but all misery and mischiefe judge ye now let us make application for what the Lord sayes concerning some his meaning is concerning any other sinne as if it were there mentioned Well then dare you drinke drunk whore sweare quarrell shed blood and as prophane Beasts make a mock of God and goodnesse scorne and abuse good men and because the Lord yet suffers thee and seems to be silent thinkest thou that God is like unto thee and a patron of iniquity Oh horrible impiety he will reprove thee and set all thy sinnes in order before thee Psal 50.18 19 20 21. then wo wo wo unto thee Ier. 13.15 27. Will you dare you by your selves or others for your selves or others flatter insinuate slander bribe lye be bribed sweare cozen oppresse forsweare mince geld dally and play with an Oath make others lye sweare and forsweare themselves for your base profit They bend their tongues like their bowes for lies but they have no courage for the truth upon the earth for they proceed from evill to worse and they have not known me saith the Lord Jer. 9.3 Let every one take heed of his neighbour and trust you not in any brother for every brother will use deceit and every friend will dealt deceitfully and every one will deceive his friend and will not speak the truth for they have taught their tongues to speak lyes and take great pains to doe wickedly Jer. 9.5 and is it not just thus among us tell me will God suffer this he will not shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soule be avenged on such a Nation as this Psal 50.21 Ier. 5.9 Will you dare you grind the faces of the poore Isa 3.15 Souldiers flay the skins from their backs suck the marrow out of their bones blood out of their veins and pull the hearts out of their bodies by cutting off and with-holding their due by forcing them to take their off-reckonings at unreasonable rates or by giving them none at all or by halves by