I belieue Lord that if my faith faile not I shal draw vertue from thee and bee either fully healed or eased Wherfore most gracious Lord God in Iesus Christ increase and confirme my faith and say vnto me Be it vnto thee as thou beleeuest then shall I be whole for I constantly beleeue that thou canst doe it but that thou knowest what is best for me In thy prouidence it befell as a token of thy displeasure for my sins that I might bee thereby continually put in mind when I intend any thing offensiue vnto thee that by my further sinning I should feare greater punishments for thou knowest my corrupt nature euer inclinable to forbidden things and therfore wilt continue thy gentle hand vpon me lest I repenting of my repentance should returne againe to new sinns which good Father I humbly pray thee in fauour to preuent If thou tarry long and delay thy helpe let not my faith falter nor faile mee nor my heart be discouraged for thou knowest better what is best for mee then I my selfe And therefore will I wayte when what and how thou wilt worke for mee nothing doubting but that in thy fatherly prouidence thou wilt prouide for mee and that thou wilt neuer faile mee nor forsake me Amen Lord increase my faith A consideration or consultation touching the estates and conditions of seuerall men their vocations manners liues lawfull and vnlawfull punishable and to bee cherished seruing also as a necessary motiue to a prayer for the blessing of God vpon the lawfull callings of men of whatsoeuer condition necessary for all men that hope of any blessing vpon their labors trauels professions arts trades or imployments IT is not enough for a man to haue or to desire a calling in the Church or Common-wealth but before he vndertake it he must consider whether it be lawfull agreeable to the word of God honest or necessary for the vse and societie of men and whether his apprehension and inclination be capable and able to manage it aright It is not lawfull though it be priuatly profitable to himselfe if a man find himselfe not fit neither is lawfully called thereunto but assumes it to himselfe neither respecting Gods glory â—or the good of others and consequently not honest for that it proceedes only respecting his owne corrupt ends of which kind may bee obserued not a few who intrude into functions and callings such as they cannot with a good conscience nor with sufficient vnderstanding performe which must rest vpon euery mans conscience for his choyce Some haue againe lawfull and laudable callings of themselues sufficient and yet may and often doe erre in the execution either for priuate profit or forbidden ends Some liue without any lawfull profession profitable to none no not to themselues but are onely Ladders to bring most plentiful mulcture to the Deuils mill their patrimonies to Tauernes Ale-houses and worse places mils that grind onely wickednesse feeding themselues and others therewith fat in impieties for the shambles of Sathan Of this are some well descended Gentlemen whose ancestors haue borne honorable praise worthy Offices both in Church Commonwealth doing good to many and to none more hurt theÌ„ vnto their dearest children to whom they haue left great earthly portions and patrimonies and no good education or profession to liue as men no not as men for all men are borne to labour in one commendable calling or another for the Church or Commonwealth to neither of which are many of these men profitable but run on in their lasciuious liues as the horse mule who yet in their kind haue more vnderstanding and are more profitable then many of these men seeme yet to be All parents yet are not much blame-worthy for some are carefull as men to prouide for their children worldly goods to maintaine them after their deaths Some as Religious men desire more the good education of their children in religious knowledge then desirous to make them great they rather endeauour to make them good which last is the worke of God without whose grace howsoeuer parents may instruct and educate their children in Gods feare and by a primary apprehension of their towardnesse in vertue yet it falleth oftentimes out that euen these full of hoped towardnesse to prooue good and vertuous and fit for laudable imployments when their parents full estates befall them they associate the company of such as turne al the good they formerly learned into euill for though the father plant the Minister waters yet if the Spirit of God confirme it not in them they will shew themselues to be but men and such as feare not God nor reuerence man but liue as if there were no law spending as boastingly they will say but their owne It were fault sufficient to consume it had it bin their owne gotten by the sweat of their owne faces but being left vnto them by their carefull fathers or louing friends it is reputed by law theirs indeed yet so as they should hold it as the free gift of God or rather lent of him rather to do good with it then with the prodigall vnthrift to consume it as these men doe vpon their lusts And hauing spent all as in Gods iust iudgment many of them doe as daily experience sheweth what becomes of them doth not like experience tell vs Many idle drones there are also that haue not that they by any colour may call their owne and yet they spend and labour not but are as the froth and scumme of a good Common wealth As touching their conuersation it is not onely idle in good things but laborious in euill they roaue and run about the citie and countrey â—ilching stealing couzening cheating rioting in all kindes of wickednesse and whose profession is only to deceiue Can these men pray for a blessing vpon their vocations and labours Nay can they or doe they pray at all They may haue and often haue the name of God and his parts in their mouthes but for a curse not for a blessing for in stead of praying vnto God they blaspheme his name It is manifestly obserued that God is abused and the Common wealth pestered and priuily endangered by the idlenesse wickednes and mischiefes of these men And yet who taketh it into consideration and endeuour to reforme it Some are in places so eminent as they cannot look so low and some are in place of Office so meane that haue a good will to put hand to helpe it but their power is weake and their countenance and aid small they dare not taxe an offender in this kind especially a Gentleman-like Roarer that can make a whole Street or a Hamlet to quake at his carriage and execrable blasphemies Some haue lawfull callings but vse them not lawfully for want of the grace of God to guide them and the blessing of God to profite the Church or Common-wealth by them because they seldome or neuer pray for a blessing Some are often seene to
infernall spirit that falsely pretendeth dominion in the earth and in the ayre and how he enuieth and opposeth as much as in him is euery good dutie and seruice which thy dearest children owe and endeauour to performe vnto thee and aboue all other duties tending to thine owne glory and mans saluation he seeketh to hinder none with more bitter violence with greater enuy more wicked and subtill wiles then this of diuine prayer and endeauoreth to draw thine owne dearest children into manifold sinnes But Lord as thou hast commaunded vs to call vpon thine holy Name to pray vnto thee for faith repentance obedience and other graces and blessings So according to thine holy ordinance I fall downe prostrate vpon the knees of mine vnfayned heart praying thee to prepare mee to this holy dutie thou sayest Open thy mouth and I will fill it O Lord open thou my mouth and fill it with heauenly words furnish and fill my heart with a strong powerful and liuely faith constant and firme obedience that without wauering and straying thoughts I may at this time make my prayers supplications vnto thee through thy Spirit And thou O inuincible Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah stand vp for me against my most mortall and most malicious enemy satan who among his own is strong and powerfull but where thou my Captaine Christ Iesus appearest he is weake he cannot enter the house where thou dwellest O fortifie therfore O Lord and barre vp the doore of my soule that hee enter not nor preuaile against it with the fire of his tentations Lord thou knowest hee is enemie to thee how much more vnto mee Hee tempted thee but preuayled not but his tentations flesh and blood cannot withstand Therefore arme thou me against him with heauenly weapons and hee shall neither stoppe nor hinder mine intended prayers as he desireth and laboureth to doe Let my spirit O Lord bee strongly assisted by thy Spirit and my prayers shall be faithfull my heart shall entertaine no wandering wauering vnholy or prophane thoughts euill cogitations or wicked motions though I bee an vnholy lumpe of my selfe by nature prompt and more ready to thinke or doe euill then good yet by thy Grace Satan shall slie sinne shall die and thy Spirit shall be liuely in mee and my prayers powerfull and effectuall to thee in my mediator Christ Iesus O let thy heauenly helpe Lord in Iesus Christ descend into all the powers and parts of my soule and body that in speaking vnto thee I may feele the worke and operation of thy Grace so sufficient in my heart that I may obtaine a victorious conquest ouer satan sinne and mine owne corruptions and bee assured through Christ Iesus my Sauiour to bee either freed from his preuayling tentations or to bee able to resist them that all my prayers at all times may bee such as thou maist Fatherly accept them in thy beloued Sonnes mediation for mee howsoeuer weake and imperfect they bee in respect of my selfe who am full of imperfections which I humbly pray thee to grant for his sake who hath conquered him that couets my finall destruction Amen Lord euermore strengthen and increase my faith in Iesus Christ. A meditation or motiue when wee are dull to pray a most necessary preparatiue to prayer AS it is my griefe O Lord to consider the hardnesse of my heart my faintnesse and dulnesse to pray So can I not but comfort my selfe in the consideration of thy great mercie towards mee in often remouing my dulnesse and in steed thereof to giue mee thy holy Spirit and by him power effectually to call vpon thy holy Name which effectuall fauour of thine I haue oftentimes found and felt when I haue had an inward motion tending to a desire to pray and yet no power or ablenesse to open my mouth or aptnesse to mooue my tongue which hath caused mee many times to thinke that thou my God hast beene angry with me and in that thou hast with-holden thy Grace so long that thou hadst forsaken me So that I haue beeâ—e infoâ—ced oftentimes to keepe silence when I would haue prayed and to close my lippes when I would haue spoken Thus good Father haue I beene many times as I am presently troubled and inwardly greeued euen in my soule at the hardnesse of my heart and dulnesse of my spirit And yet at length I haue felt as it were the fire of feruent zeale so inflaming my heart as I haue suddenly spoken with my tongue I haue prayed vnto thee and thou hast heard me This holy and heauenly worke of diuine Prayer I finde to bee farre from mine or the best mans owne power it is the onely worke of thine owne spirit which I haue many times formerly discerned for when I haue beene most dull and most vnapt to pray thou euen then euen in my silent musing and meditation hast enabled mee to breake forth into words through faith which haue pierced the very heauen of heauens euen vnto the Throne of thy great Maiesty where Christ my mediator stands at thy right hand presenting in my behalfe my weake Petitions euen in his owne name and obtayneth mine humble desires according to thine owne will which worketh betâ—er things for mee then I can wish or will I am not therefore discouraged good Father thogh I seeme dull in spirit and as it were cleane destitute of faith for I know thy guifts are without repentance and though I feele not this heauenly worke of thy holy Spirit at all times a like in mee yet doe I assure me hee is in mee and will worke againe the same heauenly effects for where thy blessed Spirit hath once taken habitation and once sanctified the soule that soule is so effectually possessed by that â—pirit and that Spirit so possesseth that soule that he may be assured neuer to bee absolutely dispossest of the same howsoeuer hee may for a time seeme absent It is but to mooue mee to seeke him finding the want of him to long for him Though therefore deare Father my heart bee hard by nature and my spirit dâ—ll to euery holy and heauenly dutie so that I cannot outwardly vtter what I inwardly concâ—iue and desire with such earnestnesse and feruencie of spirit as I would but weakly and coldly yet doe I assure my selfe that thou considerest mine inward desires and hearest my most secret sighes as plainely as if I cryed vocally and aloud vnto thee I cannot therefore but confideÌ„tly assure my selfe that according to thy promise thou wilt heare and consider that I hunger and thirst for thy Grace that my dulnesse being remooued I may conceiue in my heart and frame with my lippes mine humble Petitions which thou hast promised to heare especially such as thine owne Spirit composeth in mee Deny not therefore good Father thy holy Spirit to me that faithfully craue him onely to be enabled effectually to pray vnto thee for thou hearest not the best man nor the best maâ—s best prayers for his
remember so consider what correction is fit for my reformation for I am thine and vnder thine owne hand doe with mee what it shall please thee onely strengthen my faith that whatsoeuer thou layest vpon mee I may still trust in thee Yet Lord let not thy corrections be ouersharpe or ouer heauie or ouerlong for mee to beare for I am weake And therefore as thou increasest thy corrections so increase my strength to beare them And as my sinnes by thy Grace shall diminish so Lord with-draw withhold thy correcting hand that in what measure soeuer my troubles and tryalls bee my faith may bee so confirmed as I may bee able to beare whatsoeuer thou shalt be pleased to lay vpon me Hetherunto good Father as I haue felt thy correcting rod so also I haue found thy supporting hand thou woundest and thou healest nay rather Lord thou curest the wounds which my selfe haue made for there is no sharper sword to my soule then mine owne sinne and thy chastisements do abate the edge thereof As thou knowest my sins Lord so thou knowest my troubles I am in danger deliuer me I am in want relieue mee I haue enemies defend mee In thee I trust for there is none besides thee whom I may trust Thou art that mighty Iehouah that omnipotent God of Hostes who hast infinite meanes to helpe releeue comfort and defend those that are thine though they bee beset with a thousand miseries with sicknes with pouertie with enemies with slaunder backbiting enuy malice strife of tongues imprisonment and with what else soeuer misery that Sathan can deuise against them thou hast yet more infinite meanes to deliuer them out of all And therfore Father if all troubles crosses trialls and callamities should meete and combine in one against me I shall not assisted by thy grace be ouermuch moaned or dismayd Though trouble and affliction bring sorrow and sorrow heauines for a time yet is my heart restored againe at length as it were to life againe by thy grace nay Lord I often find ioy in thy fauour euen in the midst of misery for as thou Lord continuest not long in thine anger so is not my heart in continuall heauinesse But as by thine holy aid I increase in faith euen so decreaseth my grief and sorrow and in my greatest troubles the apprehension of thy blessed presence with mee causeth my heart to leape for ioy within mee though by nature I am weake and prone to stoope and droope vnder the least affliction yet I finde thy grace euermore ready to support and strengthen me Therefore doe I yeeld thee all honor praise thanks together with my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus and thy heauenly Spirit that euermore doth comfort me confirm my faith in thee Lord euermore encrease my Faith A Prayer for a man hindred by sicknesse or any kind of infirmity of his body or limbes whereby hee is disabled to follow and performe his lawfull calling fit especially for such as cannot maintaine their poore estates without performance of their honest labors O Great and most gracious Lord God mercifull and louing Father in Iesus Christ thou hast created me formed and framed me with all compleat limbs and lineaments in the beginning with all my senses perfect and aboue all with a measure of the knowledge of thee thy Christ wherein for that I haue not so walked as becommeth a sonne of so gracious and great a father but haue too much neglected my dutie and thankfulnesse erring estraying and ranging to and fro from one vanity and sin vnto another abusing al the parts and powers of my soule and body contrary to that light which thou hasâ— giuen me defiling my selfe and polluting those parts of my corrupt flesh which thou first createdst in mee clean and free from any of mine owne actuall pollutions Thou in great mercy hast inflicted these infirmities vpon my corporall parts to cure my diseased soule my spirituall and best part imprisoned inthrallâ—d in a most filthy and lothsome dungeon of dark and detestable impieties Lord I doe confesse my else worthy of greater punishments for my grieuous sinnes But thou art so mercifull and so commiserate a Father that as thou knowest the qualitie of my sinns so thou well knowest what quantity of correction may be sufficient to reforme me And therefore I doe wholly and in all submission commit my selfe vnto thy mercy knowing that thou hast power to mitigate or totally to remoue the paine and misery which my sinns haue iustly drawne downe vpon me Good Father remember that thou hast promised that whatsoeuer wee shall aske of thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Christ and wauer not we shall receiue Lord I beleeue that thou art able to cure me of whatsoeuer infirmitie let not the weakenesse of my faith hinder thy good work vpon mee let not my former sinns preuent thy mercy for I constantly assure me that thou caÌ„st help me such is thy power and that thou either wilt helpe mee or so mitigate mine infirmities as I shall not onely bee able to beare them with patience but in a measure sufficiently follow my vocation such is thy mercy Father I haue a Mediatour with thee and such a mediator as is not ignorant of though neuer tainted or touched with any humane infirmitie he hath taken vpon him and satisfied for my sinnes and for my sinns I do acknowledge this mine infirmitie is fallen vpon mee Therefore Lord my sinnes being once sufficiently punished in him punish not me ouer-heauily for them againe I am vnfainedly sory for that I haue offended thee and doe heartily repent me of my sinnes and thou hast promised pardon to the penitent and mercy vnto such as are truly sory for their sinnes This being thine owne promise Lord and thou knowing my faith though weake and my repentance what should hinder thy mercies in forgiuing my sinns and my sinnes being forgiuen what should hinder that thy sweet saying Be thou whole and I shall be whole Lord as thou canst do all things by thy word without meanes so by blessing whatsoeuer meanes that which thou wilt shall bee done the very clay in the street openeth the eyes of the blinde thou giuing a blessing vnto it which in humane opinion should rather make blinde them that see But such is thy great power and vertue of thy word as things most contrary to humane reason obey thee and worke the effect wherunto thou appointest them as the cluster of figgs healed Hezekias and the washing in Iordan cured Naaman the Syrian of his leprosie Thou Lord art the great Phisician curing Phisicians that cannot cure themselus howe much lesse others without thee Therefore I know that nothing can hinder thy healing of mee but mine owne vnbeliefe sin which are the chiefe diseases of my soule that thus pollute my body so that soule and body being sicke I come an humble patient and petitioner desirous only to touch the hem of thy garmeÌ„t for
neuer wearieth the soules of such as delight in the liuing God whose beautie Dauid saw as neuer satisfied with the contemplation of the glorious Maiestie oâ— Iehouah whose beautie the more the Spirituall minde beholdeth in his word his workes his fauour power and prouidence the more is hee mooued with desire to see more and more And thinkes no happinesse comparable to the happinesse of a heauenly life Much were the Disciples mooued at the sight of Christs transfiguration in so much as they desired to haue built there Tabernacles to haue enioyed that blessed sight Still to desirous was Dauid still to behold the beautie of the Lord and to visite his holy Temple Where God is truely heard and duly called vpon by a holy congregation nay by one particular faithfull Christian there appeareth the glorie of God There is the Arke of the Lord the presence of the mightie God of Iaakob whose glorie filleth the Temple which onely the Spirituall man seeth with a supernaturall eye Though the carnall man bodily present apprehendeth it not Paul at his conuersion saw Gods glorie but they that were with him heard onely a voyce but saw it not Such beautie shineth in the hearts of the deere Children of God by the operation and illumination of the Holy Ghost by whom Stephen saw the glorie of God in the heauens and Christ sitting at his right-hand which none 〈◊〉 can see but such onely aâ—are inlightened who take such surpassing sweet delight in the beholding the face of God not onely in the Word wherein hee is in part seene but especially through faith that their soules are euen rauished and as it were transchanged by the splender therof as it were into the Image of the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father â—od commanding the light to shine out of darkenesse shineth in our hearts to giue light of the knowledge of the Glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Let vs therefore indeuour to exercise our selues in puritie and sanctitie clensing our consciences from all counterfeit sincerity and labour to become in deed such as wee would seeme to bee And not to neglect the visiting of the materiall Temple to heare the Word of GOD and to pray vnto him if wee hope to be happie for there is none happie but they whom GOD loueth and who loue GOD if wee loue God wee will delight in him to heare him often for our instruction and confirmation of our faith and to seeke him by our prayers for he is ready to bee found of all them that are true of heart who shall heere behold his beautie and hereafter enioy his glorie A Prayer vnto God that he will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to prayse him GRant O most gracious Lord God according to the riches of thy grace that I may bee strengthened by thy Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith and so my whole spirit soule and bodie may bee kept blamelesse to the comming of the Lord Iesus for thou Lord knowest what I am by nature a man vnworthy to take thine holy Name into my mouth or to come into thy presence being inclynable to no good dutie but apt to euery vanity I come therefore vnto thee heauenly Father in the Name of Iesus Christ thy Sonne in whom thou hast promised to receiue them that sincerely seeke thee heare the voyce of my petitions O Lord when I crie vnto thee and when I lift vp my hands towards the mercies seat of thy holy Temple reiect me not vnto thee O Lord I lift vp my soule crauing pardon for my sinnes and that thou wilt admit me into the holy societie of thy Saints and that I may delight to dwell in thy holy Temple vnder the shadow of thy protecting wings for euer Let my heart bee euer vpright in thy Statutes and faithfull euer before thee for thou hast pleasure in righteousnesse and hee is blessed in whose heart are thy wayes knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy Name giue me a holy desire to seeke thee and to walke euer vprightly as in thy presence Indue me with thy Spirituall knowledge leade me by thy right hand to thine holy Temple shew mee thy glorie and thy beauty that I may be comforted through thy presence Open mine eares that I may heare thee and thy Word by thy holy Ministrie and prepare my heart to receiue knowledge and vnderstanding and open my mouth and fill it with thy prayses and let my prayers in thy Sons Name bee acceptable vnto thee Shew me thy way and giue mee vnderstanding that I may learn thy Commandements and walke in them My hearts desire Lord is to dwell with thee to haue the full free fruition of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth that I may serue thee with a pure affection and giue thee prayse in the congregation of thy Saints Turne thy face vnto me O Lord that I may see the beautie of thy countenance and bee changed into the same Image by thy Spirit and in the same Spirit bee admitted to visite thine holy Temple with faith and assurance of thy presence wherein I know is libertie and life protection and plentie of all good things Make my heart stable vnblameable before thee in holinesse that I may serue thee with a sincere and pure conscience and vndefiled that I may not come into thine house only to bee seene and to seeme seruiceable or dutifull vnto thee but may inwardly hunger thirst for thy Word the food of my soule the bread of life and imprint the same so effectually in my soule that it may prooue fruitfull in â—ee and that I may shâ—w it in my 〈◊〉 holy conuersation to thy Glorie that being filled with the comforts proceeding from the beautie of thy countenance I may euer posâ—sesse my soule in that peace which passeth all vnderstanding euer-more reuerencing thy glorious Maiâ—stie that euer-more filleâ—h both the heauens and the earth fill my heart O Lord with thy Spirit that I may draw neere vnto thee and to thy Holy place my strong Rocke to thee will I alwayes resort Make mee to heare ioy and gladnesse and that I may more abound in hope and be strengthened to euery good work through the power of the holy Ghost by Iesus Christ my Lord and onely Sauiour Lord increase my faith The Conclusion A Prayer for true happinesse which shall bee consummate onely in heauen O Lord what am I the son of dust and ashes that I should presume to come into thy presence to seeke and desire felicity and happinesse here in this wildernesse of so many vanities miseries and troubles as are among the children of men As for me Lord thou knowest wherof I am made thou remembrest that I am but dust what happinesse therfore Lord can I look to obtaine here where sinne dwelleth in my mortall body
and by sinne I offend and displease thee and in thy displeasure is death O preuent me Lord therfore from sinfull feeding my foolish mind with false felicitie as to repose my happinesse in the things of this life in health riches honour beautie carnall friends worldly wisdome pleasures delights ease which are not worthy in respect of true happinesse in deed to bee the least esteemed Giue me therefore here O Lord euen in this life an entrance into true happinesse send foorth thy Spirit and breath life into my dead soule transforme me into thine own image from glory to glory by thy Spirit withdraw me from delight in the vanities of this life for as long as I delight in the pleasing things of this world I am farre from happinesse and it lies not in my power to restrain my heart from that which naturally I affect I cannot subdue the corruption of mine owne nature but that which is impossible to mee is possible with thee declare therefore thy great power in mercy vpon me I am by nature wretched miserable and poore and naked a most vnhappy man yet such is my blindnesse that I see it not I feele not mine owne vnhappinesse Lord remooue that darknesse from me and graunt that seeing I may see mine owne errour and in hearing I may vnderstand and take the right way to felicitie work faith in my heart that I may taste how gracious thou art in working in me a new heart a new mind and new affections holy and heauenly the beginning here of happinesse to come Make mee to feele the peace of a good conscience let my faith be seen through obedience vnto thee let me feele in my soule through faith the merits of thy Son working the assurance of the remission of my sinnes and assured hope of the enioying of my finall felicity and endlesse happinesse in heauen None are truly happy or blessed but such as thou dost chuse cause to come vnto thee for none can come vnto thee but whom thou callest and they onely are iustified whom thou iustifiest them wilt thou glorifie and whom thou glorifiest are and none else truly happy Carry me therefore gracious Lord carry me by the wings of thy mercy and by the strength of thy fauour in Christ my Sauiour into that heauenly Canaan the inheritance of them that are in Christ Iesus elected to saluation Let me euen here in this base outward forme of an vnhappy man behold thee through faith in thy word let mee behold thy face in righteousnesse for in the liuely beholding of thee is the fulnes of ioy and highest happinesse in this life O that the time would therefore speedily come wherein I being dissolued may see thee my Sauiour face to face when this my mortall body shall be quickened and made like vnto thy glorious body for I know thou wilt keepe vnto the end that which I haue committed vnto thee both my soule and body to bee glorified and made happie though I yet see not what I shall be and therfore when thou wilt I will willingly lay down my life and commit my soule vnto thee my God through Iesus Christ as vnto my most faithfull Creator and louing Redeemer to whom with the holy Ghost bee all glory for euer Amen The consummation and full perfection of our happinesse shall be When wee shall bee made partakers of the diuine Nature 2. Pet. â— v. 4. When Christ shall tranâ—forme our base bodies that they may bee like the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. v. 21. When she shall perfectly enioy those things which eye hath not seen nor the eare heard nor euer entred into the heart of man to coâ—ceiue which God hath prepared for them that loue him 1. Cor. 2 11.9 Who then or what shall seperate vs from the loue of Christ in and by whom wee haue firme hope to attaine vnto this so great happinesse neither tribulation nor anguish nor persecution nor famine nor nakednesse nor perill nor the sword Romanes 8. verse 35. Which God for his Christes sake graunt to whome with the Holy Ghost be ascribed all glory for euer Amen The principall things contained in this Booke A Meditation or Consultation what are the best things that men in this life should principally ayme at to attaine vnto highest happinesse c. Fol. 1. A motiue to Prayer against the temptations of Sathan c. 18 A Prayer for Gods holy assistance against Sathan 23. A Meditation to stirre vs vp when wee are vnapt to pray 29. A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings spirituall and corporall c. 35. A motiue to begin the day with Prayer 54. A Prayer fit to bee vsed euery morning 57. A motiue to Prayer before a man 〈…〉 65. A Prayer for a man before hee goes to hiâ—â—â—ghtly rest 70. A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience c. and may serue as a motiue to some prayers that follow viz. 77. A generall Prayer in whatsoeuer troubles and affections with a confâ—ssion that sinne is the cause of them 103 A Prayer for a man hindred by 〈…〉 kind of 〈…〉 lawfull takings c. 114 A consideration or consultation touching the estates and conditions of seuerall men c. necessary for all men that hope of any blessing vpon their labors Trauels Professions Artes Trades or Jmployments 124 A Prayer that God will blesse and prosper our labours and endeauors in whatsoeuer calling 139 A Prayer for a man whose Calling requireth Journeyes by land or sea 149 A motiue to a Prayer for patience in godly Parents that are affâ—icted in minde for the disobedience and vngodly liues of their children c. 150 A Prayer for the reformation of vngodly and disobedient children and for patience in Parents c. 166 A Christian incouragement to all that feare God act to bee 〈◊〉 at the threats 〈◊〉 and policies of whatsoeuer enemies c. To which is added a Prayer for Gods holy protection and defence of his in whatsoeuer danger 173 A Prayer to God that hee will defend vs from our strongest enemies with Thankesgiuing to God for our former deliuerances 189 A necessary motiue to stirre vs vp to a holy desire to resort to the Temple of God to pray vnto him with the Congregation and to heare his VVord c. 198 A Prayer to God that hee will prepare our hearts to the visiting of his holy Temple to heare his Word to pray vnto him and to praise him 219 A Prayer for true happinesse which shall be consummate only in heauen 226 FINIS
or his prayers sake but for thy best beloued Soâ—nes sake and such onely prayers as proceed from thine owne Spirit Fulfill therefore good Father all my godly desires through Christ Iesus Amen Let vs pray that wee may pray A Prayer to God for the helpe of his holy Spirit and other blessings Spirituall and Corporall comprehending the most needfull blessings fit at all times for all men to bee desired GRacious Lord God and most louing in Iesus Christ thou hast of thine owne free fauour willed all men in all their troubles dangers and wants of Spirituall and corporall things to come vnto thee to aske in the Name of thy Sonne and they shall receiue whatsoeuer they faithfully pray for to seeke helpe of thee and they shall finde it in due and conuenient time to knocke and they shall be admitted into thy holy presence But good Father as thou hast thus commanded me worke in me power truely to performe what thou commandest to pray I am of my selfe dull to seeke I am by nature blinde to knock I am weake and therefore thou seemest to command things to mee impossible to be effectually performed say therefore vnto mee and performe it namely that thy Spirit may bee a sufficient helpe vnto me Thou well knowest mine insufficiencie Lord for I cannot of my selfe thinke a good thought how then can I of my selfe pray and obtaine seeke and finde what I want or knock and bee heard This sacred vertue none by nature hath it is of thine owne free Grace and they onely to whom thou vouchsafest thine owne Spirit to helpe their weakenesse such in deed can faithfully aske such can dilligently seeke and constantly knock they onely obtaine what they aske they finde what they seeke and they are heard and admitted into thy presence when they knock Oh! admit me Lord into the number of them to whom thou hast vouchsafed this blessed priuiledge for they belong onely to the truely faithfull to such as thou hast chosen of thine owne purpose whom thou hast made fit to aske apt to seeke and constant to knock Apt I am to aske many things because I want manie and I know thou art able and willing to grant euery good thing But I am ignorant so to aske as I may obtaine for I know not what to aske as I ought and therefore though I often aske I receiue not because I aske amisse tending my prayers rather to the obtayning of carnall then Spirituall and heauenly riches and finde them not because thou seest the granting of them rather hurtfull then profitable vnto me Send therefore deare Father send downe thine holy Spirit who onely knoweth how and for what to pray though I bee ignorant of hee knoweth thy will though I bee weake he is powerfull and though I be corrupt He is holy as thou art holy â—ee onely knoweth my wants and how they may bee supplied Therfore none but he Lord can make my Petitions effectuall none but he can speake for me with me and in me Good Father denie him not vnto me leaue mee not destitute of his helpe When he commeth he shall teach mee all things fit for mee to learne hee will prompt and tell mee what is fit for me to aske he will prepare my heart hee will rectifie mine affections he will abandon my darkenesse deadnesse and dulnesse he will vntie my faultring tongue and open my closed lippes hee will inlarge my knowledge and increase my faith If I pray without the helpe of this thy blessed Spirit I doe but vtter a bare voyce O Lord which cannot come into thy presence nor returne any comfort to mine owne soule but speaking in and by him I shall assuredly bee heard for when I pray sinceerely and effectually in deed it proceedeth not from mee but from thine owne Spirit that speaketh in mee and beareth the greatest burden of my prayers though the words passe thorow my lippes they are not mine but his Holy Father euer louing louing in Iesus Christ inkindle mine inward godly desires through the heauenly heate of that Sacred fire touch my tongue with that celestiall cole from thine Alter then shall my heart be prepared then shall my lippes be opened then shall I speake with my tongue according to the meaning of thine owne Spirit then shall mine vnderstanding be inlarged then shall I appâ—ehend thy mercie and fully enioy thy fauour in Christ my Redeemer then shall I finde and feele in my heart an assured testimony that my prayers are come vp into thy presence then shall my guilty conscience burdened with sinne be eased and all my wants spirituall and corporall outward and inward bee fully and timely supplied and all my feare bee remooued and all things howsoeuer seeming contrary shall worke together yea together to my perpetuall peace and comfort in thee Then shall I receiue in this corrupt and weake vessell of dust the Image of my Redeemer bring forth the fruits of his Kingdome and euen here feele and be assured to bee sealed vp in the number of thine Elect Saints and enioy the glorie of that future Kingdome in full which heere I partake and know but in part according to that measure of knowledge which it hath pleased thee through thy holy Spirit to reueale vnto mee in this mortality where yet I finde the merits of my Redeemer preuayling to the washing away of my sinnes I heare his voyce and heere desire to follow him and to obey thee in him submitting my selfe to vndergoe whatsoeuer crosse for his sake as hee endured the death of the Crosse for mine euermore looking for longing to be dissolued freed from this worlds vanities and to bee partaker of the glory which by his death hee hath purchased for all that in faith and holy desire Looke for his second comming for which all that are guided by that thy Sacred Spirit inwardly and dayly cry Come Lord Iesus come quickly and end these dayes of sinne In the meane time thou knowest louing Father that I am inforced to bee combred about manie things of faâ—re inferiour condition following the things of my worldly calling which much hinder mee in the performance of better things and which often hinder the liuely working of thy holy Spirit in me I am much and often oppressed with the strength of mine owne inherent corruption often assayled by that my deadly enemie Satan who seeketh by all meanes to stop the course of thy Spirit in mee But thy Grace is sufficient to preuent him for me Thou knowest also deare Father that I am much and often afflicted heere and stand subiect to many and seuerall tryals as to Sicknesse of the body danger of the decay and losse of my Limbes and the vertue and vse of my Senses vnto Pouertie Enimies and Persecution for the constant profession of thy sincere Religion vnder the burden and feare of these ineuitable miseries I should faint but that I know thee and whome thou hast sent Iesus Christ and haue the assistance
his rest without recommending himselfe to God his body his soule and all that hee possâ—ssâ—th for it is hee onely that keepeth Israel namely all that feare him hee is euer watchfull ouer his for he neuer slumbreth nor sleepeth To his power prouidence and protection then let vs recommend our selues confessing our sins and crauing pardon â—n the mâ—rits of his Sonne so shall we lay our selues downe in peace to rest and rise againe in safetie for the Lord himselfe will sustaine vs. A Prayer before a man goe to his nightly rest O God powerfull and louing in Iesus Christ I thanke thee that thou hast safely brought mee to the end of this day wherein I thankfully confesse I haue receiued at thy most bountiful hands through Christ many coÌ„fortable blessings not worthy of the least of them but rather of punishment for this dayes sinnes though committed in the light yet are they the works of darknes Good Father disperse dispell the darknesse of my sinning minde as a mist and send mee the light of thy sauing grace to enlighten mee now in the darknes of the night which with thee is as the noone day but to me it is fearefull without thee for that in it many dangers lye hidden to mee vnknowne and if I knew them vnable I am without thee to preuent the least of them But thou that hast made the blacke euening hast made also the bright morning and in both thou art a like watchfull ouer those that are thine I doe therefore humbly recommend my selfe my soule and my body into thy most powerfull protection The darknesse of the night doth as well declare thy glory as doth the clearest rest day Though to mee weake creature the night is most dangerous but that thou art my light and my saluation what or whom therefore need I to feare Thou art the strength of my life of whom or of what should I be afrayd Thou art to mee a strong rocke a house of saftie in the night for weake is the strength of the strongest materiall house vnable to preuent the dangers which thou permittest to befall many But Lord I trust not in houses of clay I trust in thee my strength to thee I come for succour defence this night withhold not thy helpe lest I perish in the darknesse I trust in thee let my darknesse be turned into light and let the light of thy sauing couÌ„tenance cheere mee in this nights darknesse for without thy fauor I liue in darknesse in the most cleare day light and hauing thee my light the darknesse of the night shall bee light vnto mee Lord abandon from my heart all vnholy thoughts this night and giue mee a watchful heart though my body sleepe mine eyes shut vp and all thy visible creatures all carnall obiects be taken from my sight let the eyes of mine vnderstanding be alwayes open to behold to my comfort thy brightnesse and glory The Heauens declare thy glory and the Firmament sheweth the work of thine hands these and all other thy creatures shew thy greatnes and the preseruation of them sheweth thy goodnes and mine owne continuall preseruation I cannot but to my shame and condemnation confesse to thy praise and glory Giue me therefore holy Father a thankfull heart for thy mercies this day past and a fearefull heart to offend thee sleeping by euill and corrupt dreames or waking by euill and vngodly thoughts and vnholy imaginations that sleeping and waking I may feele the working of thy Spirit either in holy Meditations or faithfull Prayers that euen as the day requireth mee not to bee idle in well performing my lawfull labours so I may not spende my night-wakings in idle fantasies but in holy thoughts And let mee not be ouercome as Samson with sleep who lost his strength least Sathan finding mee so sleeping should depriue me of my faith in thee which is my strength the strength of my life but that I may so watch as whether I wake I may wake to thee or whether I sleepe I may sleepe in thee Lord let me not sleepe in my sinnes â—et mee not carry the guilâ— of my transgressions past vnto my bed but through the merites of my Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus vouchsafe mee pardon for all my sinnes and be thou pleased to bee reconciled vnto mee through his Blood So will I lay mee downe to take my rest beseeching thee so to watch ouer mee that I may rest in peace and rise in peace and let the words of my mouth that I shall vtter this night and the meditations of my heart bee acceptable vnto thee O Lord my GOD my Strength and my Redeemer Amen Lord increase my Faith this night and confirme it in mee for euermore Amen A most comfortable incouragement to all poore and distressed men to vndergoe whatsoeuer trouble with patience by the example of most holy men that haue been in greatest affliction and may serue as a generall motiue to sundry seuerall Prayers following TRouble comprehendeth all the miseries that man endureth in this life aduersitie enemies sicknes pouertie persecution and all kindes of afflictions and sufferings infinite in number grieuous in qualitie and irksome to flesh and blood and befalleth on men diuersly either for the punishment of sinne past or for the preuenting of sinne to come God sendeth affliction vpon his owne dearest children to weine them from the loue of the vanities of the world that they perish not with the world But vnto the wicked as the beginning of their sorrowes and to terrifie his own from committing like sinnes by example of their punishments Gods children are forewarned that they must suffer He that will liue godly in Christ must suffer affliction yet by promise not aboue their strength for God putteth to his hand to make their burden light with a promise also of future comfort and though their troubles seeme great and grieuous faith in God maketh them more easie to them that suffer then they conceiue that beholde them with carnall eyes Great indeed are the troubles of the righteous but God deliuereth them out of all Sorrow heauinesse may endure for a night namely during this life but ioy commeth in the morning after this death and at the resurrection of the dead glory for euermore Troubles are but for a moment and then commeth comfort therfore doe the children of God with ioy and patience vndergoe them But contrary the comfort of the wicked is here short and momentany but thâ—ir future misery will be perpâ—tuall The patient suffering of the children of God is a manifest token of the righteous iudgement of God as Saint Paul saith to the Thessalonians whose patient suffering he commended imputing it a glory vnto them that they were accounted worthy of the kingdome of God for which they suffered Whereby it appeareth that euery suffering euen of the godly is not glorious such as befall them for their transgressions But if we liue godly in Christ and for that suffer
and in feare to bee stoned of the people And many other crosses had he Not one of Christs Apostles or faithfull Fathers of the Primitiue Church no not Christ himselfe hath escaped the troubles of this mortall life and shall wee weâ—e wee his dearest children thinke or desire to escape it sith it is our honour to suffer with and for Christ The Scriptures themselues besides authentike Histories abound with witnesses that Gods Children haue beene euer most afflicted and that God yet nâ—uer fayleth them nor finally forsaketh them Whosoeuer therefore is strayted with any troubles or pressed with any afflictions Let them make vse of the examples of Gods dealing with and his mercies shewed towards our former afflicted faithfull Fathers For hee is the same God still hee hath the same power the same prouidence the same loue and the same Fatherly care of theÌ„ that trust in him as our faithfull forefathers did and were deliuered And the memoriall of their faith and patience is recorded by former holy men of God as by Moses by Dauid by the Prophets by Christ and his Apostles to teach vs to imitate them in holy obedience euen vs vpon whom the ends of the world are come that through our like patience and faith wee might haue hope to bee likewise eased of our afflictions and troubles as thâ—se and other holy men hoped and were deliuered and releeued Dauid that worthy King of â—srael penned to the prayse and glory of God for our instruction and comfort sundry most sweet and comfortable Psalmes in the middest of his greatest troubles shewing the force of his faith to bee so strong and his hope so assured depending vpon Gods power promises and prouidence as he deemed himselfe euen then deliuered when he was yet in greatest perill Such was the firme and constant hope of holy Dauid that in all his troubles sicknesse of the body danger of enemies yea when his Crowne was like to be taken from his head by his owne sonne through patience and hope not limiting the holy one of Jsrael hee wayted Gods leasure and was deliuered teaching vs to attend Gods appointed time without grudging at our troubles There is no danger so great no tentation so strong out of which God is not able to deliuer his For example was not Daniel in a desperate danger being cast into the hungry Lyons Denne Did hee perish there The three children in the seuenfold hot Furnace were they consumed Did not the powerfull and preuayling hand of God the Angell of his presence miraculously preserue them in his mercie And did he not confound the ministers of their intended torments in his Iustice Why then shall faithfull men feare or be affrayd at the â—alice and furious threates of whatsoeuer roaring Tyrant God hath power ouer their hearts and hands And therefore sayth Dauid full of faith I will not feare what man can doe vnto mee for it is the Lord that maketh mee to dwell in saftie What if then I bee sicke with Hezekiah hee can apply the sweete and salutary figs of his fauour to heale mee or will affoord mee the patience to beare it or which is best of all a speedie dissolution to rest with him If pouerty assaile mee should I grudge and repine at the wealth and prosperitie of others euen as holy Dauid himselfe once seemed to doe seeing himselfe in necessity and the wicked to prosper This he did in his haste but vpon more holy deliberation and consultation with the Word of God he did acknowledge it good for him so to bee humbled knowing that God forgetteth not the poore that call vpon him though he supplie not our necessities in abundance yet he neuer will faile to prouide for vs that we perish not Hee may suffer vs to want some superfluous things of this world that the wealthy haue but instead thereof hee will giue vs better things that the wealthy want Though Lazarus was poore naked hungry and full of sores here loathsome to the eye of men and the rich man gloriously robed his belly full his body free from spott or wrinkle which of these was the happiest Man could not iudge but their ends declared which of them had the best portion the vilest of them in mans sight was most glorious in Gods and contrary Man often fayleth in iudgement of mens happinesse because hee seeth onely the case and seeth not the Iewell within it hee discerneth onely the outward habit but not the inward heart and therefore knoweth not what end any man shall make for whatsoeuer the outward shew bee of a happy man beleeue it not till thou see his end What a miserable man was Iob on the dunghill and what an vnhappy man was Joseph in prison what ends the Lord made with them both is manifest What a happy man was Nabuchadnezzar in his glorious palace and what a glorious Monarch was Balteshasher who feasted one thousand of his Vassall Princes at once What a worthy wise and glorious King was Herod the son of Aristobulus surnamed Agrippa sitting in his royall robes in his regall throne at whose Oration the people showted crying The voyce of God and not of a man Looke within a while vpon the first and thou shalt see him grazing with the wild beasts of the forest Looke vpon the second thou shalt suddenly see him perish in his drunkennesse and behold the third and thou shalt see him immediatly vpon his Deified Oration to be deuoured with the vermine of his owne bowels The estates of these kindes of men seene with the eyes of a carnall man are censured as they seeme but these and infinite other examples prooue that the mightie and the wise men of the world are not all glorious within though gorgious with â—ut Iudge not therfore the ends of men by their outward appearance for the most glorious beginnings of men not fearing God come often to fearefull endes To prooue further by Histories wee need not wee haue seene it with our eyes But as touching the children of God they for the most part seem base and such as are seemly to the outward appearance haue yet humble spirits seeming not the wisest in the world because they are inwardly so innocent and harmlesse as they can shew no carnall policies as doe the wise of the world but the basest and seeming vilest of Gods children that want plentie of food for their bodies or competent clothes to couer their nakednesse are yet through faith the feare of God and humblenesse of heart accepted of God And although it be obserued that at their deaths there be no pompous funerall Obsequies yet dying the Saints of God they haue the Angels of God attending theÌ„ who conuey that part which the world seeth not into heauenly Paradise as they did the soule of Lazarus and leaue that seeming base part to the world in as meane a manner to be disposed to the earth If yet the vngodly poore should pretend interest in the loue and promises