of his Throne make Mercie and Trueth goe before his Face Blesse His Royall Match make thy mercie to bee shed abroad in Her Heart Cloth Her with the Royall apparell of Christs Righteousnesse Let readinesse to heare the Preaching of the Word bee Her Eare-ring and good Workes in Her Hand like golden Rings vpon Her Fingers Write vpon the Tables of Her Heart the Loue of true Godlinesse The LORD bee mercifull to the Common-wealth of this Land protect It from the rage of forraine Enemies Let neuer thy protection depart from this Land Let it bee like that Bed of Solomon Threescore stronge men are round about it of the valiant men of Israel They all handle the Sword and are expert in warre euerie one hath his sword vpon his thigh for the feare by night The LORD be gracious vnto vs all whō are heere vpon our kneees before Thee What wee haue said to Thee on earth LORD heare Thou in Heauen Let this afflicted Soule haue a proofe of thine own Trueth that the effectuall prayer of the Righteous auaileth much LORD hea◅ vs for the sake of him who is righteousnes it selfe in whose most perfect Prayer we close vp allour sutes saying Our Father which art c. The Peace Grace and Mercie of our GOD bee with you Sir for euer I hope that by Gods Grace I shall see you earlie in the Morning The sicke Man The LORD render to you according to his gracious promise made to all these that serue him in sinceritie A great blessing requireth great thankes I neuer deserued such kindnesse at your hands The lesse deseruing bee in mee the more deeplie doe I hold my selfe bound vnto your loue I pray you Sir be as good as your word come againe earelie in the Morning The Spirit of IESVS goe with you THE SECOND DAYES Conference Of spirituall temptations The Pastour GOD saue you Sir How haue yee rested this Night Haue yee found any working of Gods Spirit within you since our last conference Is your minde so at quiet now that yee may boldlie say with Simeon Now let thy seruant depart in peace The sicke Man Alas Sir Satans temptations are like that Serpent of Lerne called Hydra which had fiftie heades whereof one beeing cut off two sprang vp in the place thereof I take that serpent to haue beene but a fable But that which I say may bee written for an Historie Many heads of temptations haue yee cut off with the sword of Gods word But now I think that for euerie head cut off two are sprung vp in the place thereof All my temptatons hitherto haue beene but vpon the skin like the scratch of a pinne wrinkles but not woundes All my troubles hitherto hath beene but matters of trifles viz. Feare for my Life feare for my Children feare for the Graue of this our muddie mortalitie and for other such trifles and trashes vnworthie for to trouble a couragious Spirit The Spirit of a couragious man said Solomon will beare his infirmitie But the wounded spirit who can beare it well is the child of God in his ◅orest sicknes for while his bodie is sicke his Soule is sound His God in great loue will make all his bed in his sicknesse and strengthen him into the bed of languishing Hee whom God loueth is armed with Faith and patience all his troubles are but outward scrappings vpon the skinne The temptations wherewith I am lashed are spirituall woundings for my sinnes which neuer troubled mee before I heard oft-ten of such troubles but I neuer knew before this time what such things did meane Thinke ye Sir that the Spirit of a godlie man can bee thus wise troubled I heare Dauid crying in his mourning There is no soundnesse in my flesh neither is there anie rest in my bones But what reckes of flesh and bones if the Spirit were free The Pastour The most godlie that euer liued haue suffered spirituall woundes Christ the Captaine of our Saluation said That his Soule was sadde euen vnto the death Iob cryed that h◅s Spirit was drunken vp with the poyson of Gods arrowes The arrowes of the Almightie said hee are within me the poyson whereof drinketh vp my Spirit See how that holie man of God complaineth that his Spirit was like a drinke drunken vp by the poyson of Gods arrowes By this yee see that spirituall wounds are alloted to the dearest of Gods Elect so that they are not exeemed from inward blowes Trouble of Conscience is the disease of the innocentest Soule The sicke Man That satisfieth mee not As for Christ the blowes which hee suffered in his Soule were blowes of satisfaction for the sinnes of others As for Iob these blowes were blowes of probation of tryall for to let the world see that he was not an hypocrite that serued GOD for rewardes as Sathan did alledge But it is not so with me who am a bond slaue of corruption I suffer for my sinnes which are euer before mee The fainer I would forget them they flow the faster into my rememberance The voyce of my Conscience followeth mee with hue with cry Though God hath spared thee long thou hast not beene bettered looke now for vengeance after so long delayes I can make no answere I can not denie but God hath spared mee long In this is my greatest feare The higher a stroake bee fetcht the longer it is in comming But the higher it bee lifted the heauier it will fall The Pastour I answere to that which yee said first viz. that Christs sufferings are no comfort to you because they are blowes of satisfaction The afflictions of Christ were of diuerse vses first of all for to make payment to Gods Iustice for our sinnes Secondlie he suffered that by his own experience of sense hee beeing expert what it is to suffer might assure vs that hee is both a mercifull and a faithfull high Priest For in that hee himselfe hath suffered beeing tempted he is able to succour thē that are tempted Thus the Apostle declareth plainelie afterward Wee haue not said hee an high Priest which cannot bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities But was in all pointes tempted like as wee are yet without sin This experience which he had of our miserie is called his learning Though hee were a Sonne yet learned hee obedience by the things which he suffered Hee also suffered for to bee an example vnto vs. The sicke Man I vnderstand not well these words that Christ learned obedience by his sufferings The Pastour The words indeed seeme obscure The most Learned think that Christ is said to haue learned obedience by his sufferings because while he suffered hee felt indeed how difficile a thing it is talem obedientiam Deo praestare to yeeld such obedience vnto God others say that by his suffrings hee joyned to his diuine
anguish of his Spirit Behold LORD how hee renounceth himselfe desparing of his owne worth Giue him grace to flee to thy promises that as in the fearefull and perelous path of this val◅y of death he looketh for nothing but hell torments and paine for his owne sake so he may assuredlie look for heauens glorie euen pleasures for euermore and that for thy promise sake for thy Names sake for thy Christs sake in whom thy Soule is best pleased Mak the bones which thou hast brused to rejoyce Leaue him neuer to himselfe LORD till thou hast made thy graces now blooming in his heart to become type for thy glorie LORD blesse thy beloued Church which is hated of the world Shee is now pricked with persecutions as a Lillie among the thornes Let this comfort Her in all Her distresses that thou shalt neuer forsake Her But that thorow many tribulations thou shall bring Her vnto Glorie Lord pitie pardon the vnthankful Church of this Land Bind Her vnto Thee by the vnion of Faith and fasten euerie one of our heartes to another by the bond of loue left at last by our misdemeanour thou bee forced to roote vs out of thy good Land as a fruitlesse Nation GOD bee gracious to our dread SOVERAIGNE the Kings Majestie gard His Royall Person from the rage of His enemies Infatuate their plots Mak giddy their braines discouer their enterprises mak Him the Man of thy right Hand Anoint His Head with the blessed drops of the Oyle of thy Grace gladnesse Make Him an humble Homager to IESVS who hath written on His thigh the King of kings LORD giue Him Grace according to His Place Say vnto His Queene Hearken O Daughter cōsider incline thy eare Mak her to forget her own people Fathers House In stead of Her old acquaintance giue her Children whom thou mayest make Princes on the Earth Aboue all thinges we intreate Thee to discharge vpon Her Soule the beames and brightnesse of sauing Knowledge Blesse all the Nobilitie of this Land Make them truelie Noble like the men of Berea who were couragious for the Trueth Make euerie one of vs faithfull in our place calling keep our Soules euer waking waiting for thycomming Preserue vs from slumber of Conscience deadnesse of heart that liuing according to thy law we may be in this wicked world godlie professours like burning shining Lampes for to shew light vnto others We all heere O gracious Father relying vpon thy promised readines to helpe thy little Ones and to listen to their cryes haue powred out our Soules in thy presence wee intreate The from the sinceritie of our inward partes that of thy Fatherlie indulgence it would please Thee to vouchsaf a fauourable audiēce both to these and to all other our most humble and godlie desires and that for IESVS thy deare Sonnes sake To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee all glorie and honour world without end AMEN Cause read vnto you this Night Psalme 38. Psal. 39. Psal 40 Psal. 41. Psal. 42. Psal. 130. Isa. 38. Isa. 53. Iohn 16. Let the end of euerie day remember you of the ende of your life Thogh euerie day of ourage should be as long as that day of Ioshuah whē at his word the Sunne stood still in Gibeon yet it would be night at last The Lord teach vs to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts to wisedome and to well doing The grace of Iesus and the peace of his Spirit rest with you and comfort you in all the groanes of your griefe The Lord turne your smoking flax into a burning fire of zeale The God of all mercie and compassion refresh your weake and wounded heart with the softest o◅le of his sauing grace Nothing Sir is vnpossible to your God who of a brui sed Reede can make a pillar of Brasse which the prince of the powers of darknesse shall not be able to shake I intreat the Lord to giue you such Grace that may leade you vnto the face and presence of your GOD Bee more and more earnest with your GOD that hee would inspire your heart with Life Spirite and motion that thereby yee may bee made fitte for that blessed associatiō with Sainctes and Angels far from the crossing checkes of Conscience THE FOVRTH DAYES Conference The Pastour ACcording to your desire Sir I am come againe this morning for to visite you and for also to reape the fruites of yesterdayes conference This is the sweete fruits of a godlie life It hath saith Solomon hope in the end I pray God to blesse you with such an hope whereby in hope against hope yee may cleaue fast vnto your God finde yee the storme of your temptations alayed hath the Spirit of God giuen edge and vigour to these comfortes which yee heard yesterday Haue yee put on a Christian courage with a resolute and contented patience to abid the blessed will of your God The sicke Man Well is the man and blessed yea thrise blessed is hee whose transgressions is forgiuen whose sinne is couered for hee is free from that sting of Conscience that will for euer torment the Soule of the vngodlie All this night I haue beene sore cumbered with manie spirituall temptations as yee haue heard My Soule for a space hath beene wonderfully perplexed The spirit of mā alas is but too ingenious to debar it selfe from glorie It is a wonder how this shuld be in such a glorious Noonetyde of the Gospel hitherto Glorie bee to God yee haue comforted mee much ye haue handled my sores with the soft and smooth hand of a most wise and charitable discretion wiselie haue yee singled out comfortes most expedient for the cure of my Soule Now seeing by your former discourse I haue reaped comfort let mee bee so bold as to intreate you to declare breaflie how a man may know by the workings of the Spirit within whether he be a Reprobate or one of Gods chosen Ones It is no time for me now to bee beguiled Men which looke to die haue neede to looke well what they doe I desire earnestlie to be instructed touching the diuerse workinges of the Spirit into the wicked and the godlie My chiefe desire is to make my Saluation sure The Pastour I shall doe what I can to giue you contentment in that point The matter indeede is not without difficultie But yet the Lord God will doe nothing which hee will not reueale vnto his seruants the Prophets so farre as is needfull for his glorie the well of his People Mine helpe is in the Name of the Lord that made Heauen and Earth The Spirit of God in man hath two sortes of operations One generall another speciall As for the generall common to all men by the Spirit the wicked will say Iesus is the Lord I know Iesus said the Deuill to the sonnes of Sceuah * By this Spirite also the
all bee comfounded and turned backe that hate Zion confound all hatchers of Here◅ies let them bee as the grasse vpon the house tops which withereth afore it groweth vp wherewith the Mower filleth not his hand nor hee that bindeth sheaues his bosome Protect Her by thy cloud by day direct Her by night by the pillar of fire let neuer the bright star of thy Gospel goe downe which pointeth out vnto vs the Sauiour Saluation of our Soule O righteous LORD thou hast juste cause against this Church to make Her Sunne goe downe at noone and darknesse to surprise vs in the cleare day with a sudden and ineuitable sin prizall and destruction GOD blesse vs with an holie vnion and banish farre off the Deuill of diuision Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE the Kings Majestie Mak him to joy in thy strength greatlie to rejoyce in thy Saluation Direct His Heart His mouth by thy Spi◅it giue him his hearts desire and with-hold not the requeast of his lips Giue to Him the courage of Dauid and the wisdome of Solomon Be fauourable to His Royall Match Inflame Her Heart with the loue of thy deare Sonne Iesus Let all Her desire be to know him crucified Make Her an happie Mother of happie Children euen a blessed Mother in Israel Blesse our Nobilitie make them noble like the men of Berea so that they may haue courage for the Truth And seeing LORD that as wee may see in this our deare Friende man is like to vanitie and that his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away Take vs to thy schoole and teach vs to number our fewe and euill dayes that wee may apply our hearts to wisedome to wel doing Let it please thine Highnesse to grant vs these out sutes for the onely sake of Iesus the Author and finisher of our faith the verie Anchor of our Soule the onelie stay and staffe of our hope the ende and rest of all created desires the true substance of ceremoniall shewes and shadowes To Him with Thee and thy Spirit of Grace bee praise and thankesgiuing glorie and dominion now and euermore AMEN If your sleepe in the night be interupted cause read vnto you the Booke of Ecclesiastes the strong enemie of all worldlie vanitie Moses his psalme which is the ninty Psalme shal be meete for your meditations cause reade also the 1 Pe◅er chap. I. The LORD sanctifie all your spirituall exercises to the comfort of your wearied Soule The GOD of all mercie blesse the little sparke of Grace enkindled by his Spirite in you till it spread into a big flame GOD with a little Dewe of newe Grace can so bl◅sse prosper another Grace alreadie giuen that Hee will make it though so little like a graine of mustard to growe towardes a tree Blesse GOD who hath not suffered you to tread the fearefull and desperate path of these who from the beginning of their life vnto the end haue beene nothing but disturbers of peace waues of the Sea foaming out their owne shame and casting vp mire and dirt vpon the shore of their whole couersation The LORD edge the little measure of your weake Faith with a longing desire after fulnesse of perswasion And season your heart with sauing Grace The Lord make his most Sacred and powerfull Word so to enter into the secretes of your Soule that it may strike a dead stroke at the sweetest of your sinnes that your sinnes being slaine your Soule may liue and haue a portion in Gods new Ierusalem till yee come there the LORD guard you with an inuincible troupe of his blessed Angels The Loue of the Father the Grace of the Sonne with the Peace his Spirit bee with you for euer THE FIFT DAYES Conference Of the last Iudgement The sicke Man OVanity of vanities O vanity of vanities all is vainity this whole night I haue dreamed of vanitie I thinke that my Dreameproceedeth from vesterdays Conference for Solomon saith that a dreame cōmeth through the multitude of businesse Well is the man that is well occupyed in the day for in the night such businesse maketh an impression into his Spirite An euill doer in the day cānot often dreame of good into the night Happie is the man that hath made the Lord the onelie leuell of his life What houres can it now bee I long for a sight of my louing and comfortable Pastour The Pastour Heere I am Sir come againe for to see what progresse yee haue made into your Christian pilgrimage Ye◅ heard yesterday of the vanitie of all things that are below I desire now to know how your heart hath beene affected since The sicke Man I haue Sir all this night d◅eamed that this world is but vanitie a lifting vp for a fall a race vnto a ruine I see nowe that all the profites and pleasures thereof are but lik a rotten Nut when men thinke to cracke the kernell they find nothing but worms with rottenesse bitternesse which prouocke the eater to spit O how the pure and cleane streames of diuine grace are stained with the stirring of the foule puddle of corrupt nature I am greatlie oblished to my God who hath giuen to me such patience in my sicknesse that I haue beene able to heare that heauenlie discours which ye had yesterday concerning earthlie things This life as I perceiue is nothing but a toilesome task of cares the best of our time is but labour sorrow our ease is a disease and wee rot in our rest Mine heart is no more in this world He is but a foole and so shall hee feele who euer hee bee that is too bent for the transitorie trashes thereof Heere is not our rest Rest heere is not our best As water by standing becometh stinking so the Spirit rotteth by carnall rest The ease of the flesh is the disease of the Spirit If wee bee without God in the world in our well we shall find but woe in our wealth but want in our loue but l◅cke in our mirth but mone In laughing the heart shall be sorrowfull and the end of that mirth shal be heauiness◅ Without God in greatest compan◅ is greatest melancholie Hee whose eyes the god of th◅ world hath not blind-folded may easilie perceiue that all that is heere is but vanitie which vexeth the spiri◅ What follie is this to take pleasure in such perishing things which can bring no comfort at the conclusion of all when dust must returne to the earth as it was Oh that wee were wise to consider that while wee are heere we are compassed about with a bodie of sin in a world of wickednesse All sortes of euil in this world with eager pursute persecute the Soule of sinfull man all the depthes of Sathan and policies of Hell concure into this worke Now Sir I intreat you seeing yee haue spoken so heauenlie of the earth that it would please you to say some-what concerning the last judgement
good therefore that yee summon your hearte and your glorie to giue praise vnto your God Let not a thought of your heart absent it selfe from this point of seruice God must not bee serued by halfes As for mee I am but the Lordes weak Instrument for your well Giue God the glorie The sicke Man Blesse the Lord O my Soule all that is within mee blesse his holie Name I desire now to come with Dauid to my last words A speach of the sicke Man to his Pastour First of all I addresse my speach to you my worthie Pastour Gods mercie in you toward mee hath beene great for yee haue soundlie vnfolded all the intricate difficulties wherwith my Soule hath beene fearefullie entangled Yee are one of these that may well say Wee haue the mind of Christ God by his Grace haue made you that one of a thousand you haue I found to bee like Ionah the sonne of Amittai that is the sonne of trueth Happie is that Preacher who is ledde in all trueth O the Majestie of that message O the wisedome of these that gaine Soules vnto Christ Wisedome hath said That hee that winneth soules is wise O but my Soule loueth you My loue toward you assureth mee of Gods loue toward mee for by this wee know that wee are translated from death to life because wee loue the Brethren I loue you Sir in the dearest blood I haue for yee haue beene the good instrument of God for my conuersion ye in all my troubles while mine heart was toucht to the quicke and my Conscience ransackt to the bottome haue beene to mee a Barnab as a sonne of consolations where with as with splents ye haue bound mine heart God in great mercie hath giuen vnto you the tongue of the Learned with lippes touched with a coale from his Altar for the relieuing of my wounded Conscience with words of comfort O but that is true a whole some tong is a tree of life By the sword of the Word ye haue cut the twisted bonds of my greatest temptations wherein my Soule lay fast fettered Mine heart hath beene greatlie rejoyced to heare you resoluing al my doubts and difficulties O howe beautiful are the feete of these that bring goâ—… tydings Now I finde that of Solomon to bee true The word of the wiâ—… are as goads and as nailes fastened by the Masters of assemblies which are giuen from one Shepheard Christ that great Shepheard of the flocke 〈◊〉 with your words as with goades â—… nailes so fastened me to himselfe that Death it selfe shall not bee able to seuer vs Yee haue wonderfullâ—… restored my sicke Soule with flagonâ—… of the most sweete juice of the cluster of wine Ye haue bound vp my broâ—… ken joynts with the spirituall splenâ—… of diuine comforts O in what woefull plight O in what seas of gall was I plunged when yee came first vnto mee there was nothing sound into my Souleâ—… All was full of botches boiles and puâ—…trifying sores But yee like a cunning Surgeon in curing tumours haue broght the matter to an â—…ead and at last with great skill ye haue launced the boiles of my corruptions whereof nowe God in mercie hath made mee free I tremble to remember these fearefull temptations wherewith yee found mee at the first beset and besieged These were indeede such temptations as Bernard called Terribilia de fide horribilia de divinitate Sathan hath assaulted mee both in a blacke shape and into an Angel of light By your sweete comforts my Soule hath beene reuiued like that dead man that liued by touching the bones of Elisha Yee haue fed my Soule with the doctrine of your breastes bigge as Towers Yee haue strengthened and sinewed my weake Soule with comfortable words wouen and wrought out of a feeling heart by the strength of holy meditations And now happie are yee who haue beene the instrument of my conuersion I hope to bee one day one of these that shall stand at your backe when yee shall say to your Master Christ Behold heere I am and the children that God hath giuen mee Account me Sir one of these Talents that yee haue gained with the Talent of your gift Your wordes haue stricken home vnto mine heart with powerfull and particular applications of comforts whereby my disaffected Soule hath beene wooed and wone vnto the loue of my Sauiour Iesus account me therefore a seale of your Ministerie Ye know better than I what God hath promised to these that with a readie minde shal conuert a sinner from his euill ways such as God himselfe hath promised shall bee like the starres in the Firmament for euer From your lips is come the sweetest balme that euer dropt from the penne of God vpon the leaues of the Booke of life Blessed bee my God who by his good Spirit into your mouth hath breathed most sweete comfortes into my Soule Woe to all Doctours of dispaire Blessed bee your lips wherein God hath placed the preseruation of knowledge Your tongue to mee hath beene like a siluer watch bell to rouse and waken vp the gifts of God within my Soule God by his words in your mouth declaring vnto man his righteousnesse hath blowne vp his Graces which were weake into mine heart like a smoking flaxe or a sparkle of fire vnder greene wood Blessed bee my God who by your diuine instructions hath made mee to bee acquainted with himselfe Your comforts hath beene cordials and lenitifes to the ranking and festered sores of my Soule To God bee glorie who hath made you moste cunning of that great Arte of sauing sinners O my deare Pastor by the refreshing Balme of your consolations ye haue infinitly indeered my soule you to gâ—…s one of a thousand I am assured that God hath made you faithfull with Ieremie for to take foorth the preciouâ—… from the vile Nowe my God with whom I thinke to bee shortlie bee with you in your Ministerie make you his faithfull seruant vnto death that ye may bee a worthie wooer for Christ for to bring home manie straggling sinners vnto him the blessed Bridegroome of our Soules Farewell now my faithfull Pastour My Soule now is glad to flitte from this house of clay As for my bodie it must goe to the graue where for a space it shall bee confined but not confounded for I looke assuredlie for the day of the Resurrection O Lord seale vp in my Conscience the discharge of all my sinnes that I may gladlie lay downe this Tabernacle The Pastour Mine heart rejoyceth with an exceeding great joy to reape such fruits of my labours But this know that what good yee haue by mee it is not from mee but from him that sent me * It is God that giueth life Soule vnto the Word that is powerfull to Saluation Paul may plant and Apollos may
water but it is God who giueth the increase The best of all Preachers are but like Iohn the Baptist the voyce of a Cryer who could not make all the crooked straight nor the rough plaine If any good bee conuoyed vnto your Soule by mee I am but the Instrument or Channell wherethorow the Spirit of Iesus hath made his Graces to flow vnto you To Him alone belongeth the Glorie and the Thankes It is not humane eloquence which conuerceth Soules One word quickened and enliued with his Spirit is more fruitfull than all the glorious eare-pleasing pompe of mans wordes which like Agrippa and Bernice are full of phantasie All the good that man can doe either by word or worke is like the honie in the combe gathered out of many flowers But the euill is lik the Spidders webbe drawne out of our owne bowels The griefes of your heart Sir haue bene very great but now ye are mercifullie comforted Manie in this world plod on from sin to sin marching merrilie feareleslie towards the plagues of Hell But O how much are yee beholden vnto your GOD who in all your wearisome mazes hath supported and sinewed your Soule by his sauing Grace Because Sir there be here diuerse of your Friendes and other acquaintance vnto whom it may be ye wold desire to speake I giue place to them that now they may learne something of you The last words of a godlie man are verie forcible vnto the liuing And therefore Sir while ye haue breath spend your short time vpon this that by your good counsell yee may doe good to these that are for to liue after you That once done commit your Soule to God as a faithful Creator He himselfe hath said I will not leaue thee neither will I forsake thee A speach of the sicke Man to his Friendes And now yee my trustie Friends whose age God hath crowned with ripenesse of judgement I turne my selfe to you But first of all let mee speak vnto you my spiritual special Friend who in my deepest plunge while I was fast sticking into the myrie clay did vphold me with your comforts Your counsell to sende for my Pastour hath prouen a speciall salue for my sore God by that man of whom yee spake hath now healed my Soule of all its harmes O blessed be that vnspeakable mercy of my God Though Sathan had bereaued mee of my puritie he could not bereaue my God of his pittie The Lord of light hath brought my Soule out of that long and loathsome night which is in the valley of the shadow of death in comparison whereof the most palpable darknesse of Egypt might haue beene esteemed to bee day O that pleasant Sunne-shine wherewith my Soule is nowe inlightned O my God breath more more into my Soule the life of grace The spirituall Friend Glorie bee to God for his wonderfull mercies towardes you The Lord now set your Soule on wing that swiftlie like an Eagle it may flie vp to its God Many a sore assault haue yee suffered since I spake with you at the first Satan his temptations with the world the corruption of Nature had gathered themselues against you like Gebal Amon and Amaleck against Israel Of them may yee well say nowe They compassed mee about like Bees they are quenched as the fyre of thornes To Sathan may yee now say Thou hast thrust sore at mee that I might fall but the Lord hath helped mee When I mette with you first yee were compassed with a chaine of calamities one linked into another To mee yee appeared to bee hanging ouer Hell by the slender twined threed of a lifelesse hope Yee were plunged deeper downe than Ionaâ—… was when hee went downe to the bottome of the mountaines where the weedes were wrapt about his head Now let your Soule say with Ionah I will sacrifice vnto thee with the voyce of thankesgiuing I will pay that that I haue vowed Saluation is of the Lord. The sicke Man Blesse the Lord O my Soule and all that is within mee blesse his holie Name Blesse the Lord O my Soule and forget not all his benefites Farewell my trustie Friend Now as for you mine other friends I turne my selfe to you Hee that is conuerted with Peter should labour the conuersion of others Hee whose weaknesse the Lord hath helped should strengthen his brethren It is nowe time to take our last good night Heere in your presence I say Farewell O world wherein I haue liued which I haue too much loued Learneye in time to set your affections vpon God None of you can tell if God shall giue you such laiser to repent as he hath granted vntome If yee forsake not in time the sweete pleasures of your sins feare lest at last that that be found true which Abner said to Ioah Knowest thou not that it will bee bitternesse in the latter end There is no sinne so sweete to man in his life but before his death it shall bee dissweetned and turned into gall and wormewoode within the bellie of the Conscience I speake by experience as one who hath knowne the terrours of the Lord O my deare friendes looke ouer your shulder back to your bygone life and consider how grieued yee shall bee for the sinnes of your pleasures when yee shall bee warded into your death beddes readie to compeare before the great Iudge of the world As yee see mee this day so shall others see you ere it bee long I haue often beene glad among you Yee see now by mee what it is of all worldlie â—…oye With a little blast of sickenesse such comfort like chaffe are chassed away Your time is fast comming Your Glasse is running my sicknesse cryeth vnto you Learne of the estate of this your olde Friend to make your selues readie for another world To mee to day to you to morrow Where the tree falleth there shall it lye Whether the Glutton and the Begger are gone thither must wee all that is either to 〈◊〉 hams bosome or to the Deuils 〈◊〉 The death of one is like a 〈◊〉 charging all others to bee readie 〈◊〉 flitte and remoue Happie yea thrise happie is that man who in these 〈◊〉 and desperate dayes is not dulde with securitie Blessâ—…d is hee who is forâ—… warned striue to bee forewarned Blessed is that man who is eueâ—… vpon his watch hauing his loineâ—… girded and his Candle in his hand waiting for the comming of his Lord. A dew my louing Friendes Seeke in time the friendship of your God Striue to be worthie the stile of Abraham that was called The friend of God O my deare Friends let mee now tell you what the Lord hath done to my Soule Hee hath at last beene sensiblie gracious to my poore Soule which Sathan hath long hunted vp downe like a Patridge on
the 〈◊〉 The Deuill like a dogged Doeg hath sought to sucke out the heart blood of this trembling Turtle Blessed bee the Lord for euer who hath disappointed him The Pastour I feare Sir that long speach trouble you Your affection carrieth you aboue your strength Contract your speach in as few wordes as yee can What counsell will yee giue to your Spouse heere It is good that she heare your directions for I see that Gods Spirit is mighty in you The sicke Man If anie naturall man were heere for to heare mee hee might willinglie thinke that I were Verbosus a man of manie wordes But alas that I haue spokeÌ„ so few of this sort From Morning vntill Euening my tongue in health like the penne of a readie writter was swift to speake of too manie things whereof now I repent from the bottome of mine heart If Nature bee so windie in vaine pratling should grace want woâ—…ds in that which may be profitable to the hearers I care not what carnall men thinke for my manie words I am shortlie for to compeare before him before whoÌ„ mans improbatioÌ„ or approbation is of little weight or worth My strength so long as I can speake shall bee spended into that which may doe good to these whom I shall leaue behind I shall doe what I can both feelinglie and faithfullie to warne others to flie from the wrath to come Bee not offended I pray you Sir if I bee free with you The last motions of Gods Spirit in this mortall life wold be verie charitablie thoght of I pray you Sir to pardon mine hastie and cankered Nature if I haue spokâ—…n anie thing amisse whereat yee may take exception The Pastour The Lord blesse you Sir Praised bee his Name who hath touched your lips with a liue coale takeÌ„ with a tonges from off his Altar The Lord is with you speak so long or so little as yee please Glad am I to heare the motions of that Spirit of Grace which is lodged into your heart Heere is your Spouse Sir Let her heare your last directions The sicke mans speach to his Spouse As for thee my Spouse now shortlie thou art for to bee a Widow I counsell thee that first of all thou marrie thy selfe to Christ let him be thy spirituall Spouse * As for other marriage the word concerning widowes is plaine It is good for them that they abide so But if they cannot containe let them marrie for it is better to marrie than to burne No marriage as thou seest is directlie appointed for Widowes but for these that cannot containe Otherwise the Apostles wordes are true It is good for them that they abide so If so be that thou marrie plant not a Thorne where a Vine should grow Dishonour not the fiâ—…st bed and preferre not purse or portion to the worth of the person If GOD call thee to marriage see that thou call GOD to thy marriage if Christ bee at thy marriage that is if thou marrie in Christ thy water shall bee turned into wine which was Christes first miracle The water of wearinesse of trouble and of sorrow which thou hast drunke with mee shall bee turned into wine of joye gladnesse peace and prosperitie But if thou marrie not in Christ but make thy choice by thy sight and not by sighes to God in prayer then shall thy wine bee turned into water God shall manifest a new miracle vpon thee to the worse that is All the prosperitie peace and contentment thou had with mee shall bee changed in miserie pinch and pouertie manie a woe is mee Then had thou neuer such cause to put on thy doole weeds at when thou shalt put it off Take good heede to thy selfe Now is the last age of the world this life is full of dangers Sathan hath laide moe snaires on earth than there bee starres in heauen Remember well this watch-word Watch and pray hauing euer thine eye vpon thy God Keepe thy selfe from all apperance of euill A flee great of wickednesse will cause all thy perfume to stinke Sinne is like a Riuer which at the source is but small A scandell is like a scab that beginneth with itching but endeth into blisters boiles putrifying sores Tak good heede to thy cariage to thy companie euil coÌ„pany vaine coÌ„municatioÌ„ rotten words wil work vpoÌ„ the conceptions of the mind lik Iacobs pilled rods set in the gutters and watering troughes before the flockes The flockes which conceiued before the rods brought foorth Cattell ringstroaked spekled and spotted In euill companie at the hearing of vaine idle or rotten words what can the heart of man or woman conceiue but that which after it is brought foorth shall appeare both spekled and spotted An euill thought is a sinne which besides its owne particular sting is able to trouble sore the Conscience by awaking the old sinnes of our vnregeneration Let my counsell bee acceptable vnto thee Haunt neuer the man whose name is pitched with a blacke report It is hard to touch pitch and not to be defiled It is not good for men were they neuer so good to be haunters of women Christs Disciples wondered that hee spake vnto a woman apart a great argument that Christ was neuer with that Sexe but in companie It is no better for women to haunt the companie of men Fire and flaxe are easilie kindled the least sparkle of fire will kindle Tinder Good outward meanes are helpful to inward motions the mothers of our actions Some I know will say that they feare none euill and that they are cleane of all such pollutions If it be so it is a benefite of God But yet learne the lesson Caute casiè None stand so well but they haue to take heede lest they fall Were thou neuer so holie thou hast neede to say the Lords prayer whereof Lead vs not into temptation is a petition Enter neuer into that whereinto thou desireth not to bee ledde None at the first dash be brought to the height of corruption S. Peter willeth that womens chast conuersation bee coupled with feare Feare alwayes if thou bee wise Hee or shee that would auoide a sinne must shune the occasion The least shewes or appearences of euil are these litle Foxes that spoile the vines How little leauen will sowre the whole lumpe What is the best of all sinfull flesh but like Gun-powder a sparkle of temptation may kindle in a moment that which in our whole life time we shall not be able to quenâ—…h with many teares no more thaÌ„ Esau could recouer the blessing which after it was solde hee sought with manie teares That which we may be tempted to wee may fall into Let all flesh suspect its owne frailtie Scorners may speake as they please but daylie doolefull experience will subscribe the trueth of my words In this last age alas many godlie
who in this sinfull time is least known of the world so that shee truelie striue to know God and her selfe Wise Solomon who in his wisedome excelleth all as also in number of wiues spake by experience that wandering Women were not chast by this special marke hee brandeth the whoore That her feete abide not in her house but nowe shee is without and now in the streetes By Solomons record shee that gadeth abroad cannot bee well thought of With Wisedome shee hath cracked her credit If Dinah had taried at home while shee went abroad shee had not beene deflored which was the cause of great blood-shed which made her brethren Simeon and 〈◊〉 afterward to bee diuided in Iaakob dispersed in Israel The occasion of all that euill was from the vanitie of the Damosell her folie is registred in Gods Chronicles for all Ages to come that women chieflie may read it and bee wise by her example The wordes are these And Dinah the daughter of Leah which shee bare vnto Iaakob went out to see the daughters of the Land Remember well I pray thee these few pâ—…ecepts Bee carefull sincere at the seruice of thy God Serue him not by halfes Hee who is onelie holie must bee serued wholie Take good heed to thy self beware of clawing flatterers who for gaine wil varnish thy vices for to make them seeme vertues Labour for a good name perrell it not for trifflles If for light matters it bee mainelie hazarded it shall bee easilie cut off where euer thou bee bee content with thy lot See that in anie wise thou neuer harbour in thine heart a discontented mind Beware of an euill tongue which is an vnruelie euill within the compasse of the mouth wherein it is is a vvorld of vvickednesse Bee carefull both for the inward and the outward of thy conuersation for many eyes will looke and spye what shall be thy life after me Bee therefore euer vpon thy guard sinne neuer in hope of secrecie for none can sinne without a witnesse Sequester thy selfe from all occasions of euil if thou wold haue grace to bee dearelie and deepelie rooted in thine heart Where euer thou art thinke God thereto be present Tak him at all times to bee an eye-witnes of thy thoughts Thogh ali be barred out the Lord is within Feare God liue in peace with thy neighbours Let the good thoughts of thine heart put the ouer in the handes of practise first know theÌ„ doe which is compleate Christianitie Grow in grace grone for sins past escape relapses haunt the godlie flie these that are of a prostitute Conscience Sinne is like a Ring-worme of a contagious and spreading nature from lesse to more ouer Shooes ouer Bootes like Hezekiels waters from the Ankles to the Knees and so higher and higher from scabbe to scandale Shune all appearance of euill so shall thy conuersation sauour like oyntment and most sweete perfume Now the Lord bee with thee Kisse mee and so farewell The Pastour Heere Sir are your little Children waiting for your blessing it is good that yee say some-thing to them for their instruction The last words of a Friend or of a Father are often of greatest weight and beare most into the rememberance of these to whom they are spoken I feare that ye faint in your weaknesse and therefore bee as summar and short as yee can The sicke Man I thanke God though the strength of my bodie decayeth my Spirit is become stronger like Samson after that his haire beganne to grow My force courage within is renewed like the youth of the Eagle by casting of its bill Blessed be he who giueth power to the faint and increaseth strength to them that haue no might O Lord mould mine heart after the heauenlie modell of thy Law Emptie mine head and disburden mine heart of all earthlie cares that my thoughts may be whollie and entirelie spent vpon thy selfe without any turning awry from holie and heauenlie meditations The Pastour Seeing God is with you in such a spirituall power spend your short time the best yee may for his glorie and for the well of these whom yee desire to bee best in this world after you That new strength which appeareth in you at the sight of your Children remembereth me of old Iaakob lying on his death-bedde when it was tolde him that Ioseph whom he loued was come to see him it is said That Israel strengthen himselfe and satte vpon the bed The sicke Man I finde the like mercie though not in such a measure O my God fit and furnish my Soule with the sanctifying grace of thy spirit Rouse vp my Spirit whet vp my minde to feeke the thinges which are aboue Lord put a liuing Soule within this dying bodie A speach to his Children And now yee my Children gather your selues together and hearken vnto your louing Father that ye may remember well his last words Come neare mee I pray you and receiue your old Fathers blessing Let mee lay both mine handes vpon your heads that I may make my last prayer for you The Angel which redeemed mee from all euill blesse the Lads and lette them grow in multitude as fishes God make you as Ephraim and as Manasses Behold now my deare ChildreÌ„ I goe the way of all the earth keepe the charge of the Lord your God to walke in his wayes that yee may prosper in all that yee doe and whther soeuer yee turne your selues By instant prayers to God hemme in the folies of your youth In this wicked euill world striue to bee like fishes which keepe their fresh taste while they liue in saltest waters Bee carefull to consecrate the first yeeres euen the flower and pryme of your life vnto the Lord which shall bee a meanes for sanctifying the rest of your age The first borne and the first fruites vnder the Law of ceremonies were the Lords The substance thereof in the Gospel is that wee giue the Lord the best of our yeeres and the flower and strength of our age Most men in the prime of youth are both hote and headie Happie is hee who in a sober moode and colde blood passeth the time of his sojourning heere chieflie while hee is in the strength of youth By carefull culture manurance the fiercenesse of Beares and Lyons will be mitigated and tamed It is a great slight of Sathan to make young men sport in their sinnes vnder hope they may repent when they are olde But alas who is so young that can say that he shall liue vntill morrow Is it not seene that there bee as manie little as great skuls in Golgotha As soone say wee commeth the Lambe skin to the market as the olde Sheepes But thogh they who are yong were assured to become old they could not be assured of repentance which is the gift of God which hee giueth to whom and
while he is neere the ende of his race His sillie soule hath beene sore weather-driuen with many temptations now let his battell take an end Receiue his soule in thy Rest. and lull it in the bosome of thy pleasures Bee a shield and a shelter vnto him for to hidde and couer him from the last blowes and painefull thrusts of his enemie the Deuill Disapoint that euill one while hee looketh for the greatest victorie Let him receiue the foulest foile Loose now sweetlie these two which thou hast joyned together that after his eyes with olde Simeon haue seene thy Saluation he may depart in peace Seeing the Battell is nowe come to the laâ—…f stroke make thy Spirit O Lord in him to fight it out that hauing ouercome thou may put the palme of victorie into his hand after that the dayes of dangers are past O draw this soule now vnto thee with the strongest cordes of thy loue Proclaime vnto his Conscience a full a finall remission of his sinnes whether Originall or actuall whether of Commission or of Omission Subscribe his paâ—…don with the arteriall blood of thy blessed Sonne O Father of mercies the Spouse of all faithfull Soules receiue this Spirit into thy wed locke-bedde It was betrothed vnto thee by thy faire promises in the Gospel now according to thy promise accomplish and fulfill that blessed Band in the presence of thine Angels Long Lord hath hee thought on it and earnestlie longed for it Seale thou it now with the sense of thy loue Fulfull it Lord and this day be thou the Bridegroome of his Soule Heere hee hath seene but the Copie of thy countenance let him now come where he may see thee euen as thou art As thou gaue him his measure of grace in the world so nowe giue him his portion of glorie bâ—…sides thy selfe Let nothing sway his thoughts from thee in this last agâ—…nie Season so his heart with thy loue that there bee no roome in his heart for any thing by thy selfe Now loose the pinnes of the Tabernacle while his soule shall bee out of the bodie let it enter into the Palace of pleasures Say vnto it as Laban said to Abrahams seruant Come in thou blessed of the Lord Thou who hast clasped his name within the Booke of life Bind now his soule into the bundle of life Drawe it out of this myrie mortalitie place it among the Angels and spirites of just men who are alwayes in thy presence courting thy countenance wherein iâ—… fulnesse of joye Vnto the end and in the end keepe his heart vnblameable in holinesse that Sathan that roaring Lyon bee neuer able to catch him within the reach of his paw Preserue the true rellish and sound joyes of thy Spirit of grace within him till from grace thou bring him vnto glorie where thou shalt crowne thy giftes and graces with thy goodnesse O now open the euerlasting doores let in this Soule decked with the lawrels of victorie Let all the Heauens welcome this conuerted sinner with songes and shoutes of joye O Spirit of Comfort thou hast guided him thorow many seas of sorrowes sit still at the Helme till thou haue brought him to his Hauen O now crowne thy graces with thy glorie Lord Iesus receiue my spirit To the Father Sonne and holie Ghost be euerlasting praise and dominion for euer AMEN Michael and the Deuils dispute for the ' Soule of the sicke Man alittle before its departure out of the Body Sathan I Haue many things to lay to this mans charge I am the Lordes Proctor and Acturney appointed to plead for his justice I haue alreadie sifted his life Of force this Soule must bee damned None Assise can cleanse it It is now taken red hand in the path and passage of sinne The Angel Michael I will not vse against thee a railing accusation neither darre I for my Master the God of mercie and of meekenesse It hath pleased his royall Majestie to license thee to accuse the soules of men Thine accusations are euer most bitter and most bloodie I am heere standing on my Masters side for to defend this Soule which hee hath bought with his blood But what can thou say against this man whose Soule is committed to me for to be carried vnto Paradise I know thee of olde to bee the accuser of the brethren I remember well how once I contended grappled with thee for the bodie of Moses which was buried sore against thy will It is likelie that of it thou thought to make an idole Loose now thy leach and let all thy hell-hounds come forward Come come with thy most foule mouthed objections what caÌ„ thou now alledge against the soule of this man before that it come out of this bodie Thou art heere a Lyon against a Lambe Declare now what thou can in this Assise Thou can say no more than he hath alreadie said against himselfe But come on fâ—…aime thine inditement against him Discharge thy fieâ—…ie dartes with the outmost of thy force Sathan Knowest thou not that there is a large haruest for Hell manie called but few chosen Hee is my Vassall I require but Iustice Let him receiue but according to his deseruinges Heere is a Bill of inditement able to conuinee him In his wickednes he turned to his course as the horse rusheth into the battell Both fiercelie and feareleslie marching vnder my collours in the pursute of his pleasures hee ranne ryote in the way of wickednesse The Angel Michael Is not God a God of mercie able to forgiue But what hath hee done Sathan Beholde the pieces of Euidence which I produce against him Let all the actions of his life bee brought to a true touch and it shall appeare what a monster hee hath beene In his youth hee scorned at the Thunder of Gods word counting it but Paper shot His soule was neuer grieued to grieue the Spirit of grace seldome came hee to the Church hee was of the kinred of Noahs Raùen delighting to flie about the Arke not willing to enter into it Gods hony word of vnspeakable sweetnesse was vineger to his teeth The pure commandement of the Lord which inlightened the eys was lik smok vnto his eyes the cause of blearednesse In all pointes he was disloyall vnto his God Hee misregarded his Parents He burned with lust like an Ouen heated by the baker Hee so loued his lust that it was his law His hands were full of pickerie his eyes were full of adulterie and his heart was full of guile and his tongue full of lyes euer gaggling like a Goose. He was a cunning clawbacke a paunchpike thanke His custome was to defile the aire with most filthie belghs of blasphemie Hee sported at all reproofes O the noble jugling There there this geare goeth trimme By hooke by crooke he sought for gaine Howe hee wanne it hee cared not if men perceiued not his fraude With Iudas hee was whollie giuen to the
so fullie fraughted with all sortes of sins which like most filthie streames flow from the first fountaine or rather puddle of our originall sinne which wee haue from the Loynes of Adam Wee are all infected with this spirituall Leprosie there is nothing that can wash vs and make vs cleane saue onelie the Iordan of the blood of Iesus Besprinkle our consciences O LORD with the vertue of that Blood which cryeth for better things than the blood of Abel Seale vp thy Loue in our heartes by the blood of the Sealed man whom Thou the Father did seale and appoint to bring Life eternall to the world In him thou art well pleased In his Name and for his Loue wee begge thy fauour He himselfe hath tolde vs that what wee shall aske thee in his Name we shall receiue it O Father of mercies remember the promise of thy Sonne In confidence of his Command wee take the boldnesse at this time particularlie to put vp our prayers vnto thee for this thy diseased Seruant tossâ—…d to and fâ—…o with diuerse temptations Sathan the enemie of his Saluation the feare of Death the loue of the world and of worldlie things haue set themselues in Battell-array like armies betweene his Soule and the entrie of Heauen They haue maliciouslie ensnared his heart and taken his affections captiues with the immoderate loue of perishing thinges Oh how hath hee beene bewitched with the seeming sweetenesse of such vanities O Thou LORD IESVS the LORD of Life encourage him so with thy liuelie Spirit that he may be bold couragiously to face Death and the Graue Put these interrogations in his mouth O Death where is thy Sting O Graue where is thy victorie Cause thy Spirit whisper in his eare that thou hast put out the life of Death Cast into his rememberance the words wherewith Thou boasted Death and the Graue O Death I will be thy plagues O Graue I will bee thy destruction Let his Soule knowe that the Graue is a Bed of rest for all these that die in the LORD wherein they rest from their labours beeing at ease in peace without any toile or turmoile Worke in his heart a desire to be dissolued for to bee fred from the sinfull bonds of mortality for to goe dwell where hee shall neuer anger the Lord againe Let the Loue of Christ waine his heart from the desire of anie abiding heere O deare IESVS who was both buffeted slaine and buried for to saue man set the print and stampe of thy mercie vpon this Soule Seuer all his thoughts from all that is earthlie whether it bee Life Lands Children Houses or whatsoeuer other thing may allure him for to sojourne heere in a strange Land wherein wee are all strangers from God whom wee cannot see heere but behind Vntye his heart from the loue of this his natiue soile Purge him of this out-bearing humour O LORD flesh and blood will neuer teach a man to renounce his deare selte and such other carnall things wherewith hee is in phantasie The earthlie minde is so lumpish that it wearieth to thinke of thee and of the pleasures of thy Palace A carnall hearte is euer rouing and wandering heere about this worlds businesse Martha is a mother of many Children who trouble themselues about many thinges But few are these that with Marie can fold their heart for to sit downe at the feete of IESVS for to make choise of that best part which should neuer bee taken from them Thou to whoÌ„ nothing is impossible draw this Soule vnto thee make the bent of his affection to bee vpon thee O great IEHOVAH thou hast heard and seene how carnall temptations haue teared the Soule of thy Seruant this day in the bedde of his languishing Immoderat cares for thinges below haue depriued him of all rest and joyes which he should haue in thee Wee must confesse to thee and from his heart hee acknowledgeth to bee true that his minde hath beene too bent vpon such perishing shadowes which can not bee gripped Such trashes of no worth haue taken too much roome into his heart Hee who is not content to quite all for to come to thee is not worthie of thee But LORD if mans Saluation were grounded vpon the sand of his owne worthinesse such a building could not stand against the winds floodes of temptations But his Saluation shall neuer bee branled because it is builded vpon the euerlasting and most sure Rocke the foundation of thy Church O LORD wee faile all in many things If hitherto this thy Seruant hath not as hee should minded thâ—… thinges which are aboue but lodged in their place the desire of thinges below now in thy greaâ—… mercie inlighten his mistie mindâ—… and bee mercifull to him in thâ—… thing Make the flesh now to cede and giue place vnto the Spirit Let the heauens come in with the pledges of thy Loue which no mortall armes can fadome Come with thy Spirituall and diuine motions and fill therewith the chambers of his heart where earthlie thoughts had their abode Make his Soule to inuite thy Spirit to come in Saying with Laban Come in thou blessed of the Lord wherefore standest thou without O deare IESVS direct so all his thoughts that hee wearie himselfe no more with the desire of that which sooner or later heee must â—…orgoe Why should thornie cares for dust and clay choake the good motions of thy Spirit Let no such care cumber him any more for foolish fáding commoditie Dissolue this glew by which his heart is tyed to the ground In thy Light let him see Light whereby hee may perceiue how fraile fickle are all such transitorie trashes which beeing too much loued both coole our zeale and clogge our affections so that they can in no wise soare vp toward thee O blessed Sauiour in whom is the very pith sweetest marrow of Gods mercies make thy seruants heere to loue thee aboue all things in heauen or earth Make his heart to say Whom haue I in Heauen but thee Make him to loue thee for thy selfe and not for thine onelie which is but an hyred Loue Put in thine owne hand at the hole of the doore of his heart and let some droppes of the Mirrhe of thy mercie this night fall vpon the handle of the Barre that his Soule beeing affected therewith may runne out of the Chamber of sleepe for to seeke him who loueth his Soule euen his blessed Sauiour the LORD IESVS Bee mercifull to all thine afflicted members in the Church militant fighting vnder the bloodie Banner of the LORD IESVS CHRIST The Church is thy Spouse keep her as the Apple of thine eye make all her members with one minde and one mouth to glorifie thy Name Blesse our gracious Soueraigne the Kings Majestie with thy best blessings Adorne him with spirituall Graces and giftes wherewith hee may please thee in his whole carriage both Ecclesiastice and Ciuill Make Iustice and Iudgement the habitation
bee shortlie deliuered Hee who is tyred with sin is tyred not to bee a drudge of sin Sinne is not heauie to the Wicked because it is in them as water in its owne element though it bee of weight yet it weigheth not Well is the wearied Soule it hath Christs promise of ease But woe to them who with Laodicea haue neede of no thing For the most part men are drowned in drowsinesse Securitie is farre more dangerous than despaire As was sung of Saul and of Dauid so may bee heere Despaire hath slaine her thousand but Securitie her ten thousand Manie are not wakened till they bee so wakened that their judgement and senses are lost It is a fearefull curse for a man to blesse himselfe while hee should mourne for his sinnes Such as blesse themselues while the Lord pronounceth the wordes of the curse The Lord will not bee mercifull to that man Securitie hath shaken hands with Hell and Death But well is him who feareth alwayes Hee is greatest in Gods sight who is least in his owne eyes The sicke Man But alas Sir my conscience speaketh home that I haue beene a stranger from my God O but I am wearied how shall I bee deliuered from this burden of bondage The Pastour These who are ladened and wearied may heare Christ in his Gospel crying vnto them Come vnto me Goe to him who cryeth so louingly Come Striue aboue all things to get a sight of your Sauiour by the eye of Faith Vrge vpon your heart a deepe meditation of his mercie his merits are able to cure our maladies The sicke Man There is such a mist betweene me and the Messias that it is not possible for me to see him Oh that my eyes were cleared with Gods Eye-salue that I might clearelie be hold him The Pastour The great desire ye haue to see him is a sort of sight All men see not Christ alike All goe not vp to the mount with Peter Iames and Iohn All see not God face to face with Moses All men lay not their head in Christs bosome with his best beloued Disciple Be not discouraged thogh ye cannot winne so neare to Christ as ye would If ye cannot winne to him for to embrace him as Simeon did striue to touch the border of his garmēt behind with the finger of faith and it shall stay the bloody fluxe of your Sinnes Ye sigh for a sight of Christ * A sigh for a sight of him is a sight of him indeed He who wold be found of these that sought him not will bee much more found of these that seeke him and sigh for him Bee of good heart Though for a space your spirituall day be mistie yet at last your drumly sky shal be cleared Christ is not euer absent while hee is not seene The Sunne as we see will be couered with a cloud the Moone will bee vnder wake but incontinent thereafter the cloudes beeing ouer-blowen wee enjoye their brightnesse and their beames What shall bee able to separate a Christian from the Loue of his Christ What then shall be able to mak a Christian soule despaire Shall Damnation No For Christ Gods Saluatiō is ours Shall Hell No For our Christ hath the keyes both of Heauen of Hell Shall the World No For Christ hath ouercome the World Shall the Law No For our Christ hath fulfilled the Law Shall Death No For our Christ is the Way and the Life Shall the Fathers wrath No For Hee hath troden the wine-presse of his wrath for you and for all repenting sinners All Scripture pointeth at him saying This is the way walk ye in it Run Sir to him he shall deliuer you from all your sinnes and from all your feares Striue to curbe your owne corruptions which are so broodie within you The sicke Man I cannot alas bee quite of my sinnes I striue to runne away from them but the faster they follow mee like curre Dogges that are so accustomed to follow their Master they will not bee boasted home againe Where euer I goe with my thoughts aboue or below my sinnes follow hard after mee Though I threaten them thogh I boast them yea betimes intreate them to depart their answere is Wee are thy vvorkes wee will goe with thee This putteth my Soule out of peace and order and thrusteth mee away from the Lord my God I haue beene long seeking and sighing for comforts But as yet I can espye none appearance The Pastour Comforts sought sought and sighed for are not aye seene at the first Elijahs seruant went vp the hill Carmell eight seuerall times to espye some appearance of raine The first seuen times hee could see nothing at the eight hee saw but a little cloud of comfort Behold said hee there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea like a mans hand A little after that the heauens were blake with cloudes and winde and there was a great raine Hold your face Sir a little space with Elijah betweene your knees and cast your selfe downe vpon the Earth as hee did that is fall downe in all humilitie of Soule before your God in prayer That done send vp your prayer the spirituall spye vnto the top of the hill Send it againe and againe euer till it espye some little cloud of comfort If your Soule take paines in prayer till ye perceiue but an hand breadth of mercie at last Gods comfortes shall raine downe in great aboundance vpon your wearied Spirit What shall I say if yee will not bee informed yee cannot bee reformed The sicke Man Indeede that is a pleasant and fit comparison worthie to bee printed with a Note on the margent It hath beene well adapted by you Oh that it could bee as well applyed by mee Oh that the Lord whose loue expelleth feare would strengthen my weake Faith with an hand-breath of his mercie O for such a little cloud of comfort it would lif◅ vp mine hands which hang downe and strengthen my weake knees But in steede of such a comfortable cloude I see nothing but cloudes of w◅ath readie to fall and become a deludge of vengeance from my birth I must not dissemble I haue dallied with my God and haue dispised the gratious day of his visitations And now all my comforts resemble to the Eagle that taketh her to her wings and flyeth aloft high into the Skye from my sinfull reach O feare O horrour O the multitude of my transgressions how shall I be quiet The Pastour The best way to be quite of sin that it reigne not in vs is to bend vp our hearts to Christ who is Emmanuel God with vs Thogh all be worthie to bee damned yet there is no condamnation to these that are in Christ Hee is that heaue-offering which wee must euer
a jumppe Thus as yee see such is the treason of our Treasures They come like deceitfull dreames and passe avvay like vanishing shadowes One lie things Spirituall haue a sure and lasting roote Alas in that our heart is least wherein it should be most and most in that wherin it should bee least Fooles that vvee are vvee all earne vvages to put into a bottomelesse bag Such vvages are often giuen in keeping to most vvorthlesse men as Iudas got the bagge to keepe Oh that mens hearts vvere fixed on the lasting Treasuâ—…es of immortalitie Oh that vvee could learne in time this sound Diuinitie that all that is vnder the circle of the Moone is but flatte vanitie and vexation of the Spirit of man vvhich continuallie vvanders vp and downe at randome seeking its felicitie in that where it is not to bee found Well is the man vvhose hearts desires are bounded and confined vvithin the secret compasse of contentment 4. BEAVTIE What is Beautie but as one faith vvell a colour and a temptation The colour fadeth the temptation â—…nareth Behold her who within these fourtie yeares seemed a perfection of Beautie a rauisher of eyes behold 〈◊〉 now in her fourescore vvith her vvrinkled cheekes and her glasseâ—… eyes and her rotten teeth and her stinking breath Behold and say with a sigh Fauour is deceitfull and Beautie is vanitie But she that feareth the Lord shall bee praised There is nothing more fadding than flesh and yet man will not consider vvhile his eye is quicke his lips rudie and his colour liuelie hee cannot think of changes neither by age nor sicknesse such a foolish conceite is bredde in the heart Out of such a Beautifull sleepe hee cannot be vvakned til God vvith a shout cause preach him to bee Grasse The voyce said cry The Prophet saide What shall I cry All flesh is grasse and the goodnesse thereof as the flower of the fielde The grasse withereth the flower faddeth because the Spirit of the Lord blaweth vpon it Surelie the people is grasse By this the Lords publicke Oyas all fleshlie beautie is cryed downe as beeing but a beguiling colour and a snairing temptation Fye on men and vvomens follie care for colour is but vanitie Heere is beautie vvithout fard Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs All other beauty is lik an Almanack whose vse is but for a yeare It is but a baite for catching of vnstable Soules 5. PLEASVRE As for all the Pleasures vve reape in earthly things I compare them to fruites eaten before they bee ripe vvhich fiâ—…st set the teeth on edge and thereafter cause diuerse and deadlie diseases There is no pleasure heere without a Page of paine at its backe Our vveedes and our flowers growe vp together the best often is borne downe by the vvorst What I pray you are all the foolish pleasures of this world but as wee ordinarlie call them passe times Hath man so long a time to liue Or is his journey from Earth to Heauen so easie or so short that hee may haue leasure for pleasures and passe times Is mans short life so wealthie of time that it must be passed into passe-times Must wee not in end come to count reckoning for our euill and well spent houres Moreouer what are the most parte of all earthlie delights The most excellent are but noble miseries the fairest are but farded lik the face of Iezebel onely an out-side or outward scroofe of pleasure What I pray you are all carnall delights but the lymetwiges of the Deuill wherewith the sillie Soules of sinners are ensnared and entangled What shall I say more All the pleasures that are below may well be compared to a smokie fire in a fâ—…ostie day whereof the smoke is more hurtfull than the fire is helpefull All the joys which are heere are but reekie pleasures purchased with teares wher with the eyes of men are made bleared In laughing the heart will bee sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse Worldlie pleasures but darkeneth the Reason deceiue the Senses Voluptates carnales sunt putida putrida both stinking and rotten Onelie the pleasures of Heauen are pure perfect and perpetuall All other thinges slide away like water 6. WISEDOME What is all the Wisedome of this World Scripture saith that it is but follie before God It may well bee compared to the Letters which Vriah carried against himselfe If it bee not sanctified it is in the bosome â—… message against the messenger Knowledge and pregnancie of Wit stored with all morall vertues without Gods feare are witnesse against the man himselfe in whom they are They will stand vp and testifie against him that hee vnderstood his Masters will and yet would not doe it Woe to that backe in hell whose heart on earth was full engrossed of worldlie witte Hee that knoweth his Masters will and doeth it not shall bee beaten with manie strips Away with that Soule whose vnderstanding is great swelled with knowledge but lamed in its practicall powers wherein is the working of the life of true Christianitie Many in this world are much counted of their naturall â—…it but wherin I pray you doe most men spend their wits and breake their braines Is it not to be great in this world In the meane time they are so spirituallie brutish that they care not what they bee oâ—… where they be in the world to come Such fooles are like Fishers that leaue mayne seas for to fish in shallow puddle As I beganne this point so I end it all naturall witte is branded with this that it is but follie before God Let your Soule disavow and disclaime it that yee may bee wise in God Gods wise man to worldlie wise is but a sillie Gods Foole. 7. CHILDREN As for Children their conception is with sicknesse ouer casting of heart Their birth is with paines like the paines of hell Their buâ—…iall is with teares after many a wearisome night Such pleasures are painefull pleasures Apples of So dome are rotten vvithin But let vs suppone that lik noble branches they liue and come to men yea to gray haires They are our Heires the end of all our painefull drudgery carefull conquests Though a man had conquered vnto them the whole vvorld hee must looke vpon his conquest with a sigh and say with the vvife Man As for him that commeth after mee who knoweth whether hee shall bee a wise man or a foole and yet he must bee master of all my labours Man may conquise Lands to his Children but Thrift and Wisedome cannot bee bought The most thriftie is often the father of the most for lorne What a vanitie is this Certainlie who vvould weigh well all the pleasures of Children with the paines past and the feares for time to come should find all the pleasures light
remeede of sinne With these two shall bee joyned the Booke of their Consciences ratifying vnto them that what is coÌ„tained into the other two Bookes is an vndoubted trueth At the reading of these bloodie Bookes as yee haue alreadie heard their Consciences shall be â—…ortured with vnspeakable amazement feare Their Soules all agast pricked perplexed shall yawne for a drop of comfort which no creature aboue or below shall bee able to affoorde Now ye desire to know what shal be in that time the estat of the godâ—…lie Christes right hand before that the Iudgement bee pronounced It is certaine that they all in great Glorie wearing the shining Crownes of immortalitie shall sit vpon 〈◊〉 beeing more bright than the Sunnâ—… at the noone-day In judgement they shall passe verdict on the wiâ—…ked They shall all in that summâ—…r processe sit as Christs assessours for 〈◊〉 judge the Angels that is For to approue Christs â—…udgement pronounced against the Deuils the euill â—…gels against all that cursed crue of the Reprobates who in their life liuing vnder maskes of mischiefe branded them with the nik-names of puritanisme proud hypocrisie glorious singularitie phaÌ„â—…astick precisenes who in a word in hight of stomacke ruffling swashing did tread vpon Gods Turtles accounting them the most vile off-scourings of the Earth O but the wicked who on earth were swelled with selfe conceit shall wonder to see these to bee the Assessours of their Iudge in highest fauour with God whose life once they counted madnesse O what a wonder shall it seeme to the worldlie wise when they shal see these simple Ones whose life they loathed whom they counted fools on earth al decked adorned with rarest jewels so high set vpon Thrones with the most glorious Angels of God O how shall they whom their life reposed in beddes of Yvorie be amazed to behold Gods little ones so brightlie shining like Suns with glistering Crownes glorious Garlands possessing fullie Wealth Honour Health and Hearts desire yea pleasures vnparalleled by any that heart of flesh can wish The wicked beholding this shall be swallowed vp with griefe and groanes for then shall they remember how on Earth they haue drowned the good motions of the Spirit in vaine ryots prophanenesse and revillings of good fellowship I say againe that the wicked who once in their swaggering humour accursed gallentnes were wont to braue it out with the best with the great contempt of Christs little Ones shall wonder and wonder againe at the sight of these whom God in that day shall honour Are these they shall they say whom some times wee had in derision and of whom we made a paâ—…able of reproach Are these the men and women whom wee in hight of stomacke disdained to beholde Behold now wee see that they are indeede that which on earth they were called euen Saintes Gods most excellent ones Certainelie the glorious glaunces of these blessed and beautified bodies sitting all in royall apparell shall strike the wicked in a wonderfull maze while they shall behold such jewels of joye they shall be striken into the dumbe dumppes of saddest melancholie O the follie of such miserable mucke-wormes who count it now an heauen to creepe and crawle in oyled and buttered paths of carnall prosperitie But in short to proceede in this purpose orderlie When all things shal be put to an order the wicked beeing at the left and the Godlie at the right hand in my judgement there shall be a great silence that the Iudge may haue audience All men shall beestedfastlie looking for to heare what GOD the LORD shall say Then God shall lay judgement to the Lyne and righteousnes to the Plummet TheÌ„ shall the Lord rise vp as in mount Perazin and shall bee wroth as in the valley of Gibeon that hee may doe his worke his strange worke and bring to passe his act his strange act O that cleare and bright shining Eye which nothing in that day shall bee able to escape The sicke Man To whom thinke yee that Christ in that Iudgment shall first addresse his speach Whether shall he speak first vnto the Godlie who in a sacred violence did tak the Kingdome or to the wicked vvho in the dayes of their flesh did sleepe most softlie in the downes of securitie caring for nothing but their Purses and their Paunches The Pastour The Lord shall speake first vnto his owne who are the chosen generation the royall Priest-hood the holy Nation the peculiar people * To these sitting at his right hand first shall hee say with his Lillie lippes dropping sweete Myrrhe Come yee blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from thee foundation of the world At the hearing of these words of their Lords most louing inuitation all their senses shall open like floode gates for to receiue vnspeakable Ioyes What tongue can tell what joy the Lambes Bride with her purple Head and Doues Eyes shall haue wheÌ„ She shall see with what a Bridegrome Shee shall bee matched that day After that the Lord hath comforted his owne hee shall turne him to the Goats that bashfull band trembling at his left hand Before that hee open his mouth to speake hee shall behold these bruite beastes made to bee taken and destroyed With fierie lookes with kindled eyes sparkling furie and rage and flâ—…shes of lightening hee shall behold these deuils droiles doolefull creatures In his countenance they shall reade the Characters of awefull terrours euen of the horrours of hell At the first sight of that angrie Majestie with brent browes and his sterne countenance a Torrent of terrours shall violentlie rush vpon their Soules dashing them with a dazling astonishment Then shall they wish in these flamming horrours vexing them to the quicke that mountaines would fall aboue them for to hid them from such angrie eyes TheÌ„ shal they know how foolish they were in their life-time to think that while they sinned the Lord was but a stocke or a stone which could not perceiue them O that glauncing wrath which like fire shall greaslie appeare in the eyes of that Iudge tenne thousand times brighter than the Sunne The glaunces of that fierie furie shall so dazle the sighâ—… of the Reprobate yea shall so dash them that they shall not bee able to abide his countenance No not though their eyes were of steale or of yron nothing then shall stand in the gappe against the irruptions of such a fierce and fierie vengeance While these prophane men liued on earth in a blazing prosperity they thought their mountaine so strong that they could neuer bee moued In their life-time they liued in gladnesse At their end they deceased fairely in the eyes of the world They seemed Saints because that in their death were no bands But O the terrours that abide them At the first sight of their Iudge a Torrent of
some glimpse of joye may yet more clearlie appeare for the recreating of my wearied Soule O deare Redeemer no tong can tell how much poore sinners are beholden vnto Thee who with a strong Arme hast brought them out of a dry pitte wherein was not a drop of comfort O that deepe and darke dungeon of sinne that I haue beene into O these blessed beames which my Soule fealeth comming from his countenance O the Light of that Face which putteth more joye into mine heart than all the worlde can haue when their Wheat Wine and Oyle doe most abound O infinite weight of glorie O pleasures euer to be spoken of though vnspeakeable O joyes euer to bee thought of though none heart bee able to conceiue them O pleasures most pleasant to the eye though eyes below cannot see them O O euerlasting mirth of Musicke O yee celestiall Tunes most worthie to bee heard though eares of flesh cannot heare you O Tree of Life most sweete to the taste though sinfull tongues may not taste of thee O Crystall River proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lambe when shall my soule drinke of thee with a full Cuppe Mine heart like an Hart panteth brayeth after these water brooks Oh when shall I come and appeare before God O my God keepe mine heart vnder some spirituall serise of these blessed delights till perfectlie I enjoye thee into the armes of my Soule with the contentment of all contentmentes then which there can bee no greater The Pastour It is the Lord who with the Eye-Salue of his grace hath enlightened your minde He hath taken out the mots of temptations which of before did mak the eyes of your Soule so to water till they become drumlie Now Sir yee know full well what it is of God and his goodnesse in the Heauens where faithfull Soules shall be fed with the bread of Angels and feasted with the daintiest delicates that are aboue The wicked in this world are like blinde men which eate many moats and flees They eate them because they cannot sec to discerne them All the knowledge of the wicked is but â—… carkase and carion of knowledge To know God his Son Christ him crucified is the verie marrow kernell of true happinesse A Soule whose eyes the Lord hath enlightned with grace can no more rest off its God than an element out of its own place It may well bee detained with-holden from its place by some stronger power but no power can make it to rest till it be there where God hath appointed it to rest Your Soule now Sir is drawing neere vnto its Rest The neerer 〈◊〉 bee vnto it let your motion towards it bee the swifter In this Grace is like Nature swiftest at the end of the motion which tendeth vnto rest Vp still with your heart rejoyce in your God Happie are yee who now are flitting from this worlde wherein the sillie Soule as a Ball in a Tenice is tossed from wall to wall scourged with the Racket of diuerse temptations which by course one after another are readie to catch it at euerie rebound Let your Soule now altogether rejoyce in your Sauiour That is the only joye which shal neuer be taken from vs All other joyes are but liâ—… flying moats in the aire toyle and toyes toylesome toyes For euen in laughing the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heauinesse The sicke Man Blessed bee my Lord for euer I finde now the beginning of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding My Spirit hath receiued the earnest of immortalitie I finde now my Soule in the kindlie temper of a spirituall constitution which as I am fullie perswaded shall neuer bee troubled with anie moodie mixture of distempered mortalitie if once this Battell were ended O the blessed beames of that righteous Sun which shine so brightlie vpon my Soule They shall neuer be intercepted by any earthlie interposition of sinfull shadows Hence foorth nothing shall bee able for euer to â—…et God my Soule at oddes O now nothing shall bee able to affright my Soule any more with dreadfull distempers to God alone belongeth the glorie Well may I say If the Lord had not helped mee it had not failed but my Soule should haue beene put to silence I esteeme all the joyes which I feele to be a Cluster of Canaan which my faith lik a trustie Spy hath broght vnto mee that thereby I may know the goodnesse of that Land But because I cannot tell what assaults my Soule may yet suffer for I finde my former joyes a little ouerclouded I pray you Sir to conceiue a prayer to God for mee that the assurance of his pardons may more and more be sealed vp into mine heart that death bee not vnto mee as a king of feare but rather as a passage and an entrie to life eternall Make earnest requeast for mee that I die not as the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath hauing their Soules goared with sinne the sting of Death O Lord bring mee an Out law by Nature within the bounds of thy Sheep-folde Fill nowe my Soule with spirituall and heauenlie inspirations I haue alas the most parte of my life beene like roustie yron vnfitte for anie worke It hath fared with mee as with the Eye which seeing other thinges seeth not it selfe nor the face wherein it is fixed In knowing other things I haue remained ignorant of my selfe a great stranger at home into mine own bosome from my youth my Soule sicke of â—… spirituall dropsie did swell in a conceit of its owne excellencie Now Lord wound this pride of life within mine heart wound it in the head and craze it in the braine Separate all iniquitie from mee that nothing wherewith thy Spirit may bee grieued may harbour in mine heart Vpon this earth there hath beene none hoe with my desires which lik the sore crauing Horse-Leach culd say nothing but Giue giue Now Lord make my Soule to loath that which I haue too much loued prepare my Soule emptie it of all that is euill before it come before thy Face wherein is fulnesse of joy for all Saints and Angels which are aboue Now Lord after that thou hast cleansed mee by the fierie tryall by beating and battering mine hard heart let the workman-ship of thine holie hands be to refine me more more till I become perfectlie a newe creature O powre this heart into the calmes of thy compassions that therein as in a mould it may receiue thy liuelie Image Weede out of mine hearte all carnall and earthlie desires The Pastour I blesse the Lord for such working of his Spirit According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to God in prayer While wee are praying lift vp your heart vnto God and pray with your Spirit Set now all your affections in bensell
before the Lord Let vs all humble our selues heere before our Maker A Prayer for the sicke Man O LORD prepare our heartes to prayer Let vs not be rash with our mouth nor hastie with our heart to vtter any thing before Thee O glorious GOD and all mercifull Father which art the true Physicion both of Soule and bodie we must humblie bend our knees before Thee intreating thee to be with thy seruant heere whom thou hast now laide into this bedde of languishing Let not his sinnes whereof hee hath beene guiltie from his youth vp prouok thy wrath any more against him Knit them all in a bundle and cast them all behind thy mercifull back burie them al into the bottomlesse sea of thy compassions that they neither bee able to accuse him any more in this worlde nor yet to condemne him in the world to come Though his sinnes LORD were like Scarlet and Crimsin there is vertue into the Blood of thy Lambe to make them white like woole and whiter than the Snow For thy Sonnes sake remoue all his transgressions as far frō him as the East is from the west Hell LORD Destruction are before thee how much more the hearts of the Sonnes of men Thine All seeing Eye pryes most clearelie into the in-most closet of mans heart Look with the Eye of thy compassions within the Doores of this wearied heart of thy Seruant Looke in and proclaime mercie and pardon vnto his sillie Soule Let him know that neither Death nor Life shal be able to separate him from thy Loue O LORD assist him and stand fast by him in this houre Desert him not in his greatest last agonie Let thy Spirit possesse him so fullie that there be none entrie or roume for Satans temptations whē the Temper is bufiest let thy Spirite bee strongest Arme him with all Pieces against the last conflict of this bloodie battell Honour him with the Lawrels of victorie Let thy strength be made perfect in his greatest weak nesse Doe the turne by thine owne force and take all the glorie to thy selfe By the vertue of thy Christ crucifie into him the olde Man and his vvorkes Make him to die into him that hee may liue to Thee vvho to all the Faithfull is aduantage both in life and death Hee is now LORD walking betweene thy Mercie and thy Iustice through many-temptations Gouerne thou his steppes vvith such vvisedome that the feare of Iustice may keepe him from presumption and the hope of mercie may preuent despaire Increase his patience vvith his paine Sanctifie his Sickenesse make it as Bellowes to thy graces that thereby they may be kindled and blowne vp to a greater flame Enamour him vvith the loue of thy goodnesse Powre in the oyle of thy mercie into his bruissed hearte which hath bene filled with mournfull groanes And seeing now thou art calling him to repetitions to see vvhat hee hath profited in thy Schoole cast into his rememberance all the good things that hitherto hee hath heard or meditate for to comfort this houre Bee strong in him now in this time of tryall Applye vnto his wounds the Balme of Gilead Hee is weake and therefore O LORD forbea◅e him in thy mercie O pittie this wounded man as did that Samaritane Powre Oyle into his wounds bind them vp and take him to thine Inne For thy mercies sake remember him Forthy Sonnes sake pittie him For thy promise sake forget him not Free his Soule f◅ the maze of all worldlie cares Inspite into him the life of grace with a most fresh vigout and feruent heate of zeale to thy Glorie Hee LORD in his most piercing paines knoweth not what to doe but his eyes are on Thee In thine handes is both Life and Death Thou bringest to the Graue and bringest backe againe In thy greate mercie O LORD make all his bedde in his sicknesse make his bedde to be a Schoole vnto him wherein hee may not onelie learne the hudgnesse of his owne miserie but also the greatnes of thy mercie Let neither Death fright him nor the Graue grieue him Let him knowe that Death is but a sleepe for the friendes of Christ and the Graue a bedde for the resting of their wearied bones Let not the weight of mortalitie beare downe his Spirite frō minding the things which are aboue Make him content to quite gladlie all earthlie pleasures and contentments for to goe dwell with Thee his GOD in immortalitie Let neither the sweetnesse of the Figge nor the grapes of the Vine nor the fatnesse of the O liue hinder his desire to reigne in heauen Against the feare of death comfort him with hope of the glorious Resurrection Assure his Soule though his bodie goe to bee eaten of the wormes that hee in that bodie againe shall see his Redeemer and none other for him Furnish him with spirituall courage vnto the end Giue him boldnesse to march without feare thorow the valey of death for to come to Thee yea to run were it thorow Hell for to come to Thee in Heauen Tell vnto his Soule that his paines dismay him not seeing his trauell is to bring foorth eternall life Let thy Iustice seate trouble him no more seeing Christ hath payed his debts Let him not bee afraide to come before the Face of his Iudge seeing the Iudge himselfe is his Brother who hath both cut cancelled that hand-writting of the Law which no flesh was able to performe Pittie him LORD pittie him for loe hee is nowe in thine handes looking pittifully vp to Thee for thy mercie Some of thy setters are yet vpon him none can loose him but the hands which haue bund him Pittie good LORD and pardon set vnto this Soule the seale of thy pardons by the Spirit of adoption Heale and sweetlie close vp the wounds of his Spirit by the vertue of thy most blessed Blood This is our confidence that thou who hast stricken him is able to heale him and will also doe it if it bee for thy glorie and his well if not Lord in judgement remember mercie If it bee his best that after some dayes sicknesse he depart out of this mortall life let these paines which hee suffers nowe bee like Ionathans arrowes which were not shot for to ◅urt but to giue warning Giue him grace that like an obedient Childe hee may as w◅ll kisse thine hand while it beateth as while it blesseth If thy decree be come foorth that hee must remoue from this World assure him of a better place where pleasures are in greater number th◅ the starres Teach him by thy Spirit that by death hee shall change a mortall habitation a dungeon of darknes◅◅ cage of corruptions for euerlasting T◅bernacles most heauenlie sacred M◅sions where constant peace vnmi◅ joyes remaine Weane his heart from the loue of all things that are vnder the Sunne Let the beautie and glorie of the Heauens whereof hee hath heard at length this day
drawe the desires of his heart to abide into that P◅lace of pleasures where there is Light without Darknesse Mirth without Sadnesse Health without Sicknesse Wealth without want Beautie without blemish For the sake of thy dea◅e Selfe seale vp into his Soule the assurance of thy loue that in all bol◅nesse through the bleeding bowels of Christes compassions hee may come to the Throne of thy grace frō thence he may enter into glory O LORD the comfort the joye and the glorie of Israel Bee fauourable to thy distressed Sainctes dispersed vpon the Earth Thy Church here below is like a shippe on the sea Though it floate aloft it is fore tossed to and f◅o with wind and with waue thou therin seemeth whiles to sleep Now LORD at last awake in these boisterous blastes Master Master saue vs for wee perish Awake O LORD and rebuke the winds Alas O LORD thou seemeth now to lowre in thy wrath by driuing all our petitions from Thee with a darke and cloudie countenance so that these that trust in Thee are cleane dashed out of countenance while they heare the scorninges of the aduersaries who nowe waste and hauocke thy Vine Arise O LORD as a man of war Awake as one out of sleepe and like a mightie man that shouteth by reason of Wine Smite thou all the enemies in the hinder partes and put them to a perpetuall reproach Take the Cudgell into thine hand and stricke a way these Dogges which follow Thee but for crustes Let vs neuer bee colde or carelesse in the distresse of others but for to assure vs that wee are all members of one Bodie giue vs this pledge of mourning with these that mourne Make vs all to bee grieued for the affliction of Ioseph Blesse our gracious SOVERAIGNE with the Spirit of Wisedome and of Grace Rescue Him from all dangers both bodilie ghostlie Thogh Hee bee a Prince among men yet Hee is thy Subject Thou who by Grace hast made Him to reigne ouer thy people on earth at the end of his appointed time when the dayes of His Reigne shall bee happilie finished exalt Him highlie in the heanens among thy Sainctes and Angels So long as Hee is heere let Him know that it standeth Him fast in hand to bee an Hornager vnto Thee Direct him so in all His cariage that His whole life may bee to all His Subjects an holy patronage of good example Let Him neuer retract nor repeale that vow which Hee made at His Coronation for to maintaine the puritie of thy Gospel and for to bee a louing Father vnto thy people Cloth his enemies with shame but vpon Himselfe make His Crowne to flourish Blesse His Royall Match Make Her to striue stretch all the powers of Her Soule by prayer in searching the sincere knowledge of thy truth LORD in Her carefull search make Her to say at last with the Spouse I haue found him whom my Soule loueth I will not let him goe Thou LORD louest Trueth in the inward partes and therefore so sanctifie Her Hearte that She may day lie thriue in the power of Godlinesse Though all outward meanes should faile Her bee Thou to Her in stead of all meanes aboundantlie supplying Her with the power and presence of thy Spirit Leuell LORD Her Heart directlie to the loue of Christ of him crucified that by a true liuelie Faith in him Shee may shine among the Sainctes in Heauen like one who in a great measure hath beene receiued in Grace on earth Let thy Preastes bee cloathed with righteousnesse Blesse all our Nobles mak them truelie noble not like Ephraim whose righteousnesse was like the morning dew Let them neuer for feede or fauour slinke or shrinke back from the puritie of thy Gospel established in this Land Giue vnto vs all courage for the Trueth that wee may bee bold to resist euen vnto the blood not beeing like these who at the first in an hote and hastie zeale promise faire with Peter but anone at the first womanlie temptation start aside like deceitfull bowes Suffer no sinne to goe current with vs without check Let vs neuer follow the sway of tymes with sewed Cushions vnder our Elbowes LORD abide with vs this night As thou hast drawne the night Curtaine of darknesse vpon the face of the earth so bee thou a pillar of the cloude betweene vs and our enemies Hide our soules from Sathans temptations as by the cloudie pillar thou hid the Israelites from the Egyptians Make vs this night to sleepe softlie and soundlie in thine Armes that our bodies beeing refreshed with sleepe may bee the better enabled to morrow for to sette foorth thy Glorie in the work of our Vocation LORD let these our weake prayers come vp before Thee like Pillars of smoke perfumed with the liuelie sauoure of thy Son To whom with Thee and the Spirit of Grace bee endlesse Glorie and Dominion for euer Now Sir wee haue recommended you God to who is stretching out the Armes of his mercie readie for to receiue your Soule into the bosome of his Loue Make you nowe readie for him for in all appearance ye are not farre from the doores of death Bee vigilant in prayer lest Satan yet put in his leauen into the Spirites dough and so by sowring it make it distastfull to the Lord By a little droppe of filth the pure webbe of the Spirit will become a menstruous cloath The sicke Man The lost Sheepe is found I giue you most heartie thankes for that feruent prayer I pray God that it be heard in the Heauen as Solomon prayed for these that prayed in the Temple which he had builded saying Then heare thou in Heauen Lord graunt that these comforts and contentments bee not deceiuable feelinges and flashings of joye O Lord let not the Spirit of Grace in this new birth recoyle as once Zarah in Thamars wombe Seeing God hath furnished me with a new spirituall strength I wish that I culd imploy it well for the short space that I haue to liue among mortall wightes in this region of corruption O Lord stirre all the streames of mine affections toward thy selfe Wound ward weaken wasle all my delightfull and darling sinnes that my whole joye may rest on Thee command confine all my thoghts to thy selfe that by Faith my Soule may seaze and lay hold on the merits of Christ the celestiall Pearles of price Disburthen my soule of euerie weight that hangeth so fast on lest that thereby it should bee swayed away from Thee I finde mine hearte stirred with a feruent desire to powre out it selfe in prayer before God I pray you all that sit by to joyne your affections with mine into this worke The sicke mans Prayer for himselfe O LORD the Father of mercies and GOD of all Consolation bee present in thy great mercie with mee thy vnworthie seruant into this time of trouble suffer mee earth and ashes to speake
with thy mercie In the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgressions wash me throghlie from mine iniquitie and cleanse mee from my sinnes where by the seed of thy grace within mine heart hath beene choaked and starued Let the depth of thy mercy swallow vp the deepes of my miserie Bridle my sinnes and spurre forward thy graces within mee Set all mine affections on foote that they may follow after Thee Put a fairer flame into my smoking slaxe and more strength into this bruisedreede that the bones which thou hast broken may re◅oyce O Lord with thine eye salue cleanse and open the eyes of my poore Soule that I beholding these things that are aboue may gladlie desire to be dissolued for to be there with my Lord and Sauiour Lord let thy Spirit carrie still a strong hand ouer me Furnish mee with such measure of thy graces whereby I may patiently waite vpon thy will Except that by a speciall fauour thou vphold mee I shall neuer bee able to secure my feete in so slipperie ground While I haue beene hearing most glorious speaches of the Heauens the shadowes of earthlie things haue ecclipsed my minde like a Moorie O make such shadowes to flie away that the horizon of my spirituall sight beeing cleared I may in some measure see thy backe partes whereby my Soule may bee enlightened like the face of Moses Though often I haue beene deafe at thy preachinges bee not thou dumbe at my prayers O Father of mercies listen vnto the groanes of my drooping spirite assailed with diuerse temptations Heare the sighes and crouding of thine owne Turtle Doue O LORD leade mee into the Land of vprightnesse and make thy grace to seat it selfe into mine heart Store my memorie with these good lessons which I haue heard preached in mine health Let mee neuer ouer-pryze anie good thing that is within my selfe Though Iames and Iohn bragged that they were able to drinke of thy cuppe scarce could they abide to see Thee drinke it O Lord make mee euer to vnder-value thy greatest worth that thorow the valey of humilitte I may come to these euer lasting exaltations Come LORD for loe thy seruant commeth I am willing Lord helpe my vnwillingnesse If it bee thy will to loose me out of this sinfull prison when I shall leaue this earth to earth appoint thine Angels to carrie my Soule vnto Abrahams bosome where I may sing with thy Saincts Halleluiah for euer Come Lord now and seeke thy lost groate Fetch home vpō thy Shoulders this wandering Sheepe and make all the Heauens to rejoyce Despise not that which in the creation thou diddest ennoble with thy liknesse Giue mee a warrand and a token to bee admitted within the Gates of thine euerlasting Tabernacles Till I come there make my Soule to burne still in holie feelings Lord heare mee for the deare sake of thy Sonne to whom with Thee and the Spirit of grace as it is most due wee render all praise glorie and dominion for euer AMEN The Pastour Blessed be God Sir who maketh his Spirit to worke so powerfullie within you Wee are all greatlie refreshed with your comforts It hath beene a great joye to vs all to heare that most sweete feruent prayer full of the groanes of the Spirit of Iesus In you haue wee seene the trueth of that Text The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for wee know not what wee should pray for as wee ought But the Spirite it selfe maketh intercession for vs with groanings which cannot bee vttered I am assured that that same Spirite hath made intercession for you with groaninges in that prayer which now yee haue vttered And againe while I consider in what weakenesse and faintnesse I found you at the first I wonder at such a vigour of Spirit which I petceiue now to be into you Truelie the word of God is most true God giueth power to the faint to them that haue no might hee increaseth strength Euen the Youths shall faint and bee wearie and the young men shall vtterlie fall But they that waite vpon the Lord renewe their strength They shall mount vp with winges as Eagles Many in their afflictions either desparatelie rage or weaklie wa◅le But God in great mercie hath at last filled you with true Christian courage and comfort in your greatest smart Hee hath listened to all your desires beeing moued with that sacred Loue which alwayes burneth in his bosome His Grace like the Notherne Pole hath giuen you aime and direction whether to bend your course Now the darkenesse of the night beginneth to ouer-cloud the earth By Gods grace I shall returne in the Morning so soone as the birdes shall begin to chirpe at the spring of day Because while the spirit of man is idle it weareth and wasteth it selfe away with barren and lumpish melancholie While yee shall awake cause reade Scripture vnto you and particularlie these places Psalme 27. Psalme 84. Psalme 87. 1. Corinthians 15. 2. Corinthians 12. Reuelation 21. Reuelation 22. His Grace bee you THE SEVENTH DAYES Conference The sicke Mans last wordes to his Pastour Friendes Wife and Children The Pastour THE Lord blesse you Sir According to my promise yester-night I am come againe earlie All this night mine heart hath earned to knowe of your estate How haue yee passed this night The sicke Man O the mercie of my God towards mee that hath moued you to take such paines for mee an vnworthie worme By your most holy Sermons yee haue furnished and supplied my minde with store of holie and heauenlie meditations Ye haue beene both a Paul for to plant mee in the true Faith and an Apollos for to water mee Christ the Master builder by the Finger of his Spirit hath laide the foundation of his Temple within mine heart Hee hath made choise of you a skilefull Workeman to aduance the worke till in mercie at last hee shall roofe his graces in mee with celestiall Glorie By the word of God yee haue comforted mee that is onelie the word of comfort Of all other words were they neuer so eloquent I will say with a Father In a thousand talents of worldlie wordes a man shall hardlie finde an hundreth pence of spirituall heauenlie wisedome This life is like the Haw thorne more pricking than pleasant Ye haue rauished my heart with desire of immortalitie aboue I blesse God Sir that euer I saw you The Pastour All these good things are to bee ascribed to the working of GODS Spirit All the juice and sappe whereby the branches spring and liue ensueth and riseth from the roote of the tree We who are Pastours are but the Lords Spouts and Cocks of his Conduits wherby his graces are conuoyed vnto the heartes of our hearers If the Spirit of God mak not a mans Saluation sure hee will incessantlie reele from one doubt to another from one temptation to another like a drunken man from wall to wall It is
who hath the fauour of his God In good life is long life Nequities vitae non sinit esse senem The wickednesse of life abbridgeth the life Bee more desirous to liue well than to liue long Too too manie liue to spend their grace-right with their Birth right Such like wanton Widowes are dead while they liue If yee fall in sinne vp vp make haste to returne vnto your God Repentance delayed in youth is a strengthening of sinne against the olde and weaker age The least sin entertained maketh a way for more The least drop of the juice of euill is lik leauen that sowreth the whole lumpe If in this world yee prosper bee not taken vp with selfe foolish conceit Take not outward prosperitie to bee the ell and measure of Gods loue Whether yee wither or yee flourish in worldlie thinges thinke vpon this that your miserie or happinesse can be in nothing but in that which is eternall Goe where ye please the justice of God one day shall try the foote-steppes which ye haue troden The chiefe Legacie which I leaue to you all is the Charter of Gods promise which I haue receiued by the hand of Faith In it is an Heritage of lines fallen in pleasant places VIZ. That not onelie hee should bee my God but that he should be a God to my Childrē vnto thousand generations keepe fast this promise into the Charter Chists of your heartes In confidence of this promise depend vpon your God in well and in ◅oe in wealth and in want Though hee should slay you yet say with Iob that yee will trust in him Nowe for to drawe to an ende for my breath faileth and mine heart fainteth I desire you aboue all things to bee earnest in prayer with God By prayer morning euening dresse your Soules like the Lampes of Gods Tabernacle Fill them of the pure oyle-oliue of his grace that alwayes they may shine Eliphaz charged Iob chieflie with this as beeing the chiefe cause of all his woe that hee restrained prayer before God With this the Psalmest hath branded the wicked They call not vpon God and againe They call not vpon God It is obserued by the most cunning Physitions that paine in speaking and loathing of meate be two symptoms of a diseased distempered bodie A Soule while it prayeth it speaketh while it heareth it eateth If there be paine in the one and loathing in the other that Soule cannot bee well Thrise a day Dauid was wont to pray at morning euening and at noone This zeale also wakened him while others were sleeping At mid-night he arole for to pray vnto his God Happie is that mā who shal so spend the short time of his life in this valey of mortalitie Let this in all things bee an awband aboue your heades that the eye of the Almightie God is euer vpon you and that hee is acquainted with all your wayes Where euer yee bee thinke your selues euer to be in that most awefull presence make Conscience of all your thoughts for the verie thought of foolishnesse is euill Beware of the lustes of youth Striue with God in prayer that hee would so ingage you in his grace loue that your corruption proue not strongest while your wittes are weakest Intreate earnestlie the Lord that hee woulde make perfect his strength in your weaknesse When yee finde anie good beginnings of Grace within your selues waite stedfastlie vpon the due accomplishment thereof in Glorie Whom the Lord loueth hee loueth to the end his calling and gifts are without repentance If this yee doe carefullie ye shall bee like twigges which hauing a vigorous life sprout and flourish till they come to trees And now at last for to conclude and summe vp the whole brieflie If ye would haue God to dwell into you bee yee an holie Sanctuarie for his Spirit If yee would haue God to rest in you as hee did into his holie Temple there must bee in you as was in his Temple an Holie of holies As were within Gods Arke so must yee haue within your heartes the Tables of Gods Law the summe of the Olde Testament and with them the potte of Manna euen Christ the bread of life the substance of the New Testament Loue this word honour this word bleed for this word yea die for it Manie in this world be like these Pultrons and base spirited men of Thessalonica who had no courage for the t◅ueth As for you striue to bee like these of Berea who were better borne of a more manlie breeding in that they were couragious for the Trueth Striue to the keeping of Gods Commandments for like friends they are so linked together that if one bee offended all the rest will interest themselues in its quarrell faile in one and faile in all Pray feruentlie that ye may practise all these my precepts This doing ye shal neuer find your selues fatherles The great God shal be your Father To this Father now I giue you irtreating him to bee a Father vnto you in all times to ensue The Father of mercies the Sonne of his loue and the Spirit of c◅mfortes so guide you in all your cariage that ye may carie an incorrupt Conscience to the Graue The God of all grace mak you perfect stablish strengthen settle you leade you in the Land of vprightnes The Lord blesse you all with his best blessings My blessing I leaue you Kisse mee and so fare well Now the day is fatre spent and my strength beginneth to faile mee seeing all things as the Apostle saith are sanctified by the word of God and prayer let vs conclude this dayes conference with our humble supplications vnto our God My deare Pastour offer yee vp this Euening Sacrifice The Lord perfume it with the spirituall incense of Christs merites that thereby our Soules being perfumed the Lord may finde a smell as the smell of a fielde which the Lord hath blessed Pray earnestlie for me that the Lord giue me both strēgth and courage for the fighting out of this Battell that in the ende I may bee crowned with the Laurels of an euerlasting victorie The Pastour My Soule rejoyceth to haue heard so manie good wordes from your mouth Solomon said verie well and wiselie A word spoken in due season how good is it According to your desire wee shall conceiue a Prayer to GOD for you The Lord powre vpon all our Soules that promised Spirit of grace and of supplications A Prayer for the sicke Man Sore weakned with sicknesse MOst gracious GOD most deare louing Father Let the word of our mouth the meditations of our hearts bee acceptable in thy sight O LORD our strength and our Redeemer By thy Spirit banish all stragling thoughts and keepe our mindes steddie and attentiue in this chiefest worke of deuotion Beholde LORD and consider heere thy poore
Nowe graunt that the hope of that glorie which is to bee reuealed may bee so strong in his Soule that it may shield and fence him from the force and furie of the last assaults The nearer he draweth vnto death inlarge the chanell of thy graces like a Riuer which is broadest towards the end of its course Make his heart in the ◅orest pangs of death to bee still lifted vp towards thee And seeing Death and the Deuill mans two last enemies are euer busie the one for to fright the other for to tempt Prepare him Lord and furnish him so with thy Graces that hee may proue victorious in this last assault O gracious GOD assist him by thy force against the most violent blustering winds of the last and most fearefull temptations If Satan looke in at the doores of his heart seeking for an entrie let him neuer get so much as one chamber-roome set a part for his sojourning Make thy grace vnto him like a Sunne like a Bridegroome comming out of his Chamber to disperse the darknesse of his mistie minde Vnto his last gaspe direct him so by thy good Spirit that his Soule may cleaue so fast vnto thee that neither sinne nor sicknesse life nor death may bee able to separate him from thee Thogh thou shuld slay him yet wil hee trust in thee Faile him not now in time of neede vphold his heart in this heauie houre Let his Soule lurke vnder the winges of thy mercie till the tempest of wrath bee calmed past ouer Bee thou to him a shelter against the heauie showers of the last agonie O gracious Lord in wrath remember mercie In the multitude of thy compassions blot out his transgressions and that for the dearest drops of that sacred Blood that gushed vpon the cursed crosse Rinse and cleanse his heart from all vncleannes Giue him courage in his greatest fears Let not Death bee vnto him as a king of feare nor hee as one of the wicked whose hope doeth perish with their breath O Lord let thy Name bee vnto him like a strong tower for to hid him into the time of trouble Let this bee the cleare candle of his comfort neuer to bee quenched that Christ by his death hath for him and all the Faithfull ouercome Death and disarmed it of its sting Declare by the inward motion of thy Spirit to his Soule that the nature of death by the death of Christ is changed into a sleepe vnto all the friends of Christ who by the infinite power of his diuine Nature hath swallowed it vp in victorie and hath so digested it that now the bitternesse thereof is past As the Arke was to Noah and Zoar vnto Lot so bee thou a refuge to this faithfull Soule fighting thy battels not onelie against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the gouernours of darknesse of this world and against spirituall wickednesse in high places Let thy strength bee made perfect in his weaknesse As thou hast vp holden him hitherto by the strength of thy Spirit so continue with him vntill the end The battell is the Lords fight Lord for thine own cause euē for this Soule one of thy redeemed Ones obtaine thou the victorie and take the glorie to thy selfe O God both of grace and glorie seale surely vp in his bosome the pardon of all his iniquities Perfect the comfortes which thou hast begunne say vnto his Soule That heauen is not so high nor hell so low nor the world so wide as are thy mercies towards him All thy creatures haue their owne dimensions but thy mercie Lord like thy selfe is without measure Out of these infinite compassions make this sillie Soule partaker of the dearest mercies that euer rould together the relenting bowels of thy tenderest loue Heare vs Lord in all these our sutes and that for the sake of thy best beloued and onelie begotten Sonne the Lord Iesus Christ in whose Name and at whole command wee powre out our heartes to thee in that prayer which by his own sacred and most blessed mouth hee hath taught vs Our Father c. The sicke Man Lord heare thou in Heauen Blessed for euer be thy Name for such spirituall comfortes for so manie mercies I can rander nothing but the little mites of praise and thankesgiuing Mine heart is filled with songs of Gods mercie If his Spirit of grace had not vpholden mee in my first feares while as I thought I was wrapped into an infinite wrath I had certainelie beene swallowed vp with ouermuch sorrow But now blessed eternallie bee the Lord who hath made the earth to swallow vp all the floodes of temptations and tribulations which that red Dragon the Deuill a bloodie murtherer hath cast out of his mouth after mee for to carrie my Soule down head-longs to perdition Now finde I Gods word to bee true that hee is ouercome by the Blood of the Lambe Except that the Lord had beene on my side O in what a dumbe dumpe had my poore Soule beene driuen into ere now The Pastour Hee who followed Adam thorow the thicke bushes and Ionas in the bottome of the sea Hee who blessed the crooked man and made the barren fertile and the dumbe to speake the deafe to heare and the blind to see hath made his grace perfect in your weaknesse He best feeleth the pulse of our heartes and the force of our life Loth would hee bee to breake the bruised reede or to quench the smoking flaxe All men by nature are but like an vncleane Dung-hill of drosse their heartes at the first are but a den of Dragons But so soone as the Spirit of grace hath begunne to drawe the draughts and lineamentes of Gods image within the soule of a man nothing shall bee able to deface or mangle that liuelie image To all sorts of temptations Gods wisedome shall finde an out-gate Neither the traines of Sathan nor the treason of our bosome sinnes nor the terrors of hell nor the trashes of the world shall euer be able to preueale against Adirim Gods excellent Ones According as Zacharias filled with the holie Ghost prophecied It is granted vnto vs that wee beeing deliuered out of the handes of our enemies may serue him without feare The sicke Man I blesse God for such inestimable comforts Sathan hath shrewdlie assaulted mee but could not preuaile My corruptions haue beene subdued and awed by the Majestie of the Spirit of Iesus My Soule rejoyceth in GOD In the merites of Christ as in a glasse I see him a meeke a mercifull Father I am not now afraide to come to a tryall at his Tribunall I am no more dismayed for the vnquencheable flammes of the fierie lake I thinke certainelie that there was neuer a man so much beholden to my God as I am Truelie may I sing with the Psalmest I waited patientlie or the Lord and hee inclined vnto mee and heard my cry Hee
brought me out of an horrible pitte out of the myrrie clay and set my feete vpon a Rocke and established my goings He hath put a new song into my mouth euen praise vnto our God many shall see it and feare and shall trust in the Lord. O that I had breath for the setting foorth of his praise Happie is he who while he may vtter words praiseth God continuallie Blessed is that man who may call his tongue his Glorie O my Soule I charge thee by the Roes and by the Hindes of the fielde that thou cease not to praise his Might his Mercie and his Majestie O my Soule take heede and listen vnto his voyce O Iesus the great Deputie of mercie sent by the Father forsake mee not in this heauie houre Now I sore sicken so that all naturall force faileth me My words now so weaâ—…ie mee that I thinke ere it be long this bodie shall bee lodged in the place of silence But let mee intreate you Sir so long as ye shall perceiue life to bee in mee let it please you to continue in some good purpose concerning the world to come By some holie discourse rouse vp my drousie Spirit hold mine heart vpon an edge Let me not die like a senselesse Nabal of whom it is written that his heart died within him so that hee became like a stone Manie blindlie and boldlie rush into hell I beseech you Sir to waite well vpon mee till yee see the ende I thinke that ere it bee long my Soule shall bee at the farthest tryst O Lord warme my frozen Soule with the sense of the kindled compassions of the bowels of thy loue Inlighten my mistie minde cleare it with thy countenance Bee thou the comforter of my Conscience vntil the day break and the shadows flie away Take now Sir my Soule into the armes of your prayers lift it vp and lay it into that blessed bosome of my Lordes mercies Bend yet againe your knees before God in prayer that hee for his mercies sake would receiue mee into my Masters joye O but my Soule fluttereth fast within mee for to bee at my God Let it please you to bee feruent in prayer for mee that I may foile vnder my feete the Deuill Death and all the powers of hell The Deuill in death will not faile to giue mee a furious assault at the chiefest fortresse of my Saluation for to batter it downe to the ground Intreate the Lord that his mercie may bee a strong rempart and a blessed Bul-wark against all the Engines of hell which are readie bent to waste and hauock all Gods graces within mee O Lord campe thine Angels about mee Place thy Pauilions of war betweene mee and mine enemies Refresh mee more and more with thy comforts Giue mee the earnest of these joyes which passe all vnderstanding Possesse mee with the Spirit of gladnesse for that thou in mercie hast forgiuen mee my sinnes Continue so vnto the end that in the heauens for euer this may be the burden of my song For his mercie indureth for euer Let it please you Sir on whome God hath vouchsafed the Spirit of Prayer in a good and great measure to assist mee with your comforts and prayers lest by temptations I should beginne to slacke off my care and watchfulnesse The Pastour Hold fast your eye vpon Christ your Redeemer Follow him thorow the valey of death for hee hath not onelie pointed out our path but as Captaine of our Saluation hath troden euery steppe before vs Yee may well sticke a little in the narrow throate of Death but that one steppe being past yee enter into Rehoboth a place of roome farre from the reekie smoke vaine shadowes and dreames of earthlie vanitie and perishing pleasures Bee glad Sir to flit from this barren moorish ground and muddie mortalitie for to goe to a paradise a Palace a place of pleasures for euermore According to your desire wee shall returne to God by prayer A Prayer for the sicke man drawing neare to the doores of death O Father of mercies and God of all comforts in whom all goodnesse and graces are treasured let it please thee fauourablie to regard the soule of this thy seruant here whose heart panteth after thee as the wearied Hart panteth after the water brookes Refresh his Soule with the diuine dew of thy grace till it bee entered in at the gates of Glorie Powre into his hearte the sweete streames of thy loue Settle his soule in a right and vpright course so long as it remaineth in this mistie muddie mortalitie send out thy light and guide it by thy Grace till it hath passed the straites of Death for to enter into the Land of vprightnes O Father of mercies perswade him by thy Spirit that the comming of Death shall bee to him a time of discharge a time of freedome from sicknes of bodie anguish of Spirit trouble of Conscience and from all possibilitie of sinning anie more Let him know that while hee is going to the Graue hee is going to a bedde of ease where most quietlie he shall rest from all his toylesome labours Turne all feare of Death into a chearefull expectation and longing for the houre of dissolution Make quiet his Conscience that he may die with comfort O thou Sauiour of mankind whose boweles are filled with mercifull compassions spreade the wing of thy righteous garment ouer this Soule of thy seruant Thou hast shaken him with thy terrours in diuerse assaults Thou hast broght him low for to make him a fitte passenger for the little doore which leadeth vnto Glorie Leaue him not now Lord in his greatest neede Make thine Angels camped about him powerfully to assist him against al the last assaults of that euill one Thou who hast heard all his groanes registrat thou his sighs and put all his teares into thy bottels suffer not thy kindled zeale to coole in him In an holie despaire of his owne worth make him whollie to relye vpon thy meere mercies in Christe the onelie salue for sicke Soules and remeed for broken bones While hee is weakest work with thy Spirit feelinglie and powerfullie into his hearte Subdue euerie euill motion that may arise therein for the troubling of his soule Draw vp his desire aboue the pitch of all natural knowledge Banish all earthlie thinges cleane out of his minde and make all his thoughts to attend vpon thee In thy diuine might rebuke Sathan that hee interrupt not thy comforts Let him not bee able by his secret craft and vyles to steale from him the pledges of thy loue O Sonne of GOD O Sunne of Righteousnes send a quickning heate with a shining light into his sillie Soule Make thy blessed Beames to strik on his heart for to warme it with thy loue Set all his desires a floate from the moode of sinful mortalitie Thou at diuerse times hast affrighted him fearefullie with
him And because I haue deferred my repentance till this houre whereby my Saluation is cutte off if I should die suddenlie Loe how my God in his mercifull prouidence to preuent my destruction calleth mee by a lingring sicknesse which stayeth till I bee readie and prepareth mee to mine ende like a preacher and maketh mee by wholesome paines wearie of this beloued world lest I should depart vn willing like them whose death is their damnation So hee loueth mee while hee beateth mee that his stripes are plasters to saue mee therefore who shall loue him if I despise him This is my whole office nowe to strengthen my bodie with mine heart and to bee contented as God hath appointed vntill I can glorifie him or vntill hee glorifie mee If I liue I liue to sacrifice and if I die I die a sacrifice for his mercie is aboue mine iniquitie Therefore if I should feare death it were a signe that I had not Faith nor hope as I professed but that I doubted of Gods trueth in his promise wh◅ther hee will forgiue his penitent sinner or not Hee is my Father let him doe what seemeth good in his sight Come Lord Iesus for thy seruant commeth I am willing helpe mine vnwillingnesse Heere is the end of that godlie mans speach As at that Brydell in Cana the best wine came last so shall it be heer◅ After the words of a godlie man I shall let you heare the words of God spoken by a man inspired by his Spirit euen the last words of Dauid the man whose praise is this that hee was a man according to Gods owne heart The last words of Dauid Dauid the sonne of Iesse said and the man who was raised vp on high the a◅ointed of the God of Iaacob and the sweete Psalmist of Israel said The Spirit of the Lord spake by mee and his words was in my tongue The God of Israel saide the Rocke of Israel spake to mee Hee that ruleth ouer men must bee just ruling in the feare of God And hee shall bee as the light of the morning when the Sunne riseth euen a morning without cloudes as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine Although mine house bee not so with God yet hee hath made with mee an euerlasting couenant ordered in all things and sure For this is all my Saluation and all my desire although hee make it not to growe But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all of them as thornes thrust away because they cannot bee taken with hands But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with yron and the staffe of a speare and they shall bee vt◅er lie burnt with fyre in the same place Alittle before his death at the inauguration of his Sonne Solomon he spake manie notable words among others these bee of great weight O Lord wee are heere but strangers before thee and so◅ourners as were all our fathers Our dayes on the earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and of Israel our Fathers keepe this for euer in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their heartes vnto thee That hundreth and two Psalme is excellent It is intituled a prayer of the afflicted when he is ouerwhelmed and powreth out his complant before the Lord. Heare my prayer O Lord and lette my cry come vnto thee hide not thy face from mee in the day when I am in trouble incline thine eare vnto mee In the day when I call answere mee spe◅dilie For my dayes are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt like an hearth c. Seeing as wee see that nothing is stable in this world but as it is in that Sermon of the Preacher vanity of vanities and all is vanitie wee haue to intreate the Lord earnestlie as Moses did a little before his death That hee would so teach vs to number our dayes that we may applye our hearts to wisedome and to well doing All things below wither and decay our best beauties are w◅ithed and wrinkled by time But the beautie of the Lord is of euerlasting continuance Let the beautie of the Lord our God bee vpon vs. O the beautie of the things aboue O the beautie of the Firmament O these azured Curtaines spangled with stars of light What jewels of joy are within no mortall tongue can tell Looke vp nowe Sir with the eye of your Faith and visite these heauenlie Mansions and blessed buildinges for immortaltiie Yee are shortlie for to change for the better So long as our sillie Soules are here they are but poore Soules reading and meditating the mercies of God within a cottage of clay hauing nothing to see with but the weak light of the small Candle of grace a light dimmed and darkened with the reekie smok of our sinfull corruptions But so soone as wee shall bee dissolued by Death we shall come to the euerlasting Beames of a Sunne which by nothing is able to bee ecclipsed alight which knoweth no darknesse euen that Light which bringeth light out of darknesse Now Sir vp with your heart saile out your course Be like the Pylot who while hee hath hand on the Helme hath his eye fixed on the heauen Take now the Cuppe of Saluation the great Mazer of his mercie and call vpon the Name of the Lord Hee is worthie to bee praised for his vnspeakable fauour toward you He in great mercy hath toward you turned all the sharpe corrasiues of the Law into most sweete cordials of the Gospel He hath now made you free of all these terrours whereinto yee found your selfe once lyable Oh Lord how did once the sharpe edge of thy Law laide to his mourning heart cutte him thorow the verie gall But blessed bee thou who in thy great mercie hast cut the Cartropes of his sinnes where with hee was once kept fast vnder the most heauie bondage of Hell What say yee now Sir How is it of all Haue yee heard all these words and laide them vp into your minde The sicke Man I haue heard them all that with great comfort now mine heart is in heauen Christ by the vertue of his vnualuable Blood-shed hath takē away the gall of my guiltines Now my bodie is wholly dead to its paine and my Soule is whollie aliue to its glorie I see a Crowne of immortalitie which my Soule would not sticke to fetch thorow the brimstone beames of hell My Soule seeth the face of its Redeemer Christ with a soft hand is now loosing all the bondes of my miserie His most sacred Blood hath melted my marble heart Nowe come Lord Iesus come Long haue I looked for thy Saluation Nowe let thy seruant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy Saluation O my deare Soule I summond thee with all thy powers and faculties to
hee had time hee liued in pleasures and feasted while others fasted His seuen yeares of plentie are past now let him smart vvith the Glutton into hell Let him there bee refused of a drop by him to vvhom heere hee refused a crumme Can God looke vpon his iniquities and not kindle a consuming fire in his vvrath against such a varnished hypocrite vvhose vvhole religion vvas in a mouth filled with great swelling words of vanitie In such deceitfull cunning colouring hee among all did carrie away the Bell. The Angel Michael God will neuer looke vpon his iniquities for hee hath cast them all behind his backe God beholdeth none iniquitie in Iacob neither doeth hee see peruersenesse in Israel The Lord judgeth not his Children by the remnant of their olde corruptions but by the beginnings of his renewing grace The mercifull God is more pleased vvith a dram of grace then prouoked with a pound of iniquitie Sinnes are not sinnes before God except that they bee done vvith pleasure That which I say is from that trueth Hee that is borne of God sinneth not Auoyde Sathan Thou art euer couered vvith rage as vvith a rayment When thou seest anger kindled thou art euer readie to adde tinder to that fyre Thou art cunning and craftie to clok thy bloodie massacres vvith pretences of seeking justice Sathan What say I but trueth His whole delight vvas in sinne While he was in health and strength he did weare my Liuerie Who did euer see him beare Christes cognisance All his godlinesse vvas but cloake and colour vvithout life and vigouâ—… Thogh hee sinne not now there vvhere hâ—…e lyeth he hath not left sin but sin hath left him If his tongue could speake hee could not for his heart denye it Scribitur in facie Beholde his fierce and kill-bucke countenance While he had youth and vigour hee obeyed no lawe but his lawlesse appetits Was hee challenged Then hee fathered his sinnes vpon mee The Angel Michael Thou in thy fond humour hast euer byting corrasiues for bleeding Consciences In his members I confesse there was a lawlesse law indeed but in his minde vvas Gods Lawe warring against the law of his members From his heart hee hated that law of his members But his whole delight was in the Law of the Spirit After that hee had sinned he 〈◊〉 cast the first stone at him selfe Sathan All these be but faire cloakes and couers for to hide his transgressions But they will not preuaile The heauens know that he was but the carrion of a Christian aglozing hypocriâ—… hauing the carkase of knowledge without the life of loue the power of practise euer fickle lik a Chameleon Hee is nowe in his good moode but if he shuld yet liue a space all shuld soone see that in his heart is nothing souÌ„d settled sincere what need I more this Soule must bee mine hee hath sinned and therefore hee muste bee cursed and so hee must bee mine Behold his Band and Obligation By the Lawe of God hee is mine Now must hee runne into ruine Let mee giue him a girke with my rodde The Angel Michael Avoid that bloody Bande hath bene cancelled by the blood of God that Obligation long since hath beene â—…uen with the nailes of the Crosse of Iesus That which the Law had 〈◊〉 hath beene loosed by the Gospel What his workes could not doe Gods grace hath perfected By fauour the mercifull Lord hath chosen him out of the lost masse of mankind Seeing his ransome hath cost God his blood all accusations must bee sealed with silence In despite of the vtmost rage of all infernall force this Soule shall bee saued Though all the powers of hell prodigiouslie madde should rage rampe and roare they shall not be able to vnâ—…ye the knot of Faith and Loue where with hee is vnited vnto his Sauiour Sathan I feare fore now that hee slippe the collar and goe from mee At least seeing in his whole life I haue beene his Master let him bee diuided let mee haue any part and let God take his choice in the partner-ship The Angel Michael Auoyde Sathan with thy wittie wickednesse whereby woluishlle thou woulde worrie this redâ—…emed Lambe Thy shaire is not with God Thou hast neither parte nor lot in this matter The whole man is Christes who hath bought him with a price Away with thy gun-pudered humour Attempt no more to touch him Thou shalt neuer grippe him any more within thy cruell clouthes nor inwrap him in thy snaires Woâ—… to that Soule that serueth thee It is like a Bird on a bush which is smitten in her song of the Archer for whom shee had tuned her song In the vtmost of all crueltie thou hast discharged the vtmost of thy gall vpon this wearied heart I will enter no more in parley with thee Now come our thou fillie Soule vnto him that breathed thee in that bodie Come to thy rightfull owner Come into mine armes that I may carrie thee vp the Ladder of Iaacob vnto blesse Christ thine Advocat hath pleaded for thee and hath winne the cause Come now Soule out of that body flie like an Eagle vp to the blessed Carcase of thy Lord where is constant peace vnmixed joye and blessed immortalitie Now thou art Christs Christ is thine HearkeÌ„ heare the cry of thy Spouse Rise vp my Loue my faire One and come away Rejoyce wearied Soule lift vp thine head Saluation is come The Heauens are opened goe enter into thy rest The Battell of the Soule is now ended Now deare Soule come out to eternity come out to thy Bridegrome who now calleth thee Bee clothed with royall apparell Put on the massie bright crowne of immortalitie with the glorious Garland of celestial Lawrels spangled with Iemmes of joye Come out wearied Traueller from doole dolour and distresse for to enter into pleasures for euermore FINIS A COMFORTABLE Speach for the Widow of the defunct M. WEE daylie may see the trueth of that in Iob Man that is borne of a woman is of few dayes and full of trouble Hee commeth foorth like a flowre and is cut downe He fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not Of this is a necessitie For it is appointed vnto all men once to die The decree is come foorth against all flesh All flesh is as grasse c. The grasse withereth the flowre fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth vpon it Surelie the people is grasse All must goe to the vast gulfe of the Graue Be cause all haue sinned all are mortall without exceptioÌ„ of persons prince people great and small all must goe to Golgotha To great men God hath said Yee are gods but yee shall die like men What man is hee said the Psalmist that liueth and shall not see death Were a man Monarch of the whole world Iob saith That his dayes are determined the number of his mâ—…neths are with God Hee hath
will God bring with him For this wee say v◅to you by the word of the Lord that wee which are aliue and remaine vnto the comming of the Lord shall not preuent them which are asleepe For the Lord himselfe shall d◅scend from heauen with a shout with the voyce of the Arch Angel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then wee which are aliue and remaine shall bee caught vp together with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the Aire And so shall wee bee euer with the Lord. VVherefore comfort one another with these words Consider well and weigh these words which that great Pen-man of God hath set downe with a precept that with them wee should comfort one another while wee are in doole for the dead Finallie this M. yee must know that all earthlie sorrowes were they neuer so sharpe will at last growe blunt and will bee meekened and skinned ouer by time Nowe that which Time can doe to a Pagane let Grace doe it to a Christian. I intreate the Lord of all Grace and kindnesse to cast downe his compassionate eye vpon your afflicted grieued case that your mourning beeing tempered with mercie ye may in your greatest griefe rejoyce in your God Amen A compendious Epitaphe fit for a godlie Man deceased To long Eternitie from toylesome Time His Soule is past his Body sleepes in Slime A COMFORT for the fatherlesse MY deare heartes bee not dismayed in this grieuous affliction But take it in patience seeing it is from the Lord who maketh all thinges to worke to the best of th◅se that loue him As Father Iob said while hee was made Childlesse so muste yee say while yee are made fatherlesse The Lord hath giuen the Lord hath taken away and blessed bee the Name of the Lord. If yee can blesse him for the remouing of his blessinges hee shall double his blessinges vpon you and shall make them to meete you at euerie turne The fatherlesse Children of the faithfull whether their Fathers haue beene poore or rich haue a rich Legacie left vnto them ◅or to them belong that promise of shewing mercie vnto thousands Such as bee blessed of him saith the Psalmist mist shall inherite the earth In another place hee saith The generation of the righteous shall bee blessed Wee knowe nothing on Earth more tender than a mother toward the fruit of her wombe This made the Lord to say Cā a mother forget her sucking Childe that she should not haue compassion of the fruite of her nombe But what answered the Lord to that question Yea said hee they ◅ay forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I haue grauen thee vpon the palmes of mine hands This was Dauids greatest comfort that though his Father and his Mother should for sake him yet the Lord would take him vp If yee would heare of sensible Experience My flesh said hee and mine hearte faileth But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for euer Thus as yee see Father and Mother Sister and Brother flesh and Friendes Heart Health and Wealth and all will faile vs but our God is onelie and euer fast hee is the strength of our heart and our portion for euer Seeing it is so let your hearts relye vpon your God alone What euer your distresses bee as Abraham said to his Sonne The Lord will prouide Will yee heare Experience I haue bene yong said Dauid and now am old yet haue I not seene the righteous forsaken nor his seede begging their bread Though the children of the godlie bee but Children of poore fathers yet heere is their comfort their godlie fathers before they die treasure vp for them many prayers in Heauen and leaue vnto them the rich Legacie of Gods fauour Yee knowe certainlie that your Father was one that feared the LORD from his heart whereof to all our comforts hee hath giuen a good proofe And ther◅fore yee may boldlie by the hand of faith laye holde on the promises of God which belong to all the faithfull and to their Children vnto many generations Ye may know by the writen word howe God feedeth the Rauens and clotheth the Lillies Though they neither toile nor spinne and though they neither sowe nor reape and though they neither haue store-house nor Barne yet are they sufficiently prouided How much more are ye better than Fowles or flowers Christs precept is of profitable practise Seeke first the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse therof and all other things shall bee cast vnto you Pray the Lord not coldlie and careleslie but most earnestlie that hee would cleanse scoure your hearts from all these worldlie cares of what yee shall eate and vvhat ye shall drink and vvhat yee shall put on Learne in time to cast your burden vpon the Lord who desireth you so to doe and that with a promise that hee shall sustaine you A little with Gods blessing is enough It is like that Widowes handfull of meale and little oyle which failed not The vessels of Gods grace are like that other VVidowes pot of oyle which yeelded out oyle continuallie so long as there were vessels to receiue If yee bee earnest with God in prayer hee will not repell your prayers with a deafe eare The Lord himselfe hath taken vpon him to bee your Iudge and defender If anie goe about for to molest you by a violent boisterous course he will certainelie bee their bane like dung hee sh◅ll swee◅e them away from the face of the Earth Seeing then yee haue such faire promises of GOD made both to your faithfull Father and to you also in the day of your Baptisme beware by a lewde life to forfeite such Bandes and Obligations Beware to followe the euill examples of this Worlde in following the droue which either by secret hypocrisie or publicke prophaning biddeth Battells to all the Preceptes of Gods Lawe Sharpe is that sauce which commeth after the sweet◅st worldlie pleasures Let them bee as pleasant as yee please there is an Hooke in the Bate The most part of this world is but a rabble of Reprobates an hoste of damned sinners rushing vpon their owne destruction Their cleanest Garments are spotted with the flesh They are more clammie than pitch None can touch them and not bee defiled Bee euer earnest to doe well Though ye come faire short of that you should and also would doe yet bee not discouraged Gods strength at last shall bee made perfect in your weaknesse It cannot bee auoided but manie will trouble you by fraud by cusenage and by other diuerse afflictions Though such things bee tedious to the flesh and goe against the streame of your affections yet in the latter end all shall worke both to your well contentment Let not sorrow ouerwhelme your hearts Mourne not as these that haue none hope
of the Resurrection Let the meditations of Gods mercie and promised fauour rouse vp your Soules from that lumpishnesse and melancholious drowsinesse which may creep in into your hearts in this troublous time Striue to bound and fence your heartes about deligentlie with the thoughts of Gods Fatherlie fauour who shall neuer leaue you fatherlesse Though your father be dead yet God is aliue Now Sir yee who aâ—…t the elder bee yee the more thankfull to God who hath giuen you the first place Shew good example vnto the yonger Oppresse them not but rather bee a father vnto them By your good counsell striue to make them plyable and frameable to Gods will reuealed in his word As for you who are yonger ones bee not discouraged for often grace maketh the yonger to bee the elder and sinne maketh the elder the yonger So Iacob found the blâ—…ssing though Esau was the first borne It is Vertue that maketh the Heire Let your heartes therefore relye vpon the Lord Let him bee the caruer of all your cares If yee depend on him yee shall not want Hee who created the world without matter and preserueth it without meanes is God all sufficient who can easilie finde out meanes for the maintenance of al these that by faith can laye claime to his promise If wealth bee expedient for you the Lord will giue you a large allowance till hee make your Cuppe to ouer flow But if otherwise hee hath appointed to exercise you with pouertie know that he who hath the hearts of all men in his hands can easilie for your comfort stirre vp some who by their liberalitie towards you shall prouide themselues bags vvhich waxe not olde If yee can bend your whole endevour to the seruice of your God hee shall satisfie you with the prouisions of his mercie But if otherwise yee become lewde and prophane haunting euill companie the verie canker and cut-throate of all godlinesse yee shall neuer prosper no not though by a painefull drudgerie ye should draw out the verie life-blood of your hearts It is not earlie rising noâ—… late going to bedde but Gods blessing that enricheth Now the Lord of grace blesse you mine hearts The Lord teach you to set seale these comforts with prayers patience vpon your hearts And seeing the dayes are now euill euen the dregges of dayes I intreate the most High to graunt you grace hour lie to renâ—…w and strengthen your watch that your hearts spirits may be preserued vnblamable and that vntill the day of his most glorious appearance AMEN A diuine and heauenly discourse fit to be read to these that are conueened in the house of mourning that thereby the liuing may be remembered of their mortalitie DEarlie Beloued this our godlie Friend one of Gods excellent Ones is now deceased that peacâ—…ablie like a Lambe into the armes oâ—… his God who hath euer lasting lie fast bund his Soule in the bundle of life The death of such is often a fearfull preâ—…age of much anger and euill to come His Soule is now glorious in the Heauens like a Starre new created in the Skie It is now liuing the life of God aboue where it is filled with the infusion of that 〈◊〉 which wee haue heere on earth 〈◊〉 by imputation Hee hath now alâ—… God and all that is in God in â—…speakable perfection beeing in that place where God is all in all At last after sore fighting and bitter bickering as diuerse godlie persons haue seene through the bent browes of an angrie Iudge hee hath seene the yearning and relenting bowels of a louing Father Now after his Battell ended he hath 〈◊〉 the Spirit Clepsydrâ—… 〈◊〉 his houre glasse is now runne out and his Soule is come to its wished home where it is free from the fetters of flesh Nowe from the â—…hanging turnes of time hee is at last come to Eternitie Thorow many seas of â—…orrows both bitter and brimie hath he sailed before that hee could ariue at that blessed Port. Our hearts cannot be but sorrowfull to bee depriued of such comfortable companie as was â—…is But here iâ—… our comfort and the matter of our joye hee is well and shall bee so for euer By the mercie of his God hee is now passed ouer thâ—… knoppes of the mountaines of miserie and thorow the muddie myres of sinfull mortalitie thorow fearefull tryals and troubles euen from the dyets of grace to the dainties of glorie from the Villages of this world vnto euerlasting 〈◊〉 farre aboue the rolling wheele of all changeable pleasures and smarting paines Poore mans life on earth is like a restlesse whirle-gigge whirled about The mouing heauens are the place of our rest and the resting earth is the place of our restlesse motions The way of this life as wee may see is not adorned with Violets and Roses No not It is full of rubs and thornes and pricking whinnes of piercing griefe O with what paines hath his sillie Soule sought vp the sweete streames of Gods mercie 〈◊〉 to the Fountaine it selfe which is 〈◊〉 to the Heauens God in great mercie hath now 〈◊〉 last after manie dolours and bitter bickerings put his Spirit into the acâ—… tuall and full possession of his 〈◊〉 all joyes Through fyre and water 〈◊〉 Lord hath broght him out into a 〈◊〉 place Now he is free from the bodie of bondage which did hang so fast 〈◊〉 His Soule is set out of the reach of 〈◊〉 troubles and sublunary toyes Now blessed bee our God hee is no 〈◊〉 lyable to our sinfull mortalitie into this earth a gulfe of corruption God at last hath recompenced his light affliction with an euerlasting weight of glorie O but he hath had a painefull time in his sicknes with manie deepe sigh and heauie groane hath hee beene heard in his feares His face could neuer bee dryed for teares continuallie trickling ouer his cheekes Happie is hee now for all the cloudes of his sinnes haue bene dissolued by the raine of mournâ—…full teares where with all Soules must be baptised before that they can be members of the Church Triumphant Now blessed bee God all his teares and his trauels are turned into triumphes If men shedde not â—…eares on earth God cannot wypt them away in heauen All as wee must fight the good fight before â—…hey can catch the Crowne Let vs all learne in him and in â—…his House of mourning to see and conâ—…der the end of vs all that while wee are liuing wee may lay it to our hearts and make it a matter of our nights meditations Happie and thrise happie is hee that can practise that saying of Iob All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite till changing come It is good that wee euer bee watchfull vpon our guarde well prepared for our last departure and finall accounts No man can â—…ll how soone hee shall bee arraigned in the great
thee in righteousnesse in judgement in louing kindnesse in mercies come now and perfect the marriage in glory before the Sainctes and Angels that are aboue where pleasures are for euermore The Pastour Amen Amen The Spirit of God Sir is with you within you Continue in such holie and heauenlie thoughtes Contemne still the transitorie triffles of this world that gladlie yee may desire to goe dwell with your God Naturallie all men are so stiffe-necked and so steele hearted that they cannot submit their will to the good pleasure of their God O that men would bee wise in time and could consider how they must bee accountable for euerie houre of time they haue imployed in their life Our Soules alas are so sensuall that they will not knit into acquaintance with Right and Reason but like factious ligged lieges rebell stifelie against their Lord Hardlie will mans heart rander vnto that petition which is often in his mouth viz. Thy will bee done in earth as it is in heauen The pride of mans heart perketh it selfe aboue the Lawes of humble obedience Blessed bee God whose mercie hath made you a resolued man such wordes as I haue heard of you were neuer teached in the Schoole of Nature Nature cannot speake the language of Canaan We haue nothing to rander vnto God for his working mercies but the mites of praise O but ye are much beholden vnto GOD who hath endued your Soule with his loue subdued the raging power of temptations whe◅with your Soule at the first was caried lik chaffe or dust before a gale mightie winde O but your heart at the first was fearefullie hacked and mangled with most terrible temptations O but the Spirite of Iesus hath wrought wonderfullie within you Now by him are ye made free from all the terrors of temptations which like venemous hornets did flie in your face The sicke Man I finde now all that to bee true Glade is my Soule that euer it knew that Lord Full welcome is his Spirit to me Christ is now my Loue mine hearts delight Hee hath ridde my Soule of all mine heauie-hearted thoughts By his blessed Spirit hee hath perswaded mee that my Soule hath a true and reall enterest in these blessed tidings of peace and Saluation which hee by his Blood hath bought and broght from the Heauens O the mercie of my God! O the Ocean of his compassions which hath swallowed vp the most hudge mountaines of mine iniquities O what a redemption is this to bee deliuered from so great a death wherin the damned must die so long as God shall liue O death of torments without anie end O life of continuance without anie ease O the immortalitie of that death wherein sinners shall euer bee dying but neuer dead wherein the least touch of paine cannot bee counteruailed with the millions of pleasures O the tumbling and tossing that shall bee there where the wrath of God shall infinitelie burne Now Christ the Lord of life hath made mee free of all these fear◅s I hope shortlie to bee with him I rejoyce in hope of the glorie of God To him will I say as hee said to Zacheus Today I must bide with thee I long to bee out of this state of strife My bodie is weake and mine ◅eart fainteth within mee O Lord recreate and refresh my Soule with the blessed Blood of the Lambe orientle streaming thorow the channell of his wounds Giue mee a constant assurance that all my sinnes are blotted out of thy Register Where no woode is there the fyre goeth out Where sin is taken away there wrath ceaseth to bee O Lord conduct the Ruther of my Soule till it hath sailed thorow al the seas of sorrows and become to the Port of pleasures for euermore The Pastour Take courage and continue so Lift vp your head with the eye of Faith behold the other Shore euen the Land beyond the riuer The Land of vprightnes Canaan which is aboue Bend vp all your heart-strings with hauenlie desires Fixe fast your eyes vpon that Crowne of immortalitie Let now all your thoughts claspe fast about the mercies of your God Hee nowe imbraceth you his hand is a sure hold fast which neuer letteth slip that which it once hath seized on In al appearance your Battell is neare an end Waite stedfastlie vpon the Lord Christ shortlie with a soft hand shal loose the knot of your life that your Soule may goe free to the place of its rest your Soule alreadie by the mercifull Arme of Iesus hath beene deliuered from the painefull racke of repentance and now is sette vpon the rocke of your Saluation The gracious God hath beene your Father Feeder and Defender Your desirs which of before were grappled to the ground now only aspire to things which are aboue Afflictions to the Soule is like the gade to the Oxe a teacher of obedience Finde ye now the tempest of your Conscience so allayed as yee would wish Is all calme and at quiet within I hope that the blessed droppes of the Lambes Blood haue quenched that wilde fyre wherewith once your troubled Conscience was enflammed Yee as I esteeme are no more troubled for your sinnes as though God neither would nor were able to forgiue I pray God that yee may boldlie say with a godlie Father What shall I returne vnto my gracious God that I darre now looke my sinnes in the face and not bee afraide The sicke Man My sinnes I blesse God fright mee no more O the rich bowels of Iesus wherein is a Myne of mercie I remember now of a sweete saying of a godlie mā on his death-bed When mine iniquities saide hee are greater than thy mercies O God then will I feare and despaire The comfortes of my God now refresh my Soule lik the Riuer of Siloah that watered the Citie of God I blesse God for all my try all troubles which hee hath made to worke together to my well Grace in the heart is often like fyre in flint insensible vntill it bee beaten It is good for vs that wee bee afflicted The bluenesse of the wound purgeth away euill My Saluation now is surelie sealed by the hand of the Spirit By his seale it is made sure and authenticall O how my Soule hath with a bright eye discouered the fauours of his face O if God forsake a man hee will shortlie with Iudas passe from the horror to the halter O the mercies of God towards me The Pastour O how much are yee beholden vnto God who by his Spirit hath so directed your heart and mouth with wordes perfumed with the sauour of life vnto life yee haue refreshed all our Soules as with a sweete breath If the Spirit of Grace guided not our tongues in our temptations our mouths to our euerlasting shame should breath out stiffe and stinking blastes of blasphemie against the Lord our
Creator Praised be the Name of the most High who hath borne and broken that vnspeakable burden of wrath where with yee were surcharged at our first meeting The sicke Man Amen Amen Blessed bee the Name of Iesus At that Name the knees of my Soule bowe in a most humble manner to the ground for to kisse it with my mouth a thousand times vpon Conscience of my bygone miserie and of his present mercie All mine affections are set on foote and are so cheered and rauished with the loue of my God as no tongue can expresse O happie thrise happie change Once I feared damnation nowe Christ is my Saluation Once I sat in darknesse hee is now my Light Once I was in Death hee is now my Life Once I was in bondage hee is now my Libertie Once I was in want hee is now my Wealth Once I was in sicknesse hee is nowe mine Health Once I was in shame hee is nowe my Glorie What shall I say mo◅e Hee is mine onelie Deare and and dearest heartes desire Hee is my strongest Tower I haue none other Arke to saue mee from the flood Mine heart is prepared mine heart is prepared Oh that I were where without let I shall sing Halleluiah for euer where all earthlie objects shall seeme but filthie abjects in comparison of him Now Sir I intreat you to conceiue another Prayer that thereby as by the Charet of Elijah my Soule may bee carried vp into Heauen Commend my Soule into the hands of Christ the Redeemer Yee the Lords Priest stand still with the Arke till my Soule hath passed the Iordan for to enter into Canaan O Lord Iesus pittie this poore Soule that panteth at thy feete draw it out of this clogge of clay B◅e with mee vnto the end Graue thine owne shape deepe within mine heart that it may bee in judgement as a piece of euidence that the Heauens are mine heritage O look vpon mee who am heere waiting vpon that blessed hope Comfort refresh mee with the sweetest breath of thy blessed Spirit Set my sillie Soule upon Pisga the sight hill of Canaan Guarde mee with the invinsible troopes of thine Angels O thou whose Name and Nature is mercie take my wearied Soule and lull it sweetelie in the softest armes of thy most tender compassions Ioyne your prayers vnto mine The effectuall feruant prayer of a righteous man auaileth much The Pastour According to your desire Sir wee shall worsle with God in prayer that your end may bee peace The Lord gather all our scattered thoughts that beeing as twisted together into one threede they may be like the three-fold corde which is not easilie broken powerfull to draw downe Gods Graces from aboue Let vs pray A Prayer for the sick mā O Lord settle earnest prayer in our Soules vpon true sense of our neede Let not our prayers be tumultuous Tune thou our words by thy Spirit while our lips walke make our hearts to moue Preserue vs from vaine babyling lest our prayers bee turned into sinne O God the God of all Spirites who hast the keyes of Heauen and of Hell Thou steeketh and no man openeth Thou openeth and no man steeketh Open now thy mercifull doores vnto this poore Soule which panteth after thee as the chassed Hart panteth after the water brookes Let none of his sinnes stand betweene thy face and him for to ecclipse his Soule the light of thy countenance Seale vp in his heart by thy Spirit the free full forgiuenes of all his transgressions Thou who by the vertue of thy death made the vaile of the Temple to rent for to mak an open way to the Holie of holies mak also the partition wall of all his iniquities to cleaue from the toppe to the bottome that his Soule remoued from his bodie may get entrie to the Highest and holiest of the Heauens where thine honour dwelleth Make thy Graces in him to growe like Elias his cloud which at the first no bigger than an hand at last by and by did ouer spread the whole skie Sanctifie his Soule and soften his heart with the diuine dew of thy Grace Say vnto his Soule I am thy Saluation Behold Lord his Soule is seeking thee let nothing in his search carie him on the by Keepe fast in his remembrance the blessed bloodie passion of his Redeemer Iesus When Death shall come let him die with thy Christ in his Armes Strengthen and increase his desire to be dissolued assuring him that it shal be much better for him Furnish him with strength whereby he may row against the strictest streams of all temptations till hee arriue into the hauen of the Heauens the sole and safe harberie of Saluation And seeing no vncleane thing can enter into Heauen Lord wash this thy seruant and wash him throughlie that by the vertue of thy Blood his sinnes though they were red like scarlet and crimson may bee made white like wooll and whiter than the snow Pull off his Soule the menstrous cloath of his owne righteousnes and cloth him with the righteousnes of him whose statelie style is THE LORD OVR RIGHT TEOVSNES Thou who hast alreadie added strength vnto his Faith while it was scant like a smoking flaxe let not the sparkle which once thou hast kindled for euer bee quenched Amid the sight of his sins make him to lay hold vpon the merite and full satisfaction of his Sauiour Let him with all the Faithfull receiue of that fulnesse and grace for grace And seeing nowe Lord hee is comming vnto thee thorow the snakie fielde of manie temptations lette his feete bee shod with the preparation of thy Gospel Thou Lord wilt neuer suffer anie that trust in thee to bee confounded Hee followed thee constantlie in his life nowe let thy Spirit tryst him at the houre of death Hee disclaimeth all hope of helpe by anie other than by thy selfe alone Though hee knoweth not perfectlie what to say yet his eyes are on thee Thou who is Alpha and Omega hast begunne this good worke in him crowne it with the perfection of thy goodnesse Let him more more feele that hee is euerlastinglie acquite by the Blood of the Lambe from the terrors of Gods Tribunall Refresh his Soule more and more with celestiall spirituall joyes proceeding from the Spirit of Grace Let him feele himselfe assuredlie knit vnited to thee O thou preseruer of men that in and by thee hee may be presented blamelesse before thy Majesties Iustice-seate Furnish his minde with light and his memorie with strength that hee may vnderstand and remember that Christes death is an absolute and all sufficient Sacrifice for remouing the guilt of all repenting sinners Shewe him a signe of thy loue Multiplie in his heart the pledges of thy kindnes Make him faithfull vnto death that hee may receiue the Crowne of life Thou hast alreadie subdued in him alloue and liking of this world