say it O Lord thou hast appointed thy creatures to labour for me then seeing I am eased by them make me to goe forwarde more busilie in thy seruice that they may beare me in all my journeyes to glorifie thee and not carrie me to sinne Numb 22.21 with Baalam the sonne of Beor who caused Israel to sinne And as thou hast appointed the Beasts for my commoditie so through my sinne thou hast inarmed thy creatures aganst me for now the Earth bringeth foorth as many enemies as friends vnto me For the wylde Beastes doe multiplie as our sinne groweth which destroyeth both Man and Beast and the Cornes and Fruits before our eyes are consumed by thy great Hoste The residue of the Palme-worme the Canker-worme hath eaten Ioel 1.4 and the residue of the Canker-worme the Grashopper hath eaten O Lord waken vs in mercy out of the bed of sinne that beeing reconciled to thee thou mayest rebuke thy great Hoste and drowne them in the Sea Further O Lord when I consider how thou madest mee little lesse than an Angell Psal 8.5 and crownedst mee with honour and glorie and yet I am become like a Beast in my sensualities and pleasures Yea oftentimes like a Swine I returne to the puddle of sinne from which I was cleansed Wash me O Lord throughly from an euill conscience Many are like Bulles Lyons and Beares in this Wildernesse where I dwell O blessed God thou hast rescued mee from the clawes of the Beare and the paw of the Lyon 1. Sam. 17.34 Psal 23.2.4 as Dauid did his Fathers Sheepe O Lord thou art my shepheard when I feele my selfe neare lost thy Staffe will deliuer me Therefore will I sacrifice to thee my bodie and my life for thou art the God of my saluation mine hope mine helpe my Sauiour and my God O Lord Matth. 12 34. this is a generation of Vipers and vnnaturall people they haue recompenced me euill for good Alace as I haue done to thee so haue they done to me Nota. I requite thy kindnes with vnkindnesse thy benignities with mine iniquities But pittie O pittie me I will doe so no more Let my wayes please thee O Lord let my soule be thankfull vnto thee that thou mayest tame those Wilde Beasts and make them friendly vnto me Now seeing thou hast made my bodie and soule this sixth day grant that all the dayes of my life I may glorifie thee in them both that while they are together in this world euery one may prouoke other to serue thee Let Soule and Bodie prouoke one another to Gods seruice my soule may be commanded by thee and so may direct my bodie aright and my bodie may be obedient to the directions of thine holy Spirit that so I may vse all thy creatures to the glorie of thine holie Name that when it shall please thee to diuide them then I may render my bodie to the dust whereof it was made and my soule to thee of whom it was created waiting when they shall meete be vnited together againe at the last day to praise and glorifie thee for euermore Amen A MEDITATION VPON THE SEAVENTH DAY Vpon the vvhich the Lord rested from all the Workes which Hee had made Genes 2.2 WEe haue taken a view of the first sixe dayes wherin we haue seen the wonderful works of GOD in the creation of the whole World and all things therein And now wee come to the seuenth Day which is the sweete day of our Lordes rest wherein hee ceased from any new creation but by his providence sustained those thinges which hee had made By this his example he instituted one Day onelie to bee celebrated as a Sabbath to the ende of the world This Day ought to be had in an honourable regard as Augustine obserueth in his 154. Serm. de temp Tom. 10. in these words Venerabilis est hic dies qui Dominicus dicitur c. that is to say This day which is called the Lordes day is venerable on the which the Light was first seene Genes 1.3 Exod. 14.22 Ibid. 16.15 Mat. 3.13 Iohn 2.1 Luke 9.17 Ioh. 20.1 and 20.26 2. The people of Israel passed thorow the redde Sea 3. Manna rained in the Desart 4. The Lord was baptized in Iordane 5. Christ turned Water into Wine in Canah of Galilee 6. Christ fed fiue thousand people with fiue Loaues 7. Our Lord arose from death 8. Entered thorow the close Doores where the Disciples were gathered for feare of the Iewes Act. 2.1 9. The holy Ghost descended vpon the Apostles c. and on which Day we look for the cōming of our Lord Iesus Christ to judgement when as the Church shall bee reformed to a Light seuenfolde greater than the Sunne and Moone c. This is a Day not an Houre not of Ydlenesse but of Rest Nota. not vnto our selues but to the Lord not for a time but for euer God craueth a whole Day which consisteth of all the partes Morning Noonetyde and Euening The whole Sabbath is to be sanctified So it is a verie grosse abuse to parte or diuide the Lordes Day at our owne pleasure Wee giue the beginning of this Day to sleepe and many Craftesmen without conscience to worke the mid-time of the day perhaps to the seruice of the Church and the afternoone to Drinke or Pastime euen as though God had not right and title to the whole Day who commandeth it by his Preceptes and commendeth it by his owne example as wee haue showne afore But seeing ignorant people and I am the more sorie euen those who would haue some appearant showe of knowledge doe object saying How shall they spende the Sabbath they haue kept Church-time what shall they doe afternoone it were better for them to play than to drinke so that they thinke Playes to bee lawfull at afternoone and that vpon the Sabbath First I answere that to vse anie sorte of playing gaming or pastime vpon the Lords day An answere vnto those who aske how they should bestow the Sabbath is altogether vnlawfull for vpon this day especiallie wee haue to doe with God in a serious and earnest matter which businesse will chase away all follies and wantonnesse and bring vs into a due consideration how wee may attaine vnto a reconciliation with our God for our manifold sinnes wherewith wee haue so often and hainouslie prouoked him vnto wrath against vs. How the Sabbath should bee spent But I wil more peremptorily answere to their demaund What they should doe First for the morning of the day rise earely and pray confessing the sinnes of the weeke bygone prepare thy heart to receiue the word of God as thou wouldest prepare the ground in breaking it vp Simil. before thou wouldest cast seede into it In the midday heare the word and sing praise to the blessed Trinitie Blessed is the man who delighteth in the law of the Lord. Psaelm 1.2 And
Beastes and get the names of such Beastes whose fashions and conditions they are moste addicted to followe They are called Lyons Rauens Beares Bulles of Da-shan Swyne Dogges Vipers c. The couetous Pastours are called dumbe greedie Dogges who cannot barke and neuer are satisfied Issachar is compared vnto a wylde Asse which concheth betwixt two Burdens and Dan vnto a Serpent and there are manie of the Trybe of Dan which byteth the Horse heeles and the ryder also And albeit there bee manie Adulterers and Murderers of the Trybe of Dan which shall enter into Heauen yet the Serpent-kynde of the Trybe of Dan shall not come there Plinius sayeth that there are three kyndes of Serpentes One which killeth all Strangers and spareth Countrey folks Plin. lib. 8. cap. 59. another which killeth Countrey folkes and spareth Strangers and the third which spareth none of them and there are people of all these sortes But I marke one thing in the Serpent wherein it differeth in crueltie from all other Beasts A remarkable marke of the Serpit against Man for the Lyon and Wolfe seeke after Mens Blood for the loue of the Bloode wherevpon they feede but the Serpent which feedeth vpon the Dust out of an hatefull desire of naturall reuenge thirsteth after Mans Bloode albeeit it getteth none other gaine thereby but onelie the satisfaction of her cruell minde representing manie deuilish and serpent-like people Nota. who albeit they get none other commoditie by the destruction of godlie persons yet they holde their selues satisfied that they haue gotten the malicious intent of their wicked heartes brought to passe Man of greaâ—est price is made last Now when the Lord had furnished his House with store of al good things as a louing and carefull Father hee builded an House to his Sonne and he â—illed it with all plenishing Simil. and then hee putteth his Sonne into it as God placed Man Hee maketh Man with aduisement Let vs make Man sayde the Father to the Sonne and to the Spirit Gen. 1.26 For this aduisement telleth vs that the Creation of Man is more than the Creation of the whole Worlde for Man is called a little Worlde because in him is comprehended a worlde of wonders in his Bodie and Soule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When hee sayeth To our Image then hee clearlie designeth the Trinitie of the persons Trinitie by the worde plurall And when hee sayeth Image in the singular Vnitie then he noteth the Vnitie of the substance The Image of GOD standeth not in the bodilie representation Wherein Gods Image standeth Isa 40.18.20 c. but in the giftes of the mynde therefore it is a grosse Idolatrie for Christians who knowe God to bee an infinite Spirite to close him within the compasse of a finite Image or to picture him with coloures who is capable of no qualitie Levit. 26.1 and which hee himselfe dischargeth by his Lawes For his Image standeth in Righteousnesse and Holinesse Mercie and Loue. GOD made Man and Beast of one substance The substaÌ„ce wherof wee are made should teach vs humilitie euen to teach vs humilitie and if wee had not soules wee differ verie little from Beastes But the power of God appeared so much the more who could produce out of so base a Subject such a glorious Workemanship As the cunning of the Artificer is much more admired Simil. who out of a base matter can worke fynelie than of a strong Mettall Then Mans bodie being so artificiallie made he breathed in him an heauenlie substance which is a spirit as God is who can neyther bee seene nor felt As the Heauens are more excellent than the Earth The wonderfull vnioÌ„ betwixt the Soule the Bodie and could worke without it which the Earth could not doe without the Heauens so can the Soule without the Bodie prayse God as it doeth in Heauen which the Bodie could not doe without the Soule In this life they haue mutuall operations the Soule directeth and the Bodie is directed the Bodie is blinde without the Soule and the Soule would bee creeple without the Bodie Let the Soule therefore commaund the Bodie in those thinges which are lawfull and let the Bodie obey the good direction of the Soule which both being made vp to the Image of GOD they may represent Him in all their actions A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES sixth Dayes Worke. O Lord God Father of Mercies and God of all consolation looke downe vpon mee I beseech thee with the Eyes of thy mercie and sithence thou hast created Man vpon the sixth Day create mine heart anewe and anoint it with a fresh remenberance of thy power and goodnesse that I may become a newe creature Vpon the fifth day thou plenishedst the Aire with Birdes and the Sea with Fishes innumerable Genes 1.21 and now the Earth yeeldeth all sortes of Beastes likewise euen to mans vse and they are brought vnder subjectioÌ„ that I might bee free they lay downe their liues for mee that I may liue by them and albeit both I and they bee made of one substance yet thou hast preferred mee aboue them all and hast put them vnder my feete Psal 8.6 so deare am I vnto thee I thanke thee O Lord that thou of thine vndeserued mercie and loue hast made thy choyse of mee Nota. God made choyse of â—s let vs â—herefore make choyse of God Genes 2.20 Oh Lord cause mee to make mine onelie choyse of thee Amongst thy creatures there is none like vnto thee Adam could not finde one equall to himselfe amongst all thy creatures till out of himselfe thou madest one like vnto himselfe O Lord there is nothing in Heauen nor in the Earth can satisfie my soule thou art the perfection of beautie thou hast giuen me the rest giue me thy selfe without whom neither the creatures visible nor inuisible will content mee Yet seeing it pleaseth thee that they should be appointed to feede cloathe and ease me make me the more able by them to goe forwarde in thy seruice let not that malediction and curse fall vpon mee Let vs beware that wee fight not against the Lord with his owne benefites that I should fight against the God of my life with his owne benefits to whom I am so infinitly oblished for his gracious gifts bestowed on me O Lord I haue receiued some new comfort in the day of my tryall when for my humiliation it pleaseth thee to punish me with pouertie then Sathan biddeth me turne the stones into bread as he did vnto Christ and seeke vnlawfull meanes for my reliefe But Matth. 4.3 Lord augment thou my fayth and let me depende vpon thy promises that I may build vpon them as vpon a sure Holde and speake boldlie with thy seruant Dauid The Lord is my sheepheard I shall not want Psal 23.1 No Prince of the Earth can say this word Nota. but a poore christian depending vpon thee may
last at afternoone meditate vpon the word which thou hast heard harow the ground by conference and visit the sicke breake thy Bread to the hungrie thou shalt find such infinit occasions of spirituall exercises vpon the Sabbath that thou hast no neede to spende it ydlie for lacke of better exercise Great differance betwixt Rest and Ydlenes But it is to be vnderstoode that there is a great difference betwixt Rest and Ydlenesse for ydlenesse is euer taken in an euill part and is the foster-mother of all sinne and there is no day in the weeke wherein God hath permitted it Sixe dayes shalt thou labour sayeth the Lod. Exod. 20.9 2. Thess 3.10 And the Apostle Paul dischargeth to giue foode to those who worke not But Rest is euer taken in a good sense when we are commanded to cease from one sort of exercise that we may be occupied in a better for the thornie cares of this world wil impede deuotion therefore God willl that we lay them aside for a while to the ende we may the better waite and attende vpon Gods diuine Seruice Wherevpon vpon it followeth necessarilie that the Sabbath is not only abused by such as worke their earthly businesse thereon but also by such as cease in bodie and their mindes and mouthes are filled with worldly affaires Then this Rest consisteth in two things ceasing and working must be the most diligent day in the whole weeke Spirituall rest both in regard of the soule that hath her principall operation that day and the ende of her labour which is God his kingdome which only wee should seeke that day This Rest must be totall and not partlie The Sabbath dayes rest must bee totall and not parted for the soâ—le all the faculties thereof and the bodie with her members must bee put to worke for Gods glorie Wee must not employ our cogitations to think vpon these earthly thinges Haue not our mindes beene worne as Milstones grinding gaine to the world these dayes bygone The Beast careth but for things present Simil. but thy care hath bene for things to come thou wilt serue God this day with thy mouth and thy god Mammon with thy mind God esteemeth and judgeth thy seruice from the inwarde disposition of thine heart as he doeth all things for he looketh not as man doth God judgeth of maÌ„ by his heart 1. Sam. 16.7 If with thy heart thou drawest neare vnto him then thou hast obserued his Sabbath for the heart will carrie thy body which the bodie cannot for thy soule will goe where she pleaseth albeit the bodie be in the Temple of God Next vpon the Sabbath it is required that our hearts and affections be spirituallie disposed with a delight and pleasure in the Lord. Heerefore the Lord craueth by his Prophet that his Sabbath should be a day of delight Isa 58.13 for there is none action which a man inteÌ„deth with hope of gaine or pleasure albeit it bee painfull that hee hath not delight into but specially in the works of sinne which Sathan baiteth with wonderfull delights If we haue taken such pleasure in the seruice of sinne whose ende is death shall we not rejoyce when we goe to the house of our God seeing only that seruice which is done with joy of the heart on the Sabbath is acceptable to God and profitable to thy soule What shall we thinke of such Recusants who will not heare the voyce of their Bridegroome Recusants damned such as for feare come to the Church Simil. neither will come to the Sanctuarie of God or of such who for feare of lawes for shame or custome doe come I will compare them to a shrewde wife married to an Husband who refuseth to him cohabitation and if sometime she be enforced to come to his societie she signifieth by her countenance and outward behauiour that her heart is not with him and therefore is not worthie that he should delight in her As also those Christians of whatsoeuer estate they bee which vse their games and pastymes on the Sabbath Gamesters rebuked whether in the house or in open albeit the one is more offeÌ„siue thaÌ„ the other yet in themselues they are both sinful for in so doing they declare howe little delight they haue in things which are better 1. King 3.24 Simil. Then yee would cut the child in twaine as the whoore would haue done but the Lord to whome the Sabbath belongeth sayeth Either giue me the whole day or take it all to thy selfe The Lord is the Lord of the Sabbath it is his owne day the rest he hath giuen to thee take of thy sixe dayes and robbe not him of his one As the Rod of Aaron swallowed vp the Rod of the inchanters of Egypt Simil. Exod. 7.12 so let the delight of God deuoure all other pleasures And as wee must make conscience of our thoughts and all actions so wee must beware of ydle speaches on his Sabbath Ydle speaches on the Sabbath for if the tongue bee a most noble member when should it bee occupyed in his seruice if not on the day of his rest will not thy tongue finde in that infinite God Nota. infinite matter of speach of the proofes which thou hast had of his power fauour wisedome justice patience c that thou needest not for lacke of spirituall purpose to talke ydlie Besides that his word is an Ocean of matter furnishing thy tongue so well to sing his prayses And so on the Lordes day let vs speak the language of Canaan Further Isa 19.18 we must not goe our owne wayes or doe our will the way which hee hath prescribed vs to goe is to his House and to visit the sicke indigent and not to goe make our merchandise vpon this day The people of Israel went out to seeke Manna vpoÌ„ the sabbath Exod. 16.27 but they found nothing neither shal our Sabbath erraâ—ds find any benediction So on the Lords Sabbath let our mindes our members On the Sabbath let all our members bee occupied in Gods seruice cease from the world and much more from sinne that wee may meditate vpon the Lawe of God Our eyes may beholde his works glorifie him in them our eares may heare his word our tongue may proclaime his praise our knees may bow downe and worship him we may lift vp our hands to heauen our feete may goe to his house so all may concurre in his majesties Sabbath to his honour The promise which God giueth if we obserue it is That we shall mount vp to the high places of the earth Isa 58.14 this is temporall and he will feede vs with the heritage of Iacob our father this is spirituall Godlinesse then hath the promise of this life and the life to come Godlinesse hath a twofolde promise for there is no doubt but the diligent seruice of God vpon this day shall procure a
blessing vnto all the rest of the weeke Seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof Mat. 6.33 and all other thinges shall bee casten vnto you vvhere by the contrarie there are Curses denounced aga nst the profanators of the Sabbath Ier. 17.27 that God shall curse the workes of their handes and the Land shall enjoye manie Sabbathes of yeeres euen as it did in the Captiuitie of Babylon Now Three kinds of Sabbaths 1. Of Creation 2. Of Redemption Reuel 1.10 there are three kindes of Sabbathes the first of the Creation as a memoriall that GOD ceased from his worke vpon the seuenth day this lasted till Christes death and resurrection The second Sabbath beganne vpon the day of his resurrectiō which is called THE LORDES DAY in rememberance of a newe Creation of the worlde 3. Of Perfection Isa 66.23 and this will ende with the worlde And the thirde Sabbath shall be eternall when as the sixe dayes of this miserable life shall bee finished vvee shall rest from all our earthlie businesses and trauels that our continuall exercise may bee to glorifie him in minde heart and with all our strength in his Kingdome Then let vs occupie this Sabbath whollie in his prayse vvhich shall bee a sure pledge of that in the Heauens A Prayer vpon the seuenth Day MOst mightie Lord and mercifull Father distill I beseech thee and powre downe into mine earthlie heart thy diuine Dewes vvhich may moysten it together with such heauēly meditations as may stirre vp mine heart vnto thy prayse and glory that as vpon these sixe dayes I haue beene musing and meditating vpon all thy most glorious workes so I may repose my selfe vpon the day of Rest and finde quietnesse to my soule in thee for all the rest of the creatures albeit they be glorious yet they be subject vnto a curse not because of themselues but for man who hath defiled them I haue trusted to the pleasures which I saw in the creatures and I see that it is true that Salomon saide All is but vanitie and vexation of the spirit Eccles 1.2 as Ritches increase so Care groweth But O Lord let me come to thine Arke as the Doue did which found no rest till shee came backe to Noah Genes 8.9 Pull in thine owne doue O my Lord vnto thee for the floods of sinne haue ouerflowed the face of the Earth that I finde no rest heere I am wearie and loadned Lord giue me rest to my soule in thee This day is joyfull to me because that my Lord rose this day from death I beseech thee my God Nota. raise vp my soule from the graue of sinne that I may be partaker of the first Resurrection and make my thoughts spirituall this thy Sabbath day banish from my minde all earthlie cares this day forgiue me in that I haue so many times abused these thine holie dayes Oftentimes when I was praying to thee or thou preaching vnto me Sathan did cast into my mind carnall cogitations which interrupted that communication betwixt my soule thy majestie O Lord forgiue me and fill my soule with thy reuerence and feare in all the dayes of my life to come that all such ydle purposes may be dispatched by thine holie Spirit shut the doore of my soule when thou art speaking vnto me or when I pray to thee that none get entrie to vnquiet me and stay my joy for alace mine heart was casten open vnto many of thine enemies I will close the doore of mine eare to the voyce of all others that thou mayest speake to me Alace my God I finde a great decay of that spirituall joy in me that I haue not that sparke of delight and that inward spirituall joy which I should haue or had sometimes I loath the exercise which I loued mine hands are wearie and fallen downe I haue lost my first loue it was sweeter to me thā the honey Reuel 2.4 now it is loathsome vnto me as the Manna was vnto the Isralites therefore I beseech thee Numb 11.6 kindle vp an holie fire of thy loue in my soule as was in the Disciples going to Emmaus and that the zeale of thine House may eate me vp Luk 24.32 Psal 69.9 and 52.8 and 27.4 Let me flourish as a greene Oliue in the house of my God O would to God I could abide in thine house all the dayes of my life that I might praye with good Anna 1. Sam. 1.13.16 out of the bitternesse of my soule making my supplications to thee O Lord I craue thee pardon for the earthly and ydle speaches which I spake vpon the Sabbath I will holde mine hand vpon my mouth speake no more Iob 39.37 Luk 24.15 The Disciples which went to Emmaus were speaking of Christ he came vnto them alace when I spake of the world he went from me and my heart was colde Lord forgiue me for it was a great sin which I did yea I made no matter to deale in mine earthly businesse on thy Sabbath All mine excuses are nowe accusations against me they burne me when I am trying mine heart But Lord I found neuer any blessing in those mine actions which I enterprysed vpon thy Day I haue sinned I will doe it no more let the world be crucified to me and me to it vpon thy Sabbath I haue resolued in mine heart that I shall spende my dayes while I liue to thine honour Helpe my resolution by thine holie Spirit that neither the corruption of my nature my weaknesse and forgetfulnes Nota. neither the euil example of these wicked and profane people among whom I liue suffer me to break my promise which I doe make vnto thee but that thou mayst be my speach my thought and my delight vpon the Sabbath dayes Let me be feruent in prayer and supplications to thee vpon the day of thy rest Let me heare what thou speakest to me by the mouth of thy seruant Let me gather thy Manna when it is rained downe from the clowdes of Heauen Ex. 16.15 as the people gathered Manna in the Desart that I may heare it as thy word I may gather it and lay it in the store-house of mine heart against the yeere of famine Gen. 41.48 and giue me thy grace that vpon thy holy day I may proclaime thy prayses with the rest of the Saincts This day let me breake my bread to the hungrie seeing thou satisfiest me with thy spirituall graces let me cloathe them that are naked visit those that are sicke and that I may so rest from earthly vanities this day that I may moste diligently worke the workes of God that I may gather out the flowrs of thy most holy Scriptures that I may studie to practise which I heare in a godlie life and conuersation so I may redeem the time which I haue spent in vain Eph. 5.16 that I now getting mercie for the abusing of thy
my fellowes I had no delight to pray nor heare thy word albeit my Parents and Masters many times did commaund mee I spent that time euen the first fruites of my youth in ydlenesse My sinfull life and wicked nature delighted not to bee instructed in learning and vertue which my neglect of time is nowe punished in mine age for the which I craue thy mercy O remember not good Lord the sinnes of my youth neither howe ignorant I haue beene of thy trueth Psal 25.7 But by the holy childhood of thy Sonne purge the sinnes of my childhood and of thy great mercy O Lord pittie mine ignorance But when I passed the yeeres of my childhood Adolescencie I entered into mine Adolescencie in a middle age betwixt a Boy and a Man Alace for pittie when I call to minde that time of my life my soule is astonished fearing that thou wilt make mee to inherite the sinnes of my youth Thou gauest mee strength of bodie and quicknesse of minde but how vyldlie abused I all thy benefites I with the prodigall sonne haue spent all my precious youth in sinne Oh when I thinke vpon the monethes of vanitie when I gaue my strength to sinne and did consecrate the first fruits of my life to Sathan my soule fainteth O Lord I am ashamed when I thinke vpon my lende and beastly behauiour more beseeming a Beast than a Man O Lord thou hast not suffered all my follies to be made patent to the world neither didst thou slay me in my sinne Let not my secrete sinnes stand in the light of thy countenance for thine honour is to couer sinnes therefore let them passe like a shaddow If Ioseph did pardon those sinnes of his Brethren wilt thou Gen. 45.1 O Lord call to minde the follies by the which I haue offended thee Alace I was not onely foolish and insolent but I was mad I contemned all admonitions of thy seruauntes I thought my Parentes and Elders were but foolish and I euanished in my mad rage I was nigh vnto the gates of Hell I posted and ranne as swiftly as the Dromadarie Ier. 2.24 or the wilde Asse But thou tookest mee in my moneth and when I was ladened with sinne then thou mercifully chastisedst mee while I was burning in the flame of my lustes thou tamedst mee by a grieuous disease and sicknesse which thou layedst vpon mee by which my bodie was brought vnder Blessed bee thou O Lord who hadst that care of mee that thou chastisedst me and nurturedst mee that I should not perish with the wicked worlde Thou didst meete thy seruant Paul when hee went to Damascus Act. 9.3 and smotest him to the ground with blindnesse that he might rise againe a new man to honour thee Thou diddest preuent Dauid by the hand of Abigall 1. Sam. 25.23 who stopped him from sheeding of blood O most mercifull Lord thou didst meete mee by thy rodde and didst cast mee downe and raysedst mee vp againe Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I haue learned to followe thy Commaundementes Psal 119.67 Now I thy poore Supplicant vpon the knees of a sorrowfull soule craue pardon and grace for all the transgressions of my youth But O my God as I grew in yeeres so I grew in sinne Age. and I forgot thy former mercies I went to Iericho and mine enemies wounded mee vpon the way Luk 10.33 and left me for dead my fellowes passed by mee but gaue mee no comfort But thou O pittifull Samaritane hadst mercy vpon mee thou filledst my woundes with the wine of thy blood thou powredst in the oyle of thy spirit to soften them thou tookest mee vpon thy shoulders and broughtest mee to the Inne of thy Church where I might remaine vntill I was perfectly cured Prayse bee vnto my God who left mee not in my sinne but had compassion vpon mee But Lord haue pittie for my soule is inwardly tormented when I thinke on my former dayes and how I haue sinned against thee My Senses are defiled my Seeing my Hearing my Tasting The sight my Smelling and my Touching Alace I made not a couenant with mine Eyes but they were full of filthinesse therefore now doe I water my Couch with the teares of my complaint Forgiue O Lord Psal 6.6 my wandering lookes and nowe set minâ— Eyes vpon thee that the Eyes of minâ— Heart beeing purified with a purâ— Heart I may see God Math. 5.8 I opened the doores of mine Eares vnto the strange voyces of thine enemies I welcomed Sinne The hearing whensoeuer it came to my Soule But alace I repent and wish at God that I had not done so Yet nowe O Lord open the doores of my Soule that thou mayest sound the voyce of joye and gladnesse that the. Psal 51.8 Bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce Woe is mee that euer I tasted the delicates of sinne and that as Eua The â—â—sting Gâ—â— 3.6 by her taste and sight brought that guiltinesse vpon her selfe and vs so I by mine abusing of these good benefites haue procured that with the prodigall Childe thou shouldest bring me to pouertie O God keepe mee that I neuer taste the foode of the king of Babel but let mee eate the pottage of Daniel thy seruant Daniel 1.8 The Smelling Oh that the stinking smell of sinne were away from mine head Let mee smell the sauour of thine Oyntmentes thy Myrrhe Psal 45.8 and thy Cassia when thou commest from thine Yuorie Palaces The Touching Oh that euer I stretched foorth mine hand to sinne Now Lord extend d mine hand to thy seruice to bee bountifull to the Poore and to sow my seed vpon mâ—nie waters that I may reape eternall joye My minde is replenished with ignorance mine heart is indured my will is rebellious to thy will my mouth an open sepulchre and my feete are swift to run to euill O Lord haue pittie on mee and remember that Christ my Lord was wounded in all the members of his bodie and in all the members of his bodie that by his woundes I might bee cured Preuenting grace Preuent mee by thy grace â—â—eke thy lost Sheepe and light the â—andle of thy word Matth. 15.24 that thou mayest â—â—de thy lost Pennie And when thou â—ast found mee Lord giue mee thine â—â—companying grace Accompanying grace that it doe not â—â—rsake mee Put the Ring on my sinâ—er euen the Ring of thy loue and faâ—our And last I beseech thee bestow â—pon mee thy following grace â—ollowing grace which â—ay crowne the whole mercies that I â—aue receiued all my life Sinne alace sticketh faster to mee â—an doeth my flesh yea the marrow â—ithin my bones O Lord make diuiâ—on betwixt vs Sinne separateth vs from God and separate it from â—ee which hath made so long separaâ—â—on betweene thee and mee It is a â—urthen which lyeth vpon mee and is â—oo heauie for mee to beare therefore 〈◊〉 my God
ease mee thereof that with â—acritie and readinesse of heart I may â—erue thee all the dayes of my life as I â—aue serued sinne before Alace was â—ot I the cause that thy Sonne died â—ine Angels are offended and thy Church grieued O Lord let mee be â—omforted before my departure that I may bee the occasion of all their joyeâ— by my repentance as I was the cause of their sorrowe by my fall and foule defection But alace when that I haue repented mee of my former wickednesse I am readie to runne backe vnto that filthie puddle of sinne from the which I was newlie washen yea I haue fallen more often than seauen times euerie day but thou O Lord with thy mercifull hand didst lift me vp againe Therefore deare Father haue mercie vpon mee I beseech thee and continue thy loue and fauour towards mee and let mee not fall as doe the wicked who fall and rise no more Sende vnto mee O my God faithfull Admonishers and let the Righteous rebuke mee yea let mee not want the checkes of mine owne Conscience that I durst forsweare my promise to my God Breach of promise to God I promised to amend my life but I haue not performed mine oath and haue come vnder a double guiltinesse I purposed to cease from sinne euen when I vowed thinking to stand by mine owne strength But nowe good Lord I beseech thee that thou wouldest giue mee thy constant Spirit that I may stand by thy power Psa 51.10 and fall no more If thou wouldest narrowlie marke mine iniquities O Lord Iob 5.3 I could not aunswere thee to one of a thousand yea mine owne mouth condemne mee Iob 9.20 and mine owne cloathes would defile mee Wash mee therefore O my God Purge mee with Hyssope Psal 51.7 and I shal be cleane with Myrrhe and pure Water and I shall bee whiter than Snow O passe by my great sins for mercy pleaseth thee Mich. 7.8 Remember not O Lord mine ingratitude and vnthankfulnesse toward thy Majestie Ingratitude for all thy manifolde and rich benefits which thou hast so bountifullie bestowed vpon mee from time to time Ne yet good Lord remember mine hypocrisie and superficiall seruice Hypocrisie which manie times I haue done vnto thee both priuatelie and in thine House I craue pardon for these two sinnes which are most haynous and I most humblie beseech thee euer hence forwarde to giue mee a thankfull minde and heart vnto thee for all thine innumerable benefites and blessinges and sinceritie in thy worship that with a single eye and a true heart I may glorifie thee O my Creatour all the dayes of my pilgrimage heere in this life and heereafter with thy Sainctes for euer Oh and alace I am sorie and doe most heartilie repent mee for those manifolde injuries which I haue done vnto my Neighboures Injuries to our neighbour euen for lacke of loue towardes them But O Lord I am no wayes able to reckon mine hainous sinnes and grieuous offences which I haue committed both against God and man no more than I am able to count the haires of mine head or the sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen But binde thou all my transgressions in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue Oh burie them all in the bowels of thy CHRIST and in the graue of perpetuall obliuion For why O Lord thy Name is Mercie 1. Gods Name is Mercie and thy nature mercifull yea thy mercie is aboue all thy workes and in dureth for euer 2. His nature mercifull Thy promise is O God that thou wilt not cast off those that come vnto thee Thou hast sworne that thou delightest not in the death of a sinner 3. His promise and oath but that hee bee conuerted and liue Thou commandest all that are wearie 4. His CommandemeÌ„t Matt. 11.28 Luke 18.1 and laden with sinne to come vnto thee and thou wilt ease them Thou commendest the vnjust Iudge who at last yeelded to the importunitie of the Widow Therefore O Lord according to the riches of thy mercies looke vpon mine infirmities Bestow vpon â—e O Father the Comforter Ioh. 14.26 euen the Spirit of trueth who may leade mee in all veritie through this Wildernesse and thy constant Spirit who may establish mine heart by his grace and who may sanctifie me and purifie the sountaine of my soule that all good actions may aboundantlie spring from thence And finallie O Lord I resigne my bodie and soule into thine hand beseeching thee most intirelie that thou wilt keepe thine owne Lodging that I may bee directed by thine holie Spirit in the course of this transitorie life that I hauing the assurance of the forgiuenesse of all my former sinnes and likewise a care feare and reuenge of my corruption I may learne to number my dayes Psa 90.12 redeeme the time and spende and ende my life to thine honour praise and glorie through IESVS CHRIST my Lord and onelie Sauior AmeÌ„ So bee it MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS vpon the Lordes seuen dayes worke MOSES albeit hee was borne after the Flood yet he prophecieth of thinges done from the beginning of the Worlde and hath written fiue Bookes of the same GENESIS GENES which signifieth Generation because it containeth the beginning both of the Worlde and of the Church EXOD. EXODVS an Out-passage or deliuerie of the Church from Aegypt LEVITICVS LEVIT setteth downe both the Orders and Offices of the Leuits for the right ministration of Gods seruice NVMBERS a Reckoning of men NVMB. wherein God performeth his promise to Abraham Gen. 22.17 that his seed should be like the starrs of heaueÌ„ DEVTERONOMIE DEVT. or a Second Law or Declaration of the will of God before the death of Moses He beginneth at the Creation by which he confuteth the Opinion of the Eternity of the World To such as inquire what God was doing before the Creation What God was doing before the World I answere with S. Augustine Hee was preparing Hell for such curious braines And to such as aske where he was I say that God needed no place who is comprehended in no place Places are made for bodies which are conprehensible the Creatour beeing incomprehensible hath no neede therof Neque tempus habet quando neque locum ubi Augustine neque modum quomodo neque causam cur fit that is Hee hath neither a place wherein hee is nor a time when nor a manner how nor a cause why he is But he was in himselfe and had a perfect delectation in his owne Trinitie A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDS first dayes vvorke THE first Creature which GOD made out of the Chaos and Masse was the Light Light admirable which is admirable in two respects First 1. Out of darknesse because it proceeded out of Darknesse as hee doth produce one Contrare out of another 2. Without
benefires O Lord and I haue beene a great abuser of the same Thou didst make the Light vpon the first Day I haue abused it yea when thou sent mee a better Light for my soule I continued still in the workes of darknesse Thou vpon the second Day didst create the Heauens but I haue sinned against the Heauens Luk 15.18 and against thee and am not woorthie to looke vpwardes Thou didst make the Earth vpon the thirde Day but I am an vnprofitable burthen vnto it Thou didst make the Sunne and Moone vpon the fourth Day to shine but whilest they were shâ—ning I was sinning as though those glorious Vessels were appointed to carrie light to let mee see to commit iniquitie And nowe vpon the firth Daye thou furnishest two extraordinarie great Commodities for mans vse the Sea is prepared with Fishes and the Aire with Fowles and Birdes vnto my necessitie O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisedome hast thou made them all the Earth is full of thy Riches thou hast commaunded the Sea to giue mee Fishes and the Aire Fowles thou hast put life into them and they are appointed to die for the maintenance of my life God letteth his creaturs die that we may liue Is not then my life precious vnto thee who makest so manie to die that I may liue But I am not onelie fed with them but am the price of thy Sonnes Bloode O Lord what am I that thou shouldest haue made them al to die that I might liue Then I beseech thee let my life serue to thine honour yea if my death might honour thee I desire to liue no longer Thou giuest me daylie Fishes out of the Seas and out of the Râ—uers Manie are steruing with Hunger and yet thou feedest mee Oh forgiue mee that sometimes I haue loathed those thy good creatures and abstract them not from mee although I haue contemned them heeretofore O Lord what prooues of thy deliuerie haue I had Thou broughtest mee to the Hauen and I forgot the Vowes which I promised vnto thee in the bitternesse of mine heart Nowe Lord I prayse thee for thy notable deliueries whereby thou hast kept mee and hencefoorth let me not doe what I will but what thou wilt and commaund mee as long as I liue Thou mightest haue made mee a baite and foode for the Fishes but yet thou hast made them foode for mee Let it bee O God to thy glorie and for the good of thy people for thou sendest them to the Nette of thy prouidence Let me therefore depende vpon thee I cast me ouer vpon the knees of thy fauour The Lyon shall be hungrie Ps 34.10 but those that feare thee shall lacke nothing which is good for them Oh that if I could be allured by these thy loue-tokens to praise thee aright and that I might bee stirred vp vnto a duetie to the Poore who are in necessitie O liberall God why should I receiue so aboundantlie and giue backe so niggardly and sparingly Open enlarge mine heart O Lord Psal 119. that mine hand may distribute these thy creatures to the hungrie poore and needie as a sure token which thou requirest of my thankfulnesse towardes thee Faythfull Fishers O Lord sende foorth vnto the Sea of this Worlde faythfull Fishers who may drawe manie soules from it vnto thine heauenlie kingdome Purge thine holie Church O God from all Hyrelinges and such as are not fishers of men And againe O Lord as thou hast prepared the Fishes in the Seas for my sustenance so hast thou likewise commanded the Aire to furnish all manner of feathered Fowles to my vse Therefore I giue thee thanks with my whole heart that thou sacrificest thy creatures out of al places for me beseeching thee that I may sacrifice the corruptions of my nature Further O Lord I learn by the Fowles that they flie in the Firmament but they feed on the earth Simil. Lord howsoeuer that I must seeke my foode here yet let my conuersation be in the Heauens When that in the Sommer I heare the sweet voyce of these Birdes which by their Angelicall Harmonie may justlie bee called the Ministers of Musicke I beseech thee to haue mercie vpon me thy poore creature and open my Lips and loose my Tongue that I may sound foorth thy praises and that by these thy creatures I may still finde newe prouocations to bee stirred vp to proclaime thy goodnesse that I being initiate entered into thy praise here may glorifie thee eternallie in Heauen through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES Sixth Dayes Worke. VPon the sixth Day the LORD openeth the Earth and maketh it to bring foorth his Treasures and bringeth foorth Beastes of all sorts for Mans vse and last of all hee made Man Gods power out of the dead Earth bringeth Man and Beast First yee see the power of the worde of God which of that dead and colde bodie of ehe Earth brought foorth so manie liuing creatures which were not before This is a great Argument for the affirmance of the resurrection of our dead bodies Argument for the resurrection of the body for if hee brought out of the bosome of the Earth and gaue life which was not how easie is it then for him to raise out of the Earth the bodies which were liuing and to cause the Sea the Aire and the Earth render an account of the Bodies consumed in them The Lord created Kyne and Sheepe for his Rayment the Oxen to labour his Ground and the Horses for Carriage yea and the Worme to decore him with Silke As for the Lyon and other wylde Beastes which are enemies to Man it is to bee vnderstoode that it was not so at the beginning for at the first the Lyon the Tyger c. were as obedieÌ„t to Man as the Lambe Sinne hath inaâ—med MaÌ„ aganst God the Beastes aganst Man 1. King 13 24. 2. King 2.23 Nota. Creeping thinges not created in vaine Exod. 8.6 but alace sinne stirred vp and inarmed Man against God and the Beastes against Man as the Lyon against the young Prophet and the Beares against the young Children which mocked Elisha Therefore when wee get anie injurie by the creatures let vs call to minde that it is for our sinnes studie to bee reconciled to our Creator As for the innumerable creeping thinges let vs not thinke that God hath created them in vaine for he hath vsed them as great Hostes to punish his aduersaries whensoeuer he pleased as the Frogges for Pharoah and the little Vermine for Herod yea Act. 12.23 the Worms to sease vpon the Bodies of all Flesh which although neuer so daintilie fedde must bee a Prey vnto them And againe Men are compared to Beasies whâ—se nature is beastlie Psal 10.9 Psa 17.12 Psa 22.12 13.16.20.21 c. Isa 56.10.11 Gen. 49.14 16. let vs remember that Men are often times in the Scripture compared vnto diuerse
Iosephs Brethren after he hath humbled them or else with Saul and Pharoah he will plague them for he sayeth Touch not mine Anointed Last it is naturall for the seed of the Serpent and the fierie Dragon to persecute the Woman and her Child as it is that Foxes and Wolues should persecute the Sheepe therefore let vs preuaile by patience blunt their swords by our sufferinges A PRAYER FOR ANY PERSON WHO IS PERSECVTED with his Enemies O Eternall God and most mercifull father thou hast commanded all those that are wearie and loaden to come vnto thee Matth. 11.28 and thou wilt case them if thou hast commanded me to come thou wilt not reject cast me away when I am come heare the voyce of my prayer out of thine habitation and put not away the supplication of my mouth inlarge my heart to pray and open thine care to my cry O Lord how long wilt thou tarrie mine enemies are moe than the haires of mine head Psalm 22.12.13 c. they are strong like the Bulles of Bashan they are fearce and cruell like Lyons and Vnicornes they conueance against me and say that there is no more helpe for me in God O Lord Psalm 3.2 when trouble draweth neare me be not farre from me Lord haue mercie vpon me It is true O Lord I haue prouoked thy wrath and indignation I haue beene thine enemie and hated thee who wast my Father therefore most justlie hast thou raised vp these wicked men against me Whatsoeuer I suffer thou hast done it out of thy justice Psal 51.4 that thou mayest bee just when thou judgest O Lord forgiue me my sinnes and keepe them not in thy remembrance for all the creatures which were in couenant with me are become enemies vnto me Oh Reconcile me vnto thy selfe that the stones of the fielde may be at peace with me Iob 5.23 The waues of the Sea raged against Ionas Ionah 1.4 and 2.1.2 when he fled from thy presence but by his affliction thou broughtest him to obedience and conformitie to thy will I confesse thou hast enough to be angry for against me but ô Lord what haue I done to offend mine enemie they persecute me without cause Psalm 7.3 In the time of their trouble I prayed for them when they were afflicted then I burnt but when they sawe thee afflicting me and correcting me then they were aliue yea smoat him whom thou didst visit O Lord I beseech thee to try mee and search mine heart if euer I haue done anie thing amisse vnto these who persecute mee or was purposed to doe them harme yea Lord I haue euer done good vnto them and they haue repayed mee with euill Those who recompense mee euill for good are mine enemies But O Lord they haue done vnto mee as I did vnto thee for thy benefites I haue loadened thee with sinnes so ingrate and vnthankfull haue I beene vnto thee so justlie hast thou repayed me 2. King 18.19 2. Sam. 16.5 1. Sam. 17.10 Rom. 8.28 they raile aganst me as Rabseketh did against Hezekiah Simei against Dauid as Goliah cursed the Hoste of Israel But O Lord turne thou their cursing into a blessing who hast promised that all shall turne to the best to them that loue thee I finde that this short triall hath wrought good vnto mee and therefore it is good for mee that I am humbled thereby for I finde my selfe better disposed to thy seruice than I was before Oh sanctifie this mine affliction and crosse that howsoeuer Sathan mindeth by this trouble to vndoe mee thou mayest draw about his labour for my singular comfort that by this persecution I may serue thee more righteouslie and liue more duetifullie and louinglie with my Neighboures and more temperately in mine own person subduing my lustes and affections so that this Cuppe which is most bitter to my nature and hardlie of mee to bee drunken may be conuerted into wholsome Medicine for the saluation both of my bodie and soule O Lord giue me a good Conscience that brest-plate of righteousnesse Eph. 6.14 and I will not bee affraid neither for the multitude nor the malice of mine aduersaries Guard me by thy diuine prouidence and secure me by the protection of thine Angels make mee as a Seale on thine heart Cantic 8.6 and a signet vpon thine arme I commit my soule and bodie vnto thine hands and faithfull keeping Giue me not ouer to the lusts of mine aduersaries make me not a scorne to fooles Psa 27.12 which vnderstand not let me possesse my soule in patience Psal 7.16 Let their mischiefe turne vpon their own head slay them not lest the posteritie should forget Psa 59.11 but rather let them liue that by their correction others may learne not to persecute the members of thy body O Lord they are the stones which thou castest at me and the roddes of thy furie I craue thee mercie for my sinne but as for them thou canst cast the rodde into the fire when thou hast chastised mee My Lord spake seuen words vpon the Crosse and the first was Luke 23.34 Forgiue them for they know not what they doe and I after his example forgiue heartilie my particular quarrell and reuenge for vengeance belongeth vnto the Lord Deu. 32.35 and thou biddest me blesse those who curse me Mat. 5.44 and giue mine enemies foode when they are hungrie that I may heape coales of fire vpon Rom. 12.20 their head And albeit they haue done me wrong both in my person name by their lies and in my substance yet Lord I forgiue them let them repent that thou mayest pardon them And finallie let mee patientlie endure all these wrongs that thou mayest make me meet for thy Kingdome that being more than a Conquerour hauing made conquest of mine affections I may inherite thy glorie and reigne with thee for euer Amen A MEDITATION OF FAMINE THere hath beene Famine thorow all Ages by which GOD hath corrected the abuse of his People The Famine commeth either for the excesse and abuse of Gods good creatures Causes of Famine 1. Excesse as the example of the prodigall sonne beareth witnesse who was brought to such pouertie Luc. 15.15 that hee was faine to sustaine himselfe with the Huskes which the Swine ate because of his ryote 2. Oppression 2. Sam. 21.1.3 Idolatrie 1. King 17 1. or for the oppression of the Poore as in the dayes of Dauid for the wrong which was done to the Gibionites by Sauly or else for Idolatrie as in the dayes of Achab. And the Famine continueth commonlie three fiue or seuen yeares As in the time of Famine the Lord punisheth the wickednesse of his People God in time of Famine remembreth his owne Gen. 21.22 and 30.43 and 47.12 Ruth 1.1 1. King 18 13. 17.4.9 Psa 34.10 Psa 37.19 Iob 5.22 so by his prouidence hee comforteth the godlie Hee encreased Abraham