and try my wayes to looke backe upon all the ungodly actions and aberrations of my fore-past life to view my sinne-deformed soule in the cleare glasse of thy undefiled â—aw that so I may judge and abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes and bee still more vile in mine owne esteeme make me to examine my selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cup knowing that if I eate and drinke thereof unworthily I eate and drinke damnation to my selfe because I discerne not the Lords body Teach mee to try my selfe whether I be in the faith or no for without faith it is impossible to please thee in any service T is my faith in the death of my Saviour that is the hand and mouth by which I must apply him and make him mine in this Sacrament Assure me by these broad seales annexed to the covenant of grace and letters patents of thy holy word that thou wilt make good what thou hast promised that as thou hast called Ho every one that thirsteth come to the waters so thou wilt refresh this my gasping and thirsting soule as thou callest all that be weary and heavie laden to come unto thee so thou wilt in no wise send mee empty away that cast my selfe into the bleeding armes of my dying Saviour Perswade my unbeleeving and doubting heart that as thy Minister taketh and blesseth and breaketh and poureth out and giveth and saith Take and eate the bread take and drinke the wine of the Sacrament so thou from everlasting hast separated consecrated and ordained Iesus Christ to be a Sacrifice for my sinnes hast poured out his blood to be a satisfaction to thy offended justice for my sinfull soule and that hereby I shall continue in communion with him my head and his mysticall body my fellow members Thy flesh O sweet Saviour is meate indeed and thy blood is drinke indeed O let me I beseeth thee find it so in my fainting soule that I may bee ravished with thy love that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is and find thy free promises and pledges of thy grace to bee better than wine sweeter also than the honey and the honey combe Let thy holy spirit set to his privie seale on my heart inwardly by the secret and sweet refreshment of his blessed testimonie that I am my well beloveds and my well beloved is mine establishing my heart in thy love and knitting my soule unto thee for ever O draw me and I shall run after thee shew me the light of thy countenance and I shall bee saved And Lord make mee to love my brethren as thou hast loved me yea to love my very enemies for thy names sake reconciling my selfe to those whom I have offended following peace with all men and forgiving them their hundred pence as thou hast freely forgiven me my ten thousand talents Vouchsafe me this aud all other graces which may fit mee for thy service in thy kingdome of grace and prepare mee for the enjoyment of everlasting glory through my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Amen After the receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper O Lord what shall I render unto thee for all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon mee and daily ladest mee withall a most unworthy sinner how shall I bee sufficiently thankefull unto thee for them when they bee more than I can reckon up unto thee more then my heart is able to conceive or comprehend Should I offer up unto thee thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oyle they all would come farre short of thy most free eternall undeserved infinite love Lebanon it selfe is not sufficient for wood nor the beasts upon a thousand hils for a burnt offering What shall I then doe unto thee O thou Preserver of men or what recompence shall I make thee I will even take the cup of salvation and give thankes to thy name O Lord. I will offer up my soule and body for a holy living and acceptable sacrifice unto thee this will please thee better than bullocke that hath hornes and hoofes Thou O Lord in the beginning didst make mee to bee when I was not before and when I had lost my selfe and forfeited my being and life and happinesse didst in Christ restore mee to a more blessed estate than at my Primitive integrity Thou thy selfe art become my Father thy sonne my Saviour thy holy Spirit my Sanctifier thy word my Instructor thy Sacraments the food to refresh satisfie and feed my poore hungry soule to everlasting life This day thou hast called me to thy holy Mountaine and made me joyfull in thy house of prayer this day hast thou invited me to sit downe at thy table and made unto mee a feast of fat things full of marrow a feast of wines on the lees well refined thou hast abundantly satisfied me with the fâ—â—nesse of thy house and hast made mee to drinke of the river of thy pleasures Blessed bee thy glorious name for ever and ever which is above all thankesgiving and prayse of mine O that I could bee indeed thankefull unto thee as thou art gracious unto me If I should open my mouth never so wide thou wouldest fill it thy favours to my poore soule are more than all tongues of men and Angels can worthily magnifie And now O Lord accept I beseech thee the free will-offering of thy servant that desires to feare thy name and to make a covenant with thee never to bee broken that my soule shall cleave close unto thee and avouch thee this day to bee my God and Saviour for ever more Here I doe resigne myselfe soule and body all that is in me and all that belongs unto me to bee wholly thine and that I will never wickedly depart from thee my God as I have done O that my wayes were so directed that I might keepe thy commandements alway Never let mee with the disgorged dog returne any more to my former vomit nor with the washed sow to wallow in the mire but as I have now washed my feete so suffer mee no more againe to defile them as I have put off the filthy rags of my old conversation so I may never againe put them on but become a new creature That seeing the expiation of my sins cost my Saviour so deare as the shedding of his precious blood and that thy wrath lay so heavie upon him who was our suretie onely being innocent in himselfe I may hence conceive how heinous a thing sinne is how abhorred by thee and so hate it in my selfe with a perfect hatred and resist it even to blood and not crucifie againe hereby the Lord of life and glory O make mee thankefully to remember that bitter passion of his and thy love O Father unto mee in that thou hast accepted mee to life in him and hast brought salvation this day home to my house to my heart Lord enter in abide with and dwell in my soule for ever Take not
thy feare in our hearts that we may not depart from thee Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering CONTENTATION that we may learne in whatsoever state we are there with to be content knowing both how to be abased and to abound every where and in all things being instructed both to bee full and to bee hungry both to abound and to suffer need Because godlinesse with contentment is great gaine for we brought nothing into this world and it is certaine wee can carry nothing ouâ— Having therefore food and rayment let us bee therewith content That our conversation may bee without covetousnesse being content with such things as wee have For thou hast sayd thou wilt never leave us nor forsake us Casting all our care upon thee for thou carest for us What shall we receive good the hands of the Lord and not evill Take no thought for your life what ye shall eate or what ye shall drinke nor yet for your body what you shall put on the foules of the ayre they sow not neither doe they reape nor gather into barnes yet your heavenly father feedeth them Which of you by taking thought can adde one cubite unto his stature Consider the Lillies of the field how they grow they toyle not neither doe they spin If God so cloathe the grasse of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven shall he not much more cloathe you O ye of little faith take no thought saying what shall we eate or what shall we drinke or where withall shall we be cloathed Your heavenly father knoweth that you have neede of all these things give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me Lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poore and steale and take the name of my God in vaine PATIENCE under the CROSSE Helpe us to deny our selves and to take up our Crosse daily and follow our Saviour Thou hast fore-told us that in the world we shall have tribulation And that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdome of God Let us therefore reckon with our selves that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall bee revealed in us That it may be given unto us in the behalfe of Christ not only to beleeve on him but also to suffer for his sake Let us run with patience the way that is set before us Looking unto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himselfe lest you be wearied and faint in your mindes Thinke it not strange concerning the fiery triall which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you Rejoyce in as much as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy If ye be reproched for the name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you GODS VVORD Let thy word be a lampe unto my feet and a light unto our path O make it unto us a word of power converting the soule quicke and powerfull and sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow Give us the hearing eare and the seeing eye make thy word like fire and like a hammer that breaketh the rockes in pieces and as the raine commeth downe and the snow from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eaâ—er so let thy word bee that goeth forth out of thy mouth let it not returne unto thee void but accomplish that which thou pleasest and prosper in the thing whither thou sendest it Lord give the Preacher the tongue of the learned that hee may know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary and create the fruit of his lips peace and let the worke of the Lord prosper in his hand They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of thy house and thou shalt make them drinke of thy pleasures For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light We will goe into his tabernacles we will worship at his foot stoole Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law In the way of thy judgements O Lord have I waited for thee the desire of our soule is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee Come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his paths thine eares shall heare a word behind thee saying this is the way walke in it Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approch unto thee that hee may dwell in thy courts we shall be satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house euen of thy holy Temple And in this mountaine shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Vid. vers 7. 8. Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer their burnt offrings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall bee called a house of prayer unto all people SACRAMENTS in Speciall 〈…〉 let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that bread and drinke of that cup my father giveth you the true bread from heaven for the bread of God is he which commeth downe from heaven and giveth life unto the world As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God O God thou art my God early will I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirstie land where no water is what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Personall Concernments and speciall employments in our particular calling Lord be thou with mee and keepe mee in this way that I goe and give me bread to eate and rayment to put on so that I may come againe to my fathers house in peace O Lord God I pray thee send mee good speed this day and shew kindnesse unto God Almighty give you mercie before the man that
all unrighteousnesse Secondly to Petition for 1 Pardon of Sinne. Though your sinnes be as scarlet they shall bee as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more I have seene his wayes and will heale him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners If the wicked will turne from all his sinnes that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and doe that which is lawfull and right hee shall surely live he shall not dye All his transgressions which he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him in his righteousnesse that he hath done he shall live Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye saith the Lord God not that he should returne from his wayes and live Come unto mee all ye that labour and are heavie laden and I will give you rest 2 Power against Sins Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of his heritage c. He will turne againe he will have compassion on us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depths of the Sea The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Sin shall not have dominion over you Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast downe for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand 3 Grace conferred continued and encreased I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be cleane A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put into you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh I will give you a heart of flesh And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and doe them And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seede to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soule that thou mayst live I will poure upon him that is thirstie and flouds upon the dry ground I will poure my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring A bruised reede shall he not breake and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shal bring forth judgement unto truth Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousnesse for they shall be filled He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it untill the day of Iesus Christ Fourthly the Meanes of Grace With joy shall ye draw waters out of the wels of salvation Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will blesse thee 5 Personall concernements in our particular calling Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established In all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shal direct thy paths thy eares shall heare a word behind thee saying this is the way walke ye in it when ye turne to the right hand and when yee turne to the left The Lord shall preserve thy going out thy cōming in from this time forth for evermore Blessed shalt thou bee when thou commest in blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out The Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every worke of thy hand The Lord he is he that goeth before thee he wil be with thee he wil not faile thee neither forsake thee feare not neither bee dismayed Hee shall give his Angels charge over thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes Thou may est in the reading of the Scriptures find out and adde hereunto promises made to thy more particular occasions Thirdly Thansgiving The tongue of the dumb shall sing for in the wildernes shal waters break out the ransomed of the Lord shall return come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy gladnes and sorrow and sighing shall flye away Ye shall eate in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God that hath dealt wondrously with you Ye shall go forth with joy and be led forth with peace the mountaines the hils shall break forth before you into singing and al the trees of the fields shall clap their hands A METHOD of PRAYER PRayer is a lifting up of the Soule to God Wherein there is to bee considered the Preface to it and the Parts of it The Preface to it consists 1 In a description or compellation of God by his glorious inajesty terrible names holy nature incommunicable attributes strict justice consuming wrath gracious promises c. 2 In a craving of audience assistance and accceptance wee may conclude also herewith as Dan. 9. 17. 18. The Parts of Prayer are usually three 1 Confession 2 Petition 3 Thanksgiving Though in exactnes of speech Confession and Thankesgiuing be not Prayers formally but commonly prefixed or annexed therunto as Dan. 9. Ezr. 9. 1 Confession is an humble hearty and feeling acknowledgment of the evill of Sinne and of punishment done to or due for Sinne. 1 Confession of the euill of Sinne both in the Habits Acts Kindes thereof Which that it may bee done effectually and to purpose we must 1 Labour for the particular knowledge and discovery of Sin in our owne soules which must be by looking our selves in the glasse of the Law whereby we shall discover our Sinnes in each Commandement viz. 1 Comandement Atheisine Epicurisme Idolatry c Atheism in want of the Knowledge Love Feare of God Zeale Faith Epicurisme in mis-placing our affections Idolatry in neglect of Gods mercies in neglect of Gods works of Iustice in neglect of Gods Saints and communion with them c 2 Command Not worshipping God by praying reading Will-worship Idol-worship 3 Command Serving God hypocritically when his Word is preached read and prayer When his Sacraments are administred not examining our selves not reconciling our selves to our brethren not discerning the Lords body Luke warmenesse Uncheerefulnesse Unteachablenesse Incorrigiblenesse Security 4 Command Not remembring the Lords day longing to have it past Idlenesse omitting duties publike or private 5 Command In the Family Wife Husband Children Parents Master Servants In the Common-wealth Subjects Magistrates c. In the Church Ministers People c 6 Command Not pittying or relieving the afflicted Envying Anger Hatred Worldly sorrow Cursing Murthering of Soule or Body 7 Command Uncleannesse Wantonnesse Whoredome Drunkennesse Gluttony 8 Command Discontentednesse Sloth Unthriftinesse Oppression Sacriledge 9 Command Disgracing and speaking evill of others Censuring Lying Slandering Vaine-boasting Flattering False-witnesse 10 Command Not desiring
for the morning O God be mercifull unto me and blesse me and cause thy upon face to shine upon me O fill me with thy mercie this morning so shall I rejoyce and bee glad all my dayes O God thou art my God earwill I seeke thee my soule thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no wattr is O Sunne of righteousnesse shine upon me My voyce shalt thou heare in the morning O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will looke up Unto thee have I cryed O Lord and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light The night is past the day is at hand worke while it is called day the night commeth when no man can worke MEDITATIONS for the Evening Thou knowest my downe sitting and mine up rising thou understandest my thought a farre off Thou compassest my path and my lying downe and art acquainted with all my wayes Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening Sacrifice Let teares run downe like a river day and night give thy selfe no rest let not the Apple of thine eye cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches powre out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thy hands towards him Lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in death He that keepeth Israel neither slumbreth nor sleepeth the day is thine the night also is thine the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light to thee are both alike I will lay me downe in peace take my rest c. when thou liest downe thou shalt not bee afraid yea thou shalt lie c. MEDITATIONS for thee as thou goest into Bed Think with thy selfe that 1 Thou art one day neerer end than thou wert in the morning 2 Consider what thou hast seene heard or read that day worth the remembring and make use thereof 3 Seriously examine thy selfe what Sinne thou hast committed what duty thou hast omitted how thou hast failed and lament them on thy knees begging pardon in thy Saviours Name 4 Consider that many goe well to bed and never rise againe till the day of Iudgement therefore say Father into thy hands I commend my spirit 5 Let thy stripping thee naked put thee in mind of thy death thy bed of thy grave thy coverings of the moulds and wormes of the earth thy sheets of thy winding sheete thy sleepe of thy death thy waking of thy resurrection In the night when thou awakest say With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within me will I seek thee early Thus will I blesse thee while I live I will lift up my hands in thy name my soule shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches MEDITATIONS for the Lords day in the Morning It is a good thing to give thankes unto thee O Lord and to sing praises to thy name O thou most high to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night This is the day which the Lord hath made wee will rejoyce and be glad in it Blessed is the man that doth thiâ— and the Sonne of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hands from doing any evill they that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall bee fat and flourishing As thou goest to the Church meditate thus One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple My soule longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God At the Church thinke with thy selfe that The place where thou standest is Holy ground none other but the house of God How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hoasts Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will bee still praysing thee For a day in thy court is better than a thousand I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God then dwell in the tents of wickednesse They that joyne themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the name of the Lord to bee his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my covenant Even them will I bring to my holy mountaine and make them joyfull in my house of prayer the like course thou mayest take in other places of Scripture which thou mayest make use of for all kinde of meditations at home abroad in field towne journeyes c Matter for Graces before meat O Lord our God the onely giver of all good gifts thou feedest the young ravens when they cry they have their meat of God the eyes of all waite upon thee thou openest thy hand and fillest with thy blessing every living thing thou lovedst us before we were thou hast kept us from our birth supply all our wants sanctifie all thy dealings towards us and let thy blessing be on the food which we are now to receive Speake a word of blessing to it from heaven that it may nourish and strengthen us comfort and do us good let us taste and see how gracious the Lord is let us feele the sweetnesse of that love with which thou hast loved us in Christ man liveth not by bread alone 't is by thy word of blessing not our meates alone that wee are nourished and preserved which satisfiest our mouth with good things thou shalt eate and blesse the name of the Lord thy God Let not these creatures turne to the hurt of our souls which thou hast given us for good of our bodies I am not worthy of the least morsell of thy good creatures unworthy of the crums which fall under thy table Let not our table become a snare unto us breake not the staffe of our bread curse not unto us any blessing Good Lord forgive us all our sinnes and blesse at this time these good creatures to our nourishment through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O Lord it is not by bread alone that man lives it is thy blessing upon the creatures that they sustaine us O draw up our hearts and eyes to heaven to acknowledge thy providence in them to praise thy goodnesse for them that we
thy holy spirit from mee make mee one with Christ my head flesh of his flesh bone of his bone make mee one with the mysticall body of thine Elect that I may have my part in the prayers of the Church in the Communion of Saints here on earth in the kingdome of grace and may enjoy thee and them face to face and sit downe and eat and drinke with thee in thy kingdome of glory Amen For the Sacrament of Baptisme O Lord our God the great the mighty and the terrible God who keepest covenant and mercy with all them that feare thy name and trust upon thee even to a thousand generations thou hast promised to bee our God and the God of our seed to enter into covenant with us that wee should bee thine O Lord I come to thy throne of grace at this time to lay claime to my interest in that new covenant sealed unto thy Church in the blood of Iesus that thou wouldst performe the same unto mee and mine also hast not thou said thou wilt circumcise mine heart and the heart of my seed to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soule that thou wilt put thy Law in our inward parts and write it in our hearts and that thou wilt bee our God and wee shall bee thy people that thou wilt forgive our injquity and wilt remember our sinne no more O Lord hast thou said it and wilt not thou also doe it By faith I plead my interest thereunto not for my selfe alone but for mine also with whom I beseech thee to make an everlasting covenant of life and peace that being baptized into Iesus Christ they may bee sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word O Lord wee are all borne the children of wrath and there is no way for us to escape the damnation of hell except wee bee borne againe of water and of the Spirit O Lord doe thou sprinkle cleane water upon us wash away the filth of Zion and purge the blood of Ierusalem from the midst thereof Baptize us with the Holy Ghost that having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water wee may bee new creatures fit to bee an habitation of God through the spirit O blessed be thy goodnesse for ever which hast given us this seale of thy rich promise this is that Arke in and through which thou savest thine Elect thou dalliest not with us herein it is no idle ceremonie thou art present in thy own ordinance to fulfill that which thou hast promised O wash our soules with the baptisme of Repentance as thou doest our bodies with the outward element of water Let the vertue of Christs death kill sinne in us for how shall wee that are buried with Christ by baptisme and thereby dead to sinne live yet therein Doe not wee herein vow to forsake the Devill the Pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh and shal we break our vow transgresse the covenant O let this be far from us teach us therefore to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts deliver us from every evill worke that we may serve the living God Sprinkle cleane water upon us that we may bee cleane from our naturall filthinesse and from all our uncleannesses Wash us O wash us throughly from our iniquities and cleanse us from our sinnes Make our hearts to be stedfast in thy love and never to forget this covenant of our God thy mercie doe thou keepe for us and ours for evermore and let thy covenant stand fast with us and bee established for ever as the Moone and as a faithfull witnesse in heaven And as thou hast thus brought us into the bond of the covenant so let us never depart from thee Bee thou unto us a God and let us be thy people for evermore even till thou bringest us unto Mount Sion and to the Citie of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem and to an inumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first borne which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Iesus the Mediatour of the new covenant and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel Make me to be thine my self be thou my Father and make me to be thy Sonne for if the first fruit be holy the lumpe also shall be holy and if the roote be holy so also shall the branches bee This mercie I beg of thee in his name merits and mediation out of whose pierced side issued forth water and bloud for the sanctifying and justifying of thine Elect. To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all glory service thanksgiving and dominion through all the Churches of the Saints for ever Amen For Regeneration Sanctification and grace to serve God O Lord thou God of truth who hast sworne in thy faithfulnesse that as thou livest thou hast no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that hee should turne from his way and live and therefore commandest thy people saying Turne ye turne ye from your evill wayes for why will ye dye O house of Israel and hast enjoyned that I should wash me and make me cleane put away the evill of my doings from before thine eyes promising moreover that though my sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they bee red like crimson they shall be as wooll I that am a wicked and miserable caitiffe a sinner before the Lord exceedingly even as the men of Sodome that have done abominable workes and denied the God that is above wilfully sinning after I had received the knowledge of the truth and treading under foote the Sonne of God counting the bloud of the covenant wherewith I was sanctified an unholy thing and having done deâ—piâ—e to the spirit of grace O Lord even out of the deepes doe I call unto thee for helpe yea out of the belly of hell doe I earnestly cry for thy mercie O cast not out my prayer Though mine iniquities be more than the haires of my head my transgressions heavier than the sand yet is there forgivenesse with thee and although my sinnes have reached up to heaven yet thy mercie is above the heavens mine are at the most but the sinnes of a man but thine at the least are the mercies of an infinite God yea thou hast the relenting bowells of a most tender Father O spread the robe of thy Sonnes righteousnesse over me that so thou mayest not behold my nakednesse cloath me with the garments of his salvation say unto my soule Live cause breath to enter into my dry bones lay sinewes upon them and bring flesh upon them and cover them with skinne that I may know that thou art the Lord. And albeit I be dead in trespasses and sinnes yet open my grave and cause me
taken away thy corne in the time thereof Scripture Ezek. 5. 16. and hast sent upon us the evill arrowes of Famine O Lord the Land Scripture Hos 4. 8. Head Satisfie mourneth and every one that dwelleth therein doth languish they that were full have hired Scripture 1 Sam. 2. 5. out themselves for bread and yet Scripture Eccles 6. 7. the appetite is not filled Our bread formerly Scripture Gen. 49. 20. Head Plentie hath bene fat and we have enjoyed royall dainties the Lord our God Scripture Deut. 7. 2. hath beene with us and we have lacked nothing we have Scripture 8. 9. Head Abound lived in a Land wherein wee have eaten bread without scarsenesse in Scripture Iudg 18. 10 a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth But now for Scripture 2 King 8. 1. our sinnes thou hast called for a Famine Head Famine and it is also come Scripture Psal 105. 16. and thou hast broken the whole staffe of bread such as Scripture Iob 20. 22. have hither to beene in the fulnesse of sufficiencie are likely now to bee in straits some that Scripture 1 Sam. 25. 36. Head Feast have held feasts in their houses like the feasts of a King are hardly bestead Scripture Isai 8. 21. Scripture Iudg. 19 5. hungry would now comfort their heart with a morsel Head Eat of bread Many Scripture Deut. 15 8. that have opened their hand wide unto their brethren distributing to the Scripture Rom. 12. 13. Head Liberall necessitie of the Saints are now Scripture Lev. 25. 35. Head Almes themselves waxen poore and falne into decay and are Scripture Iam. 2. 15. Head Poore deâ—titute of daily food Lord open unto Scripture Deut. 28. 12 us thy good treasure and let not Scripture Gen. 41. 30. Head Plentie the Famine consume the land minister Scripture 2 Cor. 9. 10. bread for our food Head Feed and fill the hungry Scripture Luk. 1. 53 soule of thy people with good things that there may bee Scripture Psal 144. 11. no complaining in our streets Thou hast promised thou wilt abundantly Scripture Psa 132. 15 blesse our provision and wilt satisfie the poore with bread Open now unto us the windowes Scripture Mal. 3. 10. Head Plenty of heaven and poure us out a blessing that our Scripture Psal 144. 13. garners may be full affording all manner of store with Scripture Gen. 27. 37. Head Abound corne also and wine doe thou susteine Scripture Psal 104. 15. us and with bread which strengthens mans heart Stirre Scripture Ezra 1. 1. Head Perswade up the spirit bow Scripture 2 Sam 19. 14. Scripture 2 Kin. 15. 20 the hearts of the mighty men of Head Rich. wealth that have Scripture Pro. 28. 19. plenty of bread Head Abound whose portion is Scripture Hab 1. 16. fat and their meat plenteous to remember the poore Head Almes to draw out their Scripture Isai 58. 10. soule to the hungry and satisfie the afflicted soule not Scripture Iob 31. 17. eating their morsell alone but sending Scripture Nehe. 8. 10 portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared and Scripture Esth 9. 22. gifts to the poore O make them put Scripture Col. 3. 12. on the bowells of mercy being kind Head Compassi ∣ on to their brethren Scripture Eph. 4. 32. and tender hearted rich in good Scripture 1 Tim. 6. 18. workes ready to distribute willing to communicate Scripture Deut. 15. 7. not hardening their heart nor shutting their hand from their poore brethren that wee may all eate in plenty Scripture Ioel 2. 26. and bee satisfied and praise the name of the Lord our God that hath dealt wonderously with us giving us Scripture 1 Tim 6. 17. richly all things to enjoy Amen In the time of Drought thou mayest thus poure out thy soule to God in prayer O Lord thou art the father of Scripture Iob. 38. 28. the raine thou hast Head Raine begotten the drops Scripture Deut. 28. 12. of dew Wee beseâ—ch thee to open now unto us thy good treasure the heaven to give us raine unto our land in his season because Scripture Ier. 14. 4. the ground is Head Drought chapt the land perisheth and is burnt Scripture 9. 12. Head Drie up like a wildernesse In our wants Scripture Psal 68. 9. heretofore thou O God didst send a plentifull Raine whereby thou didst confirme thine inheritance when it was weary but now thou stayest Scripture Iob. 38. 37. the bottles of heaven the showers Head Clouds Scripture Ier. 3. 3. are with-holden from us and there hath beene no latter raine Thus Scripture Lev. 26. 19. for our sinnes thou hast made our heaven as iron and our earth as brasse and hast commanded the Scripture Isai 5. 6. clouds that they rain no raine upon us How doe the Scripture Ioel 1. 18. beasts mourne and the heards of cattell Head Drought are perplexed because they have no pasture How Scripture Ier. 12. 4. doth the land mourn and the herbes of every field wither Command now therfore Scripture Psal 78. 23. O Lord the clouds from above and open the doores of heaven and water Scripture Psa 65. 10. Head Heaven the ridges of the earth abundantly settle the furrowes thereof make it soft with showres Scripture 104. 14. cause the grasse to grow for the cattell and herbe for the service of man that thou mayest bring forth food out of the earth Drop Head Raine downe then yee heavens from above and let the skies Scripture Eccles 11. 8. empty themselves upon the earth Lord why bindest Scripture Iob 26. 8. thou up the waters in thy thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them O cause the showre Scripture Eze. 34. 26. to come downe in his season let there be showres of blessing that the earth Scripture Iam. 5. 18. may bring forth her fruit that we may Scripture Ier. 5 24. feare thee the Lord our God that givest us raine both the former and the latter in his season Amen Dost thou goe to visit some sicke friend with whom thou shalt happily be desired to pray and wouldst thou bee able to speake a word in season to him Run over with thine eye some of these heads Pardon Sinne Sicke Die Death Heaven c. and some choyse phrases of more speciall note and use will offer themselves which thou occasionally maist turne into Petitions or make matter of comfortable meditation and discourse Yea suppose thou thy selfe wert falne sicke of the sicknesse wherof thou maist die having received the sentence of death in thy selfe and that some friend as Isaiah to King Hezekiah should advise thee to set thine house and heart in order for thou must dye and not live thou mightst weepe out with Hezekiah this comfortable meditation under these Heads Heaven Desire Glorified Death Grave Resurrection O Heaven the citie of our solemnities a quiet habitation a tabernacle Scripture Isai 33. 20. Head Heaven that shall not be taken downe not one of the stakes thereof shall ever
forsake Forsake me not that am the worke Which thine owne hand did make O keepe me as thou wouldest keepe The apple of thine eye And under covert of thy wings Defend me secretly For I doe call to thee O Lord Surely thou wilt me ayde Then heare my prayer and weigh right well The words that I have sayd Into thy hands Lord I commit My spirit which is thy due For why thou hast redeemed it O Lord my God most true The length of all my life and age O Lord is in thy hand Defend me from the wrath and rage Of them that me with-stand Preserve my soule because my wayes And doings holy be And save thy servant O my Lord That puts his trust in thee I layd me downe and quietly I slept and rose againe For why I know assuredly The Lord will me sustaine In peace therefore lye downe will I Taking my rest and sleepe For thou onely wilt me O Lord Alone in safety keepe Within thy Tent I lust to dwell For ever to endure Vnder thy wings I know right well I shall be safe and sure I set the Lord still in my sight And trust him over all For he doth stand on my right hand Therefore I shall not fall He the desires which they require That feare him will fullfill And he will heare them when they cry And save them all he will For why our glory strength and ayd In thee alone doth lie Thy goodnesse eke that hath us stayd Shall lift our hornes on hie Our strength that doth defend us well The Lord to us doth bring The holy one of Israel He is our guide and King Therefore let thy goodnesse O Lord Still present with us be As we alwayes with one accord Doe onely trust in thee 2. Deprecation aversion and ablation of the evill of sinne and punishment MY Lord for guiding of my mouth Set thou a watch before And also of my moving lips O Lord keepe thou the dore Direct my foot-steps by thy word That I thy will may know And never let iniquity Thy servant overthrow Thy countenance which doth surmount The Sunne in his bright hew Let shine on me and by thy Law Teach me what to eschew That I should wicked workes commit Incline thou not my heart With ill men of their delicates Lord let me eate no part O shut not up my soule with them In sinne that take their fill Nor yet my life among those men That seeke much blood to spill All yee that love the Lord doe this Hate all things that are ill For he doth keepe the soules of his From such as would them spill Out of mine eyes great floods gush out Of dreary teares and fell When I behold how wicked men Thy lawes keepe never a dell But I in righteousnesse intend My time and dayes to serve Have mercy Lord and me defend So that I doe not swerve THine arrowes doe sticke fast in me Thine hand doth presse me sore And in my flesh no health at all Appeareth any more My wounds stinke and are festred so As loathsome is to see Which all through mine owne foolishnesse Betideth unto me And I in carefull wise am brought In trouble and distresse That I goe wailing all the day In dolefull heavinesse My loines are fill'd with sore disease My flesh hath no whole part I feeble am and broken sore I roare for griefe of heart Thou know'st Lord my desire my grones Are open in thy sight My heart doth pant my strength doth faile Mine eyes have lost their light One griefe another in doth call As clouds burst out their voyce The floods of evill that doe fall Run over me with noise And as an harth my bones are burnt My heart is smitten dead And withers like the grasse that I Forget to eate my bread By reason of my groning voyce My bones cleave to my skin As Pelican in wildernesse Such case now am I in And as an Owle in desart is Loe I am such a one I watch and as a Sparrow on The house-top am alone Lord take from me thy scourge and plague I can them not withstand I faint and pine away for feare Of thy most heavy hand Wherefore my God some pitty take O Lord I thee desire Doe not this simple soule forsake Of helpe I thee require Then didst thou turne my griefe and woe Into a cheerefull voyce The mourning weede thou took'st me fro And mad'st me to rejoyce For why his anger but a space Doth last and slacke againe But in his favour and his grace Alwayes doth life remaine Trust still in God whose whole thou art His will abide thou must And he shall ease and strength thy heart If thou in him doe trust HOw ev'er it be yet God is good And kind to Israel And to all such as safely keepe Their conscience pure and well For when I saw such foolish men I grudg'd and did disdaine That wicked men all things should have Without turmoile and paine And though I be nothing set by As one of base degree Yet doe I not thy lawes forget Nor shrinke away from thee TRouble and griefe have seaz'd on me And brought me wondrous low Yet doe I still of thy precepts Delight to heare and know When with my selfe I mused much And could no comfort finde Then Lord thy goodnesse did me touch And that did ease my mind How long wilt thou forget me Lord Shall I never be remembred How long wilt thou thy visage hide As though thou wert offended In heart and mind how long shall I With care tormented be How long eke shall my deadly foe Thus triumph over me THou art my hope and my strong hold I to the Lord will say My God he is in him will I My whole affiance stay What gaine is in my blood sayd I If death destroy my dayes Doth dust declare thy Majesty Or yet thy truth doth praise The Lord himselfe hath chastened And hath corrected me But hath not given me over yet To death as yee may see Even when the snares of cruell death About beset me round When paines of hell me caught and when I woe and sorrow found They that be dead doe not with praise Set forth the Lords renowne Nor any that into the place Of silence doe goe downe For why thy mercy shew'd to me Is great and doth excell Thou setst my soule at liberty Out from the lower hell The pangs of death did compasse me And bound me every where The flowing waves of wickednesse Did put me in great feare The flie and subtile snares of hell Were round about me set And for my death there was prepar'd A deadly trapping net How long away from me O Lord For ever wilt thou turne And shall thine anger still
alway As fire consume and burne But sure the Lord will not forget The poore mans griefe and paine The patient people never looke For helpe of God in vaine Therefore I pray thee be not farre From me at my great neede But rather sich thou art my strength To helpe me Lord make speed And from the sword Lord save my soule By thy might and thy power And keepe my soule thy darling deare From dogges that would devoure And from the Lions mouth that would Me all in sunder shiver And from the hornes of Vnicornes Lord safely me deliver Then shall I to my brethren all Thy Majesty record And in the Church shall praise the Name Of thee the living Lord. O Lord my God thou onely art The strength that saveth me My head in day of battell hath Bèene covered still by thee Oft they now Israel may say Me from my youth assail'd Oft they assail'd me from my youth Yet never they prevail'd The Lord himselfe is on my side I will not stand in doubt Nor feare what man can doe to me When God stands me about The Lord doth take my part with them That helpe to succour me Therefore I shall see my desire Vpon mine enemy The Lord is my defence and strength My joy my mirth my song He is become for me indeede A Saviour most strong The Lord is both my health and light Shall man make me dismaid Sith God doth give me strength and might Why should I be affraid While that my foes with all their strength Begin with me to brawle And thinke to eate me up at length Themselves have caught the fall Though they in campe against me lie My heart is not affraide In battaile pight if they will trie I trust in God for ayd Lord plead my cause against my foes Confound their force and might Fight on my part against all those That seeke with me to fight Lay hand upon the speare and shield Thy selfe in armour dresse Stand up for me and fight the field And helpe me from distresse Gird on thy sword and stop the way Mine enemies to withstand That thou unto my soule mayest say Loe I thy helpe at hand Confound them with rebuke and blame That seeke my soule to spill Let them turne backe and fly with shame That thinke to worke me ill When they thinke least and haue no care O Lord destroy them all Let them be trap't in their owne snare And in their mischiefe fall Awake arise nnd stirre abroad Defend me in my right Revenge my cause my Lord my God And aide me with thy might Let not their heart rejoyce and cry There there this geare goeth trim Nor give them cause to say on hie Wee have our will on him Heare me O Lord and that anon To helpe me make good speed Be thou my rocke and house of stone My fence in time of need Plucke thou my feete out of the snare Which they for me have laide Thou art my strength and all my care Is for thy might and aide Plucke thou my feete out of the mire From drowning doe me keepe From such as owe me wrath and ire And from the waters deepe Lest with the waves I should be drown'd And depth my soule devoure And that the pit should me confound And shut me in her power Have mercy Lord on me I pray For man would me devoure He fighteth with me day by day And troubleth me each houre Send aide and save me from my foes O Lord I pray to thee Defend and keepe me from all those That rise and strive with me O Lord preserve me from those men Whose doings are not good And set me sure and safe from them That thirst still after blood For loe they waite my soule to take They rage against me still Yea for no fault that I did make I never did them ill Have mercy Lord on me poore wretch Whose enemies still remaine Which from the gates of death are wont To raise me up againe Alas how long shall I yet live Before I see the houre I hat on my foes which me torment Thy vengeance thou wilt poure Arise O Lord O God in whom The poore mans hope doth rest Lift up thy hand forget not Lord The poore that be opprest What blasphemy is this to thee Lord dost thou not abhorre it To heare the wicked in their hearts Say tush thou ear'st not for it Loc dayly in reproachfull wise Mine enemies doe me scorne And they that doe against me rage Against me they have sworne Although they curse with spite yet thou Shalt blesse with loving voyce They shall arise and come to shame Thy servant shall rejoyce Let them be clothed all with shame That enemies are to me And with confusion as a cloake Eke covered let them be LOrd save me from the evill man And from the cruell wight And from all those which evill doe Imagine in their spirit Which make on me continuall warre Their tongues loe they have whet Like Serpents un derne ath their lips Is Adders poyson set They mocke the doeings of the poore To their reproach and shame Because they put their trust in God And call upon his name The drunkards which in wine delight It is their chiefe pastime To seeke which way to worke me spight Of me they sing and rime O God of Hosts defend and stay All those that trust in thee Let no man doubt or shrinke away For ought that chanceth me The wicked and the bloudy men O that thou wouldest slay Even those O God to whom depart Depart from me I say Even those of thee O Lord my God That speake full wickedly Those that are lifted up in vaine Being enemies to thee O Lord thou doest revenge all wrong That office longs to thee Sith vengeance to thee doth belong Declare that all may see Set forth thy selfe for thou of right The earth doest judge and guide Reward the proud and men of might According to their pride For they consent against the life Of righteous men and good And in their counsels they are rise To shed the guiltlesse blood And he shall cause their mischiefes all Themselves for to annoy And in their malice they shall fall Our God shall them destroy Let them sustaine rebuke and shame That seeke my soule to spill Drive backe my foes and them defame That wish and would me ill For their ill feates doe them descry That would deface my name Alwayes on me they raile and cry Fie on him fie for shame Confound them with rebuke and shame That joy when I doe mourne And pay hem home with spite and blame That bragge at me with scorne WHy are thou Lord so long from us In all these dangers deepe Why doth thine anger