my minde in heauenly meditations from vncleane vnquiet and foolish dreames and so refresh me by the quiet benefit of sweet sleepe that I may arise more chearfully comfortably in the morning to the labours of my particular calling While I doe sleepe watch I beseech thee ouer me cause thy holy Angels to pitch their tents about me that so I may rest and also arise in safety and therby be moued to laud and praise thee still renewing my thankes as thou doest renew thy mercies daily And now Lord going to my bed I commend my selfe my soule and body into the hands of thy fatherey protection for thou art awake when I sleepe and thou onely art able to preserue mee If it so please thee now this night to take my life from me and to remoue me out of this vale of miserie this doe O Lord of thy great mercy pardon me all my sins wilfull transgressions negligences and ignorances euils committed and duties omitted in any measure manner or any way displeasing to thy Maiesty and that for the death and passion the righteousnesse the merits and intercession of Iesus Christ thy Sonne and our blessed Sauiour I humbly beseech thee and for his sake take vp my soule to thy heauenly habitation there to rest vntill I come wholly body and soule vnto thee in that great day of the resurrection But if it yet please thee stil further to prolong my life then I hartily pray thee good God of thy tender mercy herein to heare mee that as dayes be added to the time of life so graces may bee encreased that as I grow in yeeres so may I also bee fruitfull in good workes encreasing in grace to thy praise my better preparednesse to death and to my eternall comfort at the last day the time of my perfect redemption through Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and that blessed Spirit bee giuen all honour glory and praise of me and all thy people as is most due for all thy louing mercies past and present for the future hope of eternall blisse this night and for euermore Amen Gaius Now if it please thee my Father proceed to the next point and shew vnto me what meditatiōs I should haue in the night season if it happen that then I should awake Iohn Let it 1. put thee Meditations vpon our awaking in the night in mind of awaking from sinne as thou hast awaked frō sleep that thou perish not by death 2. Thinke also how God can make men which are dead in the graue to liue againe as easily as hee hath made thee to awake out of thy sleepe 3. By thy sudden awaking to consider how suddenly thou mayest bee raised vp and summoned to iudgement Secondly by the darknes Of darknesse of the night first thinke of the spirituall darknesse in which natural men sinfully and desperately doe sleepe to pray that God would open their eyes to see the wonders of his law then of the vtter darknesse into which all such impenitent sleepers shall bee cast to moue thee to mourne for them aliue that they may not bee damned when they bee dead further by this darknesse so comfortlesse behold also their comfortles estate for as they cannot which are in darknes see either themselues or others or their way or house or friends or enemies no more can men in spirituall darknesse know thēselues nor the Church of God nor discerne the godly from the vngodly nor the way of life from the way of death nor foresee perils or the pit prepared for them no more then men which remaine in darknesse can see to auoide the dangers which they may fall into vntill the light doe againe shine vpon them Thirdly if thou canst Of dreames cal thy dreames to remembrance by their vanitie iudge of thy leuity by their vncleannesse thy filthinesse by their idlenes thy foolishnesse by the furie in them thy madnes by their much vncertainty thy wauering and inconstancie the delight in their deceits thy easinesse to bee led by delusions the fearfulnesse in them thy timorous heart the seldome thoughts of goodnes thy much delight in wickednesse and little care of godlinesse Fourthly in the silent night vpon thy bed it is good to fall into an examination of thine owne heart it is the time freest from disturbance in respect of outward impediments thou mayest haue with thy soule free and peaceable conference By a true and serious search thou mayest finde out thy selfe and so bee better knowne to thy selfe and the more thou art acquainted with thy owne corruption the more wilt thou bewaile thy wants and seeke after the grace of sanctification Fifthly in thine inclination to sleepe againe note thereby how a man may awake from sin through Gods mercy and yet bee readie to sleepe againe in sinne by his owne infirmitie Sixthly before thou sleepe againe commend thy selfe in some short prayer to God according to the former meditations and so asleepe for refreshment taking so much as may suffice nature for more strength of labour but not to satisfie the flesh to grow thereby lazie and lustfull Gaius Oh what conceited Laodiceans are we wee out of an ordinarie profession in any measure aboue our brethren hold our selues full of deuotion wee iudge our selues goodly Christians rich in graces flowing in goodnesse lacking little to perfection but alas now I see by the neglect of these things that we are wretched and miserable and poore and blind and naked I confesse that the Lord hath cause to rebuke and chasten vs except wee speedily grow more zealous and amend Iohn Indeed Gaius men are too wickedly carelesse of a holy conuersation and how to keepe a good cōscience towards God man Men seeme to hate so very much popish superstition as they neglect altogether Christian deuotiō it is iudged enough to bee no Papist though otherwise a man bee little better then a very Atheist in all his courses Gaius Right so my father such as see it may lament it but not remedie it I pray for better vnto him that can reforme it But leauing this proceed on I beseech thee with mee as thou hast begun and come to the last particular how I may make my selfe readie for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Iohn I perceiue that thy heart thirsteth after grace the Lord more and more perfect the same so happily begun in thee First besides these things Directions for a preparation to the Sabbath before mentioned carefully haue in remēbrance euery day the Lords day to keepe it holy when it commeth therefore foresee thy businesse neglect no ordinarie labour order thy worldly affaires so as that day bee set apart for the speciall and publike worship of God that so thy deuotion bee not hindered nor the day prophaned hee hath vtterly lost the power of religion that is carelesse of the Sabbaths sanctification Secondly in the end of the weeke iudge by this holy course of thy growth in religion of
the death of sin the strength of grace of thy contempt of the world and of thy desire to bee with Christ for by a constant course in this daily exercise thou shalt see these things more and more to encrease vpon thee if indeed this worke for euery weeke without formall and customarie hypocrisie in a holy and conscionable respect of thy dutie bee religiously and constantly performed Thirdly consider how thou hast passed ouer so many dayes the allotted time for worldly labours and so hast brought the weeke to an end that so thou mayest meditate of thy shortening of thy daies and drawing nearer vnto iudgemēt Also how thou hast ended daies and weekes and so shouldest end thy sins and as times renew vpon thee and yeeres encrease so shouldest thou be daily renewed in minde and bee encreased in goodnesse that so the longer thou doest liue the better thou may bee more holy to God more vpright to men more spiritual lesse worldly more desirous of immortality lesse regarding vanitie so liuing as thereby leauing a blessed name to posterity so dying as thou mayest enioy a better life in eternity Fourthly with the rest of thy former daily deuotions and euery nights exercise and godly meditation going to bed adde to this night these two considerations That the week is as the end of the world and the seuenth day following as the eternall Sabbath when all the elect of God shall be assembled to worship him for euer and euer Gaius Reuerend Sir although thus be ended the duties and meditations for the sixe daies in the weeke yet is not this worke for euery weeke fully finished One thing remaineth of which though many haue spoken I beseech thee say something and set downe in a few words how I may behaue my selfe vpon this day of rest to sanctifie it and to keepe it holy vnto the Lord. Iohn Friend and faithfull Gaius thy desire is good and I cannot but condescēd to thy request to make vp this so little a worke for him that readeth it which yet will bee a most holy labour to him that practiseth it Concerning this thou art to know three things first 3. Things to bee knowne for the keeping of the Lords day holy what to doe before thou goest to the assembly then how to demeane thy selfe there and thirdly how to behaue thy selfe afterwards Gaius What am I to do I beseech thee in the morning Iohn Thou art not only now to performe thy euery day mornings deuotion but thou must make a speciall preparation for this day First awake early and What to doe vpon the Lords day in the morning arise be times as thy age and health wil suffer thee the sooner vp the more ready for holy exercises and longer time for them It is meet thou shouldest assoone rise for the Lords seruice to the soules safety as in the weeke day for thy selfe or earthly master to get maintenance for the body Secondly being thus risen and ready bee earnest and ardent in prayer and therin first for thy Pastor and Teacher that God would enlarge his gifts vpon him that hee would giue him vtterance and liberty of speech that hee might speake powerfully that the spirit might work both in him and by him effectually that so he himselfe might be a preacher in word and works a liuely paterne of his doctrine in a holy life and conuersation then for thy selfe and the rest of the hearers that they might haue prepared harts as good groūd for the Lords seede that they might bring forth plentifully for the Lords haruest for your ministers encouragement and your owne comfort After this reade some portion of Scripture with the text to be handled if hee goe on with a scripture calling to minde what hee hath spoken where hee left that so you may prepare your selues better to that which remaineth and so with some sweete Psalme of Psal 14. 92. 95. comfort praise God Thirdly and lastly after all these things speedily dispatch all businesse of absolute necessity auoide whatsoeuer is superfluous leaue as few as possibly may be at home make hast to the assembly and thinke whether thou art going looking to thy feet before thou enter into the house of the Lord and be more ready to heare then to offer the sacrifice of fooles Gaius Oh Lord God Of mens vnpreparednesse to Gods house how vnpreparedly come most into Gods house wee doe vsually rush into the holy assemblie without doing any of these duties from worldly businesse stuffed with cares of this life which choke the seed of Gods word some out of the Alchouse with red faces bidding defiance to all sober spirits other hardly gotten from their beds hauing not shaken off their idlenesse and perhaps their wantonnesse other spend all the time in dressing and attiring themselues that they may come to see and to bee seene into the congregation as the diuels ensigne-bearers of vanity pride Some come with couetousnes as Iudas some with hypocrisie as Ananiah some with enuie as the Pharisies some with Prophanenesse and mocking spirits like the Iewes some to cauill and catch aduantage as certaine did in Ieremies daies some come for companie as good fellowes not for conscience some onely of a fashion and of a custome taken vp vpon a kind of religion but neither knowing why nor wherefore nor euer learning any thing for their reformation Some come for feare of man but not of God most that come come as the people did to Ezechiel to heare but very few to doe because indeed they come not thus in a conscionable preparation But I haue been too long in this sorrowfull complaint shew me I pray thee what I am to do in the open congregation Iohn 1. Be thou respectiue How to carry our selues in the open congregation of Gods presence the presence of his holy Angels 2. Shew a reuerent behauior in thine eies countenance gesture of thy whole body whether it bee standing sitting or kneelings 3. Wholly addict thy selfe to attentiue hearing ioyning with the minister and the rest of the congregation in all the publike exercises is the preaching of the word in administration of the Sacramēts in distributing to the poor in their necessities in prayer and singing of Psalmes vnto God 4. Auoid all wandring thoughts idle gazing drowsie sleeping superstitious praying there alone also priuate reading and whatsoeuer may shew either neglect or contempt of the publike administration of holy thing 5. Continue constant with the congregation abide to the end and conclude with the rest depart with a heart lifted vp vnto God for such heauenly means of saluation and so goe forth with a reuerent and a holy behauiour in respect of God of his Angels of Gods Ministers and his people and in respect of departing so immediately from such holy and heauenly exercises and also in regard of the place but without superstition set apart to so holy an end Gaius Alas alas
how contrary heereunto are the most and how defectiue are the best I may mourne heauily for the multitude and much lament my own wants but as I heare now my dutie so will I endeauour to performe by Gods grace more carefully hereafter the present desire of my heart and therefore proceed thou best beloued Apostle of the Lord to teach me what to do when the publike seruice to God is ended Iohn 1. Preuent al present occasions of worldly vnnecessarie communication 2. Betake thy selfe a Our duty after publike seruice of God while to some priuate place for priuate meditation and prayer vpon that which thou hast heard remembrest 3. Receiue that day so much nourishment only as may satisfie for necessitie auoiding superfluitie arising of variety which may cause drousines dulnesse of spirit and hinder thy meditation 4. Vse conference with other and occasion them to holy speeches if thou doest doubt thou mayest perhaps bee resolued if thou hast forgot the memories of other may help thee as also giue thee vnderstanding in that thou thy selfe knowest not 5. Being disposed to be merrie sing Psalms abandon foolish and leaud sports and vaine companie 6. Forget not this day to shew forth workes of mercy to visit the sicke to relieue the poore and to comfort the afflicted Lastly in the end of the day praise God for the comforts thereof remember what thou hast heard and that which especially concerned thy selfe make some vse of all but forget not that pray for a blessing resolue to put what thou learnest into daily practise and then before thy rest fall to thy daily deuotion and in all good things bee euer constant vnto the end Gaius O Lord grant me so great mercy how happie were I if thus I could doe I earnestly desire it Oh that I could attaine vnto it This were indeed a blessednesse here a heauen vpon earth a celestiall felicity in a terrestriall place in this wretched state of miserie This pearle if I could purchase I offer willingly to giue away all my carnal pleasures al my worldly profits all vaine honour and my selfe wholly for the loue of it For what am I if I had all the world without the effectuall sauing power and grace of the word if I had all pleasure and had no portion in the heauenly Paradise If I had all honour without certaine hope of heauen Woe would bee to mee endlesse woes would seaze vpon mee I will therefore now resolue to walke with God seek fellowship with the faithfull and abandon the waies of wickednesse whatsoeuer befalleth mee in this present world Iohn A most blessed resolution sweet soule go on and prosper looke for ioyfull fruits of thy blessed labour by well doing thou shalt haue assured hope of Gods fauour boldnesse in Christ to go vnto God who will be to thee a Father the Spirit a Comforter as Christ thy Redeemer and Iustifier Feare not death dread not hell heauen is thine inheritance The godly pray for thee Angels accompanie thee the Law will not curse thee the Gospel is for thy comfort and thy conscience will speake peace vnto thee Satan dare not claime thee God doth acknowledge thee for his owne and hath thee in his safe keeping to bring thee to heauen Gaius Blessed man of God thou beloued of the Lord thou hast comforted me and spoken comfortably vnto thy seruant the Lord recompence thy worke and a full reward bee giuen thee of the Lord God of Israel and now behold thy seruant and the seruant of the Lord bee it vnto mee according to all these thy words Yet good Sir before I end I must needs craue a little more helpe I was aduised to pray vpon the Sabbath day in the morning before I goe vnto the publike congregation and in the euening when the day is ended vouchsafe I beseech thee to help my weaknesse heerein also and to set me downe how to pray morning euening on the Sabbath Iohn Friend Gaius I am ready to further thy gracious desires in al good things much reioycing in thy vnfained loue to the Lord and to the holy exercises of religion I heartily wish thee heerein all happie successe such feruencie such growth such constancie as thy example may moue many to imitate thy vertues and to ioyne with thee in the way to eternitie Thus therefore mayest thou or to the like effect pray in the morning O Lord our God whose A Prayer for the Sabbath day in the morning will and commandement it is that wee should keepe holy this day as set apart for the publike worship and seruice of thy most holy name Now I do heartily beseech thee in thy tender compassion and mercy so to looke vpon me in Christ Iesus that my sinnes may not be a wall of separation betweene thee and me but that of thy gracious goodnesse through my blessed Sauiour I may obtaine ful remission of all my sinnes and by him the gift of thy most holy spirit which may happily prepare and make ready my heart that I may goe to the holy assembly of thy Saints as well prepared ground fit to receiue the good seed of thy most holy word Oh Lord open mine eyes to see thy truth mine eares encline to harken attentiuely bend my will to follow what I shall heare that I may not be a bare hearer but a doer of thy word Giue me wisdome to iudge of the truth humility to receiue it faith to beleeue it conscience to practise it make it vnto me the Sauiour of life vnto life a word of reconciliation that I may for euer by it be wonne vnto thee Withdraw my mind and affections wholly from euery thing that may hinder mee from the performance of my duty this day in thy diuine seruice Take from me blindnesse of mind dulnesse of wit disorderlines of affections deadnesse of spirit hardnesse of heart vnbeleefe pride selfe-conceit presumption of mercy and wicked prophanenes that so I may not contemne nor yet make light account of thy holy ordinances the word read and preached the administration of the Sacramēts prayer and thankes giuing with the whole congregation Being set to heare good Father blesse me from wandring thoughts vaine imaginations Satans suggestions drowsinesse of the flesh and whatsoeuer is an enemie to the sauing hearing of thy blessed word Sanctifie my vnderstanding rightly to conceiue my memory to retaine and keepe and my heart truly to affect what thy seruant shall speake vnto mee and to the rest of thy people this day O Lord open his mouth that hee may speake onely thy truth enforme his vnderstanding settle his iudgement enflame his affections with that truth which he shal deliuer vnto vs and guide so his tongue that he may speak wisely seasonably aptly and also with great power of thy spirit to the heart and consciences of euery of vs his hearers so as we may liuely feele the power of thine owne ordinance and may also truly say of him that
thou Lord art most assuredly with him Giue mee and the rest of thy flocke this grace O Lord God of heauen I doe humbly beseech thee that as hee shall teach soundly aptly and powerfully so wee may all most humbly submit our selues vnto his ministery as well when hee conuinceth our errours rebuketh vs of sinne and threatneth Gods fearfull plagues for the same as when he preacheth peace to the penitent and comforteth the sorrowfull spirit Oh let vs not make exceptions against any thing commanded him to speake but rather iudge him the more faithfull and so to loue him more for the truth sake and for his sincere handling of the same Qualifie him euery way for vs as he may go wisely in and out before vs in soundnesse of doctrine in holinesse of life in humility in godly grauity with wisedome and authority familiarly conuersing among vs. And for his encouragement make vs willing to frequent diligently the Church to heare attentiuely to abide reuerently and to learne of him gladly not to looke vpon his humaine frailties but in true loue to passe them by to make much of him lest wee stumble at his doctrine Make vs conscionable towards him in his maintenance to deale vprightly and liberally that hee may doe the worke of his ministery cheerfully And when we haue heard thy word blesse vs O Lord with conscience of holy meditation and prayer suffer not me nor any of thy seruants as the common custome is to be content onely to heare and to remaine still in ignorance and errour to come and goe and yet neuer the better let not thy word so be the sauour of death vnto death to our deeper condemnation O Lord pardon my former negligence and forgiue vs all this wretched prophanenesse and carelesnesse of our saluation as if we were either soul-lesse or senseles Lay not this sin O Lord vnto our charge but afford vs thy grace to heare in hearing to learn and in learning to beleeue so to professe constantly and practise religiously euery day more more till we become perfect in Christ Iesus Giue mee grace O Lord to auoid all occasions of prophaning this day keepe mee from ill companie and from all vaine carnall worldly minded people which may withdraw my heart and thoughts from better things Cause me to make conscience of my whole carriage of my thoughts words and deeds that by vaine talke leaud sports light behauior vnnecessary businesses of the world I may not my selfe bee guiltie of prophanenesse neither by example may moue others to doe amisse Let my thoughts be vpon that which I haue heard and other heauenly things my words vttered to tend to edification Let my mirth be that heauenly melody singing Psalmes to thee O Lord in my heart and my companie such as I may either learne good from them or doe some good vnto them that so the day thus set apart wholly to thee and diuine exercises wee thereby may the better be furnished and made able in the weeke following to do the duties of our calling conscionably in all truth and equitie to thy glory and our owne cōforts that for Iesus Christ his sake our only Lord Sauiour in whose name for my selfe for this congregation and thy holy Church vniuersall I call vpon thee further saying Our Father c. Gaius By the helpe of my God I will surely make more conscience of this dutie then I haue hitherto done I well perceiue the necessity of praier before for indeed Paul may plant with his profound learning Apollos may water by his powerfull eloquence but all is nothing except God giue the encrease except hee giue eyes to see eares to heare and hearts to vnderstand the Teacher shall teach in vaine and we also heare in vaine Iohn Thy resolution Gaius is very good and thou hast also well considered of the necessity of prayer before thou doest go to Gods house Verily the neglect of this holy dutie and the comming of people so prophanely to Gods worship as thou formerly hast complained without due preparation is the very cause why men reape so small fruit by the meanes Cursed is their irreligious cōming their cursed customarie seruing of God their hellish luke-warmenesse their presumptuous prophanesse without any feare of God estimation of Gods ordinances reuerēt respect of his ministers or care at all truly of their owne saluation Oh daies without pure deuotion O times for temporizers But goe thou on good Gaius as thou doest and as thou stil resoluest to do he that is filthie let him be filthy stil follow thou not their guise pray continually and the Lord deliuer his people from the tentations of the times of luke-warmenes and carnall securitie in a worldly peace which is the blūter of zeale the death of true deuotion the very prison of sincere piety the breeder of Atheisme the cause of the contempt of religion the nurse of proud presumption of mercy of vanity wantonnesse with all kind of wickednesse Gaius Sir wofull experience hath proued this for truth in many ages I haue learned it but by your words I haue more reason to consider of it And therefore the Lord directing mee and in his mercy making good these fatherly aduisements vpon me that I may haue the grace to follow the same I hope hereafter to auoid better the occasions of euill and the intrapments of Satā this seducing wicked world which I will daily pray for and in mercy I hope the Lord will heare me But reuerend Sir lest I be too tedious let it please you to finish this work in adding that one thing remaining which is a forme of prayer vpon the Sabbath day in the euening Iohn Hauing meditated somewhat before of the doctrines vses and instructions deliuered of the benefit of the Sacraments of the excellency of religion as also of the publike worship of the diuine exercises and of the fellowship of the godly and in like manner hauing considered what good thou hast receiued thereby wherein informed for rectifying of iudgement wherein instructed to follow vertue wherin reproued for amendmēt of life wherein conuinced of errour wherein comforted concerning affliction and strengthened against tentation thou mayest thus or after such a like maner both heartily praise God and humbly pray vnto him as followeth O Lord God most gracious Euening Prayer for the Sabbath and mercifull Father I doe render vnto thy heauenly maiesty all humble hearty thanks praising and lauding thy most holy name for that of thy great compassion thou hast affoorded vnto mee and thy people the preaching of thy word the effectual means of saluation to as many as truly beleeue Oh how pleasant is thy dwelling place to all that delight in goodnesse better is one day in thy house then a thousand yeeres elsewhere right ioyfull are the feete of thy faithful messengers bringing to vs poore soules the glad tidings of peace Oh that I might dwell in thy house for
A WEEKES WORKE AND A WORKE FOR EVERY weeke By R. B. The third Edition LONDON Printed by Felix Kyngston and are to be sold by Nathanael Newbery 1616. TO THE VERTVOVS AND RELIgious Ladies the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Bruton the Ladie Elizabeth Barkley of Yearlington and the Ladie Anne Horner that wisdome which is from aboue that true peace which is from within and the manifestation of both in the fruits of the spirit to their perfect ioy AS I consider with my selfe how Mary did make choice of the better part I cannot but blesse God for the worke of grace So Right Worshipfull on the contrary marking the mad choyce of others I follow the counsell of the Prophet Esaiah I stay wonder Eue had free-will the choyce of an apple and Paradise was before her God said eate not and liue but eate said the Serpent thou shalt not die The diuell was credited God not beleeued the apple was eaten Paradise lost a miserable choice But led she the way in this point of follie and hath shee had no followers What none of her posterity to walk in her steps Behold the sonnes of God chose the daughters of men and forsooke the generation of the righteous Lot left Abraham and made choyce to dwell in Sodome Esau loueth his bellie and for a present messe of pottage selleth away his birth-right The mixt people among the Israelites rather desire garlicke and onyons and to sit by the flesh-pots of Egypt then to eat that sweet Manna frō heauē Yea so mad are men in their choyce as the Iewes from the highest to the lowest cry out to haue a rebell a theefe a murtherer euen a Barrabas instead of that iust one and innocent Christ the righteous As I haue stayed in my thoughts vpon these so now should I wonder but that among our selues I finde many as foolish and as vnreasonable in their chusing They esteeme more of pleasure then of peace wiih God they will sell godlines for earthly gain they preferre profit before piety worldly goods they like of better then heauenly graces they chuse rather to rest vpon an idle conceit in themselues of saluation then vpon the witnesse of Gods word a truly informed conscience they wil plead rather custom then diuine precepts mens examples now for liberty in sinn e rather then the holy liues of the godly recorded in Scripture most in a word chuse rather to be reputed religious then so to be indeed But perhaps you Ladies will say what of all this to you Surely that you beholding nature corrupted and your selues through Gods mercy sanctified by grace may in your more happie choyce giue due praises heartily vnto God who affoordeth you from aboue so much power and strength that you may in some measure with holy Elizabeth walke in the Commandemēts of the Lord with religious Mary sit down at Christs feet heare his word with that blessed Virgin Christs mother ponder the words and lay them vp in your hearts with afflicted Hannah poure out in your necessities your soules by prayer vnto God and with that deuout Anna serue God in fasting and prayers day and night For this end and purpose to further euery well disposed Christian in the path that leadeth vnto life and glory I haue now this third time published this Weeks work worke for euery weeke I haue presumed to send it forth vnder your names not in any merit of the worke but in my true esteeme of your godlinesse and certaine perswasion of your good desires to please God which the Lord encrease in you more more with such inward comfort of spirit as you may perseuere in euery good worke of grace to goe boldly to the throne of grace in euery state and condition to the end of your daies euen so Amen Your Ladyships in all Christian duties RIC. BERNARD Batcombe Iuly 14. A DIALOGVE BETWEENE IOHN the beloued Apostle and his beloued Gaius Epist. 3. vers 1. Iohn GRace be with thee Noble Gaius mercy and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Iesus Christ the Sonne of the Father with truth and loue Gaius Reuerend Father let this thy prayer this day preuaile with God for Grace Peace Mercy Truth in Loue I much long after Iohn Well may wee wish for these things friend Gaius as the foundation of all good fauours with God and all good men Gaius Oh my Lord I thanke God these things with me are of greater price then any thing which may seeme most pretious with the world For Grace maketh me acceptable to God Peace comforteth mee within my selfe Mercy from God affordeth me remission of sins and Mercy from me shewed towards others maketh them both to pray and praise God for me The Truth of God warranteth my course and way and truth obserued of me iustifieth my words and workes Loue in God to me procureth peace bringeth forth mercy and confirmeth truth loue in our selues maintaineth peace vrgeth to mercy and bindeth one to another and all vnto the truth Therefore Sir doe I in soule desire earnestly after the same but I cannot attain vnto that measure which I would I hunger after the perfection of all true holinesse but alas I cannot bee satisfied I thirst after righteousnesse but ah miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from the body of this death which so much doth hinder mee in my heauenly progresse Iohn I reioyce greatly worthie Gaius that I find thee thus well prepared for further instructions blessed art thou for so hungring and thirsting after the best things for thou shalt be satisfied Gaius My Lord I am not ignorant blessed be God for this knowledge of my selfe that I am heere indeed in this present world but not of this world one as a pilgrime and stranger without any certaine mansion hither sent of the Lord for a time to bee employed in his seruice and so to stay till hee call mee hence which houre I waite for looking for death daily and the Lords comming to iudgement And therefore I desire to bee ready prepared and to learn whatsoeuer may be needfull both for continuance and encrease of grace in the way of life Especially seeing how the world groweth so on to worse and worse and this our present age declining so fast vnto wickednesse lest I bee intrapped and become guiltie of the common sinnes and so perish in the deserued plagues Iohn Indeed good Christian heart wel mayest thou so tearme these Euill daies our present times Is not pietie turned by many into policie sincerity by others into schisme true zeale is decayed conscience is now but a customarie fashion graced with conformitie faith is altogether a formal seruice without fasting without true feare of God and feruencie of spirit without gratious words tending to edification or good workes assuring vs of saluation godly gouerment is grosly abused by couetous persons and made a base course for filthie gaine true deuotion is not
Blessed be thy name most A Prayer for the morning gracious Father the Lord of life for that thou hast of thy goodnesse and mercy thus preserued mee this present night past and hast awakened mee raised mee vp giuen vnto mee comfortable meditations and a most sweet taste of thy heauenly graces Oh my Father my Father how is my spirit delighted with these celestiall ioyes afford me stil I humbly beseech thee the like measure of thy mercy daily that I may euer feele these comforts and neuer cease to praise thy goodnesse Indeed O Lord I freely confesse vnto thee that I haue lien in the bed of my corruptions and slept in the darke ignorance of my mind and therein tooke such delight as if thou haddest not sent out the sweet beames of the light of truth and called me vp by thy faithfull teachers I had yet remained in the night of misdeeds and perished in my sinnes Sythen therfore O Lord thou hast thus brought mee from darknesse to the light and opened mine eyes to see that which before I could not discerne cause mee now I beseech thee to shake off al fleshly drousines that in so broad a sun-shine of the Gospell I may not as carelesse of spirituall thrist sloathfully lie downe againe in the sinfull corruptions of mine owne heart but so partake of the first resurrection in the state of grace as I may enioy the blessing of the second in the kingdome of glory I doe acknowledge to thee how without thee I am O Lord very miserable poore and naked so as I am ashamed to come before thee but in mercy doe thou pitie mee and clothe me with that faire rayment of Christ his righteousnesse that I may be bold to draw neare to the throne of grace this best robe by the spirit put vpon me and giue me the hand of faith to apply the same vnto me that I may thereby be preserued from the heate of thy wrath for sinne and escape eternall destruction Giue mee grace good Lord to beautifie my holy profession with ornaments of grace good words and good workes let mee neuer want the linnen of inward sincerity nor the outward garment of Christian honestie that I may be welcome to the companie of thy Saints the onely comely creatures whom thou O Lord hast washed and made cleane Wash me O Lord with them for I confesse my selfe polluted with manifold sins and that they stick so hard cleaue so fast vnto mee that I cannot be deliuered nor clensed except thou my God by thy mercifull hand the worke of thy Spirit dost rinse mee in the precious blood of Christ Surely if it were not for the hope which I haue of thy gracious fauour I should verily despaire of my saluation For when by the glasse of thy word I see my selfe so vncleane my corruptions also to be so many and withall feele them so strong in mee I cannot but mourne with teares and lament with heauinesse of heart my present estate deseruing death and iustly causing me to feare rather damnation then to haue any hope at all of saluation But there is mercy with thee O thou blessed God of mercy to which I now appeale humbly crauing at thy hands the ful pardon of al my sinnes behold deare Father the merits of my Redeemer the price which hee hath paid to satisfie thy iustice that so of thy goodnesse thou mayest be well pleased with mee that my prayers may bee granted and my requests which I now put vp vnto thee may graciously be heard of thee It is thy will O Lord that euery one should haue a calling to walke in and that wee should performe such duties diligently as do belong thereunto now Lord for thy mercie sake as thou hast giuen mee a calling and desire to performe the charge laid vpon me therby so I do earnestly beseech thee to help guide aide and strengthen me therin put vpon mee that whole furniture of thine for my spirituall warfare that I may be armed at all assayes to resist also to preuaile against all my ghostly enemies O Lord thou knowest well how manifold the tentations bee which doe follow all those that desire to liue in and by their callings religiously and honestly Thou doest also know how I desire like a true Israelite to walke before thee in godly simplicity and towards the world without fraud or guile peaceably but Satan is so powerfull and often in his tentations the world so full of deceitfull allurements and my heart so weake and vnable to resist that vnlesse thou by thy spirit doe aide me by thy power defend mee by thy word instruct mee and by thy grace preuent mee I shall vndoubtedly goe astray from my intended purpose of wel doing O my God helpe me helpe me therefore O my God In al my iust proceedings protect me make my good purposes prosperous if it bee thy will I heartily pray thee Bend my mind euer to thy good pleasure and will that I encline not vnto wickednesse by ill companie ill counsell ill examples of others though for a time they flourish by il means Make mee O Lord to delight more in thy fauour and loue then in the gaine of all earthly goods Possesse so my heart with vprightnesse and true intendment of iust dealing and peaceable walking towards all in all my courses that I may boldly come to thee and make thee my God the Iudge of all my actions Goe out Lord before me and let my eyes be this day as at all times euer vpon thee that so before I speake I may consult with thee before I do any thing I may bee aduised by thee that so in going out and in continuing abroad thy care may be ouer mee thy prouident hand may helpe me thy mercy also may couer me that so I may by thee returne home in good peace and safety through Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour in whose name I further call vpon thee for my self for the whole Church and euery member of the same in that holy forme of prayer which hee taught his blessed Apostle saying Our Father which art in heauen c. Gaius For this thou blessed seruant of God I most humbly thanke thee now if it please thee proceed on to the second point how I may carrie my selfe abroad on the day time Iohn Hold thy selfe Gaius to this mornings worke constantly then go forth in Gods name feare not neither be faint-hearted for the Lord is with thee Walk as a Saint among Directions for the day time men striuing daily to perfection let them as apparantly see thee to be come out of Satans house of bondage spiritually as they can behold thee out of thine owne house bodily Liue in the light of Gods word with respect vnto all and euery one of Gods Commandements as thou doest walke with thy body and sight of the eyes in the shine of the Sunne Behold and looke vp often to the heauens as thy