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
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
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
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
former Sabbathes may here beginne my spirituall Rest in thy Sanctuarie that after I may accomplish it in thine holie Temple throgh Iesus Christ our Lord and only Sauiour AMEN CERTAINE PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS MOST COMfortable for all estates Morning Prayer ALmightie God and moste mercifull Father I beseech thee that thou wouldest chase away with the brightnesse of thy presence my sinnes as a clowde that I may come before thee Psa 18.12 and with a cleane heart beholde thee and offer vp my Prayer as a Morning Sacrifice and as Incense of sweet Odour vnto thee Reuel 8.4 I thanke thy Majestie for the quiet rest of this night that thou hast so safely conuoyed me through the perils of darknesse and saued me from the prince of darknesse and brought me to the light of this day giuen mee a new day of repentance wherein I may seeke thee O Lord it was of thy mercie that I was not consumed Thou the watchman of Israel neither sleepest nor slumberest Psa 121.4 Albeit my bodie was lying as dead and all my senses were asleepe so that I was a readie prey to my spiritual foes Yet O Lord thou wast carefull of me when I was careles of my selfe and thou pitchedst about my bodie the muisible companie of thine holie Angels Psal 34.7 who haue graciously carried me and kept me from all euill Thou smotest the first borne of Egypt in one night by the destroyer Exo. 12.26 2. King 19 35 and the host of Senacherib by thine Angel But O Lord thou hast kept me and mine house safe by their hand thou foundest the blood of the Lambe vpon the doore of my soule and I haue escaped praise bee giuen vnto thee O Lord Ex. 12.13 who hast deliuered me and glorie to the Lambe by whom I haue escaped But especiallie I praise thee that my spirituall enemies haue not preuailed ouer me to snare me in sinne Sathan most busie in the night to cause men sinne Iob 24.16 for the Prince of darknesse worketh his works of darknesse in darknesse by the which hee leadeth the worlde vnto euerlasting darknesse in the night they steale they murder and commit adulteries but the Lord hath deliuered mee from the temptations of the Deuill Blessed bee thy Name for I knowe the night is to the Lord as the light Psal 139.12 hee beholdeth mee and seeth mee therefore I glorifie thee this morning that thou diddest keepe mee and gauest mee not ouer to bee illuded by my spirituall foes Thou wast a light vnto mee in darknesse But alace that my naturall heart cannot acknowledge thy goodnesse I haue rested in my bodie and my minde hath beene at great peace This is a double rest which thou hast giuen to thy beloued But alace thou hast so tenderlie dealt with my flesh that I am displeased that I should spende the whole night which is the halfe of my dayes Nota. so ydlie in my judgement that I should doe nothing but feede my flesh with sleepe I am displeased and thinke within my selfe Shall I lie so long and so manie nightes and shall not prayse my God for thy seruant DAVID not onelie prayed vnto thee in the morning Psa 55.17 and 6.6 and 63.6 and 77.6 119.62 148. at noone-tide and at Euen but also preuented the night watches to meditate on thy worde and watered his Bedde with teares thanking and thinking on thee communing with his owne heart And likewise O Lord I would rather bee content that mine eyes were holden waking with thee to remember thee than I should sleepe to forget thee I beseech thee O my God to forgiue mee thy poore creature who euer doe forget my duetie to thee both day and night and when I am sleeping sanctifie mee so by thy grace that my soule may bee waking with thee Lord wash mee from all the vncleannesse of body and soule which I haue contracted this night and as thou hast made separation betwixt the night and day so diuide mee from all sinne Lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon mee this day and inlighten my minde with vnderstanding that I may see the secret of thy Lawe Visit me with thy sweere mercie this morning Iob 7.18 that I may rejoyce in thee all my dayes I will rise in the morning and compasse thine holie Altar Psal 43.4 and 26.6 Thou art my Father and I am thy Childe I craue thy blessing for Christes sake to all the actions of this day that thou wilt accompanie them with thy speciall presence and direction and so I am sure that whatsoeuer I shall take in hand will prosper Further my mercifull Father I beseech thee to slay the corruptiōs of this wicked nature this day Bring in captiuitie euerie cogitation of my heart which rebelleth against thy will Put a watch to the doore of my lippes that no vnsauourie speach come out of my mouth Psa 141.3 but that which may tende to edification And dispose so all the actions of this day that no corruption which is in me may burst foorth either in word or deed whereby I may offende thee or my neighbour Mortifie the lustes of my flesh my pride turne it vnto humilitie my couetousnesse vnto liberalitie mine insolencie into grauitie Chaunge from euil to good my prodigalitie vnto abstinence my lies vnto trueth mine vncleannesse to chastitie my profanitie to reuerence c yea make that alteration and change in me this day that whatsoeuer delight of sinne is in me it may be consumed and thy graces as fruitfull hearbs may be planted in place of these weeds Forsake me not O Lord this day lest I forsake thee giue me not ouer vnto my selfe and to mine owne counsell and will lest I perish And because these are dayes of defection and apostasie wherein if it were possible the Elect would perish Matth. 24.22 I besech thee that I fall not backe from thy grace but let me make some progresse in godlinesse to approach neare vnto thy kingdome that as the powers of nature doe decay in me and I hasten to the graue so the strength of thine holy Spirite may fortifie mine inward man that I may grow from grace to grace vntill I passe the dangers of this pilgrimage and thou bring me to thy glorie through Christ our Lord. AMEN Euening Prayer O Lord let my prayer come before thee as pure Incense and as the Euening Sacrifice I present it vpon the golden Altar my blessed Sauiour that he Reuel 8.3 through the perfume and sweete smell of his sacrifice may make my petitions acceptable vnto thee I thanke thee O gracious and deare Father that thou hast so fauourably conuoyed me and preserued me from the perils of this day both of my soule and bodie And also I praise thee for thy fatherly care whereby thou hast aboundantly fedde by thy word my soule by thine earthly creatures my bodie I thanke thee that thou
Gates of Hell by Stripes and Wounds our Lord weÌ„t before vs. The feare of Death springeth of the weaknesse of faith and our great loue of the world begets in vs great desire of life and our little sight of Glorie maketh ouer great feare of Death RemeÌ„ber that there are two Deaths and feare the greater There are two deaths Rev. 20.14 the first Death is the separation of the soule from the bodie but the second Death is the euerlasting separation of God froÌ„ the soule If thou be partaker of the resurrection from sinne the second Death shal haue no power ouer thee therfore thou needest not to be afraid of the first Death if thou be deliuered from the second 2. Thou needest not to feare the first Death Death is vniuersall for it is a fatall necessitie laide vpon all Flesh Kinges Prophets People c. all must depart A profitable exchaunge by death 3. There is great gain by the exchaÌ„ge for wee get a Palace for a Prison rest for labour libertie for bondage God for men the companie of Angels for the companie of sinners and finallie the Heauens for the Earth 4. Thou mayest take comfort in thy death Present joy by death without delay Luke 23.43 NOTA. Sinne is taken away Simil. The-paines of death are short because thy soule shall not bee holdeÌ„ in suspense nor stand at the gates of HeaueÌ„ nor goe to Purgatory for new tormentes for in the day of thy death thou shalt be with the Lord in Paradise 5. The sting of Death is taken froÌ„ it which is Sinne then Death can doe thee no more harme than a Serpent which wanteth a Sting 6. The pangues of Death which thou sustainest are but momentaneall but thy joyes shall be eternall as Paul saith to the Romanes Chap. 8. Vers 18. Inward comfortes The soule shall shortlie returne 7. God mixeth his inward comforts with thine outward crosses 8. Thy bodie shall sleepe a little thy soule shal returne shortlie the Comforter shall assist thee Christ is praying for thee in Heauen the Sainctes on Earth are crying to the Redeemer the Angels are readie to conuoy thy soule to eternall blisse 9. Heere is thy comfort Christ thy Sauiour suffered the pangues of Death in the highest degree Christ suffered death Matth. 10.24 Shall the seruant be aboue his Master And as he died so he rose againe and ouercame Death in his owne denne Then if the Head bee risen will hee not raise after him all the members of the bodie Yes surelie Lastly The right desire to liue or die Psalm 6.5 Isa 38.7 if thou find a desire in thee to liue longer let the cause of thy desire be that thou mayest liue better as Ezechias and Dauid saide Shall the dead prayse thee And What signe shall I haue to goe to the House of the Lord And if thou desire to die Christ aduantage in life and death see that it be not for thine earthlie burdens but for sinne which thou weariest to beare and for the desire of the fruition of the glorie of God A PRAYER AT THE HOVRE OF DEATH EVerlasting God and my most mercifull Father in Iesus Christ I thy poore Prisoner bound by the Chains of Sicknesse to this Bed vpon whome the bondes of Death are seasing and taking holde I fall downe before the throne of thy Mercy beseech thee to giue me thine holie Spirite that seeing I am going the way of all flesh I may rightlie resolue 1. King 2.2 with solide judgement and perfect memorie anent my departure that as thou hast prepared a place for mee Iob 14.2 so thou wilt prepare mee for it that I being purged by the blood of Iesus sanctified by thy Spirit may enter into the present possession of that inheritance promised to mee And because manie times I learned by thy Worde that I must die by daylie experience in the death of others thou gauest mee warning as also I haue carried in mine owne bodie the markes of death by diuerse diseases yet Lord nowe at last I learne by mine own proofe that which I would not learne by others Nowe therefore O Lord when I looke backe to my former life and consider the sinnes of my childhood and mine age what things I did ignorantlie and what I did against mine owne conscience my forgetfulnesse of thy mercies and mine ingratitude to thee for thy goodnesse mine open sinnes and my secret sinnes my presumptions mine injuries to others mine intemperancie my slouthfulnesse and neglect of thy worship all these sinnes so oft committed by mee beeing put in a masse and manie moe with them I beseech thee most mercifull Father that thou wouldest vouchfase to bind them vp together in the bundle of thy mercie and burne them in the fire of thy loue burie them in the graue of eternall obliuion and make mee nowe quite of them that they burthen mee no more and I beseech thee that now in this my last battell thou wilt so strengthen my faith against infidelitie and distrust that as by thy power I haue ouercome the maine hoste of sin so by thy grace these remnants of a defeated Armie those stragling Souldiours who are shaking their weapons vpon mee they may bee scattered by thine hand that the work of my saluation may now in mercie bee crowned and finished that now I may cry with my Sauiour at his death Consummatum est It is finished Ioh. 19.30 He finished vpon the Crosse the worke of saluation for me now O Lord finish it in me vpon this bedde I acknowledge ô Father that I am infinitlie obliedged vnto thy Majestie for thine innumerable benefits which I haue receiued at thine handes in the time of my life for thou euer didst loue me with a Fatherlie affection thou caredst for mee thou prouidedst in due season to my necessitie thou fedst me thou defendedst mee thou nurturedst me c. Simil. Exod. 19.4 And as the Eagle carrieth the little ones so hast thou carried mee in the armes of thy mercie But in speciall thou broughtest mee from ignorance to the knowledge of the trueth madest mee to be borne in the bosome of the Church gauest me that eternall life Iohn 17.3 which is to knowe thee to bee the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the Worlde Yea when I fell into manifold dangers in this Wildernesse the perils of waters of fire of pouertie of sicknesse of decietfull and wicked men c. thou deliueredst mee from them all by thy mightie and out-stretched arme and hast giuen me this time to resolue with thee to repent and thanke thee for thy benefits For all which thy mercies and excellent benefites both spirituall and temporall I render vnto thee moste heartie thankes praise and glorie to continue for euermore As for anie good thing which is now wrought in mee it is not of mee O Lord but thy grace working in mee who makest thy power to bee knowne in my weaknesse And if thou wouldest look narrowly to my best actions thou wouldest finde in them a thousand imperfections Therefore I couch vnder the Garment of my Lordes righteousnesse oh spreade the Mantle of thy Mercie ouer mee And as for the Worlde I disclaime and renounce it as a false and deceitfull friend which promiseth faire things to those that seeke it but for golden offers it crowneth them with thornes I bid good-night to all my Friends Acquaintances and good Christians and I exhort all you who would haue peace in your latter ende and die the death of the Righteous Numb 23.10 Mat. 7.13 that ye would treade the footesteps of Iesus Christ goe thorowe the straite way keeping faith and loue with the Sainctes to the ende 2. Tim. 4.8 that seeing I haue gone before you and run my race and shortlie shall receiue the Crowne of Righteousnes yee would rejoyce in my victorie and not bee forâ—e for my remoouing And I pray God to bee with you all and to conuoy you safely vnto his Kingdome that wee may all meete joyfullie in his glorie And seeing I feele all the members of my bodie decaying and giuing ouer their office my grinders sailing my sight and hearing decaying Eccl. 12.3 my strong men trembling let the hidden man of mine heart be sanctified by thy grace that I may haue a cleare sight of my Lord and Sauiour and so depart in peace with olde SIMEON thy Seruant Now my Soule returne to thy rest for the Lord hath beene beneficiall to thee Psa 116.7 I commit my spirite into thine handes O LORD take it and by the conuoy of thy moste holie Angels carrie it vnto thy Kingdome And for my bodie I commit it to the dust from whence it came to sleepe there till the Day dawne and my LORD returne and rayse it vppe againe that thou with it may receiue that eternal glory which is prepared for vs thorow Christ Amen FINIS THE PRINTER TO THE READER BEcause it is vnpossible that Bookes of any quantitie in the first Impression should escape all Faults and especially in the absence of the Author therefore it shall please the Christian Reader to auoyde partialitie judge charitablie and correct diligentlie such errours as on our behalfe vnwillinglie haue escaped our correction all which God willing at another time wee shall amende most attentiuelie
HEPTAMERON THE SEVEN DAYES That is MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS Vpon the vvorke of the LORDS CREATION Together with other certaine Prayers and Meditations most comfortable for all Estates c. By M. A. Symson Minister at Dalkeith SAINCT-ANDREWS Printed by Edward Raban Printer to the Vniversitie 1621. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND VERTVOVS LADIE DAME MARGARET HAY Countesse of Dumfermeling Eternall Felicitie MADAME SInce it hath pleased our OMNIPOTENT CREATOR and gracious Redeemer to heape vpon your Ladiship manie and sundrie honourable Priuiledges of Nature and Grace and by them amongst manie others your good Friendes and Seruantes to ingage mee of a long time to honour serue your Ladiship with such Graces and Dueties by manie Testimonies of your comfortable kindnesse and care of mee as I haue hitherto with a constant intention to bee thankfull declared my willingnesse to expresse that I should not come with the common sort of this declining Age guiltie of the foule imputation of Ingratitude as the weaknesse of my wit and skill might afford I did communicate with your Ladiship for your priuate vse these MEDITATIONS vpon that fundamentall ground of Faith which is THE LORDS CREATION OF THE WORLD to bee vsed of your Ladiship with daylie Prayer Meditation that yee might neuer want matter wherein yee might rejoyce in the goodnesse wisedome and power of that Creator with a perswasion that his wise Prouidence reacheth vnto the conseruatioÌ„ of the same in Mercie and Iustice vnto the consummation of the Worlde wherein your Ladiship hath your comfortable entresse euen according to the Lordes euerlasting Decree of your Election Calling Iustification Sanctification and hope to bee glorified with all the rest of his Saincts and elect Angels in the euerlasting sellowship of his Kingdome besides the manie Obligations wherewith I stand indebted to my Lord your Noble Husband for his Lordships fatherlie care and patrocinie of mee in all mine affaiâ—es that your honour should not bee smoothered in the Christian affection which yee carrie to the Common-wealth of the Lordes Church not onelie in permitting but likewise in vrging that this Benefite might bee made of a publicke priuiledge to the vse of all them that by a common affection with you striue to worke out their saluation in feare and trembling and so make their election sure I haue according to my duetie dedicated this little Treatise to passe foorth vnder your Ladiships protection that the thankes of the paines which I haue taken in contriuing the same for your Ladiships priuate vse may redound vnto your selfe Madame from as manie as shall finde the benefite thereof for their information and stirring vp vnto anie duetie of Religion And as it can neither stand with my Profession your Ladiships sinceritie nor yet the superlatiue dignitie of such a glorious subject to pollute the same with the intising wordes of humane wisedome knowing your Ladiship to be as farre from all delight in assentation and flattering as yee are from the affectation of salfe and vndeserued praise I haue contented my selfe in the simplicitie of the Lordes trueth to commende vnto your Ladiship and all the rest of Gods Sainctes the constant and carefull practise of the Fayth and knowledge which may bee reaped by the reading and meditation of this Doctrine with Prayer and thankesgiuing to the Lord for the happie successe of the same not that I would wish your Ladiship by this distinction of the matter to seuerall dayes to bee so superstitiouslie tied vnto the same as if the whole particulars of the Creation should not bee at all times before your Eyes as a faire Garden whereof yee should beholde the beautie and smell the fragrant Odours together But heerewithall if it may please the Lordes gracious Majestie yee may resent the goodnesse power and wisedome of God in the Creation of euerie creature vpon its owne day when it was made So wishing the successe of these exercises to bee according to mine affection and intention for the Christian profit and progresse in the faith of the trueth which is according to godlinesse I beseech God to blesse your Ladiship with my Lord your Husband and your hopefull Sonne Lorde CHARLS with all Prosperitie in this Life and euerlasting happinesse in the Life to come I rest Your Lad. seruitour A. SYMSON TO THE CHRISTIAN READER GEntle and Christian Reader sith yee receiued so tenderly my first Booke Of the seuen words which our Lord spak vpoÌ„ the Crosse I haue taken courage to present this Booke Of the Creation also to your consideration which suppose it preceed the other in time so long as the Creation of the Worlde doeth Mans Redemption purchased by the death of Christ yet they succeede in effect and woorth for it had beene farre better that neither the World for vs nor wee for our selues had beene made than that wee should not haue beene redeemed by him This if yee peruse diligentlie and meditate consideratiuelie I doubt not but that yee shall see the Lord more clearelie in his owne workes this beeing as it were a mirrour and looking Glasse wherein wee may perfectlie beholde Himselfe his Omnipotencie Wisedome Loue Goodnesse c. By this also yee may draw nearer and nearer vnto the Lord your God and become more frequent and acquainted with him by daylie meditating vpon his woorthie Workes praysing him giuing him thankes for the same and praying vnto him to continue his graces towardes you still vnto the ende I did reade Sainct Ambrose his HEXAMERON and the woorthie D. BARTAS and I trust yee shall perceiue the direction of one Spirit guiding vs all vnto one and the selfe same Ende I perswade my selfe that there are manie well minded Christians who will likewell of this Booke and againe others will perhaps dislike of it euen such as esteeme of nothing but that which is forged in their owne Shop yea they know no better means to grace themselues than by disgracing others as Sainct Hierome sayeth in his Epistle vnto Sainct Augustine But I craue at thine handes most courteous Reader that since in anie mans worke there will â—ee some Drosse amongst Golde thou wouldest choose the best if iâ— were but in the Dongue-hill and passe by the other with a chaâ—itable construction in the meane time accepting this in good part and if it please God to continue his graces with mee thou mayest expect more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A. Symson ON THE BOOKE GOD binding with hid Tendons this great ALL Did make a LVTE which had all parts it giuen This LVTES round Bellie was the azur'd Heauen The Rose those Lights which Hee did there install The Basses were the Earth and Ocean The Treble shrill the Aire the other Strings The vnlike bodies were of mixed things And then His Hand to breake sweete Notes began Those loftie Concords did so farre rebound That Floods Rocks Meadows Forrests did them heare Birds Fishes Feasts danc'd to their siluer sound Onlie to them Man had a deafned Eare. Now him to
rouse from sleepe so deepe and long God wak'ned hath the Eccho of this Song W. D. ON THE SEVEN DAYES THe glorious God the First Day made the Light Next stretcht the Firmament in bredth hight The Third dryde Earth and it with Plants He stor'd The Fourth the Heauens with Lamps of light decor'd Fift th' Aire with Fowls with Fishes filde each Flood The Sixt made Beasts and Man and all were good On the Seuenth Day the Lord from worke did rest Therefore that Day Hee sanctifi'd and blest I. A. AN ANTIPHONE or EPODE For VV. D. his Heptachordon TO THE AVTHOR THis seuen string'd Lute as shewes the sacred Storie GOD made to shew the brightnesse of his Glorie On which by diuerse Handes sixe thousand Springs Beene playde and all to prayse that King of Kings Now last the Sonne of that sweet Swan-like Singer Who Christ in Armes embracing would not linger Longer on Earth harmoniouslie doth rayse On it Notes fit the furious fits t' appease Of Soules Saule-like and of their franticke follie Them charme to sound his prayse who 's only holie Therefore my Brother deare well mayst thou thinke Employde thy Paines thy Paper Penne and Inke Whereby poore Soules are sav'd Gods Name 's extoll'd And thine 'mongst neuer-dying names enroll'd M. I. ADAMSON THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOKE AN humble Confession of sinnes Pag. 1 A Meditation on the first days work Pag. 19 A Prayer on the first Day Pag. 22 A Meditation on the second Day Pag. 27 A Prayer on the second Day Pag. 30 A Meditation on the third Day Pag. 36 A Prayer on the third Day Pag. 38 A Medit. on the fourth Day Pag. 50 A Prayer on the fourth Day Pag. 62 A Med. on the fifth Day Pag. 68 A Pr. on the fâ—fth Day Pag. 74 A Meditat. on the sixth Day Pag. 79 A Prayer on the sixth Day Pag. 85 A Meditation on the seuenth Day Pag. 91 A Prayer on the seuenth Day Pag. 102 Morning Prayer Pag. 108 Euening Prayer Pag. 114 A Meditation on the Church Pag. 120 A prayer for the Church Pag. 125 A meditation on the holie Communion Pag. 133 A prayer before the Communion Pag. 139 A thankesgiuing after the Communion Pag. 141 A Medit. of the trouble of Conscience Pag. 143 A prayer for a troubled Conscience Pag. 149 A meditation of Kinges Pag. 155 A Prayer for the King c. Pag. 158 A Meditation of Sicknesse Pag. 161 A prayer for a sicke person Pag 163 A prayer for a Woman in trauell Pag. 169 A meditation of Persecution Pag. 173 A prayer for one persecuted Pag. 177 A meditation of Famine Pag. 182 A prayer in time of Famine Pag. 184 A meditation of Pestilence Pag. 187 A prayer in time of pestilence Pag. 189 A Meditation of the Sword Pag. 191 A prayer in time of the Sword Pag. 194 A Meditation of Death Pag. 197 A Prayer at the houre of Death Pag. 200 FINIS AN HVMBLE CONFESSION OF SINNES OEternall God and moste mercifull Father I confesse and acknowledge before thine heauenly Majestie that I am a moste miserable sinner first Sinne by nature because I was conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie next by reason I haue added to the sinnes of my nature the sinnes of a damnable life For there iâ— no Precept of thy Law which I haue not broken neither is there any judgemeÌ„t which I haue not deserued Insensible But yet this increaseth my woe that wheÌ„ I am thus wounded I feele not my wound but doe lie sleeping as Ionas did when the tempest of thy judgements doeth assault mee But alace this is moste grieuous of all Ionah 1.5 that when thy Majestie by the sweete voyce of thy worde Against knowledge hast called mee to repentance I closed mine cares to thy warninges If those who transgressed the law of Moses Deu. 19.15 vnder two or three witnesses died without mercy much more I who haue troden vnder my feete the blood of the New Testament Heb. 10.29 and haue accounted light of the offers of thy grace and by the testimonie of mine owne conscience am worthie of condemnation And seeing I am arraigned before thy Tribunall I flee to thy selfe as to a Citie of refuge Deut. 19.3 where I will pleade my cause by an humble Confession Therefore I sall downe vpon the knees of mine heart before the portes of thy mercie begging of thee the spirit of vnsained repentance that acknowledging my sinne I may finde grace in thine eyes But because the beginning of repentance is to see my sinne open mine eyes O Lord that I may see my nakednesse bewaile the dayes of my sinne I will giue vp dittie against my selfe I will giue out doome against my soule I will condemne my selfe that thou mayst absolue me I wil haue my sinnes before mine eyes that thou mayst cast them behinde thy backe I wil remember them that thou mayst forget them I wil repent them thou wilt forgiue them I acknowledge my sins Psal 51.3 mine iniquitie is euer before mee O Lord thou louest the trueth in the inward affections Ibid. 6. I am content that shame be to mee if honour come thereby to thee that thou mayest be just when thou speakest Ibid. 4. and pure when thou judgest First I confesse that I was created to thy Image but sinne hath so disgraced and defaced it in me that there appeareth no print thereof in my nature I was white as the snowe Ier. 13.23 but am become blacke as the More my righteousnesse is as a menstruous garment Esa 64.6 Restore thine Image in me and repare thy ruinous building Thine honour shall bee greatter in reforming than in forming me as in my resurrection thy glorie shall kythe more than in my creation The liberalitie of thy goodnesse appeared when as thou stamped such graces in my nature but thy mercies which indure for euer may bee seene when thou renewest those gifts which I haue prodigallie wasted and spent vpon sinne Transforme mee O Lord to thy similitude that as thou art holy wise mercifull patient bountifull c. so I may represent thee in some measure in them all As for mine infancie Mans state in infancie I knowe not what I was a poore Suckling vpon my Mothers Breastes I could no wayes helpe my selfe but by weeping I was casten vpon thee from the wombe by thy prouidence I was kept and thine Angels guarded mee But this I know that an Infant of one day is not cleane before thee haue mercy vpon mee therefore O my God and by the holy infancie of my Sauiour I beseech thee abolish whatsoeuer guiltinesse I haue contracted in my Childhood euen from my birth Childhood Then I grew a Childe which I doe well remember the poysonable roote of sinne which lay hid in mine infancie sprang foorth in my childhood And then for as little as I was I began to disdaine yea to snite
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
before the Organes letting vs see how GOD bindeth not his works to instruments Life out of Death Honour out of Infamie c. whereby his owne Glorie may appeare the greater Next the Light was made without anie Organe where from it should proceede For the Sunne and Moone were made vpon the fourth day by which God would teach vs that we should not binde his operation to anie instruments for hee can worke by them and without them against them Therefore it is naturall Idolatrie to binde the actions to the creatures and to spoyle the Creator of his due honour Light excellent for fiue respects Now the Light is most excellent in fiue respects First because it is necessarie for the direction of our actions for he that walketh in darknesse 1. Necessarie Iohn 8.12 knoweth not whither hee goeth Secondlie the Light is moste pleasant for it addeth beautie vnto all inferiour creatures 2. Beautifull who if they had no light shining vpon them they vvould bee vnder disgrace Thirdlie the Light is moste comfortable for Darknesse is the Image of Hell 3. Comfortable and a little light vvill greatlie comfort those that are in darknesse Fourthlie the Light is most pure simple 4. Pure and simple and can admit no corruption for albeit it shine vpon filthie places yet it neither receiueth nor admitteth anie infection therefrom but it illuminateth them that they seeme to bee purged And fiftlie the Light is most coelestiall 5. Coelestiall because it proceedeth not from the Earth but from the Heauens Our Sauiour CHRIST is compared to the Light Christ the true Light in all respects for all these fiue reasons following First Without him vvee must vvalke in darknesse Secondlie He is most pleasant and beautifieth vs. Thirdlie He onlie comforteth vs. Fourthlie Hee receiueth no corruption of our flesh And fiftlie He came from aboue Christ exceedeth the Light in four things But there are other foure thinges vvherein our Sauiour exceedeth this materiall Light First The Light is created and he is an vncreated Light Next The Light cannot pierce thorow all things for there are secret places in the Earth to the vvhich it can neuer attaine But there is no darknesse if it were as palpable as the darknesse of Egypt Ex. 10.20 to which Christ cannot shine Thirdlie The Light can shine to a seeing eye but it cannot giue light to a blinde eye and it offendeth a soare eye But Christ is the Light of our minde and giueth vs light to see And last the materiall Light altereth and changeth vnto darknesse but Christ is vnalterable when hee is become the Light of the soule he cannot depart finallie and totallie vntill the time he bring thee to that Light where thou shalt be with him for euer A PRAYER Vpon the Lordes first Dayes Worke. O Pure and Euerlasting Light vvho dwellest in a light vnaccessable I beseech thee to looke blink into my darkened minde with the gracious beames of thy countenance Psal 36.9 that I may looke vp and see light in thy light O Lord I reuerence and worship thee for all thy workes of wonder which thou hast made for the profite and pleasure of man Gods works a cleare myrrour wherein to behold himselfe Genes 1.3 There is not one of thy works which is not a liuelie myrrour to represent thy glorie thy wisedome thy power and thy goodnesse But my minde is blinde and caÌ„not see thee in them Thou createdst the Light on the first day by the word of thy mouth and it sprang out of darknes That senseles creature obeyed the voyce of thy mouth but alace thou hast manie times cried vnto me Arise from the workes of darknesse and I did not obey thee I am not woorthie that the light shoulde shine vpon mee which will bee a witnesse against mee When I beholde the Light how pleasant and beautifull it is and that it giueth an ornament to all other creatures who If light bee beautifull farre much more the Father of Lights if they were wrapped vp in darknesse were vtterlie disgraced But O Lord how much more art thou beautifull in thine holie Temple when thou hast put onelie a little sparke of thy glorie into this creature Our Sauiour saieth Blessed are those who haue cleane heartes Matt. 5.8 for they shall see GOD. As thou hast giuen mee the benefite of this present light so let mee see thy selfe with a pure heart Thine enemies yea the Beastes see this light but Lord let mee see thy selfe the Father of Lightes As this Light is glorious so it is verie comfortable vnto mee O my God for this night I was couered with darkenesse I turned to and froe and mine heart was sore perplexed and my â—ones sore vexed but when thou didst blinke in earlie in the morning then I reuiued mine heart was comforted and I saide vnto thee If the light be comfortable much more is God Ex. 15.23 O Lord is there such great comfort to mee in this little light abstract not thy presence from my soule All the comfortes of thy creatures will bee like to the waters of Mara which were bitter if thou season them not with thy presence and make them sweete by the Crosse of Christ Breake open the doores of my soule that thou mayest enter in and lighten the eye of mine vnderstanding that I may see thy will thy glorie and the excellencie of thine House But Lord bee mercifull vnto mee that I haue enjoyed so manie lightes and haue abused them vnto sinne Misspent time repented I spent them ydlie profanelie and wickedlie Thou mayest justlie close mine eyes that I should neuer see anie newe light who haue thus mispent so many Thou mayest cast mee into the bedde of Sicknesse or into a Prison where I should see no light But O Lord I was blinded by ignorance mine affections did blinde-folde mee Haue mercie vpon mee that I haue spent so long a light in the workes of sinne 1. Thes 5.5 Ephes 5.8 Let mee walke as the Childe of light and let mee put on the workes of light that I bee like thee and shine here and walke in light that from light I may goe to light for euer Oh let thy word and thy law bee a light to my feete Psal 119.105 that I may see to doe thy will and to keepe thine holie Commaundementes Let mee bee a Lampe of light and not a lumpe of darknesse O God I haue this one coÌ„fort God an vnchangeable Light that albeit this present light be alterable yet Thou art an vnalterable GOD and thy presence shineth at all times Therefore I beseech thee let not the light goe out of the Tabernacle Ex. 30.25 but nourish it continuallie by the fresh and new Oyle of thy Spirite that thou mayest dwell in mee and mayest delight to abide in thine owne Building and keepe in thine owne light which thou hast brought in and
nourish it within thy Sanctuarie that I beeing brought through this shaddowe of the darke worlde by thine externall and internall light may come to that place where there shall bee no night and where there needeth no Candle Rev. 21.23 neither the Sunne nor the Moone to giue light euen where thy glorie shineth and where the Lambe himselfe giueth light To whome with thee O Father and the holie Spirit bee all honour praise power and dominion now and euermore So bee it A MEDITATION VPON THE LORDES second dayes vvorke THE Heauens were created the seconde Daye The worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the natiue language is taken frō the Waters because the Waters are there and descende from thence The Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato takes as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conspicable because it is objected to the sight of all men The Latine Coelum because it is Coelatum carued with goodlie Ornaments and Firmamentum from the surenesse of it and Expansum because GOD hath spred it foorth as a Curtaine Ps 104.2 The Heauens haue three significations in the Scriptures First it is taken for the Aire wherein the Fowles and Birdes doe flie Mat. 6.26 Heauen hath three significatiōs Secondlie for the Firmament And thirdlie for the Seate of the Angels and blessed Soules Paradise the Bosome of Abraham the third Heauens wherevnto the Apostle Paul was rauished These three were made this day God created a faire Theatre to himselfe this daye wherein there should bee innumerable Quiristers neare vnto his Throne of pure Seraphims and Cherubims euerie one prouoking other to his prayse and saying Holie Revel 4.8 holie holie LORD GOD Almightie c. And againe there are infinite Aëriall Quiristers who fill the ears of men with their pleasant Songs by their example prouoking men to laude their Creatour And there is a Parpane and middle inter-stise which is the sole and grounde of his vpper House and the Roofe of his neather House to couer the Worlde by an admirable manner I marke three thinges in the Creation of the Heauens Thre things obserued First the order which GOD vseth in the making of them for seeing Man was to bee made of an Heauenlie Soule and an Earthlie Bodie and was to dwell in Heauen for euer and on the Earth onlie for a little time hee maketh the Heauen first If Heauen was first made then seeke it first setting it aboue the Earth and making Man to bow vpwardes looke vnto it and not downward towards the Earth as the Beasts doe being the place of his abode perpetuall remaining The consideration wherof should make vs to vse that same order in our actions which God did in his Albeit our bodies be on the Earth let our hart bee in Heauen Let vs put Heauen in our heart before the Earth let vs looke vnto it and haue our conuersation in it albeit our bodies be captiuate in the earth let our hearts be in our owne Countrey where wee shall dwell for euer Next God grounded the Heauens vpon the second day and perfected them vpon the fourth day God worketh by degrees This is his common forme both in his Spirituall works and in his naturall he worketh by degrees he layeth the foundation of his benefit and after he finisheth it Therfore let vs not hasten nor precipitate but attend Gods will who will perfect our earthly and heauenlie comfort in his owne time Last yee see he bindeth vp the Cloudes in the Aire that they cannot drowne the Earth as he wardes the Seas by the sands By weake meanes God preserueth man to teach vs how God by these weake meanes doeth preserue Mankinde Which if he doe to his enemies what should his Elect Children looke for at his hands A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES second Dayes Worke. O Almightie GOD Thou who created the Heauens the second day inspire my soule I beseech three with heauenlie Meditations inlarge mine heart and loose my tongue to thy praise Ouer-shadow mine heart with thy grace as thou couerest the Eearth with the Heauens that I may consider thy power and goodnesse towards me in this thy workmanship Thou needest not the Heauens O Lord for before the Heauens were thou wast the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe thee 1. King 8.27 but thou madest them for me Therefore lift vp my minde by a spirituall meditation that with heart and minde I may seeke for thee in them and loue them for thee who is in them Thou dwellest in a light vnaccessable I cannot enter into thy Throne to see but I prostrate my soule before the gates of thy grace wrapped in the beggersie clouts of my sinne and at thy commandement I knock Long for Heauen where thou mayest see God Cant. 5.12 Cast the crumms of thy mercie to me that I faint not in this wildernesse Looke with the eyes of the Doue out of thine holie Temple Heare the voyce of my prayer and gather my teares into thy Bottle who am in a strange countrey and so long absent from my Lord and Husband who is now dwelling with thee Looke foorth at the grates of thy Fathers window Cantic 2.9 O thou whom my soule loueth and cure the griefe of mine heart by thy gracious countenance Should wee dwell sundrie so fare I here thou in the heauens hasten thy comming in the Cloudes or hasten my departure by death that I may enjoye the sight of him whome my soule loueth O Lord the Heauen is full of thy glorie when thou commest out of thine Yourie Palaces Psal 45.8 and out of the moste holie places and shewest the signes of thy presence amongst thy Sainctes then the foundations of the Heauens shake then the innumerable legions of the Coelestiall Spirites rayse vp their voyces Psal 18.7 sounding thy prayses they fill al thy Temple speak words which cannot bee expressed Thine holie Armie of twentie thousand thousandes of Angels Revel 7.4 9. and of euerie Tribe of Israel twelue thousand and of all the Nations vnder the Heauens innumerable thousandes Their voyces are like the sound of the Thunder Rev. 14.2 or as the noyse of manie Waters O our God howe glorious art thou in thine holie Temple O that Spirituall Musicke and the Harpes of God wherevpon thy Sainctes doe play both daye and night The twentie and foure Elders Rev. 7.14 15. and the rest who made their long Robes white in the bloode of the Lambe thou leadest them to the pure Fountaines of Waters thou hast wyped away all teares from their eyes They sing Prayse Glorie and Wisedome Thankes Honour Power and Might bee vnto our GOD for euermore The foundation of that Citie is of precious Stones The Iasper the Saphyr Rev. 21.19 20.21 27 and the Emarald the Topaz and the Hiacinth The twelue Gates are twelue Pearles The Streete of the Citie is pure Golde as shyning Glasse There is none vncleane thing
in that Citie but those who are written in the Lambes Booke of Life O that Water of Life Rev. 22.1.2 cleare as Crystall proceeding out of the Throne of God! There is the Tree of Life which beareth twelue manner of Fruites and rendereth Fruite euerie Moneth O! that is the true Land of CANAAN Exod. 3.17 which floweth with Milke and Honey which is promised to the Elect Children O how blessed are those who stand before thee O Lord 1. king 8.8 and heare thee and see the beautie of thine House O howe amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord God of Hostes It is better to bee a Doore-keeper in thine House than to bee a Monarch of the whole Worlde Psal 84.1 As the Hart brayeth after the Riuers of Waters Psal 42.1 so doeth my soule pant after thee my liuing Lord. O my GOD when shall I appeare before thee in Sion Nowe my soule returne vnto thy rest for the Lord will pittie thee and will deliuer thee from this Prison and from these wylde Beastes which vexe thee on euerie side and from sinne which daylie troubleth thee and will bring thee to the sight and fruition of the Eternall Ioye which is in the Heauens O glorious GOD I haue not yet seen the HeaueÌ„s where thâ— Saints are but in the myrrour of the Gospell But I see daylie these viâ—â—ble creatures and the Firmament NOTA. If there be such beauty in the outward part of the heauens what is within which are euen the workes of thine owne hand Then if there bee such beautie in the outwarde partes of thy Palace O LORD what will wee looke for in thy Gabinet O my GOD as often as I beholde these outward Heauens then let mine heart inward affections be mounted vp by an holie desire and meditation that the eye of my soule may pierce thorow these thy visible workes euen to the companie of my Brethren the First-borne and to that innumerable number of Angels and Sainctes Oh bee thou my Guide O my LORD and bring mee through the perils of this Wildernesse vnto thine heauenlie Palace euen for the merites and blood of IESVS CHRIST thy well-beloued Sonne our Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Werke IN the Creation of the third Day there bee two principall thinges to bee obserued First The manner of the Creation by separation of the Waters whereby were created two Elementes the Water and the Earth Next The Blessing of GOD. Since there is no difficultie in the wordes I will obserue foure thinges First That so long as those two Elementes were in the confused Chaos so long they were both vnprofitable and each one hindered other but assoone as they were separated Confusion is vnprofitable they were both fruitfull Euen so is it yet where Anarchie hath place either in Church or Policie there shall bee no Blessing in neither of them But happie is that Church and Common-wealth where all thinges are ruled by order and no place is left to confusion Gods blessing inricheth Next the Earth was created barren God spake the worde and it fructified If this was the estate thereof before Sinne howe much lesse nowe beeing subject to a curse will it bring foorth anie good thing without GODS Blessing God prouided for his creatures before they were Thirdlie yee see that God blessed it with Cornes Trees and Fruites for the sustenance of Man and Grasse for Beastes before he made anie of them He prouideth the Milke in the Breast of the Woman as a liuelie fountaine before the Childe be borne Then if he was so prouident before Man was made will he neglect vs Much more when they are when wee are made to his owne Image Let vs seeke him truelie and doubt not Fourthlie there is a treasure which God hath hidden in the Earth for Man Golde and Siluer to inrich him Coales Wood and other firing for his heate Stones for his Building c. and on the face of the Earth Gods hidden treasures should prouoke vs to thankefulnesse Cornes Hearbes Trees Wines Oyles and varietie of crearures both for his pleasure and profit When wee behold daylie these good benefits let vs be drawne by each one of them to thankfulnesse of our Creator Let vs seeke the right vse of them that wee spende them not vpon sinne Finallie by these earthlie blessings call to minde the spirituall Riches Seeke spiritual riches and Foode of our soules that wee may not labour for the foode that perisheth but for that Foode which doth endure for euer Iohn 6.27 A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES thirde Dayes Worke. ETernall God and most louing Father as thou increasedst this thy hudge workmanship of the Worlde and hast created the Earth vpon this third Day so I beseech thee to increase thy Spirit within me and create in my barren colde and earthly heart fruitfull considerations to thy Majesties Glorie O Lord as thou preparedst in the seconde Daye the Heauens to bee the Citie of our remaining so hast thou ordained and established the Earth to bee the place of our Pilgrimage and wandering as the people of Israel were in the Wildernesse fourtie yeares before they came to the land of Promise Similitude Yet O Lord the Earth is thine and the fulnesse thereof There is no constant abiding to me in this Earth I lodge heere in tents I wander now heere now there helpe me poore Pilgrime in this desart place that I may finde thee a Pillar of Cloude in the day to couer me Exod. 13.21.22 and a Pillar of fire in the night and darknesse of this world to illuminate me to see the way to Canaaâ— Thou openedst a fountaine to Hagar the Bond-woman and her childe Gen. 21.19 when they were steruing for thirst I am not the childe of the Bond-woman but of the free-woman Open the fountaine of the House of Dauid and giue me of the water of life and satisfie my soule with the fatnesse of thine house Ezech. 13.1 Iohn 7.38 Psa 39.12 I am a Stranger heere on Earth as my Fathers were before me Let me not walke then as a stranger among the Philistims and Babilonians If I were a citizen and a man of their owne Ioh. 15.19 they would loue me But because I am not of them neither follow them nor their manners therefore they hate me My Mothers sonnes and familiar friends count me a stranger they stand farre from me Psal 69.8 in the day of trouble Draw thou nigh vnto me when they goe farre from me Iob 19.14 Wilt thou leaue a poore Suckling to die him alone in this wildernesse Though my Father and Mother forsake me yet thou wilt gather mee vp I am a Widow for my Lord and Husband is with thee Psa 27.10 I am his Turtle Doue lamenting mine alone till I see him Bring me thorow the straits of this Pilgrimage Psal 42.7 I steppe out of one deepe to
another I goe through Fire Water carie me therefore from strength to strēgth Psal 84 7 till I appeare before God in Sion There are heere innumberable wylde Beastes young Lyons and fyrie Serpents to sting me but I looke to thy Iesus that Serpent of Brasse Men in danger of the serpents of this world Iohn 3.14 Of the thornie cares of this worlde Of the tentations of Sathan mouing to desperation or presumptiō Similitude 2. Sam. 3.39 who was erected vpon the Tree of the Crosse that he might cure remede me And again I walke vpon Thornes euen the thornie cares of this earth euery morning mine heart is vexed and pricked with them They vnquiet me so that they disturbe that peace which my soule shoulde haue with my God And whiles I am scarce fred of these thoughts Sathan with the temptation of sinne assaulteth mee hee buffetteth mee hee setteth my sinne in order before me and letteth mee see in a Glasse my whole iniquities O Lord bee mine helper my comforter and a strong Tower vnto mee for the sonnes of Zerviah are too strong for mee but I will not feare them if thou bee with mee Thy Rod and Shepheardes Staffe Psal 23.4 will comfort mee though I were walking through the shadowe of darknesse and in the valley of death But O Lord I haue yet farther to complaine that when I haue escaped these stormie tempestes and waues which inuaded me vpon the left hand then Sathan riseth vp on my right hand as an Angell of light and taketh mee vp to the Mountaine and offereth mee Riches Honoures Pleasures c. if I will walke in his wayes and worship him Luke 4.6 as hee did vnto Christ Iesus Lord let mee not taste of these Delicates or of the poysonable Cuppe of sinne Let mee not bee allured with the fruites of sinne albeit they present-faire thinges Let mee not run as a foolish Fish vpon the alluring baite of vnrighteousnesse Similitude I am more contented through pouertie 2. Cor. 6.8 and reproaches through a good report and an euill report to walke in this Earth in a good conscience with thy fauour than to possesse all the Treasures of Babel and to haue the losse of thy countenance Let the Earth bee soure vnto mee that the Heauens may bee sweete to mee Although the Earth smyle vpon mee vet it is but the smyle of mine enemie But albeit thou wouldest cast down thy coūtenance vpō me yet it is the downe-looking of my Father who will gladden my soule at last O my God thou hast commaunded the Earth which of its owne nature is dry and barren to yeelde Foode for my necessitie Thou hast commaunded mee to craue my daylie Bread at thine hand with a promise that if I aske Mat. 6.11 Matt. 7.7 it shall bee giuen mee Therefore O Father giue I beseech thee a blessing to the Earth and my labours therein that I may prosper Giue mee such a measure of thy creatures whereby I may not bee chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Thou diddest feede thy People with the MANNA in the Desart Ex. 16.13 17.6 1. King 17 4.9 and broughtest them the Water out of the Rocke Thou fedst Eliah by the Rauen and likewise the Widow of Sareptah by thy secret blessing O Lord of Hostes thou art no lesse carefull of thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy Sonnes bloode than thou wast of the seede of Abraham thy seruant Hos 2.19 Sende therefore to the Earth the first raine Marrie me to thee in mercie and compassion that thou mayest heare the Heauens and the Heauens may heare the Earth and the Earth may heare vs thy people Lord let me take them out of thine hands as tokens of thy fauour and earnest-pennies of better things prepared for me in Heauen O Lord the Earth is defyled with cruelties and filthinesse and casteth vp horrible cryes to thy Majestie against the inhabitans thereof it is ladened with a burthen of sinfull creatures Rom. 8.23 it lifteth vp its head cryeth and groaneth as traueling with childe waiting for the day of our redemption for then it shall be deliuered from the burthen O Lord take away the burthen of sinne from the Earth and purge by thy blood the transgressions of vs thy people Sanctifie vs O Lord that the creatures may be sanctefied to our vse and we to thy seruie through Christ Thou hast hidde in the Earth thy great treasures of Golde Siluer Yron Brasse and Coales c. and the world is set on fire in presute of those things yea for Golde they wil renounce their God forsweare their Father perish their soule and their life their King countrey and their Parents O Lord this is a couetous people whose heart is set vpon these perishing and vncertaine things But O Lord thou art better to me than thousands of Golde and Siluer All say Psal 119.72 Psal 4.6 Who will shew vs any good thing but Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon me Their treasures are hid in the depths of the Earth and they treade vpon them but thou O my treasure art hid in the height of the Heauens The Theife diggeth Mar. 6.20 and the Roust doeth consume their treasures but thou art incorruptible Their treasures are stollen from them but nothing can separate thee from vs neither death nor life neither things present nor things to come Rom. 8.35 Let mine heart be with thee where thou art for thou art my treasure Let me finde mercie with thee Gen 33.11 and then I haue all these things for thy loue is better than Golde Thy seruant Salomon made choyce thereof 1. king 3.9 and it was Dauids his fathers choyce who for loue of thee craued one thing That he might dwell in thine House all the dayes of his life Psal 27.4 Luk. 10.42 And Marie the sister of Martha desired that one thing Golde is not able to saue me from the Graue but my God thou wilt raise me vp at the last day What pleasure hath man of Golde when he dieth but he casteth it away and calleth himselfe a foole that he should haue taken pleasure in it he biddeth distribute to the Poore whom he spoyled all his dayes But when I die then I possesse my treasure which I longed for death which separateth me from the Earth conjoyneth me to thee and filleth vp my joye when I haue receiued my treasure Further O Lord as thou hast hidden these treasures vnder the Earth so thou hast decored the face of the Earth with thy great blessinges O when I looke vnder my feete and beholde euerie one of thy creatures I see in them thy power and thy glorie yea I see thou hast appointed the Worme to beate downe my pride In the basest creature may be seen Gods glorie Thou hast painted the face of the Earth with all sortes of colours delectable to the sight yea the Lillie passeth
signifie Some Planets but each one of them hath a seuerall office and compleateth his course in his appointed time as the Sunne and Moone doe and haue their particular operations vpon the inferiour creatures As for the Comets they take their name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comets which is called the haire because they seeme to carrie as it were haire about them of whom Plinius maketh mention in his second Booke of his naturall historie and twentie fiue Chapter The ends of their creation Simil. As for the ends of their creation First the Sunne was created to rule the Day the Moone the Night So this darke and blinde world is ruled by the light of Christ and of his Church which is illuminated and directed by him But I maruell how the Church of Rome can call her selfe the Sunne and the Princes of the world the Moone for if she be the Spouse of Christ then must she be the Moone of whom is spoken in the Scripture and Christ must be her Sunne So in comparison of her the secular persons are the Earth I maruell likewise of these against whom Ieremie and the rest of the Prophets so oft speaketh who thinke that their life and the events thereof still depend vpon the Starres or Plannets which is a manifest idolatrie putting them in Gods place NOTA. But let vs learne that the superiour creatures haue so power ouer the inferriour bodies that wee leaue all the euent of them to God Against the curiositie in searching our euents 1. Sam. 28.18 the maker and guider of all let vs seeke his fauour depende on his prouidence without any curious searching of our euent lest wee receiue the answere of Saul A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES fourth Dayes Worke. GRACIOVS GOD and mercifull Father who hast filled the Heauens with such infinite Lightes vpon this fourth Day inlighten mine vnderstanding I beseech thee that I may see thy power and thy glorie in these thy good creatures and through them as through spectacles let me look in to the Father of Lights Thou hast created the Sunne who by his beautie and bountie hath adorned the whole Earth As the Sun shineth on the bodie pray that Christ may shine on the soule hee ariseth each morning on my bodie so I pray thee that the Sunne of Righteousnesse the Sunne Iesus Christ may shine vpon my darkened minde euerie daye and houre and chase away the cloudes of ignorance and of sinne from my soule that thou mayest shine brightly in me Woe is mee my Lord howe manie times hath the Sunne shined vpon mee and as Absolom before the Sunne committed wickednesse 2. Sam. 16 22. so I before the Sunne in the pride of my wicked heart haue often times sinned against thee O my Father and therefore I confesse that I am not woorthie that the Sunne should shine vpon mee O Lord Iesu spreade thy Mantle ouer mee that thy Father beholde not my wickednesse Thou puttest light in the Sunne that hee may shine therefore Lord put knowledge and vnderstanding in mee Thou hast put hotnesse in the Sunne Oh warme mine hart with thy loue that through the loue I beare to thee I may also breake foorth in the loue of my Neighboures And as the Sunne runneth constantlie in his course at thy commaundement so Lord let mee run all my dayes in the path of thy Law for hitherto I haue run as a wylde Asse in the broade way of destruction yea I brayed after the desires of sinne psal 42.1 as the Hart doeth after the Riuers of Waters and nothing could haue satisfied mee vnlesse I had obtained my sinfull desire Now Lord haue mercie vpon me draw my feet out of the vnhappie way of sinne let me runne with as speedie a course in the way of thy seruice Let vs bee more diligēt to serue God than wee were before to sin against him that as Sainct Paul thy seruaunt was more diligent in thy employment than he was in the destruction of thy Church so I may be more busied in thy honourable seruice than I was in seruing mine owne affections and in the seruice of Sathan Alace O Lord howe slow am I to doe thy seruice But if thou wilt drawe mee I will run after thee Oh drawe mee by the Cordes of thy loue Cantic 1.3 yea rather than I should lie behinde force mee with the Cordes and Whippes of thy visitation that I may learne to runne a quicker swifter pace than I haue done heeretofore But alace NOTA. that the Sunne which is a senselesse creature should neuer bee wearie and that I should so soone bee tyred in seruing of thee The Sunne constant in its course O louing Father stirre vp a constant zeale of thine honour in mine heart I beseech thee that as I goe forwarde in yeeres so I may make greater progresse in godlinesse O LORD when I see the Sunne and the Moone and the Starres c. which are the workes of thine owne hands O then I thinke with my selfe What is Man that thou shouldest visit him or the sonne of man that thou shouldest magnifie him For albeit the Sunne were in the highest top of its beautie glorie yet it is but my seruant and likewise the Moone The Sunne serueth vs let vs serue GOD. and the Starres Then fye vpon mee if I shall not in whatsoeuer estate I am serue thee O my gracious God who hast made so glorious creatures for my vse LORD I pray thee let my light so shine before men that all who beholde my conuersation may take occasion to glorifie thine holie Name O Father of Lightes lighten thou my Candle that it may shine clearelie and furnish it with the Oyle of thine holie Spirite and Worde that it may shine euen as a bright Morning Starre in thy Kingdome Thy seruant Paul O Lord 1. Cor. 15.41 sayeth that there is one glorie of the Sunne and another of the Moone and another of the Starres It is true there is great diuersitie amongst the Sainctes heere on Earth and likewise great difference of glorie in the Life to come But O my God let mee shine but as the least of thy Starres that I may bee fixed in thy Firmament and giue out my light of knowledge and good life vnto this darke Age. The Moone knoweth the time of her change and as shee changeth so doe all the inferior creatures with her for all men are grasse and there is no steadfast abiding for them heere But O Lord heerein is my comfort The Moone changeth but God can not change Ps 90. ◠6 Psal 90.2 Luke 1.5 that there is no shadowe of changing with thee Thou art from euerlasting to euerlasting yea my God thy kindnesse and trueth abideth from generation to generation euen vnto such as feare thee and attende vpon thy mercies and goodnesse O vnchangeable God I finde none alteration with thee for although men runne
farre from mee yea albeit mine owne kinsmen stand aloofe and my father and my mother forsake mee yet thou O Lord drawest neare vnto me immediatelie makest me feele thine helpe at hande in my greatest tribulations O Lord suffer mee neuer to change from thee but giue mee thy constant Spirit I beseech thee that in all the cares of my life both in wealth and in woe I may depende vpon thee serue thee rejoyce in thee the onlie comfort of my soule that I bee not like a wandering Planet but a fixed Starre honouring thine holie Name in this Wildernesse that afterwardes I may shine with the rest of thy glorious Starres and holie Angels in the eternal Firmament of thy Kingdome Amen A MEDITATION Vpon the LORDES fifth Dayes Worke. THE Element of Water which God created on the fifth Day produceth vnto vs two Treasures The one which filleth the Seas with Fishes the other plenisheth the Aire with Birdes and Fowles for the Lord would leaue nothing emptie â—isâ—es necessarie for our naâ—ure As for the Fishes wee know how necessarie they are for our nature and constitution of our bodie which of a part is humide The prouidence of God in sending â—ishes to Scotland in dve season God hath furnished this Nation with such aboundance of Fishes that they haue obtained the names of Schooles and Droues he sendeth them in the mouth of Haruest in our Seas both East and West in such aboundance that they may feede the poore Labourers in cutting downe their Cornes Such is his rich dispensation in due time for the comfort of his people Daintinesse of some who contemne fish How much are they to be blamed who for delicatenesse of their bellies doe contemne these good creatures which God thought so necessarie for their nature And herefore the Lawes of our Realme are better made than practized whrein dayes are appointed and dayes are forbidden for the eating of Fish which men will violate vnder the colour of Conscience because all Meates are free I grant the difference of Meates is taken away by Christ but thou must not vse thy libertie to the prejudice of thy Brother and the whole Countrey yea to offende the Prince who gaue not out that Law to straine thy Conscience but for the benefite of his Subjects whom to offende were great Conscience in so lawfull commandements As for the superstitious difference for Conscience as though one were holier than another Superstitious differencie in Meats Heb. 13.4 Psal 107.23 Gods power seene in the Seas that is the worke of Antichrist who biddeth abstaine from Meats which God hath created and forbiddeth to marrie which God hath said is honourable amongst all Further they who goe downe to the Sea haue experience of Gods power to deliuer them from the stormie waues thereof where they should call to minde how oft they haue raised vp the waues of their sin against God and beseech him to asswage his wrath against their sinnes that hee who hath power ouer the Windes and Waters may rebuke them with the word of his mouth Mat. 8.27 If thou be sailing in the Disciples Boate Comfort to Sea-faring men in tempestes Matth. 14.23 and be a true member of his body remember Christ is in the mountaine of Heauen look vp to him with apenitent eye of a sinner and he will looke vnto thee with a pittifull eye of a Sauiour and will pray to his Father for thine helpe The Fishes come not to the Nettes but by Gods direction The Apostles were fishing all night but receiued nothing till Christ came and then they drew out their Nettes full to them their partners Luke 5.5 Iohn 23.1 Therefore it is in vaine to rise earlie except the Lord builde thine house Psal 127.1.2 blesse thy worke Herefore whether we bee on Sea or Land let vs euer studie to get Gods blessing Further God declareth his power not only in creating Fishes for our necessitie and pleasure which wee haue dayly but also in creating Fishes both for quantitie as the Leuiathan of whome Iob speaketh and in qualitie Iob 40.20 21.22 c. Plin. lib. 32 cap. 1 miraculous as Echeyneris or Remora so called from her vertue who being three foot long will cleaue to a great Shippe and hinder her to saile And againe the Mare-maides Maremaids whose face and vpper parts are like a Womans the neather parts like a Fish Many other might be brought in which I omit affirming this that the Lord is maruelous in all his works Finallie Allegorie of the Sea Mat. 4.19 the Allegorie which our Sauiour bringeth in of the fishing is remarkable The Sea is the world the surges of waues and windes are the tentations of the Deuil his children the Fishes are Men who goe through the world the Boate is the Church the Fishers are the Apostles and Ministers who should be fishers of men who must spreade foorth the Nette of the Gospell in the turbulent Sea of this world albeit with great hazard and perrill to draw men from the Sea of this life to the kingdome of Heauen They are called Piscatores hominum Fishers of men Matth. 4. and they are sent to seeke men and fish after the soules of men As for the Fowles of the Aire Fowles they are infinit in number and there is such variety in their colours which is admirable with such heauenly notes and harmonies as their coelestiall Musicke should prouoke vs all to the praise of God when the Birdes doe after their manner praise him The Peacoke is glorious in his colours Iob 39.16 17. and he scorneth the glorie of Kinges The Ostridge an vnnaturall Fowle like vnto vnnaturall Mothers The Doue is full of loue simplicitie Matth. 13.16 which we should imitate The Turtle a patterne of chastitie the contrarie whereof she condemneth in vs. The Eagle full of rapine Iob 39.33 Matth. 10.29 Ierem. 7.8 which wee should flee The Sparow is an exaÌ„ple of Gods prouidence who will much more care for man The Storke and the Swallow know their times which wee doe not neither can we finde that time wherein we should turne from our wandring The Swallow bringeth vp her little ones neare vnto the House of God Psal 83.3 and we flee from it yea and the young Rauens seeke their meate at God who giueth it them in due season So all these Fowles praise God some by their voyces some by their example Let vs learne at the Birds to praise God Let vs then be ashamed to be inferiour to them certifying our selues that these same if we doe it not shal be witnesses against vs at the last day A PRAYER Vpon the LORDES Fifth Dayes Worke. HEarken vnto my Prayer I beseech thee O mine heauenlie Father and moste mercifull God Oh I intreat thine heauenlie Majestie that thou wilt bee mercifull vnto mee and forgiue me all mine ouertreadinges Great and manie are thy
hast nurtured me by thy Rod and that thou hast not suffered my spirituall enemies to triumph ouer mee and forsooke me not neither left me to my selfe nor to be a prey to them O Lord pardon me all the sinnes of this day and purge me from my secret sinnes euen those which are hidden from my selfe Who can know or vnderstand them no doubt I haue sinned this day My conscience may erre and deceiue me but thou searchest the depth of the heart But I praise thee that thou kepedst me from presumptuous sinnes this day Psa 19.13 Forget O Lord my negligence in thy seruice Alace I haue beene wearied of thy worship And seeing thou art and hast begun to bring darknesse vpon the face of the earth breake in O Lord with the glorious beames of thy presence and illuminate my darknesse Psal 16.7 When the bodie is at rest let the soul be busie with God Instruct my reines in the night season and speake familarlie vnto my soule when I sleepe in my bed then open mine eares when my senses are asleepe then let my soule enjoy thy presence without interruption Let thy Spirite teach my spirit and informe her ignorance rebuke my spirit correct her sinfulnesse strengthen my spirite and help her weaknesse comfort my spirit and cure her sorrowes Giue me sleepe and rest to my bodie if it may make me the more able to serue thee But if it may stay thine honour Nota. I will be content to want it And if thou hast appointed this night that I shall awake Lord hold the eyes of my soul waking that I may repent for the abuse of that great rest which I haue receiued alreadie without rendering thankesgiuing vnto thee Lord let mee lie with a peacable minde vnder the hand of a reconciled God Suffer not my soule this night to bee disquieted with the cares of this world which bereaueth worldlings of their rest but I cast my burthen vpon thee all mine affaires vnto the bosome of thy prouidence for thou wilt beare them Why art thou troubled my soule Psal 42.5 and 43.5 and why art thou disquieted within me trust yet in thy God and he will be thy reliefe Ly downe in peace and sleepe Psal 4.8 for he will care for thee And againe O Lord deliuer my soule from the fearfull terrours of this night Giue me faith with Dauid Psal 3.6 and I shall not be affrayde of ten thousand for thy presēce is a sufficient defence to me against all mine enemies But O Lord especially deliuer mee from the feares of thy wrath when Sathan laieth my sinnes in order before me and that they stand in the sight of thy countenance then thou makest me to mourne like a Doue Isa 38.14 and chatter like a Swallow Mine eyes were lifted vp on high I reckoned till the morning Psal 58.6 but thou brake my bones like a Lyon From day to night thou wilt make an ende of me Then I cryed My sinnes haue opressed me cōfort me O Lord remoue the clowd of my sinnes which interueaneth betwixt thy mercie and me let me see thee this night sitting vpon thy mercie seate stretching out the poynt of the golden Scepter Hest 5.2 and retreating the sentence of death giuen out by thy justice against me Cast my sins behind thy back drown them in the bottome of the Sea of thine obliuion that this night I may lodge in the Fort of thy grace as in a Citie of refuge and finde rest to my soule Keepe me O Lord from the curse threatned by thy Prophet against such as in the night are plotting euil things against their neighbours Mica 2.1 Let me remember O Lord that darknesse is to thee as light Psal 139.12 and thou hast an eye of fire whose light can pierce the most hard places Where can I hide any thought from thee for thou who plantedst the eye doest not thou see most clearly Psal 94.9 Therefore keepe my soule this night that I admit no purpose therein whereof thou wilt not be content Be thou my Counseller my Witnesse and Judge that by thy presence my soule may be kept in that holy reuerence to thee that it consent to no vncleane or injust action to offende thee Thou hast tryed and proued mine heart in the night and hast found nothing for I was purposed not to displease thee And because my Lord wil come as a thiefe in the night and I doe not knowe what houre he commeth let me watch and pray 1 Thess 5.2 Matth. 24.43 and 25.13 that at the voyce of thine Angel I may be watching with mine oyle in my lampe Let me praise thee in the night with feruencie Keepe me from the Arrow which flyeth in darknesse and from the temptations of the Prince of darknesse Preserue me O Lord and my familie euerie thing which thou hast giuen me I doe resigne all to thy keeping who art a faithfull keeper of all things which are committed to thy custodie Thou wilt suffer nothing to be taken out of thine hand O GOD be thou a pillar of fire to giue light to me this night and carrie thy child in the armes of thy mercie through all perils of bodie and soule I leaue my soule into thine hand and when I awake I will seeke my soule in thee And finallie O Lord this bodily sleepe teacheth me to die and when I lie downe in my Bed I remēber that I shall once be casten into the bed of my graue that I may sleep there til the day dawne and the Sunne of Righteousnesse arise that then I may arise also and praise thee O my God together with the Sonne and the holie Ghost for euermore AMEN A MEDITATION VPON THE CHVRCH VNIVERSALL EVen as it is necessarie vnto Saluation to belieue in GOD our Father so it is necessarie to belieue the holie Church our Mother Belieue the Church but not in the Church that she is the Queen the Spouse of Iesus Christ Wee must belieue in God put our whole trust and confidence him Wee must belieue also that the Church is his Spouse and belieue whatsoeuer shee speaketh vnto vs of him out of his own mouth for if shee bee his Spouse shee will not adulterate inuert or corrupt her Lords speaches And if an Angel taught another Gospel let him bee accursed Gal. 1.8 In the Nicene Councell and in Athanasius his Symbole the particle In is added But yee must vnderstand that the Apostolicke Symbole which is called the Creede must bee a Rule of perfection and antiquitie vnto all the rest Then God willing I shall define the Vniuersall Church vnto you that yee may know her The Vniuersall Church is the Members of the Elect whom God hath called by his word vnto Life euerlasting What the Church vniuersallis Shee taketh not her name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to elect but from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
thy Spirit may make the whole counsell of God knowne to the people that they keepe nothing backe nor adde nothing lest thou O God adde vnto them the curse of thy Law Rev. 22.18 scrape their names out of the booke of Life And because thy Church is vnder continuall dangers O Lord keepe her and all her members from the cruell rage of all her enemies Lord let the malice of her aduersaries turne to themselues and bring confusion vpon all such as hate Sion Lord giue peace to her Walles and her Palaces and blesse those that blesse her Psal 122.7 and curse those that curse her keepe her like the Apple of thine Eye Psal 17.8 which thou louest Thou wilt bee with her in the middest of the fire and the water that she bee not destroyed nor ouer-whelmed By thine hand O Lord she hath bene preserued They lay shares for the poore Church but cut thou them asunder yea Psal 7.16 and 57.6 trappe them in the net which they haue laide They haue digged a pitte let them fall into the midst of it So shall come to all the enemies of our God and his Church Let them be as a turning Wheele and 83.13 and a rolling Ball. Let them be as smoake which vanisheth before the winde and. 68 2. and as Waxe which melteth in the Sunne Let them be like a lumpe of Lead vvhich sinketh to the bottome of the Sea O Lord if it were any particular reuenge of mine owne I vvould pardon their vvronges But alace it is done to my Mother thy Spouse how shall I beare it Burie them in eternall forgetfulnesse vvho haue done such despitefulnesse to her as that cruel Antichrist and his adherents haue done And to the effect that thine enemies may bee discomfited arise O Lord sharpen the Arrowes of thy Worde by vvhich thou mayest pierce the hearts of the Kinges enemies Psal 45.5 Draw the Sword of thy Word Heb. 4.12 which is two-edged that it may cut to the diuision of the marrow from the bones Let not thy holy Word be as a dead letter any longer in the mouths of thy Ministers but make it a quickning spirit to bring downe great Holdes let the breath of thy mouth confound thy foes that thy Ministrie may be powerfull and the world may see that thou hast not left thy Church without both counsell and comfort 1. Pet. 1.22 that men are not only hearers but also doers of thy word And againe I pray for thy Ministrie that they may be faithfull Stewards of thy Mysteries 1. Cor. 3.12 vigilant Watchmen diligent Shepheardes wise Builders not of stubble 1. Pet. 2.4 but of Golde vpon the foundation which is Christ and that their only care be to see the glorie of thy Name and for the good of the Church which is our Mother Blesse and increase the fruit of her Wombe let her grow in number like the Starres of Heauen let her bee fruitfull in her age let her sonnes be like Oliue Plants bringing foorth fruit let her daughters be like carued corner Stones Psal 144.12 in whose hearts thou wilt carue thine Image in the similitude of a Palace And blesse her with the blessing of Heauen and of the earth and of the deepe Gen. 49.25 and let all the eternall blessings which my soule can wish bee vpon thy Spouse my Mother the vniuersall Church vpon all her children friendes and seruants yea whosoeuer loueth the peace of thy Church let them prosper I pray namelie to thee O Lord for thy Church in France Bohemia Pray for the Church in France and Bohemia which thou began with the bloode of innumerable Martyres which thou hast made to grow amongst the middest of thine enemies Maintaine O Lord the vvorke vvhich thou hast begunne amongst them giue them wisedome that they be not circumueaned with the policies of their aduersaries and that in this dangerous time they may cleaue only to thee who will be both their wisedome and protection O Lord looke vpon this Church which thy right hand hath planted in this Yle of Britane thou translated this Vine out of Aegypt and diddest plant a Vine-yarde to thy selfe thou didst hedge it about with thy prouidence thou confoundedst all her enemies thou buildedst a watch-tower in the middest thereof Isa 5.1.2 c. Psal 80.8 and sent watchmen accordingly to giue warning to them But O Lord thou crauedst lookedst for wine-grapes they yeelded thee wilde-grapes So that now we deserue that thou shouldest pull downe the hedge and suffer the wilde Boare to enter into thy Planting Remember O Lord thine ancient mercies and forget our iniquities digge vs O Lord and take paines vpon vs that we may be fruitfull And finallie O Lord blesse all the visible Congregations of people who call vpon thy Name and all the particular persons whose names are written in the Booke of Life fill vp the number of thine Elect cal them effectually by thy word that we may bee all one Folde vnder one chiefe Shepheard Shorten O Lord the dayes of sinne Ioh. 10.17 and hasten thy comming Lord Iesus that thy Spouse beeing prepared a pure Virgine she may be taken vp to the newe Hierusalem to Heauen Rev. 21.10 where after the infinit Battels temptations of this world she may reigne eternallie and bee crowned in thy Kingdome with Christ her blessed Lord and Sauiour AMEN A MEDITATION VPON THE HOLY COMMVNION THERE are two great Seales which God hath affixed to the Charter of his word to wit Two Seales affixed to the Word the Sacrament of Baptisme and of the Lordes holy Supper Albeit the Church of the Iewes was loadned with manie Sacraments as the Passeouer Circumcision Manna Christians haue fewer Sacraments in numbeâ— than the Iewes but mâ—re in sigâ—ification and amplification the Rocke the Clowde the Sea c. Yet God hath giuen the Christian Church Numero pauciora factu faciliora significatione ampliora that is Fewer in number easier to be done and of more large signification The Sacrament of Baptisme is a Sacrament of Initiation when wee are entered into the Familie of God and the Sacrament of the Supper is a Sacrament of Confirmation whereby the Children of God who are spirituallie borne in Baptisme in the Bath of Regeneration by the remission of their sinnes in Christes bloode which is signified by the washing of water the same are fedde at his Table in the Sacrament of the Supper are fedde by Christes bodie and blood Poâ—h the Sac aments ha e one substance vnto euerlasting Life Both these Sacramentes offer one Christ who is the substance and matter of them both albeit diuerslie First the diuersitie is in the time The Sacraments differ in â—â—e things for Baptisme must goe before the Supper neither can anie communicate who are not first baptized Next Baptisme to one the Supper to manie for otherwise it
raging stormes of the Sea commeth greatest tranquillitie and calmnesse Simil. so after a disquieted minde God sendeth greatest consolations A PRAYER FOR A TROVBLED CONSCIENCE O Lord art thou also become mine enemie hast thou hid thy countenance in displeasure Oh that my griefe vvere vvell weighed Iob 6.2 and my miseries laide together in the Ballance they would bee farre heauier than the sand of the Sea for thine Arrowes are in me and the venome thereof drinketh vp my spirit I eate Gall for my Meat Psa 69.21 my Drinke is mingled with Vinegar Oh that God would destroy me I burne with sorrow spare me not O Lord yet haue I not denyed the wordes of the holie One Iob 6.10.11 Iob 7.6 c my strength is not the strēgth of a stone my dayes are swifter than a Weauers shottle Iob 7.6 c and flie away like the winde I speake to thee O Lord in the trouble of my spirit and moue in the bitternesse of my minde Am I a Whale fish that I am kept in ward I abhorre my life for my paine is greater than I am able to beare Genes 4.13 Iob 19.13 c. I haue none now to help me all haue forsaken me I am left to be a prey to my spirituall enemies thou hast set my secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance I inherit now the sinnes of my youth Iob 20.11 and 7.3 Psa 50.21 and the moneths of vanitie which I passed Thou hast put my sinnes in order and those things which I thought light by ydle thoughts and speaches now I finde them like mountaines so terrible is thy Tribunal and thy Face burning like fire The Heauens are not cleane before thee Iob 4.28 and 15.15 and 15.16 thou foundest no steadfastnesse in the Angels how much lesse can I who haue drunken in iniquitie like water bee justified before thee If I would justifie my selfe when thou hast reasoned with me 9.3.20 mine owne mouth would condemne me though I were just yet I could not answer but I would mak supplication to my Iudge and 9.15 If I wash me with snow water purge mine hands most cleanly 9.30.31 yet shalt thou plunge me into the pitte mine own cloathes shall make me filthie What shall I doe O thou Sauiour of men Wilt thou absent thy selfe for euer Hath God forgotten to be mercifull Psal 77.7.8.9 c. Will hee show no more fauour to my miserable soul doth his promise faile for euermore hath he shut vp his tender mercies in displeasure He hath lifted me vp and casten me down again He hath shot at me with his Arrowes as at a marke Then I said This is my death Iob 7.20 and 16.13 Psa 77.10 Yet I remembred the yeeres of the right hand of the most High and how he deliuered his children by his mightie arme Is the Lord like man that he can repent and Whom he loueth 1. Sam. 15.29 doeth he not loue to the end Manie pledges of thy fauour I haue receiued in my youth wilt thou nowe reject me in my gray haires Is there any shaddowe of change in thee Albeit all men be liars yet thou art faithfull and constant for euer Thy Sonne said Heauen and Earth should perish but one jot of thy word should not fall to the ground Matth. 24.35 But all the Scriptures proclaime thy mercie thou cryedst in the Campe of Israel with thine owne voyce The Lord is mercifull full of compassiō of great kindnesse Exo. 34.16 shewing mercie vnto thousands Therefore O Lord haue mercie vpon me miserable wretch cure my wounds powre in the Oyle and Wine of thy Sonnes blood and spirit that I may be made whole For out of the deepe places of a grieued heart haue I called Psa 130.1 vpon thee If thou wouldest obserue mine iniquities vvho can be saued Psa 130.3 4. But mercie is with thee that thou mayest be feared For euen as when the Sunne departeth in Winter then all tempests arise Snow Haile Frost Simil Windes c so when thou obscurest thy countenance from me then the Winter of all tēptations ariseth aganst me the Deuill my spirituall enemie raiseth vp such fearfull temptations that through the multitude of sinnes he terrifieth me euen in the night when I would haue slept he thought to haue made me to despare of thy mercies but O Lord I know that thy mercies are more infinite than my sins are or can bee yea though my sinnes be moe than the haires of mine head Psa 40.12 yet thy mercies are as the Sandes of the Sea or the Starres of Heauen which cannot be numbred Therefore O God let thy face shine vpon mee and I shall bee saued Psa 31.16 Mine enemies are risen vp against me and as thornes they pricke me on euerie side Psa 42.10 Psal 22.8 they say Now where is thy God he trusted in the Lord let him deliuer him let him saue him seeing he loueth him Psa 38.20 and 11. Psal 41.9 Yea those who render euill for good are mine enemies because I followe goodnesse My friends and familiars haue forsaken me and he that ate at my table hath lifted vp his heele against me yea he with whom I went vnto the House of God and communed with him of spirituall matters and who prayed with me and exercised the parts of diuine worship doeth scorne me saying Where is thy confidence thine hope and thy feare which thou hast of God But O Lord let me not be ashamed Psal 25.3 because I put my trust in thee O thou Sunne of righteousnesse come with the bright beames of thy countenance disperse and chase away the clowdes of my sinnes and of all these temptations chase away my spirituall aduersaries and giue not my temporall enemies cause to rejoyce ouer me neither yet to dishonour thine holie Name that when others say Beholde this poore man called vpon the Lord in his miserie Psal 34.6 and he heard the voyce of his prayer they may turne also vnto thee and be saued for I will consecrate my selfe to thy Name for euer through Christ Iesus my Lord and Sauiour to whom together with thee O Father and the holie Spirite bee all prayse honour glorie power and dominion World without ende So be it A MEDITATION VPON THE ESTATE OF KINGES KINGES are the principall and chiefe mēbers of the Church and are Heads of that Church which is within their Dominions and therefore euerie King ought to doe the part of an Head vnto her that is To fore-see her wealth maintaine her libertie speake for her heare those things which concerne her weale defende her from persecution and oppression and that shee bee not craftilie dealt withall as Pharoah did to the Israelites Exod. 1.10 11 Psal 45.7 lest they touch the Lordes Anointed and hee rebuke them and roote them out All good Christians are most duetifullie
bound to pray for Kinges 1. Tim. 2.2 yea although they were euill as Samuel prayed for Saul 1. Sam. 16.1 and the Apostle Sainct Paul in verie manie places of his Epistles admonisheth and chargeth vs to pray for Kinges Magistrates and all such as are in authoritie and not to say with some phantasticke persons that they cannot finde an heart to pray for them for these sort of people are Welles without Water 2. Pet. 2.17 If the Kinges bee persecuters let vs heartilie pray to GOD to conuert them if they bee Nourish-fathers let vs beseech the Lord long to continue them and their posteritie Yea wee ought not onelie outwarldlie and publicklie to pray for Kinges but also inwardlie and in our secret thoughtes to nourish a reuerent and honourable rememberance of them NOTA. and to speake reuerentlie of them lest the Fowles of the Aire carrie it away and wee ought by all meanes to procure for their preseruation for they are as was sayde to Dauid better than ten thousand of vs. 2. Sam. 18.3 To oppone our selues against Kings Princes or other Magistrates doeth greatlie smell of Antichristianisme and Poperie Antichristianisme to oppone to Princes whatsoeuer colour of zeale it seemeth to haue And indeede Kings haue power of Procuration for the prosperitie of the Church but as for Administration it belongeth onelie to the Clergie 1. Chronic. 13.10 The example of Vzza may bee a sufficient warning for Princes that they passe not the limites prescribed vnto them by God For if there bee a woe threatned against those who remooue the auncient Marches Deuter. 27.17 farre greater shall the malediction bee vpon such as shall remooue those Marches which God hath set betwixt himselfe and Man Exod. 19.24 and which Hee interdicted vpon Mount SION A PRAYER FOR THE KINGS MAIESTY AND HIS ROYALL SEEDE O KING of Kinges vnto whom all the World doeth appertaine I thy poore creature according to thy commandement and as I am bound doe humbly pray to thy most excellent Majestie that thou wouldest blesse and preserue all KINGES Princes and Magistrates that they may be mindfull of thee of their Calling that they were raised vp by thee for preferment commeth not from the East nor from the West to the ende that they may leade thy people in thy wayes O Lord sanctifie them and blesse them that they may discharge their duetie faithfullie to the glorie of thy Name the weale of thy Church Conuert ô Lord the persecuters of thy Church informe their ignorance by thy worde and let them acknowledge their only honour to stand in the seruice which they doe to Christ But those who maliciously set themselues aganst thee and against thy Kingdome O Lord ouerthrow them in the righteousnesse of thy judgemēt as thou diddest Herod Pharoah Saul Achab Iulian the Apostate Act. 12.23 Exo. 14.28 1. Sam. 31.4 1. King 22 34. all others who opposed themselus to thee and to thy Christ as the Turke Antichrist the Pope doeth whom O Lord we beseech thee to confound But in speciall O Lord I pray to thee for our Soueraigne Lord the KINGES Majestie indue him with the giftes of thine holie Spirit answerable for his high Calling giue him wisdome and vnderstanding as thou gauest Salomon 1 King 3.9 2. King 18 4. c. 2. King 23 4. c. 1. Sam. 6.7 by the which he may goe in out wisely before the people giue vnto him the zeale of Iosias and Ezechias and make him like Dauid a man after thine owne heart who may guide thy people in thy wayes that he may prosper Blesse his Majesties Royall body with long life and good health and guard him by thine inuisible protection that none of his enemies haue power against him but as thou hast kept his sacred person euen from his mothers wombe to his gray haires now thou wilt not cast off thine ancient care toward him but keep him in thy right hand And aboue all preserue him frō the secret treasonable inuasions of the Pope and his treacherous Iesuits who alreadie interprysed his death by Powder but thou disappointedst them And for this we thanke thee beseeching thee to keepe him still from those blooddie murtherers and all traitours both forraine domesticke who attempt any euill against him Blesse his gouernament O Lord that the Righteous may flourish in his dayes that he may by Iustice bring Peace vnto thy people Blesse O Lord Prince CHARLES his grace print thy true feare knowledge in his tender heart that he may bee a blessing to all his fathers dominions Blesse that royal Prince Princesse the King and Queene of BOHEMIA and their Children blesse keepe and defend them that they may flourish in grace and honour to the worlds ende that when they shall lay downe their temporall crownes at thy feete then thou mayest crowne euerie one of them and their royall Seede with that vnchangeable Crowne of Glorie through Christ our onlie Sauiour Aduocate AMEN A MEDITATION VPON SICKNESSE SIcknesse is a Schoole of God Sicknesse is the Lordes Schoole whereunto he putteth his Children to be nurtured and Discipline there to bee vsed vpon them At this School we learne obedience which we would not learne at the Schoole of the Word Wee doe learne at this Schoole a perfect obedience to the wil of God mortification of our affections contempt of the world loue to our enemies and finally he so doeth tame our nature that our spirit becommeth obedient to his blessed will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the greatest Sicknesse is neuer to be sicke The greatest Sicknesse is neuer to bee sicke It is good therefore that we should be corrected that we perish not vvith the vvicked world Sicknesse is Medicine somewhat painfull but wholsome in the ende The hand which made thee feedeth thee Sicknesse is painfull but yet healthfull and it also nurtureth thee therefore refuse not the correction of God if thou be his Childe Sicknesse is appointed to correct the abuse of our health therefore let vs vse our health wiselie that God be not forced to apply sharpe remedies to our misgouernaments NOTA. Diuersitie of sinnes hath bred diuerse diseases Simil. Diuerse sinnes diuerse diseases and as the Apothecaries haue drogges answerable to the soares so God hath prepared such a sicknesse which he thinketh meetest to remedie such a soare as thou hast Therefore thinke not thy disease to bee fortuite but by prouidence and pray that God may worke by it in thine heart that for which he sent it that is a true conuertion of thee vnto thy God If thy disease be sharper aske of God greater measure of patience Patience necesserie 1. Corin. 10 13 for God is faithfull who will not suffer thee to be tempted aboue that which thou art able to beare thine externall man which is so greatlie humbled shall raise vp the hidden man of thine heart so
thou makest a good change A PRAYER FOR A SICKE PERSON O Most mercifull Father I ackowledge and confesse that I am a most vild creture crying to thee that thou woldest heare me let my prayer come vnto thee in thine holy Temple Ionah 2.3 and 7 The waues of thy judgemens haue gone ouer me and haue ouerwhelmed me the venome of thine arrowes haue drunken vp my spirit Iob 6.4 and thine hand is heauie vpon me I thoght the day light should haue comforted me but behold my pangues increassed and my paine ran vpon me Then I began to thinke My bed will giue me some rest but thou affrightedst me with visions Iob 7.13 and didst keepe mine eyes waking My strength faileth with paine Psal 6.2 my bones are consumed haue mercie vpon me O Lord mine eye Psal 31.9 my soule and my bellie are consumed with griefe When thou chastisest man for his iniquitie Psal 39.5.11 thou makest his beautie to fade as a Moth. Surelie man in his best estate is altogether vanitie O Lord vvhy art thou so farre from mine health Psa 22.1.2 the wordes of my roaring I cry by day and thou hearest not and in the night I haue none audience My life is drawing neare the graue and my yeeres to the buriall There is nothing found in my flesh Ps 38.3.4 because of thine anger neither rest in my bones because of my sinne Mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head and as a weightie burthen they are too heauie My reines are all full of burning and there is no strength found in my flesh Ibid. 7. mine heart panteth my strength faileth mee and the light of mine eyes Ibid. 10. euē they are not mine owne I beseech thee pittie me come in to this bed to comfort me thy poore prisoner For Lord I am a prisoner of hope I trust in thee though I said in mine haste Thou hast casten me out of thy presence Psa 31.22 yet thou wilt heare the voyce of my prayer when I call vpon thee Take away mine iniquities which are the cause of my sicknesse Purge me from these filthie humours which are the matter of my sicknesse that these sinnes of corrupt humours being remooued my paine may bee mitigated My sinne inwardly presseth me downe and my diseases thereby are augmented Hide thy face from my sinnes and put away mine iniquities Create a new heart in mee Psa 51.10 and renew a right spirit within me Let my paine asswadge a little that I may gather my strength yet before I goe hence Psa 39.13 and be no more Nowe I call to minde my sinnes by the which I haue prouoked thee to wrath I looke to thee whom I haue rejected I haue multiplied mine iniquities against thee and thou most justlie hast doubled the stripes vpon me Cure my sinnes by thy corrections I refuse not to be corrected but doe it to me in thy mercie and let me feele the merciful hand of thy Spirit bearing me vp and comforting me let me heare his voyce speaking peace to my soule Giue comfort to mine inward man as I haue sicknesse which beareth downe mine outward man Thou wentest downe with Daniel to the denne Dan. 6.22 and 3.25 and with the thrie Children to the fire refuse not to visit this thy poore prisoner in this bed of sicknesse and if I finde thee with me I am content euer to abide heere Forgiue me O Lord the abuse of my former health surelie thou hast justly punished the abuse thereof in wantonnesse in ryot excesse in the pleasures of my flesh Now my flesh is punished for my foolish delights are turned vnto gall and bitternesse Wash cleanse me in thy Sonne Iesus Christ his holy bloode that I may be as white as snow and my foolishnesse may not be in thy rememberance Psal 51.7 O fy vpon the world which I loued and thought it my felicitie nowe it is a burthen to me when I desired to be rich I fell into many temptations and with Zacheus greedilie drew to me that vvhich I doe now most willinglie reject and cast from me Lord Luke 19.8 thou art mine only Physician neither haue I gone with Ahaziah 2. King 1.2 2. Chro. 16.12 to seeke after Beelzebib the God of Ekron neither with Asa put I my confidence in Physicians but in the liuing God O Lord cure me helpe me O my God who made me thou art mine health my strength and my Sauiour If mine health may serue any wayes to further for thy glorie I pray thee for to restore me Let me goe to the House of the LORD and prayse thee Psal 6.5 for the dead will not praise thee and those who goe downe to the pitte will not magnifie thy Name Let me not goe out of this bed to dishonour thee but that I may receiue a new life from thee to leade a new life before thee And if thou hast appointed that by this sicknesse thou vvilt drawe me home to thee then I beseech thee prepare my soule and make it readie and giue me before I come to thee a cleare sight of thee and an earnest desire to be with thee 2. Cor. 12.2 3.4.5 c. Phil. 1.2 3. for when Sainct Paule saw the Heauens it is no maruell that he desired to be dissolued to be with thee In the meane time I commit my bodie and my soule to thy pleasure and good will dispone them as thou thinkest meetest for thy glorie that whether I liue or die Christ may bee mine aduantage Phil. 1.4 Onlie I craue holie FATHER that I may so depende vpon thee in this my disease that I neuer depart from thee to any other I craue also holie patience by the which I may patientlie abide to be corrected by this visitation Matth. 11 29. to beare thy yoke willinglie drinke this cuppe chearfullie and heartilie assuring my selfe that all these troubles in ende shall worke together for the best to me that is Simil. that by them I may bee tryed as Golde in the fire and my drosse being purged I may serue thee more perfectly all the dayes of my life through Christ my Sauiour Amen A PRAYER FOR A WOMAN IN TRAVELL WITH CHILD O Lord God and most mercifull Father I thy poore creature whome thou hast bound vp with the bandes of this Sicknesse doe present my selfe vpon the knees both of my bodie and soule euen I thy poore supplicant whome thou puttest vpon my knees in this my trauell that I may learne to knowe that there is no helpe at all for mee but that which I must beg from thee in this my tribulation And because this paine of mine hath come to all Women by the transgression of Eua the first Woman Gen. 3.16 let me remember that sinne is the mother of these pangues forasmuch as all haue sinned and must be partakers of their sorrowes
O Lord I confesse I haue sinned with the rest of my Sexe and I am now punished with them as thou gauest out sentence against them all But Lord I pray thee for Iesus sake who was the Seede of the Woman that thou wouldest loose the bandes of my sinne Gen. 3.15 Pittie me pittie me now O deare Father for thy Christs sake Woe is me that my pleasure in sinne should haue brought mee to such displeasure But these are the wages of sinne Forgiue me O Lord my sinnes and let the bonds thereof be broken that thou mayest loose me out of the bondes of this disease wherewith I am bound When thou spakest of the greatest paine thou comparedst it to the pangues of a woman who trauelleth with child Isa 13.8 then since my pangues are most vehement most sudden haue come to mee before I was aware O Lord let thy power bee so much the more towards me to deliuer me let my greatest miserie bee the object of thy greatest compassion Therefore nowe O Lord helpe mee for the helpe of man or woman is all in vaine pittie the workmanship which it hath pleased thee to frame in my wombe alace bring it and draw it out of my bellie Thou hast framed my Childe in a secret place thou hast brought it to the point of perfection and there is no strength in me to bring it foorth but O my God euen when I am weakest bee thou strongest yea then let thy power and mercie shewe it selfe to come in a due and acceptable time Glorifie thy selfe O Father in my weaknesse and these persons which are now present with mee let them all bee witnesses of thy mercifull deliuerie and preseruation of mee and my Childe for I will heere lie downe at thy feete and crie out vnto thee Psal 69.3 euen till I be hoarce neither will I cease my groaninges and fearfull shouts vntill it shall please thee to relieue mee O God thou Father of Heauen let not this bee my Benoni Gen. 35.18 that is the child of my trouble but let it bee my Benjamin the childe of my dayes and I will consecrate mine Infant vnto thee and thy seruice in whatsoeuer calling thou pleasest to employ it giue mee it and I will giue it to thee 1. Sam. 1.27 for alace I desire from thee no children to receiue life but such as shall bee partakers of Life eternall Now Lord helpe mee and renewe my strength that when thou hast deliuered me I may rejoyce in the worke of thy mercie and feast not to my fleshlie desires but to the honour of thee my God whose mercie endureth for euer Psa 136.1 Oh Lord my strength is dried vp like a potsheard Psa 22.15 and yet I seeke no meanes for my reliefe but onlie out of thine hand I commit my selfe whollie to thy Majesties good will and pleasure and I will not onelie sacrifice vnto thee the Calues of my lippes Hos 14.2 but also of a most thankfull heart whensoeuer it shall please thee to release mee yea and whatsoeuer I shall receiue of thee that shal I render backe againe vnto thee Euen nowe thou gauest mee some relent and casment of my pangues but now my sorrowes are increased againe Oh for Iesus Christes sake who by his holie Birth hath taken away the sinne of our birth haue mercie vpon mee and purge my birth Giue mee I beseech thee a comfortable deliuerie of my childe that wee both may prayse thee all our life and spend our dayes in thy true feare and seruice through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A MEDITATION OF PERSECVTION AMongst many Rods whereby GOD correcteth his ChildreÌ„ there bee chiefelie three to wit the Sword the Famine and the Pestilence which were all giuen to Dauids choyse 2. Sam. 24.14 of the which three hee chose the Pest vvilling rather to come vnder the Lords hands than mans not but that the Sword Famine were also in the hand of God but mediatelie for the Pest is immediatelie the hand of God It seemeth harde that Susanna should choose the handes of man rather than Gods and Dauid rather the hand of God than of men It is to bee vnderstoode that Dauid was meaning of his mercie Reâ—onciliation betwixt Dauids and Susannaes choyse and Susanna of his justice for the mercie of God is greater than the mercie of men but the feare of Gods justice is more terrible than all feares else whatsoeuer As for persecution it is the note and marke of the Church others may bee persued Persecution a marke of the Church but not persecuted Treason is against Princes and Parricide against Parents but persecution is against Christ and looke how high Treason is aboue slaughter so is persecution aboue Treason because the person of God who is persecuted is the greatest Majestie Next Christ persecuted with vs. it is to bee marked that Christians are persecuted with Christ Saul Saul why persecutest thou me We haue our Head Partaker and Companion with vs in our troubles may wee not then be glad of such a partie and yoke-fellow Thirdly it is common to all Christians who would liue godly in Christ Persecution common to all Christians Ioh. 15.20 Heb. 4.14.15 to suffer persecution then since it is the way of the head who through afflictions entered into Heauen and of all his members let vs not refuse persecution for in so doing wee refuse to bee Christians Then since the way of persecution is the Kinges way by the which hee went into his Kingdome and againe sith it is the way by which all the Sainctes and the Brethren and the First-borne are entered into glory then I say let vs bee bolde to enter in thorowe that way for who would refuse to goe through a Wildernesse vnto a Kingdome and by persecution to enter into Heauen Sinne raiseth vp enemies to vs. Iudg. 2.11 and 3.7.8 and 4.1.2 Fourthlie God rayseth vp enemies against vs because we haue beene enemies vnto him as hee did to the people of Israel euer when they went vnto Idolatrie and 6.1.2 and 13.1 1. King 11.14.23.26 and when as they prouoked him by thinges which were no gods so hee punished them by a People which were not a People and so likewise did the Lord to Salomon when as hee committed Idolatrie God hath our enemies in his hand Simil. Fiftlie albeit our enemies bee as sharpe as Rasours yet they are all in the handes of God who may well cut away our excrementes from vs thorow our foes but they can doe no more For although God giue them leaue and libertie to cut off our flesh yet it is but an excrement of our soule Onlie wicked men are persecuters Gen. 42.21 Exo. 14.27 1. Sam. 31.4 Psal 115.15 It is naturall for wicked men to persecute Rev. 12.1.2.3.4 c. Sixtlie none are chosen of God to persecute the Righteous but euil men whom God either will conuert with
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