But so simple was he that how to pray hee knew not Onely every morning humbly bending his knees and lifting up his Eyes and hands to Heaven he would deliberately repeate the Alphabet And now said he O good God put these letters together to spell syllables to spell words to make such sense as may bee most to thy glory and my good In these distracted times I knowâ— what generalls to pray for Gods glory Truth and Peace his Majesties honour Priviledges of Parliament liberty of Subjects c. But when I desâ—nd to particulars wheÌ„ how by whom I should desire these things to be effected I may fall to that poorepious mans A. B. C. D. E. c. XII The good effect of a bad cause GOd in the Leviticall Law gave this reward to the woman causelesly suspected of her Iealous husband that the bitter water which she was to drinke in the Priests presence should not onely doe her no harme but also procure her children * if barren before that water drunk by her to quench the fire of her husbands jealousie proved like the Spaw unto her so famous for causing fruitfulness Thus her innocence was not onely cleared but crowned His gracious Majesty hath been suspected to be Popishly inclined A suspition like those mushroomes which Pliny * recounts amongst the miracles in nature because growing without a Roote Well he hath passed his purgation a bitter Mornings-Draught hath he taken downe for many yeares together See the operation thereof his constancy in the Protestant Religion hath not onely been assured to such who unjustly were jealous of him but also by Gods blessing he dayly growes greater in men's hearts pregnant with the love and affection of his subjects XIII The child man Iohn Gerson the pious and learned Chancelour of Paris beholding and bemoaning the generall corruption of his Age in doctrine and manners was wont to get a * Quire of little children about him and to intreate them to pray to God in this behalfe Supposing their prayers least defiled with sinne and most acceptable to heaven Men now adayes are so infected with 〈◊〉 alice that little children are the best chaplaines to pray for their Parents But O where shall such be found not resenting of the faultes and factions of their Fathers Gersons plot will not take effect I will try another way I will make my addresse to the Holy child Jesus So is he stiled * even when glorified in Heaven not because he is still under Age like Popish Pictures placeing him in his Mothers armes and keeping him in his constant infancy but because with the strength and perfection of a man he hath the Innocence and humility of a child Him onelywill I employ to interceed for me XIIII Worse before better STrange was the behaviour of our Saviour towards his beloved Lazarus * informed by a messenger of his sicknesse he aboade two dayes still in the place where I was Why so slow bad sending him or to him on a dying mans errands But the cause was because Lazarus was not bad enough for Christ to cure intending not to recover him from sicknesse but revive him from Death to make the glory of the miracle greater England doth lie desperately sick of a violent disease in the Bowels thereof Many messengers we dispatch monthly fasts weekly Sermons daily Prayers to informe God of our sad condition He still stayes in the same place yea which is worse seemes to go backward for every day lesse likely-hood lesse hope of helpe May not this bee the reason that our Land must yet bee reduced to more extremity that God may have the higher honour of our Deliverance XV All sinne all suffer THE Mariners that guided the ship in the Tempest Acts 27.32 had a designe for their owne safety with the ruine of the rest intending under pretence of casting out an Anchor to escape in a Boâ—te by themselves But the Soldiers prevented their purpose and cut off the cord of the Boate and let it fall into the Sea One and all all sinck or all save Herein their Martiall Law did a piece of exemplary Justice Doe any intend willingly without speciall cause to leave the Land so to avoid that misery which their sinnes with others have drawne upon it might I advise them better mourne in then move out of Sad Zion Hang out the * Scarlet lace at the casement eyes made red withsorrow for sinne but slide not downe out of the window without better warrant But if they be disposed to depart and leave their native Soyle let them take heede their Fly-boate meets not with such Souldiers as will send them back with shame and sorrow into the Ship againe XVI Eate worthily SAul being in full pursuite of the flying Philistines made a Law that no Israelite should * eat untill evening But it was the judgement of Jonathan that the Army if permitted to eate had done greater execution on their Enemies For time so lost was gained being layed out in the necessary refection of their bodyes Yea marke the issue of their long fasting The People at night coming with ravenous Appetites did eat the flesâ— with the * bloud to the provoaking of Gods anger Many English people having conquered some stesâ—ly lusts which fight against their soules were still chasing them in hope finally to subdue them Was it a pious or politique designe to forbid such the râ—ceiving of the Sacrament their spirituall food I will not positively conclude that such if suffereâ— to strengthen themselves with that heavenly repast had thereby been enabled more effectually to cut downe their corruptions Onely two things I will desire First that such Jonathans who by breaking this custome have found benefit to theÌ„selves may not be condemned by others 2ly I shal pray that two hungry yeares make not the third a glutton That Communicants two twelve moneths together forbidden the Lords Supper come not when admitted thereunto with better stomach then heart more greedinesse then preparation XVII Devotions Duplicat VVHen the Iewish Sabbath in the Primitive times was newly changed into the christians-Christians-Lords day many devout people twisted both together in their Observation abstaining from servile-Workes and keeping both Saturday and Sunday wholy for holy Employments During these Civill Warres Wednesday and Fryday Fasts have been appointed by Different Authorities What harme had it been if they had been both generally observed But alas When two Messengers being sent together on the same Errand fall out and fight by the way will not the worke be worse done then if none were employed In such a Paire of fasts it is to be feared that the divisions of our Affections rather would increase then abate Gods Anger against us Two Negatives make an Affirmative Dayes of humiliations are appointed for men to deny themselves and their sinfull Lusts. But doe not our two Fasts more Peremptorily affirme and avouch our mutuall malice and hatred God forgive us we
writing lay on his death Bed rich onely in goodnesse and children his Wife made much womanish lamentation what should hereafter become of her little ones Peace sweet heart said hee that God who feedeth the * Ravens will not starve the Hernes A speech censured as light by some observed by others as propheticall as indeed it came to passe that they were well disposed of Despaire not therefore O thou Parent of Gods blessing for having many of his blessings a numerous off-spring But depend on his providence for their maintenance finde thou but faith to believe it he will finde meanes to effect it V. Coles * for Fagot IN the dayes of King Edward the sixth when Bonner was kept in Prison reverend Ridley having his Bishoprick of London would never goe to Dinner at Fulham without the company of Bonners * Mother and Sister The former alwayes sitting in a chaire at the upper end of the Table these Guests were as constant as Bread and Salt at the board no meale could be made without them O the meeknesse and mildnesse of such men as must make Martyres Active charity alwayes goes along with passive obedience How many Ministers Wives childrē now adayes are outed of house and home ready to be starved How few are invited to their Tables who hold the sequestrations of their Husbands or Fathers benefices Yea many of them are so farr from being bountifull that they are not just denying or detaining from those poore soules that pittance which the Parliament hath alotted for their maintenance VI Fugitives over taken THe City of Geneva is seated in the Marches of severall Dominions France Savoy Switzerland Now it is a Fundamentall Law in that signiory to give free accesse to all Offenders yet so as to punish their Offence according to the custome of that place wherein the fault was committed This necessary severity doth sweep their state from being the sink of Sinners the Rendevouz of Rogues and Head-Quarters of all Malefactors which otherwise would fly thither in hope of Indempnity Herein I highly aprove the Discipline of Geneva If we should live to see Churches of severall Governments permitted in England it is more then probable that many Offenders not out of conscience but to escape Censures would fly from one Congregation to another What * Nabal said snllenly and spightfully one may sadly foresee fore-say of this Land many servants now adayes will breake every man from his Master many guilty persons abandoning that Discipline under which they were bred and brought up will shift and shelter themselves under some new Model of Government Well were it then if every man before he be admitted a Member of a new Congregation doe therein first make satisfaction for such scandalous sinnes whereof he stands justly charged in that Church which he deserted This would conduce to the advanceing of vertue and the retrenching of notorious licentiousnesse VII Both and Neither A City was built in Germany upon the River Weser by Charles the Emperour Vuidekind First Christian-Duke of Saxony and because both contributed to the Structure thereof it was called * MYNETHYNE at this day by corrupt pronunciation Mindin to shew the joynt-interest both had in the place Send Lord in thy due time such a Peace in this Land as Prince and People may share therein that the Soveraigne might have what hee justly calls myne his lawfull Prerogative and leave to the Subjects their Propriety Such may be truely termed an Accommodation which is ad commmodum utriusque for the benefit of both parties concerned therein VIII Fed with Fasting THe Salmon may passe for the Ridle of the River The oldest fisherman never as yet met with any meate in the maw thereof thereby to advantage his conjecture on what Bil of fare that fish feedeth It eats not flys with the Pearch nor swollowes wormes with the Roach nor suckt dew with the Oisters nor devoureth his fellow fishes with the Pike what hath it in the water but the water yet Salmons grow great and very fat in their season How doe many exiles in their owne country subsist now adayes of nothing and wandering in a wildernesse of want except they have Manna miraculously from Heaven they have no meate on earth from their owne meanes At what Ordinary or rather Extraordinary do they diet that for all this have cheerefull faces light hearts and merry countenances Surely some secret comfort supports their soules Such never desire but to make one meale all the days of their lives on the * continuall Feast of a good conscience The Fattest Capons yeild but sad Merry-thoughts to the greedy Glutton in comparison of those delightfull dainties which this Dish dayly affords such as feed upon it IX Bare in fat Pasture FOrresters have informed mee that Out-lodging Deere are seldom seen to be so fat as those as keep themselves within the Parke Whereof they assigne this Reason that those Straglers though they have more ground to range over more Grasse and Graine to take their repast upon yet they are in constant feare as if conscious that they are Trespassers being out of the Protection because out of the Pale of the Parke This makes their Eyes and Eares alwayes to stand Sentinells for their mouthes least the Master of the ground pursue them for the dammage done unto him Are there any which unjustly possesse the Houses of others Surely such can never with quiet and comfort enjoy either their places or themselves Thy alwayes listen to the least Noise of Newes suspecting the Right owner should be reestated whose restitution of necessity inferres the others Ejection Lord that though my meanes be never so small grant they may be my meanes not wrongfully detained from others having a truer Title unto them X. Much good doe you ONe * Nicias a Philosopher having his shooes stollen from him may they said he fit his feet that tooke them away A wish at the first view very harmelesse but there was that in it which poysoned his charity into a malicious revenge For he himselfe had hurl'd or crooked feet so that in effect he wish'd the Theefe to be lame Whosoever hath plundred mee of my Bookes and Papers I freely forgive him and desire that he may fully understand make good use thereof wishing him more joy of them then he hath right to them Nor is there any Snake under my Herbes nor have I as Nicias any Reservation or latent Sense to my selfe but from my heart doe desire that to all purposes and intents my Bookes may be beneficiall unto him Onely requesting him that one passage in his lately my Bible namely Eph 4. 28. may be taken into his serious consideration XI The use of the Alphabet THere was not long since a devout but ignorant Papist dwelling in Spaine He perceived a necessity of his owne private Prayers to God besides the Pater Nosters Ave Maries c. used of course in the Romish Church
was their perceiving of the fire before the Ordnance was discharg'd Oh the Mercy of that Fire which as it were repenting of the mischiefe it had done and the murther it might make ran a Race and outstript the Bullet that men at the sight thereof might bee provided when they could not resist to prevent it Thus every murthering Piece is also a Warning Piece against it selfe God in like manner warnes before he wounds frights before hee fights Yet forty dayes and Ninevegh shall be destroyed Oh Let us fall down before the Lord our Maker Then shall his Anger be pleased to make in us a daily Passe over and his Bullets levelled at us shall flie above us XII The first Fruits PApists observe such are curious priers into Protestants carriage that Charity in England lay in a swound from the dissolution of Abbies in the reigne of King Henry the eighth till about the tenth of Queen Elizabeth As if in that age of Ruine none durst raise Religious Buildings and as if the Axe and Hammer so long taught to beat down had forgot their former Use to build up for pious intents At last comes William Lambert Esqure and first founds an Hospitall at Greenwich in Kent calling that his Society like politique Joab after * Davids name The poore people of Queene Elizabeth And after this worthy man followed many that wee may almost dazle Papists Eyes with the Light of Protestants Good works The same Papists perchance may now conceive Charity so disheartened in our dayes by these civill Warres and the consequences thereof that no Protestants hereafter should bee so desperate as to adventure upon a publique good Deede O for a LAMBERT Junior I hope some of his Linage are left Heires to his Lands and Virtues who shall breake through the Ranks of all Discouragements so that now English Protestants being to begin a new Score of good Works might from him date their Epoche Such a Charity deserves to bee Knighted for the Valour thereof XIV The Recruit I Reade how one main Argument which the Apostle Paul enforceth on Timothy To make full proofe of his Ministery is this * For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand Thus the dying Saints drawing neere to Heaven their marke is the best spur for the surviving to make the more speed in their Race How many excellent Divines have these sad times hastened to their long home So called in Scripture * not because long going thither but long ever tarrying there How many have beene sorrow-shot to their Heart O that this would edge the endeavours of our Genâ—ration to succede in the dead places of worthy men Shall the Papists curiously observe and sufficiently boast that their Stapleton was borne on the same day on which Sir Thomas More was beheaded as if his cradle made of the others coffin and shall not our Nurseries of learning supply the void roomes of our Worthies deceased No sin I hope to pray that our Timothyes come not short of our Pauls as in time so in learning and religion XV The Mongrel I Finde the naturall Philosopher making a Caracter of the Lions disposition amongst other his qualities reporteth that first the Lion feedeth on Men and afterwards if forced with extremitie of hunger on Women Satan is a roaring Lion seeking whome hee may devoure Only hee inverts the method and in his bill of fare takes the second course first Ever since hee over tempted our Grand-mother Eve encouraged with successe hee hath preyed first on the weaker Sex It seemes Hee hath all the vices not the virtues of that King of Beasts a Woolfe Lion having his cruelty without his Geuerositye XVIII Edification I Read in a learned Phisitian how our pro vident Mother Nature foreseeing men her wan ton children would bee tampering with the edge-tooles of Minerals hid them farre from them in the bowels of the Earth whereas shee exposed Plants and Herbs more obvious to their Eye as fitter for their use But some bold Empericks neglecting the latter as too common have adventured on those hidden Minerals oft times through want of skill to the hurt of many and hazard of more God in the new Testament hath placed all historical and practical matter needfull for Christians to know and beleeve in the beginning of the Gospell All such Truths lie above ground plainly visible in the litteral sence The Prophe ticall and difficult part comes in the close But though the Testament was written in Greeke too many reade it like Hebrew beginning at the end thereof How many trouble themselves about the Revelatiou who might bee better busied in plaine Divinity Safer prescribing to others and practising in themselves positive Piety leaving such Mistical Minerals to men of more judgement to prepare them XIX Mad not mad I Finde St. Paul in the same chapter confesse and deny madnesse in himselfe Acts. 26. verse 11. And being exceeding mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange Cities verse 25. when Festus challenged him to be beside himselfe I am not mad most noble Festus Whilest hee was mad indeede then none did suspect or accuse him to be distracted but when converted and in his right minde then Festus taxeth him of madnesse There is a Country in Affrica * wherein all the natives have pendulous Lips hanging downe like dogs-eares alwaies raw and sore Here only such as are handsome are pointed at for Monsters in this Age wherein polluted and uncleane Lips are grown Epidemicall if any refraine their tongues from common Sins alone are gazed at as Strange Spectacles XX The deepest Cutt. I beheld a Lapidary cutting a Diamond with a Diamond Hammer and Anvil both of the same kinde God In Scipture stiled his servants his * Jewels His Diamonds they are but alas rude rough unpolished without shape or fashion as they arise naked out of the Bed of the Earth before Art hath dressed them See how God by rubbing one rough Diamond against maketh both smooth Barnabas afflicts Paul and Paul afflicts Barnabas by their hot falling out Hierom occasioneth trouble to Ruffinus and Ruffinus to Hierom. In our unnaturall war none I hope so weake and wilfull as to deny many good men though misled engaged on both sides O how have they scratcht and raced and pierced and bruised and broken one another Behold Heavens hand grating one Diamond with another as for all those who un-charitably deny any good on that Party which they dislike such shew themselves Diamonds indeede in their hardnesse cruel censuring but none in any commendable qualitie in their Conditions FINIS Page 57 Line 8. for Such reade Sue 〈◊〉 2 Kings 3 15. 〈◊〉 3 * Sequeâ—er * Rev. 13. 7. * Iob. â—8 * 〈◊〉 Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Eph 3. 12. * Weavers fâ—n Mon. p 635. * Math. 3.8 Iohâ— 15.2 * Psa. 126. 5 6. * Exod. 8. 3. * Exod. 8. 10. * De tristibus lib. 2 Eleg. 10. * Exod. â—2 11. * Dan 9 9. * Luk. 13 7. * Plut. 〈◊〉 lives in Thesco Act. 26. 15. * 2 Sam. 18. 13. * Rev. 12.10 * Sam. 2. 12. 23. * Examen con Trident pag. 736. Colum 2. * John 11 41. * Job 20.12 * Iob. 1.5 * Esa. 28.10 * Gen. 3.24 * Gen. 3. 10. * Chr. 12. 15. * Gen. 3. 13. * 1 Chro. 21.1 * 1 Chro. 21.17 * 2 Sam 1. * Psal. 116 11. * Psal. 50. 20. * 2 Kings 16. * Verse 10 Ver 11. * Ver. 13. * Ver. 15. * Psal. 41.3 * â—en 28.12 * Fox Martir 3. volum * Rev. 2.22 * Iuke 15. 14. * Gen. 31. 19. * Num. 2.2.30 * Exod. 19 4. * Colos. 3. 3. * Mat. 3. 12. * I â—ke 22. 31. * Gen. 10 25. * Marti 14 12. * Iob. 39. 14. * Psal. 147 9. * Pro. 25. 22. * Fox Marâ—yrolog 3. Volum p. 432. * 1 Sam. 25. 10. * Munâ—ers cosmog. li 3. cap. 45c * Pro. 15. 15. * Plutarch moralls * Numb. 5.28 * Nat. hist. lib. 19 ch. 2. * In his life juxta finem * Act. 4. 27. * John 11 6. * Joâ—h 2. * Sam. 14.24 * Vers. 32. * Cro. 2. 32.31 * Eâ—od 34. 19. * 1 Sam. 20. â—9 * Gen. 18. 19. * Josh. 24. 15. * Acts 10. 2. * Zach 12 12. * Psal. 37. * Ephes. 6. 16. * 2 Cor. 10.10 * Heb. 8.5 * 2 Sam. 24. 24. * Rev. 12. 10. * Psal. 8.3 * Mat. 26. 44. * Gen. * Plutaâ—k in Scipo's life pag. 1807. * Eph. 6. 18. * Heb. 12. 6. * Isa. 7. 20. * Mat. 3. 10. * Mat. 14. 5. * Philip 2 15. * Psal. 125 5. * Heb. 12. 13. * In his Life p. 10. * Jer. 2. 13. * Exod. 8. 7. * Gen. 5. 22. * Philip 3 20. * Psal. 2 7. * Luk 19. 14. Acts 14. 22. See Cemâ—dens Bâ—t in Kent pag. 327. * 2 Saâ— 12 28. * 2 Tim. 4 6. * Eccles. 125. Pitzeus in vita Stapletoni In viros prius quâ— in terminas saevit Pin. Nat. Hist. lib. 8. cap. 10. * Munster Cosmog. * Malac. 18.19 Acts 15. 24.