they be for so much as thou art faulty thy selfe and must be borne withall And if thou canst not bee such as thou wouldest bee thinkest thou to make another according to thy minde We wish that others were godly and yet wee our selves mend not We would have others severely corrected which we refuse our selves We find fault with the licentiousnesse of others and wee our selves will not be gaine-said We seek that others should be bridled by Law and we our selves refuse obedience whereby it is evident that we love not our Neighbour as our selves If all were perfect what should wee suffer at other mens hands for Gods sake But now it pleaseth God that we must beare one anothers burden and that because no man is without fault no man but hath his burden no man that can live by himselfe no man but lacks advise sometimes and therefoâ—e we ought to suffer one with another to comfort one another to help instruct and admonish one another And never shall the vertue of a man be so knowne as by occasion of adversitie for occasions makes not a man fraile but shewes what he is The way to quietnesse both temporall and eternall THou must bridle and breake thy will in many things if thou wilt live a quiet life And if thou wouldest stand upright and goe forward in godlinesse account thy selfe in this world but a banished man and a pilgrime And if thou desire to be a Christian thou must prove a foole before men for Christs sake A hood or a shaven head maketh not a religious man but an alteration from vice to vertue and a mortication of thy lusts hee which loveth any thing besides God and the salvation of his soule shall find nothing but misery and sorrow and let not him looke to be long in quiet which laboureth not in the sight of men to be most abject and inferior to all for thou art in this life to serve not to rule and called to suffer and labour not to loiter and live at pleasure For men are tryed in this world as gold is in the surnace and let no man here look to stand upright unlâ—sse with all his heart he humble himselfe for the Lords sake The exercise of a true Christian THe life of a Christian should be adorned with all vertues that hee may be such inwardly as he outwardly appeareth to the world yea more vertuous should he be then he seemeth in as much as God seeth our hearts who wee must intirely revereâ—ce wheresoever we are and before whom we should walke uprightly as Angels Every day wee should renounce our mindes and as though we were but newly converted from sinne we ought to inflame our zeale and say O my Lord God assist me I humbly beseech thee in this my good purpose and zeal give me grace even at this present time godly to enter into thy service for what hitherto I have done is nothing In this our race and going forward in godlinesse wee must use great diligence if we minde to finish our course as we should For if hee which couragiously goeth on is tried many times What will become of him which either seldome or faintly setteth forward Many things cause us to change our good minds but we never so lightly omit spiritual exercise but we greatly hinder our selves thereby The purpose of the just dependeth upon the favour of God not upon their own wisdome on whom they trust in all their enterprizes For man may purpose but God disposeth neither can man of himselfe bring any thing to passe If we omit our accustomed exercise either for Religions cause or to profit our brethren we may easily attaine thereunto againe but if carelesly of sloth or faintnesse of minde we neglect the same we do both highly displease God and greatly endamage our selves Let us doe our best yet shall wee â—ffend in many things All be it will be good to shoot at some certaine things and especially against those vices which hinder us more then others we must examine and set in order as well outward as inward things for both are necâ—ssary to our proceedings If thou canâ—â— not at all times take account of thy selfe yet doe it sometimes and at the least once a day either at morne or night In the morning consider how thou wilt spend thy time till evening And at night call to minde how thou â—ast spent the day and what thy thoughts words and deeds have been for thereby we commonly both displease God and offend men Gird thy loynes like a man against Satan bridle thy riotous appetite so the more easily shalt thou bring under all the unruly desires of the flesh Be thou at no time idle altogether but alwaies either read or write or pray or meditate or doe somewhat for the publlique welfare The body must bee exercised with judgement for all exercises be not for every man private exercises must not be used in a publicke place aâ—beit thou art to take heed that thou be not too publicke slow and swift unto private but having done thy dutie according to thy calling if any leasure be gotten betake thee to thy selfe as thy profession doth require All men cannot use one exercise but that is for some which is not for others Againe according to the diversitie of time wee thinke of exercises for some like us of holydaies some on working daies some in the time of warre some in the time of quietnesse some we minde when we are pensive and some when we rejoyce in the Lord good exercises should oftentimes be renewed especially on holy daies as though we were then departing out of this life and going to the everlasting daies of rest And therefore at such times especially we should shew our selves most devout and most carefully execute Gods Hests looking as it were presently to have a reward of our labour from God which if it be deferred let us think with our selves that we are not sufficiently prepared but unworthy so great glory to be revealed unto us at a time convenient and prepare our selves more diligently to our end Happy is that Servant saith our Saviour Christ whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watchfull know ye of a truth he will make him ruler over all that he hath Of solitarinesse and silence SEeke a convenient time to meditate and oftentimes call the benefits of God into mind omit curious things and chuse such matter as may rather stir up thy mind unto godliness then busie thee too much withdraw thy self from speaking vainly from gadding idly from listning unto rumours and novelties And thou shalt find good leasure and sufficient for thy spirituall exercise and that after the example of the most godly who shunned the company of men as much as they might and chose to live a part unto God One said I never came amongst men but I departed more wicked then I was before And this we find true when we talk much together It is easier to be
will be quiet and will be noâ— more angry Ezek. 16.42 Who is a God like unto thee that pardons the iniquity and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Michaâ— 7.18 For our light afflictions which is but for a moment worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall waight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 For like as a Father pittyeth his Children so the Lord pittyeth them that feare him for he knoweth our frame he remembreth we are but dust Psalme 103.13.14 Sing O heavens and be joyfull O earth and breake forth into singing O mountaines for God hath comforted his people and will have mercy on his afflicted but Sion said the Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking Childe that she should not have compassion on him yea they may forget yet will not I forget thee Esa 49.13 14 15. For the needy shall not alwaies be forâ—otten the expectation of the poore shall â—ot perish for ever Psal 9.18 In all their afflictions he was afflicted â—nd the Angell of his presence saved them 〈◊〉 his love and in his pitty he redeemed â—hem and he bare them and he carried â—hem all the dayes of old Esay 63.9 Behold happy is the man whom God â—orrecteth therefore despise not the chaâ—tening of the Almighty Job 5.17 Blessed is the man whom thou chasteâ—est O Lord and teachest him out of thy â—aw that thou mayest give him rest for â—he dayes of adversity untill the pit be â—igged for the wicked whom he loveth â—e correcteth even as the Father the Son 〈◊〉 whom he delighteth therefore despise â—ot the chastening of the Lord neither â—e weary of his correction for it is good â—or me that I have been afflicted that I â—ight learne thy Statutes Psalme 94. â—2 13. Who fed thee in the Wildernesse with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that â—e might humble thee and that he might â—rove thee to doe thee good at thy latter â—nd Deut. 8.16 For we know that all things worke together for good to them that love Goâ— to them that are called according to 〈◊〉 purpose Rom. 8.28 My brethren count it all joy when yâ— fall into divers temptations knowing thâ— that the trying of your faith worketh pâ—tienee James 2.3 Though he fall he shall not be utter cast downe for the Lord upholdeth hâ—â— with his hand Psal 37.24 God will lighten our darknesse he wâ— keep the feet of his Saints he will not foâ—sake them nor forget their complaint thâ— they shall not be confounded in time 〈◊〉 trouble he will hide them Psal 18.28 His Angels shall pitch about them 〈◊〉 will heale them and take all sicknesâ— from them they shall not feare their enemies but will make their enemies afraâ—â— of them be avenged of their enemies 〈◊〉 will repent him of the evill pronounced â—gainst them They cry and the Loâ—â— heareth them and delivereth them 〈◊〉 of all their troubles Many are the troâ—bles of the righteous but the Lord delâ—vereth them out of all Psal 34.7 But the salvation of the righteous is the Lord he is their strength in the tiâ—â— of trouble and the Lord shall help theâ— and deliver them he will deliver them â—om the wicked and save them because â—ey trust in him Psal 37.39 40. Comfortable Sentences concerning earthly Blessings FIrst seek the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and all good things â—â—all be added unto you Mat. 6.33 O taste and see that the Lord is good â—lessed is the man that trusteth in him O â—eare the Lord yee his Saints for there is â—o want to them that feare him The Liâ—ns doe lack and suffer hunger but they â—hat seeke the Lord lack nothing Psal 4.8 9 10. The Lord is a sunne and shield and no â—ood thing will he with-hold from them â—hat walke uprightly Psal 84.12 Trust in the Lord and doe good so â—halt thou dwell in the Land and verily â—hou shalt be fed delight thy selfe in â—he Lord and he will give thee thy deâ—ires of thy heart Commit thy way unto â—he Lord trust also in him and he shall â—ring it to passe For the meeke shall inherit the earth and shall delight them selves in their abundance of peace a little that a righteous man hath is betteâ— then the riches of many wicked Psal 37 3 4 5. O how great is thy goodnesse whicâ— thou hast laid up for them that feare thee which thou hast wrought for them thaâ— trust in thee before the sonnes of men Psal 31.21 The Lord is good and his tender mercies is over all his workes for seeing godlinesse hath the promises of this life as welâ— as of the life to come He will dwell with his and not forsake them that he will love and blesse his people that he will be their God will rejoyce over them to doe them good will compasse them with favour as with a shield will keepe his Covenant with them that he will set peace in their borders and prosper them in all they goe about Psal 145.9 My Sonne forget not my Law but let thine heart keepe my Commandements for length of days and long life and peace shall they adde to thee length of dayes is in her right hand and in her left hand riches and honour She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every one that retaineth her Prov. 3 â— 2 16. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the â—oyce of the Lord thy God and wilt doe â—hat which is right in his sight and wilt give eare to his Commandements and keepe all his Statutes I will put none of these diseases upon thee which I put upon the Aegyptians for I am the Lord that healeth thee Exod. 15.26 Honour the Lord with thy substance and with the first fruits of thine increase so shall thy Barnes be filled with plenty and thy Presses shall burst with new wine Prov 3.9.16 He that soweth bountifully shall reape bountifully and God is able to make all grace to abound towards you that yee alwaies having all sufficiency in all things may attaine to every good worke 2 Cor. 9.6.8 So shalt thou finde favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man Prov. 3.4 And I will give peace in the Land and â—ee shall lye downe and none shall make â—ou afraid Levit 26.6 Behold my servants shall rejoyce but yee shall be ashamed Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart Esay 65.13 14. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Peace bâ— within thy walls and prosperity withiâ— thy pallaces Psal 122.6 7. Then shalt thou walke in thy way safely and thy foote shall not stumble Prov. 3.23 The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run unto it and is safe Prov. 18.10 But who so hearkneth unto me shall dwell safely and be quiet from the feare
is the very nature of God and without end or measure as his Godhead is so also his justice is And these two are the two Armes as it were of God imbrasing and kissing one the other as the Scripture saith Therefore as in a man of this world if we had the measure of one arme we might easily conjâ—cture of the other so seeing the wonderfull examples dayly of Gods infinite mercy towards them that repent we may imagine by the same his severe justice towards them whom he reserveth to punishment in the next life and whâ—n for that cause he calleth in the Scriptuâ—es Vessels of his fury oâ— Vessels to shâ—w his fury upon A third reason to perswade us of the grâ—atâ—esse of these punishments may be the marvellous patience and long-suffering of God in this life As for example in that he suffereth divers men from one sin to another from one day to another from one year to another to spend all in dishonour and dispite of his Majestie adding offence to offence and refusing all perswasions allurements good inspirations or other means of friendship that his mercy can devise to offer for their amendments and what man in the world could suffer this or what mortall heart could shew such patience But now if all this should not be requited with severity of punishment in the world to come upon the obstinate it might seeme against the Law of Justice and equitie and one arme in God might seeme longer then the other Paul doth touch this reason in his Epistle to the Romans where hee saith Dost thou not know that the benignity of God is used to bring thee to repentance And thou by thy hard and impenitent heart dost hoord up vengeance unto thy selfe against the day of wrath and appearance of Gods just judgement which shall restore to every man according to his works He useth heare the words of hoording up of vengeance to signifie that even as the covetous man doth hoord up money to money dayly to make his heap great so the unrepentant sinner doth hoord up sinne to sinne and God on the contrary side hoordeth up vengeance to vengeance untill his measure be full to restore in the end measure against measure as the Prophet saith and to pay us home according to the multitude of our abominations This God meant when he said to Abraham that their iniquities was nâ—t yet full up Also in the Revelation of St. John when he used this conclusion of that Booâ—e He that doth evill let him doe yet more evill and he that lyâ—th in filth let him yet become more filthy for behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to render to every man according to his deeds By which words God signifieth that his bearing and tollerating with sinners in this life is an argument â—f his greater severity in the life to come Which the Prophet Dâ—vid also declareth when talking of a carelesse sinner he saith The Lord shall scoffe at hâ—m foreseeing that his day shall come This day no doubt is to be understood the day of account and punishment after this life for so doth God more at large declare himselfe in another place in these words And thou Son of man thus saith the Lord God The end is comâ— now I say the end is come upon thee and I will shew in thee my furie and I will judge thee according to thy wayes I will lay against thee all thy abominations and mâ—â—e eye shall not spare thee neither will I take any mercie upon thee but I will put thine own waies upon thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Behold affliction commeth on the end is come the end I say is come that watched against thee and behold it is come crushing is come upon thee the time is come the day of slaughter is at hand shortly I will powre out my wrath upon thee and I will fill my fury in thee I wil judge thee according to thy waies and I will lay all thy wickednesse upon thee mine eye shall not pitty thee neither will I take any compâ—ssion upon thee but I will lay thy waies upon thee and thine abominations in the middest of thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that striketh Hitherto is the speech of God himselfe Seeing then we nâ—w understand in generall that the punishments of God in the life to come are most certain to be great and severe tâ— all such as fall into them for which câ—â—se the Apostle saith It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the living Gâ—â— Let us consider somewhat in particular what manner of pains and punishmens they shall be And first of all touching the place of punishment appointed for the damned commonly called Hell The Scripture in divers places and Languages used divers names but all tending to expresse the grivousness of punishment there suffered As in Latine it is called Infernus a place beneath or under ground as most of the old Fathers doe iâ—terpret But whether it be under ground or no most certaine it is that it is a place most opposite to heaven which is said to be above And this name is used for to signifie the miserable suppressing and â—urling down of the damned to be troden under the feet not only of God but also of good men for ever for so saith the Scripture Behold the day of the Lord cometh burning like a furnace and all proud and wicked men shall be straw to that furnace and you that feare my name shall tread them downe and they shall be as burnt Ashes under the soles of your feet in that day And this shall be one of the greatest miseries that can happen to the proud and stout Potentates of the world to be thrown down with such contempt and to be troden under feet of them whom they so much despised in this world The Hebrew word which the Scripture useth for Hell is Sheol which signifieth a great ditch or dungeon in which sence it is also called in the Apocalips Lacus irae Dei The Lake of the wrath of God And again A Poole burning with fire and brimston Also in the Gospel it is called utter darknesse And Job saith of iâ— there dwelleth no order but everlasting horror Having now in some part declared the names and thereby also in part the nature Iâ— remâ—ineth now that we consider what manner of paines men suffer there For declaration whereof we must noâ—e that as Heaven and Hell are contrary assigned to contrary persons for contrary causes so have they in all respects contrary properties conditions and â—ffâ—cts in such sort as whatsoever is spoken of the felicity of the one may seâ—ve to inferre the contrary of tâ—e other As when Saint Pâ—ul saith That no eye hath seen nor eare heard nor heart conceived the joyes that God haâ—h â—â—epareâ— fâ—r them that shalâ— be saved We may inferre that the paine of the damned must bâ— as great A
solaces in theâ—â— dayes of tears what joy shall there bâ—â— in that day of marriage if our goale 〈◊〉 containe so great matters what shaâ—â— our Countrie and Kingdome doe O my Lord and God thou art a greâ—â— God and great is the multitude of thâ— magnificence and sweetnesse And 〈◊〉 there is no end of thy greatnesse nâ— number of thy wisdom nor measure 〈◊〉 thy benignity so is their neither â—nd numbers nor measure of thy rewarâ— towards them that love and faithfully serve thee Hitherto St. Austin Anotheâ— way to conjecture of this felicity is to consider the great promises which Goâ— maketh in the Scriptures to honor and glorifie man in the life to come whosoever shall honour me saith God I will gloryfie him And the Prophet David as it were complaineth joyfully that Gods friends were so much honoured by him which he might with much more cause have said if he had lived in the new Testament and had heard that promise of Christ that his Servants should sit down and banquet and that himself would serve and minister unto them in the Kingdom of his Father But now to come to that point of this felicity which doth appertain to the soul as the principal part it is to be understood that albeit there be many things that do concur to this felicity for the accomplishment perfection of happynesse yet the fountain of aâ—l is but one onely thing called by Divines the sight of God that maketh us happy This only sight of God is our happinesse If we would enter into these considerations no doubt but we should be more inflamed with the love of this felicity prepared for us then we are and consequently should strive more to gain it then wâ— do And to the end thou mayst conceive some more feeling in the matter gentle Reader consider a little with me what a joyfull day shall that be at thy house when having lived in thâ— fear of God and archieved in his service the end of thy peregrination bâ— the meanes of death to passe froâ— misery and labour to immortality anâ— in that passage when other men begin to feare thou shalt lift up thâ— head in hope according as Christ promiseth for that the time of thy salvation cometh Tell me what a day shall that be when thy soule stepping forth of prison and conducted to the Tabernaclâ— of Heaven and shall be received theâ— with the honourable Companies anâ— Troopes of that place with all thosâ— blessed spirits mentioned in Scriptureâ— as Principalities Powers Vertueâ— Dominations Thrones Angels Archangels Cherubines and Seraphines also with the holy Apostles anâ— Disciples of Christ Patriarks Prophets Martyrs Innocents Confeâ—sors and Saints of God All which shall triumph at thy Coronation and glorification What joy will thy soule receive at that day when shee shall be presented in the presence of these States before the Seat Majestie of the blessed Trinity with recitall and declaration of all thy good works and travels suffered for the love service of God When there shall be laid down in that honourable Consistory all thy vertuous deeds al thy labors that thou hast taken in thy calling all thy almes all thy prayers all thy fasting all thy innocence of life all thy patience in injuries all thy constancie in adversities all thy temperance in meats all thy vertues of thy whole life When all I say shall be recounted there al commended all rewarded shalt thou not see now the value profit of a vertuous life shalt thou not confess that gainful honorable is the service of God Shalt thou not now be glad bless the hour wherein first thou resolvedst thy self to leave the service of the world to serve God Shalt thou not think thy selfe to be beholden to him that perswaded thee unto it Yes verily But yet more then this when as being so neere thy passage here thou shalt consider into what a port and haven of security thou art come and shalt looke backe upon the dangers which thou hast passed and wherein other men are yet in hazzard thy cause of joy shall greatly be increased For thou shalt see evidently how infinite times thou wert in danger to have perished in that journey if God had not held his provident hand over thee Thou shalt see the dangers wherein other men are the death and damnation whereinto many of thy friends and acquaintance have fallen the eternall paines of Hell incurred by many that used to laugh and be merry with them in this world All which shall augment the felicity of this thy blessed estate And now for thy selfe thou mayest be secure thou art out of all danger for ever and ever There is now no more need of feare of watchings of labour of care thou mayest lay down all armour now better then the Children of Israel might have done when they had gotten the Land of promise for there is no more Enemy to assault thee there is no wily Serpent to beguile thee All is peace all is rest all is joy all is security Thy onely exercise must be now to rejoyce to tryumph to sing Hallelujah to the Lambe which hath brought thee to this felicitie and will keep thee in the same world without end But now to draw towards an end in this matter though there be no end in the thing it selfe let the Christian Reader consider whereto he is borne and whereof he is in possibilitie if he will He is born heire apparent to the Kingdome of heaven a Kingdome without end a Kingdome without measure a Kingdome of blisse the Kingdome of God himself he is borne to be joynt heire with Jesus Christ the Sonne of God to raigne with him to triumph with him to sit in judgement with him to judge the very Angels with him What more glory can be thought upon except it were to become God himselfe All the joyes all the riches all the glory that heaven containeth shall be powred out upon him who wil not esteeme of this royall Inheritance Especially seeing that now we have so good opportunity to the obtaining thereof by the benefit of our redemption and grace purchased to us therein Tell me now Gentle Reader why wilt thou not accept of this his offer Why wilt thou not accompt of this his Kingdome Why wilt thou not buy this glory of him for so little a labour as he requireth There is not the wickedest man in the world but taketh more travell and pains in going to Hell then the most painefull servant of God in obtaining of heaven Follow thou not their folly then deare brother for thou shalt see them suffer greevously for it one day when thy heart shall be full gald thou hadst no part among them Let them goe now and bestow their time in vanitie in pleasures in delights of the world Let them build Pall ces purchase Dignities and peeces and patches of ground together Let them hunt after Honours and build Castels in the Ayre the day will
me be once truly renewed by thy grace and setled in thy service that I never slip nor slide back but grant unto me most mercifull Father a sure and setled dependance upon thee so that in all my wordt workâ— and deeds I may rejoyce in serving fearing and obeying thee and that I may spend all the residue of my dayes truly serving thee seeking to glorifie thy Name and magnifie thy goodnesse unto me so long as it shall please thâ—e to lend me breath to this fâ—aile body And mercifull Father favourably governe and guide help instruct and teach me in thy wiâ—dom to magnifie thy holy Name multiply and increaâ—e thy mercies on me O Lord preserve and prospâ—r me in all my waies and works and all about me remember thy poore flock build up thy Church renew Sion governe assist and blesse all pain ull Preachers and Pastors of thy Word teach them and us understanding rihgtly to know thee and truly to follow thee awake my drowsie soule defend it from evill imaginations keep me in holy and heavenly meditations grant me to observe thy waies so that I may walke in piety and peace set my sinnes so before mine eyes that when I look back on them I may with sorrow weep lament and repent my time past which hath been spent so wickedly or unprofitably O powerfull Preserver remember me restore me to joy and comfort and hasten in time thy salvation unto me Draw my lingring soule and it shall run after thee turne me unto thee with all williâ—gnesse come thou neare unto me gâ—â—d Lord and dâ—clare and shew thy mercies on me estâ—blish me in grace excite me to goodâ—â—sse Give me grace that I may alwaies grow stronger and â—â—â—â—â—ger to walke before thee weaker and weâ—ker to sinne faithfull and â—â—â—me in thy service Grant this deare Gâ—d and mercifull Father for Christ Ieâ—us his sake our Saviour and Redeâ—mer Amen A Prayer in time of Warre O Glorious Lord God and everlasting Father we intreat theâ— mercifully to looke downe upon us and hearken unto our complaintâ— and desires and grant we beseech thee our requests O gracious Father thou knowest nor sinnes and our iniquities are not hid from thee they lye open to thy Judgements yet we know that thy mercies are the cure of our miseries and when wâ— fly to thee thou drawest neare to us we beseech thee now to be favourable and spare us for all our sinneâ— past and be ready to deliver us from sinnes to come looke down in mercy upon us and as thou hast been ouâ— everlasting defence so now defenâ— us from the rage of our enemies goâ— in ond out O Lord before our Armies before our Generalls before ouâ— Fleets and Commanders And granâ— we may be thy Souldiers to fight under thy Banner stirre up our hearts and strength against the enemy defend thy afflicted Flock remember we beseech thee the burthen of misery laid upon thy Church in this time in these our Kingdomes and elsewhere and in thy due time restore them to their former glory Settle our hearts and affections to regaine and recover that which hath been lost and grant that we seeing their double dealing may no longer trust to them which have no truth they imagine mischief in their hearts and are set on fire to doe ill but breake thou the knot of their malice lay open their plots discover their devices weaken their Armies over-throw their Inventions confound their Councels and consume their numbers O Lord thou hast in times past made the Starres to fight in order the Sun to stand still the Seas to devoure the Winds to overthrow thy enemies So now O Lord cause these thy Creatures to assist and help us and our distressed Neighbours that all the world may know It is thou that fightest our Battels and undertakest our cause Finally O Lord blesse we beseech thee us and every one of us in what we shall take in hand for defence of thy Church and Truth blesse we intreat thee our King and Parliament our State and Clergy our Communalty and give thy blessing unto us all and last of all blesse we beseech thee all the worthy Companies of Souldiers in Cities and all other places in the Land blesse O Lord their inventions of Warre and make them expert by their practises prosper all their undertakings so that all the world may know that thou art the Guider of our Councells and Leader of our Armies Grant this deare Father and all other good things unto us for the good of the Church amongst us and the reliefe of others by us now and ever for Christ Jesus sake our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for Gods protection of his Church in respect of the present troubles of it ALmighty God the Lord of Hosts and Governour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent Worke in us and in all thy people unfained and effectuall repentance that what thou seest amisse in us and amongst us or in any parts of thy Church may speedily and thorowly be reformed that which is righteous and good in thy sight may be established and maintained especially in this our Land and other places professing thy Truth and Gospell and in the meane time while we strive after that which may be most agreeable to thy holy Will as it is revealed in thy holy Word be mercifull unto us and bring us on as thou seest it needfull evermore supporting us in our most gracious Shepherd by thy staffe of comfort And thou Sonne of David that knowest the mercilesse condition of Satan and cruell men his cursed Instruments we humbly beseech thee never to deliver us over into their power but save and defend us and all thy people evermore from the hands of all our enemies both bodily and ghostly And more particularly at this time we earnestly beseech thee O heavenly Father by the mediation of thy Sonne Jesus our only Mediator to be mercifull to those that are joyned with us or stand out for thy Truth or any righteous Cause and give that issue to the present troubles of thy Church as may make most for thy glory the advancement of thy Truth and Gospell the reliefe of all thy distressed people in all those parts of thy troubled Church and for the establishing of truth and peace in this our Land May it please thee once to free all our Brethren from the dominion of that Mistery of Iniquity as also still to shield and secure us and all other professing thy Name and Truth from that cruell Faction which as if they delighted in bloud have already spoyled so many Nations Lord thou only art the Catholick King we can acknowledge no King over all the Earth but thy selfe nor any Universâ—ll Head over all thy Church but that only Arch-bishop of of our soules thy Sonne Jesus our blessed Saviour to whom all power is
come if thou beleeve Christ himselfe wherein thou shalt have small cause to envie their felicity To conclude then this prize is set up for them that will strive for it For t is not every one that saith to Christ Lord Lord that shall enter into the kingdome of heaven but they onely which doe the will of Christ his Father in heaven Though this Kingdome of Christ be set out to all yet every man shall not come to raigne with Christ but such onely as shall be content to suffer with Christ Thou art therefore to sit down and consider according to thy Saviours councell what thou wilt doe whether thou have so much spirituall money as is sufficient to build this Towre or no That is whether thou have so much good will as to bestow the paines of suffering with Christ if it be rather to be called pain then pleasure that so thou maist raigne with him in his Kingdome This is the question that is the very whole issue of the matter that hath been spoken before either of thy particular end or of the Majestie bounty and justice of God and of the account he wil demand of thee Also of the punishment or reward laid up for thee All this is spoken to this end that thou wouldest finally resolve what thou shouldest doe and not to pass over thy t me in careless negligence as many doe never spying their owne errour untill it be too late to amend it For the love of God then deare brother and for the love that thou bearest to thine owne soule shake off this dangerous security which flesh and blood is wont to lull men in and make some earnest resolution for looking for thy soule in the life to come remember often that worthy sentence This life is but a moment of time whereof all eternity of life or death to come dependeth If it be a moment and a moment of so great importance how is it past over by worldly men with so little care as it is And if all this thatc hath been said gentle Reader will not prevaile with thee little hope is there that any other will doe thee good Wherefore here I end beseeching our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ which was content to pay his own blood for the purchasing this noble inheritance unto us give us his holy grace to esteeme of it as the great waight of the matter requireth and not by negligence to lose our portions therein Of the choise of Religion VAriety in any thing disturbeth the mind and leaves it waving in a dubious trouble and then how easie is it to sway the mind to either side But among all the diversities that wee meet with none troubles us more then those that are of Religion T is rare to finde two Kingdoms one as if every Nation had if not a God yet at least a way to God by it selfe This stumbles the unsetled soule that not knowing which way to take without danger of erring sticks to none so dyes ere he doe that for which he was made to live the service of the true Almighty We are borne as men set down in the middest of a Wood circled round with severall voyces calling us At first we see not which will lead us the right way out So divided in our selves we sit still and follow none remaining blind in a flat Atheisme which strickes deep at the Foundation both of our own the whole worlds happiness T is true if we let our dimmed understanding search in these varieties which yet is the onely meanes that we have in our selves to do it with we shall certainly lose our selves in our windings there being in every of them some thing to beleeve above that reason which leads us to the search Reason gives us the Annatomy of things and illustrates with a great deale of plaineness all the waies that shee goes but her line is too short to reach the depths of Religion Religion carries a confutation along with it and with a high hand of soveragnity awes the inquisitive tongue of nature and when shee would sometimes murmur privately she will not let her speake Reason like a milde Prince is content to shew his subjects the causes of his commands and rule Religion with a higher straine of Majestie bids doe it without inquiring further then the bare command which without doubt is a meanes of procuring mighty reverence What we know not we reverently admire what we doe know is in some sort subject to the triumphs of the soul that hath discovered it and this not knowing makes us not able to judge Every one tells us his own is the truest and there is none I thinke but hath been sealed with the blood of some nor can I see how we may more then proprobably prove any they being all set in such heights as they are not subject to the demonstrations of reason And as wee may easier say what a soule is not then what it is so we may more easily disproove a Religion for false then proove it for one that is true There being in the world farre more error then truth Yet is there besides another misery neere as great as this and that is that we cannot be our owne chousers but must take it upon trust from others Are we not oft befor we can discerne the true brought up and grounded in the false suckng Heresie with our milke in childhood Nay when we come to yeares of abler judgement wherein the mind is grown up compleate man we examine not the soundness but retaine it meerely because our Fathers taught it us what a lamentable weakness is this in man that he should build his eternall wellfare on the approbation of perhaps a weake and ignorant Parent Oh why is our neglect the most in that wherein our care should be greatest How few are there which fulfill that precept of trying all things and taking the best Assuredly though Faith be above Reason yet is there a reason to be given of our faith he is a foole that beleeves he knows not what nor why Among all the diversities of Religion that the world holds I think it may stand with most safety to take that which makes most for Gods glory and mans quiet I confess in all the Treatises of Religion that I ever saw I find none that I should so soone follow as that of the Church of England I never found so sound foundation so sure a direction for Religion as the Song of the Angels at the birth of Christ Glory be to God on high There is the honour the reverent obedience and the admiration and the adoration which we ought to give him On earth peace This is the effect of the former working in the hearts of men whereby the world appeares in his noblest beuty being an intire chaine of inter-mutuall amity And good will towards men This is Gods mercy to reconcile man to himselfe after his fearfull dissertion of his maker Search all